Seeking good fortune and avoiding misfortune: Starting with death row inmates

"Restore my Dharma form."

"Return my Star Palace."

"Return my supernatural powers!"

The incessant murmurs around me abruptly stopped.

Shen Chen suddenly opened his eyes, his pupils shrinking to their maximum size.

Before him lay a ruin, yet from these broken walls one could still discern that this place had once been a magnificent palace, with glass-like fragments on the ground reflecting a breathtaking brilliance.

Where did this come from?

Shen Chen cautiously looked around, his gaze suddenly focusing in one direction.

Not far away, a humanoid skeleton sat slumped on a huge stone chair. Listen carefully, and you can hear intermittent, faint murmurs coming from beneath the skeleton: "You treacherous villain, you stole my divine powers..."

Shen Chen held his breath and subconsciously took a step back, while secretly drawing lots to try and ascertain his current situation.

A golden divination tube suddenly lit up in his mind, and the next second, Shen Chen's neck was tightly gripped, and his feet were instantly lifted off the ground.

The humanoid body that had been sitting on the stone chair had vanished. Now, it gripped Shen Chen tightly with one hand, and two eerie red lights shone on its eggshell-like, shattered face. Unable to contain its joy, it uttered, "Found it! The thief who stole my divine power!"

Shen Chen felt his vision blurring, and the immense force on his neck was slowly crushing his consciousness.

We're about to be killed!

Shen Chen suddenly felt a surge of frustration. He never expected that his death would be so... bizarre!

A powerful survival instinct caused Shen Chen to unleash tremendous strength. He suddenly lowered his head and bit down hard on the humanoid body's hand.

The humanoid shell remained unmoved; it even let out a mocking laugh: "Heh heh..."

Its laughter suddenly stopped, then it let out a surprised exclamation: "Huh?"

The next second, Shen Chen's body fell to the ground.

Before Shen Chen could react, the humanoid body had already grabbed his chin, and two holes emitting a faint red light were brought close to his face: "Zhu Yang? So it was you who took my divine power."

Shen Chen stared at the "eggshell" in front of him, his mind racing.

He took a deep breath and steadied his voice: "We know each other?"

The red light from the hole in the "eggshell" dimmed noticeably: "You don't recognize me?"

Shen Chen paused for a moment, scanned the "eggshell" from head to toe, and shook his head.

"That's true, how could you possibly recognize me now?" the humanoid body muttered to itself, a hint of sadness in its voice.

Immediately, the shattered body began to grow flesh and hair at a visible speed, and finally, a long-haired beauty dressed in red appeared before Shen Chen.

"Well, does this appearance remind you of anything?" The woman in red looked at Shen Chen, her eyes bright.

Shen Chen's gaze swept across her face. It was a stunningly beautiful face with full red lips, a high nose bridge, and starlight seemingly reflected in her rosy phoenix eyes.

Shen Chen tried hard to recall, and he was certain that he had never seen such a beautiful woman before, whether in his past life or this one.

How should I answer? Should I admit I've seen her before, or say I've never seen her?

Shen Chen focused his attention on the divination sticks in his mind and tried to draw lots.

But his thoughts were immediately seen through by the beauty in red: "You want to use my supernatural powers against me?"

She looked at Shen Chen with a complicated expression, as if she were looking at a fool trying to drown a fish.

Shen Chen's mind raced.

Was this fortune-telling slip that could predict good or bad luck originally hers?

Without giving it any further thought, Shen Chen honestly replied, "I really don't remember you."

The woman in red stared at Shen Chen, her eyes revealing a thoughtful expression.

Immediately, a look of realization crossed her face: "Very well, it seems your plan was very successful."

Shen Chen was taken aback again upon hearing this.

A scheme? Mine?

The woman in red noticed the doubt and wariness in Shen Chen's eyes. She said softly, "In short, we are friends, not enemies. If you encounter anything difficult in the future, you can call my name, and I will help you."

She reached out and gently touched Shen Chen's heart: "Remember, my name is Luo Hou. Do not recite this name unless absolutely necessary. Those old fogies are probably still watching me."

Her second half of the sentence was spoken through gritted teeth, seemingly containing intense hatred.

Shen Chen hesitated for a moment, then nodded: "Understood."

"Alright, you may go now. I will not come looking for you again until you become a prime minister." Luo Hou's voice gradually faded from Shen Chen's ears.

…………

When Shen Chen woke up again, it was already night. A crescent moon shone brightly outside the window, and under the lamplight, Cui'er was adding firewood to the stove to boil water.

"Was it a dream?" Shen Chen recalled the dream he had just had, his brows gradually furrowing.

He immediately felt a warm sensation on his back. Turning his head, he saw Cui'er carefully wiping the wound on her back with a hot towel.

Upon seeing Shen Chen awake, Cui'er's eyes lit up: "Master Shen, you're finally awake!"

"How long have I been asleep?" Shen Chen asked.

"It's been a day and a night. Master Qin said that if you haven't woken up by tomorrow morning, he will go into the city to find a doctor for you," Cui'er said hurriedly. Her eyes were heavy and her face was pale, clearly indicating that she had been watching over Shen Chen for quite some time and was exhausted.

"How are you feeling now?" Cui'er asked anxiously.

Shen Chen checked his body and found that apart from a slight stinging sensation on his skin, he was fine: "I'm okay."

"I'll go tell Master Qin that you're awake." Cui'er hurriedly got up and left the room.

A moment later, heavy footsteps sounded outside the door. Qin Pi strode into the room and, seeing Shen Chen lying on the bed, his expression relaxed considerably: "Brother Shen, you're finally awake."

Qin Pi immediately took Shen Chen's pulse and, after confirming that the latter's blood and qi were abundant, breathed a sigh of relief: "Your constitution is truly special. I have never seen any martial artist with abundant blood and qi who can sleep for so long."

"Thank you for your trouble, Brother Qin." Shen Chen nodded.

Qin Pi looked at Shen Chen with a worried expression: "Brother Shen, there's something I want to tell you."

Seeing his hesitation, Shen Chen smiled and relaxed, "Brother Qin, please feel free to speak."

After considering for a moment, Qin Pi said, "I want to advise you to give up martial arts."

The air fell silent for a moment. Qin Pi secretly observed Shen Chen, only to find that his expression remained calm.

Shen Chen paused for a moment, then slowly asked, "Is it because of my innate constitution?"

Qin Pi gritted his teeth: "Brother Shen."

"In the path of martial arts, physical constitution is of utmost importance, while effort is secondary. Those with superior physical constitution can temper their bodies once a day."

Qin Pi paused, then looked at Shen Chen: "Brother Shen, you were unconscious for two days during your body tempering session, and your bones and muscles have not fully recovered yet. You can only temper your body once a month at most."

"So, give up." Qin Pi placed his hand on Shen Chen's shoulder, his voice trembling slightly. "I sincerely advise you to give up the path of martial arts, not because of your aptitude, but because I'm afraid that one day you'll faint again like the day before yesterday, and never wake up again."