Chapter 799

Chapter 799: Living in the City

When Wang Chen entered the city, he encountered some trouble.

The city gate of Taiwu City was extremely tall and sturdy, with a smaller door beneath the main gate for merchants and travelers to pass through.

Fully armed warriors guarded both the inside and outside of the city gate, scrutinizing everyone who passed by.

While there was no fee to enter the city, outsiders like Wang Chen were subjected to rigorous inspections.

"Open your bag," commanded a warrior, his expression impassive as he pointed at Wang Chen’s backpack.

Wang Chen hesitated briefly before removing his bag and opening it. The white fox hidden inside immediately peeked out.

Clang!

The city defense warrior was startled and instinctively drew his long sword.

"What’s going on?"

Several other warriors quickly closed in, surrounding Wang Chen with sharp, wary gazes.

Wang Chen calmly stroked the little fox’s head and said, "There’s no need for alarm. This is my pet white fox, raised since it was a cub."

The white fox let out a few soft, cooing sounds, nuzzling its face against Wang Chen’s palm.

It looked utterly harmless and endearing.

The warriors relaxed and sheathed their weapons.

The martial master overseeing the inspection frowned and said, "Taiwu City has rules. Private pets must be registered; otherwise, they’ll be treated as wild animals and dealt with accordingly. Since this is your first time, I’ll let it slide, but you must register at the Bureau of Administration."

Wang Chen nodded. "Understood."

The martial master gestured with a wave of his hand. "Go ahead."

Wang Chen replied, "Thank you."

To his surprise, shortly after stepping through the wide gate and walking a short distance into the city, someone called out to him, "Sir, please wait!"

Wang Chen stopped and turned, puzzled. "What is it?"

The man was a middle-aged gentleman with a refined demeanor. He smiled warmly and said, "Your white fox is quite fascinating. My family head was quite taken with it. Would you consider parting with it?"

They wanted to buy the white fox!

Wang Chen shook his head. "I’m sorry, but I can’t part with something so dear to me."

He turned to leave, but the man blocked his path again. "Sir, the price is negotiable. How about three thousand jade coins?"

The middle-aged man held up three fingers, his expression suggesting Wang Chen was getting an incredible deal.

Gasps of astonishment rippled through the crowd, and many onlookers gazed at Wang Chen with envy.

Earlier, many had witnessed Wang Chen’s exchange with the city defense warriors over the white fox, and no one had expected such an extravagant offer for a pet.

Wang Chen, however, grew impatient. "It’s not for sale!"

He had little tolerance for such persistent haggling.

The middle-aged man, visibly embarrassed by the public rejection, scowled. "Do you know…"

Before the middle-aged man could finish his words, Wang Chen had already vanished from sight.

In disbelief, he rubbed his eyes and scanned the surroundings, but after a fruitless search, he reluctantly returned to the luxurious carriage parked at the roadside, his expression bitter.

"Master," he reported in a trembling voice, "That person refused to sell and has now fled."

"What a useless fool!"

A sharp voice echoed from within the carriage: "That white fox appears to be highly spirited. Miss Shangguan will undoubtedly adore it. I don’t care what methods you employ; you must find that person. Otherwise…"

"Return to me with your head in your hands!"

The middle-aged man bowed his head: "Yes, Master!"

Meanwhile, Wang Chen was oblivious to the fact that someone had set their sights on Hu Jiao Jiao. He was strolling along the main thoroughfare of the bustling city, immersed in the lively crowd.

Taiwu City, the largest city in the Misty Mountains Realm, boasted not only the greatest expanse but also the highest population.

It was said that millions of people resided within a hundred-mile radius, both inside and outside the city!

Wang Chen had only heard tales of Taiwu’s grandeur before, but today he was truly experiencing its prosperity and magnificence.

The people here—whether merchants, townsfolk, farmers, or shopkeepers and maids calling out to customers—were all vibrant and full of life.

The proportion of martial artists was remarkably high.

As Wang Chen walked, he sensed the presence of several Innate Martial Artists!

In other cities, Innate Martial Artists were esteemed figures, second only to the city lord, but in Taiwu City, they were a common sight.

Elder Yao had informed Wang Chen that those who had reached the extraordinary state rarely settled in the city; most preferred to cultivate in secluded caves deep within Taiwu Mountain, while a few established grand sects.

Unlike the relatively straightforward power structure of Chibi City, Taiwu City’s landscape was intricate, with government offices, sects, families, and martial arts schools all interwoven in a complex web of relationships.

However, Wang Chen had no intention of conquering the city. Once he located the Mysterious Fox Order, he and Hu Jiao Jiao would depart, so he paid little heed to these matters.

For Wang Chen, the immediate priority was finding a place to settle.

This proved to be a simple task, as Taiwu City’s commerce was thriving, with numerous pawnshops and intermediaries. Wang Chen made a few inquiries and soon rented a comfortable house in the eastern district.

The house was modest in size but included a front yard, main building, side rooms, a kitchen, and more. Though small, it was fully equipped with all the necessary furnishings and decorations.

However, the rent was staggering—ten times that of a similar house in Chibi City!

But Wang Chen was unfazed by this "small expense." He promptly signed a contract with the Pawnbroker and paid a year’s rent in advance.

When he left Chibi City, Wang Chen had brought a substantial amount of purple coins.

If not for the lack of storage equipment, which prevented him from taking the contents of Elder Yao’s secret vault, he could have easily rented or even purchased a larger house.

In the future, when Wang Chen returned to the Haotian Realm, he wouldn’t be able to take these coins with him, so spending them now caused him no regret.

Seeing Wang Chen’s generosity, the Pawnbroker was delighted and asked, "Esteemed guest, would you like some servants for the house? I can arrange for a few capable miscellaneous workers and maidservants."

"No need," Wang Chen replied, tossing a purple coin to him. "This is for your trouble."

After dismissing the Pawnbroker, Wang Chen closed the door and took another walk around the house, inside and out.

He had truly settled in.

Suddenly, Elder Yao spoke up, "Kid, I have a secret vault in this city; would you like to see it?"

He emphasized, "The largest one!"

Wang Chen’s interest was immediately piqued: "Are there any elixirs that can help Jiao Jiao advance in rank?"

Elder Yao replied, "No elixirs, but there are certainly herbs!"

That’s good enough!

Wang Chen made a quick decision: "We’ll go check it out tomorrow."

At that moment, the white fox that had been following Wang Chen leaped into his arms, nuzzling him affectionately.

Wang Chen gently stroked the fox tail, his thoughts drifting to the Mysterious Fox Order and when he might help the little fox sense it once more.