Chapter 27: The Lion and the Venomous Snake (Part 1) Please bookmark this page

  Tang Jie's dagger and Bal's iron hook simultaneously stopped at each other's head and throat.

  "What's wrong with you?"

  Bar and Tongjie saw each other clearly at the same time, saying in unison.

  But soon Old Ba Er realized that this one blow had exhausted his physical strength, and as he let out a breath, his body immediately softened.

  Lao Ba Er clenched his teeth in agony and let out a long sigh: "Kid, what are you doing here?"

  Tang Jie hadn't had time to speak when he saw William and Bill rush forward excitedly and say to Ba Er: "Captain, we've come to rescue you!"

  "Save me?" Bar was taken aback, then burst out laughing "I said why Bisai left this old fox suddenly stopped interrogating me and kindly put me down. It turns out he knew you were coming all along!"

  Tang Jie was shocked: "They knew I was coming to rescue you? Who has such a quick skill to spread the news? This is impossible!"

  Barry gave a nod to William and Bill, the three of whom had known each other for many years and were extremely tacit. William and Bill immediately understood, brought up the iron gate, and stood guard outside.

  "Kid, come here..." Old Bal saw the two people leave, he slowly sat down on the ground, using his eyes to gesture for Tang Jie to get closer to him. He let out a sigh and a faint smile appeared on his face: "I was right about you, you actually risked your life to save me! But do you know, this time you came is really foolish, it's an undoubtedly fatal matter!"

  Tang Jie walked over, but his eyes showed no regret or hesitation: "Captain Bar, if it weren't for you, I would have drowned in the sea already. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't even know what I could do in this world. If it weren't for you, maybe I would still be unknown and continue to live a mediocre life..."

  Captain Bar stared at Tang Jie, nodding slowly: "Good, very good! A dozen days of meeting, yet far exceeding a dozen years of nurturing. You are the best warrior I have ever met in this life, the most outstanding sailor, you are much better than Wells!"

  Tang Jie was shocked: "Captain Ball, are you saying that Wells betrayed us?"

  "This isn't a good place for idle chatter, so I'll get straight to the point!" Captain Bar's eyes flashed with a cold killing intent, filled with thick resentment. "The moment I was caught, I knew it had to be Wells who betrayed me! If not, how could Bisset have been waiting here to catch me off guard?"

  "Wells, Wells, why did you betray me too?" Old Bar's fist clenched and trembled slightly: "When I first picked up Wells, he was still a child, at that time he smiled as pure and transparent as the ocean, how lovely he was! I watched him grow up, watching him become an adult, just like watching my own child, he used to love me so much, respect me, worship me..."

  "But do you know what made him become like this?" Old Bar raised his head, and a frenzied gleam flashed in his tawny eyes, making Tang Jie secretly shudder.

  "It's the treasure map of Pirate King Atos! Hahahaha..." Bar laughed, his voice echoing in the room, sending chills down one's spine. "Atos died over a hundred years ago, yet he still drives this world crazy. How many people have given their lives to the sea, to this elusive legend, in search of his treasure?"

  "Since I heard the legend of Pirate King Atos, my life has been marked by piracy. I've spent my whole life searching for Atos' treasure. This search has lasted for 33 years!" Bar laughed and muttered to himself like a dream, "But just when I was about to give up in despair, I suddenly found that the dream I had pursued all my life was within reach!"

  Lao Ba suddenly stretched out one hand and tightly grasped Tang Jie's collar, bringing his face close to his, with a frenzied gaze flashing in his eyes, and said in a sinister tone: "Do you know what I accidentally found on someone else during an unexpected fight?"

  Tang Jie looked at Old Ba Er's appearance and was shocked from head to toe. He stuttered: "What thing?"

  "It's a treasure map, it's the treasure map of Pirate King Atos!" The big-bearded man suddenly burst into loud laughter, but although he was laughing wildly, his voice remained extremely low. This state of frenzy under strong rational control made Tang Jie feel a chill run down his spine.

  Tang Jie was shocked: "Didn't you say you didn't have any!?"

  "Hmph! The day I got the treasure map, only Wells knew about it besides me, because he was right next to me at that time..." Old Barl sneered, every wrinkle on his face flowing with icy hatred. "Think about it, if I let others know that I have Atos' treasure map on me, how many days could I survive? Even Wells, the foster son I raised for 17 years, had a change of heart in front of Atos' treasure, think about who else I can trust?"

  Tang Jie wanted to ask, why are you telling me this now?

  The words reached the tip of his tongue, but Tang Jie forcibly held them back.

  This is really a very stupid question.

  Lao Ba's eyes moved slightly in their sockets as he looked at Tang Jie, his gaze gradually softening: "You're great, you're different from them! You knew coming here would mean death, yet you still came! I'm very pleased..."

  Tang Jie said in a low voice, "Captain Bar, the treasure map and all that, have nothing to do with me! I only know that Hell's number can't be without you, Nia can't be without you! You taught her how to fight, how to navigate, how to survive at sea, and gave her a distant dream. But have you ever thought about what she would do if you fell?"

  "Nia?" Bar was taken aback, and under the cold moonlight, Old Bar's previously ferocious face turned gentle and kind. "Yes, she may look strong and resilient, but in fact, she is the most fragile one!"

  Old Ba Er smiled and said to Tang Jie: "Child, now that you're here, I'm at ease about Nia..."

  Tang Jie listened to Bal's words, and unexpectedly had the intention of death in his heart. He was shocked and exclaimed: "Captain Bal, what are you talking about? Since I've come, I will definitely rescue you!"

  Old Bar shook his head and sighed, "Since Bisai let you in, he must be hoping that you'll rescue me and then follow us from behind. When we go to retrieve Atos' treasure, they'll capture us all at once!"

  If Viscount Byro had heard Lord Brawl's words, he would have applauded and sighed: The Sea Fox Lord Brawl is indeed his old opponent, and has actually seen through all of Viscount Byro's arrangements in such a short period of time.

  Lao Ba laughed: "What kind of calculation is this old fox making? I can see it at a glance. But he calculated and calculated, yet didn't calculate one thing!"

  Tang Jie didn't understand: "What thing?"

  The old man swung his iron hook, and said with great satisfaction: "He stripped me naked to search my body, but he didn't think that I would hide the treasure map under his eyelid!"

  Old Bar smiled with satisfaction and used his other hand to pull out the rivets that held his iron hook prosthesis in place, removing it.

  Tang Jie stared with his eyes wide open as Old Bar took out a yellowish-brown soft cloth from his severed arm.

  Old Ba Er held this treasure map with one hand, his eyes were fascinated, as if he was looking at the most precious treasure in the world.

  Tang Jie was also unintentionally infected by Old Bar, and as his gaze went on, he saw that the soft cloth depicted a somewhat blurred navigation chart. Due to its long history and having been passed through countless hands, its edges were slightly frayed, especially the left upper corner of the soft cloth had a small black hole burned into it.

  Is this really the treasure map that has driven the whole world crazy?

  Tang Jie's gaze was involuntarily stunned, and this glance seemed to be as long as several centuries. Until the cold moonlight, Old Bar's eyes gazed at Tang Jie with a profound and meaningful look.

  Tang Jie suddenly came back to his senses: "This... this is Atos' treasure map?"

  The old man nodded slowly and handed the treasure map to Tang Jie: "Take it, hurry up and leave. As long as you take it out of Pirate King Atos' treasure, you can dominate the world, let the sky be your stage, and let the ocean be your courtyard!"

  Tang Jie's hand touched the treasure map, but it was like being burned by fire, and he quickly withdrew it. He glared at Old Bar, furious: "Bar, captain, are you trying to test me?"

  Lao Ba'erlei's gaze stared straight at Tang Jie, but saw that in Tang Jie's eyes there was only determination and anger, without a hint of greed or evil.

  The old captain smiled and shook his head, wordlessly stuffing the treasure map into Tang Jie's bosom. He pointed to his own mangled feet and gave a miserable smile: "Don't bother with me anymore, I'm already a useless person! Even if you can rescue me, my feet are done for, and I'll never be the Ball Captain who could brave the wind and waves, leading you all like lions in battle again!"

  A flash of vicissitude and emotion flickered in Old Ba Er's eyes: "The era that belongs to me has passed, the sea and the future belong to you, my child!"

  Tang Jie only felt that his heart was tightly grasped by someone, he was originally a sentimental person, and at this time, after hearing Old Bar's words, he was so stirred up in his heart that he couldn't speak.

  He was just about to speak, but heard a sharp and shrill voice outside the prison cell in the quiet night: "Who's there? Someone is breaking out of jail!!"

  Tang Jie was stunned for a moment, then immediately understood that this was the guard he had spared earlier!

  He gritted his teeth, feeling anxious and regretful in his heart!

  As soon as this sound was heard, the entire Jerlun prison was like a boiling pot, and it suddenly churned up!

  There is still one more shift tonight...