Awakening in Fallen Blossom Valley

"Was the... business taken care of?"

At some point, the men who had abducted Mo Chen arrived in a secret chamber.

A man in a black cloak sat in a grand armchair, his face obscured. Two guards at the Eighth Layer of Qi Refining stood to either side of him.

"Yes, Young Master Wu. It's done. He's in the Spirit Beast Pouch."

The black-robed cultivator who answered took Mo Chen out of the Spirit Beast Pouch, then bowed again and asked with a fawning smile, "How would you like to deal with him, young master?"

The cultivator in the armchair slowly rose. Red candlelight flickered, leaving half his face hidden in shadow.

The cultivator addressed as Young Master Wu laughed heartily. "Excellent. This is the brat."

"Are you... not taking his Storage Bag?" the kidnapper ventured cautiously.

"What a joke."

Young Master Wu stood and said, "With the wealth and heritage of our Wu Household, what rare treasures haven't we seen? Why would I covet the paltry belongings of a Qi Refining rogue cultivator?"

"Hmph. Naturally, you wouldn't understand. I deliberately want him to see his Storage Bag hanging perfectly intact at his waist, yet be unable to summon even a shred of Spiritual Power. That feeling is what truly cuts into the heart."

Indeed, having a Storage Bag right before one's eyes yet being utterly unable to open it was the cruelest punishment for a cultivator.

With that, Young Master Wu threw back his head and laughed again.

"Yes... I was a fool. As for the payment we agreed upon..."

Young Master Wu unfastened a round Jade Pendant from his waist and casually tossed it into the man's hands. The pendant traced an arc of light through the air, a coiling dragon pattern faintly visible upon it.

"Take my