The Side Character Who Wins by Doing Nothing

Lu Sangjiu was in high spirits after leaving Wei Lingyun. ’Finally, something’s gone my way!’ she thought.

Xie Ningyuan thought for a moment before asking, ”How do you plan to use that voucher for forging a Mid-grade Treasure?”

Lu Sangjiu shook her head. ”I haven’t decided yet. Why?”

”I have a schematic for a Magic Treasure that I happened to come across. Take a look.”

As he spoke, Xie Ningyuan took out a schematic and handed it to her.

Although Lu Sangjiu didn’t know anything about Artifact Refining, she could still understand the basics of the schematic.

She took it and examined it closely. The name of the Magic Treasure on the schematic was the Fuyao Fan.

It used the bones of a Peng Bird Species for the fan’s ribs and could conjure a hurricane.

A great deal of work had also gone into the fan’s surface, which was inscribed with an Array that, when combined with hallucinogenic materials, would cause opponents caught in the hurricane to suffer from illusions.

Lu Sangjiu herself had no illusion-based cultivation techniques, so the Fuyao Fan would indeed be an excellent supportive Magic Treasure for her.

She nodded. ”Not bad. If I can get the materials later, I can have it forged.”

After a pause, she looked at Xie Ningyuan. Wincing with reluctance, she took out a top-grade spirit stone and handed it over. ”Here... just consider this my payment for it.”

Xie Ningyuan raised an eyebrow. ”Must you really be so formal?”

Lu Sangjiu answered honestly, ”They say you can’t be too beholden to others. I have to give myself some wiggle room, don’t I?”

Since she had stated her concerns so frankly, Xie Ningyuan didn’t know what to say.

He accepted the Spirit Stone. ”Alright. Whatever makes you happy.”

”I’ll see you at the plaza in three days. Get some good rest until then, and don’t go out unless it’s absolutely necessary.”

He paused before adding, ”And that gift I gave you earlier? Wait until you’re alone to look at it.”

With that, Xie Ningyuan turned and left.

Lu Sangjiu returned to her courtyard. With Gu Jue gone and Sword Bu Gui nowhere in sight, only she and her senior sister remained. The small courtyard felt rather desolate... ’This must be tough on my senior sister, with her love for excitement,’ she mused.

Luo Linlang was clearly thrilled to see her back, and when she learned Lu Sangjiu had won first place, she was ecstatic. She immediately started clamoring to go out for drinks.

But, of course... she was mercilessly shut down by Lu Sangjiu.

Although she felt bad for her senior sister being cooped up all alone, safety came first.

Besides, she knew Luo Linlang responded to a soft touch, not a firm hand, so she put on a little show, her eyes welling up as she adopted a pitiful, wronged expression.

”I’ve been so worried about you, Senior Sister, that I haven’t been able to eat or sleep properly these past few days. And on top of that, I had to prepare for the competition. Don’t you understand how much pressure I’m under?”

”Now that I’ve finally finished the competition and can get a little rest, you... must you insist on making me worry and suffer?”

As soon as she finished her tearful plea, Luo Linlang’s heart melted.

’I’m the worst,’ she thought. ’My little junior sister is already in such a pitiful state. How could I make her worry even more?’

Tears welling in her eyes, she immediately swore to the heavens that she would be obedient from now on and would absolutely, positively stay put and not go out.

Only then, completely satisfied, did Lu Sangjiu return to her room.

The first thing she did when she got back, of course, was check the gift Xie Ningyuan had given her.

She’d been dying of curiosity and could finally see what it was.

The moment she opened the storage bag, Lu Sangjiu was staggered by the wave of Demonic Qi that billowed out. When she came to her senses, she was so frightened that she hastily sealed it shut again.

Then, for double protection, she tossed the storage bag into her storage ring, only then feeling a sense of ease.

She wiped the cold sweat from her forehead, her heart a mix of shock and delight. Xie Ningyuan had actually given her a bag full of Demon Essence Stones!

She had no idea where he’d gotten them, but a quick glance revealed there were at least ten thousand of them!

Although they weren’t all Top-grade Demon Essence Stones—rather a mix of various qualities—the total amount would likely be enough for her to break through to the Golden Core Stage.

Lu Sangjiu’s feelings were complicated. Her earlier insistence on giving him a single top-grade spirit stone now seemed like a complete joke.

’Even if I sold myself, I could never repay the value of these Demon Essence Stones!’

Yet, the thought of returning the Demon Essence Stones was unbearable.

After all, she currently had neither the time nor the strength to go to the Western Demon Realm. On her own, she could never collect so many Demon Essence Stones in such a short time. If her power stagnated, how could she possibly fight Ye Zhiyao and the Qilin Sect?

’Forget it. It seems I’m destined to be in Xie Ningyuan’s debt. It’s useless to fight it,’ she thought.

For the next three days, Lu Sangjiu didn’t go anywhere. Just before she was to leave for the Sword Tomb, she gave Luo Linlang a solemn warning.

”Senior Sister, you are not to go out today. Just stay here and behave. No matter what happens outside, you can’t leave. Do you understand?”

She was worried that if something went wrong at the Sword Tomb, Luo Linlang wouldn’t be able to stop herself from intervening to help her.

If that happened, she feared that those who had been eyeing Luo Linlang for so long would seize the opportunity to make trouble.

No matter how powerful Sword Bu Gui was, even he couldn’t stop them from causing a stir while hiding behind the banner of justice.

Hearing this, Luo Linlang grew suspicious. ”Why are you suddenly telling me all this? Is... is something going to happen outside today?”

”No,” Lu Sangjiu said dismissively. ”I’m just worried you’ll get restless.”

”In any case, just be good and wait for my return. Don’t make me worry.”

Luo Linlang’s suspicions were finally allayed. She couldn’t help but rub her nose and mutter, ”I’m clearly the senior sister, so how come you’re always the one lecturing me?”

”So, are you going to listen or not?”

”...I’ll listen!”

’Who cares who’s the senior or junior sister? My little junior sister is doing this for my own good. I have to appreciate her kindness. I can’t let her down!’ she thought.

Before she left, Lu Sangjiu ran into Sword Bu Gui.

”After you return from the Sword Tomb today, I must go back to the Lingjian Sect. Have you decided how you will resolve your predicament after that?”

Lu Sangjiu hadn’t expected Sword Bu Gui to be leaving so soon. She pondered for a moment before saying, ”Thank you for your care these past few days, Senior. It’s just that...”

She pleaded, ”I just have a very bad feeling about today. I’m afraid something might happen.”

”If... and I’m just saying if... if something happens to me, could I ask you to take my senior sister with you, Senior?”

”Take her back to the Lingjian Sect first, and have her contact our Master. My Master will come and get her.”

Lu Sangjiu wasn’t sure what the outcome of the day would be; she had to prepare an escape route for Luo Linlang.

But Sword Bu Gui frowned slightly. ”It’s just a trip to the Sword Tomb. What could possibly happen to you?”

”Besides, if something were to happen to you, I wouldn’t be able to get the Phoenix Cry Sword’s scabbard. Why, then, would I help take care of your senior sister?”

Lu Sangjiu was speechless.

His logic was so sound that she couldn’t refute it.

Sword Bu Gui said coolly, ”So, don’t let anything happen to you. Come back and take care of your senior sister yourself.

With a flick of his sleeve, he turned and departed.

Lu Sangjiu couldn’t help but smile wryly. In her heart, though, she felt that if something really did happen, Sword Bu Gui probably wouldn’t just stand by and let her die.

’At the very least, he could wait a little while. Once Luo Linlang contacted their Master to come get her, everything would be fine,’ she reasoned.

With that, Lu Sangjiu stopped worrying about other matters and headed for the plaza to meet up.

Xie Ningyuan was already waiting there when she arrived. Seeing him, Lu Sangjiu stepped forward and asked in a low voice, ”Are you feeling alright?”

Xie Ningyuan gave a casual ”mhm,” and said, ”Don’t worry, I won’t hold you back.”

As the two were talking, Ye Zhiyao arrived.

Her lips twitched slightly when she saw Lu Sangjiu. ”I haven’t had the chance to congratulate you, Junior Sister Lu, for taking first place in the Foundation Establishment Group. I watched your final match against Fellow Daoist Zhang. It was truly... magnificent.”