Even If You're My Senior, It's Still Forbidden - Chapter 54

This time, the illusion was shrouded in darkness.

There was no sound to be heard, no movement of wind. Ji Weining didn’t know which way to go or where to head next.

Ji Weining held tightly onto Su Jin’an’s hand, refusing to let go, afraid that if she loosened her grip even slightly, the other would vanish.

“Senior Sister, where is this?”

“It’s so dark.”

Su Jin’an’s hand trembled slightly, her grip firm as if she were afraid of the dark.

“Don’t be afraid, it’s alright.” Ji Weining reached out with her other hand and patted Su Jin’an’s trembling one. Whether it was physical torment or psychological distress, these were all tricks devised by the one who created this illusion.

Su Jin’an leaned against Ji Weining like a boneless creature. In the darkness, Ji Weining couldn’t make out her expression. “Senior Sister, should we try to leave?”

“Wait, you’re not my junior sister.” Ji Weining pushed her away. Su Jin’an would never give up so easily; she wouldn’t suggest leaving.

“How could I not be?”

A hand reached up to caress her cheek.

“Soul-Snatching Spirit?”

“Senior Sister, you’re truly sharp.” The figure extended a finger, attempting to poke Ji Weining’s collarbone.

Ji Weining dodged. “My junior sister would never say such things.”

The darkness abruptly vanished. Ji Weining glanced around and found they were now in a secret passage, though it was unclear who had constructed it.

“Your junior sister is truly restless.”

“Ah!” As soon as the words were spoken, something within Su Jin’an’s body slipped out like smoke, only to be drawn back in the next instant.

Sensing the change, Ji Weining moved to support her. “Are you alright, Junior Sister?”

“I… I think I can’t see again.”

Ji Weining fell silent, unsure when the Soul-Snatching Spirit had entered Su Jin’an’s body. She spread her hands, releasing spiritual energy that filled the space, probing every corner of the illusion.

“It’s alright, Junior Sister. I’m here.” Ji Weining patted her back, letting her feel her presence.

“Okay.”

Leaning close to her ear, she whispered, “Shall I hold you, Junior Sister?”

“Okay.”

Ji Weining wrapped her arms around Su Jin’an’s waist, lifting her and letting her lean against her body.

“Senior Sister, I’ll be fine, right?” Su Jin’an asked.

Ji Weining channeled a stream of spiritual energy into her hand, examining her body. Her eyes had been invaded by the Soul-Snatching Spirit, which hadn’t fully left and could reclaim Su Jin’an’s body at any moment.

“If you wish to break the illusion, you must keep me here,” the Soul-Snatching Spirit’s voice echoed, reminding Su Jin’an.

Su Jin’an relayed the message: “Senior Sister, it says it knows the way out.”

“Senior Sister, I think I can see the path now.”

Ji Weining didn’t know what Su Jin’an was seeing, but since she claimed to know the way, she decided to trust her.

“The exit is to the southwest,” Su Jin’an said. In her world, she couldn’t see the passageways clearly but knew, “There’s a beam of light there.”

In Ji Weining’s perception, there was no such light.

“Alright.”

Southwest direction.

The Soul-Snatching Spirit once again took over Su Jin’an’s body. Ji Weining released her grip, her expression darkening.

Instead, it began to chatter incessantly, asking them one question after another: “Where did you come from?”

“Are you here to take me out?”

“How did you know my name is Soul Devourer?”

Ji Weining grew impatient. “The real question is why you possessed my junior sister.”

Why did you enter Su Jin’an’s body?

“Because I couldn’t get into yours,” it replied, speaking through Su Jin’an’s body with an unapologetic tone that made it clear this was not her junior sister.

“What kind of absurd reason is that?” Ji Weining couldn’t comprehend its logic. What secrets did it hold, and was this illusion truly so simple?

“Your body has too much spiritual energy, and your soul is more complete compared to hers,” the Soul Devourer explained.

Ji Weining asked, “Are you saying my junior sister’s soul is incomplete?”

The Soul Devourer replied, “You could say that.”

An incomplete soul?

Ji Weining was momentarily at a loss for words.

“But your soul is incomplete too.”

“Huh?”

No one had ever told her that before.

“I am a Soul Devourer who has always resided in this secret realm. I don’t know how I ended up in this illusion. I’ve forgotten.”

Soul Devourer, as the name implies, devours souls.

It sustains itself by feeding on souls as long as there are souls, it can survive.

“Then why have you stayed here all this time?”

“Of course, because I can’t leave.” Its true form was nothing more than a wisp of mist, how could it possibly leave?

“It’s been a long time since I last fed on a human soul.”

After a moment of thought, Ji Weining said, “Then I have even more reason not to let you out.”

“I won’t recklessly consume human souls. My master only ever gave me the souls of evil people to feed on.”

“Your master?”

Ji Weining had no idea how long she had been walking, but she still hadn’t found the place her junior sister mentioned, the southwest direction.

Just keep heading southwest.

Continue straight ahead.

The path was winding, and Ji Weining wondered how Su Jin’an was faring under the Soul Devourer’s influence. Since her body was still intact, she was probably fine.

“My master is a judge from the Ghost Realm.”

The Ghost Realm?

Ji Weining had never been there. Rumors said there was a passage connecting the human world to the Ghost Realm, but she had never been able to find it.

“So, my master could instantly determine whether someone was good or evil.”

Ji Weining nodded thoughtfully.

The Ghost Realm was vastly different from the mortal world. The Hall of Reincarnation was also located there, forming the foundation of this world.

“My master sent me out to wait for someone. She said that someone would bring me back to her.”

Was she supposed to go find her? To search for the lost souls of herself and Su Jin’an that the Soul Devourer mentioned?

“Do you know the passage to the Ghost Realm?”

“I don’t know. She just tossed me out, and I ended up here. I have no idea how I got to this place.”

If a Soul Devourer were to reach the human world, it would be a disaster. If it started consuming the souls of the living, chaos would surely ensue. This was precisely why they dared not release the Soul Devourer recklessly.

“I didn’t know. I waited for so, so long before I encountered anyone.”

“My master said there’s a problem in the Ghost Realm and told me I must bring someone back to search.”

“Bring someone back?”

Search for what?

Ji Weining felt confused. She had no idea what they were supposed to be looking for.

“Of course, it’s to find what will restore order to the ghost realm.”

“It seems it should be you.”

Ji Weining didn’t quite understand her logic. “Are you so certain?”

“Because you’re the only ones I’ve encountered.”

Ji Weining didn’t respond further.

“We’re here.” After who knows how many twists and turns, she finally saw the exit of the illusion.

Ji Weining stepped out immediately, but Su Jin’an’s body remained trapped inside.

“So this illusion was meant to confine you.”

Miscalculation.

The Soul-devouring Spirit within Su Jin’an grew anxious.

“If I can’t get out, your junior sister won’t be leaving either.”

Ji Weining looked at her through Su Jin’an’s eyes. “I think I could kill you.”

“Then your junior sister’s body would inevitably suffer damage.”

The Soul-devouring Spirit was gambling betting on whether she would or dared to.

“Fine, you win.” Ji Weining reluctantly released her grip and asked, “Can you let my junior sister come out to speak with me first?”

“Alright.” The Soul-devouring Spirit, confident after regaining control of Su Jin’an’s body, agreed.

The Soul-devouring Spirit was not an easy entity to deal with; if not handled properly, Su Jin’an would also be harmed.

Su Jin’an called out to her, “Senior Sister.”

Though it was the same voice, Ji Weining could clearly distinguish the difference.

“How is your body now, Junior Sister?” Ji Weining examined Su Jin’an once more.

Su Jin’an’s expression was calm. “She was controlling my body earlier.”

“Should we really let her out now?” Ji Weining left the decision to Su Jin’an. It would be difficult to separate the spirit from Su Jin’an without bringing them both out.

Su Jin’an had no desire to release her. Now that she had broken free from its control, she acted decisively, drawing a dagger she had brought with her from her sleeve.

“I despise being controlled by others the most.”

Su Jin’an gripped the knife and plunged it into her own body, staggering as she stepped through the illusion’s exit. The sunlight in the secret realm fell upon her, unexpectedly warm. The bracelet on her wrist glowed she had passed this trial.

Ji Weining reached out to stop her, but she hadn’t expected Su Jin’an to react this way. She was at a loss for what to do.

“Junior Sister, Junior Sister.”

The surrounding secret realm began to collapse; the exit was closing.

The Soul-devouring Spirit swiftly emerged from her body, seizing the opportunity to escape, but was repeatedly blocked by the illusion’s barrier.

Ji Weining hurriedly carried her body out.

“Sister Weining?” The crowd waiting outside the secret realm was shocked to see Su Jin’an covered in blood.

“I’m returning to Qingling Residence first.” Ji Weining’s face was pale. She needed to go back quickly, to bring her junior sister home.

The next group to emerge included Zhao Mu and the others, but Su Jia looked around and couldn’t see Ding Yun or Zhao Xi.

Ding Yun was the last to come out, clutching a corner of Zhao Xi’s garment, her expression dazed as if she hadn’t fully emerged from the illusion.

“Where is my sister?” Zhao Mu rushed over to ask Ding Yun as soon as she saw her.

“She’s gone.”

Ding Yun extended her other hand, holding a withered flower. She presented it to Zhao Mu. “Yes, this is, what she gave me.”

Ding Yun never imagined that Zhao Xi would make such a decision.

“Do you even know why she came here in the first place?”

Zhao Xi didn’t have to come, she wasn’t a disciple of the sect leader, so why did she appear? The reason was simply that she wanted to.

“That day, she heard that this secret realm was dangerous, unlike any other.”

“That’s why she came. Do you even understand?” Zhao Mu grabbed her collar and roared, then released her with a helpless sigh. “You have no idea.”

She reached for the flower in Ding Yun’s hand, slicing her own palm open to let her blood drip onto the blossom. The withered flower suddenly regained its vitality.

“Since she gave this to you, please take good care of it. Don’t let her down again.”

Zhao Mu took out a stone pot and buried the flower inside.

“This is my only sister.” Her eyes red, she stared intensely at Ding Yun. If not for her, Zhao Xi would never have come.

Without another word, Zhao Mu picked up the torn piece of clothing and left.

“What happened?” Lu Mingzhu looked around, momentarily at a loss for words.

“Master, I think I messed up.” Su Jia gazed at the injured women, unsure what else to say.

“You’ve done well enough, Jia’er.”

Liu Hongyu comforted her, “Go check on your junior sister, Su Jin’an.”

“Take these to her as well.” Liu Hongyu pulled some medicinal herbs from her sleeve and handed them to Su Jia.

“Alright.”

Throughout the journey, Ji Weining kept pressing on the wound where Su Jin’an had been stabbed, channeling all her spiritual energy into her. Su Jin’an’s body lost balance as spiritual power continuously leaked from the opening, leaving Ji Weining uncertain how to proceed.

“Junior sister.”

“I’m fine.” Su Jin’an’s consciousness remained clear.

Ji Weining continuously poured her spiritual energy into Su Jin’an’s body, truly at a loss for what to do.

She watched as if Su Jin’an’s body had developed a gaping hole, no matter what she tried, she couldn’t seal it. The energy kept leaking out relentlessly. Left with no choice, she repeatedly transferred spiritual power into her body until finally, the breach was sealed.

“I’m alright.” Su Jin’an’s lips were pale as she asked, “Did I qualify for the tournament?”

“I haven’t checked yet.” Ji Weining had been solely focused on getting her to safety, too distraught by her blood-soaked junior sister in her arms to think about anything else.

Su Jin’an nudged Ji Weining, “Then please go check for me, senior sister.”

“The bleeding has stopped.” She pressed on her wound Ji Weining had transferred so much spiritual energy that she was already healed. All that remained were her bloodstained clothes.

Ji Weining hadn’t expected her to still be thinking about the competition and said gloomily, “Let me help you change your clothes first, then we’ll see.”

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