All or Nothing

On the river, aboard an official bandit-hunting ship, screams rose and fell without end.

"Ironman Tu, you dared defy the authorities? You will not meet a good end!"

Though his words were fierce, his heart was weak. Looking at Ironman Tu, who stood there like an iron tower, the constable's eyes were filled with terror.

This time, Qinghe County had gathered its county troops to sweep away the River-Sweeping Bandits. They had originally intended to put on the same show as before, but Ironman Tu had unexpectedly acted out of character and begun slaughtering the government soldiers himself. His audacity truly reached the heavens.

Hearing this, not a trace of expression changed on Ironman Tu's rugged face.

"Blame yourselves for coming at the wrong time."

Reaching out, Ironman Tu directly crushed the constable's head.

At the sight, the bandits following Ironman Tu could not help cheering. In the past, they had always had to avoid government soldiers to some extent. Now, they could slaughter them like chickens and dogs. It was truly satisfying.

At that moment, a sparrowhawk flew in from afar. Upon spotting Ironman Tu, it folded its wings and dove, landing directly on him.

"Is there news?"

Using the sparrowhawk, Ironman Tu immediately removed the message tube from its leg.

"So it was true. After waiting so long, there is finally an answer."

As he read the information in the letter, a sharp gleam suddenly flashed through Ironman Tu's eyes.

"Yet Jiang Wang did not show himself. It seems he truly did not take me, the chief, seriously."

Casually crumpling the letter, Ironman Tu's face could not help revealing a trace of cold severity at the thought of Jiang Chen. He was not usually harsh toward his fellow chiefs and underlings, but at critical moments, he would never permit anyone to defy him.

"A-One, Jiang Chen did not make a move this time. Zhou Quan alone may not be enough. Personally lead the Black Guards there. Join Zhou Quan and intercept that ship for me."

His voice low, Ironman Tu gave the order.

Born into the Gao Family, though only from a collateral branch, Ironman Tu had still read quite a few books and understood many principles unknown to ordinary people. It was precisely because of this that, beyond the River-Sweeping Bandits in plain sight, he had secretly raised a group of Black Guards.

These Black Guards had all been controlled with secret medicines. He had also used fierce drugs like Tiger-Leopard Pills to exhaust their potential and accelerate their growth. So long as they survived in the end, none of them would be weak.

Under such circumstances, although the Black Guards numbered only six, every one of them was a second-rate expert. They feared neither pain nor death, and their combat strength was exceptionally formidable. Even A-One, their leader, was already a first-rate expert.

The reason he possessed such methods was thanks to his past experience as a medicine slave, as well as the medical book he had ultimately stolen from Death Valley. It recorded all manner of secret medicines and methods for cultivating Black Guards like these.

Hearing this, the middle-aged man who had remained at Ironman Tu's side immediately bowed in acknowledgment. His appearance was utterly ordinary, without anything remarkable about it. Only his face was wooden to the extreme, completely expressionless. He did not seem like a living person, but more like a puppet.

"That remnant of the An Family is the family head's son, the An Family's qilin child. The treasure, the Refining Heart Stone, is most likely on him. However, he should have some formidable methods as well. After all, the An Family once had a qi-refining cultivator guarding it."

"Originally, I intended to have Zhou Quan and Jiang Chen test the waters for me. Now that Jiang Chen has defied me, sending the Black Guards will do just as well. So long as I can obtain the Refining Heart Stone, there is nothing that cannot be discarded."

Watching A-One depart, Ironman Tu's heart was filled with resolve. He had long stepped onto a single-plank bridge; apart from staking everything on one throw, he had no other choice.

"Set this ship ablaze. Give the authorities a warning and make them keep quiet for a while."

Returning to his own vessel, Ironman Tu gave the order.

A moment later, flames blazed fiercely. The official bandit-hunting ship was completely set alight, thick smoke billowing into the sky and visible from an immense distance.

"Let's go."

After confirming the bandit-hunting ship's fate, Ironman Tu turned and entered the cabin. He knew clearly what consequences this would bring, but he could no longer care. All he wanted was a gap in time. So long as he could break through successfully, this desperate situation would immediately reveal a new chance at life.

If he could not break through, he was going to die anyway. Rather than die silently on a sickbed, he would rather die gloriously in battle.

Just as Ironman Tu prepared to draw in his net, Golden Sand Valley remained tranquil, everything progressing in an orderly fashion.

"Ironman Tu should have received word long ago that I had not set out. Since he still has not reacted at all, it seems that ship truly carries something he values above all else."

Slowly savoring his tea and gazing in the direction of the Clear Source River, Jiang Chen was deep in thought.

Ironman Tu appeared mild, but was in truth overbearing. He could not tolerate defiance from others. Going by his usual methods, the other side should have acted long ago under normal circumstances. Yet now there was not the slightest movement. It completely defied reason.

"My lord, I would like to make a trip onto the Clear Source River. Since Ironman Tu values it so highly, there must be something unusual aboard that ship."

Bowing as he refilled Jiang Chen's cup, Wang Yuan voiced his thoughts. At some point, he had stopped addressing Jiang Chen as Third Chief and Ironman Tu as Chief.

Hearing this, Jiang Chen gave him a somewhat surprised look.

"There should be considerable danger aboard that ship. Otherwise, given the importance Ironman Tu has shown, he would not refrain from acting personally and instead send Zhou Quan and me."

With interest, Jiang Chen pointed out the danger within.

"Danger and opportunity coexist. Since the thing—or person—on that ship matters so much to Ironman Tu, it must be extraordinary. We may choose not to act against that ship, but we cannot remain completely ignorant of the truth. That would leave us far too passive."

Though he understood the danger, Wang Yuan remained utterly unwavering.

Looking at Wang Yuan like this, Jiang Chen could not help feeling a little moved. The fewer chips one had, the more willing one was to fight and gamble. If they did not fight or gamble, they would have nothing. They already had little left to lose.

In truth, he had done many similar things himself. During the apocalypse, he had risked his life more than once for a little food. The reason he was not going this time was not because he failed to understand that the ship might hold a fortunate opportunity, but because there was no need.

"My lord, my strength is limited. If I go alone, I fear I will gain nothing. Thus, I hope you will let Rat Lord accompany me."

Seeing that Jiang Chen had not directly rejected him, Wang Yuan made another request. Though he was willing to take risks, he had no intention of throwing his life away for nothing.

Hearing this, Rat Prodigy, who had been hugging a roast chicken and gnawing on it, immediately froze. Raising its head, it first gave Wang Yuan a bewildered look, then understood something. At once, it bared its teeth and snarled. What a guy, truly what a guy! He was even setting his sights on a little mouse. It might not be human, but Wang Yuan was definitely a dog!