Even If You're My Senior, It's Still Forbidden - Chapter 7

Ji Weining took a few unworn clothes from the storage pouch in her sleeve. Her own figure was somewhat taller than her junior sister’s, especially around the waist. Her junior sister’s waist was so slender it seemed one could encircle it with a single hand. Ji Weining wondered what hardships she had endured at home had she not even been allowed to eat her fill? That would explain why she was so thin. Even her wrists looked as though they might snap with the slightest pressure. Yet, despite this, her junior sister’s innate qualities were excellent, allowing her curves to remain perfectly proportioned where it mattered.

After measuring and comparing, Ji Weining rummaged for the tools she needed, picked up a pair of scissors, and began trimming the fabric.

She then pulled out a miscellaneous book from her Qiankun bag titled A Guide to Tailoring. It was said to have been compiled by a skilled embroiderer for her family and later widely circulated. One had to admit, the illustrations in the book were exquisitely detailed, making it immediately clear how the garments should be altered.

She lit a flame and channeled her spiritual energy to suspend it in the air, casting a soft shadow downward.

Ji Weining fetched a needle and thread and began adjusting the waistline of the clothing.

Finding the light still insufficient, she ignited several more flames, their glow faintly illuminating Su Jin’an, who lay asleep on the bed. The weariness on her face was now visible in the soft light.

Moonlight streamed in through the window, and only then did Ji Weining notice it was left open. A gentle breeze rustled through, emitting a faint whisper. She stood up and closed it.

Returning to her seat, she continued altering the clothes. By the time she finished, it was already midnight.

Ji Weining held up the garment and slipped her arm inside to test the fit. It had been taken in so much that she could hardly wear it herself.

She folded the clothes neatly and placed them in the wardrobe she had prepared for her junior sister. In a few days, she planned to fill the wardrobe completely her junior sister deserved beautiful clothes to complement her elegance.

Her own garments seemed too dull in comparison. If her junior sister were to wear pink or bright yellow, she would surely look even more radiant. Then again, her own deep indigo might not be so bad either. In truth, her junior sister would look lovely in anything.

Ji Weining shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts.

Outside, the moon hung high in the sky, and the night was deep and still. The peach blossoms she had coaxed into blooming earlier now lay scattered on the ground, trampled into the earth.

“Ha?” Early in the morning, Ji Weining woke groggily, slumped over the table. She yawned before realizing she had fallen asleep in her junior sister’s room. The night before, she had intended to wait until the divine decree’s controlling effect wore off before leaving, but she hadn’t expected to doze off!

Could she leave now?

She tried to summon that mysterious and elusive divine decree but received no response. Glancing outside, she saw that dawn had just begun to break, and her junior sister was still asleep. She rose cautiously, only to bump into the table.

“Who’s there?” Su Jin’an murmured drowsily, her eyes still heavy with sleep, her vision blurred.

Biting her lip, Ji Weining replied softly, “It’s me. It’s still early, go back to sleep, junior sister.”

“Mmm.” Su Jin’an, barely registering the words, responded vaguely, kicked the blanket aside, turned over, and drifted back to sleep.

Ji Weining closed the door and headed toward the kitchen.

She hadn’t yet decided what to prepare for her junior sister today.

After Ji Weining left, Su Jin’an’s eyes snapped open, fully alert. She tidied the bed, went to the dressing table, and began combing her hair. As for why Ji Weining had been in her room, Su Jin’an could only draw one conclusion: she was being watched.

In the mirror, her complexion appeared slightly rosier than yesterday. She noticed the change in herself it was indeed as her master had said: Qingheng Mountain was nourishing.

When she opened the cabinet, she saw the few sets of clothes Ji Weining had prepared for her. Like her own garments, they were all shades of bluish-gray, giving off an aloof and indifferent aura. Yet when she wore them, she didn’t feel that way at all.

Su Jin’an tugged down her collar slightly, a scar over her heart remained exactly where it had always been. For a moment, she seemed dazed, pressing a hand to her chest and furrowing her brows.

Still not healed.

Coming back to her senses, she changed into fresh clothes, washed up, and began reading the books from yesterday.

Just then, Ji Weining had cooked a pot of noodle soup. She had bought some thin noodles, added slices of meat, sprinkled scallions, dried scallops, and a few chopped shiitake mushrooms.

When Ji Weining brought in breakfast, Su Jin’an was reclining on the daybed, absorbed in a book about Foundation Establishment.

“Junior Sister, come eat.”

“Senior Sister, can I attempt Foundation Establishment today?”

After the bone-cleansing from the day before, she now had a sense of how to proceed. According to the book, as long as she could convert the spiritual energy Ji Weining had channeled into her, Foundation Establishment shouldn’t be a problem.

“Of course you can.” Since her junior sister brought it up, Ji Weining was willing to follow her lead. Whether it was sooner or later made little difference to her. Eager to begin, Su Jin’an said, “Then let’s start now.”

Ji Weining pushed the bowl toward her. “Eat first.”

“I’m not very hungry, Senior Sister. The book says Foundation Establishment should be quick, and this hour is the optimal time.” Su Jin’an was particular about timing she wanted to try now. Time was limited, and every day sooner she established her foundation meant one more opportunity.

After several attempts to persuade her failed, Ji Weining resignedly waved her hand, storing the prepared breakfast for later. She settled onto the daybed beside her junior sister.

“Begin then, Junior Sister. I’ll guard you.”

“Mm.” Su Jin’an glanced at her briefly before closing her eyes and sitting cross-legged. She followed the method described in the book regulating her breath and spirit, gradually circulating the spiritual energy within her.

Part of that energy came from the person beside her. Surprisingly, the energy originally belonging to her senior sister felt exceptionally harmonious within her. Was this Senior Sister’s unique charm? Or was it only like this with her?

That energy, refined through incantations, quickly transformed into Su Jin’an’s own spiritual power. Foundation Establishment involved pouring spiritual energy into the bones, transforming them into spiritual marrow forging immortal bones as the foundation of cultivation.

She began to mobilize the spiritual energy within her body, commanding it to circulate and temper her bones. But an unexpected, piercing pain shot through her condition was completely different from what the book described. It felt as though her breath was trapped underwater, while flames scorched her body.

That feeling was back again.

Beads of cold sweat formed on her forehead.

Noticing this, Ji Weining frowned, unsure how to intervene.

She had witnessed many people establish their foundation using this method, but none had suffered as intensely as her junior sister.

It seemed there was another kind of spiritual energy inside her junior sister, a latent power neither she nor their master had detected, one that Su Jin’an couldn’t yet control.

Ji Weining quickly formed a protective barrier around her, infusing it with her own spiritual energy, and began absorbing the stray energy escaping from Su Jin’an.

She needed it.

But there was nothing she could do to help her, or all previous efforts would be in vain.

After persisting for an unknown length of time, the sun outside was already high in the sky. A bright light emanated from within the room, originating from Su Jin’an. In a daze, she heard the crisp sound of bells.

“Ding ling, ding ling.”

Foundation Establishment was complete.

Su Jin’an collapsed. Ji Weining rushed over to support her body. The string of bells she had given her, tucked at her waist, trembled faintly, emitting thin streams of spiritual energy that flowed into her body, soothing the restlessness within. She bent down, lifted her up, and laid her flat on the bed.

Extending her palm, she channeled spiritual energy to inspect Su Jin’an’s body.

She couldn’t pinpoint exactly what was wrong. Su Jin’an’s spiritual energy seemed no different from that of an ordinary person, so why was this happening? Could it be her own spiritual energy? But her spiritual energy had already merged with Su Jin’an’s.

“This shouldn’t be happening,” Ji Weining murmured, staring helplessly at her junior sister on the bed. She pondered for a long time but couldn’t figure out where the problem lay. She reached out and touched Su Jin’an’s forehead, it was warm. Then she felt her arm, in fact, her entire body was warm.

The image of the sinister technique’s backlash flashed through her mind. Her junior sister had previously asked about cultivating with the five elemental spiritual energies. Could it be that some of those forces were causing trouble?

But how had her junior sister managed to suppress these turbulent energies?

Ji Weining hesitated, her hand hovering over Su Jin’an’s wrist before finally settling there. She resorted to the most mundane method to check her condition. Su Jin’an had indeed reached Foundation Establishment, but her body remained that of a mortal. Having the spiritual energy of Foundation Establishment without the corresponding physical foundation was far from ideal for her.

Well, she would just have to prepare some medicine in the coming days.

She thought she probably understood what was happening to her.

It was just a bit tricky to handle.

She would need to go somewhere to gather the necessary medicinal herbs. She had only read about her junior sister’s symptoms in books before, but now she was witnessing them firsthand. After seeing so many bizarre ailments, her junior sister’s condition didn’t seem all that extraordinary.

Uncertain when her junior sister would wake up, Ji Weining sorted through the books she had brought, contemplating where to start teaching. Though she had never undergone systematic training, she had a decent understanding of these matters. Given her junior sister’s current state, it would be best to start with a breathing regulation technique.

After searching for a while, Ji Weining finally found the technique she needed. She glanced back at her junior sister, who was still asleep. The fever caused by the spiritual energy had subsided, but there was no guarantee it wouldn’t become an obstacle later. Any such hindrance on the path of cultivation was like walking on thin ice.

She had originally planned to seek out Zheng Juhe today to handle the registration matter, but with her junior sister lying unconscious before her, how could she leave? After much deliberation, she decided to stay and care for her. As long as her junior sister was safe, everything else could wait. One day earlier or later made little difference.

“Senior Sister?” By the time Su Jin’an woke up, night had already fallen.

Ji Weining sat in her room, pinching her brow in frustration. She truly had no idea how to handle her. All the knowledge she had accumulated over the years seemed utterly useless now.

“You’re awake, Junior Sister. Is there any discomfort in your body?” Su Jin’an hesitated, meeting her gaze, unsure how to respond. She felt that many of her secrets must have been uncovered.

“Senior Sister, do you have something you wish to ask?”

Ji Weining took a deep breath. She had countless questions for Su Jin’an, but she knew that even if she asked, the person before her wouldn’t be able to provide the answers. It was better not to ask at all. However, there was one question she absolutely had to voice. “Since you say so, then I shall ask.”

Su Jin’an’s breath caught in her throat, her heart filled with fear and hesitation. She was worried that the question would be one she couldn’t answer.

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