C4 The Young Master with a Tough Life.

Lu Shaoyou observed the 10-centimeter-long, pale yellow snake with its round eyes fixated on him. Its tongue flickered in and out before it seemed to disregard him and settled comfortably around his arm, almost as if it had fallen asleep.

He examined the snake more closely, noting its body was encased in dense, shimmering scales. It appeared to be different from the average snake; it wasn't just any ordinary reptile.

"Brother Beast, you saved my life, so I'm guessing you want me to look after this little one for you. I owe you that much. Rest assured, I'll take good care of this snake," Lu Shaoyou pledged. He owed his life to the bat-like demonic beast that had given him two Demonic Pills, without which he might have perished in the icy waters of the pool.

After changing his clothes and delivering the soiled ones to his mother, Lu Shaoyou returned to his room. As the young master of the Lu family, his only privilege over the servants was his solitary residence in a dilapidated courtyard; he didn't have to share a room with several others.

That night, he succumbed to a deep, overdue sleep. He dreamt of several beauties, so vividly that he nearly had a nosebleed.

"Young Master Lu, time to wake up."

Lu Shaoyou was roused from his pleasant dreams by a familiar voice.

"Lu Xiaobai, let me dream a little longer," he mumbled, recognizing the voice of Lu Xiaobai, a servant of the Lu family with whom he shared a close bond.

Opening his eyes, he saw a sixteen or seventeen-year-old boy standing before him. The young servant's attire was similar to his own, but his features were peculiar, giving him a clever appearance.

"Young Master Lu, where have you been these past few days? Are you okay?" Lu Xiaobai inquired softly, concern etched on his face. "I heard Housekeeper Zhao and the others roughed you up, and then you vanished. Did something happen? They didn't hurt you, did they?"

Lu Shaoyou could see Lu Xiaobai's genuine concern. "I'm fine. I'll deal with them when the time comes," he responded.

"Young Master Lu, are you delirious with fever? I'm glad you're alright. But going after them for revenge? Are you looking for trouble?" Lu Xiaobai gave him a worried glance.

Suddenly, Lu Shaoyou recalled that in his past life, 'young master' was a euphemism for a male escort. He quickly corrected Lu Xiaobai, "Please, don't call me Young Master anymore."

"What should I call you then? In the entire Lu family, only Uncle Nan and I address you as Young Master. Come on, eat up; I've brought you breakfast," Lu Xiaobai said, handing over the food with a stern look.

"You can call me 'Your Highness,'" Lu Shaoyou suggested, touched by Lu Xiaobai's loyalty.

"Fine, eat quickly. We've got work to do, or else Housekeeper Zhao will be on our case again," Lu Xiaobai urged.

"What needs moving?" Lu Shaoyou asked, puzzled.

"Don't you have chores to do? A big shipment came in today; we need to transfer it to the warehouse," Lu Xiaobai explained.

"I was never truly a young master," Lu Shaoyou muttered to himself, reflecting on his hard lot in life.

"Let's head out," Lu Xiaobai urged Lu Shaoyou.

They left the courtyard and made their way to the Lu family's back door, where the family's goods were stored.

Shaoyou was aware that his mother would likely be in the backyard laundry room at this time. Having given birth to him, she should have been the Second Madame of the Lu family by all accounts. Yet, she held no official status and continued to toil as a maid, enduring even harder and more laborious tasks.

Shaoyou realized he couldn't change the situation just yet. He steeled himself, vowing to alter his circumstances as quickly as possible. He needed to become a Martial Artist or a Spiritual Cultivator to do so.

In the Lu family, even a servant who became a Martial Disciple could see an immediate rise in status. Spiritual Cultivators were exceedingly rare; the entire Lu family boasted only two or three, each one treasured immensely.

"Hurry, there's Housekeeper Zhao," Lu Xiaobai whispered after they navigated several corridors. Near the back door stood three figures: two dressed as servants and one, in the center, as a chief.

Shaoyou scrutinized the trio, recalling that these were the ones who had mistakenly killed the original Shaoyou and disposed of his body off a cliff. While they often tormented him, they wouldn't dare kill him outright – he still carried the Lu family's blood in his veins.

The two in servant attire were high-ranking servants, typically attending to the First Madame. The chief, with his somber eyes, appeared to be in his mid-thirties. All three were brought to the Lu household by the First Madame from her family.

A cold resolve settled in Shaoyou's heart as he observed them. These three were a bane to his existence, having frequently bullied both him and his mother. Yet, removing them wouldn't be easy; the two high-ranking servants were skilled Martial Disciples, and Chief Zhao was a formidable Martial Warrior, a match for ten strong men.

Lu Xiaobai quickly ushered Shaoyou out the back, where an open area nearby was piled high with thousands of heavy-looking bags.

Chief Zhao and the two high-ranking servants gaped at Shaoyou, their surprise evident as they exchanged uneasy glances, their complexions turning ashen.

"Chief Zhao," the thirty-something servant exclaimed, taken aback.

"It's nothing to fuss over. We probably just got flustered and saw things wrong. He's lucky, surviving a fall off a cliff. It's better that he's alive. The Master has been making inquiries these last few days, so let's leave him be for now. Let him enjoy a few days of ease," Chief Zhao murmured to his companions.

"Why isn't Chief Zhao causing us trouble today?" Lu Xiaobai mused to Shaoyou, hoisting a bag of goods. He seemed puzzled; Chief Zhao usually seized every opportunity to hassle them.

Nearby, dozens of servants worked together, moving the goods. They glanced at Shaoyou but quickly looked away, treating him as if he were invisible. Acknowledging him would only provoke Chief Zhao's ire.

"We just got lucky," said Lu Shaoyou. He figured the trio must have been frightened at the sight of him.