My Monster-Derived Skills Are the True Power
Chapter 25: I’m a Good Person, but I Can’t Say It Out Loud

Li Ye didn’t finish his sentence, but Gongsun Jie, who had intended to put on a show of resolve, found himself stifled. The words stuck in his throat, neither up nor down. “You…”

How could there be such a scoundrel in this world?

Gongsun Jie glared at Li Ye with fury, his chest heaving as a tangle of thoughts churned in his mind.

He was a respected senior in the martial world, the leader of Xuanguang Sect, and a master ranked just below the great grandmasters. By all accounts, he should set an example for his disciples. Yet, Li Ye’s words clung to his mind like a festering wound.

Was he willing?

Was he truly willing to sacrifice his reputation for others?

He had been slapped twice by a junior in front of an entire city of commoners! Gongsun Jie could already imagine the finger-pointing and whispering behind his back…

Once the thought took root, he could no longer suppress it.

His eyes reddened as he looked past Li Ye toward the frenzied crowd in the stands.

The valley was deafeningly loud, but in that moment, the world fell silent in his mind.

If he could, he would have killed Li Ye with his own hands. Only by eliminating this rule-breaking menace could he soothe the rage in his heart. Yet he was no match for him...

Ded Wolf Valley. Ded Cao Bin!

---

Li Ye waited for Gongsun Jie with calm patience.

He knew it took time for someone’s worldview to crumble and rebuild unless that person was inherently irredeemable.

Gongsun Jie clearly wasn’t one of those.

But Li Ye had a clear conscience.

This world was tainted by two streams of Demonic Energy. Whether that energy attached to objects and created Demon Artifacts or to living beings and created monsters, it ultimately brought devastation. Earth was proof enough of that.

Everything he did was to grow stronger so he could eventually confront the Demonic Energy.

As a Temporal Walker, he understood the horrifyingly high mortality rate of his kind. Even through probabilities, Li Ye knew he’d likely face those two streams of Demonic Energy someday. Thinking he could avoid them was mere self-delusion.

Wasn’t everything he did for the sake of countering those energies?

Though his fight against the Demonic Energy was self-serving, it also indirectly saved this world. He was, in essence, the future savior of this world.

Of course, there was also the chance that he might never encounter the two energies and instead be summoned back. But the Demonic Energy he siphoned from people was real.

When those individuals faced the Demonic Energy alone, their increased strength would give them a fighting chance instead of a helpless end.

So no matter what he did or how he acted, it was the right choice.

Li Ye maintained a clear and grounded self-awareness.

He was a good person. His so-called persona as an "Interstellar Bandit" was just a temporary act to survive.

He believed that one day, the natives of this world would understand him.

---

“Master Gongsun, have you made your decision?” Li Ye asked with a smile.

“Yes, I will agree to your terms.” Gongsun Jie shut his eyes in anguish. As the words left his lips, he seemed to age a decade, his shoulders sagging as if his spirit had left him.

“Master Gongsun, you won’t regret this decision,” Li Ye said, clapping his hands with a laugh. “How about we schedule the next match for five days from now? That should give you enough time to assemble a proper team. After all, my team was thrown together in just ten days, and our players are far from the quality of Xuanguang Sect’s elite disciples, right?”

Elite disciples?

Gongsun Jie let out a bitter laugh. He still had no idea how to explain this to his sect. Once word got out, Xuanguang Sect’s reputation would be in ruins.

“Master Gongsun?” Li Ye reminded him, pulling him back from his thoughts.

“Five days it is,” Gongsun Jie croaked, his voice hoarse.

“You’ll also need a name for your team. How about Xuanguang Sect Club?” Li Ye suggested.

“Whatever you say, Master Li.” Gongsun Jie’s voice was absent-minded.

“Good. Then we’ll reconvene in five days.” Li Ye nodded, smiling. “For now, I’d like to ask Master Gongsun to wait a moment. I have some matters to discuss with you shortly.”

“Fine.” Gongsun Jie agreed absentmindedly, standing still with his thoughts elsewhere.

Leaving him be, Li Ye walked over to Zhong Wenhao and Zhu Zhirou, who were still tangled with Shi Xiang. Grabbing each by the collar, he yanked them aside and tossed them to the ground. “Take a break. I have something to deal with.”

The two of them froze, stunned, and exchanged helpless glances.

Both felt like throwing down their swords in frustration. They had been struggling to fight Shi Xiang, only to be effortlessly picked up by someone their own age. What was the point of continuing the fight?

This trip had completely shattered their confidence.

They even considered retiring from the martial world altogether.

---

“Ladies and gentlemen, I must apologize. Master Gongsun wasn’t prepared for this match, which made for a disappointing spectacle. Besides, a fair match should have even numbers; eleven against three lacks entertainment value.”

Standing in the center of the field, Li Ye projected his voice over the noisy crowd with his internal energy. “Master Gongsun and I have already agreed to a rematch in five days between the Fun Seekers Club and the Xuanguang Sect Club.”

“What about our tickets?” someone in the stands shouted.

“This mistake is on us. Those who want a refund can get one from the Fun Seekers Club. Those who don’t can use the same tickets to attend the match in five days,” Li Ye responded with a grin.

“What about our bets? Who wins this one?” another voice called out, clearly someone who had bet on Gongsun Jie.

“We at the Fun Seekers Club host legitimate soccer matches and don’t condone gambling. Take it up with whoever ran the betting,” Li Ye replied. “That said, given your enthusiasm, we’ll propose establishing an official soccer lottery with the Chu Kingdom authorities. With that, the results would be guaranteed by the organizers.

“For now, today’s match is over. Please cooperate with the Wolf Valley staff to exit in an orderly manner.”

The crowd erupted into chatter.

---

In the stands, Magistrate Wei Mingze frowned slightly, his gaze fixed on Li Ye, who had taken charge of the situation.

---

As the audience gradually dispersed, Li Ye gathered Gongsun Jie, Wei Mingze, and Weining City’s prominent merchants in Wolf Valley’s reception hall.

Standing behind Gongsun Jie, Cao Bin kept his head low, avoiding his master’s eyes.

Having witnessed Gongsun Jie’s humiliation firsthand, Cao Bin’s emotions were a mix of shame and complexity. Yet, upon hearing that Xuanguang Sect would form its own team, he felt a flicker of excitement.

---

“Master Gongsun, these are the basic rules of soccer,” Li Ye said, handing Gongsun Jie a handbook. “Take a look. There are specific fouls you need to be mindful of. For example, handball—touching the ball with your hands—will be penalized.”

Gongsun Jie froze, his mind flashing back to his earlier rigidity. His face paled.

Li Ye nodded knowingly. “Yes, exactly what you’re thinking. Mistakes in internal energy cultivation can lead to inner demons. Spiritual energy cultivation is different but has its own taboos. Violating them on the field will result in punishment.”

“Spiritual energy?”

The magistrate and others looked puzzled.

Gongsun Jie frowned. “So spiritual energy is real?”

“It always has been,” Li Ye replied with a smile. “If you don’t believe me, Master Gongsun, you can assemble a team here and now. Spiritual energy cultivation works best with a group of eleven.”

Seeing Li Ye’s conviction, Gongsun Jie was left speechless.

“Master, I’ve told you it’s real, but you wouldn’t listen.” Muttering under his breath, Cao Bin hurried off before Gongsun Jie could reply. “Master, wait here. I’ll go find people!”