Even If You're My Senior, It's Still Forbidden - Chapter 67

On the next page, a long black worm appeared before them. The worm’s skin was bare, and upon closer inspection, one could see numerous tiny pores covering its surface, which it used to survive.

Jin’an read the text written beside it aloud: “Stink bug?”

Even the name sounded utterly unremarkable, making it hard to believe it was something capable of eradicating soul-devouring flowers.

“Yes, this is indeed what soul-devouring flowers fear the most,” Ji Weining replied, noticing her confusion as she recalled past encounters. “Of course, it truly is foul-smelling. But compared to the soul-devouring flowers, people would still prefer to release it to eliminate them.”

“Has Senior Sister smelled it before?” Jin’an asked with interest, gently rubbing the edge of the booklet.

Ji Weining sighed sorrowfully. “I’ve had the misfortune of smelling it.”

To this day, she couldn’t forget that odor.

The stench was as if it had emerged from a cesspit, mixed with the putrid smell of decaying corpses—a result of its natural habitat. In short, it could be described as a concoction of the foulest things in the world. Yet, after encountering it repeatedly, one grew accustomed. Every time she dealt with a demon nest, that smell would inevitably resurface.

“A single stink bug can wipe out an entire patch of soul-devouring flowers. The bug will perish along with the flowers, leaving behind its lingering stench in the soil.”

“So, in the end, we also need to deal with the residual odor left by the stink bug.”

Ji Weining pointed to the edge of the page. “That’s where the next part comes in.”

Drawn beside the illustration of the dark stink bug were plants and flowers, with colorful blossoms and greenery lining the margins.

Jin’an asked, “Flowers and plants?”

She was puzzled about how these could eliminate the stink bug’s odor. She had no clue and couldn’t quite figure it out.

Ji Weining explained, “Yes, by replanting the area with flowers and grasses, their presence will dilute the smell.”

Jin’an recalled the first time she had seen Ji Weining sowing seeds. She must have loved it dearly. Though Jin’an didn’t know what kind of flowers they were, she was certain they would be exceptionally beautiful.

“Senior Sister, when the flowers you planted last time bloom, will you take me to see them?”

Ji Weining quickly remembered the flowers she had sown in front of Jin’an. That must be what she was referring to.

“I think it’s better to discuss that another time.”

Ji Weining hesitated at the question. She couldn’t give a definite answer. The flowering cycle wasn’t short—the tree she had planted last time had only just begun to sprout. Truthfully, she wasn’t even sure if she would live to see it bloom.

“Mm.” Though Jin’an said nothing more, her disappointment was evident in her expression. Ji Weining realized she had refused too hastily. She knew she likely wouldn’t be able to keep that promise, so it was better to decline from the start rather than let Jin’an cling to false hope.

Considering the season, once winter arrived, the plum groves near Qingheng Mountain would soon be in bloom.

Ji Weining suggested, “How about I take you to see the flowers near Qingheng Mountain when they bloom?”

Jin’an’s dim eyes brightened once again. “Okay.”

“Now, shall we take a look at this next?”

And so, Ji Weining spent the entire morning explaining the contents of the booklet to Jin’an.

It wasn’t until she heard the rumble of Jin’an’s stomach that her thoughts were abruptly pulled back to the present.

It seemed she had starved Jin’an for a long time—since being brought here yesterday, she hadn’t been given any food. As a mere mortal, she couldn’t endure such hunger for long. Ji Weining’s gaze fell upon Jin’an’s stomach.

“You’re hungry.”

It wasn’t a question but a statement.

“I am hungry,” Jin’an replied casually, her brows furrowing slightly before relaxing. She patted her stomach and asked, “Is there anything to eat here?”

“I can eat anything.”

“What do you mean anything?” Ji Weining caught the oddity in her words immediately, her expression filled with curiosity as she looked at Jin’an.

“Just that anything is fine,” Jin’an explained earnestly, pausing to think before continuing. “Grass is okay, and dirt probably wouldn’t be a problem either, though that person never let me eat dirt.”

Ji Weining seriously considered the feasibility of her words. If Jin’an were an ordinary mortal, she would never be able to stomach such things. Unable to hold back her curiosity, she asked, “Huh? Wouldn’t that taste awful?”

“Awful? What does ‘awful’ mean?” Jin’an looked into Ji Weining’s eyes, hoping to find an answer there. She didn’t understand the concept of “awful,” though she had a vague idea. She knew she was different from others but didn’t know why. Perhaps it was because that person had been infusing her with demonic energy since childhood?

“It’s when something is so salty or so spicy that your tongue can’t stand it.”

Jin’an tried to recall memories of mortals but couldn’t find an answer. She hadn’t interacted much with living mortals; most of her encounters were with the dead. “That person did say something like that once, but I’ve never felt that way.”

“You’ve never felt that way?”

“I only know if something is hot or cold.”

“If it’s too hot, my tongue goes numb.”

Ji Weining hadn’t considered this possibility. She now understood Jin’an’s situation—she had lost her sense of taste. For immortals, who didn’t need to eat, taste was irrelevant, as any issues with food could be detected with magic. But mortals were different. They needed to eat, and losing their sense of taste, while seemingly minor, could become a fatal flaw if exploited by malicious individuals.

“I’ll go buy some food for you, Junior Sister.”

At a time like this, she should have prepared something herself for her junior sister, but she realized she had no idea how to cook. She gave up on the idea.

“Okay.”

“I’d also like to know what this ‘taste’ Senior Sister speaks of is like.”

Jin’an smiled, her eyes crinkling, yet there was an unmistakable carelessness in her gaze that puzzled Ji Weining.

“I’ll wait here for Senior Sister to bring back something for me to eat.”

“Alright.”

With that, Ji Weining headed down the mountain. Over the years, she had thoroughly explored the local delicacies and knew exactly where to find the best food and entertainment. This time, she returned with a basket full of treats.

She didn’t store the food in her Qiankun pouch but carried it in her hands. She preferred holding it, savoring the feeling of being mortal. The weight of the basket in her hands felt real, a tangible reminder of her existence.

Ji Weining had left the door open when she went out. From a distance, she could see Jin’an sitting at the table, engrossed in the booklet she had given her earlier.

“I’m back.”

Ji Weining walked over to the table and took out an exquisite plate. The dishes were neatly arranged, looking so delicious that one could tell they must be exceptionally tasty at a glance.

Jin’an said the same: “It looks like it should be very delicious.”

“Yes, this is called sweet and sour pork ribs.”

“You can’t eat the bones, but the meat around them is very tasty.” Ji Weining began to explain to her in detail. Since she couldn’t fully understand Jin’an’s feelings, she decided to guide Jin’an through experiencing it all herself.

“Thank you, it’s delicious.”

Jin’an didn’t stop eating, even devouring the food somewhat ravenously, her mouth stuffed full.

“Slow down, there’s plenty more.” Ji Weining brought out the soup she had prepared earlier, placed at the bottom, and ladled a bowl for her.

Ji Weining noticed tears welling up in the corners of Jin’an’s eyes. She was crying, yet Jin’an still said, “Senior sister, please keep telling me about it.”

Ji Weining took out a handkerchief and, through the cloth, reached to touch her cheek, wiping away the tears at the corners of her eyes.

Jin’an paused the soup spoon in her hand, sitting there at a loss. She swallowed the food still in her mouth, her eyes red as she looked at Ji Weining. “It’s delicious.”

“Junior sister, you can have as much as you want.” Ji Weining reached out to stroke her back gently, then brought the soup over for her to take a sip.

Jin’an could no longer speak and simply nodded in response.

She drank the soup, mingled with her tears.

“This is the first time I’ve ever eaten such delicious food.” Jin’an smiled at Ji Weining, but the more she smiled, the more tears streamed down the corners of her eyes, flowing endlessly like a river.

[You should comfort her.]

How does one comfort someone? Ji Weining was a bit clumsy and had never learned. She only knew that this was how a mother comforted her child.

[Aren’t you going to ask why?]

I can’t bring myself to ask.

She couldn’t bring herself to lift that black cloth covering her, to see the bleeding wounds beneath. If she didn’t want to talk about it then she wouldn’t ask.

[She has no sense of taste, so why does she say it’s delicious?]

Because some foods no longer need to be judged by taste.

[Alright, I’ll remember that.]

“Can you hold me?” Jin’an leaned closer and asked her softly.

Hold her? It seemed like this was the first time someone had asked this of her, and it was someone she found interesting.

“Okay.” Ji Weining moved her chair closer, opened her arms, and wrapped them around Jin’an’s body. The person in front of her was still crying, burying her face in Ji Weining’s chest the moment she embraced her. “Thank you, senior sister.”

Ji Weining’s palm touched her hair, then pulled away, finally resting on her back and gently stroking. “This is what a senior sister should do.”

“Can you hold me a little longer?” Jin’an made her request again from within her embrace.

Ji Weining didn’t refuse. If holding her could make her feel better, of course she would be willing.

“Of course.”

Ji Weining let her hold on, and only after a long while did she realize that this person had fallen asleep in her arms.

There were still traces of dried tears at the corners of her eyes, and her own shoulder bore marks from where Jin’an had rubbed against it. Ji Weining extended her thumb to wipe the tears from the corners of Jin’an’s eyes and removed the hairpin that had held her hair in place all day.

Jin’an’s hair loosened and fell. She seemed exhausted, not moving at all. Ji Weining breathed a sigh of relief and began to move her freely.

With her spiritual power extended, she attempted to probe into the other’s body, only to find black demonic energy already spreading through all her meridians. Without hesitation, Ji Weining bit open her own finger, letting blood flow from the fingertip as she reached out to press it against Jin’an’s lips.

Jin’an seemed to treat her finger as food, unconsciously sucking on it. In that instant, Ji Weining’s mind went completely blank.

It was the first time someone had sucked her blood like this.

The cut on her sensitive fingertip, now enclosed in Jin’an’s mouth, sent waves of pain through her nerves as the blood flowed. She couldn’t tell whether the sensation came from the dampness inside Jin’an’s mouth or the sting of her own broken skin.

Her ears flushed a deep crimson. What was happening to her?

You’re done for, her inner deity whispered in her mind.

Yes, she was done for.

Support