Where the People's Hearts Turn

Soul Bewitchment Bend remained shrouded in dense fog. A small boat came from downstream on the Qingyuan River, finally vanishing into the thick mist.

"It really has changed."

Standing at the bow, Jiang Chen watched the spreading fog before him, thoughts turning endlessly in his mind. His senses spread outward as he tried to grasp the mysteries within.

Golden Sand Valley had been raided, with heavy casualties among its managers, while Zhao Meng, the Third Boss, had vanished without a trace. This incident had caused no small upheaval among the River-Sweeping Bandits. In the end, Ironman Tu personally wrote Jiang Chen a letter, asking him to return to Wooden Fish Island. On one hand, they were to discuss Golden Sand Valley's future development; on the other, they were to celebrate his advancement to a first-rate martial artist.

After receiving Ironman Tu's letter and giving it some thought, Jiang Chen decided to make the trip. Truthfully, he was quite interested in Ironman Tu's unusual condition. This living dead man resembled, in some ways, the zombies Jiang Chen had seen during the apocalypse. The only difference was that Ironman Tu possessed complete intelligence, whereas zombies were truly walking corpses.

Besides, he still needed to make use of his position as the River-Sweeping Bandits' chief leader to get certain things done. To be honest, if he found the place comfortable enough, he would not mind remaining with the River-Sweeping Bandits for some time to come. At the very least, he did not have to worry about many matters here, leaving him more time for his own cultivation.

"Chief Leader, we're almost at Wooden Fish Island."

Wooden Fish Island's dock was already close at hand. Seeing that Jiang Chen was still lost in thought, Stone hesitated briefly before stepping forward and reminding him in a low voice.

Hearing this, Jiang Chen opened his eyes and withdrew his senses.

"There seem to be more people this time than last time."

Looking toward the dock and the surging crowd, Jiang Chen spoke casually.

When he had left last time, quite a few people had seen him off, but nowhere near as many as today. The reason was simple. Back then, although he had already been designated as the Fourth Boss, his relationship with the Third Boss had fallen to freezing point, making many people wary. But things were different now. Zhao Meng, the Third Boss, was already a thing of the past.

In fact, many people speculated that once Jiang Chen returned to Wooden Fish Island this time, he would likely become the new boss. Although the three-year term had not yet expired, he had already broken through to first-rate, and Zhao Meng's betrayal had caused considerable turmoil within the River-Sweeping Bandits. At such a time, Jiang Chen's chances of taking the position were quite high.

That was precisely why, after learning that Jiang Chen would return to the island today, many people had come early and waited here.

"Congratulations to the Chief Leader on advancing to first-rate!"

"Welcome back to the island, Chief Leader!"

The instant Jiang Chen stepped off the boat, congratulations rose one after another.

Jiang Chen's heart remained utterly still at the sight, but Stone, following behind him, could not help straightening his back.

At this moment, atop Wooden Fish Summit, Ironman Tu and the Second Boss, Zhou Quan, silently watched the scene.

"The people's hearts have turned to him."

Watching the bustle at the dock, Ironman Tu spoke. His tall figure faced the sun, casting a long shadow behind him.

At those words, Zhou Quan, standing nearby, shook his head in disagreement.

"It is not Jiang Wang who has won the people's hearts. It is you, Chief Boss. You have merely lent those hearts to him for the time being."

His voice low, Zhou Quan stated his view.

Others might not know, but he was well aware that Ironman Tu had deliberately spread those earlier rumors, all to pave the way for Jiang Chen to become the new boss. Naturally, the premise was that Jiang Chen could pass the test.

He returned without hesitation. It seems Jiang Wang has passed the first trial. If so, the rest will be simple.

Gazing toward the dock, thoughts flashed through Zhou Quan's mind.

In his view, Zhao Meng, the former Third Boss, was naturally the chief culprit behind what had happened at Golden Sand Valley, but there were still many suspicious points. Jiang Wang, Golden Sand Valley's guardian, most likely had some petty schemes of his own. That was precisely why Ironman Tu had specifically summoned Jiang Wang back to Wooden Fish Island—to see how he would react.

If Jiang Wang returned cleanly and decisively, then all was well. A few petty schemes did not matter. After all, even the smallest lackey among the River-Sweeping Bandits had his own little calculations; it was enough as long as he could be put to use. But if he showed hesitation, or even made excuses to delay, that would be another matter entirely.

Hearing Zhou Quan's words, Ironman Tu smiled.

Not long afterward, beneath the gazes of Ironman Tu and Zhou Quan, Jiang Chen climbed Wooden Fish Summit.

"You've already broken through to first-rate. Come exchange a few moves with me."

Without beating around the bush, Ironman Tu spoke with a smile.

Jiang Chen did not refuse. He knew Ironman Tu wanted to test him, and he also happened to want to probe Ironman Tu's strength.

Seeing this, Ironman Tu was greatly pleased and directly led Jiang Chen to a training ground.

"My greatest skill is body tempering. As long as you can force me back a single step, you win this match."

Standing in the center of the field like an iron statue, Ironman Tu's hard face was filled with confidence.

Hearing this, Jiang Chen moved like willow catkins drifting through flowers and chopped out a palm strike—the Heart-Severing Palm.

Ironman Tu's expression did not change. He also thrust out a palm. If Jiang Chen's Heart-Severing Palm displayed utmost softness and hidden force, then Ironman Tu's palm technique was pure fierce strength.

Buzz! The two palms collided, sending up a sharp palm wind. Ironman Tu did not move, save for the hem of his clothes fluttering, while Jiang Chen rapidly retreated.

"What terrifying physical strength."

His body light as willow catkins, Jiang Chen used his footwork to continuously dissipate the force. Looking at Ironman Tu, his gaze shifted slightly.

Though he had not used a cultivator's methods in that exchange, he had scarcely concealed his martial prowess. He simply had not used killing intent. Yet under such circumstances, despite both being first-rate martial artists, Ironman Tu had easily driven him back.

Had his footwork not been so exquisite, allowing him to continuously shed the force, that palm strike would already have injured him.

"He is unlike an ordinary man. Is it because of his exceptional natural gifts, the talisman arts he cultivates, or do the two complement one another?"

As the thought arose, Jiang Chen jabbed out with a finger and charged forward again. He was growing ever more curious about Ironman Tu's condition.

At this sight, a faint smile appeared on Ironman Tu's face. Jiang Chen's performance was even better than he had expected. It now seemed that Jiang Chen truly was the kind of martial arts prodigy who appeared once in a generation.

Thus, the two fought in a tangled mass—one graceful and agile, the other immovable as a mountain.

Outside the training ground, Zhou Quan watched the scene with a trace of wistfulness on his face.

After advancing to first-rate, he too had once exchanged blows with Ironman Tu. That single fight had completely extinguished the arrogance in his heart. Only those who had fought Ironman Tu could truly understand how terrifying he was.

Though body tempering was his greatest specialty, he was also proficient in palm techniques, fist techniques, and leg techniques alike. Most terrifying of all, he possessed an inhuman body. His physique was powerful to the extreme, blades and spears unable to penetrate it. He was like a humanoid savage beast, his strength having long surpassed the limits of so-called first-rate martial artists.

"Jiang Wang's performance is indeed far stronger than mine was in the past. Calling him a martial arts genius would not be the least bit excessive. Unfortunately, he has encountered a true monster of martial arts. To be honest, what puzzles me most now is why the Chief Boss has still not broken through to the Grandmaster realm. If even the Chief Boss cannot become a Grandmaster, I cannot imagine who else in the world can."

As he watched the two continue to exchange blows, Zhou Quan's thoughts quietly drifted afar.