Even If You're My Senior, It's Still Forbidden - Chapter 18

“The Zheng family might come knocking later.” This was precisely why Liu Hongyu was so anxious to get answers, she had spent the entire night interrogating but still hadn’t obtained the response she wanted.

Ji Weining asked, “Does the sect leader believe there won’t be a conflict between the noble families and the sects?”

Over the years, she had witnessed the escalating tensions between the noble families and the sects. Every year, minor disputes and major clashes continued unabated. During her travels, she had noticed that among the four great families, how many were not infiltrated by the demon clan? Some had even begun to openly harness demonic energy to enhance their power, deluding themselves into thinking they could avoid its backlash.

To Liu Hongyu, this was utterly laughable.

Once tainted by such forces, how could one possibly escape the consequences?

“Perhaps it’s time for the four great families to be replaced.” Qingheng Mountain had always maintained neutrality, staying aloof from the chaos, yet infiltration by the noble families was inevitable. Since they all existed within the same region, no one could remain entirely detached. This was also why Liu Hongyu allowed members of the noble families to enter Qingheng Mountain, she hoped that if the sect ever faced peril, the noble families and the other sects would not stand idly by.

However, what they were permitted to access were only the outer sect techniques. The inner sect techniques were Qingheng Mountain’s lifeblood, something they absolutely must not touch.

“The sect leader should make her own judgment. I’ve already stated my opinion.” She did not wish to see the noble families so fragmented fighting over a life-saving treasure one day and quarreling over a magical artifact the next.

Had five hundred years passed so long that they had forgotten the lessons of the past?

Ji Weining couldn’t even comprehend what they were thinking. Did they intend to continue like this indefinitely?

Over the years, she had been sent to handle demonic energy outbreaks every decade or so today in the south, tomorrow in the north. She had no idea where all this demonic energy came from, yet they were unwilling to disclose even a little more of the information she sought.

“Are you truly unwilling to take the position of sect leader, Weining?” Liu Hongyu sighed. At this moment, what she most wanted to give Ji Weining was this very role.

She wanted to pass it to her Ji Weining was already more suited for it than she was.

Ji Weining replied, “Sect Leader, you know I don’t belong here.”

“Have you never considered it?” Liu Hongyu pressed, unwilling to give up.

“Never,” she stated firmly.

Liu Hongyu knew she couldn’t keep her and waved a hand dismissively. “If you wish to leave, then go.”

“I want to take my junior sister with me,” she voiced her intention.

“Ah?” Liu Hongyu was taken aback. After a moment’s thought, she realized the only person Ji Weining would refer to as “junior sister” was one individual. “Jin’an?”

“She is my only junior sister.”

Indeed, she had never regarded Xiling as a junior sister.

“She was saved by your master. Your master never fully understood the two of you, do you think she would let you both go?” If it concerned both of them, she couldn’t make the decision alone.

“That depends on you, Sect Leader.” Given Mu Chanjuan’s obsession with medicine and her fascination with their blood, it was unlikely she would easily allow both of them to leave.

As for Ji Weining, they could no longer restrain her, but they could still control Su Jin’an.

Liu Hongyu tentatively asked, “What if I demanded you marry Xiling?”

“How likely do you think that is?” Ji Weining retorted, then proposed her own idea: “Why not let me help the Su family claim the position of the leading noble family in the north?”

Liu Hongyu pondered in her heart: “If you can make her the head of the northern aristocratic families, then that would be acceptable.”

The current head of the northern aristocratic families was the Zheng family, followed by the Shen family. Su Jia, an illegitimate daughter of the Shen family, had a long and difficult road ahead.

“The head of the Shen family is already in poor health,” Ji Weining said quietly.

Su Jia had likely known this for a long time. She had once examined the Shen family head’s condition herself, and if she were to elaborate, it was clear he only had two or three years left, there was simply no way he could hold on much longer.

“She may be an illegitimate daughter, but she is also the Shen family head’s only child. He will pass the position to her.”

Su Jia also had the backing of a branch of the southern Su family. As long as she could elevate the Shen family to the top of the northern aristocratic families, the situation would inevitably ease.

After some thought, Ji Weining said, “The rest is up to the sect leader.”

“Are you sure?” Liu Hongyu was also considering the feasibility of this plan.

“The sect leader hasn’t ventured out for a long time, so naturally, you wouldn’t know.”

Liu Hongyu couldn’t leave the mountain gate. She was also tied to the mountain-protecting formation, if she left, Qingheng Mountain would be in danger. Unless she appointed the next sect leader, it was time for a change after five hundred years.

She was truly exhausted.

“Alright,” Liu Hongyu agreed. To her, Su Jia could be a better choice than Ji Weining.

Su Jia had grown up under her watchful eye and obeyed her. Having her marry Xiling might indeed be a good option. “Do you think she would be willing to marry Xiling?”

“Sect Leader, have you never considered having her marry into the family? Xiling isn’t suited for the northern lands.” Frankly speaking, with Xiling’s frail constitution, it was uncertain how long she could endure in the north. In contrast, Su Jia would be more willing to stay here.

Who knew how Liu Hongyu had ended up with a daughter like that.

“If she could enter the Shen family, why would she ever come back?”

“That would be her own ability,” Ji Weining replied, making it clear it had nothing to do with her.

Liu Hongyu scrutinized her for a moment and frowned. “No, why do you speak in such convoluted ways now?”

“Isn’t it all learned from you?” Ji Weining sighed helplessly. When she was young, they had taught her to speak in such roundabout ways.

Liu Weining continued giving instructions, “There might still be issues at Sword Peak. I need you to investigate further. Right now, all the Sword Peak disciples are at the outer sect.”

“Alright, I’ll head over shortly.”

“Where are you going now?”

“To cook for my junior sister.”

“I already had Xiling deliver the meal.”

Ji Weining’s expression instantly darkened. “Fine, I’ll go now.”

How considerate of her.

Arriving at the outer sect, Ji Weining was filled with resentment, her gaze full of hatred toward everything around her.

Irritated, deeply irritated.

“Have them all extend their hands and make a cut for a drop of their blood.”

“Just one drop is enough.”

“Bring it to me later,” Ji Weining instructed Su Jia.

Ji Weining sat in the main hall of the outer sect, brewing a pot of tea as she waited.

Su Jia was efficient. She went from one person to another, collecting their blood and delivering it.

Ji Weining set up a formation, and the spiritual energy from Su Jia’s hands swiftly rose into the air.

Soon, she opened the lid of the container holding the blood.

Dozens of drops of blood hung suspended in mid-air.

Ji Weining merely picked up the freshly brewed tea on the table and took a sip.

So bitter not good tea at all.

After a moment, her expression fell, and she set down the teacup. Pointing at the problematic drops of blood, she said, “Investigate these individuals.”

The blood samples were marked by Ji Weining, making it instantly clear whose they were. Su Jia also immediately understood the answer.

“Alright, handle the rest yourself. Don’t come to me. Before the new selection competition, I need to help my junior sister practice.”

“Alright!” Su Jia looked at Ji Weining helplessly. She knew Ji Weining would no longer involve herself in this matter. For her, this was also a trial.

She had to handle it well.

After thinking for a long time, she summoned all these individuals and began investigating their backgrounds.

Surprisingly, without exception, they were all from the northern regions. It seemed the demonic energy this time was closely related to the northern clans.

These individuals’ spiritual power was no match for Su Jia’s, and they were quickly subdued and imprisoned in the dark cells. She also reported all the findings from her investigation over the past few days to the sect leader.

Liu Hongyu glanced over the documents but didn’t ask further questions. She trusted Su Jia’s findings.

Closing the report, she looked at Su Jia and asked, “Jia’er, how would you feel about marrying Xi Ling?”

Su Jia was taken aback by this question, it was something she had never dared to imagine. They had repeatedly expressed their desire for Xi Ling and Ji Weining to be together.

She had once overheard them discussing this matter in a corner. It was then that she realized they had no objections to women being together.

Or perhaps they themselves were like that.

Thinking carefully, if she wasn’t mistaken, Xi Ling was their child, and she should have known this long ago. In many ways, Xi Ling resembled both of them.

As for how Xi Ling came to be, no one knew.

Why, then, had the question of marriage fallen to her? What did her master mean by this? Was Xi Ling being forced to marry?

Su Jia took a deep breath, met Liu Hongyu’s gaze, and replied, “If Master agrees, I am willing.”

“Good.” Liu Hongyu’s expression was complex as she looked at the young woman before her. She didn’t know if Su Jia could take good care of Xi Ling, but she was certain Su Jia would do her utmost.

Although Su Jia was already considered outstanding, she still fell short compared to Ji Weining. Could she protect Qingheng Mountain? It wasn’t a matter of distrust, but rather that Liu Hongyu felt she had failed in teaching her disciples properly.

She had no confidence in any of her disciples, she knew exactly how she had raised them. The thought of how she had taught them all along made her head ache.

If only Su Jia weren’t her disciple, Liu Hongyu thought with a tinge of melancholy. But then again, if she weren’t her disciple, how would they have ever met?

Ji Weining returned to Qianling Residence, where Liu Xiling was still in Su Jin’an’s room.

“How is it? Delicious, right, little junior sister?” Liu Xiling had brought her favorite snacks from the kitchen to share with Su Jin’an. Looking up, she saw Ji Weining had returned. She had only been there for less than an hour and hadn’t expected her back so soon. “Senior Sister Weining is back.”

“Mm. Junior Sister Xiling, you may go back now. Jin’an and I will be in seclusion for a while and will emerge for the new selection competition.”

“Understood.”

“Oh, and you can take back the things you brought.” Ji Weining took out the cleaned plates, arranged the food neatly, and handed the empty plates back to her.

Liu Xiling glanced at Su Jin’an.

Su Jin’an said, “Let her stay a little longer. It won’t hurt.”

Liu Xiling looked at Ji Weining. “That’s right, Senior Sister Weining, you’ve never taught me any spells. I’d like to learn along too.”

“Haven’t you already learned everything?” Ji Weining sounded somewhat impatient, more so than she had ever been before. She knew very clearly that she didn’t want Liu Xiling staying here.

Su Jin’an also turned her gaze to Ji Weining, wanting to see how she would respond.

Liu Xiling asked, “Can’t I learn even if I’ve already studied it before?”

“I won’t teach you.” Absolutely not.

Why should she teach her? She wasn’t her disciple.

“How boring.” Liu Xiling pouted, picked up her things, and left.

Ji Weining walked over to Su Jin’an and leaned in close. “What did Xiling say to you?”

“She told me some stories from her childhood.”

Su Jin’an asked, “Are you afraid she might have said something she shouldn’t have?”

“I’m completely innocent, okay!” Ji Weining immediately retorted, sitting down beside her and leaning in to study her face closely.

Su Jin’an’s skin was very smooth. She wanted to pinch it. She wondered if she could…

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