Even If You're My Senior, It's Still Forbidden - Chapter 10

Liu Xiling shook her head. “Don’t misunderstand, what I feel for Senior Sister Weining is more like admiration. When I was young and frail, I stayed at Qianling Residence for a time. Back then, Senior Sister Weining often brewed medicine for me. Now I realize she was only doing so because her mother asked her to. I mistakenly interpreted that kindness as affection.”

Her feelings were rooted in admiration for Weining’s strength, nothing more. She didn’t care whether Weining had others around her. Just like when she met Su Jin’an today, she even found it strangely fitting that they seemed well-matched.

If she truly had romantic feelings for Ji Weining, she wouldn’t have remained so calm upon seeing her with her junior sister.

After speaking, Liu Xiling observed Su Jin’an’s expression and ventured to ask, “Enough about me you must like Senior Sister Weining, don’t you?”

Su Jin’an replied indifferently, “I’ve only known Senior Sister for a couple of days.”

“But I saw you two,” Liu Xiling said, a grin spreading across her face as she looked at Su Jin’an. “You even slept in the same room.”

It was a fact she had witnessed, leaving Su Jin’an with no room for denial.

“Lately, my cultivation has been unstable. Senior Sister was concerned about my health, so she stayed with me,” Su Jin’an explained.

“Senior Sister Weining would never just sleep overnight with anyone. She may appear gentle and refined, but she’s been solitary since childhood. She’s always preferred being alone and never liked others getting close. When I was little and wanted to share a room with her, she didn’t even let me through the door.” Liu Xiling didn’t buy that excuse and teased with a hint of seriousness, “I can tell Senior Sister definitely likes you.”

“I told you, we’ve only known each other for two days,” Su Jin’an repeated, then fell silent and continued walking down the mountain path.

Seeing her leave, Liu Xiling hurried after her. “Hey, Junior Sister, why walk so fast?”

“You really did sleep together, didn’t you?”

“Junior Sister, slow down!”

Just like Senior Sister truly cut from the same cloth, so alike. Liu Xiling couldn’t help but sigh inwardly as she quickly caught up to Su Jin’an.

The main peak was a complex of palaces. After winding through several corridors, they reached the administrative hall. Sect Leader Liu Hongyu, dressed in white, leaned back in her seat, massaging her temples as she reviewed recent reports.

“Weining, you’re here.”

“Take a look at the current situation,” Liu Hongyu said, handing over a dossier for her to read.

Ji Weining took it and scanned the contents. According to the reports, six people had gone missing in the town recently, and three bodies had been recovered, covered in demonic markings that made them unrecognizable. All the missing were ordinary mortals involved in commerce, leading to suspicions of revenge killings.

For money? But why use demonic energy? Mortal poisons would be far simpler. It doesn’t add up.

Liu Hongyu instructed, “You’ll need to examine the bodies.”

“How is our master?” Ji Weining asked casually. The sect leader had arranged their master’s secluded meditation location, as had been the case for years. Ji Weining had once checked her master’s condition and found her spiritual power severely depleted, yet for some reason, it never fully recovered.

Regarding the transfer of spiritual power, she had learned it when the sect leader transferred it to her master. She still remembered that day when her master’s originally pale face immediately became rosy.

“Ahem, ahem, she’s fine. She’ll definitely appear at the selection competition a month from now.” Liu Hongyu waved her hand, urging her to quickly handle the matters in the town.

“Mm.”

To go to the town, they had to pass through the mountain gate. Ji Weining soared into the air, holding her flute, and soon spotted Su Jin’an and the other person. She descended on her bamboo flute and walked over to them.

The two of them couldn’t move as freely within the sect as Ji Weining did they couldn’t even use flight spells. However, Su Jin’an hadn’t expected her to come out so quickly, thinking it would take much longer. She remembered how her mother would always give her lengthy instructions before letting her leave the house.

Su Jin’an: “Senior Sister, you came so quickly. We haven’t even made it to the outer sect yet.”

“It’s no big deal. I’ll go check on things in a moment. I’ll go with you to find Junior Brother Zheng.”

A person dressed in the same attire as Zheng Juhe walked out from the front gate likely an outer sect disciple whose name they didn’t know. Having overheard their inquiry, the disciple asked, “Are you senior sisters looking for Senior Brother Juhe?”

“Yes, we’re here to register for the upcoming selection competition.”

The disciple understood: “Senior Sister, you can register with me. Senior Brother has gone out and probably won’t be back for a while.”

The disciple attended to them, having them fill out the registration forms. “I’ll hand these to Senior Brother Zheng later.”

“Thank you for your trouble.” The two filled out the forms and handed them over.

“I need to go to the town now. Do you want to return or look around?” Ji Weining inquired.

Su Jin’an: “I haven’t had a chance to see the outside since arriving here. Could you take me to the town, Senior Sister?”

Su Jin’an knew nothing about the town, only that it was located in the southwest and the climate was completely different from where she came from. In detail, there were even more differences.

“Of course, I’d be happy to take you to try some delicious food in town.”

Liu Xiling suggested: “I remember the rice noodles at that shop on East Street are delicious. Let’s go there first for a meal!”

“You should head back instead. I think the sect leader might still need your help.” With the selection competition approaching, things were getting increasingly tense. The sect leader had to make all the final decisions, and she truly couldn’t spare the time.

Liu Xiling looked ahead and saw the two of them standing in front of her, clearly not intending to bring her along. She tactfully gave up: “Alright, alright.”

Liu Xiling had no choice but to leave on her own.

“Let’s go.” Ji Weining tugged at her junior sister’s sleeve. Su Jin’an was observing the surroundings, the layout of the room was quite similar to where she came from, yet completely different from the structure of Qianling Residence. It seemed this place must have been built when other sects arrived, while the original sect likely belonged to her homeland.

“Junior Sister, is there anything you’d like to eat?” Ji Weining leaned in and asked.

Su Jin’an: “Let’s follow Senior Sister Xiling’s suggestion and try the rice noodles she recommended.”

Ji Weining: “Alright, I’ll take you there. They also have other types of noodles that are especially tasty.”

“Just recommend whatever you think is best, Senior Sister. I don’t know much about these things.”

Ji Weining extended her hand and raised an eyebrow, signaling for Su Jin’an to take it.

Su Jin’an didn’t understand her meaning and stared blankly at her. Ji Weining bent slightly and directly took her hand.

“What is Senior Sister planning to do?” Su Jin’an blurted out without thinking.

Ji Weining explained, “I’m taking you with me, it’ll be faster.”

This immediately reminded Su Jin’an of the last time Ji Weining had taken her to explore the sect’s surroundings. It was indeed quicker when she led the way.

“The stairs at the entrance aren’t easy to climb either,” Su Jin’an recalled, having glimpsed them from above last time. There were at least a thousand steps, truly a challenge.

“Alright,” Su Jin’an said, gripping Ji Weining’s hand firmly.

Ji Weining summoned her flute and wrapped an arm around her junior sister’s waist again. Through their thin robes, they pressed close as they gradually flew beyond the sect’s territory.

Liu Xiling, who hadn’t gone far, turned back and saw Ji Weining holding Su Jin’an from behind. Her eyes widened in disbelief, shattering her previous perceptions of Ji Weining.

Twice in one day, Liu Xiling couldn’t help but purse her lips.

“Only Senior Sister could do this,” she muttered under her breath.

The bodies of those who had died from demonic energy corruption had been placed in the town magistrate’s office, awaiting Ji Weining’s handling. Since there was no immediate urgency, Ji Weining took Su Jin’an to the rice noodle shop on East Street.

The noodles were quickly served by the waiter. Ji Weining, who hadn’t tasted this flavor in a long time, ordered an extra bowl.

Just as the two finished their meal, someone dressed in magistrate’s attire approached them, followed by an outer sect disciple.

“Senior Sister Weining, something terrible has happened!” the disciple exclaimed anxiously.

Ji Weining urged her to calm down. “What happened? Explain clearly.”

The disciple, whose cultivation was not strong, gasped for breath. “It’s Senior Brother Zheng, he’s been murdered.”

Zheng Juhe? He had already reached the Golden Core level, how could this happen?

If even a Golden Core cultivator had been assassinated, this was undoubtedly a serious matter. Ji Weining’s expression turned grave. “Tell me in detail.”

“Today, Senior Brother Zheng and I went out to run errands. I went to buy groceries, and he wanted to check if the clothing shop in the southern part of the city had reopened. When I finished shopping and went to find him, I saw the shop door was closed. I pushed it open and found Senior Brother lying on the floor, covered in demonic energy.”

“I didn’t dare get close. It seemed he was already gone. The constables confirmed it.”

After hearing the account, Ji Weining frowned. The situation had taken a turn for the worse. If she remembered correctly, the clothing shop in the southern part of the city hadn’t been open for at least three or four days. Under normal circumstances, it shouldn’t have remained closed for so long without at least some staff staying behind. It seemed, they had fled.

The earlier excuses for temporary closure were likely just covers.

Ji Weining instructed, “Understood. Return and report this to the sect leader immediately.”

“Yes,” the disciple replied hastily before rushing back to the sect.

Ji Weining then turned to the constable. “Lead the way. Let’s go see Zheng Juhe first.”

Since he had just died, the body was still fresh and easier to examine. She needed to see if she could uncover any clues. Just a few days ago, he had been right in front of her who would have thought it would end so soon.

“Junior Sister, would you prefer to go back first?” Ji Weining asked.

Su Jin’an had no intention of returning. Reading more books wouldn’t help her improve, it was better to stay by Ji Weining’s side and observe how she used her techniques. “I’ll go with Senior Sister to take a look.”

“Are you not afraid, Junior Sister?” Corpses tended to frighten young girls, and Ji Weining was concerned about her delicate junior sister.

Su Jin’an shook her head. “If Senior Sister isn’t afraid, why should I be?”

Support Even If You’re My Senior, It’s Still Forbidden