Even If You're My Senior, It's Still Forbidden - Chapter 69

Her left hand drifted through the water, fingers stirring gentle ripples as they brushed against the flower. What had once been a mere reflection now became tangible beneath her touch, and under her persistent caresses, the blossom gradually began to unfurl.

This flower had never been touched before. Its delicate petals quivered at their most exquisite moment, trembling slightly as if yearning for soothing contact to guide its full bloom.

The bowl of congee prepared especially for her remained in the food container. Ji Weining had completely forgotten about the congee she was keeping warm for her. As spiritual energy surged through her fingers while examining the flower, the congee reached a boiling point, causing the lid of the container to rattle. The sound mingled with the creaking of the bed boards, and Ji Weining conducted this symphony like a skilled musician.

She remembered perfectly how to play her flute, yet she could never produce the enchanting melodies others could. But now, an inner flute began to play in her heart, her fingers nimbly dancing over the imaginary holes as she conjured beautiful harmonies.

Her lips formed the embouchure, breath flowing into the imaginary mouthpiece as the melody swelled with passion before softening into tenderness.

Her fingertips lightly traced the water’s surface once more, carrying the song to its climax.

The flower had now fully bloomed, revealing its most radiant splendor.

Nearby, a spring bubbled and chimed, adding vibrant life to the composition.

Only when the imaginary instrument seemed on the verge of breaking did Ji Weining restrain her continuing hands, halting the performance. The music ceased abruptly, leaving behind only labored breathing from the intensity of her playing.

“Applying medicine will help.” Ji Weining lifted her and placed her in the warm water, gently wiping away the traces she had left behind. Fearful of causing pain, her movements were exceptionally careful.

Then she wrapped her in a bath towel and lifted her from the water.

“It’s all my fault for not studying well,” Jin’an murmured as she nestled into her embrace, her voice slightly hoarse.

Was this really about studying? Ji Weining toweled her long hair, fingertips channeling magic that instantly evaporated the water droplets.

Ji Weining nuzzled her forehead. “Junior sister is wonderful.”

“But, it still wasn’t like what was described in the book.” Jin’an clutched at her clothes, her voice tinged with unease.

Ji Weining took her hand still slightly cool to the touch as the younger woman leaned languidly against her chest. She then gently stroked her stomach, noting the absence of any softness, thinking she was still too thin. “No, junior sister is better than what’s in the book. You just haven’t eaten yet.”

Ji Weining had thought she understood the meaning of their intimacy, but now she felt uncertain. Did she truly comprehend? Did she need further explanation? Something felt incomplete, as if the younger woman didn’t fully grasp the significance.

Yet she had declared with such sincerity her desire to spend her life with her.

“Would you like some congee?” Ji Weining changed the subject, finally remembering the forgotten congee. With a wave of her hand, she used magic to bring the bowl to the nearby table. Steam still rose from the reheated congee perhaps her earlier distraction had disrupted the heating spell, leaving it scalding hot.

“Am I sick? My heart is beating so fast,” Jin’an whispered.

“Not at all.” Ji Weining felt her forehead, then pressed her own against it. Her own temperature was even warmer, if anyone were sick, it would likely be herself.

“Have some. You haven’t eaten dinner yet.”

Though, it’s a bit late.

I mustn’t let this continue next time, I need to restrain myself. Only by making sure my junior sister eats on time can she recover properly. If she doesn’t eat well, her health might not improve easily.

Now that my junior sister can’t access spiritual power or cultivate it, I originally wanted to teach her some spells and let her use the spiritual energy I’ve stored. But thinking about it now, that probably isn’t feasible.

“It’s warm,” Jin’an commented on the porridge’s temperature.

“Yes, I used a heating and insulation array.” Though it went out of balance just now.

Jin’an: “Seems interesting.”

She can’t distinguish whether these things are good or bad, but she knows if they’re interesting to her.

“Yes, very interesting.” Ji Weining noticed the porridge had cooled slightly, picked up the bowl, and asked, “So, Jin’an, do you want to learn this array?”

Jin’an: “Arrays require spiritual power, right? I’d better give up on that.”

Without a doubt, she doesn’t want to engage with these things.

“It’s enough that you know these things, senior sister. I just need you to be here.”

Jin’an still held this attitude, leaving Ji Weining unsure how to proceed.

However, through this incident, she had secretly examined Jin’an’s body. Recalling what happened earlier, Ji Weining’s face flushed bright red.

She fed Jin’an half a bowl of porridge before Jin’an pushed her hand away and said, “I want to sleep.”

“Is it good to sleep right after eating?” Ji Weining reminded her.

If asked about the drawbacks of sleeping immediately after meals, she could list a whole basketful. But now, as she prepared to explain this to Jin’an, she found herself at a loss for where to begin.

“Then shall we go for a walk?” Jin’an suggested, trying to push herself up from the bed but wincing at a twinge of pain. “Ouch.”

She spread her arms as if she’d been waiting for this moment. “I have no strength. Senior sister, carry me out for a walk.”

Indeed, I was too rough.

But carrying her out, how is that different from her sitting here for a while?

Jin’an looked exhausted, but that wasn’t a reason to sleep immediately. She absolutely couldn’t be allowed to sleep so soon, the harms of sleeping right after eating were numerous. Since she wanted to go out, maybe that was better? After some internal debate, Ji Weining lifted her up.

“Then I’ll take you out to see the night. It’s clear tonight, and the moon is quite beautiful.”

Jin’an’s body was light to Ji Weining, at least. She lifted her effortlessly. “You still need to eat more, junior sister.”

“That person said something similar.”

Ji Weining: “That person?”

“The one who saved me.”

Ji Weining couldn’t determine whether the person Jin’an mentioned was good or bad. To experiment on her yet also care for her emotions were indeed complicated. She couldn’t quickly discern the truth.

But they must be a bad person.

[I think they’re neither entirely good nor entirely bad.]

[But experimenting with demonic energy probably made things more troublesome for you.]

She reminded herself.

Ji Weining asked Jin’an: “By the way, do you know where that person died?”

Jin’an: “I forgot. I just buried it randomly anyway that was the last thing she asked me to do.”

“Then she said that from then on I would be free, and after that, I met you.”

There must have been something unusual on the path she brought her along that she hadn’t noticed. But Ji Weining couldn’t recall it now indeed, many things had already happened.

One person’s strength was still too limited.

[Am I not you?]
[There are two of us.]

Aren’t you just me?

The two of them always wanted to reject each other, yet both knew that the other was the most important person. Unable to acknowledge that the other was themselves, or that they were the other this was the nature of their relationship.

“The wind is really strong tonight,” Jin’an mumbled, leaning against her back as the evening breeze swept past, lifting her hair.

Ji Weining turned to look at her profile, she was leaning on her shoulder, utterly exhausted.

She really was too tired; Ji Weining had indeed worn her out.

“Shijie.”
“I’m here.”
“Shijie.”
“Hmm?”
“Ji Weining?”

“Why are you suddenly calling me by my name?” It seemed she rarely heard her say her name like that.

It felt a little strange to be addressed that way.

“If Shizun knew we were doing something like this, wouldn’t it seem strange?” Jin’an suddenly spoke without any logical connection.

“Why would it be strange?”

She liked her shimei and wanted to be with her, what was wrong with that?

The night wind cleared Ji Weining’s mind, and she instantly understood what Jin’an meant.

“Shimei.”
“Hmm.”
“Jin’an.”

“Whether Jin’an is my shimei or not, I would still like her.”

“I admire Shimei and have thought about growing old with her. But I’m sorry.”

This was something she couldn’t do.

She knew she simply had no way to accomplish such a thing and didn’t want to force it anymore.

“Shijie, why can’t you grow old with me?” Jin’an brought up her question again.

“Shijie, how old are you this year?”

“Me? I should be a hundred and fifty years old now.”

Jin’an was stunned. She knew that cultivators lived extremely long lives, but she hadn’t realized Ji Weining’s lifespan was this long.

“And Jin’an?”

“I don’t know, but I’m probably much younger than Shijie.” Jin’an thought it must be because she wouldn’t live to that age that was why Shijie said such things.

Ji Weining also didn’t know how to respond.

But she knew this matter had to be entrusted to her to complete.

“It’s not about age,” Ji Weining whispered.

[Are you going to reveal your mission to someone of unknown identity?]

She’s my shimei not some unknown person.

“It’s just that. I don’t know how much longer I can live either.”

Jin’an: “Immortals also worry about lifespan?”

In Jin’an’s memory, immortals were ageless and undying, so such problems shouldn’t trouble them. But now Jin’an wasn’t so sure, she realized her understanding of immortals was still far too shallow.

Jin’an: “I want to understand Shijie. Shijie already questioned me about that person earlier now it’s my turn to ask Shijie.”

Ji Weining: “Where would Shimei like me to start?”

Ji Weining began to ponder where to start explaining this answer to Jin’an, but her thoughts remained scattered for now.

Jin’an asked, “Why did you come to Qingheng Mountain?”

Ji Weining replied, “I was picked up by my master and brought to Qingheng Mountain.”

That wasn’t entirely inaccurate she had calculated her path and arrived at this place, only to be found by Mu Chanjuan.

Jin’an pressed further, “Then, next question, why did you bring me to Qingheng Mountain?”

“I believe I’ve mentioned it before.”

“No, I want to know, what are your true feelings toward me?” Jin’an turned to look into her eyes, testing her.

Such a bold and open probe.

“I want to know why you have feelings for me.”

As she spoke, Jin’an’s cheeks flushed completely red.

Asking someone why they like you truthfully, it’s quite an amusing thing.

But at that moment, Ji Weining didn’t know how to respond. She felt the same as Jin’an, yet she understood that this was something she needed to voice, to honestly reveal everything about Ji Weining.

“Because, I think you’re special.”

“That day, I met you covered in demonic energy, yet you showed not a single hint of giving up on life.”

Did she want to live? Jin’an couldn’t even answer that question herself.

She didn’t know if she truly wanted to exist in this world perhaps more than anything, she just wanted to escape.

She wasn’t someone who loved this world.

“Usually, those tainted by demonic energy succumb to the agony it brings most take their own lives, while a small few endure until the energy completely consumes them, and they become controlled by it.”

“I understand.” Jin’an grasped her meaning and reached out to cover her mouth, unable to bear hearing more.

“I’m tired.”

“I want to sleep.”

This day had truly exhausted her, and all she wanted now was to sleep.

Ji Weining carried Jin’an back on her shoulders, and Jin’an had already fallen asleep.

Ji Weining gently kissed her forehead, laid her down softly, tucked her in, and then released her.

Ji Weining stayed awake the entire night. When dawn broke, she went out and bought an array of food.

Breakfast should be nutritious.

It was an old saying passed down through generations, and she intended to follow it faithfully. As long as it contributed to Jin’an’s health, she was willing to try any method including these small gestures.

“I’m back.”

Jin’an was still asleep.

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