C13 You Really Are a Loser

At that moment, all eyes were fixed on the tree. They were clueless about the identity of the person perched above. Lu Wushuang, at the forefront of the group of young girls, gazed up in astonishment. As far as she knew, there was nobody like that among the Lu family's younger generation.

"Excuse me for interrupting your enjoyment so abruptly, please accept my apologies," Lu Shaoyou said with a wry smile from his perch. He hadn't anticipated his accidental reveal. Resigned to his fate, he clung to the trunk and shimmied down the tree, looking utterly disheveled.

Lu Shaoyou had hoped to leap from the tree with grace, but revealing his Martial Artist status was not an option yet. He had to feign disarray. The young men and women present were all practitioners. Lu Shaoyou was aware that among the Lu family's youth, many were exceptionally gifted. Though merely sixteen or seventeen, they had been nurtured by the family from a tender age. A good number had already attained the Warrior Level. Lu Wushuang was particularly notable; despite not being of Lu blood, her uncle had showered her with affection since childhood, and her talent was remarkable. At just nineteen, she had already achieved the level of Martial Master. She was recognized as a prodigious talent within the Lu family.

Aware of the scrutinizing eyes of these practitioners, Lu Shaoyou knew he had to be cautious. Any display of his Spirit would immediately betray him as a Martial Artist, which would not bode well for him.

"Lu Shaoyou, what brings you here? Do you even have the right?" Lu Shaohu's face fell when he saw it was Lu Shaoyou. Disdain and irritation flickered in his eyes—Lu Shaoyou had just upstaged him.

"Shaoyou, what are you doing here?" Lu Wushuang was equally taken aback to see him. She quickly composed herself and approached him.

"Wushuang, I spotted a bird in the tree and went to have a look. I didn't expect to run into all of you," Lu Shaoyou explained, a bit sheepishly. In the crowd, Lu Wushuang was the only one he truly acknowledged.

Lu Shaoyou then surveyed the gathered crowd without betraying his emotions. His sudden appearance had clearly taken the Lu family by surprise. Lu Mei, who had previously looked at him with adoring eyes, now wore a stern expression.

For Lu Shaoyou, these reactions were inconsequential. His ties to the Lu family were something he preferred to minimize. Once he had the means, he planned to take his mother and leave. The Lu family held no place in his heart.

"What a joke! It's winter—how could there possibly be a bird in the tree?" Zhou Haiming, who had little regard for Lu Shaoyou, was visibly annoyed at being upstaged. Had Miss Dugu and her entourage not been present, he might have resorted to violence.

"The bird was indeed there, but it seems to have been frightened off by your poetry," Lu Shaoyou retorted with a hint of sarcasm.

At his words, laughter rippled quietly through the crowd, with even Lu Wushuang joining in. She regarded Lu Shaoyou with a puzzled expression, sensing something different about him today.

"Forgive me for the intrusion; I'll take my leave now," Lu Shaoyou said, dismissing Zhou Haiming with a final apology to the servant girl. He flicked his tattered sleeves, a subtle sneer directed at Zhou Haiming, and strode away with his head held high.

At that moment, the maid's gaze was fixed on Lu Shaoyou, her expression drifting into a vague daze.

"Who is he?" she murmured, watching Lu Shaoyou's retreating figure.

"He's nothing but a servant. He can't cultivate, so he's worthless," Lu Shaohu blurted out dismissively.

"Shaohu, how can you speak of your brother like that? Shaoyou is your brother," Lu Wushuang chided upon hearing Lu Shaohu's harsh words, her brow furrowing in disapproval. She then turned to the maid with a reassuring smile. "He's my third uncle's son, named Lu Shaoyou. He's become what he is due to certain special circumstances. Let's keep enjoying our walk in the garden."

Lu Shaohu, hearing the reprimand from Lu Wushuang, could only let out a resigned snort. Despite not being a blood relative of the Lu family, Lu Wushuang held a position of great esteem, even the family patriarch held her in deep affection. Lu Shaohu wouldn't dare cross her.

"Lu Shaoyou," the maid whispered to herself, her eyes lingering in the direction where he had vanished.

Lu Shaoyou made his way from the back garden to his own courtyard, where he encountered an elated Lu Xiaobai.

"Young Master, I've seen Miss Dugu. She's truly stunning, nearly as much so as Miss Wushuang," Lu Xiaobai gushed to Lu Shaoyou.

"Average at best," Lu Shaoyou replied with a slight smile. Miss Dugu may have been attractive, but she lacked Lu Wushuang's distinctive grace.

"Have you seen her? I think she's quite impressive," Lu Xiaobai chuckled, then sighed, "It's a shame, a lady of her standing wouldn't spare me a glance. I fancy Cui from the front yard, but as a lowly servant, she pays me no mind. If only I were in a position like Young Master Lu, serving you, then perhaps Cui would notice me."

"You really lack ambition," Lu Shaoyou chided, giving Lu Xiaobai a sharp look before his eyes sparked with resolve. "Stick with me, and I'll ensure you have a good life, even find you a wealthy bride."

"Really, Young Master?" Lu Xiaobai's voice trembled with excitement.

"Absolutely," Lu Shaoyou affirmed with conviction.

"If that day ever comes, I'll do anything you ask," Lu Xiaobai said, his voice tinged with resignation. Lu Shaoyou was in dire straits himself, a low-level servant sold to the Lu family as a child, with little prospect for the future.

Lu Shaoyou simply smiled, observing Lu Xiaobai thoughtfully. He had no one to depend on here, but Lu Xiaobai was clever and could prove to be a valuable ally if nurtured properly. Besides, Lu Xiaobai was fiercely loyal to him.

Little did Lu Xiaobai know that his destiny was about to shift dramatically. In a few years' time, his name would be known across the Spirit Martial Continent as one of Lu Shaoyou's most trusted confidants.

The events in the back garden were but a brief episode. As night fell, Lu Shaoyou stealthily made his way to the secret chamber in the woodshed, where Uncle Nan, the old servant, was already waiting.

In the nights that followed, Lu Shaoyou dedicated himself to learning the art of pill refining, weapon forging, and herb cultivation under Uncle Nan's tutelage. Yet, his education was purely theoretical; he had yet to engage in any hands-on practice.

Lu Shaoyou had come to fully grasp the distinction between Spiritual Cultivators and Martial Artists. Martial Artists focused on cultivating the body's internal strength, including muscles, bones, organs, and the flow of vital energy stored within the Dantian Sea of Qi. As this energy, known as Spirit, became abundant, it would lead to breakthroughs and ascension through the ranks.

Spiritual Cultivators, unlike their counterparts, do not focus on physical training; instead, they concentrate on honing their spirit energy. Lu Shaoyou understands that this so-called spirit energy is essentially the power of the soul, or mental energy, which they use to combat adversaries with formidable force.

The prerequisites for becoming a Spiritual Cultivator are exceptionally stringent. To start, a cultivator's spiritual energy must be at least twice as strong as that of an average person. This requirement alone has deterred countless individuals, as it seems an insurmountable feat.

The rarity of Spiritual Cultivators, combined with their unique abilities, has elevated their status to a level above that of Martial Artists.