Treating wealth like dirt

Si Shuo felt that Cloud Brocade City's feng shui might be at odds with him.

The smug glow of "my nephew is the greatest under heaven" from a few days earlier had barely warmed him before that declaration at the banquet-"this old man admits his inferiority"-smashed it to pieces.

Rumors raged outside, with every sort of opinion flying about. Some praised the young master for his sharp wit and pointed words, while others secretly called him harsh, ostentatious, and arrogant about his talents.

Listening to all that gossip, Third Master Si seethed, itching to drag those loose-tongued fellows out and "reason" with them one by one.

"He's just a child, pure and simple! He says whatever comes to mind. That's called a child's innocent heart! Do you understand?"

"Besides, what young person isn't hot-blooded? My nephew is a heaven-sent genius. What's wrong with him speaking a couple of truths?!"

For all that, he was a respectable man. In the end, he could only console himself with those words, with more than a hint of embarrassment turning into anger.

But on second thought, what peerless genius didn't have a few quirks? What was so bad about leaving people choking on his words? It was better than stirring up trouble! That thought eased his mind somewhat. After all, the people outside now looked at Si Chen with considerably more awe than before.

The news that he had reached Foundation Establishment at seven swept through Cloud Brocade City like a gust of wind, then blew all the way back to the Si Household.

The Lineage's response was actually far calmer than the outside world's.

Its core members had long since had their nerves tempered by one "surprise" after another. After all, they had already witnessed him soar to the Qi Refining Ninth Layer in a single two-hour period.

To them, taking a whole month to reach Foundation Establishment was already very much "following the proper steps," almost a mere formality. The messages they sent back offered praise, but mostly reminded Si Shuo that he must protect Si Chen, with safety above all.

Before long, a flying boat dispatched by the Lineage arrived in Cloud Brocade City, delivering tangible support: a storage ring with an enormous space inside.

Third Master Si probed it with his spiritual sense. Even with all his worldly experience, he couldn't help marveling.

The space inside was vast, filled with a dazzling array of cultivation resources, spirit stones, and magical artifacts piled into a small mountain. There were even several enchanted robes clearly intended for a child, combining protection with comfort.

"They're really... afraid of letting you suffer the slightest hardship." He handed the ring to Si Chen, his tone complicated. Has the Lineage practically emptied out a corner of its treasury? This boy is a walking treasure hoard now!

Si Chen nodded and said, "Thank you, Third Uncle." He took the ring and slipped it onto his finger. It automatically adjusted to fit him, cool and smooth against his skin.

During this time, he occasionally contacted his mother, Ye Fu, through a communication stone.

Despite the vast distance between them, Ye Fu's voice remained gentle. She fussed over whether he was eating well, sleeping well, or tiring himself out, reminding him not to quarrel with others lightly and to let his third uncle make the decisions when anything happened.

Si Chen always answered earnestly, "Mother, I'm doing very well. Everyone here is very polite and friendly."

There would often be a brief silence on the other end of the communication stone before Ye Fu replied with a smile in her voice, "That's good. That's good."

Listening beside him, Si Shuo's mouth kept twitching.

After one such conversation, Si Chen showed a rare trace of contemplation. He asked Si Shuo, "Third Uncle, why does Mother only ever ask whether I'm safe and happy? Why does she never ask about my cultivation progress, or the Great Dao, or immortality?"

Si Shuo had been drinking tea with his legs crossed. At that, he set down his cup and looked into his nephew's clear eyes, sighing inwardly.

"Silly boy, isn't it obvious? Because to your mother, you living happily and safely matters more than anything else. The Great Dao, immortality, roaming unrivaled across the universe-all of that can come later."

He reached out and vigorously ruffled Si Chen's hair, leaving the little fellow's smooth locks somewhat disheveled. "Your mother is just an ordinary mother. Mothers everywhere are probably like that."

Si Chen only half understood.

Safety, joy.

That feeling didn't seem bad at all.

In the days that followed, Si Chen continued to uphold and practice his "virtues."

When a female cultivator blushed and praised him for being as lovely as jade and snow, he would solemnly respond with "modesty": "You flatter me, elder sister. This junior is ugly, truly unfit to be seen."

The words left the young woman rooted to the spot, unsure whether to laugh or cry.

He would also study the other person's face carefully for a moment before solemnly praising their appearance. "You look very cute today, too."

Whether the recipient was male or female, old or young, the effect was equally astonishing. He always left them momentarily speechless, making the scene both awkward and funny.

Si Shuo often covered his forehead with his hand, feeling that his nephew was galloping so far ahead down the wrong road that there was no dragging him back.

Yet what truly made Third Master Si decide that they had to leave Cloud Brocade City immediately, this very instant, was something else-

It happened on a pleasantly sunny afternoon...

Accompanied by his third uncle, Si Chen was browsing the city's largest establishment, the Ten Thousand Treasures Tower, to broaden his horizons.

They reached a side hall on the first floor, where a small charity sale was being held. The proceeds would help mortal refugees whose homes had been destroyed by a tide of low-level demonic beasts.

In a grief-laden voice, the cultivator presiding over the event described the devastation: "Several mortal towns to the south suffered a disaster. Fields and homes were swept away, with many killed or injured." He called on the fellow cultivators present to open their purses generously and help the victims through their hardship.

Si Chen listened quietly.

He noticed that whenever someone donated money or goods, especially a large amount, the surrounding gazes filled with approval. The elderly cultivator presiding over the event would bow deeply and call the donor a "benefactor," his words overflowing with gratitude.

Little Si Chen keenly picked up on this.

"Third Uncle."

He tugged Si Shuo's sleeve and pointed over. "What are they doing?"

"Oh, that?" Si Shuo glanced over. "Doing good deeds. Helping some mortals, accumulating a little merit, and earning themselves a bit of a reputation."

"Doing good deeds... is that a virtue?" Si Chen pressed.

"Of course it is!"

Si Shuo affirmed, "Opening your purse generously, aiding those in peril and relieving those in need-that's a great virtue!"

He casually offered his nephew a lesson, hoping the boy would gain a little more human warmth.

"Opening your purse generously..." Si Chen repeated softly.

Besides "propriety" and "modesty," he felt as though he had unlocked another new "virtue."

"Generosity," then? he thought.

And so, before Si Shuo could react, Si Chen had already walked up to the elderly cultivator presiding over the event.

Looking up at him, Si Chen began taking spirit stones out of the storage ring with its astonishing capacity. He didn't understand high grade or low grade; he simply selected some roughly the same size and appearance as those the others had produced.

Not a few, nor a few dozen. They poured out in a rush, soon forming a small mountain enough to make every rogue cultivator present flush with envy and feel their heart race. At a rough glance, there were no fewer than five thousand spirit stones.

The elderly cultivator stared, his voice trembling. "Y-young master... this, this is far too much..."

Si Chen looked at him, recalling the rule he had learned earlier...

When giving an expensive gift, one needed to belittle its value.

Imitating Patriarch Wang's tone, his little face solemn, he tried hard to make his words sound sufficiently "modest." "A trifling gift, insufficient to express my respect. It's truly too paltry to offer. Please don't disdain it."

"..."

The elderly cultivator looked at the mountain of spirit stones, then heard the words "too paltry to offer." His expression froze completely.

Only after a while did he come to his senses and begin bowing repeatedly. "A benefactor! A great benefactor! On behalf of those unfortunate souls, this old man thanks the young master for his heaven-sent grace!"

The crowd first fell silent, then erupted in waves of praise.

"The young master is truly noble!"

"What a kind and benevolent heart!"

"To have such generosity of spirit at his age..."

Watching from the side, Third Master Si initially felt quite gratified.

Good, good. His words still have that odd flavor, but this is a good thing after all. Spending a little money to accumulate some merit for the child is worth it.

What he never could have imagined was that this was only the beginning.

Once the story of his "generous distribution of wealth at the Ten Thousand Treasures Tower" spread, word that "the Si Household's young master treats spirit stones like dirt," that he "has compassion for all living things," and that his "benevolence is unmatched" traveled everywhere without needing legs.

For Si Chen had become utterly captivated by the feeling of practicing the virtue of "generosity."

Over the next few days, whenever anything in Cloud Brocade City involved "charity," "assistance," or "relief," the Si Household's young master's small figure, draped in a snow-white cloak, could always be seen.

One day, a bridge in the west of the city collapsed and needed repairs. He hurried over and left several spirit stones, reciting, "A small token of goodwill, too paltry to offer."

The next day, hearing that a rogue cultivator was badly injured and couldn't afford treatment, he quietly appeared again and left spirit stones, still saying, "A trifling gift, insufficient to express my respect."

He had no idea what enormous sums the spirit stones he gave away represented to ordinary people. He simply felt that the returns from "generosity" far exceeded those from "propriety" and "modesty."

Si Chen was utterly hooked on this highly efficient "virtue."

Whenever he encountered someone who met his criteria for "needing help," he would carry out the act of "opening his purse generously" without hesitation.

Within just a few days, Cloud Brocade City's beggars and some quick-witted rogue cultivators had all but turned Si Chen's usual route into a new pilgrimage site. Wherever he went, a string of expectant "tails" followed behind him.

They clamored over one another to recount their "tragic experiences."

"Young master, my medicinal herbs won't sell. Please help me..."

"Benefactor, please save my master. His old injuries have flared up, and he's only missing one medicinal herb..."

"This old man's flying artifact is broken. I have no money to repair it, and I can't get home..."

When Third Master Si discovered this, he nearly fainted.

His precious nephew had transformed into a "wealth-scattering boy," calmly pulling spirit stones from his ring as though he were feeding koi in a pond!

"Oh, my little ancestor!"

Si Shuo lunged forward and scooped up Si Chen, who was still diligently engaged in "virtue output."

No longer caring about appearances, he roared at the people crowding around, "Move along, all of you! Keep hanging around and don't blame me for getting rough!"

He finally understood: they truly couldn't stay in Cloud Brocade City anymore! If they stayed any longer, never mind that richly stocked storage ring-even Third Master Si's underpants would probably be given away by this foolish boy as a "trifling gift"!

Tucked beneath his third uncle's arm, Si Chen's little face remained calmly bewildered.

He didn't quite understand why his third uncle had reacted so strongly when he had strictly observed the virtue of "opening his purse generously."

That very afternoon, word came from the Si Household's courtyard residence that Third Master Si and the young master had urgent business and needed to leave Cloud Brocade City immediately.

The Mystic Boat shot into the sky and quickly vanished into the clouds.

Yet the tales of the Si Household's young master, his "compassion for all living things" and his "love of charity," had already taken deep root in Cloud Brocade City. For a long time to come, they would remain a favorite topic among the local rogue cultivators-and a beautiful dream that could only be encountered by chance, never sought.