Chapter 7: Villa No.1

"This…" Everyone in the lobby gaped, more shocked than when the chandelier had come crashing down. It felt like seeing a ghost in broad daylight. The man kneeling was Simon Scurr, a titan in real estate, worth billions. In Skynos, his status was sky-high. They had always looked up at him. Now he was bowing on his knees to a young man, and it shattered everything they thought they knew. Graham Mabre was the most stunned. He froze, then suddenly realized something and cold sweat broke out across his forehead. Shane Yale's expression stayed cool. "Well? Do you believe me now?" "I believe! I believe! Please, Master, save me!" Simon bobbed his head frantically, terrified that a moment's delay would bring another accident. If he lost his life, everything would be over. "I can save you. Agree to one condition." "Say it-say as many as you want!" Shane turned to Graham. "Weren't you just mouthing off, telling me to fire you if I had the guts? Fine. Have it your way." "I…" Graham went slack. He never dreamed retribution would come this fast. The poor kid he had trampled on minutes ago could suddenly decide his fate. "Fire him. My classmate, Nicole Lapwood, will take over as general manager." Shane raised a hand toward Graham. He wasn't some soft-hearted saint-people like that needed to be dealt with. As for Nicole, she was his old classmate. If he could help, he would. "You heard him, didn't you? Get lost. You're fired!" Simon didn't hesitate. Forget a mere sales manager-even if it were his own father, he would have fired him all the same. "I… Boss…" Graham tried to explain, but Simon cut him off with a wave. A few security guards hauled him out of the sales office. Simon then announced on the spot that Nicole Lapwood would take over as general manager and handle all affairs. The staff exchanged looks behind their hands. That was whiplash. Even Nicole was at sea. She had no idea how she had become the general manager in a blink. When she looked at the man in front of her, curiosity, admiration, and gratitude filled her eyes. Simon didn't care what anyone else thought. After handling it all, he hurried, "Master, will this do?" "Come with me." Shane turned into the VIP room. Simon followed close behind. Shane closed the door, lifted his hand, and traced in the air. A pale-gold Evil-Repelling Talisman took shape, then scattered into motes of light that sank into Simon's forehead. "All right. Since you survived this calamity, fortune will follow. This tribulation is gone. Your path ahead will be smooth." At that moment, Simon felt wonderful. He wasn't carrying anything, yet it was like a mountain had lifted off him. His whole body relaxed, and the constant sense that death might strike at any time vanished. It was strange, hard to put into words, but he felt it keenly. "Thank you for saving my life, Master." Simon dropped to his knees and kowtowed. Shane pulled him up. "Get up. Meeting me just meant you weren't fated to die." "Master, you came to buy a house, right? Villa No.1-please accept it. Live there. Let it be my repayment for saving my life." With the danger gone, Simon's businessman's sharpness returned. The young man before him was definitely a hidden master-far beyond reach. He had to keep this connection. He might be safe this time, but who knew what the future would bring? With that mindset, he offered the best villa in the entire development. "Please don't mind it. I was going to live there myself. I'm giving it to you." "I'm not a master. I'm Shane Yale, and I'm a doctor." He had just saved the man's life. Accepting a villa didn't feel out of place; life weighed more than money. As the inheritor of the Ancient Medical Sect, Shane decided to do the good deed to the end. "Let me treat you." He took Simon's left arm, pulled and pushed once-crack!-and the bones seated perfectly. The pain vanished. "This…" Simon was stunned all over again. That bone-setting technique was unreal. Shane had him lie on the sofa and used silver needles to comb through his meridians. When Simon stood up, he felt like a new man. His whole body was loose and comfortable. Not only had the fall's injuries healed, but even his chronic cervical issues and arthritis were gone. He had planned to hit the hospital after saving his life. No need anymore. "Mr… Mr… Mr. Yale…" He hesitated. Doctor or Master didn't feel right for someone like this. "Mr. Yale" was the safest. "Mr. Yale, you're truly extraordinary. If you need anything, just say the word. I, Simon Scurr, will go through fire and water." "No need for anything else. Just get the house ready. I'm moving in today." For Shane, saving and treating people was a flick of the wrist. The important thing was getting his mom into a new home today. "Rest assured, I'll have it handled immediately!" Simon walked out of the VIP room, told Nicole to process the purchase at top speed, then led Shane's family to tour Villa No.1. It was a property he had reserved for himself, the best location and feng shui in the entire community, with top-tier decoration. Even the appliances inside were all ready-far higher-end than a typical home. Mia Looske and Cassandra Yale were thrilled with the luxury. "Mr. Yale, I'll leave you to it. I'll go wash up and change. Call me if you need anything." Simon knew when to bow out. He had given the villa and didn't overstay, taking his leave. "Son, I never dreamed I'd live in a place this nice in my lifetime." Mia ran her hands over everything, a smile filling her face. "Let's move now. We're never going back to that rental." "Everything's here. If we're missing anything, we'll buy it. What else do we need to move?" Shane said. "That won't do. Your grandmother left me some old things in that place. Sentimental value-no amount of money can buy that." Mia's tone firmed. "And the deposit on that rental is still two hundred dollars. Even if you have money now, we need to live carefully. We can't let that skinflint Maxton get away with it." Maxton Showyer was their landlord in the urban village. He owned a dozen units and rented them out, and he was ruthless. The tenants didn't like him. He was burly, and rumor had it his brother-in-law mixed with the underworld, so no one messed with him. They only called him "skinflint" behind his back. Shane thought she was right. He let his sister stay to keep an eye on the villa and took his mom by taxi back to the rental. Mia had called ahead about moving out. When they reached the door, a tall, bald man was already waiting-Maxton Showyer-holding a large flashlight.