Even If You're My Senior, It's Still Forbidden - Chapter 71

Liu Hongyu answered with certainty, “Yes.”

Ji Weining’s spiritual power had now reached the sect’s standard for venturing out and encountering demonic energy. She had often traveled around during ordinary times, though Liu Hongyu couldn’t understand why her spiritual power hadn’t shown any growth until this sudden leap of two levels.

Since that was the case, having one more person available made Liu Hongyu feel somewhat more at ease.

Liu Hongyu informed her, “Su Jia will also be going.”

This was within Ji Weining’s expectations. The sect leader had only a few people at her disposal. Having heard that Su Jia had just returned from investigating the case of demonic energy in the south, it was only natural that she would be the one to go to the imperial capital this time. The sect leader likely hoped that through these experiences, Su Jia would break through to the Nascent Soul stage in one go.

After thinking for a moment about what else to say, Liu Hongyu added, “Why don’t you arrange a time to go with her?”

“Alright,” Ji Weining nodded, as she had been thinking the same thing.

“The sect leader was looking for me?” Just as they were speaking of Su Jia, she walked in from outside.

“I was hoping you could go to the imperial capital with Senior Sister Weining,” Liu Hongyu said. She knew that if she asked Su Jia, she would agree, she only needed to be informed.

Ji Weining glanced over and handed the scroll in her hand to Su Jia. It seemed Su Jia was unaware of the matter. She read the scroll carefully, her expression unchanged throughout. However, when her eyes fell upon the child on the bed, a strange look flashed in her gaze. “Whose child is this?”

“Oh, this is your junior sister, my child.”

Su Jia had never expected their sect leader to have a child. Hearing this, she grew even more concerned about the child. Having been raised by Liu Hongyu herself, she knew how unreliable she could be. Raising a child would only amplify that unreliability she couldn’t even imagine Liu Hongyu taking care of a child.

But Su Jia was naturally aloof. After reading the scroll, she closed it and handed it back to Liu Hongyu, then turned to Ji Weining. “When does Senior Sister plan to go?”

【The sooner, the better.】

Hearing Weining’s request, Ji Weining took the initiative to suggest, “How about tomorrow?”

Su Jia had been back for several days already. Rumor had it she had gone north and only returned to Qingheng Mountain yesterday. She had spent the time repairing her magical tools and had come to see Liu Hongyu only today. By her calculations, she had rested long enough and was ready to depart.

“Mm,” Su Jia replied indifferently, without any objection. Liu Hongyu, for her part, offered no opinion and focused solely on amusing the infant on the bed.

Qingheng Mountain was indeed far too casual.

Ji Weining wasn’t planning to go alone she wanted to bring Jin’an along as well. Considering the logistics of traveling together and how to explain it to Mu Chanjuan once she emerged from seclusion, she decided to speak up: “By the way, I’d like to bring my junior sister along.”

At this, Liu Hongyu finally reacted, looking over with surprise. “Huh?”

Su Jia remained expressionless, but her gaze deepened slightly, as if lost in thought.

“Don’t worry, I’ll protect her. I just want to take her out for a walk,” Ji Weining said. She didn’t know how long she would be able to stay by Jin’an’s side. If she were to meet an unfortunate end, she could at least give her heart’s blood to Jin’an sooner.

Her words always brought a sense of reassurance. As long as she promised something, they could rest easy though if she didn’t, they would naturally worry.

Upon hearing that it was just a casual outing, and that she would be kept in a safe place without any major issues, Liu Hongyu finally felt at ease. She only added, “If you plan to go near the Demon Cave, just make sure not to take her along.”

“Of course,” Ji Weining replied firmly. She would never bring Jin’an to such a dangerous place. If Jin’an’s demonic energy were to be exposed, the consequences would be unimaginable something Ji Weining could never accept.

After settling the matter, Ji Weining prepared to return to Qianling Residence to pack her belongings. Pushing the door open, she found Jin’an still seated in her chair.

Ji Weining said cheerfully, “Junior Sister, we’ll set off for the imperial capital tomorrow.”

“Alright,” Jin’an replied, deeply engrossed in the book Ji Weining had brought her the day before. Ji Weining hadn’t expected Jin’an to take such an interest in medicinal herbs.

Ji Weining moved closer, leaning in from behind to glance at the page Jin’an was reading. Seeing that Jin’an didn’t react or even look at her, she felt a pang of melancholy. “Do you really like these herbs so much, Junior Sister?”

Only then did Jin’an set the book aside and look at her, answering, “This book is interesting.”

Every illustration in the booklet fascinated her. Before this, the thing she had been most exposed to was probably that person’s demonic energy.

“If you like it, Junior Sister, why not bring it along to read?”

For their trip, Ji Weining intended to focus on enjoyment. As for the task assigned by the sect leader, she already had a rough idea of how to proceed. Dealing with demonic energy was something she was quite skilled at.

Jin’an didn’t respond immediately, seemingly considering whether to continue reading the book elsewhere. After a long pause, she closed the booklet and asked quietly, “Senior Sister, is it absolutely necessary to eliminate the demonic energy inside me?”

“Why are you asking this again, Junior Sister?” If it weren’t eliminated, Ji Weining worried about Jin’an’s well-being that one day, the demonic energy might corrode her until nothing remained.

Initially, it had been Jin’an herself who expressed a desire to rid herself of the demonic energy. For her, it might not matter whether it was removed or not. Jin’an hesitated for a moment, clenching and then releasing the edge of her robe before meeting Ji Weining’s gaze. “Let’s eliminate it.”

“I want to cultivate spiritual energy, to become like you, Senior Sister.”

[I knew it.]

Weining had already anticipated this, Jin’an cared only about her. Though she didn’t understand why, it felt somewhat abrupt. If she thought about it carefully, they hadn’t known each other for very long.

“Alright,” Ji Weining replied, pausing briefly as she processed Jin’an’s words. She reached out and ruffled Jin’an’s hair, a comforting smile spreading across her face. If her junior sister cultivated spiritual energy, it would undoubtedly be for the best. She was sure to have as much talent for it as she did for studying herbology.

“Oh, Senior Sister, I noticed these markings have appeared on my arm again.”

Jin’an pulled up her sleeve, revealing a forearm that was half smooth and half covered in dark, intricate patterns.

Ji Weining leaned in for a closer look they were demonic marks. The black patterns carried a seductive aura, though only someone familiar with such things would recognize them. An ordinary person might mistake them for tattoos.

“They’re quite beautiful,” Ji Weining remarked.

“I wonder if these will still be here after my demonic energy is eliminated.”

“It shouldn’t happen again,” Ji Weining replied. Demonic patterns only appear when demonic energy manifests on the skin’s surface, and once the demonic energy dissipates, the patterns vanish as well.

Suddenly, Ji Weining realized that there seemed to be another force within Jin’an suppressing her demonic energy something she hadn’t even detected.

[Your junior sister clearly has many secrets.]

And so do you.

Ji Weining helplessly retorted in her mind.

[Have you considered why Jin’an’s demonic energy manifested in the first place?]

Ji Weining thought of the previous night and instinctively touched the tip of her nose.

Last night?

[It’s highly likely that this sealing technique is tied to emotions.]

Then I should investigate further.

Ji Weining deeply regretted her earlier hesitation to probe with spiritual energy, fearing it might bring trouble.

[Use an array formation.]

It was her greatest strength various spiritual techniques and array formations.

From learning to creating them freely, it was all a trivial matter for her.

[The Harmony Village at the edge of the imperial city, we could try there.]

Yes, they had both thought of the same array formation.

Ji Weining spent the afternoon packing and went to town to buy many items that might be useful before finally sealing her Qiankun pouch. Whenever they traveled, everything naturally went into the Qiankun pouch anything that could fit was stuffed inside.

“Junior sister, is there anything else you want to bring?”

Jin’an shook her head, still holding onto that booklet and reading it intently.

Ji Weining recalled that when she had read the same booklet, she hadn’t been nearly as fascinated as her junior sister seemed to be.

[When you read this, you had already gone through countless related texts back in the divine realm.]

That was true.

Ji Weining couldn’t argue. When she first encountered such texts, she had probably been just as engrossed as her junior sister.

“It’s late,” Jin’an said, glancing out the window. The moon was nowhere to be seen tonight, making it impossible to predict whether the next day would be clear. She then spread her arms, and Ji Weining, sitting beside her, immediately understood, picking her up and placing her on the bed before pressing her down and nuzzling her ear.

Just as Ji Weining was about to bite her ear, Jin’an lowered her voice to a whisper only the two of them could hear: “We’re leaving tomorrow. Don’t.”

Ji Weining released her ear, though she felt a tinge of reluctance. Still, she was clear-headed she knew what was acceptable and what wasn’t. Yet, she couldn’t help but sound a bit resentful: “What do you take me for, junior sister?”

“Does senior sister not want to?” Jin’an looked at her with those eyes that seemed to understand nothing and yet everything at once.

That expression was the hardest for Ji Weining to decipher. In her battles with Jin’an, she always ended up defeated.

“I’ve thought about it,” Ji Weining whispered back, though she still wanted to defend herself, “but I didn’t intend to take it further.”

“Just wanted to tease me, then?” Jin’an’s hand reached up to touch Ji Weining’s ear.

Only then did Ji Weining realize her ear was burning hot, it must have been that way for a while, but she hadn’t noticed.

Instinctively, she denied it. “I didn’t.”

“Then I want to tease senior sister,” Jin’an said, gently pinching her earlobe.

The tactile sensation and the changes in her own body made Ji Weining’s mind go blank for a moment. But the blush on her face was unmistakable to Jin’an’s eyes, or frankly, to anyone who might see her in that state of shyness.

“Senior sister, you are truly adorable.” Jin’an’s hands cupped Ji Weining’s face, whose elbows had been propped on the bed. As her mind went blank, her tensed arms suddenly gave way, and she only snapped back to reality when her lips met Jin’an’s rosy ones.

Startled by the sudden kiss, Jin’an released her hands and leaned back, turning her face away. Ji Weining slowly pushed herself up, shifting to face the direction where Jin’an had turned, until their eyes met once more.

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