Even If You're My Senior, It's Still Forbidden - Chapter 33

“Once the formation is set up by the immortal master, I will hand it over to you.” Xu Huan’s tone remained calm, as if discussing an ordinary matter.

Ji Weining asked, “What formation do you want me to set up?”

She needed to know what kind of formation it was before she could make a decision. If she couldn’t accomplish it, then everything else would be off the table. However, she had yet to hear of any formation in this world that she couldn’t handle it was only a matter of whether she wanted to or not.

“The Demon Purification Formation,” Xu Huan uttered the name of the formation.

The Demon Purification Formation, an ancient formation designed to dissolve demonic energy and save all living beings. Ji Weining had read many books on formations and knew exactly what this one entailed. It used the life, spiritual power, and the karmic fortune of all future lifetimes of one person to purify the demons within a certain range. The heart of the formation was determined by the one who cast it, and more often than not, the caster would become the heart.

The requirements for setting up this formation were extremely high. A single mistake during the process would result in the soul scattering to the winds. It was indeed not suitable to inform her junior sister. Xu Huan was probably worried that her junior sister would be too concerned and make mistakes.

Xu Huan continued, explaining what she could do for her: “I will have a way to ensure you don’t die. I will also provide the spiritual power, but I need you, immortal master, to set up the formation on a banner and give it to me. I will be the one to cast it in the end.”

Xu Huan had no spiritual power herself and indeed could not set up the formation, nor did she have the means to do so. She likely had some magical artifact to carry out the final casting.

“How can you be sure I know this formation? And whose life do you intend to use? To save whom?”

Xu Huan’s request was far too bizarre, and the demand placed on her was exceptionally sudden. First, there were so many people in the world, it didn’t necessarily have to be her. Although the Demon Purification Formation was difficult, upon careful consideration, she wasn’t the only candidate. Second, whose life could bear the burden of purifying the demons within the range of the banner? Third, who exactly was the demon they wanted to save? And was that person even worth saving?

“Because only you, immortal master, can do it,” Xu Huan said with absolute certainty, then answered the other questions, “Using my life. The person to be saved is none of your concern.”

“You’re unwilling to tell me the reason? And how do you expect me to set up the formation?” What mindset was she supposed to have while doing it?

Although setting up the formation didn’t require knowing these details, she wanted to understand the reason. Setting up a formation without cause would also damage her karmic fortune.

“You will know in the future, immortal master.” Xu Huan had no idea how to broach the subject. She knew that if she spoke of it, Ji Weining’s reaction would likely be entirely different.

In the future, everyone would know.

She chose to avoid the topic.

Ji Weining asked, “Is there anything else?”

“Nothing more. It will be enough if you, immortal master, can help set up the Demon Purification Formation.”

Ji Weining could confirm that Xu Huan was not a bad person, nor was she the one who intended to plunge Taoyuan Town into demonic influence. The Demon Purification Formation could only purify demons. Every part of the formation was uniquely created by that ancient, nameless immortal master. If any single part were taken out on its own, nothing would happen.

“I am merely someone who wants to protect Taoyuan Town. I want this formation to save someone.” Seeing Ji Weining’s hesitation, Xu Huan gave her another reassurance.

Ji Weining continued to ask, “Then have you identified the person who has fallen to demonic influence?”

To resolve the matters of Taoyuan Town, she still needed to find those who had fallen into demonic cultivation. As for those who wished to transform into demons, it had nothing to do with her, she could turn a blind eye or, like Yu Qing, leave it to Qingheng Mountain to handle.

Of course, that would be another story altogether.

“Hmm, but I can’t tell the immortal master now.”

If she told Ji Weining, the latter would undoubtedly slaughter every single person who had fallen into demonic cultivation, leaving none alive, while also alerting the enemy prematurely. Ji Weining had always been decisive, and Xu Huan felt she was not one to tolerate even the slightest grain of sand. She had to act this way.

Xu Huan didn’t dare take the risk, she couldn’t afford to.

Since Xu Huan refused to tell her, Ji Weining had no way to search on her own. She wasn’t familiar enough with Taoyuan Town and couldn’t locate those who had fallen into demonic cultivation so quickly. Over the years, unable to find them, Ji Weining had already prepared herself to take things slowly, even considering the possibility that the person in question might already be dead. Now, her perspective had shifted.

Still, she could infer that those Xu Huan wanted to transform into demons were likely among the group who had fallen into demonic cultivation. If one could transform into a demon once, how could they do so repeatedly? Without eradicating the demonic heart, it would all be in vain.

It all depended on Xu Huan now or rather, it was a gamble. She needed to know who those fallen cultivators were.

“These are the materials required, along with the array blueprint.” Xu Huan produced a heavily mended scroll and a Qiankun pouch.

“I hope the immortal master will keep her promise set up the array and leave this place.”

“Fine,” Ji Weining replied casually, using magic to take the array blueprint and materials before gradually fading from sight.

At the same time, Ji Weining’s other form was sitting beside Su Jin’an, gently patting her back.

“Senior Sister’s spiritual power has diminished,” Su Jin’an murmured, only now beginning to realize it bit by bit. An involuntary ache filled her heart as she slowly understood why Ji Weining had done this.

Su Jin’an finally realized that the doppelganger technique split spiritual power in half, creating an identical illusion that even ordinary people couldn’t detect.

Seeing her expression, Ji Weining’s heart tightened. She leaned closer and whispered softly, “Don’t worry.”

“Why is Senior Sister so good to me?” Su Jin’an pondered, tears unconsciously streaming from her eyes. She truly struggled to accept it fully. Why did the divine decree demand this of her? There was no need for Ji Weining to go to such lengths, she could have deceived her, deceived the divine decree.

There was no need to be so wholeheartedly kind to her.

“I’m trying to win you over, Junior Sister,” Ji Weining whispered into Su Jin’an’s ear, her voice so low only the two of them could hear. One hand continued to stroke her back soothingly, while the other took out a handkerchief to wipe her tears. “Junior Sister shouldn’t feel burdened. This is what I must do to win you over.”

“No one, no one has ever treated me like this before.”

Su Jin’an couldn’t comprehend it. It seemed everyone had drawn close to her because of her status, and she didn’t know how to articulate it. Over time, she had gradually accepted the roles others tried to impose on her, even though she hadn’t understood any of it back then.

No one had ever cared about her feelings but Ji Weining was different. She cared about her.

As for this “winning over,” it all seemed to dissolve the moment Ji Weining said she wanted Su Jin’an to become her beloved.

“You’re the first.” Su Jin’an grasped her hand, those crystal-like shimmering eyes staring straight at her as she emphasized once more: “The first.”

The first to give her that reckless sense of security, that uniquely exclusive favor.

Which made it all the more incomprehensible to her.

“You’re also my first, junior sister.” Ji Weining stopped patting her back and instead used that hand to stroke Su Jin’an’s head, brushing aside the tear-dampened strands to reveal her entire face as she comforted her.

Su Jin’an knew she was merely a mortal without any spiritual power, transformed into her current state only after being infused with boundless spiritual energy by Ji Weining. When she said she wanted to participate in the New Selection Tournament, Ji Weining took her. When she wanted to earn entry to the Weapon Pavilion, Ji Weining helped her strive for it.

“Senior sister, didn’t you want to know where I’m from?”

“Shall I tell you now?”

“And why I need to go to the Clear Spirit Cave. I’ll tell you everything, alright?” Su Jin’an had already broken down, hating herself for being so foolish, only realizing now, what if Xu Huan’s demand had been her life?

Would she have agreed to that too? Why was she treating her this way? This affection far exceeded anything she could comprehend.

She wanted to peel away all her secrets and lay them bare before Ji Weining, just as Ji Weining had done for her. Her senior sister had treated her with sincerity, and she wanted to reciprocate.

Those secrets were so heavy, so heavy, and so exhausting, so exhausting.

“If you’re unwilling to speak and feel forced, junior sister, I’m willing to wait, I…”

Su Jin’an interrupted her: “I don’t want to wait any longer.”

She no longer knew how to face Ji Weining.

[Conquest Progress: 50%.]

A full fifteen percent higher than the last divine message.

Ji Weining’s heart raced beyond its normal rhythm, how was she supposed to face such a junior sister now?

Junior sister truly cared about her. Ji Weining hesitated, then said, “There’s also one thing I haven’t fully told you.”

Su Jin’an murmured, “Let’s talk about it when we get back, alright?”

She didn’t want to be here, with Tan Yan sitting nearby pretending to look out the window. She didn’t want them to see her in this state.

“Mm, have you finished talking with her?” Su Jin’an lifted her tear-filled eyes to look at her, and upon closer inspection, sensed that her spiritual power had returned.

Who she was, Ji Weining knew very well.

“We’re done. We can go back now.” Ji Weining embraced Su Jin’an from the front, holding her tightly as a spell swiftly unfolded before them.

Nearby, Tan Yan tapped her fan, withdrew her gaze from the window, glanced toward them, and curved her lips into a smile.

A bamboo flute swiftly descended from Ji Weining’s sleeve. With one hand comforting Su Jin’an and the other holding her close, she used her will to control the flute and cast an invisibility spell, returning to the Hua residence.

As soon as Ji Weining dismounted the flying bamboo flute, she turned and lifted Su Jin’an into her arms. Su Jin’an buried her face in the crook of Ji Weining’s arm, and Ji Weining felt her tears soak through the front of her robe.

“Did you agree to it?” Su Jin’an mumbled, her voice muffled against Ji Weining’s chest.

“Junior sister, it’s alright. Xu Huan just wants me to perform a high-level spell she can’t manage herself.”

To her, the Demon Transformation Array was indeed just an advanced formation. She could create it, but whether it succeeded would depend on Xu Huan herself.

Su Jin’an looked up dazedly from the crook of her arm. “Is that really true?”

Ji Weining could sense her concern, but also her fear.

She was afraid of facing Xu Huan’s unknown demands.

“Of course, it’s true,” Ji Weining murmured, burying her face against Su Jin’an’s cheek to nuzzle it gently.

Su Jin’an’s anxious heart seemed to gradually settle. She didn’t understand these matters, but her senior sister was the most capable one surely nothing would go wrong. She had been worrying too much.

Ji Weining walked to the bedside and gently set her down. Su Jin’an leaned against the edge of the bed, pondering how to explain herself and where to begin telling her story to Ji Weining.

“Senior sister, my surname is Su. I am the second daughter of the Su family in the south Su Jin’an. ‘Jin’ as in hibiscus, and ‘An’ as in peace.”

The Su family of the south, Ji Weining was quite familiar with them.

The Su family, the foremost aristocratic clan in the south, was also one that revered martial prowess. She must have been trained in the mystic arts, so why was there not a trace of such abilities about her?

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