Even If You're My Senior, It's Still Forbidden - Chapter 22

Zhuang Shulan gazed at her with an incredulous expression, unable to comprehend why Ji Weining would want Zhuang Yuyao’s blood. If others were to discover that they were deeply tainted with demonic energy, they would surely keep their distance.

Zhuang Yuyao knew there was something in her blood that should not be touched lightly. She shook her head and said, “Black energy will escape. It’s not allowed.”

“Aren’t you truly afraid?” Zhuang Shulan asked.

Ji Weining replied, “Demonic energy cannot harm me, nor can it invade me.”

It was precisely because of this that she had once benefited from it and had also been targeted by those seeking her blood.

“Taotao, this older sister can help you go outside to play. You must listen to her, understand?”

Zhuang Yuyao released Zhuang Shulan’s hand and nodded emphatically, acquiescing to her request.

“Can you take it after I fall asleep?” Zhuang Yuyao whispered, tugging lightly at Ji Weining’s skirt.

Zhuang Shulan explained on her behalf, “She’s afraid of pain.”

“Of course, that’s fine,” Ji Weining said. Though she had never taken care of a child before, such a small request made little difference to her.

“Would it be acceptable for you to stay here for now? If you need anything, just let Arou know,” Zhuang Shulan suggested. Seeing Ji Weining’s agreement, she added, “If there’s anything you wish to know, ask Arou. She will tell you.”

“Very well.”

After giving these instructions, Zhuang Shulan departed, leaving behind the maid who had escorted her earlier.

Ji Weining wandered around the courtyard with Zhuang Yuyao, not bothering to question Arou. Unable to contain her curiosity, Arou finally asked, “Is there nothing you wish to know, Miss?”

“Your mistress isn’t from here, is she?” Ji Weining had noticed the local dialect, which was entirely different from the way Zhuang Shulan spoke. Even Arou’s speech differed, suggesting she had only arrived in the area in recent years.

“That’s correct. My mistress is from the capital city.”

The Zhuang family, a noble clan of the capital.

Recalling this, Ji Weining began to form some understanding. It seemed Zhuang Shulan was the current head of the Zhuang family.

Noble families in the capital typically concerned themselves only with mortal affairs, much like the imperial clan. It was unexpected to find them involved in the path of cultivation.

Ji Weining pressed further, “How did she become tainted with demonic energy?”

“Miss, have you heard of Zhuang Qinzhi?” Arou inquired.

The Qin family, a rising noble house in the imperial city had flourished briefly but had declined several years prior.

“Back then, the head of the Zhuang family arranged for my mistress to marry into the Qin family. At first, my mistress believed it to be a favorable match. That year, the Qin family offered half their wealth as a betrothal gift, and the Zhuang family agreed to pass the position of family head and the Hermit’s Token to my mistress. It was under these terms that she consented.”

The Hermit’s Token, a symbol that commanded the allegiance of recluses. These recluses were supported by noble families, and in return, they channeled their merits and spiritual energy back to nourish the family, aiding in their ascension.

Arou continued, “But three months after the marriage, once my mistress became pregnant, the Qin family began reclaiming the betrothal gifts. Later, my mistress discovered that the Qin family was using their wealth to nurture demonic cultivators. She secretly gathered evidence and sent it to the Zhuang family.”

“However, some within the Zhuang family had colluded with the Qin family. So, my mistress activated the Hermit’s Token, summoning the Zhuang family’s recluse to investigate the matter.”

“That recluse is you,” Ji Weining stated, sensing the fluctuations of spiritual energy around her with certainty. Arou’s cultivation level was even higher than her own likely at the stage of Divine Transformation.

True recluses hid in plain sight within the mortal world.

Arou was a disciple of the Imperial Temple, cultivating the path of the Impassionate Buddha, a practice that upheld equality among all beings, showing no partiality. Any deviation would damage her Dao heart, causing her spiritual energy to dissipate rapidly.

Arou did not deny it.

So it made sense how she had come to find her. She had sensed the spiritual energy within her and wanted to use her hands to reduce the demonic aura on Zhuang Yuyao, as well as the one on Zhuang Shulan.

Ji Weining continued to speculate, “You developed feelings, so during the struggle with the demonic creatures raised by the Qin family, you were defeated and thus tainted by the demonic aura.”

This was the bond between her and Zhuang Shulan, which had even surpassed the extent of the agreement previously made with the Zhuang family.

“You suffered a backlash, and so did Shulan.” But was this really just an aftereffect? At this point, Ji Weining began to feel uncertain.

Arou replied, “What you said is not wrong, but originally, I should have been the only one to suffer the backlash.”

“This demonic aura is indeed what I deserve.” She should not have been defeated, but she couldn’t stop the spiritual energy from draining from her body, and from then on, she could no longer protect those she wanted to protect.

Ji Weining asked in confusion, “You no longer carry the demonic aura now, so how did Zhuang Shulan take it on for you? And why hasn’t she fallen ill even to this day?”

Arou smiled bitterly, unsure where to begin explaining. “She has long since fallen ill. There’s no saving her now.”

“The one who hasn’t fallen ill is Taotao. Miss, please take a look at Taotao first.” At this point, Ji Weining understood most of it and began to form her own thoughts.

Ji Weining’s gaze returned to the child playing with flowers in front of her. The child picked up a few fallen flowers from the floor, holding them by their stems, and came over to her. “Sister, flowers.”

Unlike her mother, who had sharp features, Zhuang Yuyao was well-nourished, with chubby little cheeks like a pink peach and round, dark grape-like eyes, exuding the innocent charm of a child.

“Thank you, Taotao. Sister likes them very much.” Ji Weining crouched down and took the flowers from her hands.

“Does Taotao have any places that hurt?” she asked after playing with her for a while.

Zhuang Yuyao shook her head. “But there’s a bad voice that scolds me.”

“It calls me stupid,” Zhuang Yuyao pouted, looking very upset.

“Taotao is not stupid. Don’t listen to it.”

“Mm-hmm.”

“Is that voice a demonic entity attached to her?” Arou, as a recluse confined to the Zhuang family to protect them, had little contact with demonic energy, which was why she was at a loss.

“Most likely.”

Like a divine oracle?

Ji Weining recalled that it hadn’t reminded her for a long time.

“What would the young miss like to eat today?” Hua Liniang, wearing an apron, wiped her hands and looked up, noticing Ji Weining beside Arou.

“Why is the miss here too?”

Hua Liniang was unaware of Zhuang Yuyao’s condition, so Ji Weining didn’t elaborate. “Madam Zhuang invited me here.”

“She asked her to come and help look after Taotao,” Arou added.

Zhuang Yuyao had a sweet tooth. After thinking for a moment, she suggested, “I want to eat peach blossom cakes. Auntie Li makes the best peach blossom cakes.”

“Then I’ll pick some peach blossoms to make them.” Hua Liniang didn’t ask further and went about her duties.

Thinking there was nothing else to do, Ji Weining went to the kitchen to watch Hua Liniang make the peach blossom cakes.

“Does the miss want to learn how to make peach blossom cakes?”

“Mm-hmm,” she said, joining Hua Liniang to learn.

It wasn’t until later that Zhuang Shulan returned. Zhuang Yuyao was waiting for her to eat.

“Mother, have some peach blossom cake,” Zhuang Yuyao said, grabbing a piece and offering it to Zhuang Shulan.

Zhuang Shulan took a bite and praised, “Taotao is the cutest.”

After the meal, Zhuang Yuyao began to feel drowsy and soon fell asleep.

“She’s asleep. We can go in now.” Zhuang Shulan did not enter, instead letting Ji Weining and Arou go in.

Ji Weining took out a fine silver needle and gently pried open Zhuang Yuyao’s tightly clenched little hand. With a quick prick of the needle, a drop of blood emerged from her fingertip.

Ji Weining enveloped the drop of blood with spiritual energy and then wrapped a thin gauze around Zhuang Yuyao’s fingertip.

The next moment, the blood exploded in the air, releasing a plume of black demonic energy that dissipated into the atmosphere.

“Is there a way?” Arou asked softly.

At present, the demonic energy only lingered in Zhuang Yuyao’s blood and had not yet infected her. However, the demonic entity constantly disturbed her. If her blood could be completely replaced, there might be a glimmer of hope.

Ji Weining frowned slightly. “There is a way, but it’s extremely dangerous.”

Arou looked at her expectantly. “Please tell me.”

“Blood replacement.”

“What kind of blood is needed?” Arou asked, a hint of confusion in her voice. Still, she had no choice but to trust the person before her, she represented a hope Arou hadn’t seen in years.

“Yours.”

As a hidden guardian of the Zhuang family, Arou was bound to them. If a direct descendant of the Zhuang family were to die, she would perish as well.

“Alright. Please don’t tell Shulan.”

“You are no longer a hidden guardian of the Zhuang family.”

Hearing this, Arou was stunned. How had Zhuang Shulan transferred the demonic energy that should have been hers onto herself? She had only told Arou that she had used a secret technique of the Zhuang family.

“Are you still willing to replace her blood?” Ji Weining asked one last time.

Arou stood frozen for a moment before replying simply, “Are you saying she severed my connection to the Zhuang family?”

“Haven’t you noticed that your spiritual energy is fading much more slowly now?” Ji Weining reminded her.

For those who follow the path of the Buddha, any deviation can damage their spiritual core and cause their energy to dissipate rapidly. The only way to slow this dissipation was to sever ties with the Zhuang family and Zhuang Shulan.

“What exactly is the secret technique of the Zhuang family?” Arou wondered. After all these years with the family, there were still things she didn’t know.

“That’s your business,” Ji Weining replied. She didn’t need to know the Zhuang family’s secrets. She asked again, “I just want to confirm are you still willing to replace her blood?”

“I am willing.”

“She really likes Taotao.”

“Good. In a few days, I’ll give you the method for the blood replacement. You can decide.” Arou still possessed spiritual energy and didn’t need someone with as little power as Ji Weining to assist her.

As for what would happen after the blood replacement, it would depend on her own fate.

Arou took out a white jade pendant engraved with a plump peach. “If I’m no longer here, please give this to Taotao.”

“She ended up like this because of me.”

“Give it to her yourself,” Ji Weining said. She had no intention of staying here indefinitely.

Arou added, “Under the peach blossom tree, I’ve stored years’ worth of peach blossom spirit wine.”

Ji Weining replied, “Deal.”

“I didn’t expect you to agree so easily.”

“It’s nothing major,” Ji Weining said with a shrug.

Arou asked another question, “Is there any hope for Shulan?”

Ji Weining shook her head. At her level, the demonic energy had surely seeped into her bones. How could she be saved? Maintaining even a sliver of clarity now relied solely on her own willpower. Then, Ji Weining went to push the door open.

“Is there hope for Taotao?” Zhuang Shulan outside the door asked urgently, her eyes filled with anticipation. It was clear how much she adored Zhuang Yuyao.

Ji Weining simply replied, “There is.”

“That’s good.” When it came to matters of cultivation, Zhuang Shulan had no intention of probing further. As long as her daughter had a solution, that was enough, she just didn’t want her to end up like herself.

She had thought she could hold on until she developed the blood-replacement method, but unexpectedly, Zhuang Shulan was the first to encounter problems.

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