Even If You're My Senior, It's Still Forbidden - Chapter 40

“How do you feel now? Any changes in your body?”

“It feels lighter.” Su Jin’an couldn’t quite articulate the sensation, but it was clear that her body had undergone a transformation.

Ji Weining held her hand, channeling spiritual energy into her. It flowed smoothly through her meridians without any obstruction.

“Senior Sister, do you want to see the golden core?” Su Jin’an knew her biggest issue lay with her current golden core. The seal on it had not yet been lifted, but her physical condition had improved significantly, making her less prone to illness.

Just as Ji Weining was about to probe further, Su Jin’an quickly added, “Maybe we should go find them first.”

After a moment of difficult contemplation, Ji Weining replied, “Alright.”

Logically, she should go check on the others, but her heart leaned more toward staying with her junior sister.

When they stepped out of the Qiu residence, the area outside was deserted, with not even a single guard in sight. It seemed Hua Rong and the others had already begun their plan. Ji Weining knew they had prepared an alternative strategy, one that would activate if their initial efforts failed.

She could only hope they were still in time.

They needed to locate the demonic entity they sought to eliminate and find a way to destroy it.

Night had fallen, and the entire population of Taoyuan Town had gathered in the southeastern part of the town, leaving the streets completely empty.

Ji Weining could only think of one phrase to describe the scene: “the whole town turns out.” Today, she was witnessing it firsthand.

At the temple, a plaque at the base of a pagoda read “Invoking the Divine Pagoda.” The people below knelt on the ground, devoutly awaiting their deity.

Before the pagoda’s entrance, a ritual priest danced to ceremonial music.

Passed down through generations, it had become a legend, revered as a precious tradition.

In a realm invisible to mortals, dark energy emanated from the pagoda, a clear sign that the ritual array had already been activated.

They were too late. Ji Weining wondered how Hua Rong was faring and what they could possibly accomplish by entering now.

“Should we still go in?” Ji Weining asked helplessly, turning to the person beside her.

Once the array was activated, there was no way to stop it. She couldn’t even access its core.

Su Jin’an saw through her hesitation and voiced the answer in her heart: “Senior Sister wants to go in.”

They had come with slim hopes, but having arrived, how could they not enter?

“Let’s go in.” Ji Weining’s wavering resolve steadied at that moment. Once the path was decided, there would be no turning back.

Below the pagoda, the townspeople rose to their feet. The ritual priest shook the bells in hand, and everyone donned floral wreaths, joining hands as they sang and danced, their faces radiant with joy.

Each person’s smile was unique, yet together, they formed a tapestry of shared happiness.

The Festival of Gathering Joy.

It truly lived up to its name, a gathering of joy.

Fortunately, the pagoda had many windows. Ji Weining took Su Jin’an’s hand, and they quickly slipped inside. The interior was adorned with murals depicting the origins of the festival.

It was easy to recognize Xu Huan from the illusion they had experienced. The illustrations showed the deity saving the people and leading them to her dwelling. The beautified story differed entirely from what they had witnessed in the illusion.

Yet, it was indeed Xu Huan who had allowed them to settle here peacefully.

Once every ten years, the deity would descend into the Invoking the Divine Pagoda. While witnessing the people’s joy, she would also ensure favorable weather and abundant harvests for the coming decade, so that they might celebrate again in ten years’ time.

“How can anyone believe this?” Su Jin’an exclaimed in disbelief after reading the murals’ narrative.

“But Xu Huan did make it happen.”

The stream that would have flooded Taoyuan Town was diverted by her, and indeed, the entire town enjoyed favorable weather and peace. The little girl who was rescued later, due to the hidden schemes uncovered by Tan Yan, ended up building the Joyous Pavilion, which secretly protected them. Even after she fell into demonic ways, the Joyous Pavilion continued to guard Taoyuan Town in the shadows.

Step by step, she gained the trust of the people. These rituals were of no use to her cultivation, yet she silently accepted them. What she truly wanted to see was the smiles on the faces of the common folk.

Looking out the window, Ji Weining began to gradually understand everything she had done.

She had likely foreseen this calamity long ago.

[Save Xu Huan and Tan Yan.]

The divine oracle sounded once more, this time seemingly unrelated to Su Jin’an.

[Su Jin’an wants them to live.]

The divine oracle actually explained on her behalf. Ji Weining glanced at Su Jin’an, who was calmly gazing out the window, showing no indication that she wished for the two to survive.

As expected, the divine oracle’s messages were always connected to her.

But how was she supposed to save Xu Huan, and Tan Yan, whose whereabouts were still uncertain?

When she reached the top of the tower, she unexpectedly saw Tan Yan and Xu Huan.

But where was Hua Rong?

The two stood at the very core of the formation, surrounded by banners Ji Weining had crafted with her own hands. Tan Yan was rapidly dissolving.

Tan Yan had activated the formation, using herself as its core. Xu Huan’s tears had long soaked her robes as she silently watched them, her eyes pleading, “Save her.”

[Only you can save her.]

Yet it offered no guidance on how to do so.

[Demonic energy.]

The next moment, the divine oracle actually gave a hint. Ji Weining hadn’t expected it the oracle’s methods were indeed bold.

Use the demonic energy within Xu Huan to take over the formation Tan Yan was operating? This could ensure Tan Yan would cease to dissolve, but what about Xu Huan?

The formation had already been activated, and they couldn’t enter. The floor was covered in golden light generated by the spiritual energy flowing through the formation, and the demonic energy within Xu Huan was indeed fading.

Ji Weining made a swift decision. “Xu Huan, use your demonic energy to take over the formation. It can save her.”

Use demonic energy? Xu Huan, inside the formation, stared blankly at her, then at herself, before finally turning her gaze to Tan Yan, who was dissolving to the point of being unable to speak. She had never used demonic energy before.

“Treat it like spiritual energy. Don’t listen to the voices within you just act,” Ji Weining continued.

“Okay.” Xu Huan’s voice was hoarse, but Ji Weining knew she had heard.

Xu Huan intertwined her fingers with Tan Yan’s, nuzzling her head affectionately as if trying to hold onto something.

Ji Weining swiftly manipulated the twelve banners with her spiritual power, altering the spells governed by spiritual energy.

She had long understood that there was little difference between spiritual energy and demonic energy. The real challenge lay in controlling them. Spiritual energy was gentle and easy to master, while demonic energy was violent, always seeking to break free.

Xu Huan gathered all the demonic energy within her and channeled it into the core of the formation beneath her feet. The surrounding formation changed, the golden light turned into black energy, and the core shifted as well.

After modifying the formation, Ji Weining closed her eyes. The rest was left to fate. The demonic energy had long since split her into two entities: one of demonic energy, the other of spiritual energy.

Xu Huan spat out a mouthful of blood, staining Tan Yan’s lapel.

Tan Yan opened her eyes and looked at her helplessly, tears streaming uncontrollably from her eyes.

“What are you doing?” Tan Yan used her last bit of strength to ask the person shrouded in black energy before her.

Xu Huan did not respond.

Tan Yan forced a smile and weakly called out her name: “Xu Huan.”

“Why aren’t you calling me ‘Master’ anymore?” Xu Huan was also smiling, paying no heed to the blood trickling from the corner of her mouth or her gradually fading form.

The core of the array shifted from spiritual energy to demonic energy, yet it continued to operate. Xu Huan was using demonic energy to eliminate demonic energy, but in doing so, she herself began to fade away.

“Master.” Tan Yan mustered the last of her strength to utter the words before collapsing, transforming back into the small cat Xu Huan had first encountered.

“From now on, don’t call me ‘Master’ anymore.”

Xu Huan closed her eyes as well. The demonic energy within her was automatically drawn out by the array, and she became like a golden canary trapped in a cage.

“Demonic energy can be used too?” Su Jin’an didn’t realize she had sniffled, her eyes aching.

Ji Weining took her hand again and nodded. “Naturally, it can. However, there are very few in this world who can control demonic energy without being controlled by it.”

“Will they be alright?” Ji Weining couldn’t answer that question.

“I can’t be sure. Let’s go find Hua Rong first.” She didn’t know how long the array would last, it was up to Xu Huan’s own fate.

Xu Huan had lived longer than her and knew more. If even she had no solution, what could Ji Weining possibly do?

Su Jin’an reminded her, “And Yu Qing.”

Neither of them had appeared, and they had no idea where the two of them were now.

“Does Hua Rong know nothing about these matters?” Su Jin’an asked.

“No, Hua Rong has been keeping it from Yu Qing. But telling Yu Qing wouldn’t help either.”

With that explanation, Su Jin’an understood. Yu Qing was indeed still too weak and even easily deceived.

“How do we find them?”

“Using what Yu Qing gave us.” Ji Weining took out the array books Yu Qing had given her from her Qiankun pouch.

Her fingers swiftly formed a seal, and a butterfly emerged from the books. Ji Weining took Su Jin’an’s hand and followed the butterfly.

The butterfly led them to the place where the two had stayed at the Hua family residence.

“Is Yu Qing inside?”

“It seems so.”

Ji Weining knocked on the door. “Yu Qing?”

“Mmm…”

A muffled sob came from inside.

“It seems she’s in trouble.” Su Jin’an also clearly heard the sound.

Ji Weining quickly kicked the door open and, with Su Jin’an in tow, swiftly located Yu Qing. With a wave of her hand, the wind blew the door wide open.

Yu Qing was bound by the Immortal-Binding Rope she had made for Hua Rong.

Seeing that she was unharmed, Ji Weining felt relieved. With a spell, the restraints on Yu Qing were released.

“Hua Rong, where is Hua Rong?”

“That scoundrel, she’s a complete scoundrel. She lied to me again.” As soon as Yu Qing could speak, she began cursing Hua Rong, as if she hadn’t sobered up from that day.

Ji Weining had no idea what had happened. She could only guess that Hua Rong, worried Yu Qing would try to save her, had locked her up. There were many possibilities, but she couldn’t confirm any of them. She needed to ask Yu Qing. “Take your time and explain. What happened to her?”

“She tricked me into going out, and then she told me to.” Yu Qing’s words trailed off halfway, unable to continue. The rest of what she had to say was too shameful to utter.

“Do you know where she is now?” Su Jin’an also asked.

“I don’t know.” Yu Qing’s chains were still not undone. She had designed them herself and had no way to remove them. She asked, “Can you help me undo these Immortal-Binding Chains?”

“You created this mess yourself, won’t you try to undo it?” Ji Weining looked at the chains. She had indeed undone them before, but that was for Su Jin’an. She wasn’t sure about Yu Qing.

“Let’s find Huarong first!” In Yu Qing’s heart, Huarong was still the most important.

Ji Weining thought the same: “Do you have anything of Huarong’s?”

Yu Qing pointed at herself, then glanced at the Immortal-Binding Chains around her neck.

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