The Side Character Who Wins by Doing Nothing

The newcomers were none other than Duan Xingyun, Li Qiancheng, and their group.

’They came to save me!’

Joy spread across Lu Sangjiu’s face. She had just started running toward them when Luo Linlang swept her into a tight hug.

”SOB, SOB... Little Junior Sister, you’ve suffered so much!”

”Did that bastard do anything to you? Look at you, you’ve gotten so thin! You poor thing!”

Luo Linlang’s tears were genuine, but the corner of Li Qiancheng’s mouth twitched. ”...Well, yes, but isn’t saying she’s gotten thin a bit of an exaggeration?”

He looked Lu Sangjiu up and down and stated with certainty, ”She looks exactly the same as before. Seems like your injuries have healed quite well!”

Luo Linlang whirled around and glared furiously at Li Qiancheng. ”She has too gotten thin! If your eyesight is that bad, just keep your mouth shut!”

Li Qiancheng was speechless.

’Fine, I’ll shut up,’ he thought. ’As long as Little Junior Sister is all right, that’s what matters most.’

Torn between laughter and tears, Lu Sangjiu placated Luo Linlang with a few words before her gaze fell upon another person... Fa Shan. He had come as well.

His gaze on her was gentle, yet it held a complexity that made her skin crawl.

Lu Sangjiu had never expected Fa Shan to come and rescue her in person. ’Is it for the Domination Map Blade? Or has he recognized who I am?’

Given what had happened with Cangming, Lu Sangjiu couldn’t help but be warier of Fa Shan.

Even though she suspected he might have guessed her identity, she remained impassive, treating him with the detached courtesy one would show a stranger.

”Punishment Good Sect Master, you came as well. I am eternally grateful.”

Though Fa Shan had a thousand things he wanted to say to her, he knew this was not the right time, not with so many people around. So, upon hearing her words, he simply offered a polite smile.

”I said I would get you out. I am merely fulfilling my promise.”

After speaking, he frowned. ”Someone is heading this way. We should try to avoid any complications or hurting anyone. Let’s leave this place first.”

Although Fa Shan had come to rescue her, he had no desire for a direct confrontation with the Cold Crow Sect. Moreover, in his eyes, all Demon Cultivators were his kin. Unless absolutely necessary, he didn’t want to harm any of them.

Lu Sangjiu and the others understood this. Without another word, they left the courtyard and bolted for the exit.

Inside the Cold Crow Sect, the Power of Space was suppressed, making it impossible for them to tear open a rift and escape.

Fortunately, the Cold Crow Sect’s true fighting force had already mobilized to deal with the Seven Emotions Sect’s Tribulation Crossing Ancestor. With a Body Integration Realm expert like Fa Shan protecting them, their journey was basically free of danger.

However, just as they escaped the Cold Crow Sect’s territory and reached temporary safety, they all felt a world-shattering power erupt not far behind them.

The mere sensation of it was enough to make their hearts pound with dread.

Fa Shan stopped in his tracks, his gaze fixed on a distant point. ”...They’ve started fighting.”

His expression grew solemn. He pondered for a moment before turning to Lu Sangjiu. ”For the sake of the Western Demon Realm, Cangming cannot die yet... I must go take a look.”

’In truth,’ Fa Shan thought, ’I later guessed that Cangming had something to do with Gu Huang suddenly triggering her Heavenly Tribulation back then.’

He had considered killing him, but ultimately gave up the idea for the sake of the Western Demon Realm.

Now, seeing that Gu Huang hadn’t died, the knot in his heart had mostly loosened. To ensure the Western Demon Realm retained the strength to contend with the Cultivation World, he was even more determined not to let Cangming die.

But when faced with Lu Sangjiu, he couldn’t help but feel a sense of shame about these thoughts, so he subconsciously felt the need to explain himself to her first.

Lu Sangjiu was stunned for a moment, then shook her head. ”This is a choice the Punishment Good Sect Master has made based on his own position. You don’t need to explain it to me.”

”In fact, I’m already endlessly grateful that the Sect Master was willing to lend a hand. I certainly wouldn’t ask for anything more regarding this matter.”

”Please, Sect Master, do as you must.”

Although Cangming was currently fighting their own sect’s ancestor, it was true that no matter how worried Duan Xingyun and the others were, there was nothing they could say. They could only remain silent as well.

Fa Shan pressed his lips together slightly, then nodded. ”You all can return to the Divine Tomb Sect first. When I get back, I will send men to escort you safely out of the Western Demon Realm.”

With that, he turned and left.

Duan Xingyun watched Fa Shan depart, his eyes filled with worry. ”I wonder if the Ancestor will be all right... Why do I have such a bad feeling about this?”

Regardless of how close they were to him personally, he was still the Seven Emotions Sect’s Tribulation Crossing Ancestor, the very foundation that allowed the sect to hold its place among the Four Great Sects.

If something truly happened to him, the Seven Emotions Sect would likely suffer the same fate as the Beast Taming Sect, which had gradually declined after losing its own Tribulation Crossing Ancestor several hundred years ago!

Lu Sangjiu naturally understood Duan Xingyun’s anxiety, but she just held onto him firmly. ”Master, a battle of this level is far beyond our ability to interfere. No matter how worried we are, we’d be of no help if we went. Let’s leave this place first.”

Duan Xingyun lowered his eyes, a hint of gloominess in his gaze. ”...It is I who have been a disappointment. If my cultivation had reached the Integration Realm, I wouldn’t be so utterly useless.”

’When my own disciple was in trouble, I could only rely on Yan Lingzhi,’ he thought. ’As a master... I’m truly a failure.’

Lu Sangjiu was just about to offer a few words of comfort when she suddenly felt a spatial fluctuation!

Her expression instantly tensed. The others also sensed something one after another and looked up.

Space warped, and a familiar figure stepped out from the distortion.

...It was Bai Heng!

Lu Sangjiu’s heart sank. She had a very bad feeling about this.

A mocking smile played on Bai Heng’s lips as he looked down on Duan Xingyun. ”How rare. Senior Brother Duan finally has some self-awareness and realizes he’s a good-for-nothing. I am quite gratified.”

Duan Xingyun’s face darkened, but he ignored the provocation. ”Are you here to save Ye Zhiyao? The Cold Crow Sect is that way. I won’t see you out.”

But Bai Heng showed no intention of moving. With a slight lift of his hand, his Spirit Sword appeared in his right palm.

”Senior Brother, you’re so naive. With the Ancestor around, Ayao will naturally be fine.”

”I knew you came to rescue Lu Sangjiu under the cover of chaos, but I didn’t raise an alarm or stop you. Instead, I quietly followed... Can you guess what I’m planning to do?”

Duan Xingyun’s expression turned exceedingly grim. ”Bai Heng! We are from the same sect! Now is the time we should be united against a common enemy! What are you trying to do?”

”What am I trying to do?” Bai Heng’s cold eyes flicked to Lu Sangjiu. ”All of you from Red Peak are just too much of an eyesore.”

”You were so kind as to court death by coming all the way to the Western Demon Realm. Isn’t this the perfect opportunity for me to let you die a quiet death?”

As he spoke, the Spiritual Energy around him erupted. ”Duan Xingyun, just take your precious disciples and leave your bones here forever.”

Duan Xingyun truly never imagined that Bai Heng could be so crazed and cruel as to want to kill them all right here!

To make matters worse, a mishap in his early years of training had stalled his cultivation. For all these years, he had barely made any progress and had long since been left in the dust by Bai Heng. He knew with absolute clarity that he was no match for him!