Shao Qi understood the look in his eyes. Many who first met Zhou You often had such misunderstandings. Without engaging further, Shao Qi quickly asked, "Should we enter the city now?"

Wang Mang's smile faltered, and he withdrew the hand he was about to extend. "Of course, I've made the necessary arrangements, including hotel accommodations for you all. However, the armored vehicle can only be parked outside the city. If you're concerned about your belongings, you can park at our Qianji Hall's designated spot. It's monitored continuously."

Without hesitation, Shao Qi accepted the offer. They needed a safe parking spot before they could bring Xiao Bai into the rented house.

"Thank you, but we'll skip the hotel. We plan to stay in Yang City for a while and intend to rent an independent house."

Eager to reciprocate, Wang Mang quickly offered, "I have a villa in the inner city. You're welcome to stay there. It's safe and economical."

Shao Qi glanced at Zhou You for a decision. Their main concern was housing Xiao Bai, requiring utmost discretion in choosing their stay.

Zhou You graciously declined Wang Mang's offer, "We might frequently travel outside the city. Staying in the outer city would be more convenient. Thank you for your kindness, Mr. Wang."

Wang Mang didn't expect the young man to make decisions for the group. Respecting their wishes, he responded, "Very well. I'll arrange for someone to assist you with the housing agency. Many agencies take advantage of newcomers. Rest tonight, and allow me to host you all tomorrow."

Zhou You wasn't keen on the invitation. Still, having connections with influential figures could be advantageous in case of future complications.

As the convoy entered the city, the guards, recognizing Wang Mang, waved them through. However, they instructed the newcomers to obtain temporary residence permits and verify their identities.

Once inside, the two groups separated. Zhou You's team was assisted by a Qianji Hall manager. After parking the vehicles, Shao Qi sent Qin Li Feng and Miao Miu to find housing, asking them to share the location once finalized.

All of them had communication cards for Yang City. After a quick swap, their phones connected to the local network.

Knowing it was Zhou You's first visit to Yang City, Cheng Suyan volunteered, "I'll buy communication cards for Mr. Zhou and Miss Li."

The Qianji Hall manager, unaware of their backgrounds, noticed some of them stayed behind to watch the vehicle. With a smile, he said, "Why not join me for some tea and snacks? Your vehicle and belongings are safe here."

"Thank you, but we'll wait here. You may continue with your duties."

The manager thought them overly cautious. With their insistence on skipping inspections and guarding their vehicle, he wondered about the treasures they might be hiding.

Miao Miu quickly sent over the location. Their swift online search revealed available rental properties. After a brief check on the landlord, they settled on a three-story building near the outer city wall. The reasonable rent, garden, swimming pool, and basement were attractive features. Miao Miu paid three months' rent upfront.

By the time Shao Qi and his team arrived, it was dark. Xiao Bai, a white tiger, darted from the vehicle to the yard. The glistening pool enticed him to dive in playfully. Hearing the splashes, the Qianji Hall manager chuckled, speculating that this group might be an exploration team from a remote base.

After exchanging contact details, Zhou You bid farewell to the manager and began familiarizing himself with the building. The spacious three-story house provided ample rooms for everyone. Xiao Bai would stay with him on the first floor. The courtyard, while not as grand as their previous residence, was sizable enough for Xiao Bai's antics.

Zhuo Hao and the team began unloading their belongings from the vehicle. Materials from mutant creatures were stored in the basement. They needed to sort out these resources, keeping some for themselves and selling the rest.

While handling the snake skin, Cheng Suyan couldn't resist touching it. The high-quality skin from mutant creatures was ideal for crafting armor. The snake and rhino skins they brought were top-tier. Cheng wondered if they'd be willing to sell some for crafting armor.

Dinner was a lavish feast provided by Wang Mang. Now, without any restrictions on protected species, the menu was diverse with various mutant meat dishes, vegetables, and fruits. It was a showcase of the chef's culinary prowess.

"What kind of meat is this? It's so tender and fragrant." Zhou You took a bite of the steamed slice, finding only a hint of saltiness, but the meat itself was deliciously rich. The simple steaming preserved its flavors, and it was evidently nutritious too.

Shao Qi tasted it and informed him, "It's a mutated pufferfish, a mid-level mutated creature. The flesh is not only tender but also uniquely aromatic and boneless. It's highly popular among the people, leading to many expeditions dedicated to fishing it."

Ever since leaving the Yunlan Mountains, they hadn't encountered any major rivers. To the north of Yangcheng base lay a vast river, teeming with an even greater number of mutated fish.

Cheng Suyan also tasted the fish and remarked, "I once had the meat of a mutated sea fish. Truly a delicacy of this world. It needed no seasoning, but the ocean is perilous. Fishermen dare only to fish along the coast, even then, it's fraught with danger."

Zhou You's mouth watered hearing this, "Are there bases near the coast now? If so, we should visit one next time."

"Yes, there are several. The northern coast is generally flat, with fewer mountains. The threat from mutated creatures is significantly lower there. No matter how numerous or formidable the sea mutants are, they won't crawl ashore, so a few bases have been established."

"We yearn for seafood by the coast, but they envy us for having meat daily. I heard it's normal for them not to have meat for months." Cheng Suyan, pointing at a plate of braised chicken feet, said, "It's extravagant to cook using only one part of a mutated chicken."