Chapter 5: The Shocked Chu Ruyan

While Chu Li was leaving the Chu family estate, inside the mansion, Chu Ruyan was pacing anxiously.

After leaving the main hall, Chu Ruyan, driven by an inexplicable feeling in her heart, wanted to find Chu Li and persuade him to stay in the family.

But she quickly realized a problem.

She didn’t actually know where Chu Li lived!

This was, in itself, ironic. As his older sister, Chu Ruyan had been to Chu Ming’s residence countless times.

But for her other brother, Chu Li, she had no idea where he stayed—so much so that she found herself unable to locate him in her own home!

“How could this be? I actually have no memory of where Chu Li lives—not even where he moved after changing rooms.”

“So… it’s really been that long since we met privately?”

Rubbing her forehead, Chu Ruyan suddenly felt a pang of guilt, realizing that perhaps she had gone too far.

It was one thing to dote on Chu Ming—after all, she had always been the kind of sister who loved her younger brothers deeply—but to be this indifferent to her other brother, Chu Li?

“No, no… that’s not right. It’s not that I don’t care about Chu Li—it must be because I’ve been too busy.”

Almost instinctively, she made this excuse for herself. Feeling increasingly anxious, she turned to a nearby servant.

“Housekeeper Zhao, do you know where Chu Li lives?”

“Uh… yes, I do, Miss.”

“Then take me there immediately!”

“Ah? Miss, you want to go there? That… um…”

Hearing this, Housekeeper Zhao suddenly started stammering. Chu Ruyan frowned.

“What’s wrong? Is there a problem?”

“No, no problem… Then… please follow me.”

Nodding rather stiffly, Housekeeper Zhao started leading the way, with Chu Ruyan and her attendants following behind.

However, the farther they walked, the more confused Chu Ruyan felt.

Housekeeper Zhao was leading them north, and the houses around them grew more and more run-down the deeper they went. The surroundings couldn’t compare at all to the southern courtyard.

This couldn’t possibly be where Chu Li lived—it looked exactly like the area where the Chu family’s servants resided!

“Housekeeper Zhao, where are you going? I told you to take me to Chu Li—not to wander back for a rest!”

Halfway there, Chu Ruyan finally couldn’t hold back anymore. She stopped in her tracks and reprimanded him.

She still had to stop Chu Li—how could she waste so much time wandering around here?

But unexpectedly, Housekeeper Zhao shook his head, wearing an expression of innocence.

“Second Miss, you misunderstand. I’m not going back to rest—my own quarters were much earlier,” Housekeeper Zhao sighed. “Young Master Chu Li lives just up ahead.”

“What?”

Hearing this, Chu Ruyan froze. One of the maidservants beside her stepped forward to explain.

“Miss, Housekeeper Zhao isn’t wrong. Young Master Chu Li really does live here—it should be that house right there.”

As the maid said this, she pointed toward a ruined building up ahead. Chu Ruyan’s mind buzzed blankly at the sight, leaving her nearly speechless.

That… was Chu Li’s house?

How could that be possible?

Could a person even live in a house like that?

Looking at the building whose roof had collapsed on one side, Chu Ruyan didn’t know how to react. Almost instinctively, she thought of Chu Ming’s residence.

Chu Ming’s residence was right at the center of the Chu family estate, complete with pavilions, towers, and exquisite scenery.

But Chu Li’s dwelling turned out to be an abandoned, decrepit shack in the servants’ quarters!?

The stark contrast made Chu Ruyan’s heart suddenly tighten in pain. She had to take several deep breaths before she managed to say:

“Come on, let’s go find him.”

“Yes, Miss.”

The group dared not speak further and made their way to the entrance of Chu Li’s house. But as soon as they reached the doorway, Chu Ruyan frowned again.

“What’s going on? Why is the spiritual energy here so thin? Where are the spirit herbs and the gathering arrays?”

For low-level martial cultivators—especially those in the Qi Gathering, Postnatal, and Prenatal realms—sensing and absorbing the spiritual energy of heaven and earth was crucial to quickly improve cultivation.

Because of this, the Chu family had always collected rare herbs and set up gathering arrays to help younger members break through and build a solid foundation.

Take, for example, the adopted son Chu Ming’s residence. To lay a good foundation for him, Chu Lingtian had spared no expense to obtain a Golden Jade Tree. The gathering array there was crafted by the famous Sima family of formation masters. It not only gathered spiritual energy but also slowly improved the physique of those within it—a truly unique marvel in all of Great Xia.

But here, in Chu Li’s place?

Forget about unique formations—there wasn’t even a hint of spiritual energy. Only a heavy, stagnant, desolate air that was actually harmful to cultivation!

“Housekeeper Zhao! What is the meaning of this? Where are the cultivation resources allocated to Chu Li by the household? Why aren’t they here? Don’t tell me someone embezzled them?!”

Feeling that Chu Li had been wronged, Chu Ruyan grew furious and demanded answers from Housekeeper Zhao. But at her words, he only stood there, stunned.

“Cultivation resources? Well… Second Miss, the Young Master basically didn’t have any cultivation resources at all.”

“What did you say!?”

Chu Ruyan was stunned when she heard this. It took her a moment before she asked again:

“W-What do you mean? Chu Li didn’t receive any cultivation resources from the Chu family? How is that possible?”

“Second Miss, it’s true!”

Housekeeper Zhao’s face fell as he shook his head and said:

“I’m the one in charge of managing the cultivation resources in the Chu household. Starting a few years ago, Young Master’s name just stopped appearing on the distribution list. Didn’t you know about this?”

“I…”

Chu Ruyan stood there, eyes wide in shock. She had never imagined such a situation.

In such a huge Chu family, they actually didn’t give Chu Li—who was the rightful young master—any cultivation resources!
And under these circumstances, Chu Li still managed to reach the Postnatal Realm!?

How could that be possible?

Even Chu Ming, who enjoyed the best resources, had only just entered the Postnatal Realm. Chu Li was already weak in health to begin with. Under these conditions, just how much more hardship must he have endured to reach the same level?

At that thought, Chu Ruyan’s heart twisted in pain again, and she even felt a wave of dizziness.

Why? They were both young masters of the Chu family, so why did Chu Li receive nothing?

Father, eldest sister, little sister—what were they thinking!?

No… the strangest thing—isn’t it me?

Why is it only today that I’ve noticed this!?

Chu Ruyan always prided herself on being the most intelligent person in the Chu family and was known outside for her cunning and wisdom. But today, she deeply doubted herself.

Why… why did I completely forget to care about this brother of mine?
They were born of the same mother and were true siblings—yet for several years, she hadn’t even known what Chu Li was going through!

This strange feeling, mixed with sharp heartbreak, made Chu Ruyan feel so weak that she could barely stand. She could only look up and issue an order:

“Housekeeper Zhao, quickly—find Chu Li for me! I must see him!”

“Yes, Miss.”

Following her order, Housekeeper Zhao cupped his hands in salute and left. He stepped forward and knocked on the door. Soon, it was opened by a middle-aged woman—it was Aunt Liu.

Housekeeper Zhao first bowed to Aunt Liu, then explained his purpose. But a moment later, he suddenly cried out in shock:

“What? Young Master Chu Li has already left!?”