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

Of course, he did not mind this. Compared to the unfamiliar faces outside, the sisters of the Echoing Painting Hall undoubtedly made him feel at ease.

“Is Sister Yibai still in seclusion?” Among the gathered sisters, Ye Yong did not see her figure. It had been quite some time since she had closed herself off. Let’s rule out the possibility of her going mad; she wouldn’t have awakened her talent like his young mother, Lin Wei, would she?

“No, not yet.” A senior sister, familiar with Yibai, shook her head. “We were just wondering, what kind of fortune did you bestow upon her that she has been comprehending for so long?”

“Fortune? I can hardly call it that. I merely showed her some of my little comic strips.”

“Let us see as well?”

“Let’s wait until Sister Yibai emerges.” Comics belonged to a culture from another world, and Ye Yong was wary of causing trouble.

It was better to observe if Yibai exhibited any adverse reactions first.

——

Upon returning to the residence, Xia Shiqi was practically bursting with excitement, the first thing she did was dash to the pond to check if the fish were fewer or more.

Xia Shijia patrolled the courtyard in circles, looking for signs of intruders.

Hua Ningyan leapt from Ye Yong’s arms, stretching lazily and shaking out her fur. The Ye family’s defenses were formidable, with strong warriors aplenty, yet this place felt so comfortable.

Wu Xue was also in high spirits, bouncing into the house to tidy up. However, during their absence of over a week, the courtyard had neither fallen leaves nor accumulated snow, and the house was spotless. Clearly, the senior sisters had helped with the cleaning. Finding nothing to do, she took out the clothes to fold and arrange neatly.

Everything seemed to have returned to the state it was in before they left.

Ye Yong had not anticipated that so much would happen during his brief return home. It would be best to refrain from going out for a while; he could not afford to be continuously exalted by the Heavenly Dao. He would wait for the secret realm to open and then slip inside, stirring up some trouble for Long Tian.

Resolute in his decision, Ye Yong made his way to the seclusion chamber to cultivate.

A small vial of spirit liquid downed, the spiritual energy surged within him. Ye Yong, the errand boy, sat at the center of the cultivation array, channeling his heart’s resolve, beginning the process of absorption and transformation.

——

The next morning, Ye Yong emerged from his secluded chamber, now possessing his eighth spiritual vein, a sign that his cultivation could not leap forward all at once.

As the midday feast commenced, he needed to prepare some gifts.

Still, the same thought lingered: he had too many supplies on him, things he would never use or need. Hoarding them served no purpose; it was better to give some to the sisters of the Yinhua Hall, so they could all progress together.

At that moment, two paintings drifted silently into the room, originally intending to wait for Ye Yong in the living room, only to find him inside.

With practiced ease, they hung themselves on the wall, the scrolls unfurling. Soon, on the left, a figure blazed with fiery passion, while on the right, another exuded gentle grace—two beautiful painted women emerged.

“What are you busy with, little brother?” After some time apart, Hua Ming felt a subtle change in Ye Yong as she approached. This change was not in his appearance but in his spirit; there was now a hint of literary aura about him, a depth that had not been there before.

Hua Ming did not doubt her perception; she was a soul entity, a painting spirit, sensitive to shifts in the soul and the nuances of literary energy.

“I’m preparing New Year gifts for everyone.” Ye Yong did not turn around, unaware that Hua Ming and Hua Xin were exchanging glances.

“What kind of New Year gifts?” After a brief exchange of looks, Hua Ming gently moved behind him, leaning against his shoulder.

“Nothing specific, mainly tailored to everyone’s cultivation needs.” Ye Yong had grown accustomed to Hua Ming’s boldness, his thoughts now focused on the space within his storage ring, searching for suitable resources that were not too precious, making them hard to refuse.

“Do you need help?” Hua Xin suddenly leaned in as well, causing Ye Yong to retract his thoughts, sensing something amiss.

Though they were soul entities, they could interact with the surrounding world as long as they consumed soul power.

With the two painted beauties flanking him, their jade arms resting on his shoulders, the overwhelming warmth pressed against his back made it nearly impossible to concentrate.

—

109 Fourth Floor

“It would be wonderful if you two sisters could help…” Ye Yong shifted forward aimlessly, trying to distance himself from them slightly.

He had been part of the sect for some time now, having interacted with Mu Qingyin on several occasions. Logically, he shouldn’t be subjected to the probing of the painting spirit again. What was the situation now?

Was this sudden inspection by Mu Qingyin, or was it the painting beauty’s own initiative?

If it were just Hua Ming, Ye Yong would certainly not think much of it; most souls were straightforward, and that was her nature. But with the reserved Hua Xin also involved, it was worth pondering whether there was some deeper intention behind it.

“So how can we assist you?” Hua Ming quickly leaned closer, with Hua Xin following right behind.

Calm as a still lake—easier said than done. A normal man, threatened by a terrifying weapon, could hardly avoid feeling tense and distracted.

“Before that, is there anything I can do for you two sisters?” Taking the initiative, Ye Yong asked them directly about their purpose.

“Nothing much, but if possible, we’d like to hear about any interesting things that happened after you returned home.”

“Sure.” Ye Yong pulled out the resources he had intended as gifts from his storage ring. “Let’s sort them out while we talk.”

“Alright.”

Hua Ming and Hua Xin stood on either side of Ye Yong, helping to organize the piles of elixirs and spiritual plants on the table.

The close proximity earlier wasn’t as complicated as Ye Yong had imagined; they were simply confirming whether their senses had been mistaken.

Now it was clear that Ye Yong indeed carried a trace of literary aura. There was a connection between the arts of painting and literature, and that aura could accelerate their materialization speed. Coupled with the mysterious energy (the chaotic essence) from before…

To say they weren’t yearning for it would be a lie.