Chapter 3: The Eldest Brother's Shadow Warms and Protects Me

Hearing the voice, Lu Xiao quickly rose and stepped out of the room. Standing outside were none other than his eldest brother, Lu Zheng, and his attendant, Er Niu.

“Brother, why have you come? If the old madam finds out you came to see me, she’ll probably be displeased again.”

Lu Zheng smiled but offered no further explanation. However, seeing the half-eaten dry biscuit inside, his brow furrowed slightly.

“The academy is on break, so I came back to rest for a while. Come on, brother will take you out for something better to eat. At your age, eating these meager biscuits every day won’t give you enough strength.”

Having said that, Lu Zheng took Lu Xiao by the hand and led him outside. Within the Lu family’s marquis residence, only this eldest brother still cared for his younger sibling. Without his care, even if Lu Xiao hadn’t gotten into trouble, life in the marquis’s household over the years would have been difficult.

In a private room at Yunxiang Pavilion, Lu Zheng ordered several exquisite dishes. Er Niu was also called over, and the three of them ate together.

“No matter what, the situation has at least taken a turn for the better. The old madam has relented, and now you must focus on cultivation and pass the Martial Sect Academy’s test. The elders in the residence don’t often speak kindly, but they hope you succeed and bring honor to the marquis house.”

As Lu Zheng ate, he encouraged Lu Xiao. Upon hearing this, Lu Xiao swallowed the food in his mouth and then smiled faintly at his brother.

“Brother, I doubt the elders truly want me to bring honor to the house… The old madam and the others probably hope I fail the Martial Academy’s test.”

Lu Zheng was momentarily at a loss for words. He had no rebuttal. No one was foolish or a child. They could all sense whether the elders’ intentions were genuinely for his good.

“Fourth brother, regardless of the elders’ attitude, at least the old madam has agreed. As long as you pass the Martial Academy’s test, this matter will be settled. Things are moving in a positive direction.”

Lu Zheng tried to say some encouraging words. Lu Xiao just smiled in response.

“I’ve been quietly cultivating within the residence lately, but it won’t be long before I’m disturbed. The harder I work, the more worried the old madam becomes. What she really wants is to see me give in…”

Lu Zheng fell silent, unwilling to think so poorly of the marquis house elders.

But Lu Xiao’s words were the truth.

“Don’t worry, brother. I haven’t given up. I will persevere on the cultivation path. It won’t be so easy for anyone to take my Spiritual Bone.”

The determination in Lu Xiao’s voice somewhat reassured Lu Zheng. The three ate together in silence, then Lu Zheng hesitated before asking again.

“Has Third Master sent any letters this year?”

The “Third Master” Lu Zheng referred to was Lu Xiao’s father, the third son of the old Marquis Lu. After Lu Xiao’s mother, Jiang Yuerou, left him, the Third Master fell into despair. Jiang’s remarriage to the Duke of Meng further crushed his spirit. After years of silence at home, he left the residence and began wandering from place to place, sometimes in the southern border of Xia Kingdom, other times in the northern territories.

Because of Jiang Yuerou, the Lu family disliked Lu Xiao. With the Third Master drifting away, only Lu Zheng could help Lu Xiao in the marquis household. But even Lu Zheng had limited means.

“If Third Master returns, everything will improve. But I don’t know when that will be.”

Lu Xiao said nothing more. He had little memory of his father, and it was uncertain whether his return would change his predicament.

Er Niu, seemingly enjoying the meal, spoke casually.

“Before the new year, Jiang Yuerou came with people from the Duke of Meng’s residence. I thought your hard days might be over. As a mother, she owes you so much. This time, I thought she’d try to make amends. Elders usually help and protect their descendants. But Jiang Yuerou actually wants to take your Spiritual Bone…”

Before he finished, Lu Zheng discreetly tapped him under the table. Seeing Lu Zheng’s expression, Er Niu quickly shut his mouth.

After all, Jiang Yuerou was Lu Xiao’s biological mother. Lu Zheng worried this would upset Lu Xiao. No matter what, she was still his blood.

Noticing his brother’s subtle gesture, Lu Xiao smiled and waved him off.

“Er Niu speaks on my behalf, and I don’t think he’s wrong. She’s never helped me all these years, yet now she wants me to sacrifice myself. To harm myself for the sake of her other two children.”

Lu Zheng wasn’t surprised by Lu Xiao’s feelings and understood them well. Many elders and juniors in the marquis house neither recognized nor understood Lu Xiao, thinking him selfish. But they only viewed the situation from their own perspective.

Lu Xiao’s sacrifice of his Spiritual Bone would leave him disabled, unable to care for himself in the future. Yet such a sacrifice might mend relations between the marquis house and the Duke of Meng’s residence. The younger generation would benefit from the many elixirs provided by the Duke’s residence and gain access to numerous training grounds.

Everyone only saw what they could gain. No one cared about how the person at the center of the storm would fare—except this eldest brother.

The mood grew somewhat serious and tense, so Lu Zheng shifted topics to lighter matters. He was on the path of literary and legal cultivation, striving to cultivate his fortune and follow the great way of the world.

There were many paths of cultivation in this realm, but the most established were the martial path and the literary-legal path. The literary path was based on willpower and observing the world’s great principles. The most accomplished practitioners could even alter the laws of existence.

Lu Zheng had reached the Fourth Realm of Qingquan, making him the most outstanding among the younger generation of the marquis house. Yet the younger generation there lagged behind their counterparts in other families. While Lu Zheng was exceptional in Yonglin City, he was not top-tier when compared broadly.

Nonetheless, he held some status within the Lu household.

As Lu Zheng shared amusing anecdotes about his cultivation and playful times with classmates at the academy, he quietly handed Lu Xiao a book.

“Brother, the old madam forbids me from giving you any cultivation manuals. The marquis house’s manuals are strictly off-limits. If you have this, you’ll surely get into trouble…”

The Lu family, having earned a marquisate, naturally had certain cultivation secrets. Their ancestors had even reached the Sage Realm. Yet none of their manuals were allowed for Lu Xiao’s study.

“Take it without worry. I got this from outside. It’s not from the marquis house. No one can say anything if you cultivate with it.”

Without waiting for Lu Xiao’s consent, Lu Zheng pressed the manual into his brother’s hands.