Even If You're My Senior, It's Still Forbidden - Chapter 21

Ji Weining recalled that year when she had once again participated in the Five Lakes Gathering and, upon returning to Qingheng Mountain, decided to descend and begin her travels.

Within her sect, she had long since run out of opponents her age, and at the Five Lakes Gathering, there was no one who could truly challenge her. She had always heard tales of the vast world beyond, yet she had never seen it for herself. She wanted to venture out and witness just how boundless those mountains and seas truly were.

This was her first time traveling alone. After much contemplation, she still couldn’t decide what to bring. In the end, she stuffed a few pieces of clothing into her Qiankun pouch and set off. Having long heard that the sea lay to the south, she wanted to see it for herself and flew in that direction on her flute.

Finally, she laid eyes on the ocean, but after seeing it, she felt it was nothing special. As the sun began to set, she made her way to Peach Blossom Town by the shore. It was then that Ji Weining realized she hadn’t brought the money pouch mentioned in books after all, in her years at the sect, she had never needed such a thing.

Seeing that the weather had taken a turn for the worse, she found a dilapidated temple and prepared to spend the night there, planning to move on to other places the next day. The night wind howled through the broken windows, and Ji Weining, who had never stayed in such a rundown place, lit a fire using her spiritual flame technique. She spread some straw to create a spot to sit and prepared to meditate.

Unexpectedly, she encountered the family living next to the temple.

The evening sky was gloomy, and an elderly woman, carrying a lantern, stepped out for a stroll. She immediately noticed the fire in the temple and pushed the door open. Seeing Ji Weining, she asked in surprise, “Child, what are you doing here?”

The woman was the only daughter of the Hua family next door, known as Hua Liniang. Years ago, she had taken in a live-in son-in-law, but he later went off to war and had long since disappeared. After her parents passed away, she lived here with her daughter. A few months ago, her daughter married and moved away, leaving Hua Liniang alone. She tended to her fields and occasionally cooked for wealthy families.

Hua Liniang was quite taken aback to see her. From her clothing, Ji Weining looked like a child from a wealthy family, though Hua Liniang didn’t understand such things. She simply thought, “How can anyone stay in such a broken temple?” and warmly invited Ji Weining to her home.

Ji Weining used her spiritual power to scan the surroundings and detected no threats. Unable to resist Hua Liniang’s kindness, she followed her to the Hua residence. The house was small but far better than the temple. The roof had been recently repaired, yet it bore the marks of years of weathering.

“Have you eaten, young lady?” Hua Liniang asked.

“I have.”

“This was my daughter’s room. She got married a few months ago, so it’s been empty. You can stay here for the night.” Hua Liniang led her to Hua Xi’s room, laid out bedding for her, and invited her to settle in.

“Thank you.” Though the room was small, it was more than enough. At that moment, Ji Weining deeply regretted not bringing any silver with her.

Hua Liniang chuckled warmly as she returned to her own room. “Such a polite young lady.”

After staying the night, Ji Weining had just woken up when Hua Liniang brought her a bowl of hot porridge early in the morning.

“There’s not much at home, but have some warm porridge to start the day.”

Ji Weining had long surpassed the level of cultivation where she needed food for sustenance, yet by some twist of fate, she accepted the bowl. The edges of the bowl were slightly cracked, but it had been scrubbed clean. Meeting Hua Liniang’s sincere gaze, she knew there was no harm in it.

She scooped the porridge into her mouth, and the warmth spread through her stomach. It had been a long time since she had eaten mortal food, and with a few side dishes, it tasted unexpectedly delightful.

Ji Weining ended up eating several bowls. Hua Liniang, thinking she must have been starving, teased gently, “No need to rush, young lady. Eat slowly. I’ll fetch you another bowl.”

Ji Weining let out a burp. “I’m full.”

Hua Li Niang wiped a grain of rice from the corner of her mouth with her rough hand and chuckled. “Where does the young lady plan to go?”

“I’d like to take a walk around here.” Ji Weining had come out without any particular goal in mind, she simply wanted to wander and was reluctant to return to Qingheng Mountain.

To her, that place felt like a massive cage, and she had no desire to end up trapped there like the sect leader.

“Young lady, you didn’t bring any money with you either.” Hua Li Niang pulled a string of copper coins from her sleeve and pressed them into Ji Weining’s hand, speaking cautiously. “I don’t have much, but take this for now. There are many bad people out there, don’t trust everyone.”

“No, no need,” Ji Weining declined. Hua Li Niang had already let her stay; how could she accept money on top of that? She shared her thoughts: “I’ll go into town and see if I can make a living. I learned a bit of medicine when I was young.”

Hua Li Niang advised, “If anything happens, come find me here.”

She then took half of the coins and stuffed them into a small purse, handing it to Ji Weining. “At least take these.”

“Alright.”

Ji Weining retrieved a small silver bell from her Qiankun pouch and pressed it into Hua Li Niang’s hand. Hua Li Niang looked surprised, patted the back of her hand, and muttered a few more words of concern.

In the end, Ji Weining accepted the purse and headed toward the town. She had visited the sea the day before but hadn’t yet seen what the town looked like. Though not particularly prosperous, the small town had everything one might need. She put on a veiled hat and, imitating a fortune teller nearby, set up a banner that read “Healing the World with Medicine.”

The fortune teller beside her squinted disdainfully with one eye and shifted his own banner away from hers.

Ji Weining then took out her acupuncture needle case from the Qiankun pouch and bought a small table and chair to set up a makeshift stall.

After sitting for a while, Ji Weining frowned and hung out another banner: “Free of Charge.”

Only then did a few townspeople gather around. Ji Weining took out a cloth, laid it over her hand, and administered a few acupuncture needles. To her surprise, the patients all left with delighted smiles.

Soon, more people crowded around.

“Is that the girl stealing our business?” A young master, dressed in fine clothes but with a crooked face, protruding teeth, dark circles under his eyes, and an anemic appearance, snapped his fan shut. He looked more like a misshapen gourd than a respectable figure.

His guard, who sounded more robust than him, replied, “Yes, young master.”

“How audacious! Doesn’t she know our Duan family is the only one in this trade here? How dare she compete with us?”

Ji Weining overheard them from a distance. They seemed to be in the medical business, but the young master looked less like a healer and more like a drug peddler.

“Young lady, you should leave soon,” whispered a woman who had just been treated, worried that Ji Weining might be bullied. She explained, “That’s the local bully of our town, the only son of the Duan family, who sells medicine. His name is Duan Shu.”

“He’s no good,” the woman added through gritted teeth, as if she wished she could tear him to pieces. “A childhood friend of mine was ruined by him.”

Duan Shu, his speech slurred as if air leaked through his teeth, sneered, “So you’re the so-called miracle doctor?”

His guards began dispersing the crowd that had gathered around. A few patients who had been treated earlier stood in front of Duan Shu, blocking him from approaching Ji Weining.

“I wouldn’t call myself a divine healer. May I ask what brings you here, young master?” Ji Weining withdrew the needles still embedded in the patient before her, tidied them away, and slowly rose to her feet.

“I heard a renowned healer might be here. My mistress requests your presence.” A maidservant parted the crowd and stepped forward, her demeanor poised and dignified. Upon seeing Duan Shu, she merely gave a slight nod before looking away, paying him no further mind.

Duan Shu instantly bristled with anger. “She is under my protection now. Who dares to take her?”

The maidservant replied coolly, “Young Master Duan should consult your father first and remember your current standing.”

“Young lady, please.” The maidservant approached her with an invitation.

Following the maidservant to the carriage seemed the most prudent course of action now. Ji Weining had no intention of revealing her spiritual energy in public.

The carriage’s curtain bore an emblem clearly depicting the character “Zhuang,” indicating this was a family of that surname. As Ji Weining stepped into the carriage, she noticed the lady inside dressed in elegant robes, her appearance dignified and noble.

“Please have a seat, young lady. My name is Zhuang Shulan; you may call me Shulan.” The lady picked up a teapot from the side and began pouring tea for Ji Weining, appearing unhurried.

Zhuang Shulan handed the freshly poured tea to Ji Weining and said, “I would like to ask you to examine a child.”

“What seems to be the issue?” Ji Weining accepted the tea and inquired. Being taken away without knowing the situation made her somewhat hesitant, but illnesses in the mortal realm shouldn’t be too troublesome, right?

Zhuang Shulan asked, “You carry spiritual energy about you are you a cultivator?”

This lady clearly had not a trace of spiritual energy herself, so how could she tell that Ji Weining was a cultivator?

“Are you wondering how I could tell?”

Ji Weining nodded. She truly couldn’t fathom how this person had detected the spiritual energy within her. Having reached the Transformation Spirit stage, it shouldn’t be so easily noticed.

Zhuang Shulan extended her hand, revealing a swirl of black mist in her palm.

It was demonic energy.

“Are you a demonic cultivator, madam?”

She shook her head, pulling up her sleeve to reveal an arm covered in demonic patterns, faintly emitting black energy. “This was given to me by someone else. I don’t know how much longer I can hold on. Please, save my daughter.”

“Very well.” Ji Weining replied with restraint. She had never encountered such strange demonic energy before, yet she could tell that the person before her had not yet been corrupted by it.

How had the demonic energy been transferred to her? Her mind was filled with questions, but she kept them to herself. The lady before her had covered her arm again, and no trace of demonic energy was visible not even when probed with spiritual energy. It was likely that her clothing was a magical garment designed to conceal the demonic energy.

The carriage arrived at a villa located near Taoyuan Town. The estate was enclosed by high walls with black tiles, exuding an air of grandeur. Walking along a cobblestone path into the courtyard, a girl of about five or six years old darted out.

“Miss, please slow down!” A maidservant hurried after her, worried she might come to harm.

“Mother?” Spotting Zhuang Shulan, the girl rushed over and hugged her tightly.

Zhuang Shulan took her hand and gently introduced her to Ji Weining, “This is my child, Zhuang Yuyao. Her pet’s name is Taotao.”

She dismissed the surrounding maidservants and sat down in a small pavilion in the garden. Ji Weining followed.

Zhuang Shulan lifted Zhuang Yuyao’s hem to show Ji Weining. “She was born after I acquired this demonic energy. It resides within her as well.”

The pattern was identical to the one on Zhuang Shulan, yet it lacked the swirling black energy that covered hers, resembling a time bomb whose explosion remained an unpredictable threat.

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