The Side Character Who Wins by Doing Nothing

Lu Sangjiu had just finished when two men who looked like guards appeared at the cell door.

They glanced over Lu Sangjiu and her companions, saw nothing out of the ordinary, and opened the cell door. "Come with us."

’We were just locked up last night. He said he’d give me three days to think it over, so why is he taking us out again this morning?’

’Lu Sangjiu had considered that Cangming might go back on his word, but she never thought it would be this fast!’

She grew anxious and moved to shield the others protectively. "Where are you taking us?"

"Your Sect Leader promised me three days to consider. It’s been less than a day. Is he going back on his word?"

The guards’ expressions grew impatient. But since these prisoners had been captured by the Sect Leader himself, they didn’t dare get rough with them. One said with forced patience, "You’re overthinking it. Our Sect Leader is a man of his word."

"Someone wants to see you. Now cut the crap and come with us quietly. It’ll make this easier for all of us."

’...Someone wants to see them?’

Lu Sangjiu hadn’t expected that at all, but her mind worked fast, and a few possibilities immediately surfaced.

The Immortal Gates knew Lu Sangjiu possessed the domination map. To prevent it from falling into the hands of Demon Cultivators, it was highly likely they would step in to negotiate with Cangming.

Alternatively, Ah Ming might have asked Fa Shan to intervene and rescue them.

’Both were possible, but for someone to arrive this quickly... it was most likely the latter.’

At this thought, Lu Sangjiu’s feelings grew complicated again. ’I never imagined that after being dragged back into this world, I’d be meeting two "big shots" that most people might never see in a lifetime, all in less than a day.’

’Fa Shan... What’s his stance now?’

With a sense of trepidation, Lu Sangjiu and her companions were led back to the same grand hall from the previous night.

This time, however, not only was Cangming seated on the throne, but there was another person present... just as she’d suspected, it was Fa Shan!

Seeing that familiar figure, Lu Sangjiu couldn’t help but study him.

Fa Shan was dressed in an azure robe, his long hair half-tied back. His manner was elegant and poised, making him look like a gentle and refined young nobleman.

’He... seemed to have changed so much.’

In Lu Sangjiu’s memory, Fa Shan could be summed up in three phrases: a mother hen, a shadow, and a lovable oaf.

He was a mother hen to the Moon Palace. Unlike the headstrong Cangming, Fa Shan basically did whatever Lu Sangjiu told him. When she was away, he managed the Moon Palace, taking on all burdens without complaint.

But when she was around, he became her shadow, always happy to tag along behind her, listening to her talk about interesting things or beautiful scenery she had seen.

He had a simple and honest personality, sometimes even a bit foolish. He believed anything she told him. Even when she later admitted she was just tricking him, he would never get angry. He’d just give a silly laugh and say slowly, "Oh, is that so?"

Yet the man before her now was completely different from the one she remembered.

He was quiet and refined. Without saying a word, just by sitting there, he radiated the aura of a Sect Master.

Lu Sangjiu was in a slight daze, sighing to herself at how things had changed.

And Fa Shan, though he didn’t look at her, had been using his Divine Sense to observe her every move from the moment she entered.

Naturally, he hadn’t missed the complex emotions hidden deep in her eyes.

That was certainly not how one looked at a stranger.

Fa Shan’s hands began to tremble slightly again, but in front of Cangming, he did his utmost to restrain all his emotions.

After walking to the center of the hall and stopping, Lu Sangjiu’s expression had returned to normal. She didn’t speak rashly, but quietly waited for Cangming to begin.

Cangming looked rather reluctant, but he still spoke to make the introduction.

"This is the Sect Master of the Divine Tomb Sect. He’s here to rescue you at his disciple’s request."

Luo Linlang and the others had already learned from Lu Sangjiu that Ah Ming was the Young Master of the Divine Tomb Sect, so when they heard Cangming’s words, they all grew excited.

Luo Linlang happily grabbed Lu Sangjiu’s arm. "That kid Ah Ming is a true friend!"

’If I’d known, I would’ve been nicer to him. He really comes through when you need him!’

But then Shen Yuzhao tugged on her sleeve from the other side and said meekly, "Senior Sister, don’t celebrate too soon... He only said the Sect Master of the Divine Tomb Sect came to rescue us. He never said Cangming would let us go."

Luo Linlang froze, then glanced suspiciously at Cangming. "...No way. If he’s not going to release us, why bring us here?"

Lu Sangjiu shot a cool glance at Cangming and said with certainty, "He has no intention of letting us go."

Cangming had been watching their "whispering" with great interest. Only now did his twisted sense of humor seem satisfied, and a malicious smile touched the corner of his lips.

"That’s right. I simply couldn’t stand how annoying this fellow is, so I let you all out for a stroll. Just so he could confirm you’re all still alive and kicking."

With that, he turned to Fa Shan. "You’ve seen them. They’re not dead. Satisfied?"

Fa Shan didn’t look at Lu Sangjiu’s group. He just stared at Cangming and asked, "What are your terms for releasing them?"

Cangming raised an eyebrow. "Are you willing to agree to any terms?"

"How about this? I release them, and you merge the Divine Tomb Sect into my Cold Crow Sect. How does that sound?"

Fa Shan’s gaze was grim. "Cangming, I’m not playing games with you. Let’s talk about something realistic."

’Of course, it wasn’t that he couldn’t bear to part with his sect. In fact, if Lu Sangjiu truly was Gu Huang, he would agree without hesitation—not just to merging the Divine Tomb Sect with the Cold Crow Sect, but even to taking his own life right here.’

’But Fa Shan couldn’t be certain yet. And if he really did trade the Divine Tomb Sect for Lu Sangjiu so readily, Cangming would only grow suspicious and tighten his grip on her.’

’After all, a person he was willing to trade his entire sect for had to be special, right?’

’So, to save her now, he had to negotiate seriously and give Cangming no reason for suspicion.’

This was the Cold Crow Sect. Besides Cangming, there were three other Integration Stage Cultivators present. Even if he wanted to fight, he couldn’t just snatch her away.

’No matter how anxious he was, negotiation was his only option.’

Cangming seemed to lose interest at his words, a mocking smirk playing on his lips. "You’re the one who asked for my terms. I told you them, and you don’t agree. Looks like this deal is off the table. Or..."

Before he could finish, Fa Shan cut him off. "Two Divinity Transformation Pills."

Cangming paused. "...What?"

Fa Shan looked at him seriously. "I’m willing to trade two Divinity Transformation Pills for them."

A Divinity Transformation Pill, when taken by a Nascent Soul Cultivator undergoing their Divinity Transformation Thunder Tribulation, could increase their chance of success by ten percent.

Cultivators at the Divinity Transformation Stage were not easy to nurture, and reaching that stage meant one had the aptitude to advance to the Body Integration Realm.

Both the Divine Tomb Sect and the Cold Crow Sect were in desperate need of raising their strength.

Therefore, two Divinity Transformation Pills were an offer that would definitely tempt Cangming.

And in fact, Cangming did hesitate. He frowned slightly, his expression growing serious as he stared at Fa Shan. "...Are you sure?"

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