The Side Character Who Wins by Doing Nothing

Luo Linlang carefully examined the other person’s waist token, confirming it bore the emblem of the Gold and Silver Gate.

She discussed it with Lu Sangjiu, and they both agreed that twenty Mid-grade Spirit Stones was a good deal for such a long journey.

The two didn’t hesitate much and immediately boarded the Immortal Boat.

The male cultivator who welcomed them aboard was very enthusiastic. He introduced himself, saying, ”My name is Xiang Qian. And how should I address you two Fairies?”

Lu Sangjiu and Luo Linlang gave their names. They figured that since he was from the Gold and Silver Gate, they could ask him for some information about the Sword Seizing Conference.

So, they didn’t hurry off and instead started chatting with him on the deck.

”Friend, this is our first time attending the Sword Seizing Conference. Are there any important details you could share with us?”

Xiang Qian immediately replied, ”Then you’ve certainly asked the right person!”

”My master is the one hosting this year’s Sword Seizing Conference. Heh heh, my information is absolutely first-hand, straight from the inside!”

Lu Sangjiu was pleasantly surprised. ”Oh? In that case, friend, could you tell us the details?”

”Of course.”

Xiang Qian beamed, pulling a Jade Scroll from his storage bag. ”This is a detailed guide to the Sword Seizing Conference. Only ten Mid-grade Spirit Stones. Thank you for your business!”

Lu Sangjiu: ”...”

Her smile froze on her face. In disbelief, she said, ”This... costs Spirit Stones?”

Xiang Qian said matter-of-factly, ”Of course it does. Fairy, you weren’t thinking of getting it for free, were you?”

Lu Sangjiu: ”...”

’Sorry, but that’s exactly what I was thinking.’

Seeing her expression, Xiang Qian adopted a pained look. ”Oh, Fairy, you have no idea how many powerful geniuses will be attending this year’s Sword Seizing Conference!”

”Gathering all this information takes manpower and resources, you know? Besides, I’m giving you inside information ahead of time. I’m taking a risk here, so I have to earn a little something for my trouble, right?”

Lu Sangjiu thought he made a lot of sense, which was why she no longer wanted it.

But Luo Linlang urged her from the side, ”Little Junior Sister, why don’t we just buy one?”

”I’ve never been to the Sword Seizing Conference either, so I don’t know the rules or anything. And he said he’s collected intel on the prodigies from all the sects who might be participating this year. I’m a little curious.”

Seeing that Luo Linlang wanted it, Lu Sangjiu didn’t stop her. ”Alright, if Senior Sister wants it, let’s buy it!”

”Yay!” Luo Linlang’s face lit up with joy, and she quickly offered to pay. ”I’ll get it!”

Having just gotten a good amount of Spirit Stones from Lu Sangjiu yesterday, she felt it was her duty to pay. She promptly covered the boat fare for both of them, plus the cost of the information.

Receiving fifty Mid-grade Spirit Stones, Xiang Qian grinned from ear to ear. ”You’re too generous, Fairy! Here you go, take good care of it!”

Now that they had the information, the two had no intention of chatting with Xiang Qian any longer. They asked directly, ”Where are our rooms? Take us there!”

But Xiang Qian just looked at them innocently and said, ”A Low-Grade Guest Room is one Mid-grade Spirit Stone, a Middle-Grade Guest Room is three, and a Top-Grade Guest Room is five. Which kind would you two like?”

Lu Sangjiu was completely dumbfounded. ”Wait a minute, the rooms cost extra Spirit Stones? Doesn’t the boat fare usually include the room?”

”Ah, Fairy, you’re thinking of Immortal Boats that specialize in passenger transport. We’re just taking a few people on the side, so naturally, we’re different from those official ones.”

Xiang Qian explained, ”But those passenger boats charge at least thirty Mid-grade Spirit Stones for this trip. We only charge twenty. Even with a discount, we still have to make a profit, right?”

”Of course, if you think it’s too expensive, you don’t have to get a room. You’re free to pick any spot on the deck.”

Lu Sangjiu: ”...”

Luo Linlang: ”...”

They looked at each other, and both saw the same realization writ large in the other’s eyes: We’ve been scammed!

Who would have thought? A tiny Immortal Boat, but a huge scam.

It sounded cheap, but the moment they got on board, there were all sorts of hidden fees!

Lu Sangjiu couldn’t help but ask, ”So, does food also cost extra?”

Xiang Qian’s smile became even friendlier. ”You’re a smart one, Fairy! The meal plans also come in three tiers. For the ten-day journey, the cheapest is one Mid-grade Spirit Stone per person, and the most expensive is only five Mid-grade Spirit Stones per person. A real bargain, isn’t it?”

Lu Sangjiu: ”...”

’Oh, wow. Just... wow.’

’By this calculation, they said twenty Mid-grade Spirit Stones, but if you want to eat and sleep comfortably, it also comes out to thirty. It’s no cheaper than a regular passenger boat at all!’

Luo Linlang’s shapely eyebrows shot up in anger. ”You’ve got Spirit Stones for eyes, don’t you? You crooked merchant! I want a refund!”

Xiang Qian didn’t get angry at being yelled at. He just kept his cheerful smile. ”I’m terribly sorry, Fairy, but we don’t offer refunds as part of our business.”

”If you no longer wish to travel with us, you may disembark at any time. However, the Spirit Stones you have paid are non-refundable. I hope you can understand.”

Luo Linlang: ”...”

’Understand my ass!’

Her eyes reddened, and she immediately burst into tears.

”Waaaah, you’re a bully!”

Luo Linlang buried her face in Lu Sangjiu’s arms, whimpering, her tear-streaked face a picture of delicate sorrow.

Anyone who saw this scene would feel at least a little guilty and not know what to do, right?

Well, Xiang Qian didn’t.

He looked at Luo Linlang with an all-knowing gaze. ”Fairy Luo of the Seven Emotions Sect, who cultivates the Sadness Rune Technique from the Seven Emotions Technique. Your skill is crying on command... It’s one thing to hear about it, but another to see it in person.”

Luo Linlang: ”...”

Her sobs caught in her throat. The tears were still streaming down her face automatically, but the feeling of sadness vanished abruptly.

’...Suddenly, I don’t really feel like crying anymore. I feel more like hitting someone.’

Lu Sangjiu was also a bit surprised. She hadn’t expected him to know Luo Linlang’s information so accurately.

Perhaps noticing her surprise, Xiang Qian gave a slight smile. ”Didn’t I just say? I’ve collected information on all the prodigies from the various sects who might be attending the Sword Seizing Conference. Fairy Luo is among them.”

Luo Linlang’s urge to hit someone subsided a little... ’Hmm, the guy may be a crooked merchant, but he’s got good taste!’

Lu Sangjiu, on the other hand, asked curiously, ”Then do you know about me?”

Xiang Qian nodded. ”Lu Fairy, while you aren’t on the list, you did break the convention that one can only attempt to enter the Qingyu Secret Realm once. You made a bit of a name for yourself with that, so I made some inquiries on the side.”

”Oh? And what information did you find?”

For once, Xiang Qian hesitated. ”Are you sure you want to hear it?”

His hesitation only made Lu Sangjiu more curious. ”Just say it.”

”Ahem...” Xiang Qian cleared his throat. ”An unremarkable Foundation Establishment Stage cultivator, said to be very close with Gu Jue of the Lingjian Sect. I hear you’ve even met the parents.”

Lu Sangjiu: ”...”

She was instantly petrified. For Luo Linlang, he talked about her Cultivation Technique, but who would have thought that for her, it would suddenly turn into gossip? The romantic kind, at that???

Luo Linlang was also surprised. ”You even know about that?”

Xiang Qian gave a confident smile. ”Of course. I also know that on the night before you left Sky Curtain City, Lu Fairy had a secret meeting with Gu Jue in the bamboo forest... Ahem. In short, the Gold and Silver Gate is much better informed than you imagine. You definitely didn’t get a bad deal buying that information.”

Lu Sangjiu’s mouth twitched. She also hadn’t expected the rumors about her and Gu Jue to get so ridiculous... ’What the hell, ”met the parents”? What the hell, ”secret meeting in the bamboo forest”? Their imaginations are running way too wild!’