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

“Hey, hey, run! Why aren’t you running now?”

Hearing such clichéd lines from a minor villain made Ye Yongqing roll his eyes.

“What do you mean, you b*stard?” One of the more striking women glared at the man who spoke.

“Don’t you understand what I mean? Outside, you ignored me, but here… heh heh…”

Well, there was no need to listen further; Ye Yongqing understood the situation and recalled how Long Tian had saved a few inconsequential female bystanders in the secret realm.

Since Ye Yongqing had cleared the spirit beasts along Long Tian’s path to the cave, Long Tian had moved unhindered. According to the original plot, he should have just dealt with the third spirit beast and was now delving deeper into the marsh, triggering this little show-off incident.

Reality is not a novel; it does not care whether the protagonist is present or not; what is meant to happen will still unfold.

Without Long Tian’s intervention, it was clear what fate awaited these three female bystanders. They would either take their own lives, be humiliated and then take their own lives, or, in the worst case, be humiliated and then killed.

Wearing the fox mask he had bought to block divine perception, Ye Yong withdrew the aura-enhancing talisman.

The male cultivator, who had been brimming with confidence and spewing foul language, abruptly fell silent. The reason was simple: a presence suddenly loomed beside him, one so overwhelming that any person would be struck with fear.

“Who are you!?” The male cultivators were on high alert, unable to see through the other’s cultivation level. Yet, this secret realm only allowed those in the crystallization stage to enter, so they were not overly panicked.

Ye Yong did not answer, lost in thought about how to handle the situation.

If it were Long Tian, he would have certainly killed them, drawing trouble upon himself, forced to slay more, and acquire more resources.

But Ye Yong, for now, no one knew his identity. Even if they did, upon hearing he was the young master of the Ye family, who would dare seek revenge? Even if they did kill him, their elders would have to stifle their grief and come to apologize to Ye Yong.

Indeed, the world of cultivation was so unjust. From birth, talent was unequal, and family circumstances even more so.

“Speak quickly!” He Ma, the pampered grandson of a mid-tier sect elder, looked down on everyone. Seeing Ye Yong’s silence and his white robes that seemed to radiate a holy light, he felt a surge of irritation.

His companions quickly intervened; not everyone was foolish enough to shout at a masked figure with such a powerful aura.

“This friend, please leave. This is our private matter; do not interfere,” one of the more refined male cultivators said.

“Bullying the weak, surrounding a young woman with ill intent, and you call this a private matter?” Ye Yong sneered.

His words carried a kind of aloofness, as if he were untouchable, a domineering presence that shook the soul.

“Sir, we appreciate your willingness to step forward, but…” The female cultivator, armed and cornered, did not grasp at the lifeline Ye Yong offered. Instead, she was concerned for him, not wanting him to take risks.

“Just a bunch of ants,” Ye Yong ultimately decided against killing. With a flick of his wrist, a powerful spiritual pressure sent the male cultivators flying, while the female cultivators remained untouched. He controlled it effortlessly; even He Ma, the typical hot-headed fool, understood that Ye Yong was a tough nut to crack.

Yet, having been spoiled, he still had to put on a brave face: “Are you sure you want to meddle in the young master’s affairs?”

“I’ll give you five seconds. If you don’t leave, you’ll never get the chance to leave again.” The advantage of being a villain? There was no dimming of intelligence, and with his aura, others had to weigh their actions carefully.

He Ma exchanged glances with his companions, cursing Ye Yong and demanding to know his name, challenging him to a duel. His companions wisely persuaded him to retreat.

Ye Yong watched coldly; pride could lead to suffering. If they had encountered someone like Long Tian, they would have already met their end.

Once He Ma and the others withdrew, the female cultivators sighed in relief, lowering their weapons and approaching Ye Yong to express their gratitude.

“Thank you, kind sir, for saving us. May I ask your name, so we may come to express our thanks in the future?”

“Not necessary.” Ye Yong shook his head. “Let them go. Will such a situation arise again in the future?”

“Of course not. I belong to a different sect than him. Though our sect is slightly weaker, still…”

Ye Yong was not particularly interested in the tales of the passersby. He waved his hand dismissively. “This place is unsafe. I’ll escort you out.”

Casting a glance at He Ma and his crew lurking in the distance, he felt a sense of helplessness. Killing might not resolve all troubles; it could invite a cascade of further issues. Yet, it was understandable why protagonists in those thrilling tales acted with such decisiveness, relishing in vengeance.

—

120 Reversal of Fate

The strongest among He Ma’s group barely reached the seventh layer of crystallization, unable to see through Ye Yong’s cultivation. His demeanor and actions resembled that of a young master from a prominent sect, which made He Ma and his companions hesitant to offend him. They could only watch helplessly as Ye Yong led the female cultivator away.

“Damn it!” He Ma seethed with rage, not just because the cooked duck had flown away. If the other party returned and recounted the events, he would face punishment from his elders. Fortunately, he had not acted in time, so it was merely an attempt gone awry; the worst he would face was a few scoldings.

“Enough, He brother. She’s just a woman. Once we finish exploring the secret realm, we’ll take you to the Drunken Fragrance Pavilion. What do you want that you can’t have?” one companion chuckled.

“Those women can’t compare to her!”

“Quality may be lacking, but quantity can make up for it. Calm down; right now, we should focus on the opportunities within the secret realm.”

“Hmph, just let me find out the identity of that masked b*stard. Otherwise…”

They had all been stunned moments ago, only resuming their chatter after the figures had departed. Yet, they all knew each other well, and as members of the same sect, they had to curry favor with the elder’s grandson, so they nodded in agreement.

The group pressed deeper into the realm. Strangely, they encountered no formidable spirit beasts, smoothly reaching the innermost depths.

“Do you think that masked one took out all the spirit beasts on the way?” someone voiced their thoughts.

“Damn! Did he take all the opportunities for himself!?”

“Not necessarily. Opportunities are all about fate; perhaps he has none, while we do.”

“That makes sense!”