I Just Wanted To Live but I Somehow Became Better Than the Protagonist

—

Before, Qin Shidream had been merely an observer. It was not that she did not wish to help, but rather that Ye Yong had executed everything too perfectly, considering every aspect; she simply had nothing to contribute. “Of course, I don’t mind, but be cautious. Since the malevolent energy can flow into the well with the water, and lingers in the container after being drawn up, it’s enough to indicate that the evil entity is quite powerful.”

Ye Yong understood this principle well, but with his heavenly-grade, specially crafted Baipan Ruo Shari, he felt no fear at all; his only concern was that the opponent might be too weak.

After all, since his arrival in this world, Ye Yong had not encountered any opportunity to take action himself; he was nearly suffocating from the pent-up frustration. He could only hope that the adversary would be stronger, more resilient. After all, he had to do justice to the arduous cultivation he had endured, right?

—

31 Halo

To trace the source of the dark river was not particularly difficult. First, Ye Yong had the system shop; even without it, relying on the products of artifact refinement would suffice.

Puppets—common tools of artifact crafting—belonged to the realm of black technology in the world of cultivation, akin to beings far more formidable than robots in science fiction.

Assembling a robot normally requires various parts, precision instruments, and computer programming.

But to create a puppet, one merely needs to be a first-grade artifact master who understands how to draw spiritual pathways, gather some scrap metal, or even wood, and inscribe a functioning spiritual diagram on one piece. Then, by linking all the components together, the puppet is complete.

Low-end puppets may lack any intelligence, but in terms of materials and obedience, they far surpass robots. A puppet master can even project their consciousness into the puppet, achieving complete control.

Moreover, since puppets are inanimate, they are not susceptible to mental damage. As long as the spiritual diagram is protected from destruction, theoretically, they can be impervious to all evils. They are also quite convenient, adaptable to various situations, taking on different forms.

When Ye Yong discovered the dark river, he promptly purchased a small mouse puppet from the system shop, affixed a locating device to it, and cast it into the well. This way, wherever it went, it would appear on the electronic map, serving as a walking tracker, tracing the flow of water back to the source of the dark river.

Opening the electronic map and zooming in on the area, he could see a small light dot moving in straight lines and curves, already covering a considerable distance.

Ye Yong took Qin Shidream away from Ninghai City, riding a small magic carpet for about ten kilometers, arriving at a village. From above, it looked no different from any other village, with lanterns hanging from every household and villagers moving about, exuding the festive spirit of the Spring Festival.

A pond lay a hundred meters from the village, and the mouse puppet’s locator was over there. If all went well, it would lead to the source of the dark river.

Observing from a distance, he saw no signs of malevolence.

Though she did not know how Ye Yong had pinpointed the source, Qin Shidream trusted him completely, believing he would not err. Thus, she suggested, “Let’s ask around to see if there have been any unusual occurrences lately?”

“Not so fast.” Ye Yong called out to Qin Shidream. Her talent and strength were beyond question, but she was still a fledgling, inexperienced in the ways of the world, unable to consider many things thoroughly. Unlike Ye Yong, who possessed a wealth of “novel life” experience, even the most mundane matters would be taken seriously if he sensed any discord. Even if it ended in a blunder, it was better than failing to think and stepping into a pitfall.

—

“Where there is abnormality, there must be a demon; the malevolent energy can influence those living over ten kilometers away, and the nearby residents will surely be affected,” Ye Yong mused. Initially, he had not intended to take Qin Shiming out for training, but now that the opportunity presented itself, he was determined to instill in her the wisdom of cautious navigation through life’s treacherous waters.

“You mean…” Qin Shiming, naturally astute, paused to ponder his words. After a moment of contemplation, she continued, “Someone has isolated the malevolent energy at the surface of the pond, shielding the villagers from its effects. Yet, they did not anticipate that the dark energy would seep into Ninghai City through the hidden river, and we happened to uncover it?”

“Exactly,” Ye Yong nodded. “This village has at least five or six hundred inhabitants. If one day they all fall ill, one after another succumbing to death, Ninghai City, not far away, will undoubtedly send cultivators to investigate the cause. If someone is nurturing malevolent creatures or the like, they would naturally wish to remain undetected, doing everything to prevent any abnormalities among the villagers.”

“You think of everything so thoroughly. If it were just me, I fear I would have already startled the snake in the grass,” Qin Shiming admitted, a hint of embarrassment creeping in.

“Every matter requires a process. You seldom venture out and have not trained extensively; it is only natural that some things elude your thoughts. Do not belittle yourself; I have great faith in your future growth.”

Feeling the weight of Ye Yong’s expectations, Qin Shiming felt both pressured and elated. “I will not disappoint you.”

“What do you think we should do now?” Ye Yong could provide the female lead with ample resources, ensuring her smooth cultivation, but mere strength was not true growth. Without the elevation of her character, it could not be called progress.

Ye Yong could not guarantee that he would always be by her side during every incident; some matters required her to resolve on her own.

With her delicate chin resting on her hand, Qin Shiming’s beautiful eyes flickered as she contemplated. After a moment, she said, “The villagers showing no abnormalities suggests the greatest likelihood of human concealment. This means there is a malevolent cultivator hiding nearby. Before dealing with the evil presence, we should first uncover their true nature. As for how to do that… we can pretend to be passing cultivators and approach the pond. The malevolent cultivator, wishing to avoid unnecessary complications, will likely observe our movements, hoping we leave quickly. If we do not depart, they will reveal themselves, posing as ordinary cultivators to prevent us from getting closer.”

“Well said,” Ye Yong nodded, his thoughts mirroring hers.

If there truly was a malevolent cultivator creating disturbances, they would certainly desire to remain low-key, nurturing their dark creations without drawing attention. Given that the villagers were unharmed, it was highly probable that the cultivator would not recklessly attack but instead engage in friendly conversation to minimize the risk of being discovered.

As for why it was highly probable, it was because there existed a small chance that the cultivator might act irrationally, especially in the presence of the protagonist, Long Tian.

Considering that the female lead was also a protagonist, it was possible she might possess a similar intelligence-diminishing buff, perhaps due to being distracted by beauty…

“Shiming, why don’t you observe from here this time? Learn how I converse with others and handle situations,” Ye Yong suggested, a hint of concern in his voice. The enemy’s cultivation level was uncertain, and if they harbored ill intentions toward the female lead, he would have to resort to using system items to confront them, which would not only prevent him from honing his skills but also waste precious reversal points.

Ye Yong, with his villainous aura, believed the enemy would not immediately act against him. He intended to uncover their true nature alone, making it easier to devise a more reasonable response later.

As the saying goes, knowing oneself and knowing the enemy leads to victory in a hundred battles. Although Ye Yong currently possessed 290,000 reversal points, those points were not easily acquired; they were the result of his diligent efforts to win over the female lead and her own struggles for self-improvement. It was wise to minimize waste whenever possible.

“Then be careful,” Qin Shiming said, remaining on the small magic carpet while Ye Yong leaped down.

A height of twenty meters was nothing for a crystallized cultivator. He landed steadily on the ground, calm and composed, a confident smile playing at the corners of his mouth. The moonlight was hazy, and combined with his extraordinary appearance and aura, he seemed to radiate a glow. Villagers passing by would kneel and exclaim, “A celestial descends!”

Well, despite Ye Yong’s outward calm, he felt a twinge of fear inside. After all, he

32 What Flavor

The pond mirrored a blurred moon, its surface shimmering like scattered jewels. A gust of wind stirred the nearby orchard, rustling the leaves—a scene that seemed steeped in poetic beauty, yet felt more like a close-up shot from a horror film, carrying the eerie calm before a storm.

For now, no one emerged, and Ye Yong was not surprised.

If he were a dark cultivator, he wouldn’t rush out at the sight of anyone approaching the pond; he would surely observe their intentions first.