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

"I see." Zheng Yu said with relief, "You took the antidote beforehand, so you were completely unaffected by the sleeping potion."

He thought back carefully and sighed deeply: "At that time, the sleeping potion had already made a popping sound in the fire, but I focused my attention on the wine and mistook it for the sound of bamboo burning... The aroma of the wine perfectly masked the smell of the poison. Your plan was flawless and your methods were ingenious. I am completely convinced."

He looked at Shen Chen: "You are exceptionally intelligent to have devised such a scheme. You could have served the imperial court, so why did you become an outlaw?"

Shen Chen said calmly, "Officer Zheng, I was originally a clerk in Anxi County, serving the imperial court. Unfortunately, my superior was corrupt and used me as a scapegoat when things went wrong. I had no choice but to become an outlaw."

Zheng Yu asked, "Why doesn't the official report the embezzlement by his superior to the imperial inspector?"

"The governor was drinking and chatting with my superior, and couldn't bear to hear my grievances," Shen Chen laughed. "Officer Zheng, at that time I was about to be taken to the execution ground to be beheaded. Besides escaping from prison with Qin Pi next door and becoming an outlaw, did I have any other choice?"

Zheng Yu remained silent for a long time before finally sighing, "This is not a reason for you to gather in the mountains and rebel."

Shen Chen said calmly, "The emperor treats the people like dirt, and the people treat the emperor like an enemy. My attitude towards the Great Yan Dynasty is just like the Great Yan Dynasty's attitude towards me."

Zheng Yu lowered her eyes: "This is nonsense."

Shen Chen ignored him and turned to leave.

The following day, two severed heads were hung at the entrance of the village; one belonged to Liu Ming, and the other to Zheng Yu.

A gruff-voiced bandit loudly read aloud a notice beside him: "Three days ago, 'Ghost Calculator' Shen Chen entered the city, cleverly captured the bandit Liu Ming, and Divine Eagle apprehended Zheng Yu, rendering a great service to the bandit stronghold!"

Upon hearing this, the bandits immediately began to discuss it amongst themselves.

"Liu Ming is a martial artist at the True Qi Realm. Even Lu Feng with his [Whirlwind Blade] couldn't capture him last time. How did Shen Chen manage to capture him alive and bring him back to the stronghold?"

"That's not the most outrageous part. Zheng Yu is a martial artist at the Meridian Opening Realm, and one of Yuan Ying's [Divine Eagle Catchers]. The fact that he managed to capture him alive is truly outrageous!"

Soon, a series of discussions broke out in the village about Shen Chen's capture of two True Qi martial artists. The story became more and more fantastical, with some even saying that Shen Chen was already a Foundation Establishment expert, that he knocked Liu Ming unconscious with one punch that day, and then crippled Zheng Yu with one kick, before dragging the two of them back to the village.

Liuzhai, Pingyang County.

Master Liu stood in front of his mansion, trembling and drenched in sweat: "Detective Yuan, this matter truly has nothing to do with me!"

In front of him was a middle-aged man who was as thin as iron, with distinct knuckles on his hands and sharp eyes like an eagle.

Yuan Ying glanced around the empty house and twitched his nose: "There's a smell of alcohol."

He muttered to himself, "There's a strange fragrance mixed in with the alcohol... a bewitching scent, perhaps? Interesting."

At this moment, a constable hurriedly came to Yuan Ying's side and whispered to him, "An informant just woke up and said that a group of Qin wine merchants came to Liu Ming's door this morning to make wine for him."

Yuan Ying narrowed his eyes: "Great Qin wine merchants? In that case, the guards at the city gate will not dare to inspect their goods, and naturally they will not discover the unconscious Liu Ming and Zheng Yu."

"What a brilliant scheme! Using the aroma of wine to mask the sleeping potion, and intimidating the Yan people in the name of the Great Qin—it's perfect!" Yuan Ying exclaimed in admiration. "It must have been Hu Muzhi of Dog Tooth Mountain who personally devised this plan."

Shao Qin, another quick-handed man, came over and handed Yuan Ying a letter: "Sir, a letter from Dog Tooth Mountain."

Yuan Ying opened the envelope, glanced through it, and his gaze immediately sharpened: "Shen Chen? I've never heard of this person before."

He then carefully read the part of the letter that mentioned Shen Chen: "He became an outlaw five months ago. So he's a newcomer. No wonder I've never heard of him before."

Immediately, his brows furrowed, and after thoroughly reading the letter, a cold glint flashed in Yuan Ying's eyes: "This man cannot be allowed to live! Report back to Dog Fang Mountain immediately and deal with Shen Chen as soon as possible!"

……

Dogtooth Mountain Village.

Under the scorching sun, Shen Chen, shirtless, continuously wielded his blade, feeling the surging blood and qi within his body, the friction between his muscles and fascia, making his strikes even more ferocious.

"Swish, swish, swish." The sound of the sword cutting through the air rang out continuously. A quarter of an hour later, Shen Chen sheathed his sword. He was covered in sweat, and his abdomen showed clearly defined four-pack abs.

"I still can't sense any Qi." Shen Chen frowned slightly. In the past few days, he had used the mark to temper his Qi and blood five more times, but his cultivation had improved very little, and he still couldn't even see a trace of true Qi.

"My body fat percentage is still too high." Shen Chen stared at his abdomen, lost in thought. "Starting tomorrow, I'll only drink water and stop eating any food!"

A sudden thought struck him: "According to the Taoist teachings of my past life, this practice should be called 'abstaining from grains.' Could it be that the path of martial arts is actually the path to cultivating immortality?"

This thought immediately dissipated. Shen Chen was certain that the world he had transmigrated to was a martial arts world. There had never been any "immortals" in reality or in history books. The ninth level of the Refining Essence realm was the Martial Saint of the mortal world. People like "Living Dragon" Mu Qing were the pinnacle of combat power in this world.

But Shen Chen couldn't help but wonder, "If there truly are no immortals, then how do we explain the woman named Rahu and the mark she gave me?"

Boom!

At that moment, a clap of thunder interrupted Shen Chen's thoughts, accompanied by howling winds and drops of cold rain falling to the ground.

Shen Chen felt a chill and hurriedly returned to the house, where Cui'er had already boiled hot water for him.

After taking a hot shower, Shen Chen felt refreshed and then embraced Cui'er and fell asleep peacefully.

For the next few days, Shen Chen did not eat a single bite of food, and survived on water alone.

His weight began to drop rapidly, and his physique began to visibly thin out, which made Qin Pi worry: "Brother Shen, why aren't you eating? The way of martial arts is three parts training and seven parts nutrition."

Shen Chen did not answer; he had already drawn a fortune stick.

His understanding of the "way of fasting" is correct!

Finally, one morning, Shen Chen sensed a mysterious and profound feeling.

It felt as if a breath trembled with my breathing, like a tender bud just sprouting in the spring breeze.

[Good fortune: You have stopped fasting and started eating. Your body has been replenished in time, and your strength has greatly increased. Auspicious!]

[Bad omen: Your fasting has reached its limit after many days without food, and you are on the verge of collapse.]

Upon seeing the warning sign, Shen Chen immediately stopped his fasting practice.

He called to Cui'er, "Cui'er, cut me ten catties of beef; I need a lot of nourishing food!"

As he was devouring the meat, Fang Xue's voice suddenly rang out from outside the door: "Brother Shen, Fang Xue requests an audience."

"Please come in," Shen Chen said loudly.

Fang Xue walked into the house and saw the mountain of beef piled up in front of Shen Chen. Her almond-shaped eyes widened instantly.