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

"Of course I'm willing," Shen Chen agreed without hesitation, "but there's one thing I need to ask of you."

"Speak, we've been through thick and thin together, so just say it," Qin Pi said with a smile.

"Brother Qin is absolutely right. Since we have a bond that transcends life and death, why don't we become sworn brothers?" Shen Chen said.

Qin Pi's eyes lit up, and he answered without hesitation, "I had the same idea. Come on, Brother Shen, I'll take you to an inn to rest first, and we'll go back to the mountain stronghold together tomorrow."

Qin Pi then led Shen Chen to an inn a few miles away. The inn was small and looked like a small temple from a distance. The mahogany doorposts were covered with a layer of moss, and the cracked stool legs were covered with white mold spots.

There was a proprietress and several waiters in the inn. The proprietress was wearing a slightly thin coarse cloth dress, had a charming figure, and her eyes had a seductive look.

She clearly recognized Qin Pi. As soon as he entered, she greeted him warmly as "Master Qin" and rushed over enthusiastically: "I heard yesterday that you were released from prison, so I knew I would see you today! How are you feeling?"

As Qin Pi removed the woman's restless hands from his shoulder, he said gruffly, "I'm in great shape, Xue Sanniang. Bring me your best wine. I want to become sworn brothers with my brothers. Also, get some meat dishes. Remember, it has to be real, good meat. If it's fake, I'll skin you alive."

Shen Chen knew this shop was definitely a shady business, but when he heard Qin Pi emphasize that it had to be "proper and good meat", his thoughts couldn't help but wander. What kind of improper meat did this shop usually sell?

Xue Sanniang chuckled and said, "Master Qin, don't scare me. My old skin is so rough it's even too rough to use for foot binding..."

She then turned her gaze to Shen Chen, who was masked beside Qin Pi: "I didn't know that Master Qin had a sworn brother. I am truly disrespectful and asked how you should address this distinguished guest."

"Just call him Master Shen." Qin Pi waved his hand impatiently. "And get two more incense sticks. Remember what I just said?"

"I know, Master Qin and Master Shen are going to become sworn brothers here," Xue Sanniang said fluently. "This is a blessing for our shop. Ah Si, prepare the incense, candles, and wine. Ah Wu, go to the back and kill a chicken to eat."

The two men hurried away, and Shen Chen noticed that their clothes were tattered, but the fabric was new.

These are marks left from frequent fights. These two seemingly ordinary guys are actually thugs who often draw knives with people.

Qin Pi nodded, satisfied. He then said to Shen Chen, "Xue San Niang has been running this shop for six or seven years. She's a trustworthy person. Brother Shen, you don't need to cover your face."

Upon hearing this, Shen Chen did not remove the black cloth covering his face. He stared blankly at the illusory panel in front of him.

After arriving at the inn with Qin Pi, you meet the innkeeper, Xue San Niang. Faced with her, what choice do you make?

[Auspicious/Medium Fortune: Cover your face so she can't see your true appearance; good luck]

[Middle to Low Fortune: Without any pretense, Xue San Niang finds your appearance quite appealing, and decides to slip some aphrodisiac into your wine to take advantage of you. (Fierce)]

Xue Sanniang glanced at Shen Chen, her long, alluring eyes revealing a hint of expectation. A woman's intuition told her that Qin Pi, her sworn brother, should be very much to her liking.

Shen Chen said calmly, "I'm ugly, and I'm afraid I'll frighten the proprietress. There's no need to embarrass myself."

When Xue Sanniang heard Shen Chen say that she was ugly, she felt bored. She smiled and said, "Then this humble woman will not disturb you two heroes any longer."

Just as she was about to take her leave, she heard Qin Pi cursing, "What are you pretending for? You're so ugly, does that mean I'm not even human?"

"Hey, don't..." Shen Chen hurriedly called out, but his hands were no match for Qin Pi's speed, and the black cloth covering his face was immediately torn off by Qin Pi.

Qin Pi persisted, "Third Sister Xue, tell me, what do you think of my brother's appearance?"

Xue San Niang stared at Shen Chen's face, her eyes suddenly lighting up like an owl spotting its prey in the night. She chuckled and said, "Truly, 'still waters run deep, and deep waters make no sound.' Such a handsome young man actually says he's ugly."

She immediately moved closer to Shen Chen, swiftly picked up the wine pot with her slender hand, and poured him a cup of wine: "My lord is dishonest, so you are punished by drinking this cup of wine."

Shen Chen glared at Qin Pi, who was chuckling beside him. He looked at the wine in Xue San Niang's hand, his heart pounding: "Could she have laced this wine with something...?"

As he was pondering how to refuse Xue Sanniang, a gruff voice suddenly came from the doorway: "Where's Xue Sanniang? I need to spend the night."

At this moment, another man in plain clothes wearing a straw hat arrived at the inn. The hat was pulled down low, covering most of his face, and there was a hideous scar on the corner of his mouth.

"He's here." Xue Sanniang had no choice but to hurriedly put down her wine cup and go to the door to greet the burly man in the straw hat. "Master Wei is here. I heard you just pulled off a big heist in the northern desert and made a fortune."

The burly man surnamed Wei, wearing a straw hat, laughed heartily: "Third Sister's information network is truly impressive. To be honest, I have indeed made a fortune."

He then pulled a shiny gold bean from his pocket: "Bring two bowls of fine meat, and some fifty-year-old Qingfengzui wine."

Xue Sanniang smiled, but looked troubled and said, "Master Wei, we'll serve you all the meat we can, but we're out of good wine."

Wei Xiong looked displeased: "All the good wine is gone? Are you deliberately refusing to do business with me?"

Xue Sanniang protested, "How dare I, a mere woman, do that?"

She pointed to Qin Pi and Shen Chen beside her: "Those two heroes are about to become sworn brothers, and they've already reserved the fifty-year-old fine wine. Why don't you move aside? We also have a pot of thirty-year-old Zhuyeqing in the shop..."

Wei Xiong snorted coldly: "Why should I give way to them? Can't they give way to me?"

He stood up and walked towards Qin Pi and Shen Chen, saying, "Wei Xiong, the 'Straw Hat Bandit,' greets you two heroes. Please give me that pot of fine wine. As compensation, I'll give you a pot of Zhuyeqing wine."

Qin Pi frowned slightly. As a martial arts expert, he sensed the threat emanating from Wei Xiong.

Besides, Wei Xiong was polite enough, even referring to himself as "little brother," so it's reasonable to give him face.

He was about to agree when he heard Shen Chen beside him suddenly snort coldly: "No."

Shen Chen glanced at Wei Xiong and said, "According to the rules of the martial arts world, it's first come, first served. Don't even think about getting this pot of wine."

Qin Pi was somewhat surprised. In his impression, Shen Chen was a gentle and refined person, and he had never seen the latter to be so tough and domineering.

Wei Xiong's face immediately darkened. He looked coldly at Shen Chen and said indifferently, "Since you won't let me, then let's go outside and settle this with our skills."

"Okay." Shen Chen readily agreed, then turned to Qin Pi and said, "Brother Qin, why don't you go out and spar with him for a few moves?"