The Master and His Wealthy Fiancée

Amidst a peculiar mountain range, a stream flowed alongside a waterfall that seemed to hang upside down from the sky. Below the misty cascade was a narrow iron-chain path, just over a meter wide.

Chen Dong walked along the iron-chain path, flanked by seven or eight tense members of the Military Suppression Department. They remained constantly vigilant. In their eyes, Chen Dong was an unparalleled killer; the deaths of three Celestial Spirit Powerhouses were undoubtedly linked to him.

After crossing the path, they arrived behind the waterfall. The view suddenly opened up to a massive cavern, the size of five or six basketball courts. Hundreds of personnel in black uniforms bustled about. This was the base of the Military Suppression Department for the Tianjiang River Basin.

Passing through the main hall and a series of complex passageways, Chen Dong was led to the deepest part of the cavern. Beyond a large iron door lay two rows of prison cells.

As soon as he stepped through the iron door, Chen Dong felt his True Qi being severely suppressed.

A guard at the front opened one of the cells and said nothing, merely gesturing for Chen Dong to enter.

Chen Dong frowned slightly. 'What is this about?' But his injuries were severe, and he needed a safe place to recuperate. 'A cell is a cell, I suppose. It should be safe enough here.'

Inside the cell, there was nothing but a simple stone bed and some straw. One wall was the natural rock of the mountain, while the other three were thick iron plates. The only exit was the cell door.

The moment Chen Dong stepped inside, the cell door was locked behind him. He heard someone outside give an order: "This man is extremely dangerous. Keep him under strict watch until the interrogation!"

Chen Dong was surprised. 'I'm going to be interrogated?' 'Whatever. I'll worry about that later. Healing is the priority right now.' He immediately sat on the stone bed and began to meditate to treat his wounds.

Meanwhile, in a mountain forest several miles from the waterfall, a young man in the uniform of the Military Suppression Department was furtively looking around.

A figure appeared before him, and an aged voice spoke. "You've come."

The young man dropped to one knee. "Greetings, Patriarch!"

The aged voice said, "After receiving your message, I found an excuse to send Xu Zong away. Is your information accurate?"

The young man replied respectfully, "I heard it with my own ears, I swear it's the truth! Although I didn't see clearly if it was Mingxi Grass in the box, the Guardian from the Star-Picking Sect cried out in surprise when he saw its contents. Besides, given Chen Dong's youth, he couldn't possibly have broken through to the Outer Appearance Realm without the Mingxi Grass!"

This young man was Tang Mincai, the agent from the Military Suppression Department who had been monitoring the Star-Picking Sect's Guardian.

The figure nodded thoughtfully. "Your task now is to make Chen Dong hand over the Mingxi Grass. If he refuses, kill him," the aged voice said offhandedly.

Tang Mincai looked troubled. His strength was only at the Early-stage Grandmaster Realm. "But Chen Dong has reached the Outer Appearance Realm, and Inspector Xu values him greatly. If..."

The figure sneered. "If what? I'm not asking you to duel him. He's fallen into the hands of our Military Suppression Department, so what if he's at the Outer Appearance Realm? Xu Zong has already been sent away by me. This is the perfect opportunity. Too many people in the Department are watching me, so this task can only be entrusted to you. I've already had him locked up in the high-security wing. Once he's in there, he'll be completely at your mercy!"

Tang Mincai was startled. 'Chen Dong is in the high-security wing?' Hearing this, he accepted the order. "Your subordinate obeys!"

The high-security wing was protected by a Sealing Array personally established by the Director. Without an Array Flag, it was impossible to summon any True Qi. Even a powerhouse at the Outer Appearance Realm could only rely on their physical strength there.

The figure said with satisfaction, "Rest assured, concealing the information about Chen Dong is a great service in itself. As long as you can get the Mingxi Grass, I will not treat you poorly. Once I obtain the Mingxi Grass and break through to the Outer Appearance Realm, a Domain Lord's seat will surely be mine. At that time, I will step down as Patriarch and recommend you to take my place."

Upon hearing this, Tang Mincai's face lit up with excitement.

Back in the cell, Chen Dong managed to suppress his injuries again, but if he didn't treat them with a Purifying Void Pill within three days, the foundation of his meridians would be damaged.

Chen Dong's expression grew heavy. He took out his phone and, just as he expected, there was no signal. Trapped in a prison cell, getting to Celestial Essence Mountain now seemed incredibly difficult. Just as he was about to call for a guard to ask when he could leave, the cell door opened. Tang Mincai walked in alone, his eyes filled with delight.

Tang Mincai closed the cell door behind his back and sized up Chen Dong.

Chen Dong's brow furrowed. He asked bluntly, "Are you here to kill me?"

The man's aura was coiled, ready to strike at any moment, different from the cautious readiness of the other Military Suppression Department members. Moreover, the look in his eyes was like a predator studying its prey, deciding where best to make the first cut.

Tang Mincai was momentarily stunned but didn't speak, which was a tacit admission. He had already thought it through: Chen Dong had to die. Only a dead man was truly safe. If he took the Mingxi Grass and Inspector Xu found out upon his return, even with the Patriarch's protection, he'd be skinned alive if he wasn't killed outright.

Chen Dong truly didn't want to make an enemy of the Military Suppression Department. He spoke up, "If you're here for the Mingxi Grass, I can give it to you."

A slight smile touched Tang Mincai's lips as he held out his right hand. "Hand it over."

Chen Dong was speechless. 'So it really is about that thing.'

"If you let me out and allow me to borrow the Military Suppression Department's Pill Furnace, I'll give you the Mingxi Grass."

Hearing this, killing intent flickered across Tang Mincai's face. "This is no time for you to be making demands. Just hand over the Mingxi Grass obediently!"

That one test confirmed it for Chen Dong: this man was determined to kill him. He wouldn't even entertain a negotiation, single-mindedly focused on the Mingxi Grass.

A cold glint appeared in his eyes. "And what if I refuse?"