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

Ye Yong, well aware of the villain’s preferences, chatted for a while, and soon Lin Junxun felt a pleasant sensation in both body and mind, developing a strong desire to take Ye Yong as his little brother.

It was already difficult for Ye Yong to flatter Lin Junxun with a clear conscience, given how ungrateful he was. But now was not the time to fall out with the Lin family, so Ye Yong expressed that he was still too weak and not qualified, thus flattering Lin Junxun while rejecting this impudent request, showcasing his linguistic artistry to the fullest.

Lin Junxun didn’t see any problem with this; on the contrary, he believed Ye Yong was self-aware and a good candidate for a little brother. He encouraged Ye Yong to ask for anything he needed, promising to help as long as it wasn’t too excessive, to assist him in breaking through faster.

Hearing this, Ye Yong nearly laughed out loud. His current storage ring was worth its weight in gold; the resources inside couldn’t compare to the entire foundation of the Lin family, but they were certainly not at a level Lin Junxun could access. Even the head of the Lin family wouldn’t be able to control so many resources, after all, large families had various elders to prevent any one lineage from becoming too dominant.

“Thank you, Young Master Lin, for your kindness.” Ye Yong noticed that most of their dishes had only been nibbled at before being abandoned, likely due to their disdain for the food here. He suggested they take a stroll in the northern district of Shilin City, where there were more human clans, allowing them to better expand their connections and accelerate their understanding and ‘integration’ into Shilin City.

“Oh?” Lin Junxun, seeing how considerate Ye Yong was, immediately took out a seal engraved with the Lin family crest and said with an imposing air, “From now on, if you come to the Central Continent, you can use this seal to find me through the Lin family.”

Although he didn’t want to get entangled with the Lin family, in the novel, the Lin and Ye families were bound together, making it impossible for Ye Yong to refuse. After accepting the seal, Lin Junxun and his group set off towards the northern district.

To maximize the benefits they could gain in Shilin City, it was essential to expand their network and increase their influence. Moreover, as a prominent family, Lin Junxun and his companions were more inclined to engage with humans rather than the demon race.

Seeing that potential troublemakers had left and no conflicts had arisen, Ye Yong let out a slight sigh of relief and prepared to make his escape. He couldn’t stay a moment longer where the protagonist was present. Just as he was about to rise, the young manager of the tavern, Chi Shi, approached with a drink in hand.

“Young Master Ye, I am Chi Shi, it’s a pleasure to finally meet you.” Ye Yong didn’t recognize him, and the novel hadn’t mentioned this person, but seeing his dignified appearance and the fact that he was seated at the same table as the protagonist, it was easy to conclude that he was a short-lived character.

As the saying goes, one doesn’t strike a smiling face, especially with the protagonist watching nearby. Unable to slip away, Ye Yong forced a smile and raised his glass, “Young Master Chi, what brings you here?”

“I simply wish to get to know Young Master Ye.”

You already know the protagonist and are so close to him; what’s the point of getting to know me? Not even a deity could save you now. Besides, your name seems off; changing it to Chi Feifan might be more subtle.

Seeing that Chi Shi had struck up a conversation with Ye Yong, Qiu Lihgao could no longer contain his excitement and urged Long Tian to join them.

As the protagonist of a righteous cultivation novel, it was usually the ‘friends’ who took the initiative to get close; it was rare for the protagonist to approach someone himself. Long Tian had always harbored a sense of inexplicable pride, yet he genuinely wanted to interact more with Ye Yong. Thus, he developed a mental suggestion that he was merely accompanying Qiu Lihgao.

With the protagonist and the supposed doomed companion taking their seats, Ye Yong felt increasingly restless. He glanced at Qiu Lihgao, thinking, You ungrateful Qiu Lihgao, I saved your life in the secret realm, and this is how you repay me.

Getting up and leaving right now would make it seem like he looked down on them, like he was disdainful. Ye Yong’s goal was to be a passerby, to not get close to the protagonist and not offend him.

Long Tian’s character was extremely contradictory—both generous and stingy, a pure egocentric. Even the slightest hint of disrespect towards him could sow the seeds of death for the future. Although Ye Yong had escaped the novel’s death line, he had let his guard down when facing the protagonist. So here, he could only endure, engage in conversation for a moment, and then find an excuse to leave.

“Ye Shao, the situation in Shilin City hasn’t been too peaceful lately. When do you plan to leave?” Qiu Ligao was actually quite afraid of the external siege; he didn’t trust his luck and worried he might get hurt or even lose his life, so he wanted to consult Ye Yong’s opinion.

“That’s hard to say.” Ye Yong shook his head and sighed, pretending to be troubled. Right now, Di Yu could sweep across the Northern Cold Continent without any issues. The external siege actually created an opportunity for her to reshuffle the internal dynamics of Shilin City. Those who didn’t know the inside story would naturally worry and fear, but Ye Yong, who was in the know, was as steady as a rock. His only concern was the safety of his mother.

“When do you plan to leave the city?” Ye Yong asked Qiu Ligao in return. The sooner the protagonist left, the less likely unexpected events would occur. Although Ye Yong didn’t believe anyone could threaten Di Yu now, it was better to be safe than sorry; the protagonist was the strongest harbinger of disaster.

“It should be the day before the opening of the Yaobailin Secret Realm. The city lord said he would give the reward to Long Tian then.” Qiu Ligao quickly leaked information from his side, proving he was indeed the protagonist’s companion—deep feelings, mutual traps. If Ye Yong were a brainless villain and learned this news, he would definitely choose to ambush Long Tian that day, killing and looting.

“The opening of the secret realm is the best time for a siege. At that time, many residents will flee, and those lurking outside will definitely capture the escaping residents. You all need to be careful.”

“We are cultivators from the Kunlun Realm, and our cultivation isn’t high, so the demon race won’t make things difficult for us.” Qiu Ligao said confidently.

“That’s true.” Just kidding. Following Long Tian and expecting not to be troubled? An incident would definitely occur—either a young demon would take offense at Long Tian and humiliate him, or their possessions would be exposed, attracting covetous eyes.

Seeing through it but not saying it, Ye Yong only advised them to be cautious and planned to end the conversation and make his escape.

“Um.” At that moment, Long Tian, who had been silent, spoke up. He looked at Ye Yong, his gaze so straightforward and serious.

Ye Yong felt his breath catch, alarm bells ringing in his heart.

“Before, I never had the chance to properly thank you.” Long Tian raised his glass high towards Ye Yong: “I want you to know, you’ve helped me so many times, I…”

The dragon’s gratitude often leads to ruin or death; Ye Yong quickly interrupted the spell: “No need to dwell on it. Enjoying life in the moment is my intention as well, without seeking repayment.”

“But…”

Not giving him a chance to speak, Ye Yong immediately served up some chicken soup: “There’s no need to feel indebted. Today I help you, tomorrow you help him, the day after he helps me. Everyone for me, I for everyone. True help is untainted. If you can remember and bring it up, it shows you have a heart.”

Ye Yong didn’t even dare to clink his glass with Long Tian’s, fearing that a mere touch would lead the protagonist to consider him a friend. Yet, he was also worried that Long Tian holding up his glass would create an awkward moment, so he immediately put on a sorrowful expression, looking elsewhere: “To be honest, I just mentioned not knowing when I would leave Shilin City, and it’s actually related to my mother. She… was taken by forces outside the city.”

“What!?” Qiu Li and Chi Shi were both greatly shocked. Long Tian’s pupils slightly contracted, surprise mingling with a hint of anger.

“Please don’t tell anyone about this; Lord Jin is already handling it.” Ye Yong sighed again, aimlessly rising: “I plan to ask Lord Jin if there’s any news, so I won’t disturb the three of you.”