Chapter 5: Courteous and Benevolent

"Have you heard? The young master of the Si Clan broke straight through to Qi Refining, Third Layer on his very first Closed-Door Cultivation session."

"Three breakthroughs in a single day? Tsk — the Si Clan has produced another prodigy."

Word spread quickly. Some marveled, some seethed with envy, and others remained noncommittal. Those who believed praised it as "a tiger father has no dog son," while skeptics dismissed it as the Si Clan building hype for the next generation.

Three breakthroughs in one day? Perhaps. Ancient noble families had deep reserves — they could pile resources high enough to manufacture a genius. As for how much truth lay behind the rumor, outsiders had no way of knowing.

And that was precisely as the Si Clan had hoped. The whole affair caused barely a ripple, for in the end, it was just a child at the Qi Refining Stage — no matter how gifted, the road ahead was still long.

The Si Clan was more than happy with this outcome. A vague, murky rumor was the best camouflage of all.

* * *

The clan's Blessed Land was beautiful, to be sure — rich with Spiritual Energy and scenic beyond measure — but after a while, it began to feel faintly like a gilded birdcage: lovely, yet lacking in wildness and the unknown.

Si Chen had set his Cultivation aside for the time being. To him, the so-called Foundation Establishment bottleneck was as thin as a sheet of paper — one poke and it would tear right through.

He had pored over ancient texts and learned that an ordinary "genius" typically required about a month to achieve Foundation Establishment. He decided to follow that unhurried timetable.

What he truly craved now was to venture beyond the Blessed Land and see for himself the wider, more real Cultivation World that the ancient texts described and the clan's elders spoke of.

"Mother, I want to go out and see the world."

Si Chen tugged at his mother Ye Fu's sleeve, tilting his head up to make his request, and offered a perfectly reasonable justification: "The books say that reading ten thousand volumes is no match for traveling ten thousand miles."

Ye Fu and Si Kai exchanged a glance, each finding the same worry and helplessness mirrored in the other's eyes.

A child could not be kept caged forever — especially not this son of theirs, whose mind worked so differently from everyone else's. Refusing him might only invite greater trouble. After repeatedly confirming the security arrangements, they finally nodded their consent.

And so, Third Uncle Si Shuo — Si Chen's "personal bodyguard" — was once again called gloriously to duty.

He heaved a resigned sigh and muttered under his breath: "Kid, when we're out there, please give your Third Uncle a little peace of mind."

* * *

This was the young master of the Si Clan's first formal outing, so naturally the procession had to be fitting.

On the day of departure, a Mystic Vessel crafted entirely from Azure Mystic Wood hovered silently in the plaza before the Si estate.

The vessel carried itself with quiet dignity, making no show of ostentation, yet it was far more comfortable and distinguished than any Flying Sword or fierce beast mount — befitting the status of the Si Clan as a first-rate noble family.

Si Chen wore a snow-white fur-trimmed cape that made his small face look all the more exquisitely jade-like. His eyes, however, held none of the innocent blankness of an ordinary child — they were crystal clear to the bottom, yet somehow bottomless at the same time.

Third Uncle Si Shuo carefully lifted him aboard the Mystic Vessel and settled him onto a seat padded with soft beast hide.

The vessel rose slowly into the sky, passing through the clan's Blessed Land barrier, and the view ahead opened up magnificently.

Below stretched the sprawling Si estate, its pavilions and towers half-veiled in Spiritual Mist, while ahead lay an endless sea of clouds and magnificent mountains and rivers.

Si Chen watched in quiet stillness. The sight was nowhere near as vast as the event horizon of a star, yet it carried something he had never experienced before — a warmth, a sense of the mortal and the living.

Along the way, every Cultivator they encountered — whether a lone traveler riding a Flying Sword or a group aboard some other flying Artifact — would spot the Si Clan's insignia and promptly give way from a distance, or offer a respectful bow across the air.

The Mystic Vessel did not fly for long. Their destination was the nearest bustling hub to the Si Clan — Yunjin City.

* * *

Yunjin City was jointly governed by several major Cultivation clans. Its walls rose high, covered in flowing runes that faintly formed a City-Protecting Formation. The Mystic Vessel descended slowly at a dedicated mooring dock, and before it had even come to a full stop, several richly dressed, distinguished-looking individuals had already stepped forward to greet them.

"Third Master Si, welcome! Forgive us for not coming sooner!" The middle-aged man at the front wore a warm smile, though his gaze swept discreetly over the child sheltered at Si Shuo's side.

"This must be the young master of the Si Clan — truly a dragon among men, with an extraordinary bearing!"

"Upon learning that the young master wished to visit Yunjin City, our Clan Head has already prepared a modest banquet. We do hope Third Master and the young master will honor us with your presence..."

Third Uncle Si Shuo clearly commanded great respect here. He waved a casual hand. "We appreciate your kind intentions, but my nephew is venturing out for the first time today — just getting his bearings and seeing a bit of the world. No need to make a fuss."

He scooped Si Chen up with one arm and strode into the city. The welcoming party looked mildly disappointed, but none dared say another word. They respectfully stepped aside, offering a chorus of "Please, go right ahead."

Si Chen observed everything around him with keen curiosity.

Wherever they went, people who had been wearing any number of expressions would, upon noticing them, almost instantly switch to a near-identical look — respectful, courteous, and smiling.

All along the way, whether it was street vendors, patrolling guards, or even a few Cultivators whose auras seemed quite formidable — all of them were the same.

Si Chen glanced up at his Third Uncle, whose expression remained calm and utterly unsurprised by any of it, then looked back at those "friendly" people. Something stirred in his mind.

So this was how humans in this world behaved — all of them so courteous and well-mannered.

He solemnly filed this observation into the "human behavioral template" he was constructing.

And so, when a shop owner enthusiastically began introducing his wares, Si Chen recalled all the "friendly" smiles and "polite" gestures he had witnessed along the way. In a voice still carrying the soft lilt of a young child, he clasped his hands together with complete seriousness and replied: "Many thanks, shopkeeper. I shall look around a little more."

The shopkeeper was clearly flattered beyond expectation. He bowed deeply at once. "Young master, you are far too kind — please, take your time, take your time!"

The contrast between Si Chen's exquisite appearance and his earnest imitation of adult etiquette created a peculiar charm. Several female Cultivators watching from a distance couldn't help but cover their mouths and laugh softly, finding this little young master — despite his noble birth — unexpectedly... adorable.

Si Chen interpreted this as positive feedback for following the "politeness" template, and proceeded to apply it with even greater precision.

Third Uncle Si Shuo stood to the side, the corner of his mouth twitching, half amused and half exasperated.

This kid picked things up fast. He was certainly glad his nephew was making a good impression — as long as he didn't suddenly pull off another jaw-dropping stunt like "Spiritual Energy walking on its own."

Just then, a commotion broke out at the street corner ahead, shattering the harmony of the main thoroughfare.

"Are you blind?! How dare you get in my way?"

A young Cultivator in fine clothes, wearing an expression of arrogant contempt, was berating a plainly dressed man. From the look of things, the man had failed to dodge in time and nearly bumped into him.

The man bowed repeatedly in apology. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry — I wasn't paying attention..."

"Sorry is all you've got? You nearly dirtied my robe — do you think you can afford to pay for that?" The young Cultivator showed no sign of letting up, and his entourage closed in around the man, their manner menacing.

The surrounding crowd instinctively drew back in a wide circle. No one dared step in.

Si Chen stopped walking. For the first time, a clear look of puzzlement crossed his bright eyes. He looked at the young Cultivator, then turned back to glance at the "polite and friendly" street they had just come from.

He tugged at Si Shuo's sleeve and pointed. "Third Uncle, why are they not being courteous?"

Courteous?

Si Shuo blinked, then immediately recalled all the deferential smiles and bowing they had received along the way. His heart gave a sudden lurch.

This kid — surely he hadn't mistaken everyone's fear and deference born of power for genuine, heartfelt politeness?

He looked down at his nephew's clear, guileless eyes. The explanation he had been about to give died on his lips. Instead, a somewhat helpless thought rose in his mind — forget it, even if he explained it now, the boy probably wouldn't understand.

Being a little naive... was rather endearing, actually.

He glanced over at the confrontation, let out an indifferent snort, and said: "Most likely someone who's used to throwing their weight around because their family has a bit of influence. That sort exists everywhere — just ignore it."

"If you have influence, does that mean you don't have to be courteous?" Si Chen was even more puzzled. In his understanding, once a rule was established, it should apply universally.

Without waiting for Si Shuo to answer, Si Chen had already set off on his short little legs toward the scene of the conflict.

Si Shuo's brow furrowed. His instinct was to release a thread of his aura and send that oblivious young fool packing immediately.

But just as he was about to act, his gaze fell on Si Chen's small retreating figure, and he suddenly found himself curious — what exactly was this little one, with his so-different way of thinking, planning to do?

He raised his hand and made a subtle, nearly invisible gesture to the shadow guards behind him, signaling them to hold steady, then quickened his pace to follow.

The young Cultivator was in the middle of his tirade when he felt something tug at the hem of his robe. He looked down to find a small child — delicately carved, draped in a snow-white cape — gazing up at him with clear, steady eyes. Then, in an utterly earnest tone, in a soft childlike voice, the child said:

"Please. Be courteous."

The young Cultivator froze for a moment, then his temper flared hotter. "Where did this little brat come from, sticking his nose into—"

The words died in his throat. He had caught a glimpse of the embroidered lining beneath Si Chen's cape, and behind the boy, the figure of Si Shuo — arms folded, expression neutral, yet radiating an effortless pressure.

The arrogance on his face froze solid in an instant, then melted away just as quickly, replaced by the exact same "courteous" smile worn by everyone else on the street.

"Oh — oh, it's Third Master Si! And this must be... the young master? I was blind for a moment — my deepest apologies, my deepest apologies!"

With that, he didn't dare linger a moment longer. He shot a vicious glare at the Rogue Cultivator, then slunk away through the crowd.

A conflict that had been building to something unpleasant dissolved, inexplicably, into nothing.

The rescued Rogue Cultivator stood dazed for a moment before coming to his senses. He hurriedly bowed to Si Chen, saying gratefully: "Th-thank you, young master, for stepping in!"

Si Chen looked at him, replaying in his mind the young man's sudden transformation and the way the crowd's expressions had returned to "friendly." He felt that things had been restored to their proper order, and that he had gained one more "successful experience."

Mimicking the shopkeeper from earlier, he clasped his hands in a proper bow, his small face solemn, and said:

"Think nothing of it. Please, in the future — you must also be courteous."

The Rogue Cultivator: "....???"

His face was a picture of complete bewilderment. He had absolutely no idea what logic lay behind those words, but he nodded frantically all the same. "Yes, yes, of course — I will absolutely be courteous, absolutely!"

Si Chen gave a satisfied nod and turned back to walk to his Third Uncle's side.

Si Shuo watched the whole sequence of events and nearly failed to hold back his laughter. He ruffled Si Chen's hair, his tone carrying a note of teasing: "Not bad, kid. You're already settling things with reason and persuasion."

Si Chen felt the pressure on his head and sorted through everything he had just witnessed.

Humans, for the most part, were friendly and courteous.

But occasionally, outliers appeared — though after a gentle reminder, they would promptly correct themselves...

This discovery added one more measure of confidence to his already complex undertaking of "learning to be human."

And in Yunjin City, a quiet reputation had already begun to spread — that the young master of the Si Clan was courteous, benevolent, and well-mannered.

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Edited by Fat Goose