I Shall Rewrite the Protagonists’ Fate

"Evil does not exist—or at least, not as something unto itself. Evil is merely the absence of God, much like darkness is the absence of light, or cold is the absence of heat. These are words created by humanity to describe the void left when something essential is missing.

God did not create evil. Evil is not like faith or love, which exist inherently, just as light and heat do. Instead, evil arises when man lacks God's love in his heart—like the chill that pervades when warmth is absent, or the shadow that falls when light is gone."

— Albert Einstein

___

Lei Ying listened to the preacher's final words as his vision blurred. The continuous beeping of the life support machine echoed in his ears, a persistent sound that lingered even as his bodily functions ceased.

"Lei Ying, date of death: 5th March 2005," the doctor's voice declared.

Lei Ying was stunned. So it was true—the ear was the last part of the human body to die. Or perhaps it was his brain still functioning, interpreting the faint vibrations resonating from his eardrum.

But then a thought struck him: if he were truly dead, shouldn't his brain have stopped working by now? Or… could it be that he wasn't dead after all?

Before he could process further, his vision abruptly returned. A blinding light flooded his eyes, forcing him to squint.

"I'm alive!" he muttered to himself. Relief surged through him as he glanced around, but his relief quickly gave way to confusion. His eyes widened in disbelief. He recognized this place.

This was the sect from the novel he'd read—the one where the protagonist rose to greatness. He had read that story so many times that the vivid descriptions had etched themselves into his memory. And now, those words had come to life.

Still disoriented, Lei Ying wandered toward the lake at the sect's center. Gazing into the water, he caught sight of his reflection. His stomach twisted.

The face staring back at him wasn't his own—or rather, it wasn't the face he had in his former life. The reflection showed a white-haired man with pale skin and a piercing purple eye. Even as Lei Ying tried to smile, the expression that emerged was more menacing than joyful. It was the grin of a demon king.

Strangely, he wasn't as angry as he thought he would be. He should have been furious at ending up in the body of a mob villain, a mere steppingstone for the protagonist to humiliate during the sect's banquet. But instead, Lei Ying felt… calm.

The original Lei Ying might have been doomed to an ignoble fate, but this transmigrated Lei Ying wasn't about to follow the same path. Now that hope gleamed before him, he had no intention of squandering it.

He studied his reflection again. Despite his grim visage, this new identity had its perks. The original Lei Ying might have been a minor character, but his talent was unparalleled. Born into one of the most powerful families in the realm, he had a foundation others could only dream of.

Unlike the protagonist, who started from nothing and rose to greatness by defeating impossible odds, Lei Ying had a head start. And while protagonists in cultivation novels always seemed blessed by the heavens—like Yún Xiāo, who could easily defeat opponents two stages above him—Lei Ying saw no reason to envy them.

In fact, he welcomed the challenge.

Why was he so quick to accept this new identity? The answer was simple: he had always dreamed of transmigrating to another world. In his previous life, he was an office worker who climbed the corporate ladder with nothing but his sharp mind and relentless determination.

He stood in the same place for three hours pondering about his next action.

...

"Mother! Mò Lián is here!"

The childlike voice snapped Lei Ying back to the present. He lifted his head, his gaze settling on a little girl scanning the area, her eyes filled with curiosity.

Lei Ying recognized her instantly. This girl, Mò Lián, played a pivotal role in the original novel. She was the one who would give Yún Xiāo the resolve to rise again after his initial defeat.

In just a few hours, according to the original story, Lei Ying was supposed to overpower Yún Xiāo in a one-sided fight, humiliating him. But it wouldn't end there. Mò Lián, with her innocent encouragement, would reignite Yún Xiāo's determination. Fueled by her words and his unyielding vow to protect her, Yún Xiāo would unleash an extraordinary display of strength, breaking through multiple realms in mere moments before striking Lei Ying down.

Lei Ying narrowed his eyes. He knew the events that would unfold if he allowed the plot to progress unchanged. And he wasn't about to let that happen.

It was simple: either Yún Xiāo died, or he did.

Lei Ying's cold, indifferent gaze rested on Mò Lián. 

"Come here," he commanded. 

The little girl, likely no older than ten, hesitated briefly before lowering her head and walking toward him. Despite her young age, she couldn't help but feel shy in his presence—Lei Ying's strikingly handsome features were enough to make even a child bashful. 

He sat cross-legged by the lake, his expression unreadable as he gestured toward her. "Why don't you sit down and make yourself comfortable," he said, his tone neutral. 

Mò Lián blinked at him, then plopped down hesitantly. "Are you planning to steal me away from Brother Yún Xiāo, just like you did with his childhood sweetheart?" she asked innocently. 

"Why?" Lei Ying responded, his voice calm and devoid of emotion. He showed neither anger nor amusement, his thoughts impossible to discern. 

"Because you're a big, bad villain who goes around stealing other people's wives," Mò Lián replied, her wide eyes blinking a couple of times. 

Lei Ying nodded faintly to himself, as though processing her words. 

"Your mother... you once told me you were searching for her, didn't you?" Lei Ying asked, his gaze fixed on her with a detached air. 

Mò Lián's expression grew serious, and she nodded. "Yeah, I'm looking for her." 

"Too bad," Lei Ying said, shaking his head with a trace of finality, his tone as indifferent as ever.

"You don't even know her face."

Mò Lián's eyes sparkled with determination. "I'll know her when I see her. I'll recognize my mother for sure." Her voice was unwavering. "No one in the sect believes me. They all keep saying it's impossible, but when I find her, I'll know her face. I promise!" She smiled, a glimmer of hope in her eyes. "Count on it."

"Really?" Lei Ying asked, a hint of curiosity breaking his neutral tone.

"Yeah! And my mother will know it's me when she sees me!" Mò Lián exclaimed, her voice filled with unshakable conviction.

Lei Ying's gaze remained calm, cold, and unreadable. He stared at her for a long moment, his purple eye barely visible beneath half-closed eyelids. "Even if you find her, what if she acts like she doesn't know you?"

Mò Lián's head jerked up in disbelief. She hadn't considered this possibility. Still, she didn't want to believe Lei Ying's words.

"Do you think you were born because she wanted you?" Lei Ying continued, his voice carrying an edge.

Mò Lián blinked, unsure of where this conversation was heading.

"Why were you abandoned?" Lei Ying pressed. "Could it be that she hated you?"

Mò Lián's expression faltered. She shook her head vigorously. "No way!" Her fist clenched, her heart unwilling to accept such a thought.

Lei Ying shook his head slowly. "There's nothing special about being born. Not a thing."

Mò Lián blinked again, trying to grasp his words.

"Most of the universe is just death. Nothing more. Death is a normal part of life in this world—dog eat dog. So why live?" Lei Ying's voice grew colder. "Do you think you were wanted? Who wanted you? What's your reason for living?"