"That's manageable."

"Alright then, for the premium materials, I'll need a bone from a high-level mutated beast, a pair of claws from a high-level mutated bird, and a complete skin from a high-level mutated snake."

These items are all valuable, ideal for crafting armor and weapons. Even if not used personally, selling them would bring a hefty profit.

The man in white hesitated, but for reasons unknown, he blurted out, "Agreed." After which he stared in horror at the old man, perhaps his "ally." Was this a demonstration of the latter's true power? Terrifying.

With the items secured, Shao Qi casually remarked, "Okay, you can have this place. Otherwise, I fear waking up dismembered. Let's go." As he pulled Zhou You away, someone from the rear tried to launch a sneak attack but was immobilized by the elderly man's power.

Once they left, the elderly man relaxed his psychic hold and commented, "I hope such incidents won't repeat. I don't want trouble. If you become a liability, I won't hesitate to abandon you."

The group, drenched in sweat and trembling, nodded their agreement fervently.

"Also, ensure the items are still intact. That's the priority. If not for Ren Yanke insisting they be kept with you, I'd rather have held onto them myself." Ren Yanke feared this powerful figure might run off with the items, but to him, this precaution seemed rather superfluous.

The man in white checked the items, relieved to find them in good condition. "Thank you, Mr. Li, for intervening. A full-blown conflict would've been mutually destructive."

"That's debatable." The reason Li Mingwei let those three go was the sense of danger he felt from one of them. His instincts had always been sharp.

After Zhou You and his team departed smoothly, they inspected the item they had acquired. It was a tiny data storage chip. They wondered what critical information it might contain.

"Can we extract the data?" he asked Shao Qi.

"I'm not sure. Many secret data chips have been tampered with. Without the right decryption key, it might self-destruct. But we can give it a try," replied Shao Qi.

Recalling the earlier event, Shao Qi still felt resentful. He shot Zhou You a glance, a frown tugging at the corners of his mouth, "You seemed to have enjoyed yourself earlier."

"Ah? Wasn't that the safest approach? Look, they didn't suspect a thing."

"Hmph! We were just stealing an item. There are more sophisticated methods. Yet you chose to charm your way out. Why don’t I see you being so 'sweet' with me?"

"How sweet should I be?" Zhou You teased, placing one hand on Shao Qi's thigh and looking at him with innocent eyes.

Shao Qi switched the car to auto-drive. Taking Zhou You's hand with one hand and the back of his head with the other, he pulled him close for a passionate kiss. It was only when they heard a car honk behind them that he released Zhou You, saying, "Consider that an interest payment. I'll deal with you later."

Zhou You glanced back at the trailing car, realizing they'd slowed down, which prompted the honk. He waved reassuringly out the window before touching his lips and said, "Given the importance of this, we should head to Dawn City. Can we use your aircraft tonight?"

"It's not advisable."

"Yet you risked flying here at night?"

"Necessity called."

"The situation is pressing now too."

"Not pressing enough. We'll discuss it tomorrow," Shao Qi stated firmly. Upon entering the base, all three, still in disguise, were interrogated. It was only when Zhao Jinghao intervened that they were released.

Noticing Zhao's confusion, Zhou You informed him, "We retrieved something during our mission. It's best if you secure the Ren siblings and prevent any external communication for now."

Knowing that the siblings held secrets, keeping them outside was perilous. Better to extract any useful information from them first.

Shao Qi added, "I'll take care of the two. Jiangnan base suffered significant losses this time. Replenish the weapons and prepare a report for me. I'll ensure its delivery within ten days."

Hearing the promise of expedited service, Zhao Jinghao saluted enthusiastically, "Understood, sir! I'll notify Commander Cheng immediately."

Zhou You brought Shao Qi back to the hotel. Xuan Jue, having just returned, was devouring a feast with an eager appetite. Liao Jie and the others were waiting for Zhou You's return.

Seeing Zhou You, Xuan Jue immediately dropped his utensils and excitedly exclaimed while kneeling, "Master, you're back!"

Surprised, Zhou You glanced around, wondering, "What's gotten into this kid? Has he gone mad during meditation?"

"Master, I've finally sensed the Qi! I can officially be your disciple now!" As Xuan Jue rejoiced, Shao Qi suddenly pulled him up by the collar, declaring firmly, "I disagree!"

Xuan Jue gawked at Shao Qi, "Marshal? When did you arrive? And why would you object?"

Before seeking Zhou You's support, an idea struck Xuan Jue. He turned to Shao Qi, pleadingly, "Grandmaster, what faults do you find in me as a disciple? I'll change! Think about it – having a devoted disciple is beneficial. And someday, I can even take care of you both in your old age."

The other disciples burst into laughter. How could Xuan Jue mention "taking care of them in their old age" to two vibrant young men? Becoming a disciple now seemed unlikely.

Shao Qi playfully ruffled Xuan Jue's hair, "So, we're gaining a son?"

Zhou You rolled his eyes, "If you two want to play father and son, do it without involving me. I don't wish to have such a grown son. As for the disciple ceremony, we can skip that. Instead, let me offer you a gift as your new master."