Even If You're My Senior, It's Still Forbidden - Chapter 23

“As the saying goes, to capture someone’s heart, you must first capture their stomach. To win someone over, the same principle applies.”

“It was my culinary skills that got me into the Zhuang residence in the first place. With this talent, I’m never afraid of going anywhere.” Hua Liniang spoke earnestly, as her cooking had also brought her much personal joy.

Tasting the ordinary flavors of the mortal world made Ji Weining feel that Qingheng Mountain was nothing special after all. The world outside was vast and boundless, and staying on Qingheng Mountain seemed far too limiting.

“Let’s have a couple of drinks.” Arou brought out a jar of wine, sneaked a plate of peanuts from the kitchen, and called Ji Weining up to the rooftop.

Ji Weining asked, “Why didn’t you call Zhuang Shulan?”

“She doesn’t drink. She’s more disciplined than me, and I’m the one practicing the Buddhist path.” Arou laughed helplessly, an expression Ji Weining had never seen on her face before.

“I’ve never had alcohol either. I’ve always heard that wine can drown sorrows, and I was afraid I’d never get the chance to try it in this lifetime.”

Though Ji Weining wasn’t entirely confident either, she comforted her, saying, “It might not be that bad. If you survive the blood exchange, what if I find a new method?”

Arou opened the wine jar, poured some into a bowl, took a small sip, and immediately choked as the strong flavor hit her throat.

Bitter truly bitter.

There was a hint of peach blossom sweetness, but to her, it was mostly bitterness and astringency. It was hard for it to suit her taste.

Ji Weining also poured a cup and took a sip.

She could feel the spiritual energy contained in the wine flowing directly into her organs. It was indeed a high-grade spirit wine, perfect for boosting spiritual power.

“Don’t you find it hard to drink?”

Ji Weining shook her head. She thought the wine was quite good, with its rich, mellow peach blossom aroma, making it a top-tier floral wine.

After just a few sips, Arou’s face began to flush. “I’m going to find my lady.”

“Your lady?”

Ji Weining thought it over and finally understood.

Under the moonlight, Ji Weining sketched out the blood exchange method in her hand, devising a unique formation. She pondered for a long time but couldn’t decide where to start the exchange.

Her formation skills were indeed not as advanced as Elder Suhua’s.

But she could make up for it with her medical knowledge.

Ji Weining planned to go to the town to buy some herbs to invigorate the meridians and prepare some blood-replenishing medicine.

She didn’t know if it would work, but she had to try. After finishing the jar of wine, she packed up the half-prepared formation and went back to sleep.

Early the next morning, Arou rushed over, her eyes red and filled with tears that shouldn’t have been there. She tugged at Ji Weining’s sleeve and said, “Shulan something’s happened.”

Ji Weining quickly got up to check on the situation. As soon as she entered, she saw Zhuang Shulan biting her right hand, surrounded by a dark mist.

Ji Weining knew very well that this was a precursor to demonic possession. What would happen next was anyone’s guess, and the best solution was to kill her.

“Kill her.” Ji Weining forced out the three words with difficulty.

“Arou, kill me.” Zhuang Shulan released her hand, revealing teeth marks that were bleeding. Her voice was weak.

“Hurry, Arou.”

Arou acted, striking her with a palm to knock her unconscious. She held her, using her own spiritual energy to envelop the demonic aura, preventing it from spreading.

“You couldn’t bring yourself to do it?” Ji Weining asked, puzzled. She didn’t understand why Arou couldn’t go through with it.

Arou choked back sobs as she answered her question: “I can’t kill her. I simply can’t.”

“I still. I can’t bring myself to strike her.” Arou’s hands trembled as she continued explaining to Ji Weining, “That white jade peach is my magical artifact. Leave it for Taotao. I’m taking her away.”

“But what about Taotao?” Zhuang Yumiao also carried demonic energy within her, and no one knew when she might erupt like Arou had.

Only Arou could save Zhuang Yumiao, only the bond between her and the Zhuang family could perform the blood exchange to save her life.

“I can’t bear to watch her suffer like this right before my eyes.” She simply couldn’t do it. She no longer knew what she should do, but she wanted to take her away, back to the Zhuang family. If she could transfer her own demonic energy to her, then there must be a way to reverse it.

She shouldn’t have to endure all this.

Arou’s tears fell ceaselessly onto Zhuang Shulan’s robes.

“This is the method for the blood exchange technique. I’ll leave the required herbs here, under the peach blossom tree.” Ji Weining cast an array toward Arou, which likely contained the energy transfer she mentioned this was also why she had sought her out.

“Thank you. May I know your name, miss?” Arou had never thought to ask before, but now she wanted to remember her.

Ji Weining replied, “Ji Weining.”

“Please look after Taotao for me. I’ll find a way.” Currently powerless, she had no means to take responsibility for both of them.

“Mm.” Ji Weining said no more and turned to leave.

Arou vanished from the room, holding Zhuang Shulan.

They were probably heading to the Zhuang family. But could someone truly be saved after demonic energy had penetrated their marrow? Even her master wouldn’t know the answer.

After staying in the courtyard for over ten days without encountering them again, she instead met Cui Zhu, who had come from Qingheng Mountain.

“Madam Zhuang has passed away after being corrupted by demonic energy. The sect leader has ordered Senior Sister Weining to return.”

Zhuang Shulan was gone? Then what about Arou?

Did they even know about Arou’s existence?

She didn’t dare ask more. Since the sect leader was summoning her back, it must be important. Perhaps she shouldn’t have involved herself in this matter to begin with.

“Is Sister leaving?”

Ji Weining gently pinched her cheek and placed what Arou had left for her around Zhuang Yumiao’s neck: “This is for Taotao.”

“This peach is so pretty.” Zhuang Yumiao’s chubby little fingers touched the peach pendant at her neck.

Ji Weining didn’t know what kind of artifact it was, but as Arou’s life-bound magical tool connected to her, the peach had shown no activity lately perhaps Arou was still safe.

But Zhuang Shulan likely had no chance left.

“I’ll stay here to look after Taoyuan Town.”

Ji Weining had assessed Cui Zhu, only at the Golden Core level. If anything serious happened, she probably wouldn’t last long here either.

“I heard you were leaving, miss. I came to see you off.”

Hua Liniang arrived with a basket of snacks, mostly pastries she had taught Ji Weining to make these past few days.

“My mother enjoys making these. Please accept them, miss.” The young woman beside her was likely Hua Xi, Hua Liniang’s daughter, who appeared to be about four months pregnant.

“Her husband is away on business lately, so she came to visit me.”

The Zhuang family stewards were still in the courtyard, so Taotao should be safe.

She could come and go as she pleased, no one could restrict her.

“Alright.” Ji Weining accepted the basket and walked out of Taoyuan Town.

“Have you heard? A great fire broke out in Taoyuan Town, the largest estate was completely burned down.”

“That wasn’t a fire, it was tainted by demonic energy.”

Only a few days after leaving, Ji Weining overheard this conversation while resting at a teahouse.

“Was it the Zhuang family’s estate?” Ji Weining approached and inquired.

After a moment’s thought, the person replied, “I believe it was that family.”

“Thank you.” Ji Weining placed a few pieces of silver on the table and left the teahouse.

They had acted so quickly, she needed to return.

She rode her bamboo flute and departed, heading back to Taoyuan Town.

The town was shrouded in dense black mist, the demonic energy had spread.

Ji Weining recalled an ancient formation: the Demon-Suppressing Array.

Perhaps she could attempt to use this array.

The townspeople were not heavily affected by the demonic energy; some were even unaware of its presence. Of course, mortals couldn’t perceive demonic energy or sense anything related to it.

Yet, it was silently eroding them.

Ji Weining flew to the highest point in the town and looked down, immediately spotting the Zhuang family estate enveloped in black energy.

The people inside had already scattered. It seemed everyone knew about the Zhuang family’s plight. The Zhuang family had considerable influence in the capital, but now they appeared to be facing difficulties.

Ji Weining activated the Demon-Suppressing Array.

This was the first demon-suppressing technique she had learned, it could eradicate all low-level demonic creatures tainted with demonic energy. For such a large-scale purification, an array was essential; otherwise, the effects would be minimal.

“Young lady, why have you returned?” Hua Linian, holding her daughter, looked up at her.

Her daughter seemed to be afflicted by the demonic energy, clutching her stomach in pain.

Ji Weining had already activated the Demon-Suppressing Array, the demonic creatures would be completely eradicated.

Below were people she had once lived among. Ji Weining halted her spiritual power, clenched her hand, and the demonic energy in the air dispersed. However, it became even harder to track within the town.

“Sister Weining has returned.” Cui Zhu, clutching her chest, spoke in a hoarse voice, “Please, Sister Weining, go to the Zhuang family estate. The core of the array is there.”

Ji Weining approached, cut her fingertip, and let a drop of blood fall into Hua Xi’s mouth.

The demonic energy around Hua Xi gradually dissipated, and she fell unconscious.

Ji Weining knew the efficacy of her blood but never used it lightly.

“Please leave Qingheng Mountain of your own accord.” Ji Weining left these words for Cui Zhu.

Cui Zhu knew she couldn’t hide anything from Ji Weining. “Very well.”

She had been too careless. Ji Weining smiled bitterly.

Arriving at the Zhuang family estate, she found the entire courtyard empty. Near the withering peach blossoms, she discovered a Demon-Summoning Array hidden within the Demon-Slaying Array. So that was it.

The core of the Demon-Slaying Array had been damaged and replaced with a Demon-Summoning Array, supplemented by various smaller arrays to gather and spread demonic energy.

These arrays concentrated all the resentment and hatred in Taoyuan Town, forming the demonic energy.

This type of demonic energy was originally thin, but when gathered, it became extremely powerful. Its most terrifying aspect was its ability to corrupt the human heart.

Ji Weining took out the Xuanqing Bell from her sleeve and rang it. The demonic energy around her dissipated, and the bell’s chimes transformed into waves of arrays attacking the core formation.

When the core array was shattered by spiritual energy infused with Ji Weining’s blood, the demonic energy instantly turned to ashes.

Ji Weining’s blood dripped onto the courtyard ground, and the peach tree in the yard burst into full bloom.

“Taotao is gone.”

The burned houses showed no trace of anyone still present.

Everyone in the courtyard had gone somewhere, she had arrived too late.

Unsure how to react, she sat dazedly on the rooftop where she had once drunk with A’Rou.

All the people she had once encountered here had vanished.

“Young lady, why not come stay at my place for now?” Hua Li Niang walked in and asked.

Oh, right there was still Hua Li Niang.

“Alright.”

“I haven’t asked yet, what is your name?”

“Ji Weining.”

“That’s such a lovely name. Did your parents give it to you?”

No one had ever told her about that. She faintly remembered that when she first arrived at Qingheng Mountain, there was a piece of jade on her with the characters “Ji Weining” inscribed. Since then, her master had always called her by that name.

“Probably.”

Did she have parents? She didn’t know the answer.

She had kept Cui Zhu, but it was Cui Zhu who had brought in the demon-summoning array. Perhaps her original intention had been to get rid of Zhuang Yuyao, but the root of the disaster had started with her.

“Shijie, your heart is too soft,” Su Jin’an sighed after hearing Ji Weining’s story. She thought, why not just kill them all? Shijie’s heart is too soft. Seeing Ji Weining’s pained expression, Su Jin’an felt a pang of heartache.

“Let’s not talk about it anymore. Do you still want to go soak in the hot springs tonight?”

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