The Side Character Who Wins by Doing Nothing

While Lu Sangjiu was lost in thought, a sudden commotion broke out.

When the sound snapped her out of her thoughts, she looked over to see Liu Xi shielding a female cultivator, her brows furrowed in anger as she argued with their Qilin Sect guards.

Liu Xi had always had a fiery temper, and her tongue was incredibly sharp when she started cursing someone out.

Several Qilin Sect Foundation Establishment Cultivators were so enraged by her that they started lashing her with their whips.

Currently, Liu Xi and the others had their Spiritual Power locked. Aside from being a bit stronger, they were no different from ordinary mortals.

The whip struck flesh, instantly splitting skin. The sight was so brutal that even Lu Sangjiu winced in vicarious pain.

But the spoiled, willful girl from her memories was now gritting her teeth hard enough to shatter them, enduring the pain without a single cry, merely glaring at the men with utter hatred.

Her defiance thoroughly enraged the cultivators.

One of them said hatefully, ”This bitch has been nothing but trouble since she arrived. How many times has it been now?”

”If this continues, she’ll incite the others to revolt. I say we just kill her and be done with it!”

Another man readily agreed. ”I hear she’s a Direct Disciple of the Lingjian Sect. Keeping her alive is just asking for trouble...”

As the two men spoke, the female cultivator sheltered in Liu Xi’s arms grew terrified. She struggled to her knees and began to beg for mercy. ”No, I beg you, please don’t hurt her!”

She pleaded desperately, ”We’ll be obedient and work hard, I swear! Please, I’m begging you, show some mercy!”

Liu Xi couldn’t stop herself from reaching for her. ”A Zhi, don’t beg them!”

”We’re prisoners here. Do you really think they’ll let us live after the work is finished?”

She sneered. ”It’s just the difference between dying sooner and dying later. Why abandon your dignity just to cling to life for another day or two by begging them?”

The men from the Qilin Sect burst out laughing. ”Well, aren’t you the perceptive one!”

One of the men’s expressions turned sinister. ”In that case, we’ll just send you on your way right now!”

He raised his blade, about to bring it down on Liu Xi. Liu Xi closed her eyes, ready for death, but A Zhi at her side continued to struggle and cry out, not giving up hope.

But the blade never fell. Lu Sangjiu’s voice rang out just in time. ”Stop.”

The men froze, instinctively turning to look at her.

Smiles immediately bloomed on their faces. ”Ah, it’s Miss Lan! What brings you over here? Is there anything we can help you with?”

Lu Sangjiu arched an eyebrow and said sarcastically, ”My, what an impressive display. Please, don’t be so polite with me. I’m not worthy.”

One of them immediately put on an obsequious smile. ”Now, why would you say that? You’ve treated several of us. You saved our lives! How could we possibly be disrespectful to you?”

”We just happened to run into a few who won’t listen, and we couldn’t resist teaching them a little lesson.”

Lu Sangjiu’s words had been a deliberate test. Hearing their response, she now understood the relationship between Lan Yu and these men.

’Lan Yu is a Medical Cultivator, so it stands to reason that many of the Qilin Sect’s low-level cultivators have been treated by her. No wonder people recognize her everywhere she goes and treat her with a fair amount of respect.’

Now that she had a better grasp of the situation, she glanced over at Liu Xi and A Zhi. ”They’re just two female cultivators. How disobedient can they be? Is it really worth you all making such a scene?”

The men’s faces soured. ”This one’s a real thorn in our side. She has a foul temper and an even fouler mouth. If we weren’t so short on labor, and if things weren’t so tense outside that we can’t grab any new people, we would’ve gotten rid of her ages ago.”

They were talking about Liu Xi, of course. Lu Sangjiu had witnessed firsthand just how vicious Liu Xi’s tongue could be.

’I just didn’t expect her to remain so stubborn even in a situation like this. Then again, looking at it from another perspective, I suppose you could call it strength of character?’

Sighing to herself, Lu Sangjiu finally said, ”Even so, it would be a shame to kill them.”

”I happen to be developing some new poisons and need live subjects to test them on. Human subjects are far more useful than animals. How about you give them to me?”

”Well...”

The men exchanged hesitant glances.

Lu Sangjiu’s expression immediately iced over. ”What? You were about to kill them anyway, but you’re reluctant to give them to me for my experiments?”

”No, no, that’s not it, Miss Lan. Please, don’t be angry.”

One of them explained in a hushed, troubled voice, ”It’s just... our superiors gave specific orders. This woman is a Direct Disciple of the Lingjian Sect. She’s to be watched closely and must not, under any circumstances, be allowed to leave this place alive.”

”So, killing her is fine. But if we give her to you and she somehow escapes... well...”

Lu Sangjiu arched a brow. ”What’s this? You don’t trust my skills?”

”Do you really think she could escape from me after I’ve dosed her with my poisons?”

As she spoke, she suddenly waved her hand, and a puff of poisonous mist enveloped Liu Xi and A Zhi.

Liu Xi’s eyes widened, and she tried to say something, but a wave of weakness washed over her. She collapsed in a heap, lacking even the strength to speak.

Lu Sangjiu turned to the astonished Qilin Sect cultivators and smiled faintly. ”Now, do you still think they can escape from my side?”

The men exchanged another look. They still felt indebted to Lan Yu, and besides, she was a Medical Cultivator. It was inevitable they would need her help again in the future.

So, they relented. ”All right, then... You can take them back with you, Miss Lan.”

”But you absolutely must make sure they don’t leave here alive. When you’re finished with them, either kill them yourself or send them back to us.”

Lu Sangjiu grunted in acknowledgment. ”Don’t worry. Between the Spirit Lock shackles and my poisons, that’s double insurance. I’m not so incompetent that I’d let them escape.”

After a pause, she added, ”However, neither of them has any strength right now. I’ll have to trouble you to help me carry them back to my quarters.”

”Of course, that’s no problem!”

So, a few of the men hoisted up Liu Xi and A Zhi and headed toward Lan Yu’s residence.

Lu Sangjiu followed leisurely behind, thinking with great satisfaction, ’Well, didn’t that solve everything?’

’I’ve rescued the people and found her residence. Perfect.’

The men carried Liu Xi and A Zhi to a small, relatively remote courtyard. After setting them down, they bid farewell to Lu Sangjiu and left.

Lu Sangjiu stood alone in the courtyard and surveyed her surroundings. The camp wasn’t very large, so everyone’s quarters were packed closely together.

Her little courtyard had a few neighbors, but even though it was already late, she saw no lights. She carefully extended her senses but detected no living presence nearby. ’Looks like no one’s home,’ she thought.

She nodded in satisfaction. Next, she studied the Array in the courtyard and activated it before turning back toward Liu Xi and A Zhi.

The effects of the muscle-relaxing powder hadn’t worn off yet. Both of them tried to remain alert, but it was no use.

Even in this state, Liu Xi somehow managed to squirm with all her might, positioning her body to shield A Zhi.

Her voice was hoarse and weak. ”Whatever you’re planning... do it to me.”

Lu Sangjiu arched an eyebrow, suddenly amused. ”You two seem quite close. Did you know each other before this?”

She asked, but they clearly had no strength to reply.

After a moment’s thought, she took out a pill. ”Blink if you’re willing to answer my questions. I can give you the antidote, you know.”