"No, I'm holding on to you for dear life," Sally clung to Edward, her body still trembling slightly from the fear that had just gripped her. "I was terrified just now."
Edward felt the lingering shivers that coursed through Sally's frame.
"You don't have to be afraid anymore. Anyone who dares to mess with my..." Edward paused, "my friend, will face dire consequences. Can you let go now? Somone's coming!"
"I don't care. Let me hold you for thirty more seconds. I really love the feel of your shoulders."
Edward spoke the truth; in the distance, he saw what appeared to be Yvonne leading a group of people towards them.
"I'm serious. It looks like my sister is coming with a crowd."
"I don't care. The thirty seconds aren't up yet."
At that moment, Edward caught the familiar scent of Sally, a fragrance like roses.
Though a bit embarrassed, he had to admit the scent was intoxicating. Actually, he was afraid to be turned on again.
"Alright, thirty seconds are up, Shorty, you have to get down, or they'll get the wrong idea!"
"I just want to hold you like this forever! Alright, I'm letting go."
Sally finally leaped off Edward.
"Remember, you owe me one today, Edward," Sally pouted.
"What? What do you mean, Shorty? It's clearly you who owes me for saving you," Edward raised his voice.
Women truly are not creatures of logic.
"I said you owe me, and that's how it is. If it weren't for me delivering cultivation resources to you, none of this would have happened."
"You have a point," Edward shook his head, "Don't worry, I'll pay you back soon."
Sally playfully tapped Edward's chest with her small fist.
"Did I say I want it back right away? I don't want you to pay me back. I want you to be in my debt for life."
"Why?" Edward asked, puzzled.
"So you'll always think of me. And besides that, you have to promise me one thing, too!"
Sally batted her long, beautiful eyes, staring at Edward's chiseled face.
"What is it?" Edward asked, incredulous.
"Your shoulders are mine. Whenever I want to lean on them, you can't object."
Edward was speechless, his mouth agape.
How did this girl come up with such an idea?
And when had his shoulders been rented out?
"Did you hear me?" Sally stared at him with wide eyes.
"Alright, I know even if I didn't agree, it wouldn't matter."
"Finally you've got it!" Sally smiled happily.
At that moment, the group led by Yvonne arrived.
Sally's maid with two braids rushed to Sally, scrutinizing her mistress anxiously, and exclaimed, "Are you alright, Miss? I was so worried."
With tears in her eyes, she added,
"You have no idea how terrified I was when I saw you taken by those two men in black masks." Daisy's voice trembled with emotion.
Among the crowd was Samuel, Sally's father. He chimed in with concern,
"Yes, Sally, this is all my fault. I should have sent some guards with you. This wouldn't have happened."
"It's not your fault, Dad. Look at me, standing right in front of you, unscathed, all thanks to Edward's timely arrival. The consequences would have been unthinkable otherwise."
Samuel bowed to Edward and praised,
"Truly, heroes are made in youth. Like father, like son. I knew you were different. Thank you so much, Edward."
Edward immediately bowed in return and said,
"I should be the one to thank you. Your daughter brought me such high-quality cultivation resources, allowing me to awaken a new combat skill in such a short time."
"What, you've already awakened a new combat skill? That's incredible!"
Samuel's eyebrows shot up in surprise.
"It's all thanks to the top-grade Strength Pill you gave me. After taking it, my cultivation accelerated."
"That's just a supplementary effect. The fact that you, a newly awakened individual with inferior talent, managed to awaken a new combat skill so quickly is a testament to your miraculous potential!"
"Thank you, Mr. Samuel Gold, I'm overwhelmed with gratitude."
Then, Samuel suddenly frowned, his voice filled with anger,
"But I don't know who dared to kidnap my daughter. Do you have any clues about their identities? If I find out, no matter where they flee, I will make them pay a terrible price.
They dared to mess with me, and I'll torture them to death."
Before Edward could speak, Sally interjected,
"It was Joseph and his cousin who did it."
"What?" Samuel fumed, "Wasn't Joseph locked in the family dungeon? How could it be him?"
"It was his cousin George who rescued him. They've been following me ever since."
"Those two scumbags. Where are they now?"
"Joseph escaped by employing his Earth Escape Technique. His cousin is right there!" Sally pointed at a pile of ashes on the ground.
"Is that George?" Samuel looked at the ashen remains in disbelief.
Others in the crowd also stared in shock, wondering who had the power to reduce a person to ashes. They thought that person must be incredibly powerful!
"Indeed, Dad," Sally confirmed, "Edward used his fire combat skill to incinerate him."
Samuel immediately turned his gaze to Edward in doubt,
"Is this true?"
Edward, under Samuel's piercing yet slightly admiring stare, felt a bit embarrassed.
"Yes, he deserved it! To think he dared to bully my... my friend, he had to pay the price. Besides, It was too despicable for them to turn to Sally!"
"Good job!" Samuel not only gave Edward an approving look but also a thumbs-up.
"I didn't expect you, an inferior-talented ordinary awakener, to defeat an ordinary awakener of level five. It seems you have a bit of your father's flair!
Rest assured, Edward, the elders and I have discussed this privately. We will not allow Charles to monopolize the legacy your mother left for you."
"Thank you, Uncle Samuel." Edward bowed to him again.
"It's the least I can do. I'm ashamed that we haven't been able to stop Charles' misconduct all these years. I'm sorry you and your sister have suffered greatly because of him." Samuel sighed.
"You shouldn't blame yourself, Uncle Samuel. You have your own difficulties," Edward comforted.
"I didn't expect you to be so kind and understanding. You're a good son to your parents!"
"What do you mean, Dad? That sounds like Yvonne isn't her parents' good daughter," Sally said with a naughty smile.
Samuel laughed heartily,
"How could I forget Yvonne? Yes, she is also a good daughter to her parents."
"That's more like it," Sally and Yvonne exchanged a smile.
"What do we do next?" Edward suddenly asked, "Joseph has escaped; I don't know what mischief he'll cook up next."
"Don't worry, Edward. I will mobilize all my connections to find that wretched guy. He won't get away.
The most important thing now is for you to prepare well to pass the entrance test of the Aurora Awakening Academy in one go.
It's the first step to reclaim your mother's legacy."
"I will do my best," Edward assured.
"All right, I think Sally is tired. Let's hurry back now," Samuel said, then pulled out a golden card from his pocket and handed it to Edward.
"This is one of my golden cards. There's some money in it. Use it to buy more cultivation resources. You can go to the Treasure Market near your school to get what you need."
"This is too precious," Edward declined, "How can I take your money? You've already helped me so much."
"Take it. If you don't, it's like you look down on Uncle Samuel. Back in the day, your parents gave me so much help, you have no idea about it. This money is nothing. Take it."
"Take it, Edward, or Dad will be angry," Sally urged.
"All right, I'll take it and pay you back when I have money."
Edward knew he was better off taking it since his refusal would be taken as an insult to Samuel now.
Suddenly, Samuel turned to Yvonne and said with a tight smile,
"Don't worry, I won't forget you this time. I have something for you too."
Samuel pulled out a red card from his pocket and handed it to Yvonne.
"This is a VIP card for the Cool Fashion House. With this card, you can choose any clothes you like in the store. Sally often shops there, and you two can go together someday. Are you pleased with this gift?"
"Yes, thank you, Uncle Samuel." Yvonne jumped up and down. "I didn't expect you to be so attentive to what we girls like!"
Yvonne quickly accepted the red card.
"Let's go together now," Sally said to Yvonne, "The Cool Fashion House is said to have received a new batch of clothing the other day. We can go take a look."
"No, Sally, you should go home with me now. You need a good rest. You can go with Yvonne another day," Samuel said sternly.
Sally immediately grabbed her father's arm and coaxed,
"Please, Dad. Let me go with Yvonne now. Look at me, I'm not tired at all. Please." She pouted and kept shaking Samuel's arm.
As a father, Samuel couldn't resist his daughter's coquetry and immediately softened,
"All right, all right, I agree this time. But on one condition: Edward must accompany you."
"No problem, I can also go and see if there are any cultivation resources I can buy," Edward immediately agreed.
"All right, with you there, even if you run into that wretched Joseph again, I won't be worried. I have faith in you, Edward," Samuel said and then led his men to take a different path home.
Yvonne, Sally, and Edward waved him goodbye before walking together towards the busiest district.
New Hook was a city that would never sleep, with businesses trading almost twenty-four hours a day.
About half an hour later, they arrived at Ninth Avenue—the liveliest and most bustling place.
Yvonne was as happy as a hopping bird.
She had never really strolled down this avenue before, mainly because she couldn't afford anything sold here. This avenue was not a place for the poor like her.
But it was different now; with Uncle Samuel's help, the weight of life could be temporarily cast aside. She took a deep breath and pulled Sally to look around. She found everything here interesting and endearing.
After taking a walk for half an hour, Edward pounded his legs; his two dogs were barking crazily.
"Hey, can we take a break?" he asked while the two girls were too obsessed with the trinkets sold here and there to pay any attention to him
'Women! They are born shopping creatures.' Edward chuckled bitterly. "Hey, I can't walk any further."
"Edward, hurry up, don't dawdle!" Sally turned back and smiled at him. "How could you be so weak, not even to be able to handle this little bit of walking? Have you ever shopped with a girl before? I know you have a girlfriend!"
"What?" Edward looked at her in surprise, "You know about that?"
"No news about you can escape me. Although I haven't been in New Hook for a few years, I've had people keeping tabs on you," Sally suddenly winked at Edward, beautiful and charming.
"Don't mention his so-called nominal girlfriend. At first, she was all over my brother, but when she found out he couldn't awaken, she ignored him. Such a person is nothing to him, and to me as well."
"Let it go, Yvonne!" Edward said indifferently. "Don't mention that again."
"Do you think I'm qualified to be your girlfriend?" Sally suddenly said.
Edward was taken aback, having no idea how to respond. He acted rooted at the spot and could not budge an inch.
"Haha, look at you, I was just joking," Sally laughed, covering her mouth.
She felt it wasn't the right time to fully reveal her feelings.
The emotions she had harbored for years would scare him away if she unleashed them all at once.
She told herself to be patient; this was just an initial probe.
"To be honest, Sally, I think you'd make a great girlfriend for my brother," Yvonne said with a smile. "What do you think, brother?"
"Don't be ridiculous!" Edward warned with a serious expression.
Suddenly, a hurdle of young people gathered, whispering behind them.
"Look, isn't that the piece of junk, Edward? What is he doing here?"
"Yeah, look, he's with two hot chicks. He's got the luck of the devil."
The Ninth Avenue was right behind the school Edward used to attend. Soon, murmurs spread through the crowd.
"He used to be the star of our school's basketball team. There was a long line of girls who liked him at the time."
"Yeah, our school's belle, Sarah Wood, was all over him. Just when he was about to agree to be her boyfriend, Sarah heartlessly rejected him, and he then turned himself into a laughingstock. Haha, he's got his just desserts!"
"Yeah, mainly because she found out he's a piece of trash who can't awaken. What's the use of just being able to play basketball? This is the age of awakening anyway!"
If in the past, Edward would have felt ashamed to the core upon hearing these idle words.
But now, he didn't care at all.
He even noticed his huge change himself; it seemed that becoming powerful was the only way to make a person confident.
"Let's go to the Treasure Market first," Edward suggested.
He was eager to find a new combat skill that would fit him there.
For an awakener, they could obtain new combat skills through awakening upgrades, which were secret combat skills.
In addition to these secret combat skills, awakeners can also purchase some public combat techniques in the open market.
If lucky, they could also obtain some rare and precious combat skill manuals.
Edward decided to try his luck.
After entering the Treasure Market, a pile of yellowed books scattered on the ground immediately caught his attention.
He picked them up one by one and flipped through them, finally having his heart set on a yellowing manual called "Thunderous Might."
"This will help me develop my Lightning Nirvana, forming new attack moves. That's it, and I'll take it!"
Overjoyed, he immediately went to the counter to pay.
Suddenly, a loud voice rang out behind him,
"Hey, you, the waste who can't awaken, what's the use of buying a book about combat skills?
Trash is trash!"