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

109 Return to My Cloak

A battle of transformation gods erupted within the three-thousand-meter expanse of Lingyou Mountain?

As the war ignited, the skies trembled, birds took flight, and spirit beasts and demons scattered in a frenzy, panic gripping them like a vice.

The human gatherers, in their quest for resources, were so frightened they fled, their hearts racing, desperate to escape.

The elder of the Blood Flame Sect stood at the pinnacle of the tenth level of transformation, a mere step away from the void. Were it not for his frail age, he would not hesitate to unleash his true power, fearing the toll it might take on his vitality. The creatures around them would have had no chance to flee.

Yet Night Qingwu, wishing to spare the surrounding environment from devastation, refrained from using her full strength. Or perhaps, this place was simply ill-suited for a clash of transformation gods.

“We only wish to speak with Ye Yong, we mean no harm. Why must it come to this?”

The elder paused, bewildered. If possible, he had no desire to continue the fight with the demoness before him. It was strange that she had not ordered the slaughter of his Blood Flame Sect members: “What do you mean?”

“I understand that your kind harbors biases against unfamiliar demons, and I know you wish to protect Ye Yong. But I hope you can see that I bear no ill will toward him,” Night Qingwu spoke earnestly.

What was this nonsense?

The elder grew increasingly confused. How had it turned into them wanting to protect Ye Yong? Wasn’t it you who were protecting him?

After living for a millennium, the elder soon arrived at a possibility: they had all been played by Ye Yong.

“What is your relationship with Ye Yong?” he demanded.

Night Qingwu had been keenly observing the elder’s expressions. Noticing a flicker of anger flash in his eyes, she sensed something amiss: “And what is your relationship with Ye Yong?”

The elder snorted coldly, unwilling to answer. Night Qingwu remained silent, yet both sides had already formed their suspicions and conclusions.

Not wishing to continue the fight, the elder retracted his magical artifact and called back his people. Night Qingwu, too, retreated a good distance with her wooden hairpin attendant and feathered ornament attendant.

“What’s wrong, Miss! I haven’t finished teaching those curs a lesson!” The feathered ornament attendant was clearly agitated. Despite her mistress’s orders to avoid harming them, every move they made was laced with lethal intent. Had it not been for the transformation gods being slightly stronger due to their tribulations, they would have long since been overwhelmed.

“They are not here to protect Ye Yong.” Ye Qingwu carefully recalled the words Ye Yong had spoken, along with the dissonance she had felt earlier. Ye Yong had been ambiguous, never truly taking a side. If they were indeed here to safeguard him, their demeanor could not have been so aggressive; they would have followed Ye Yong’s wishes to some extent.

“Is that even possible? Then why are they meddling?” The wooden hairpin maid was not one for deep thought; she was convinced that the others must know Ye Yong.

The more astute feathered maid also failed to grasp the situation, having been in a state of agitation throughout: “Miss, what do you mean?”

“When I first saw them in their black robes, I thought they were protectors lurking in the shadows. But now I realize, they are likely from the demonic sect, having discovered Ye Yong’s whereabouts and preparing to forcibly take him back. And we just happened to be here, mistaken for being involved with him.” Ye Qingwu explained simply.

“So we were deceived by Ye Yong?”

Ye Qingwu smiled bitterly and nodded. “Exactly.”

“How could there be such despicable people! Clearly, the miss sincerely wanted to speak with him, yet he used us as a shield!” The feathered maid was already fuming, and now, knowing the truth, she was nearly ready to explode.

“We cannot blame him.” Ye Qingwu took it lightly. “He did intend to converse with us, but those people came on strong, and he couldn’t be sure of our intentions. Out of caution, he sowed discord, using us to fend off the enemy—a very prudent approach. It didn’t need to be this way; if he had just clarified, I would have willingly helped him repel them…”

“Miss, what are you saying? We were used by him! Why aren’t you angry!”

Ye Qingwu shook her head. “Why should I be angry? His lack of clarity stems from distrust; gaining this person’s trust is crucial. By helping him this time, he won’t be so wary when we meet again.”

“That’s true!” The wooden hairpin maid nodded vigorously.

“I cannot accept this.” The feathered maid huffed.

Meanwhile, the higher-ups of the Blood Flame Sect were convening an emergency meeting with the elder.

“What!? They likely don’t know Ye Yong and are just here to speak with him?” The higher-ups felt a mix of emotions upon learning the truth. Their foolproof plan to encircle and capture him had unexpectedly collapsed, allowing him to escape.

“This Ye Yong is indeed no simple character. At such a young age and with such cultivation, he plays us seasoned ones like fools. To escape from a realm teeming with beasts, aside from the treasures given by his elders, his own abilities cannot be overlooked.” The elder stroked his beard thoughtfully. “Though Ye Yong’s cultivation isn’t exceedingly high—at most, he’s at the third layer of crystallization—he possesses many treasures. Our Golden Core and Nascent Soul cultivators may not be able to stop him. We must not linger with those three demon women; we need to pursue him immediately.”

“Understood.”

However, just as the Blood Flame Sect’s higher-ups prepared to chase after him, Ye Qingwu stepped in front of them. “Where do you intend to go?”

“It’s a misunderstanding; we have no intention of targeting the three of you.” The elder was worried that Ye Qingwu would obstruct their pursuit of Ye Yong.

“I do not believe it is a misunderstanding.”

Just as one fears what they dread, the elder forced a smile that did not reach his eyes. “Continuing this fight benefits neither of us; why not let it end here?”

—

“You seek Ye Yong, but of course, you cannot…” Ye Qingwu summoned the treasure lamp.

The old man, bewildered by Ye Qingwu’s sudden madness, exchanged a glance with the higher-ups. He prepared to confront her again, hoping to stall Ye Qingwu while the others captured Ye Yong.

Previously, Ye Qingwu had refrained from using her full strength, worried about harming “Ye Yong’s protector.” Now, realizing they were merely spies after Ye Yong—her rivals, in other words—she would no longer hold back. She activated the Purple Lotus Treasure Lamp, a powerful formation that would ensnare all present.

“Enchantress! You claim to have no ties to Ye Yong! What does this mean now?!” one of the higher-ups shouted.

“Simple. Ye Yong is under my protection.”

—Outside Lingyou Mountain;

A figure clad in white, wearing a fox mask, raced forward, cradling a small white fox in their arms.

Passersby could barely catch a glimpse, only sensing a fleeting white shadow darting past.