The Side Character Who Wins by Doing Nothing

Their conversation wasn’t hidden from Lu Sangjiu, so even while she was still fighting the Sword Array, she heard every word clearly.

Her heart sank. She realized she still hadn’t been careful enough and had underestimated Ji Li’s vindictiveness.

He hadn’t underestimated her; he had even issued a warrant for her arrest, detailing her information with perfect clarity.

It was so detailed that just changing her appearance was useless. It seemed she couldn’t even use the domination map so casually anymore.

But that was a problem for later. The more pressing headache was whether they could turn the tables and kill these three.

If they failed to eliminate them root and stem, news of her location would get out, and she would probably have to relocate immediately.

Also... Lie Rufeng and the others had surely heard the conversation as well. After this joint battle was over, would they turn against her?

She was inclined to believe Lie Rufeng and his group were good people, but the problem was that since Ji Li had issued a warrant, the reward was surely very generous.

On top of that, Ji Li was an Immortal King, and his foundation in the Immortal Spirit Realm was likely deep. Compared to him, she was nothing.

Who knew what Lie Rufeng’s group would choose after weighing their options?

Besides, even if Lie Rufeng and the others were willing to keep her secret, wasn’t there still Duan Yiyi?

Duan Yiyi had disliked her from the start. Right now, she didn’t believe for a second that Duan Yiyi would pretend she hadn’t heard a thing.

’Ugh... what a headache.’

While Lu Sangjiu was briefly distracted, Lie Rufeng seized the opportunity her assistance provided and shattered the Sword Array with a single strike.

The three from the Poison Dragon Sect had also been distracted by Lu Sangjiu. By the time they came to their senses, the Sword Array was already broken.

The faces of all three changed. The short, stout man in the lead immediately grabbed Duan Yiyi, holding her in front of him. He then shouted at Lie Rufeng’s group, ”Don’t move! One step closer and I’ll kill her!”

Although they all knew Duan Yiyi was responsible for the current situation, she was still their sect-mate. They couldn’t just watch her die.

Lie Rufeng and the others immediately froze, but they didn’t lower their weapons. They just stood their ground, watching coldly.

”I advise you not to harm her. She is a True Disciple of the Qiyue Sect. If you really kill her, the Qiyue Sect will not let you off.”

But the stout man didn’t fall for it at all. He sneered, ”Don’t try to scare me with the Qiyue Sect. I knew her identity long ago. If I were afraid, we wouldn’t be in this situation!”

”Our Poison Dragon Sect is affiliated with the Beidie Palace, and we’re a hundred thousand li away from the Qiyue Sect. I refuse to believe you’d mobilize your entire sect against mine for one minor disciple!”

”Heh, a small skirmish like this? The outcome is our own responsibility, life or death.”

The stout man’s words made Lie Rufeng’s expression turn cold, but he couldn’t refute them.

Because he was right. For the Qiyue Sect to declare war on a sect within the Beidie Palace’s territory was no small matter. The death of a single Duan Yiyi was definitely not enough to warrant it.

In the end, this could only be considered a private grudge. Perhaps they would have to be more careful when encountering people from the Qiyue Sect in the future, but the Immortal Spirit Realm was vast. Such a threat was clearly not enough to intimidate them.

Seeing that Lie Rufeng said nothing, the stout man’s face immediately broke into a smug grin, knowing the other party was out of options.

So he made an offer: ”If you want me to release her, that’s fine. How about this? We’re in a good mood today, so we won’t make things difficult for you.”

”Just hand over that Female Cultivator, and I’ll let this girl go. I’ll even let you all leave safely. How about it?”

Lu Sangjiu: ”...”

She wasn’t the least bit surprised they’d make such a demand.

They had ambushed them here for no other reason than to kill them and take their treasures.

But now, it was clear the bounty on Ji Li’s warrant was so high that this group didn’t matter anymore. As long as they could capture Lu Sangjiu, they would make a fortune.

Since there was a profit to be made either way, they naturally didn’t want to fight these people to the death. The Sword Array was already broken; if they fought now, they would likely pay a heavy price even if they won.

The same consideration applied to Lie Rufeng’s group. Forcing a fight wouldn’t be worth the cost. Duan Yiyi would certainly die, and they might not even be able to save their own lives.

Compared to that, handing over Lu Sangjiu was a much, much simpler option.

After all, they had only met by chance. They were still suspicious and wary of Lu Sangjiu, so handing her over would come with very little psychological burden.

Of course, Lu Sangjiu understood all this. But she didn’t do anything else, merely glancing at Lie Rufeng, who was closest to her.

”Are you... going to fight me?”

She was considering the possibility of eliminating everyone here herself today.

To be honest, she was actually looking forward to Lie Rufeng making a move against her.

That way, she wouldn’t have to worry about how to deal with this group who knew her secret. She could just kill them all, leaving no one behind.

’As for whether I have the strength to kill them all... how will I know if I don’t try?’

In that instant, killing intent began to rise in Lu Sangjiu’s heart.

However, to her surprise, under everyone’s watchful eyes, Lie Rufeng’s final decision was: ”I won’t turn on a comrade, not even a temporary one.”

The killing intent that had just ignited in Lu Sangjiu was instantly extinguished.

She gave Lie Rufeng a deep look, then suddenly smiled. ”You’re a lot like a friend of mine.”

She was referring to Gu Jue, of course.

This Lie Rufeng had the same sense of integrity as Gu Jue.

Though he appeared cold and aloof, he was, in fact, a man of great principle.

Perhaps it was this similarity that made Lu Sangjiu believe he wasn’t lying.

After all, he was a Heavenly Immortal Level expert. If he had to resort to deception to make an Earth Immortal Level cultivator like her let her guard down—in a three-on-one situation, no less—then he might as well give up on cultivation altogether.

Lu Sangjiu’s comment seemed rather random and out of place at a time like this.

Lie Rufeng was taken aback for a moment, but he didn’t press for details, just nodded and said, ”Oh.”

Meanwhile, the stout man, who had heard Lie Rufeng’s reply, wore a grim expression. He then suddenly unsealed Duan Yiyi’s voice.

And so, before anyone else could react, Duan Yiyi’s shrill voice was the first to ring out.

”Lie Rufeng, are you insane? Do you have any idea what you’re saying?”

”You’re going to send me to my death for this woman? Have you forgotten what you promised my master before we left? If anything happens to me, my master will never forgive you!”

Lie Rufeng’s brow twitched slightly as he glanced at Duan Yiyi from a distance.

’Just a moment ago, I was worried about her predicament. Now, though... why not just let her die?’

’Had she forgotten? Just moments before, she had abandoned everyone else out of her own willfulness. If it hadn’t been for Lu Sangjiu, the three of us would have likely perished.’

’Yet now, this person who had been nothing but a burden was so brazenly demanding they trade their savior’s life for hers... Where did she get the nerve?’