Even If You're My Senior, It's Still Forbidden - Chapter 17

“Keep your voice down,” she whispered to the person before her.

A flicker of surprise flashed in Su Jia’s eyes, further confirming that she had overheard Liu Xiling’s words. “The elder of Sword Peak has been captured. He has already succumbed to demonic influence and is now bound by immortal-restraining chains.”

Ji Ningwei showed no surprise. If she couldn’t even handle such a matter, there would be no point in her staying here. “Understood.”

“What does the sect leader intend to do with him?” she asked again.

It had been a long time since Ji Ningwei had involved herself in such affairs.

A trace of ruthlessness surfaced in Su Jia’s eyes. “Death. Those who fall to demonic influence are beyond saving.”

“Even you, Senior Sister Ningwei, can do nothing about it,” she added as a reminder.

What difference was there between demonic influence and a slow-acting poison? In Su Jia’s eyes, falling to demonic influence was a capital offense or rather, in the eyes of all cultivators, it was an unforgivable crime, a path to certain death. No cultivator who succumbed to demonic influence had ever been an exception; all were eventually consumed by demonic energy, becoming violent and bloodthirsty.

“Understood.” She had never intended to save him anyway.

But there was indeed someone she had once wanted to save, a person who had fallen to demonic influence.

“Senior Sister, are you still thinking about that girl you couldn’t save?”

Ji Ningwei sighed helplessly. “I don’t understand.”

That child from thirty years ago, she had been so innocent, yet she was destined to bear the consequences simply because she was born of a demon. Ji Ningwei could only hate her own weakness, her inability to stop them.

“Once someone falls to demonic influence, there are no exceptions.”

“Mm.”

“Senior Sister is not a soft-hearted person.” Su Jia knew this well. Otherwise, Ji Ningwei would never have reached where she was now.

Yet, in a certain moment, she had sensed the softness in Ji Ningwei’s heart. If not for that, Liu Xiling would not have liked her so much.

Thinking of this, she asked, “Does Xiling really not like Senior Sister Ningwei anymore?”

Hearing this, Ji Ningwei replied, “She never liked me in the first place. You might as well give it a try.”

Su Jia’s hands clenched. She had never spoken of this matter to anyone.

“You can’t hide it from me.” This was something she had learned from years of reading romantic novels.

Su Jia liked Liu Xiling. The way she looked at her was always different from how she looked at others.

Bitterly, Su Jia said, “Please, Senior Sister Ningwei, don’t mention it to her.”

“Do as you see fit.” Ji Ningwei waved her hand dismissively. She never involved herself in matters that didn’t concern her. The debts she owed to Qingheng Mountain had long been repaid.

“I told you long ago that she doesn’t like me, and I don’t like her either.” After that, Ji Ningwei had traveled extensively, rarely returning. As for her relationship with Liu Xiling, it only existed during the latter’s childhood years. Back then, she had never done anything to warrant such feelings, and to call it “liking” would be too shallow, it was nothing like the affection Su Jia imagined.

But Su Jia had always been by Liu Xiling’s side, accompanying her as she gathered herbs and grew up.

Every time Liu Xiling mentioned Ji Ningwei in her ear, Su Jia would nearly go mad with jealousy.

Ji Ningwei added pointedly, “You’re a whole cycle older than her. Don’t you know what she’s like by now?”

“I understand. Senior Sister Ningwei, please come with me to check on Sword Peak.” Su Jia did not want to continue this topic, which laid bare all the dark corners of her heart.

Ji Weining didn’t want to ask further; she only wished Liu Xiling would stop doing things that caused misunderstandings. But she couldn’t control Liu’s actions, nor could she even sway her own master’s thoughts. As another thought crossed her mind, she inquired, “Is anyone guarding the Mountain Protection Array?”

The Mountain Protection Array was the foundation of Qingheng Mountain. Ever since the incident five hundred years ago, each peak had been assigned a portion of its maintenance. If the Sword Peak encountered trouble, the other peaks would inevitably be affected, making it necessary to investigate.

“Second Elder has already gone,” Su Jia replied.

Second Elder, named Su Hua, was a disciple of the renowned Wanfa Sect, famed for its array techniques five centuries ago. After the events of that time, she had taken charge of Qingheng Mountain’s Array Peak, which was also the closest peak to the Sword Peak.

“Then it should be fine.”

Su Jia didn’t often visit Array Peak, but she knew that Second Elder was the weakest in spiritual power among the elders. She asked, “Aren’t you worried, Senior Sister, that Second Elder might not be able to handle it?”

“Though her spiritual power is slightly weaker than the Sect Leader’s and our master’s, her mastery of array techniques is unparalleled. She is the most adept at weighing pros and cons,” Ji Weining explained. She had once sought guidance from Second Elder on array-related issues and had seen how her profound understanding of arrays compensated for her lower spiritual power. This was precisely why Ji Weining encouraged her junior sister to study arrays.

Sometimes, it wasn’t about having immense spiritual power but using it with precision and Second Elder was exactly that kind of person.

“I worried too much,” Su Jia murmured, slightly taken aback. Most of her knowledge about the elders came from hearsay. She recalled that her senior sister had once ventured out with several elders, and while the others returned severely injured, Ji Weining came back unscathed.

Her concerns weren’t unfounded, especially since this was the first time the responsibility for the New Selection Competition had fallen to their generation. She had far more to consider than others. Ji Weining said calmly, “If you want to organize the New Selection Competition properly, it’s only natural to take these things into account.”

“Has Senior Sister decided to take on the role of team leader?” Su Jia asked, changing the subject to the competition. She had heard the news that Ji Weining would be leading the team this time. One segment of the New Selection Assembly required a team leader to ensure the participants’ safety, a duty traditionally handled by the Shadow Pavilion. They would likely be shocked by this development.

“Have I ever gone back on my word?” Ji Weining retorted. It had been a long time since she last participated in the New Selection Assembly.

Su Jia still didn’t know her well enough to understand her.

Shaking her head, Su Jia admitted, “Senior Sister Weining has been traveling for many years. I can’t see through you.”

The person before her was never as simple as she seemed. On the surface, she treated everyone equally and answered whatever questions were posed to her. Yet, most of the time, everyone felt she was like snow on a high mountain visible but unattainable.

“Then there’s no need to see through me,” Ji Weining replied with a light laugh, finding her junior sister amusing. She teased, “There are things about you that I can’t see through either, like why you like Xiling so much.”

She still didn’t understand liking or love. She had read countless poems, glimpsing the hazy notions of love between the lines, trying to grasp what the world called affection.

She didn’t get it.

But it felt like she was on the verge of understanding.

A thin veil shrouded it all; she wanted to pierce through but always found something missing.

If she didn’t like her junior sister, how could she expect her junior sister to like her in return?

Recalling the question she had asked her junior sister yesterday, she pulled out the bamboo flute from her sleeve and headed toward Sword Peak, with Su Jia following closely behind.

“If Senior Sister Weining has no other matters, please take care of the sect whenever possible.” In recent years, Ji Weining had returned here less and less frequently, almost no different from the wandering cultivators outside. She knew that even the sect leader and the grand elder still harbored reservations about her.

They feared she was too powerful, beyond their control, and wanted her to remain stationed at Qingheng Mountain forever.

From that point on, Ji Weining began traveling far and wide. It was only when the sect leader gave birth to Liu Xiling that she was summoned back.

The grand elder’s body had been damaged, though no one knew the exact reason. Publicly, it was only known as an accident during an alchemical experiment.

“I don’t belong here.” Never did.

She understood why her master had picked her up. She had memories from the moment she was born, she knew all about their affairs.

Su Jia said nothing more. Over the years, Ji Weining had handled far too many matters for Qingheng Mountain. If anything, Qingheng Mountain owed her; it was Su Jia who was making an unreasonable request.

From the moment she grew powerful, Ji Weining knew her goal: she simply wanted to find her junior sister. That was all. She wanted to see who this person mentioned in the divine prophecy was, to understand the meaning of her coming here.

She didn’t even have family. She had come here alone, bearing this divine prophecy.

Riding her bamboo flute, she quickly arrived at Sword Peak. The peak had already been invaded by demonic energy, the lush greenery now tainted with a black mist. As soon as Su Jia arrived, she activated her spiritual energy to protect herself from the demonic infiltration. It was clear a fierce battle had taken place here.

“The elder of Sword Peak has already been imprisoned in the peak’s secret dungeon,” Su Jia reported on the current situation, adding a reminder, “But he keeps insisting he never practiced demonic arts and was only infected.”

“Hmm.”

They had always feared demonic energy; no one could view it objectively. Those who fell to demonic cultivation were as good as dead.

“He truly hasn’t killed anyone yet,” Su Jia tried to judge rationally, but she still held to her view. “But the demonic energy across the mountain is because of him.”

Thus, falling to demonic cultivation was a capital offense.

The elder of Sword Peak had already reached the early stage of Deity Transformation. Though it was only the initial stage, his strength was not to be underestimated. That was why Liu Hongyu had been the one to subdue and restrain him.

Su Jia led her to the secret dungeon she hadn’t visited in a long time. “The sect leader is waiting for you, Senior Sister.”

Ji Weining pushed open the heavy stone door. Inside, the floor was stained with pools of black blood, tainted by demonic energy.

“Weining, you’re here. Come take a look?” Liu Hongyu crouched on the ground, examining the black demonic energy. Her medical skills were not as refined as Mu Chanjuan’s, but her spiritual power was deeper. Relying on her spiritual shield, she touched the black blood.

After observing for a long time, she still couldn’t discern the structure of those who practiced demonic arts.

“Sorry to trouble you, Weining.”

Seeing the black blood, Ji Weining could only think of what Su Jin’an had said: filthy.

So filthy.

The elder of Sword Peak had fallen unconscious, motionless and strapped to a rack.

Black energy emanated from his entire body, confirming without a doubt that he had fallen to demonic cultivation and had even lost his sanity in the process.

Ji Weining observed the demonic energy, releasing a wisp of spiritual power to investigate. It was clear this demonic energy had been cultivated for a long time; traces of spiritual power remained within, but the demonic energy had completely overshadowed the original spiritual force.

“There’s no doubt he practiced demonic arts,” Ji Weining stated calmly.

If he hadn’t practiced demonic arts, there wouldn’t be only this trace of demonic energy in his blood. Only through cultivation could such an abundance of demonic energy be concentrated within.

With a backhanded swipe, the elder behind her exploded into a bloody mist.

Flesh and blood splattered everywhere.

Liu Hongyu’s greatest fear had come to pass. Now that Sword Peak’s role in the Mountain Protection Array was left vacant, Suhua from Array Peak was holding down two positions alone. It was uncertain how long she could last. If the Mountain Protection Array were to collapse, the demons’ movements would undoubtedly intensify.

“Won’t this spread?” she voiced her concern.

Ji Weining gave her a strange look. “Didn’t the Sect Leader want him dead?”

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