I Was Entangled by the Pathological Protagonists [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Yan Lin always felt that something was slightly off, but he couldn’t quite put his finger on where the problem lay.

Another three years had passed. The now seventeen-year-old elegant youth had finally matured; although he remained excessively good-looking, he no longer gave off that androgynous feeling a truly celebratory development.

Yan Lin carefully recalled every bit of his life as a villain over the past five years: from committing misdeeds and framing the protagonist before slipping away, to the junior disciples constantly finding trouble for the protagonist.

Within the vast Yaoguang Sect, it was as if the protagonist had been completely isolated.

Suddenly, Yan Lin’s eyes flickered as he finally realized one point: it had been too smooth. The protagonist seemed far too submissive, appearing as though he never resisted.

Yan Lin: “…”

This was a disaster. Had he completely crushed the protagonist?

His beautiful brows furrowed slightly, revealing a hint of distress. While the work of a villain was easy to perform, Yan Lin had never considered how to revitalize a protagonist who had been crushed by the villain (…).

Then again, wasn’t this protagonist a bit too fragile? Aren’t protagonists supposed to be unkillable cockroaches? Shouldn’t they become braver with every setback?

Yan Lin sighed.

If things continued at this rate, Yan Lin couldn’t help but worry: when the time came for Perfected Cultivator Wuyan to gouge out the Supreme Profound Spirit Bone, would the protagonist just drop dead immediately? What would happen to his mission then? What about going home? What about his resurrection?

The more he thought, the more he sighed.

No, he had to make the protagonist pull himself together!

The thought of essentially working two jobs made Yan Lin’s inner self recoil, but man proposes and God disposes. If the protagonist died halfway through, although he wasn’t sure what would happen, his deal with the Villain System would certainly fail.

Thinking of this, Yan Lin suddenly turned his head, looking at the protagonist beside him who was currently lowering his eyes and obediently pouring tea for him.

The bullying and isolation of these past few years seemed to have made Yan Li increasingly silent. There was no longer any trace of youth between his brows; with sword-like eyebrows and starry eyes, his stature was tall and upright. He actually looked more steady than Yan Lin, who was about two years his senior.

“What is it, Senior Brother?”

He tested the outer wall of the teacup; the temperature was suitable and would not scald the mouth.

“Does Senior Brother wish to drink Linglong Tea today? However, the Linglong Tea is finished. I need to go to Perfected Cultivator Nanyang to ask for some.”

After saying this, he prepared to leave. Such a familiar and natural action clearly indicated this was not the first time it had happened.

However, the moment he turned around, he was abruptly pulled back.

Yan Li lowered his head slightly, gazing at those slender, fair fingers gripping him. He followed the other’s movement and slowly turned back around. Between the flickering of his eyelids, he showed a hint of the confusion he ought to feel.

Yan Lin looked at the submissive protagonist and recalled the first time he had bossily ordered him around; those slightly widened eyes back then still had a bit of a rebellious look. Comparing that to now, he couldn’t help but press a hand to his forehead.

He let go of his hand and pointed to the seat next to him, being brief and concise: “Sit.”

Yan Li seemed to hesitate, but under Yan Lin’s forceful attitude, he could only sit down. His cautious manner once again left Yan Lin speechless, further confirming the thought that this protagonist was completely broken.

Yan Lin propped up his chin, staring at him unblinkingly. Only after the person was staring so much they became restless did he speak:

“In these past few years, does Junior Brother have nothing he wants to say to me?”

The first step to revitalization: give him courage.

Yan Lin didn’t expect to get a response to the very first question. Just as he was about to continue, a deep voice reached his ears.

“…Anything is fine?”

Yan Lin’s eyes lit up. A reaction meant there was still hope for a cure. He nodded hurriedly.

“Anything.”

However, after a long silence, he saw Yan Li slowly shake his head.

Yan Lin: “…” I took off my pants for this?! No, wait, that was a waste of expectation.

He could only advise earnestly: “Don’t keep things bottled up in your heart; it’s bad for your health… Also, hasn’t Perfected Cultivator Nanyang always taught you that when you encounter bullying, you should stand up and strike back fiercely? Instead of suffering in silence—that will only make others push their luck, do you understand?”

After a long time, Yan Li blinked, seemingly only just processing this paragraph, and finally nodded slowly.

“Junior Brother understands.”

After a pause, he added: “Thank you, Senior Brother, for the teaching.”

Yan Lin waved his hand; as long as he listened, it was fine. He only hoped the protagonist would pull himself together this time, allowing him to properly complete his work as a villain and eventually retire successfully.

…

That being said, when Yan Li walked out of Yan Lin’s residence, he turned his steps and headed toward the estate of Perfected Cultivator Nanyang.

“You brat, you’re not here to get Linglong Tea again, are you?”

Perfected Cultivator Nanyang got annoyed just looking at the boy. He had said so much, yet the boy didn’t listen at all, wasting such a great talent. It was only because his cultivation never lagged behind and was in fact diligent and hardworking that Nanyang begrudgingly gave him the time of day.

In the face of Nanyang’s accusation, Yan Li remained unmoved and simply nodded.

Nanyang snorted. With a wave of his hand, a black shadow shot out like an arrow from a full bow, imbued with half the strength of a Transformation Stage cultivator, flying rapidly toward Yan Li.

Then, it was steadily caught by Yan Li. Looking closely, it was clearly a tin of tea leaves.

Only then did Nanyang nod in satisfaction, subsequently throwing out two more tins of tea, this time with ordinary force.

“Fine, now beat it, kid.”

Yan Li said his thanks and turned to leave.

However, just as he was about to walk out of the estate, he met a graceful figure coming toward him. It was Nanyang’s daughter, Xiao Xiao’er.

Her beautiful eyes lit up when she saw Yan Li. She flew over like a fluttering butterfly and gave Yan Li a bright smile, filled with the joyful affection of a young girl.

“Senior Brother Yan, why didn’t you tell me you were coming?”

Then, she saw the tea leaves in Yan Li’s hands, and her smile dimmed slightly.

“Is it tea for Senior Brother Lin’er again?”

Yan Li nodded, not wanting to say much, and walked right past her to leave.

However, his steps faltered because his sleeve was grabbed. Yan Li frowned slightly, showing a hint of impatience.

A young girl’s feelings are sensitive; she saw it. She felt heartbroken by the impatience Senior Brother Yan showed her, but she still summoned her courage to look him in the eye and said:

“Why does Senior Brother Yan always fail to see me? You clearly know that I…” Like you.

“Let go.”

What responded to the girl was only two hard, cold words.

“Why?!”

Xiao Xiao’er glanced at the tins of tea in his hands. As if thinking of something, she said angrily: “You know, don’t you?! The way he treats you! Tolerating those people bullying you! Even framing you! Why do you still?”

Her voice came to an abrupt halt. It was the way Yan Li was looking at her cold, sinister, distorted, and paranoid, as if he might devour her in the next moment.

“Because… I’m willing.”

Contrasting with his gaze, his voice was extremely light, airy, as if it might drift away with the wind.

Yan Li, of course, knew. He knew the other side of his Senior Brother, who appeared obedient, serene, gentle, and harmless on the surface.

He also knew very well that when those pieces of trash came to find trouble for him, his Senior Brother would secretly hide on the side. That cute appearance of thinking he was well-hidden made Yan Li unable to resist playing along a bit more.

His Senior Brother…

Xiao Xiao’er took a step back, her pupils shrinking. Seemingly unable to take it any longer, she turned and ran away.

After a good while, Yan Li, still standing in place, resumed his steps. His eyes returned to silence, like a pool of stagnant water.

…

Yan Lin, who was completely unaware that the protagonist seemed to have mutated, finally witnessed a scene of him fighting back.

It was the same group of disciples who frequently bullied him. Seeing this person actually dare to resist for the first time, they were momentarily incredulous. The ensuing anger made the group of disciples get serious.

However, the youth in black standing with his sword didn’t even change his expression. He looked at the seven or eight disciples charging at him who were much older than him as if they were invisible. Such a condescending attitude made the others even more furious, to the point where they even drew their swords.

Yet in the blink of an eye, Yan Li’s figure disappeared from the spot. A blinding cold light exploded. In just a few seconds, the clothes on all the disciples were shredded into long strips, fluttering in the wind. Their snow-white flesh was partially visible; the scene was for a moment extremely farcical.

Yan Lin, hiding in the dark and watching secretly, almost couldn’t help laughing out loud. He felt very gratified; it seemed his advice had worked.

Only the disciples on the field had faces turned purple like pig livers, clearly enraged to the extreme. Their eyes, fixed on Yan Li, looked as if they were spitting fire.

But this farcical scene that had just occurred demonstrated Yan Li’s strength. He was definitely not the fool they thought he was one who had talent but achieved nothing, merely wasting the title of Sect Master Wuyan’s disciple and being unworthy of Senior Brother Lin’er’s care.

Next, the scene became miserable and bleak.

The several disciples who were beaten until their heads looked like pig heads brought the matter before the Elders, saying Yan Li had attacked his fellow disciples without permission and should be punished. From the Elders, it went back to the Sect Master, Wuyan. In short, they wanted Yan Li to pay the price.

To this, Yan Li only lowered his head and endured. When Wuyan asked if the matter was true, he raised his head slightly and looked around. Seeing Yan Lin’s small gesture of cheering him on, a flash of a smile couldn’t help but cross the depths of his eyes.

He spoke: “In reply to Master, I was merely acting in self-defense at the time.”

“Nonsense!”

“Look at us like this! You clearly beat us!”

“Exactly!”

“Slander!”

The disciples were instantly fuming, everyone talking at once. The scene was chaotic.

Then they heard Yan Li say slowly: “For the past few years, these Senior Brothers have constantly found trouble for this disciple. I thought it would pass if I just endured it. I didn’t expect them to push their luck. Out of necessity, I couldn’t help but resist.”

Before the disciples could refute, Yan Li suddenly changed the subject and clasped his fists toward Wuyan: “Perfected Cultivator Nanyang can testify for me on this matter. I hope the Master will judge clearly.”

Nanyang had indeed stumbled upon it a few times and shouted rebukes; otherwise, he wouldn’t have lectured Yan Li so much.

Wuyan frowned. His gaze swept over the guilty, speechless expressions of those disciples. How could he not understand the truth? Furthermore, Yan Li was the Supreme Profound Spirit Bone he valued; he absolutely could not allow any mishaps.

He immediately issued the punishment: “You all were the first to bully a fellow disciple. You are sentenced to five years of secluded meditation at the Cliff of Repentance.”

Ignoring the wails of despair, Wuyan turned to look at Yan Li and said: “While self-defense is acceptable, you could have reported it to the Elders.”

After finishing, he didn’t mention any intention of punishing Yan Li.

Nanyang, who had popped up midway, nodded. His previous attitude of being disappointed in Yan Li had finally eased a bit.

He just thought of Xiao Xiao’er crying like a fountain at home. He felt quite a headache over his daughter’s unrequited affection.

Admittedly, he liked the boy Yan Li, but matters of the heart require mutual feelings; they cannot be forced.