Even If You're My Senior, It's Still Forbidden - Chapter 58

Su Jin’an naturally intended to accompany her senior sister on the mission.

“You all of you are coming?” Su Jia couldn’t understand why so many people were joining her. This was clearly her own matter, something she should have handled alone.

“The sect leader instructed that you must secure the position of the Shen family head,” Ji Weining explained, though she wasn’t particularly eager to go either. However, she couldn’t defy her master’s orders and added, “Your mother should already be on her way there as well.”

“Mm.” Su Jia fell silent at the mention of her mother, murmuring softly, “I understand.”

Ji Weining wrapped an arm around Su Jin’an’s waist and, with a wave of her bamboo flute, began heading north.

Su Jia and Liu Xiling, each with their sword, quickly caught up.

“Do you know the current situation with the northern families?” Ji Weining casually asked Su Jia, who had drawn alongside her.

Su Jia shook her head. “No, I haven’t been back in a long time.”

Over the years, she had stayed here and rarely returned.

“Don’t worry, we’re all going together this time. No one would dare bully you,” Liu Xiling comforted her, aware of the reasons Su Jia had avoided returning in the past.

Su Jia replied quietly, “No one has dared bully me for a long time.”

Sixty years ago, the main branch of the Shen family had colluded with the then-leading Liu family, nearly causing a major crisis in the north. Later, her aunt, Shen Ling, supported her father in securing the family head position. With her unconventional aunt overseeing matters, the situation was quickly suppressed.

“Did you know the Shen family head is nearing his end?”

The current head of the Shen family was still her father, Shen Ji.

Su Jia nodded. “The sooner he dies, the better.”

“Mm.” Ji Weining, aware of their grievances, said no more. If such a person hadn’t still been useful, she wouldn’t have bothered making this trip.

She would ensure he departed sooner and more peacefully.

“We’re here.” The bamboo flute descended, and Ji Weining guided Su Jin’an by the waist toward the city gate. The flute returned to her sleeve as she landed lightly on the ground, arriving at Guangze City, the central hub of the north.

“Young Mistress, you’ve finally arrived. The family head, the family head has passed,” the steward exclaimed, his face lighting up with relief upon seeing Su Jia.

Su Jia had little recollection of the steward and replied indifferently, “Mm, lead the way.”

Having been away from the north for so long, she found Guangze City vastly changed upon her arrival, the city walls seemed even taller than before.

The steward escorted them to the Shen family estate, where white cloths hung from the buildings, and the maids went about their duties quietly.

“Jia’er, you’re here.” A woman dressed in plain robes, her hair simply tied up, showed no trace of sorrow on her face. It was unmistakably Su Jia’s aunt, Shen Ling.

“Aunt.” Su Jia bowed respectfully and asked, “Has Mother arrived?”

“Her? I don’t know.” At the mention, Shen Ling flicked the sword in her hand and fell silent.

Su Jia knew there were many conflicts between her aunt and mother, but she didn’t dare press further, setting aside the questions in her heart.

“Senior Shen Ling.” Ji Weining approached and greeted her.

Shen Ling looked her over carefully, having not seen Ji Weining in a long time. “You must be Weining.”

“And this is?” Shen Ling turned her gaze to Su Jin’an, scrutinizing her from head to toe.

Ji Weining introduced her, “This is my junior sister, Jin’an.”

Shen Ling could sense that Su Jin’an’s spiritual power was not as strong as theirs. After some thought, she praised, “I wonder which noble family’s young lady you are your appearance is truly exquisite.”

As she spoke, she reached out to take Su Jin’an’s hand in a manner reminiscent of an elder.

Su Jin’an took a step back, merely smiling shyly.

“Everyone, come inside,” Shen Ling said with a wave of her hand. The maids inside stepped forward and led them to their assigned rooms. After setting down their belongings, Su Jia took them around the city.

“Most of the influence here is dominated by the Zheng family,” Su Jia explained. The Shen family was now just a minor clan with dwindling numbers, naturally unable to compare to a major family like the Zheng. If not for Shen Ling’s efforts to mediate, their situation would likely be even more dire.

Su Jia continued, “The selection for the Northern First Family will take place in two weeks, during the Xu Ling Festival.”

“Xu Ling Festival?” This was Liu Xiling’s first time venturing out, and everything outside was incredibly novel to her. She looked around curiously, turning her head upon hearing Su Jia’s voice.

In her hand, she held the spirit stones Liu Hongyu had prepared for her, along with some snacks she had just bought. She paused for a moment, then extended the bag of snacks forward and asked, “Would you like some?”

“This is delicious; I just tried it,” she said, grabbing a handful of raisins to offer them.

Su Jia cooperated, reaching out to take them and then distributing them to the other two. She popped a few into her mouth and commented, “Indeed, the flavor is quite good.”

Su Jin’an dared not show any abnormality and, like the others, agreed that they were tasty.

Su Jia explained to Liu Xiling, “The Xu Ling Festival is a northern holiday established six hundred years ago. It occurs once every ten years to determine the position of the First Family, which also grants an opportunity to enter the Northern Realm’s inheritance. The First Family must also protect the Northern Realm; failure to do so will result in backlash from the heavenly laws.”

“Alright, we should prepare to head back now.”

They had purchased many items, storing them in their Qiankun bags, concluding their outing. After returning to the Shen residence and tidying up the two rooms, Ji Weining went to find Su Jin’an.

Having observed the surroundings during their walk, Ji Weining looked at Su Jin’an, who was sitting by the window surveying the environment, and asked, “Junior Sister, I need to visit another part of the northern city. Would you like to come with me?”

“Sure,” Su Jin’an replied, having nothing else to do, she might as well accompany Ji Weining to see more.

“Where are you going, Senior Sister?”

“The Xu Ling Festival,” Ji Weining whispered.

Her purpose for this trip was to help Su Jia secure the position of the Northern First Family. Dealing with all the families was no easy task, as the forces involved were deeply intertwined, and there were many unspoken complexities.

The last time she had come to the north was to prepare elixirs for the Shen family head.

As she opened the door, she saw Shen Ling waiting outside for them for quite some time.

“Senior Shen,” Ji Weining said, surprised that Shen Ling had come to find her personally.

Shen Ling spoke up, “Please, you must ensure that Jia’er secures the position of the Northern First Family. I will handle the distant relatives of the Shen family; tomorrow, they will enter the city under the pretext of paying respects to the Shen family head.”

Over the years, Shen Ling had continuously reached out to the distant relatives. Though Shen Yi was the family head, it was Shen Ling who truly managed affairs. However, Shen Ling’s nature was not suited to being confined to such responsibilities, so it was not appropriate for her to take on the role of family head.

“Alright, I will communicate with the Zheng and Qian families. The rest will depend on you, Senior,” Ji Weining replied.

Once the Zheng and Qian families were dealt with, it would mostly be settled.

“Naturally,” Shen Ling confirmed before quickly departing.

“The Zheng Family? The Qian Family?” Su Jin’an turned to look at Ji Weining. Her understanding of the northern region was even more limited, and she couldn’t help but feel like a caged bird, foolishly yearning for the sky beyond.

“The Xu Ling Festival is the event that determines the position of the foremost aristocratic family in the north. It involves making offerings to the heavens and relies on the northern heritage and public opinion to decide which family will inherit the legacy of the north. Both the Zheng and Qian families are contenders for this northern heritage and are the most likely candidates.” Ji Weining briefly explained the reason for visiting these two families and then began planning their next steps. “After this, we still need to visit the Northern Demon Cave.”

“Alright.”

Over the years, she had lost count of how many times she had faced demon caves. Now, having someone to accompany her through it all, her heart felt unexpectedly warm.

“Is there anything else you’d like to know, Junior Sister?”

Su Jin’an had few questions and didn’t press further.

“What does Senior Sister plan to do now?”

“Kill people,” Ji Weining joked.

“Alright.” Su Jin’an, however, took out the soft sword she had brought from her Qiankun bag.

Ji Weining laughed at her serious expression. “I was just teasing. I only need to ensure those who shouldn’t participate don’t show up.”

There was no need for her to take their lives. Besides, before their departure, their master had given her clear instructions regarding some minor matters in the north.

The first place Ji Weining took Su Jin’an was the Zheng Family residence.

Su Jin’an reminded her, “Wasn’t the senior brother who fell into demonic cultivation from the Zheng Family?”

Only then did Ji Weining recall Zheng Juhe. She had almost forgotten about him. The Zheng Family had even visited Qingheng Mountain over the matter. But this time, they shouldn’t even dream of contending for the position of the foremost aristocratic family.

Led inside by a maid, they saw a middle-aged woman dressed in a sapphire-blue robe seated in the main hall. She was Zheng Ying, the current head of the Zheng Family.

“I never expected the first people from Qingheng Mountain to visit would be my family,” Zheng Ying remarked, not believing the Zheng Family had the strength left to compete for the position of the foremost aristocratic family.

Ji Weining understood her meaning. “It seems you are already aware of the matter regarding Zheng Juhe.”

“My elder brother indulged them, but I will not.”

“I didn’t expect the power dynamics in the Zheng Family to shift so quickly,” Ji Weining remarked, recalling that the last time she visited, this woman hadn’t been seated in this position.

Zheng Ying was resolute. “Those who are useless must be discarded.”

“The Zheng Family will not participate in this year’s Xu Ling Festival. However, we ask Qingheng Mountain to keep our family’s disgrace under wraps.”

The disgrace naturally referred to Zheng Juhe.

“Agreed.”

With the deal struck, the Zheng Family matter was settled.

Su Jin’an followed Ji Weining out, feeling somewhat dazed. “Just like that?”

“Of course, it’s not that simple. But aside from her, the Zheng Family has no one else worth considering.” With Zheng Juhe and his younger brother Zheng Jutian both dead, the remaining members posed no threat. The Zheng Family no longer had any promising younger generation to offer. It was better to preserve the family’s reputation so they might have another chance to contend for the foremost aristocratic family position in the future.

“The Zheng Family is done. What next?” Su Jin’an looked at Ji Weining.

The power structures in the north were too deeply entangled, and most people had no idea how to navigate them.

“The item the sect leader gave me,” Ji Weining said, pulling out a scroll and unrolling it. “We’ll follow this.”

“Alright.” Su Jin’an nodded, also glancing at the map marked with the location Ji Weining needed to go, then asked, “Senior Sister, are you really determined to let Su Jia take that position?”

She didn’t understand what Su Jia’s affairs had to do with her.

Ji Weining sighed helplessly, “Yes.”

She had no other choice. From the moment Liu Xiling was born, from the moment Liu Xiling was judged to never meet everyone’s expectations in magic, she had no way back.

“Alright, I’ll help you too, Senior Sister.”

“How do you plan to help me, Junior Sister?” Ji Weining didn’t quite understand why she suddenly wanted to assist her. She looked at her and reached out to gently pinch her earlobe again.

“What, Senior Sister looks down on me?”

“Senior Sister wouldn’t dare.” Ji Weining released her earlobe and tugged at her sleeve.

Ji Weining had no objections to whatever she wanted to do, she could do anything she pleased, as long as she didn’t harm herself. Ji Weining couldn’t bear to see her hurt herself again.

The strength of the northern faction was not to be underestimated, and it was said that the noble family they had recently been supporting was the Qian family, which was also the reason the Qian family was participating in this Xu Ling Festival.

Ji Weining looked up and saw “Luo Xue Tang”this was the place.

Entering the door, Ji Weining took out a token and placed it in front of the shopkeeper. “Qingheng Mountain. I wish to see your hall master.”

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