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

Keke’s expression was grave, as she seized Ye Yong and pulled him toward the curtain like one would a chick. Song Song hurriedly cleared the tea from the table.

Ye Yong was greatly puzzled; he had merely resolved some points of contention between them. Surely, it couldn’t be that easy to throw everything away? Ye Qingwu was a demon king of the tenth tier, her cultivation already formidable enough that the notion of any vital essence being crucial seemed absurd. So, had he submitted or not?

Inside the curtain, the spirit lamp extinguished. Once pulled in, Ye Yong could see nothing, likely due to some artifact used by Ye Qingwu. Yet, while his vision was temporarily lost, his sense of smell remained intact. A vague, indescribable fragrance, one that seemed to lure one into oblivion, wafted through the air, even as Ye Yong held his breath, it felt as if it were forcefully trying to invade his nostrils.

“Stay quiet.” Ye Qingwu’s voice was enchanting, a melody that stirred the soul. Ye Yong hesitated for a moment before saying, “I am not someone to be trifled with.”

“…” Ye Qingwu was momentarily speechless.

Keke, still behind Ye Yong, slapped him on the shoulder with a force that could have activated his defensive talisman had she not held back. “What nonsense are you spouting! My lady is saving your life! Do you believe I won’t cut you down?”

At her words, Ye Yong realized something. He wanted to take out his demon-seeking compass to confirm, but it was pitch black here, so he decided to stand quietly in place.

“I warn you! Do not make any disrespectful moves; it’s best not to even entertain such thoughts!” Keke finished and left the curtain.

Before long, Ye Yong heard footsteps approaching the cave entrance.

It was indeed dark inside the curtain, but outside it was not; he could see clearly from within. Ye Yong held his breath and focused on the source of the footsteps, soon spotting a remarkably handsome man striding in.

“Qingwu, you are indeed here! Are you feeling alright?” The man glanced at Keke and Song Song standing on either side before fixing his gaze on the curtain, his intense eyes seeming to want to ignite it.

This man could only be Peng Zhang, the very one Ye Yong had been about to mention.

Ye Yong’s cultivation was too low to sense the approach of the demon king, but Ye Qingwu and the others were different; they noticed Peng Zhang the moment he arrived nearby.

As for why Peng Zhang was here, it was quite simple—he was a fervent admirer of Ye Qingwu, a fact not hidden among the demon clans of the Eastern Continent. Upon hearing news of Ye Qingwu’s injury in Lingyou Mountain, he nearly lost control, desperate to find her healing place, to bring her medicine, to inquire after her well-being, hoping to win her favor. Yet, he couldn’t even locate her.

But if Peng Zhang were to give up so easily, he wouldn’t be called a fervent admirer. Thus, he hunted down the bloodfire sect cultivators who had injured Ye Qingwu while sending demons to keep an eye on her whereabouts.

Peng Zhang had some reputation; he gathered a group of capable demons under his command. One of them, upon discovering Ye Qingwu’s trail, maintained a safe distance and reported the location back to Peng Zhang. Fortunately, the distance was too great at the time, and the aura artifact worked, allowing Ye Yong to remain undetected.

Once he received the news of her whereabouts, Peng Zhang was like a man possessed, casting aside thoughts of the bloodfire sect and rushing over to check on Ye Qingwu’s condition.

“Fully recovered, thank you for your concern, Brother Peng.” Ye Qingwu was surprised that Peng Zhang, far away in another secret realm, had learned of her injury. But then she recalled his obsession with her and felt a sense of relief. A man as tenacious as he was would surely have demons tracking her movements.

In truth, Peng Zhang had not been doing so, at least not before; he had only learned of her situation occasionally.

“That’s good to hear.” Peng Zhang sat in the spot Ye Yong had just vacated, the lingering scent already dealt with by Song Song, so he noticed nothing amiss. He continued, “Qingwu, I’ve heard about the Black Water Secret Realm; it’s truly a pity. You can come to my secret realm; I will share management rights with you.”

—

“Brother Peng’s good intentions are appreciated, but there are some things I believe are better fought for on my own.”

“Ah, truly the spirit of Qingwu! If you ever need anything, just let me know! As long as it’s within my power, I will certainly do it. And for what I cannot do, I will still try my utmost.”

Such words made Ye Yong glance at Peng Zhang with curiosity, wondering if he was a bird demon or a dog demon. How could he be so eager to please?

Yet, Peng Zhang’s next words left Ye Yong no room for jest or sarcasm.

“It’s all the doing of that human named Ye Yong, isn’t it? Qingwu, rest assured, I will definitely seek justice for you. I’ll tear him limb from limb, hanging his remains in every major human city, so that the humans understand we are not to be trifled with!”

Truly, what one fears often comes to pass. Ye Yong knew that once Peng Zhang had set his sights on him, there would be no good end in sight.

—

03 The Unnecessary

“This is my affair; I hope Brother Peng will not interfere.” Ye Qingwu hadn’t expected Peng Zhang to speak so boldly, and she worried that Ye Yong might be frightened away. She needed to recruit him as a capable assistant, and if she couldn’t guarantee his safety, who would be willing?

However, Peng Zhang paid no heed to the change in her tone, nor did he notice the slightly awkward expression on Song Song’s face, continuing instead with his conspiracy theories: “Qingwu, I’ve told you before, your matters are my matters. I simply cannot believe that a mere, inexperienced human lad could possess such prowess to escape from a secret realm teeming with a million beasts. He is likely being manipulated by another demon clan, deliberately hindering your progress. Fear not, once I capture him, I will first delve into his soul to uncover the truth before I shred him to pieces.”

Just moments ago, it was about tearing him limb from limb, and now it was about shredding him to pieces. Ye Yong felt that if Peng Zhang continued, he would surely be turned into a meat paste, or perhaps even vaporized into blood mist, leaving no trace behind.

“Brother Peng, you are being overly suspicious; the situation is not so complicated.” Ye Qingwu was quite speechless. Were it not for the powerful lineage of the Penghu clan and Peng Zhang’s own talent and strength, she wouldn’t even bother to engage.

“It’s not that I’m suspicious, but rather that you, Qingwu, are too naive. This world is complex; the human heart is inscrutable, and the demon heart even more so. The only truth is my unwavering affection for you.”

Hearing such cheesy lines, Ye Yong nearly burst out laughing but managed to hold it in. Otherwise, if discovered hiding behind the curtain with a strange man—especially that detestable human he was searching for—Peng Zhang would surely fly into a rage.

Moreover, the cheesy lines didn’t initially sound cheesy; on the contrary, they were quite appealing. It was only after seeing too much of it online that one might find it trite. In this ancient-themed world of the New Empire, such expressions still held their charm.

Peng Zhang gazed deeply and earnestly at the curtain, unaware that his line of sight was directed right at where Ye Yong stood: “Everything I do is for you. As long as you are willing, I…”

Ye Yong felt a wave of goosebumps, shivering uncontrollably.

“Enough, enough.” Ye Qingwu, feeling the awkwardness, dug her nails into the soft couch, leaving several scratches. If Ye Yong weren’t present, she would have taken it as a joke, but with him there, and Peng Zhang addressing him directly, it was undoubtedly a scene of social death.

—

“What’s wrong? Qingwu, do you not trust me?” In the past, Ye Qingwu would wait for him to finish speaking, never responding, but Peng Zhang always thought she was just shy. Today, her sudden interruption left him puzzled.

“It’s not that I don’t trust Brother Peng, it’s just… could you please stop talking?” Ye Yong, though unseen by Ye Qingwu, was very much under her watchful gaze. She enveloped him with her own spirit, shielding him from detection. Because of this, every subtle movement, every flicker of his expression, was laid bare to her.

Ye Yong bit his lip, a look of discomfort etched on his face, which made Ye Qingwu feel quite awkward.

“Qingwu, are you unwell? Is it that your injury from earlier hasn’t healed? Come, let me take a look.” As a man of honor, Peng Zhang had long considered Ye Qingwu his own. If his woman was unwell, he would naturally be anxious.