The System Teaches You How to Be Human

Si Yisi walked along the winding path toward his residence. The original owner was currently the most prominent candidate for the next sect master. Because of that, the sect held him in high regard. Consequently, after his recent promotion, a pile of sect affairs had already accumulated in his residence, awaiting his attention.

What he didn’t expect was to run into quite the drama right at his doorstep.

Si Yisi glanced askance at his junior brother, Sheng Qinghe, who stood there self-righteously, exuding an air of indignant righteousness.

Sheng Qinghe was the personal disciple of one of the sect’s elders and also had familial ties to another elder. Bold in his actions, he had a reputation for casually framing fellow disciples. This wasn’t the first or second time he had done so.

The only impression the original owner had of him was… troublemaker.

“What do you think?”

Si Yisi chuckled, a trace of menace hidden beneath his charming demeanor. It was as if he possessed two faces; one tender and affectionate, the other brimming with killing intent.

The white crane embroidered on his sleeve seemed to take flight, a touch of crimson on its beak flickering briefly before the onlookers’ eyes.

Sheng Qinghe flinched slightly but then steeled himself, his gaze turning vicious as he spoke with misplaced confidence, “In my opinion, the one who killed Junior Brother Weijin is most likely you!”

The disciples erupted into an uproar. No one could fathom where Sheng Qinghe had mustered the audacity to confront Senior Brother Mobai like this.

Some disciples, thinking themselves perceptive, darkened their gazes. They thought to themselves; If Senior Brother Qinghe was so certain, then Senior Brother Mobai might really have committed the deed!

Mobai, oh Mobai, how could you be so reckless!

Si Yisi took in the varied reactions of the disciples, a faint trace of disdain appearing in his expression. He already understood why Si Mobai had ended up in such dire straits. It was no wonder; with his overly gentle nature, he had let these people treat him like dough, molding him however they pleased.

Seeing the subtle approval in some disciples’ eyes, Sheng Qinghe grew even more convinced of his own words.

He pushed further, “You should voluntarily enter the Blade Prison. Only after your innocence is proven should you be allowed to leave!”

Blade Prison?

In Jinghua Sect, any prison bearing the character “prison” was a place that could skin a person alive.

Sheng Qinghe sure dared to dream!

Si Yisi, however, didn’t seem angry. Instead, he spoke slowly and deliberately.

“Jinghua Sect Rule Number Three; Disciples of the Jinghua Sect must cultivate themselves and uphold discipline, showing respect for their elders and teachers.”

After reciting this, he fixed Sheng Qinghe with a piercing gaze.

Sheng Qinghe felt a chill run down his spine under Si Yisi’s stare. “You…”

“You should address me as ‘Senior Brother,’ not ‘you.’” Si Yisi’s hand gathered spiritual energy. “According to sect rules, I have the authority to discipline you on behalf of Elder Mingbai.”

“You—!”

The gathered spiritual energy took the form of a blade, its edge blunted. With a swift motion, he struck Sheng Qinghe’s face hard with the back of the blade.

Smack!

Sheng Qinghe’s face was forcibly turned to the side, a vivid red mark blooming on his cheek!

Sheng Qinghe clutched the side of his face, the spot burning hot from the strike. He stared at Si Yisi in utter disbelief, never expecting him to completely disregard the name of the elder.

Is he insane?

The disciples gathered around them, and to Sheng Qinghe’s fury, quite a few of them actually cheered. He burned with anger and roared,

“Are you defying the elder’s authority?!”

Hearing this, many began to worry for Si Yisi. In a sect as vast as this, there were all sorts of people, and large sects weren’t short on underhanded dealings. It didn’t matter that Senior Brother Si Mobai wasn’t the sect master yet; even if he did ascend to that position, there would still be people looking to make his life difficult from every angle.

They spoke so highly of cultivating immortality, but any clear-headed person knew just how much filth was mixed into their so-called immortal cultivation.

Sigh, was Senior Brother Si Mobai fed gunpowder? Why is he so fiery today?

Though… there is something undeniably captivating about it.

Si Yisi remained utterly unfazed, pressing on relentlessly. “The face of a junior brother cannot represent the face of Elder Mingbai. You have overstepped.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Sheng Qinghe felt another wave of spiritual energy being drawn away by Si Yisi.

He stared at Si Yisi, fear and venomous resentment written all over his face, a thoroughly ridiculous expression.

Si Yisi’s punishment landed squarely on Sheng Qinghe’s face each time, without the slightest deviation. The new red marks overlapped perfectly with the previous ones, making Sheng Qinghe howl in pain.

But Sheng Qinghe’s body was immobilized by Si Yisi’s spiritual energy, leaving him helpless as Si Yisi methodically picked apart his ‘mistakes’ one by one.

The watching disciples couldn’t help but feel as if their own faces were stinging.

Si Yisi noticed a disciple quietly slipping away, likely to summon reinforcements. However, he despised drawn-out trouble; sweeping everyone up at once was far more efficient.

Go ahead, hurry back.

He felt oddly pleased at the thought, his gaze at the sneaky disciple akin to that of a butcher eyeing a lamb ready for slaughter.

***

By the time Si Yisi had disciplined Sheng Qinghe’s face with thirteen strikes, a soft female voice suddenly interjected.

“Stop!”

Si Yisi halted, casting a glance at Sheng Qinghe, whose face had swollen like a pig’s head. He withdrew the spiritual energy that had been binding him and slightly bowed in the direction of the voice.

“Elder Mingbai.”

Elder Mingbai’s persona was well-known; delicate and protective, the typical fragile and sheltered white lotus type.

Her title was Mingbai, but Si Yisi could tell with just one look that clarity was far from her strong suit. She was also clearly a handful to deal with.

(T/N: Mingbai = meaning ‘clear’.)

Elder Mingbai, Li Yunzhu, glanced at the corpse that was bleeding from all seven orifices, her delicate brows furrowing. Unable to stand the sight of blood, she turned her face away.

Her soft and gentle demeanor was captivating, yet the words she spoke were blatantly partial. “Mobai, Qinghe hasn’t committed any serious mistake. Why be so harsh on him?”

“Consider his age; he’s only a little over 120.”

One disciple rolled their eyes. A little over 120 was still considered a child? Elder Mingbai was as muddled as ever.

Si Yisi knew he couldn’t openly fall out with these elders just yet.

Earlier, he had punished Sheng Qinghe under the pretense of disrespecting his elders. If he now acted out of line himself, wouldn’t he be giving others the opportunity to accuse him of hypocrisy?

So, he offered a faint smile, his manners impeccable, leaving no room for criticism. If one disregarded their ages, he and Elder Mingbai standing side by side made for an oddly harmonious sight; both equally pleasing to the eye.

“How could Elder say such a thing?”

“Junior Brother Qinghe’s actions were clearly leading toward trouble!” His tone began as gentle as a breeze but ended with a hint of his thunderous disposition.

The final note of his words landed like a hammer, and his gaze shed its usual ethereal charm, becoming sharp as a blade.

“This…” Elder Mingbai was momentarily stunned.

Sheng Qinghe opened his mouth to argue.

But Si Yisi ignored them both, gathering spiritual energy once again and striking fiercely at the mangled corpse of Zhao Weijin lying on the ground!

Zhao Weijin’s body tore apart under the force of the spiritual energy, producing a sound that sent chills down everyone’s spine. The demonic energy lingering in his seven orifices scattered like frightened animals.

The disciples let out startled screams!

Elder Mingbai didn’t have time to intervene and was forced to witness the gruesome scene of Zhao Weijin’s corpse being ripped into pieces by spiritual energy. Her face turned pale with horror.

Si Yisi, however, wore a faint, almost Asura-like smile and said, “Please, take a look.”