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

Hua Ningyan circulated her heart’s method, channeling spiritual energy through several cycles, solidifying her cultivation. She thought to take a moment’s rest, perhaps to steal a bit of time with Qin Shidream, to draw closer to her master. Yet, as she stepped out of the room, she was met with a scene so explosive it left her momentarily stunned.

Her pupils trembled, fox ears pinned back; for a moment, her mind struggled to process the sight before her, and it took a while for her to regain her senses.

Fortunately, Hua Ningyan had gleaned some understanding of humans, especially after becoming Ye Yong’s spirit pet. She had even read the “Domineering Junior Brother” penned by Lu Xiaoxiao, hidden away by Wu Xue, so she wasn’t entirely clueless.

At this moment, a slight ache throbbed in her heart, though she couldn’t quite grasp the source of this bittersweet pang. Yet, as she observed Ye Yong and Qin Shidream, their happiness radiated so beautifully that her eyes brimmed with longing.

If, if only she could transform into a human, to share such moments with her master—what would that experience be like?

Just then, Xia Shiqi stumbled in, freshly awakened from her nap, seeking something to eat. Upon entering, she was greeted by the sight of the two entwined, and with the change from Liang Xiaorou to Qin Shidream, her wolfish head tilted back, eyes narrowing in severe disdain.

She had merely taken a short afternoon nap! And now, the company had changed! Why was she left out?

How infuriating.

Huh?

Xia Shiqi suddenly noticed a pair of bright eyes in a corner—it was the white fox.

Seeing the flicker of anticipation, desire, and envy in those eyes, Xia Shiqi felt her mood lift considerably.

So, she wasn’t the only one left out.

Turning to leave the courtyard, Xia Shiqi, with newfound interest, took a bite of the accumulated snow, crunching it with delight.

Xia Shijia, unaware of her foolish daughter’s antics, intended to enter the house as well. But upon witnessing the scene inside, she too stepped back out, though unlike Xia Shiqi, she didn’t chew on snow. Instead, she settled on a bench in the pavilion, gazing up at the clouds drifting in the sky.

Tonight, it seemed, they might have to spend the night outside.

—

103 In the Shadows

The Liang family of the Da Luo Empire and the Ye and Qin families of the Da Zhou Empire had a good relationship, and the news spread quickly.

The three families were well-established in the Eastern Continent, with a rich history and strong foundations. It was natural that their alliance would bring both joy and concern.

To maintain a large family, one couldn’t just rely on recruiting smaller families and having them offer tribute. One needed to have their own industries.

The Ye family, for example, had several large spirit mines and numerous medium and small ones. They didn’t just produce spirit stones, a common currency, but also the materials needed for refining equipment. With control over the raw materials, many families in the Da Zhou Empire involved in the refining industry had to curry favor with the Ye family.

The Qin family had only a few medium and small spirit mines, and their main industry wasn’t raw materials. Instead, they made a special type of silk fabric. In the Da Zhou Empire, the Qin family’s silk fabrics occupied about 5% of the market. Although 5% might seem insignificant, considering the hundreds of kingdoms and sects, and the billions of cultivators and wealthy merchants, occupying 5% of the market was no small feat.

Of course, compared to the Ye family, the Qin family was still inferior, whether in terms of family wealth or the strength of their cultivators. This was why the Qin family had always wanted to associate with the Ye family. Or, rather, any family with industries that didn’t conflict with the Ye family’s would want to associate with them.

The Liang family, located in the Da Luo Empire, wouldn’t have their industries restricted by the Ye family, and their clothing industry wouldn’t be affected by the Qin family’s special silk fabrics. The reason some people were worried about the alliance between the three families was that they feared the Liang family would receive support from the Ye and Qin families and establish industries in the Da Zhou Empire.

The market in the Da Zhou Empire was vast, but after tens of thousands of years, it had already been largely divided up. The emergence of new industries would only serve to take away from the existing ones, and the portion taken away would come from the original industries of other families.

So, on this night, while the surface seemed calm, the undercurrents were already churning. Among those affected was the Bai family.

The Bai family’s main business was refining equipment, and they didn’t rely on the Ye family for raw materials. If the Liang family were to enter the Da Zhou Empire’s market with the support of the Ye family, they would likely focus on the refining industry, which would impact the Bai family’s business.

At first, the decrease in family income might not be noticeable, but after a hundred or a thousand years, the drawbacks would become apparent. Cultivating immortality was expensive, and as a cultivator family, the Bai family needed to ensure stable development and protect their interests. Even if none of this had happened, who knew what the future might hold? It was always better to be prepared.

“The Liang family was doing just fine, so why did they suddenly come to form an alliance with the Ye family?”

In the Bai family’s conference room, dozens of high-ranking officials from different families gathered to discuss the matter.

“Didn’t the Ye family’s young master escape from the Black Water Secret Realm, which was full of demonic beasts, a while back? He happened to save the Liang family’s daughter.”

“I’ve heard about this, but normally, wouldn’t they have first arranged a marriage between the two families, establishing a familial relationship before gradually building a friendship? There were no signs of this, and yet the three families suddenly announced their alliance. It’s too suspicious. Could it be that they had planned this all along, and the Ye and Qin families want to bring the Liang family in to expand their influence into the Da Luo Empire?”

What did large families fear the most? It was the weakening of their own power and the expansion of their opponents’ influence.

The Ye family had many powerful cultivators and controlled the raw materials, which already made many families feel uneasy. If they were to expand their business and gain a foothold in the Da Luo Empire, wouldn’t the Ye family be able to dominate the Da Zhou Empire?

And what about the Qin family? Their overall strength was average, and their family ranking was mediocre. Why had they suddenly associated with the Ye and Liang families, which were both highly ranked? It was as if someone who was shorter than others had suddenly grown taller, and instead of being able to look down on them, they had to look up to them.

“If the Qin family’s industries were to expand into the Da Luo Empire, they would surely rise to prominence. I don’t understand how the Qin family, which only sells fabric, managed to associate

“Qin Shiming? Didn’t she already break off her engagement with that boy from the Ye family?”

“Breaking off an engagement can be mended. My grandson is a disciple of the Sword Pavilion in the Tianluo Sect. He says that after the two broke their engagement, they actually grew closer.”

“It can’t be that the Ye boy is getting close to the daughters of both families, so the three families decide to form an alliance, can it?”

When families consider alliances, they weigh many interests and risks, especially the larger clans. Just like now, the Liang family has merely announced their friendship with the Ye and Qin families, yet it has stirred a wave of unease among the other clans.

The prominent members of the various families present were embroiled in heated discussions, each probing the motives behind the alliance, but after a long while, no conclusion was reached. Just as frustration began to mount, an elder picked up a communication stone, spoke a few words, and then set it down.

“Everyone, I’ve pulled many strings and spent considerable wealth, but I finally managed to gather some news from the Liang family in the Daluo Empire. According to a young master from the Liang family, their visit to the Great Zhou Empire was a sudden decision. As for the alliance, it was proposed by the Ye boy during a banquet held to thank him for saving their daughter. At the time, we all thought it was mere politeness, but who would have imagined it would actually come to pass? Many families over in the Daluo Empire were taken aback as well.”

“…” After the elder finished speaking, the meeting room fell into a heavy silence.

Before long, another elder scoffed, “Impossible.”

“Right, impossible. Without prior negotiations, three families announcing their friendship on the same day—does that seem reasonable to you?” Other voices chimed in.