The Side Character Who Wins by Doing Nothing

Xie Ningyuan was a complication Lu Sangjiu truly hadn’t anticipated.

If it had been anyone else, she could have taken advantage of their suppressed cultivation within the Secret Realm to find an opportunity and take them out.

But this was Xie Ningyuan... Lu Sangjiu was no saint, but even she couldn’t bring herself to repay kindness with hatred.

So, she couldn’t kill him, and she couldn’t defend against him... ’What have I done to deserve this!’

After Xie Ningyuan left, Gu Jue didn’t chase after him.

Sheathing his sword as he returned, he said only, ”He really was hiding his cultivation before. Be careful if you run into him again.”

In his anger, he had attacked with his full strength, yet the other man had parried his blows with ease.

He couldn’t say who would win in a real fight between them, but he was certain of one thing: the man’s strength was not to be underestimated, and his actual cultivation was probably far superior to his own.

Hearing this, Chi Yan couldn’t help but say angrily, ”So that guy had ill intentions from the start! How despicable, he almost fooled us!”

As he spoke, he couldn’t help but turn to comfort and console Lu Sangjiu.

Lu Sangjiu played her part to the end, thanking the three of them with a look of someone still reeling from the shock. ”Thank you all so much for tonight. Otherwise... I really don’t know what would have happened to me!”

Gu Jue hesitated for a moment before asking, ”Did you know him before? He seems very persistent about you.”

If it were just ordinary lust, he should have chosen another target after discovering Lu Sangjiu wasn’t an easy mark.

But the words he spoke as he left clearly showed he hadn’t given up on Lu Sangjiu...

Lu Sangjiu shook her head blankly. ”I don’t know him... I have no idea why he’s acting this way.”

”I only wanted to thank him in private, but I never imagined he would suddenly...” She trailed off, her words dissolving into sobs.

Lu Sangjiu looked as though she couldn’t go on. Seeing this, the others didn’t dare press her further and quickly tried to comfort her.

Liu Xi even chided Gu Jue, ”Senior Brother, you shouldn’t keep pestering a girl about something like this. How could anyone understand the mind of a pervert?”

In her heart, Lu Sangjiu gave Liu Xi a thumbs-up. ’Well said! Please stop asking, or I won’t be able to make anything else up.’

After this whole ordeal, everyone returned to the camp, but no one felt like sleeping anymore.

They chatted for a bit, and inevitably, the topic turned to their future plans.

Lin Ziye stuck to his original plan, not intending to venture deep into the Secret Realm’s inner region.

But Gu Jue stated that his destination was also the Secret Realm Center.

Lu Sangjiu recalled the contents of the book. Ye Zhiyao had met Gu Jue on her way to the Place of Inheritance and had traveled with him for a while.

But before they reached the Place of Inheritance, the two had parted ways.

This meant that in the Qingyu Secret Realm, Gu Jue’s and Ye Zhiyao’s fortuitous encounters were not the same, so naturally, they wouldn’t conflict with Lu Sangjiu’s.

This relieved Lu Sangjiu a little. ’Dealing with Ye Zhiyao is bad enough; adding the male lead into the mix would be just my luck.’

But just as she thought that, she heard Gu Jue say, ”Cultivator Lu, Cultivator Chi, I hear you’re also heading to the Secret Realm Center. Let’s travel together tomorrow.”

Lu Sangjiu: ”...”

’No way, no way. You’re the male lead with such an aloof image, how can you be the one to suggest we travel together???’

But before she could say anything, Chi Yan happily nodded and agreed.

”That would be for the best, of course! With a strong teammate like Cultivator Gu, we’ll have a much better chance in the inner regions of the Secret Realm!”

Liu Xi immediately added, ”Senior Brother, I’ll go with you all too!”

Then, all three of them turned their gazes to Lu Sangjiu in unison.

Lu Sangjiu: ”...”

’If I suggested we part ways now, would that be a little antisocial?’

Forcing a smile, Lu Sangjiu said, ”We welcome you to join us.”

Liu Xi then stood up and said, ”Then it’s settled. It’s getting late, everyone should get some rest!”

They were all quite happy, but Lu Sangjiu genuinely couldn’t share their joy.

According to the plot’s progression, Gu Jue was about to meet Ye Zhiyao and start traveling with her.

During that time, there would be overt and covert conflicts between Liu Xi and Ye Zhiyao—a total Asura’s battlefield. ’I have absolutely no desire to watch that up close, okay?’

’But I can’t openly refuse under these circumstances; it would break character... I’ll just have to find a way to leave the team later.’

Lost in thought, Lu Sangjiu found an empty spot to sit down, preparing to close her eyes and regulate her breathing.

But just as she sat down, she heard Gu Jue’s voice transmission.

”Cultivator Lu, that Cultivator Xie has not given up on you. You could be in danger at any moment.”

”So... stay close to me. I will protect you.”

Lu Sangjiu: ...?

She was stunned for a moment but quickly understood.

’So... the reason Gu Jue took the initiative to travel with us was because he was afraid Xie Ningyuan would come back to cause trouble for me?’

’I’m shocked. What kind of peerless, good-hearted person is this? Ye Zhiyao, you should take some notes!’

Lu Sangjiu was a bit overwhelmed by the favor and couldn’t help but feel ashamed of her earlier thoughts of sneaking away. ’Isn’t this just betraying his kindness?’

’Sigh, I almost forgot about the trouble that is Xie Ningyuan. It really would be difficult if I were on my own.’

’Oh well. Even if I went alone, that damn Heavenly Dao probably wouldn’t let me get my way anyway... I’ll just stick with them.’

So, she replied in a voice full of gratitude, ”Cultivator Gu, you’re too kind! I’ll have to trouble you then. Please don’t mind me if I hold you back.”

She delivered the line with a coy and seemingly innocent air, which Gu Jue seemed to appreciate. He soon replied with two words: ”I won’t.”

Lu Sangjiu: ’As expected, no man can refuse a cute and innocent little ’green tea’ girl!’

After resting for the night, Lin Ziye bid farewell to the others at dawn and left on his own.

The remaining group of four was led by Chi Yan.

Chi Yan couldn’t very well talk about his treasure hunting, so he just said he had a Magic Treasure that could point the way and that following him was the right choice.

Gu Jue and Liu Xi were both tactful people and didn’t press for details.

After the thrilling encounters with the beast tide, the White Jade Toad, and the giant python, the next few days were almost excessively peaceful.

Aside from some low-level demon beasts, there were only some low-level spiritual grass to be gathered.

After three days of mind-numbingly boring travel, they finally left the canyon behind.

Gazing at the endless plain before them, a rare hint of joy appeared in Gu Jue’s eyes. ”...Qishan Plain. We’ve reached the middle ring!”

Qishan Plain was a vast, sprawling grassland with only one mountain within its borders: Qishan.

Qishan towered into the clouds. It was fraught with danger, but it was also rich in Spirit Grass, Spirit Fruits, and various ores, making it a highly contested area in the Qingyu Secret Realm.

By now, the timing was about right. It was estimated that any Cultivators with some skill were all converging on Qishan.

Lu Sangjiu remembered that Gu Jue met Ye Zhiyao right before heading up Qishan... ’Tsk, looks like my good days are about to end.’

Although Gu Jue, Chi Yan, and the others all had their own destinations, they wouldn’t just pass up the contest for Qishan.

So, after confirming their direction, the group quickened their pace towards Qishan.

After traveling for only half a day, they came across Ye Zhiyao and Qin Yu, who were in a duel with someone.

...Oh, no. Perhaps it would be more accurate to say they were being ganged up on!