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

Ye Yong smiled humbly, glancing at the flying pig before him, feeling a sense of novelty. The novel had scarcely depicted Seventh Master and his spirit pet; even Seventh Master’s death was rather casual, perishing alongside several other masters, trapped and killed by Long Tian’s formation—no dignity at all.

As a reader, Ye Yong felt indifferent towards the Ye family; he cared little for how they met their end, only for the treasures they might bestow upon the protagonist. But now, having traversed into this world and becoming a member of the Ye family, the more he learned about them, the more he found them warm and endearing, each person full of life. Viewed from another angle, the elders of the Ye family were merely a bunch of fiercely protective fools. If not for their descendants being so dim-witted, provoking the Son of Heaven’s Will, they might have lived much more carefree lives. They had cultivation, they had lineage; in the outside world, they were revered and admired.

—

The Great Zhou Dynasty

“Seventh Master, if you encounter that young man from my clan again, and he thanks you for today’s matter, please try not to be too stiff with him. Just tell him you did what any righteous cultivator would do, and that no repayment is necessary.” Ye Yong was not being overly neurotic; the protagonist could not afford to be careless. He was unwilling to overlook any detail, fearing even the slightest slip.

“Oh?” To be honest, Ye Wen had no thoughts about Long Tian whatsoever. It was akin to a successful person glancing at a laborer on the street; perhaps one day the laborer could rise to his current status, but how long would that take? Not to mention, Long Tian seemed like a completely hopeless laborer—Ye Wen would glance at him and forget, too lazy to even remember.

Now that Ye Yong had brought it up, urging him not to be stiff, didn’t that imply Ye Yong held Long Tian in high regard?

“You think that person is worth associating with?”

Upon hearing the words “worth associating,” Ye Yong nearly spilled his tea.

Yet some matters could not be spoken plainly. Ye Wen, a powerful figure in the Transformation stage, treated Ye Yong well, but that did not mean he would extend the same courtesy to outsiders. If Ye Yong indicated that Long Tian was the Son of Heaven’s Will, associating with him would lead to a bad end; it would only pique Ye Wen’s curiosity, making him want to see just what kind of bad end it would be.

After all, Long Tian was truly too weak now—lacking strength, lacking background. Luck was an invisible, intangible thing, hardly worthy of attention. How could Ye Wen, a powerful figure of transformation, possibly believe in the supernatural? Yet, the more he disbelieved, the more he collided with the uncanny, leading to a chilling end.

“I can only say I have a feeling he is a hidden dragon, yet to awaken, destined for greatness in the future. Anyway, it’s best to avoid bad associations; of course, there’s no need for deep ties. What if I misjudge him?”

Ye Wen nodded, finding Ye Yong’s reasoning sound. Avoiding bad associations—if the other party were indeed a hidden dragon awakening, soaring to the skies, he could still claim to be a life-saver, establishing a connection. Not forming deep ties meant that if the other turned out to be mediocre, with no prospects, he wouldn’t be burdened by their attachment.

Seeing Ye Wen absorb his words, Ye Yong let out a quiet sigh of relief; for now, this excuse would have to suffice. When Long Tian eventually flourished, and Ye Wen sought to discuss their life-saving bond, Ye Yong would simply change his tune, claiming that the Ye family did not need to rely on outsiders. To bring up such a debt of gratitude after so long would only diminish the Ye family’s dignity.

Ye Yong believed that Ye Wen, a proud figure of transformation, would surely know when to halt.

For the sake of this family, Ye Yong truly racked his brains.

Yet, no one knew of his sacrifices.

Qin Shidream listened silently, having no impression of Long Tian, unable to recall what he looked like. Besides, even if Long Tian truly soared in the future, what concern was it of hers?

——

The small flying boat moved swiftly, a treasure of a transformation master, arriving at Zhouyang City over a thousand kilometers away in just an hour.

It was the dead of night, yet Zhouyang City remained ablaze with light, resembling a city that never slept.

A kingdom possesses its own fortune. When the national fortune is strong, the kingdom flourishes, its people live in peace, and external foes are kept at bay. When the national fortune weakens, the kingdom begins to decline, its people suffer, and external threats emerge. Typically, when the national fortune is exhausted, the kingdom itself ceases to exist.

What is national fortune? There is no clear answer; it can mean different things for different nations—like the people’s sense of belonging, satisfaction, military strength, or being situated in a land of auspicious feng shui.

The Great Zhou Dynasty, towering above the kingdoms, naturally possessed an astonishingly strong national fortune.

From afar, Ye Yong could feel a vast, overwhelming aura rushing toward him, as if an invisible dragon coiled protectively above the imperial city.

“Zhouyang City, it’s been a long time since I last came. The last time was two hundred years ago for the coronation ceremony. I wonder how Zhou Suren is faring now.” Ye Wen stood at the bow of the ship alongside Ye Yong, gazing at the resplendent, colossal city.

Ye Yong certainly knew who Zhou Suren was—the current emperor of the Great Zhou Dynasty, who had trained alongside Ye Wen in the Tianluo Sect during their youth, sharing a strong bond.

Though Zhou Suren could not be called a formidable ruler, he was at least a wise one, taxing moderately, and when disasters struck small nations, he would exempt them from taxes, even sending aid to resolve their troubles.

Yet, this wise ruler encountered the protagonist’s intelligence-diminishing buff. After Ye Wen was killed, Zhou Suren began to target the protagonist, and one could easily guess the outcome of such targeting.

However, the Great Zhou Dynasty did not perish as a result; ultimately, the protagonist met the nineteen unappreciated prince, who ascended to the throne. As for the other princes, several sought to curry favor with their father, hastily offering the protagonist heads on platters, while those who sensed the tide turning avoided the spotlight, opting to live as lords, idling away their days.

44 Caught a Little Something

Ye Yong could never allow Ye Wen to be eliminated by the protagonist, so the current Emperor, Zhou Shuren, would likely not target him either. However, it was not out of the question that if the Emperor avoided trouble, his son might seek it out instead. The son would stir up chaos, leading to the Emperor seeking vengeance, and after the Emperor’s demise, Ye Wen would emerge to avenge his friend. Thus, the entire Ye family would find themselves ensnared in a deadly cycle.

Interpersonal relationships, grudges, and debts of gratitude, all intricately intertwined.

Yet, this was no challenge for Ye Yong. If it truly developed into such a scenario, there would still be room for maneuver. Perhaps he could not prevent the princes from courting death, but he could stop the Emperor from being killed, directly forcing an end to the ensuing events. Ye Yong held significant sway within the Ye family, and Ye Wen had inadvertently saved Long Tian once. As long as he could have Ye Wen step forward before the Emperor fell to Long Tian’s hand, leveraging the favor of having saved Long Tian, he could persuade Long Tian to spare Zhou Shuren’s life. As for whether Long Tian would seek revenge afterward, Ye Yong would prepare to guide him through that.

The flying vessel glided to the gates of the imperial city. The guards, upon seeing Ye Wen produce the royal insignia, did not even inquire his name, immediately granting passage.

Inside the imperial city, masters of various skills were everywhere. The guards were not concerned about someone misusing the insignia; they feared that by asking too many questions, they might provoke a significant figure, putting their own lives at risk.

“Yong’er, how about marrying a princess of the dynasty? I’ve heard Zhou Shuren has several daughters, all around your age—some older, some younger,” Ye Wen suddenly remarked, his gaze fixed on the magnificent palace in the distant mountains.

Ye Yong glanced at Qin Shimeng, who wore a blank expression, gazing elsewhere as if she hadn’t heard a word.

“Seventh Master, I’m still young. Besides, discussing marriage upon first meeting feels rather frivolous, as if one does not take feelings seriously.”

As he spoke, Ye Yong noticed a slight nod from Qin Shimeng.

I knew you were listening.

“Oh, my apologies, my apologies! You young folks handle your own affairs; I won’t meddle,” Ye Wen said, his spirits lifted after not visiting an old friend for so long. He had momentarily forgotten that Qin Shimeng stood behind him.

—

The flying vessel halted before the grand gates of the palace, where a group of guards clad in finely crafted armor, all at least at the crystallization level, appeared atop the city walls.

“Stop! Please state your identity and purpose!” Unlike the guards at the city gates, those of the palace were exceedingly strict.