The Side Character Who Wins by Doing Nothing

Chapter 35: Chapter 35: You Already Knew Him?

When Lu Sangjiu saw Sword Bu Gui stop in front of her, she was instantly on guard, as if facing a great enemy.

But to her surprise, Sword Bu Gui simply looked at her and said, "I hear your pulse is quite peculiar. Would you allow me to examine it?"

Lu Sangjiu: ...?

A question mark slowly formed in her mind.

’So, Sword Bu Gui didn’t run over to cause trouble for me. He just sees me as an interesting medical case and is curious to see it for himself?’

The corner of her mouth twitched. Before she could react, Gu Jue stepped forward as well.

He looked at Lu Sangjiu with an apologetic expression. "My master grew curious when I told him about your condition. Please forgive the intrusion."

After Lu Sangjiu left that day, Gu Jue had not only paid a hefty sum of Spirit Stones in compensation but had also voluntarily returned to his cell to continue serving his sentence.

His reasoning was simple: he didn’t want to use his master’s influence or his own status as a disciple of the Lingjian Sect to gain any special privileges.

That was why, when Lu Sangjiu had been forced to leave, he had chosen to break out on his own and face the consequences rather than reveal his identity.

Unfortunately, he was later forced to use Phoenix Cry Nine Heavens, which led to his identity being exposed.

As a result, Gu Jue wasn’t in his cell for long before his master dragged him away.

At first, he adamantly refused to go. Eventually, Sword Bu Gui ran out of options. He had to promise that Gu Jue could first go to the Secret Realm and contribute to the sect, then resume his punishment upon his return. Only then did he manage to persuade him to leave.

When Sword Bu Gui later asked what had happened, Gu Jue recounted the entire story.

Inevitably, this meant bringing up Lu Sangjiu.

What Gu Jue didn’t know, however, was that Sword Bu Gui’s real curiosity was about Lu Sangjiu herself.

’Hmm... she’s the first person in history to make my stiff, almost pedantic disciple do something as outrageous as breaking out of a dungeon just to save her.’

Like a concerned father, he was, on one hand, pleased that his disciple might be experiencing the first stirrings of love. On the other hand, he was worried sick, having heard that the girl might not have long to live.

He hadn’t planned on meeting Lu Sangjiu today. But when he noticed her sneaking glances at him, his feelings grew even more complicated. ’Could they already be in love?’ he wondered.

And so, unable to restrain his curiosity, he had approached her.

Fortunately, he could use her peculiar condition as a pretext, which made his approach seem less sudden.

With Gu Jue providing an opening, Lu Sangjiu gladly took the excuse, wearing a flattered expression. "Mr. Gu, you’re too kind! For Sword Master Bu Gui to personally examine my pulse... it is truly my honor."

With that, she turned to Sword Master Bu Gui with a sincere expression. "Thank you for taking the trouble."

Sword Bu Gui wasn’t a cold or aloof person by nature. But when faced with Lu Sangjiu—his potential future daughter-in-law (not really!)—his feelings were invariably complicated.

He didn’t know how to act around her, so he decided it was best to say as little as possible.

Now, with Lu Sangjiu’s consent, he sent a thread of Spiritual Power to probe her meridians. A moment later, his expression grew grave.

Lu Sangjiu could feel him even attempting to envelop that wisp of Heavenly Dao Qi with his Spiritual Power.

Of course, he couldn’t possibly succeed. In fact, a portion of his Spiritual Power was even devoured.

Thankfully, Sword Bu Gui’s control over his Spiritual Power was precise. He sensed something was wrong and retracted it just in time, avoiding public embarrassment.

After retracting his Spiritual Energy, Sword Bu Gui gave Lu Sangjiu a complicated look. He didn’t say anything more, only letting out a soft sigh.

Lu Sangjiu let a look of disappointment cross her face. Then, as if forcing herself to be brave, she squeezed out a smile for Sword Master Bu Gui.

"It’s all right. My condition has always been strange. Even the many Medical Cultivators my master found couldn’t make heads or tails of it."

In truth, Sword Bu Gui wasn’t frustrated because he couldn’t diagnose it; he was frustrated because his disciple’s path to love seemed so fraught with hardship...

While he remained silent, Lu Sangjiu exchanged a few more words with Gu Jue.

"Mr. Gu, thank you again for your help last time. I only learned of your identity after I returned and asked my senior brother... Looking back, it seems I was the one being meddlesome. I hope you don’t mind."

Having just seen his master shake his head, Gu Jue was more convinced than ever that Lu Sangjiu didn’t have long to live. As he spoke to her, he subconsciously softened his voice.

"Mr. Lu, you are warm-hearted and chivalrous. I was the one who concealed my identity first, so it is I who was impolite."

Sword Bu Gui couldn’t help but glance at Gu Jue again. ’He’s definitely fallen for her,’ he thought, growing more certain. ’When have I ever heard him speak so politely to anyone else?’

He glanced again at Lu Sangjiu’s frail and sickly appearance. ’She already doesn’t have much time left. Won’t she die even faster if she goes into the Secret Realm?’

With this in mind, he took a talisman from his storage bag and offered it to her.

"This is a Sword Talisman I infused with my Sword Qi. With your strength, you can use it to unleash an attack on par with the Golden Core Stage. It only has three uses. Take it to save your life."

Lu Sangjiu was stunned. ’What in the world has gotten into Sword Bu Gui?’ she wondered, completely baffled.

But it would be a fool’s errand to refuse such a treasure. Lu Sangjiu didn’t have time to ponder his motives; she immediately accepted it with gratitude. "Thank you, Sword Master Bu Gui!"

Beside her, Gu Jue shot his master a peculiar look. He was confused but said nothing.

Sword Bu Gui said coolly, "I hope you make it out alive... Gu Jue, we’re leaving." freewebnovёl.ƈom

Once Sword Bu Gui and Gu Jue had left, her senior brothers and sister, who had been watching curiously from the sidelines, swarmed around her.

They already knew about Lu Sangjiu’s condition and that it wasn’t immediately life-threatening, so that wasn’t their primary concern.

Compared to her health, Gu Jue was obviously a much more interesting topic of inquiry.

Luo Linlang’s eyes were gleaming with gossip. "What’s the story, Little Junior Sister? You and Gu Jue... hehe..."

Li Qiancheng frowned in disgust. "Second Junior Sister, what’s with that creepy laugh?"

Luo Linlang rolled her eyes dramatically and shot back with even greater disdain, "A guy like you would never get it."

Shen Yuzhao piped up timidly from the side, "Little Junior Sister... are you looking for a cultivation partner?"

The moment he said that, Li Qiancheng’s voice shot up, "Cultivation partner???"

He then turned to Lu Sangjiu in shock. "Little Junior Sister, when did you meet Gu Jue? You’ve only seen each other a few times—how is he already your cultivation partner?"

Lu Sangjiu: "..."

Staring at the group, who weren’t even giving her a chance to speak, the corner of her mouth twitched. "What is all this nonsense? I’ve only met him once... It’s a long story, and the Secret Realm is about to open. Can we please stop with the gossip for now!"

Her words finally reminded them of the important matter at hand, and they couldn’t help but glance toward the grand entrance.

But then Luo Linlang waved a dismissive hand. "We still have at least an incense stick’s worth of time. No rush. Let’s talk about Gu Jue first!"

Lu Sangjiu: "..."

’Second Senior Sister, does that nosy, lecherous expression of yours do justice to your ridiculously beautiful face?’

Just as she was about to explain everything, a voice suddenly piped up from beside them.

"Junior Sister Lu, so you know Gu Jue after all?"