Apart from the dagger, he was also interested in a set of throwing knives – twelve in total, each no longer than a palm, with a plastic handle and a blade of an indistinguishable material. They were light, perfect for his inner energy control.

"This set of bone knives is crafted from the leg bone of a high-level mutated beast called the Mang Bull. With dozens of elements incorporated, they’re not only hard but extremely lightweight. It's the best choice for long journeys."

Zhou You was genuinely interested, but the price was steep: ten thousand credits for a set. It felt like daylight robbery.

"The gentleman with you has a black gold card, which offers a 20% discount. That brings it down to eight thousand. Additionally, with our anniversary sale, any purchase above ten thousand will include a complimentary piece of armor. It’s a great deal!"

Zhou You lacked any noteworthy equipment, which might explain why most took him for an ordinary person. Martial artists walking on the streets either carried weapons or wore distinct soft armors. With their characteristic muscular builds, one could easily tell they weren’t to be trifled with.

Seeing Zhou You's interest, Shao Qi paid for him, "I'll cover this. You can transfer the credits back to me later." He speculated that Xiong Yi's ID card would have thousands of credits stored, enough to repay the debt.

The store clerk couldn't help but grin broadly. It wasn't every day a seemingly ordinary customer splurged on high-end equipment. The joys of the wealthy were beyond his comprehension.

Other patrons in the store saw Shao Qi paying for Zhou You's expensive items. Given that Zhou You was also good-looking, they all envied him for finding such a generous benefactor.

After shopping, Shao Qi took him to the Bureau of Civil Affairs. He had prearranged a meeting with the director to handle some private business. While killing in the wilderness wasn't illegal, outright confiscation of others' possessions was frowned upon. Hence, the typical procedure was to involve officials to transfer the ownership.

As they exited the Bureau, Zhou You sported a new ring on his finger, and his account was richer by twenty thousand credits, even after settling the debt. No wonder the business of looting killers was so lucrative.

Unfortunately, he couldn't locate his parents. Their old identification numbers had been deleted, and he couldn't find the new ones. Such a situation implied either his clearance level wasn't high enough or they were no longer alive.

"Come on, let me show you the joys of the human world," Shao Qi said, trying to lift Zhou You's spirits, leading him to explore the city.

The night market buzzed with activity. At the food street, Zhou You aimed to sample dishes from one end to the other. Most stalls sold grilled dishes. The prices varied based on the grade of the mutated beast meat. Though the food tasted exquisite, it was quite pricey. Zhou You spent twenty credits and still felt he hadn’t eaten as much as he usually would in a single meal.

After purchasing a bag of fruit to cleanse his palate, Zhou You discovered that the fruit seller was the same woman he had encountered at the security checkpoint earlier. Her child was sleeping soundly on her back, and while her expression didn't betray any overt sorrow, she hadn't smiled at all.

The large bag of fruit was only two credits. Zhou You took a bite and asked Shao Qi, "Did I ever agree to accompany you back to the Yun Lan mountain range?"

"You're my driver and bodyguard. Are you planning to resign if you don't accompany me?"

Zhou You arrogantly replied, "I'm not short of money right now."

Shao Qi, having gotten to know him quite well, said pointedly, "From what I understand, your hospitalized companions really need the money."

"What do they have to do with me?" No matter how you looked at it, Zhou You didn't have a close relationship with those people. He couldn't understand how Shao Qi saw through him.

"I've said it before: you're a kind-hearted person. There are people you know inside, and you wouldn't just stand by and let them die."

Zhou You gave him a look, "Doctor Zhao once saved your life too."

"That's different, and I've already paid the medical bills. If you want to play the hero, I can't steal your merit." Shao Qi had seen life and death; if not for Zhou You's concern for those people, he wouldn't even have noticed the fate of a few ordinary people.

Chapter 047: Let's go, I'll treat you to a drink.

Halfway down the Food Street, Zhou You and Shao Qi realized they were being followed, likely because of their extravagant spending in the weapon store.

Zhou You joked, "They have good taste, after all, aren't we just two fat sheep?"

Shao Qi refused to accept the term "fat sheep", "Given our physique, the word 'fat' isn't quite apt. But they certainly do have an 'eye' for things." In his entire life, Shao Qi had never been robbed, and even though he couldn't resort to martial arts now, he found it quite thrilling.

After Food Street came Bar Street. Now that gambling and drugs were no longer illegal, this red-light district was clearly even livelier than Food Street. There were lights everywhere, laughter, and banter. Everyone seemed lost in hedonistic pleasure.

"Oh my, who is this beauty? Come, come home with me..." A drunken man blocked a young woman's path. She was wearing a thin, sexy dress at night with high heels that clacked as she walked. Her striking golden curls made her stand out on the street.

Two men suddenly appeared from the side, pushing the drunk man away, and started flirting with the woman, "Hey, isn't this Miss Meng Xi from Nightfall City? What's a beauty like you doing out here alone at night? Where are all your fanboys? Why not hang out with the two of us first?"

The woman seemed startled, pulling her dress closer. "What do you think you're doing? Do you even know where you are? Dare to touch even a hair on my head and see!"

"Hey now, don't be so fierce. We just wanted to chat," they jeered.

Shao Qi nudged Zhou You, whistled, and said, "It's time for the hero to save the beauty. Maybe she'll even be so grateful, she'll give herself to you."

Zhou You glared at him, slipping an arm around his, and forcing a saccharine smile, "Aren't I your little lover? Why are you pushing me to save another woman? Aren't you jealous?"