"We come here with no ill intentions, don't worry. Just wondering what happened inside." A middle-aged man spoke while wearing a polite smile.
A few people stepped out from the shadows, each of them radiating a presence that wasn't any weaker than Lan Yaolei. They were B-rank Awakeners, dressed in varying attire that carried the insignias of different guilds, factions, and even an academy.
"We are all neighbors here." Another man spoke while clasping his hands behind his back and maintaining a relaxed demeanor. "But when we felt a surge of power earlier, we simply couldn't ignore it. Such a phenomenon only occurs when someone undergoes a rare awakening."
One of them, a woman in a normal suit, spoke directly. "We won't beat around the bush. Whoever is awakening inside that villa… we want to meet him. Someone with that kind of power shouldn't remain unaffiliated. If he's young, the Starlight Academy would gladly nurture him."
Another tall man with a greatsword strapped to his back smirked. "Let's be honest here. We all want the same thing, that is to recruit that person into our factions."
Their eyes flickered with ambition as they looked past Lan Yaolei, clearly curious about the one emitting lightning energy inside.
"If your purpose is really just that, then wait here. Don't take a single step closer. My young master is still undergoing his awakening and cannot be disturbed, or else I won't be polite at all." Lan Yaolei said with an extremely serious expression, as if she would take action if they were to even show a slight hostile intention.
In her previous world, when someone was undergoing something like what James went through, most people would definitely be hostile and even attack them before they had the chance to rise.
That's why she immediately became hostile because she had no idea what these people would do to James.
When they heard the words 'Young Master' coming out of Lan Yaolei, they were surprised, as they had never expected to hear such a thing.
"Pardon me," the suited woman said again, narrowing her eyes. "May I know which faction you and your master belong to?"
Lan Yaolei frowned. She just realized she had no idea if James was affiliated with anyone. After a pause, she composed herself and answered evenly, "You can ask my young master directly later. Just wait here for now. It should be almost done."
The woman and the others nodded slightly, as waiting a little longer wouldn't hurt anyway.
A minute later…
The energy suddenly calmed down at an astonishing speed, catching people's attention. They looked in James's direction at the same time, and a tall man with a greatsword asked impatiently. "Can we go inside now? He must have finished the awakening by now, right?"
"No, just wait here and don't come any closer before I tell you so." Lan Yaolei replied coldly and gave everyone a stare before going inside the villa.
"What happened? Is everything okay?" Kai asked with a worried expression, knowing that something had happened outside.
"Can we go to Big Brother James now? The energy is gone!" Liora asked anxiously, clutching her hands tightly.
"Everything is fine now, but later you'll stay inside while Young Master James and I meet with some guests." Lan Yaolei replied with a nod, then looked at Liora with a gentle smile. "For now we can, but stay behind me until I check."
Subsequently, they went to the master's suite together. Lan Yaolei went inside and checked everything first before letting the others enter.
James was lying down outside the bathroom with ragged breathing, trying to relax himself after the extreme pain that he experienced for the first time in his entire life.
The bathroom behind him was a scene of destruction.
The bathroom was in a mess, with the tiles on the walls scorched black and spiderwebbed with cracks as if struck by countless bolts of lightning. The mirror above the sink had completely shattered, leaving only a few fragments clinging to the edges of the frame.
Steam was rising from the bathtub, its surface marked with scorch lines, while the floor was littered with chunks of broken porcelain and charred debris.
"Big brother James!" Liora rushed forward, tears flowing in her eyes as she threw her arms around him. She was afraid that something might happen to him and she would lose him forever.
For a moment, James felt warmth in his heart. Despite his exhaustion, he still forced himself to chuckle and pat her head softly. "Liora, don't cry. Your big brother is fine."
"B-but… W-what if—"
"Hey." He smiled, brushing away her tears. "Don't worry about anything anymore. Your big brother is rich and strong now, okay? Nothing bad will happen to us."
Liora sniffled and nodded, though she refused to let go of him.
He then tilted his head to look at Lan Yaolei, Kai, and Selene were just standing at the side with mixed expressions. "Can someone get me some water?"
"I'll go, wait a moment." Selene answered immediately, as she thought that she was an outsider and was here just to show her customer around.
A few minutes later, Lan Yaolei finally spoke up when the situation had calmed down. She explained what had happened while James was undergoing his awakening.
"Let's not keep them waiting then." James said, pushing himself up.
He then gave Liora a final pat and looked at Kai, Selene, and his little sister.
"You three stay here. I'll just talk to them for a bit. It won't take long."
With Lan Yaolei at his side, James straightened his back and walked toward the living room.
Lan Yaolei opened the door and invited them inside while remaining vigilant, ready to act the moment anything went wrong.
The moment they looked at James, their gazes that were filled with curiosity locked onto him immediately.
After finding themselves their own seats, a tall man with a greatsword took the lead with a loud voice.
"Let's make this simple. Since we are all gathered here, allow me to introduce myself first. I am Kellan Drovic, Vice Guild Master of the Ironfang Guild." He said it proudly as he crossed his arms.
Another man dressed in dark robes with a jade pendant hanging at his chest introduced himself calmly. "I am Shen Wuya, an Outer Elder of the Azure Peak Sect."
The woman in the suit straightened her jacket before speaking gracefully. "Marissa Qian, an instructor of Starlight Academy. Our institution fosters young talents, and someone like you would definitely be more than welcome if you joined us."
The other two also gave their names and affiliations. Each introduction only made it clearer how much attention James had unknowingly drawn to himself.