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

Shen Chen patted Zhang Xiaohu on the shoulder: "Xiaohu, hard work pays off, but sometimes effort alone is not enough. Do you know why I have such average talent, yet my cultivation speed is so fast?"

Zhang Xiaohu immediately stopped what he was doing and looked at Shen Chen with eager eyes: "Please enlighten me, Boss Shen!"

Shen Chen said, "Have you ever heard of the Marrow Cleansing Pill? When Boss Qin learned that my physique was not good, he went to great lengths to get one from the black market to help improve my physique."

Zhang Xiaohu's eyes darkened. The Marrow Cleansing Pill was priceless and unavailable; how could he possibly obtain it? Should he beg Qin Pi for it?

Shen Chen saved Qin Pi's life, and the two were even sworn brothers, so why should he ask Qin Pi to find him the Marrow Cleansing Pill?

Shen Chen added, "The other day, because of Liu Ming's matter, Master Zhao gave me another Marrow Cleansing Pill as a token of gratitude. However, once you've used the Marrow Cleansing Pill, it's not very effective the second time."

"So, I'm going to give you this pill." Shen Chen's words immediately stunned Zhang Xiaohu.

His eyes immediately reddened, and he choked out, "Mr. Shen... I... what have I done to deserve this?"

The Marrow Cleansing Pill is priceless and unavailable. Zhang Xiaohu knew that even if Shen Chen didn't need it, he could exchange it for what Shen Chen needed on the market. There was no need to give such a precious medicine to a powerless, talentless lackey.

"Little Tiger, when I first met you, apart from Little Dragon and you, no one recognized me as their leader. If it weren't for you, Zhuang Man would have taken my position long ago."

"That day when we were surrounded, it was Xiaolong who sacrificed himself to take an arrow for me. What I owe him is not something that can be repaid with a single Marrow Cleansing Pill." Shen Chen took out the Marrow Cleansing Pill he always carried with him from his bosom and handed it to Zhang Xiaohu. "Take the medicine immediately, and I will protect you."

"Yes, Chief Shen." Zhang Xiaohu was moved to tears.

"But before I administer the medication, I need to ask you one more question," Shen Chen said. "What happened to the injury on your face?"

Zhang Xiaohu hesitated for a moment, then said, "The day before yesterday, I went to the East Market to buy a martial arts manual and got into an argument with someone. That person called me a piece of trash who was practicing martial arts, and also called my brother a spy from a bandit gang, which is why you killed him..."

Shen Chen listened quietly, his expression unchanged: "Okay, I understand. You can focus on the marrow cleansing."

After taking the Marrow Cleansing Pill, Zhang Xiaohu's physical constitution improved greatly under Shen Chen's protection. The foundation he had built up over many days of practice made his internal organs full, and he almost reached the threshold of the Internal Organ Realm.

"Thank you, Master Shen!" Zhang Xiaohu felt the changes in himself and was overjoyed. He thanked Shen Chen again.

Shen Chen said, "Call Zhuang Man and Zhao Qian to gather here."

His tone was calm, but his voice inexplicably carried a hint of ruthlessness.

Nine Phoenix Tower is the most magnificent restaurant in Quanya Mountain, without exception. It was built by Zhuang Fu in imitation of the most luxurious Qifeng Tower in the city. There are two phoenix wood carvings on each of the four corner eaves and another phoenix wood carving on the roof, for a total of nine, hence the name Nine Phoenix Tower.

"Boss Zhuang, are you here for dinner today?" The waiter recognized Zhuang Man as Zhuang Fu's cousin and quickly stepped forward to flatter him, "The rooftop private rooms are all full, could you spare a room on the fourth floor?"

"I didn't come here to eat," Zhuang Man said. "Is there anyone here named Qiu Jiu?"

"Oh, Qiu Jiu? He's on the second floor." The waiter quickly replied after a moment's thought, "You've come to cause him trouble? No way, today is..."

Zhuang Man rudely interrupted the waiter: "Seal off the first floor. Don't let a single person out. If they break anything, I'll take the blame."

He then turned around and said respectfully, "Chief Shen, you can begin."

Under the waiter's astonished gaze, Shen Chen walked through the door and nodded: "Let's go."

He took the lead and went up to the second floor, with Zhuang Man and the others following closely behind Shen Chen.

The crisp sound of a wine glass shattering on the second floor broke the noisy atmosphere.

All eyes turned to Shen Chen and the others at the door, and whispers began to circulate:

"Who is this person?"

"You don't know him? The infamous 'Mastermind' Shen Chen, Liu Ming was captured by him."

"Shen Chen? Wasn't he assassinated by government agents a while ago? I heard he was paralyzed and crippled. How come he looks so energetic now?"

Shen Chen looked around, and those whose gazes fell upon him subconsciously lowered their heads, not daring to meet his eyes.

Shen Chen asked calmly, "Which one is Qiu Jiu?"

From the crowd, a tall, thin figure stood up, his voice forcedly calm: "It's me. What do you want?"

Shen Chen sized up Qiu Jiu: "Was it you who insulted Zhang Xiaohu yesterday, saying that his brother Zhang Xiaolong was a traitor and was killed by my own hands?"

Qiu Jiu swallowed hard. Looking at the unfriendly expressions on Zhuang Man and the others' faces around Shen Chen, he said cautiously, "It was my ignorance that led me to say such things."

"Oh, is that so? He was just talking nonsense." Shen Chen nodded, then suddenly turned to Zhuang Man and said, "Zhuang Man, go and cut out his tongue so he won't talk nonsense anymore."

"Yes." Zhuang Man, holding a sharp knife, strode forward and approached Qiu Jiu.

Qiu Jiu panicked and quickly hid beside a man who saw the situation, grabbing his leg and crying, "Boss Xu, save me!"

The leader surnamed Xu stood up and looked at Shen Chen: "Boss Shen, for my sake, let Qiu Jiu go for now. I'll have him apologize to Brother Zhang Xiaohu later."

The leader, surnamed Xu, was named Xu Fang. Qiu Jiu was his subordinate. He had achieved third place in the hunting ceremony the day before yesterday. Today was supposed to be a celebratory banquet for his men, but unexpectedly, Shen Chen caused trouble for Qiu Jiu at this time.

Shen Chen coldly glanced at Xu Fang: "What the hell kind of face do you have? You're protecting a dog that spews filth? Get out of my way!"

Xu Fang's expression immediately darkened, and he laughed angrily, "Good, as expected of Qin Pi's sworn brother, you really act as domineeringly as him!"

He drew his blade with a whoosh: "Then I shall have to learn from you today."

"Attack!" Shen Chen gave the order, and Zhuang Man and the others rushed forward, fighting with Xu Fang's men.

Seeing this, Xu Fang acted decisively and slashed at Shen Chen with his sword.

The blade whistled through the air, its force immense, yet Shen Chen remained motionless, as if simply standing still, waiting for the strike to land.

Instead of drawing his knife, he unleashed a palm strike. This strike was incredibly fast, even producing a sonic boom that made the ears of several nearby henchmen ring.

Thousand Cloud Hands!

In an instant, Xu Fang felt a numbness in his arm, and his knife flew out and slammed into the floor with a clang, the hilt and blade wobbling precariously.

"So fast!" Xu Fang's pupils suddenly contracted to the extreme, and he secretly cried out that something was wrong. In an instant, Shen Chen struck him in the chest with another palm.

Xu Fang's body flew backward and crashed heavily onto the wooden table, spitting out a mouthful of blood.