The Side Character Who Wins by Doing Nothing

Yan Zui recounted how she had been on patrol when she came across their group, and only then did Lu Sangjiu understand the full story.

"Thank you so much, Ms. Yan Zui. Are Gu Jue and Xie Ningyuan alright?"

"Rest assured, I checked on you at the time. You were all just unconscious, not injured. My two junior sisters took those two to be cared for. They’re perfectly safe."

Lu Sangjiu nodded in relief. "That’s good... Wait!"

She suddenly realized something was wrong. "Taken away... by your two junior sisters?"

Her eyes widened in terror. ’No way, it can’t be. Given the nature of Joyful Union Sect Cultivators, for those two to be taken away... it couldn’t mean...’

Yan Zui seemed to guess her thoughts. A wicked grin spread across her enchanting face. "Well, it hasn’t been long. If you rush over now, you might still be in time."

"Xie Ningyuan’s room is to the left when you go out, Gu Jue’s is to the right..."

The moment Yan Zui started speaking, Lu Sangjiu was already scrambling out of bed to put on her shoes. By the time the last word left Yan Zui’s lips, she had already bolted out the door.

A playful smile touched Yan Zui’s lips. Overcome with curiosity, she followed, eager to see which one Lu Sangjiu would choose.

And then... she saw Lu Sangjiu turn left without the slightest hesitation.

’Tsk, tsk. So the Buddhist Practitioner is more important to her after all, is he?’

In truth, Lu Sangjiu wasn’t thinking about who was more important. ’If Gu Jue gets involved with a woman, at least he won’t die. But for Xie Ningyuan, it’s a matter of life and death!’

’His Buddha Heart is already shattered and Heart Demons are running rampant. If he gets entangled with a woman on top of that, does he even want to live?’

But when Lu Sangjiu burst into Xie Ningyuan’s room in a frantic rush, only to find him sitting alone at a table and eating, she knew... ’Yup, I’ve been played.’

Xie Ningyuan looked on in confusion as Lu Sangjiu rushed over. "What’s wrong?"

Lu Sangjiu: "...Nothing."

She cleared her throat. "Um, I just wanted to come over and see..."

Before she could finish, Yan Zui, who had followed to watch the show, arrived and chimed in, never one to pass up a chance to stir the pot, "To see if your virtue is still intact."

Lu Sangjiu: "..."

Hearing Yan Zui’s words, Xie Ningyuan immediately understood Lu Sangjiu’s mistake. A hint of a smile touched his eyes. "Oh... so, are you disappointed to see that I’m alright?"

Lu Sangjiu immediately feigned a look of disdain. "I’m immensely disappointed! It seems your face isn’t that appealing to the young ladies after all."

Xie Ningyuan nodded. "Indeed. My appeal to young ladies is likely not as great as your Mr. Gu."

Lu Sangjiu: !!!

At his words, she suddenly remembered she hadn’t checked on Mr. Gu yet.

’Yan Zui probably told them Xie Ningyuan is a Buddhist Practitioner, so it’s only natural they wouldn’t be interested in him.’

’But Gu Jue isn’t a Buddhist Practitioner!’

At this thought, Lu Sangjiu didn’t waste another word. She spun around and bolted.

A moment later, Gu Jue watched in confusion as Lu Sangjiu came rushing in. "Mr. Lu, what’s the hurry? Do you need my help with something?"

Lu Sangjiu: "..."

She subtly sized Gu Jue up... ’Hmm, he seems fine. Looks like he hasn’t been... you know.’

Breathing a sigh of relief, she feigned composure. "It’s nothing. I just came to see if you were hurt."

A faint smile graced Gu Jue’s lips at her words. "I’m fine. Thank you for your concern, Mr. Lu."

Lu Sangjiu nodded. "Mm-hmm. And the Phoenix Cry Sword, no other problems with it?"

"The Phoenix Cry Sword is fine. That sword scabbard shouldn’t be a problem."

Speaking of which, Gu Jue hesitated for a second before asking tentatively, "The Fengming Sword Scabbard... Mr. Lu, did you already know it was in that small world?"

After waking up, he had replayed the entire incident in his mind and couldn’t shake the feeling that Lu Sangjiu knew something.

Otherwise, back in the cabin, she wouldn’t have rushed out in such a panic just from hearing a noise by the lake.

Now that it was all over, Lu Sangjiu had no reason to hide it from him. She nodded. "I did know for a while..."

Before she could finish, Sword Bu Gui’s voice came from the doorway. "It was a deal she made with your master."

Lu Sangjiu turned and, sure enough, saw Sword Bu Gui.

Only then did it belatedly occur to her that they had mentioned Sword Bu Gui was visiting the Joyful Union Sect.

"Greetings, Sword Master Bu Gui!"

Lu Sangjiu bowed obediently. Gu Jue also hurried to greet his master.

Once Sword Bu Gui entered the room and took a seat, Gu Jue asked in confusion, "Master, what you just mentioned... what deal was it?"

This time, there was no need for Lu Sangjiu to say anything; Sword Bu Gui gave a brief account of what had happened.

He finished by nodding to Lu Sangjiu. "You did well. Our deal is now officially complete."

After a moment’s thought, he retrieved a fifth-grade Elixir Pill from his Storage Magical Treasure and slid it over to Lu Sangjiu.

"Although you ended up dragging Gu Jue into it as well, nothing bad happened, thankfully. I won’t take advantage of you. I’ll reward you with another fifth-grade Elixir Pill, and we can consider the matter settled."

A sweet smile bloomed on Lu Sangjiu’s face as she accepted the elixir without a hint of hesitation. "My thanks to you, Sword Master Bu Gui."

With that, she very tactfully added, "This junior will take her leave and not disturb you further. Farewell."

She left, gleefully clutching her Elixir Pill, leaving Gu Jue to lower his head in dejected silence.

Sword Bu Gui knew his apprentice well. One look at Gu Jue’s expression was enough to tell him what was on his mind.

"What’s wrong? Upset to learn she wasn’t helping you out of the kindness of her heart?"

Gu Jue shook his head. "I... already knew where she stood. I’m not upset. Just a little... disappointed, that’s all."

Sword Bu Gui summarized, "So, you’re upset."

Gu Jue: "..."

He fell silent for a moment before looking at Sword Bu Gui. "Master, I hear I’ve been at the Joyful Union Sect for an entire afternoon. Are you only just now coming to see your disciple?"

Sword Bu Gui: "..."

An awkward expression crossed his face. "Ahem. I heard you were in no real danger, so I wasn’t too worried..."

"Oh? And who might you have heard that from? Elder Hua, perhaps?"

Sword Bu Gui: "..."

This time, he finally caught on that Gu Jue was deliberately provoking him. He slammed his hand on the table, flying into a rage from embarrassment. "You insolent whelp!"

Gu Jue stated calmly, "Your disciple was just asking casually. If it’s inconvenient for Master to say, then you don’t have to."

Sword Bu Gui: "..."

’My disciple has been led astray,’ he thought. ’Why does every sentence out of his mouth drip with sarcasm?’

He stood up in a huff. "Hmph! Judging by the look of you, you don’t need your master’s concern. Just rest well. If you need anything, find me at Yunshui Palace!"

Gu Jue cupped his hands in a salute. "You should hurry back, Master. Don’t keep Elder Hua waiting."

Sword Bu Gui: "..."

He finally lost his composure. He spun around and kicked Gu Jue right in the rear. "You truly are an insolent whelp!"