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

Minutes later, the three retraced their steps, returning to the edge of the water pool.

The villagers still watched from a distance, murmuring as they saw the immortals come ashore.

A man around fifty, likely the village chief, cautiously stepped forward, bowing humbly as he approached Ye Yong and the others: “Immortal, may I ask…”

“The troubles are resolved; this water will pose no more issues.” Ye Yong tossed some pills that purified the dark aura, and soon the black water became clear.

“Thank you, Immortal.” The village chief expressed his gratitude, and the villagers in the distance began to kneel in reverence.

At that moment, Ye Yong noticed a figure in the crowd who remained standing, set apart from the villagers. His clothes were tattered, stained with blood, yet he stood tall, his gaze burning as he fixed it upon Ye Yong.

Why is it still you, this guy! Don’t you have anything better to do?!

Upon recognizing the face, Ye Yong felt a chill run down his spine.

41 The True Gentleman

Twenty minutes prior

Long Tian swallowed the healing elixir, channeling his spiritual energy to hasten its restorative power.

The strike from the dark cultivator had wounded his internal organs, but in that critical moment, he had shielded himself with his energy, preventing further harm.

After a brief respite, feeling his breath flow more freely, Long Tian stretched his limbs and set off toward Tanqing Village.

First, he needed to deliver the candied hawthorn to Uncle Liu; next, he had promised the shopkeeper he would provide an explanation for his absence; finally, he was concerned for the villagers, fearing they might fall victim to the dark cultivator.

Upon returning to Tanqing Village, he found the villagers alive and well, all gathered around the pond. Curiosity piqued, Long Tian wondered what had transpired.

He appeared quite disheveled, his clothes torn and stained with blood. The villagers, initially wary, mistook him for a bandit; some even brandished hoes, warning him to keep his distance. It was only when they learned he was a cultivator, here to retrieve goods for the village, that they relaxed slightly and recounted the events that had unfolded.

“An immortal?” The description of the mysterious cultivator with a flying pig bore a striking resemblance to the one who had saved them, igniting Long Tian’s curiosity further. Could it be that some celestial treasure had emerged here, stirring even the attention of a transformation master?

The pond lay still for the moment, and Long Tian decided to produce the shopkeeper’s order slip. After the villagers confirmed its authenticity, they handed over the materials. As for the financial matters, the shopkeeper would send someone later to settle the accounts; it was none of his concern.

Stowing the materials away, Long Tian did not leave immediately. Instead, he stood behind the villagers, waiting for the “immortals” to emerge from the pond.

After a while, the water stirred, and several figures leaped from its depths. Long Tian’s gaze fell upon a familiar face.

Ye Yong.

He was here too?

Long Tian strained his ears to catch the conversation between the village chief and the newcomers. Though their exchange was brief, he grasped the essence: beneath the pond lay a malevolent entity, and given his previous encounter with the dark cultivator, it was clear that the foe had been breeding some sinister creature, now discovered by Ye Yong.

The transformation master who had saved him held a comatose figure clad in black, surely not a benign presence.

“Sealed cultivation, but I can sense it’s early-stage transformation, a demonic cultivator,” the old immortal, Yuxian, provided his insight.

“Transforming into a God of Demons!?” Long Tian was taken aback. A demon cultivator had ventured so close to the commoners’ dwelling. Thankfully, nothing had happened; otherwise, countless lives would surely have been lost.

After piecing together the circumstances, it was clear that no celestial treasures had been born. The villagers were once again expressing their gratitude to the immortal. Long Tian prepared to leave, but before he could, he wanted to personally thank the powerful being who had transformed.

Though the mighty one might not take it to heart, merely acting on a whim, a life-saving grace was still a life-saving grace. He felt he must show some form of appreciation.

Yet, before he could approach, Ye Yong was already making his way over.

Long Tian pondered for a moment, believing Ye Yong had come to find him. The evil cultivator who had collapsed by the pond was likely taken down by Ye Yong. Long Tian had interfered without understanding the situation, helping the evil one detoxify, which must have disrupted Ye Yong’s plans.

Sigh…

Long Tian shifted his gaze, avoiding eye contact with Ye Yong. He was just a poor kid without any background, having ruined the plans of a prodigy. Not only would Ye Yong be angry, but any outsider hearing this would surely be furious.

Clenching his fists, Long Tian repeatedly reminded himself to ascertain the situation before acting next time. He resolved to silently endure whatever Ye Yong said, making no rebuttals, for he knew he had indeed acted recklessly.

However, when Ye Yong stood before him, he uttered words Long Tian never expected.

——

“Are you unhurt?” Ye Yong looked at the unremarkable figure before him, yet one that stirred an inexplicable urge to strike. It was quite distressing; if possible, he would prefer not to have any contact with Long Tian, but now there was no way to avoid it.

Though he didn’t know why Long Tian was here, it was clear he had been around for some time. The villagers were mere mortals, and Ye Yong had witnessed their attitude towards cultivators; they could answer questions with ease, even to the third degree.

Imagine if Long Tian learned that he had just lured away the Golden Core evil cultivator, and then Ye Yong appeared and entered the pond. What would he think? Who would be pleased to be a pawn? Moreover, if Ye Wen claimed he hadn’t spoken with Long Tian, just exterminated the evil one and left, what if Ye Wen inadvertently displayed a look of disdain, leaving Long Tian displeased and planting the seed of “Do not underestimate the youth; thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river” in his heart? Such matters were hard to predict.

To prevent any potential fallout, Ye Yong aimed to nip everything in the bud.

“No major issues.” Long Tian was taken aback; Ye Yong’s demeanor and tone didn’t seem like he was there to condemn him. Having prepared himself to accept a scolding, Long Tian now felt quite embarrassed. He scratched his head and said, “I’m sorry, it’s my fault for being presumptuous and taking it upon myself to save the evil cultivator, nearly disrupting your plans. Thankfully, that senior appeared in time and crushed the evil one. May I ask who he is?”

“My Seventh Master.” Ye Yong was also a bit stunned. Long Tian, the pawn, was not angry?

“That senior saved my life. Please, could you introduce me? I wish to thank him in person.”

“No need, no need.” Ye Yong quickly waved his hand. Who knew what you might say in person? What if Seventh Master looked down on your gratitude? Even if he didn’t, what if you wanted to repay our Ye family? What if you came to offer your benefactor as a sacrifice, wielding boundless power? Would our Ye family still be safe?

Unfortunately, Ye Yong couldn’t voice his most instinctive thoughts. He could only say, “You came here by chance, discovered someone collapsed, and promptly checked on their condition. That is a display of goodwill. If we must speak of it, I should apologize to you. You were pursued by a Golden Core evil cultivator, and I did not step in to help, leaving you to face it alone. I truly feel remorseful. Thankfully, Seventh Master arrived in time, and you are unharmed; otherwise, I would be deeply troubled.”

Upon hearing this, Long Tian’s pupils constricted sharply. This matter was clearly his own recklessness—acting rashly to save someone and being pursued by the evil cultivator. He could say he had brought it upon himself, yet Ye Yong not only refrained from blaming him for disrupting his plans but also took it as his own fault…

“No.” Long Tian shook his head. “You didn’t step in to help, surely to restrain another evil cultivator. The fact that I haven’t affected you is already a stroke of luck amidst misfortune.”