Even If You're My Senior, It's Still Forbidden - Chapter 24.3

“Senior sister, cultivation is so exhausting,” Su Jin’an sighed.

Ji Weining was slightly taken aback. Had she been too impatient with her junior sister?

“Then how about we take a break today?”

Su Jin’an shook her head. “The Selection Tournament is approaching. Let’s rest after it’s over.”

“Alright.” If her junior sister wanted it, then she would make sure to fulfill her wishes. Since her junior sister wished to participate in the Selection Tournament, it was fine to let her take part.

Ji Weining brought warm water to help Su Jin’an rinse her mouth and wash her face.

After spitting out the warm water, Su Jin’an remarked, “If Senior Sister continues to pamper me like this, I feel like I’ll turn into a useless person.”

Ji Weining set down the rinsing cup and handed her a towel, speaking softly, “When junior sister no longer likes it or feels tired, then I’ll stop.”

“But I feel tired all the time,” Su Jin’an muttered under her breath, and she even enjoyed it this way.

She knew she shouldn’t let her do this, yet she wanted Senior Sister to treat only her like this.

What on earth was happening to her?

Ji Weining picked up a hairpin and began styling Su Jin’an’s hair, a task she had become particularly skilled at by now, effortlessly managing all kinds of hairstyles.

After the meal, Ji Weining sorted out the books necessary for understanding the Golden Core stage for Su Jin’an to review. “These are what I’ll teach you today.”

The focus was mainly on absorbing and utilizing spiritual energy, with all the intricacies to be explained step by step.

“Let’s start by teaching you the Clear Spirit Art.” This was considered a foundational technique for the Golden Core stage, and practicing it shouldn’t be too difficult for Su Jin’an.

Ji Weining continued her explanation, “This is a cultivation chant for regulating breath and energy circulation, primarily training the inner body and soul also known as ‘Forging the Heart.'”

“Soul?” These terms felt both unfamiliar and familiar to Su Jin’an. She had a sense that she had encountered such concepts before perhaps in a dream?

Thoughts swirled in her mind as she searched her memories, certain she had never formally learned any of this.

Why was she learning so quickly… Was it really just because Ji Weining had transferred spiritual energy to her?

“After reaching the Nascent Soul stage, the soul can manifest externally.”

Ji Weining separated a wisp of her soul from her body, a translucent layer distinct from her physical form. “Like this.”

A transparent version of Ji Weining appeared before Su Jin’an, who continued her explanation, “This is the soul. Typically, it isn’t used unless entering certain secret realms or practicing esoteric techniques.”

“I see.” Su Jin’an reached out to touch the translucent Ji Weining, but her hand passed right through.

Ji Weining explained, “Without spiritual energy, you can’t touch the soul.”

“Junior Sister, try gathering spiritual energy at your fingertip.”

Su Jin’an extended her index finger, concentrating her spiritual energy at the tip, and then touched Ji Weining. This time, she made solid contact, the soul was covered with a faint layer of spiritual energy.

“How does it feel?” Ji Weining asked.

“Hmm… It’s quite interesting,” Su Jin’an replied sincerely. It was fascinating; ever since arriving at Qingheng Mountain, her previous understanding of the world had been repeatedly overturned. She asked, “Can everyone achieve this through cultivation?”

“Not exactly. Everyone’s cultivation methods and paths differ significantly.” There were countless paths, yet they all led to the same destination whether for protection, longevity, or ultimately, for what one truly desired.

Su Jin’an fell into thought, pondering for a long while without asking further.

“Then, Senior Sister, please teach me quickly. There aren’t many days left until the Selection Tournament.”

Ji Weining once again withdrew into her physical body, taking control of it. These things couldn’t be handed over to her junior sister just yet, but she felt it wouldn’t be long now.

Ji Weining picked up the booklet and handed it over. “Junior sister, recite the Qingling Art.”

“Alright.” Su Jin’an opened the book and began to read.

The content of the book wasn’t extensive, the entire incantation was no more than a single page, just over fifty characters long.

The rest of the book consisted of explanations for these few dozen words, each sentence carrying significant meaning.

“Every phrase has its own meaning and is crucial for absorbing spiritual energy.”

A single misstep could lead to complications, and in the path of cultivation, this was the most critical aspect to avoid.

“The Way of Qingling lies in clarity, in stillness, in purity…” After finishing the recitation, Su Jin’an didn’t find anything particularly special about the art and glanced at Ji Weining.

“Gather the energy at the tip of your throat, read it with spiritual energy, then circulate the energy to expand the golden core.”

Following Ji Weining’s instructions, Su Jin’an recited the Qingling Art again. This time, the art stirred the spiritual energy throughout her entire body, even though she had only gathered a wisp of energy at her throat.

Moreover, the spiritual energy she sensed from the outside flowed inward, entering the golden core she had only acquired the day before.

As all the spiritual energy within her body converged into the golden core, her body felt both transcendent and utterly ordinary.

“The Great Way is simple,” Ji Weining remarked calmly.

“Senior sister truly is extraordinary.”

Having the golden core filled was entirely different from having the body filled with energy, it was more restrained, even capable of effectively concealing one’s spiritual energy, preventing it from being detected by others when unnecessary.

“If I were just like everyone else, would I still be your senior sister?” Ji Weining laughed triumphantly, pleased by Su Jin’an’s praise.

Su Jin’an teased, “Yes, senior sister is the most unique of all.”

After practicing, Su Jin’an noticed that all the spiritual energy in her body had gathered into the golden core, yet the core seemed like an unfillable container.

Was this the difference between the Golden Core and Nascent Soul stages? Did one need to fill this container completely?

“So, how does one advance to the Nascent Soul stage?” Su Jin’an asked curiously.

Ji Weining didn’t answer the question directly, as it wasn’t something she could easily explain. “Take your time, junior sister. There’s no need to rush.”

Reaching the Nascent Soul stage was not as straightforward as forming the Golden Core. Ji Weining recalled that she herself had only reached the Nascent Soul stage at around the same age as her junior sister and had remained there for many, many years before advancing to the Divine Transformation stage.

Everyone’s path was different, which was precisely why cultivation grew increasingly difficult.

“Alright then.” Su Jin’an didn’t dwell on it further. She had just entered the Golden Core stage and was in no hurry. She had heard that the fastest cultivator to reach the Nascent Soul stage was the very person before her someone who had begun cultivating at six, formed her Golden Core at ten, and reached the Nascent Soul stage at fifteen.

If she had remained an ordinary mortal, she would never have had the chance to encounter such a figure.

But now, she wanted to get closer to her.

Blood? She felt she could offer that too.

After practicing all afternoon, Su Jin’an realized she no longer felt as hungry as she used to.

“Does junior sister not plan to eat this afternoon?” Ji Weining, who had been watching her practice, couldn’t help but ask.

“I don’t seem to be very hungry.”

Ji Weining sighed with feigned sorrow, “Then it must be that my cooking doesn’t suit your taste.”

“Not at all. Please cook, senior sister. I’ll eat.”

Yet, eating felt pointless. In Su Jin’an’s eyes was a hint of melancholy unknown to Ji Weining.

Su Jin’an remained where she was, continuing her practice. If the golden core couldn’t be filled, then at least accumulating more spiritual energy would be beneficial, ensuring she wouldn’t run out when employing formations.

“How about we finish the spiritual wine left from yesterday?”

“Sure.” Su Jin’an replied casually. She had noticed that wine seemed to have a way of making her intoxicated.

Ji Weining also brought over a plate of peanuts.

In the courtyard pavilion, the peach blossoms had not yet fully fallen, and the sky had not yet darkened, it was the perfect twilight hour. Wisps of cooking smoke rose from the distant town.

Su Jin’an looked at her and asked, “Senior Sister, do you like drinking?”

Ji Weining shook her head. She wasn’t particularly fond of alcohol; she simply wanted to share a drink with her junior sister. She picked up the wine pot, poured two cups, and began tasting the wine while nibbling on the peanuts she had fried herself. It was indeed the brew Arou had hidden away for years different from ordinary wine, and one sip was enough to become enchanted by its flavor.

“Senior Sister, feed me,” Su Jin’an said, leaning in close until her face was almost touching Ji Weining’s lips. If Ji Weining lowered her head just slightly, their lips would meet.

Instead, Ji Weining was startled by her action. Her junior sister always did things that could easily be misunderstood.

After swallowing the wine in her mouth, Ji Weining picked up the cup she had poured for Su Jin’an, held it to her lips, and said softly, “Open your mouth, Junior Sister.”

But Su Jin’an reached out and lightly touched Ji Weining’s lips, then smiled with curved brows. “I want Senior Sister to feed me.”

“Is it… what I think it is?” Ji Weining hesitated. Wasn’t this moving a bit too fast?

Su Jin’an didn’t say anything more, only blinked her eyes to confirm yes, it was exactly what she thought.

Ji Weining recalled a book she had once read, which seemed to describe a similar scene. Could it be that her junior sister had read it too?

After a moment of rapid thought, she took a sip of the wine. The wine from last night hadn’t been reheated and still carried a chill. Ji Weining channeled a trace of spiritual energy into it, and the cold wine in her mouth gradually warmed.

Clumsily, she pressed her lips to Su Jin’an’s, the wine fermenting on her taste buds with its clear, sweet fragrance.

“Open your mouth, Junior Sister,” Ji Weining transmitted the message directly into Su Jin’an’s mind.

Su Jin’an parted her lips slightly, and Ji Weining quickly captured them. The wine flowed into her mouth, and Su Jin’an felt the warmth of the liquid, it was the wine.

Su Jin’an swallowed the peach blossom wine, feeling its warmth spread through her stomach.

She then extended her tongue, seeking more of that warmth, and soon encountered Ji Weining’s tentative tongue.

Was her junior sister trying to explore? Ji Weining’s mind went blank as she instinctively pressed deeper, touching that softness.

“Junior Sister, breathe,” Ji Weining transmitted the reminder.

Their noses brushed against each other, but Ji Weining couldn’t feel Su Jin’an’s breath. Her body was growing hotter, as if a fire were about to ignite.

Su Jin’an, still lost in the warmth, hadn’t yet realized her own state. The next moment, Ji Weining released her, and Su Jin’an began to gasp for air.

“The wine is finished. Do you want more, Junior Sister?” Ji Weining noticed Su Jin’an’s discomfort and took a deep breath before asking.

Su Jin’an’s face was flushed like an apple, and she felt her body burning up.

She grabbed Ji Weining’s hand and said, “I want something cold. It’s so hot.”

Realizing that Su Jin’an’s back was already drenched in sweat, Ji Weining honestly felt that she might not be suited for drinking. She was unbearably hot and uncomfortable, her entire body aching, her head dizzy, and her mind unable to think clearly.

Ji Weining held her wrist and checked her pulse.

The next moment, Su Jin’an pushed Ji Weining’s hand away and hugged her instead, burying her face in Ji Weining’s chest. “I’m… fine. I just want to hold you, Senior Sister.”

“Let me carry you to your room to rest, alright?” Ji Weining asked softly.

Su Jin’an let out a muffled sound, “Mm.”

Ji Weining wrapped her arms around Su Jin’an’s waist and lifted her up, sighing inwardly. Her junior sister’s health was still poor, and she refused to let him examine her. He would have to check on her again tonight.

Recalling the previous times when he had been unable to identify the cause of Su Jin’an’s ailment no matter what he tried, he truly felt at a loss.

Su Jin’an’s body was burning hot was it a fever? But her current condition didn’t seem to fit that description.

“My stomach hurts,” Su Jin’an murmured.

Ji Weining asked, “Is it a burning pain, a stabbing pain, or a crushing pain?”

“I don’t know. It just hurts,” Su Jin’an replied, her voice growing faint. She wrapped her arms around Ji Weining’s neck and fell silent.

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