The Side Character Who Wins by Doing Nothing

When she heard Chi Yan’s reply, Lu Sangjiu’s heart sank... ’I was hoping this wouldn’t happen, but it looks like it was unavoidable in the end.’

Investigating the family and friends of one of your own friends was always an uncomfortable situation.

Lu Sangjiu thought for a moment, but she still didn’t know how to bring it up.

’After all, unlike the rest of us, Chi Yan hasn’t had any time to mentally prepare. He’s still blissfully unaware right now. If I just tell him directly, it’ll probably be a huge blow to him!’

’Besides... It’s not that I don’t trust Chi Yan’s character, but if he has a good relationship with this martial uncle, he’ll likely lose his cool after hearing the news and go question the man directly.’

’Not only would that leak our plans, but he himself could be in danger.’

With this in mind, Lu Sangjiu ultimately decided to keep it from Chi Yan for the time being.

So she simply replied to Chi Yan, ”It’s nothing. I just happened to hear about this senior and wanted to ask around a bit.”

After a pause, she asked, ”By the way, is Senior He Zheng at the Golden Elephant Sect right now?”

Chi Yan wasn’t as perceptive as the others, so he didn’t read too much into her words and simply replied, ”I don’t think so... I’m not at the sect right now, either. Anyway, when I left a few days ago, I heard my martial uncle had gone out on some business. I’m guessing he probably hasn’t returned yet?”

Lu Sangjiu now had a clearer picture. She thanked him and put away the Communication Talisman.

After Ye Zhiyao finished telling them everything she knew, she saw Lu Sangjiu using a Communication Talisman. Figuring she was probably asking about He Zheng, Ye Zhiyao was tactful enough to wait without interrupting.

As soon as Lu Sangjiu put the Communication Talisman away, she spoke impatiently. ”I’ve told you everything I know. I should be able to leave now, right?”

But Lu Sangjiu just smiled faintly. ”Don’t be in such a hurry to leave. We still have a little something we need Senior Sister Ye’s help with.”

The moment she heard Lu Sangjiu call her Senior Sister Ye, Ye Zhiyao’s heart tightened. She was instantly overcome with a bad feeling.

She shot up from the small stool. ”Lu Sangjiu, are you going back on your word?!”

But Lu Sangjiu put on an innocent expression. ”Did I promise you anything? Other than not killing you, I don’t believe I made any other commitments, did I?”

”You...”

Ye Zhiyao wanted to object, but when she thought back on their conversation, she realized Lu Sangjiu really hadn’t said she would let her go if she told them everything...

’But I thought that was the unspoken agreement!’

She felt completely played. Her expression soured, and she gritted her teeth. ”Don’t push me!”

Lu Sangjiu remained calm. ”I know you must have a trump card, but I’d advise you to think this through.”

”We just rescued you from True Monarch Liu Feng’s side. If you turn around and start a fight with us, or even kill us... what do you think everyone will think?”

Ye Zhiyao’s expression instantly soured. ’What else could they possibly think?’

’Lu Sangjiu and her group just took down True Monarch Liu Feng’s den. In everyone else’s eyes, they’re the righteous ones now.’

’That being the case, no one would think Lu Sangjiu and her friends did something to provoke me. They’d just assume I was in league with True Monarch Liu Feng all along!’

’At that point, not only would the Seven Emotions Sect have no place for someone who murdered her own sect members, but the entire Cultivation World would likely want her captured!’

The thought of such consequences made Ye Zhiyao waver.

’With her own strength, she was no match for Lu Sangjiu’s group and had no way to escape their grasp.’

’And if she used her trump card, it would mean killing all of them.’

’Ye Zhiyao had no choice at all!’

Lu Sangjiu watched the shifting expressions on Ye Zhiyao’s face with satisfaction. She smiled faintly and said, ”Senior Sister Ye is a smart woman. I’m sure you’ve already weighed the pros and cons.”

Ye Zhiyao bit her lip. ”What is it you really want?”

”Don’t worry, this won’t harm your interests.”

Lu Sangjiu said, ”It’s just that we’re not sure what will happen if we hand these Demon Cultivators over to the elders and sect leaders, and we did promise to get them home.”

”So, left with no choice, we can only handle this matter discreetly ourselves... I heard that Senior Bai Heng is currently being punished by having to guard the border of the Western Demon Realm. I imagine he might be able to help us?”

Ye Zhiyao’s eyes widened in sudden understanding. ’So that’s what this is about.’

’This really doesn’t hurt my interests. If I’m the one who asks, Master should be willing to do me this favor.’

’Besides... once I see Master, I won’t have to be afraid of their threats anymore. If Master is unwilling to help, he’ll have his own ways of dealing with them. For me, this is a win-win situation!’

A glint flashed in her eyes. Ye Zhiyao immediately beamed a warm smile at Lu Sangjiu, as if she hadn’t been the one fuming just moments ago.

”Oh, so it was just about this. Junior Sister Lu, you should have just said so.”

”I also felt that these Demon Cultivators were quite pitiful. Of course I’m willing to lend them a hand.”

Lu Sangjiu: ”...”

’I’m honestly a little impressed by how fast Ye Zhiyao can change her tune. She gets furious when she feels threatened, but the moment she realizes there’s no downside for her, she can instantly put on this docile and friendly facade.’

’Even though she knows none of us will be fooled by her appearance again, she has absolutely no qualms about putting on an act.’

’Say what you will, but that thick skin of hers is really something else.’

But in any case, avoiding a fight was always for the best.

Lu Sangjiu smiled at Ye Zhiyao. ”Well then... Senior Sister Ye, I look forward to our cooperation.”

Ye Zhiyao said nothing, only rising to her feet. ”It’s getting late. I’m a bit tired, I’d like to rest.”

This was her way of telling them to leave. Lu Sangjiu nodded. ”No problem. Senior Brother, Senior Sister, you two can go back and rest.”

Hearing this, Ye Zhiyao immediately sensed something was wrong. ”...And what about you?”

Lu Sangjiu looked innocent. ”I’m staying here to watch you, of course. You didn’t really think I’d leave you here all by yourself, did you?”

Ye Zhiyao: ”...”

’That’s true,’ she thought. ’How could she possibly trust me like that?’

Li Qiancheng frowned slightly as he glanced at Ye Zhiyao, still a little worried about Lu Sangjiu. ”Little Junior Sister, will you be all right by yourself? Otherwise, I can stay behind.”

He was their senior brother, after all, and had the highest cultivation among them. It was only natural that he wanted to shoulder this responsibility.

But before Lu Sangjiu could even speak, Ye Zhiyao was the first to agree. ”Oh, yes. I’d rather Senior Brother Li stay and keep me company.”

Compared to Lu Sangjiu, it was obvious Ye Zhiyao would rather be with Li Qiancheng.

It wasn’t that she had any specific designs on Li Qiancheng, but whenever she spoke to a man, she would subconsciously put on a flirtatious air, her gaze soft and her expression alluring.

Luo Linlang immediately snapped, ”What do you think you’re doing to our senior brother?”

”Absolutely not! Senior Brother, you can’t be alone in a room with her! You’ll be the one taken advantage of!”