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

Qin Pi paused for a moment, feeling that something was wrong. It seemed like Shen Chen had made the harsh words, so why was he the one who made the move?

Without thinking too much, he picked up the knife and said coldly to Wei Xiong, "Then let's go out and practice."

"Please." Wei Xiong snorted coldly and strode to the outside of the inn.

Qin Pi followed Wei Xiong. As soon as he lifted the curtain, Wei Xiong pulled out a handful of yellow sand from his sleeve and threw it at his face.

At the same time, Wei Xiong stretched out his foot and kicked Qin Pi in the groin, a sinister move executed in one swift motion.

Shen Chen saw everything Wei Xiong did, and he couldn't help but curse inwardly, "What a despicable tactic."

To Shen Chen's surprise, the others reacted calmly to Wei Xiong's underhanded tactics. Qin Pi, who had been tricked, even praised him, saying, "Well done!"

Qin Pi ducked to protect his lower body, and with his right hand, he pulled a handful of sand from his sleeve and threw it at Wei Xiong's face. The first move of the two martial artists was surprisingly similar: first, they threw sand at each other's faces, and then they kicked each other in the groin. It was as insidious as it could be.

So this is considered a normal move?

Shen Chen's expression quickly returned to calm, and he silently made a mental note of it.

Wei Xiong wielded a long, heavy sword that whistled through the air when swung, exuding extraordinary power. Qin Pi, on the other hand, used an ordinary broadsword. When the broadsword clashed with the long sword, the broadsword fell backward as if a sparrow had encountered a hawk.

Qin Pi was no match for Wei Xiong in strength and was suppressed by Wei Xiong as soon as the fight started.

Seeing this, one of the men speculated, "In my opinion, 'Skinning Knife' is still no match for 'Straw Hat Bandit,' after all, 'Straw Hat Bandit's' bounty has reached 100,000 coins in the past two days, while 'Skinning Knife' is only 60,000 coins."

Wei Xiong's swordsmanship was expansive and powerful, his blade like a dancing python. The sharp light of his blade repeatedly slashed through Qin Pi's clothes, leaving faint marks, but never drawing blood. Qin Pi was like a fish fry in a fishing net, always managing to escape through the mesh. This drew cheers from the waiter watching by the window: "What excellent footwork!"

"Skinning Knife, all you can do is dodge?" Wei Xiong was furious when he missed his first strike. "Is the Skinning Knife, so famous on the Heroes' List, just a cowardly coward who dodges and weaves?"

Shen Chen had heard Qin Pi say that in order to facilitate the pursuit of wanted criminals, the Great Yan Dynasty had specially compiled a list of bandits, which listed the crimes committed by the wanted criminals and the amount of the reward, and also included a portrait.

But in the eyes of all the outlaws, this list of bandits was undoubtedly a "list of heroes".

For example, the description of Qin Pi on the bandit list is: "He has killed seventeen warriors, skinned them all, and is extremely vicious. He is wanted for a reward of 60,000 coins."

On the "List of Heroes," his evaluation is as follows: "Qin Pi, the Skin-Peeling Knife, has skinned seventeen martial arts masters. His knife is like a ghost or a god. The imperial court has offered a reward of sixty thousand for his head, but has failed to do so."

Upon hearing Wei Xiong mention the "Heroes' List," Qin Pi perked up. He stopped dodging and shouted, "Then I'll let you know the name of my Skinning Knife!"

He swung his sword directly, and a pure white blade of light instantly shone forth.

The previous dodge was just to figure out Wei Xiong's strength. Qin Pi had already noticed the flaw in Wei Xiong's swordsmanship. This strike was "fast", "accurate" and "ruthless"! It instantly dismantled Wei Xiong's offensive like autumn wind sweeping away fallen leaves.

"Sizzle!"

A streak of blood flashed from Wei Xiong's arm, and the long sword flew out with a mournful sound, plunging into the ground with a "clang".

The moment the weapons are out of hand, the outcome is already decided.

Wei Xiong clutched his throbbing wound, stared at the long knife stuck in the ground, gritted his teeth, looked at Qin Pi, and cupped his hands in a gesture of respect: "The skinning knife lives up to its name. I've lost. You can take this knife!"

[At this point, I hope readers will remember our domain name: ①⓪①ⓚⓚⓢ.ⓒⓞⓜ]

In a battle between swordsmen, the winner is entitled to take the loser's sword as a trophy, thereby enhancing their own reputation.

Xue Sanniang moved closer to Shen Chen, staring at his calm face with great curiosity: "Master Shen, you seem completely unsurprised, as if you're certain you can defeat the straw-hatted bandit with a skinning knife."

Shen Chen calmly pressed down on Xue San Niang's wandering hand and said indifferently, "Boss lady, it's time to serve the wine."

Just as Xue San Niang was about to tease Shen Chen a bit more, Shen Chen suddenly walked out.

He reached out and stopped Qin Pi from taking Wei Xiong's sword, saying in a firm voice, "A sword is a swordsman's life. This battle is just a friendly fight, and there's no risk to life. Brother Wei, you should keep this sword."

Upon hearing this, Qin Pi stopped drawing his knife and nodded, saying, "Brother Shen is absolutely right."

Upon hearing this, a hint of shame flashed across Wei Xiong's face: "A defeated blade is too shameful to wield again."

"This sword must have helped Brother Wei win against many people, right? How can you give it up just because of one defeat?" Shen Chen said. "Shame will inspire courage, and Brother Wei's path in martial arts should be even smoother from now on."

"Brother Shen is right, take your knife back." Qin Pi did not make things difficult for Wei Xiong any further.

Upon hearing this, Wei Xiong nodded and said in a hoarse voice, "You two brothers are very generous."

He immediately picked up his longsword, sheathed it, and went back into the inn, saying to Xue Sanniang, "I'll settle the score with the skinning knife and that Brother Shen."

Qin Pi's eyes lit up immediately. He and Shen Chen had just escaped from the prison and were penniless. They had planned to ask Xue San Niang for credit and were even prepared to sell their brother's "male beauty".

Now that Wei Xiong is willing to pay for them, it's a welcome opportunity.

Qin Pi immediately clasped his hands in thanks to Wei Xiong: "Thank you, Brother Wei."

Soon, a table full of fine wine and meat was served. Qin Pi couldn't wait and was about to start eating when Shen Chen stood up and called out to Wei Xiong, "Brother Wei, if you don't mind, why don't you come and join us at our table?"

Qin Pi realized what was happening and said, "Brother Shen is right, Brother Wei, come and join us."

Wei Xiong didn't hesitate and immediately joined Qin Pi and Shen Chen at the same table, drinking good wine, eating meat heartily, and boasting together.

The waiter came over carrying two incense sticks and candles: "Master Shen, Master Qin, these are the incense sticks and candles you requested for your sworn brotherhood ceremony."

Shen Chen shouted, "Take another one! We've become sworn brothers with Brother Wei, it's like a fight that led to friendship!"

Qin Pi readily agreed: "Brother Shen is right!"

Wei Xiong, enjoying his drink, slapped the table and exclaimed, "Brother Shen is absolutely right! It is my good fortune to meet you two heroes today!"

The waiter quickly fetched incense and candles, and the three men knelt before a three-foot-tall statue of a deity, swearing together: "We, Shen Chen, Qin Pi, and Wei Xiong, hereby swear to become sworn brothers, not seeking to be born on the same day, month, and year, but seeking to die on the same day, month, and year..."

Behind the counter, Xue Sanniang stared at Shen Chen thoughtfully. She quietly said to the waiter beside her, "Go and change Master Shen's wine glass."

The waiter was quite surprised: "Sister Xue, you're not sleeping with him?"

Xue Sanniang asked, "Awu, do you know why I've been able to run this shop for six years without it going out of business?"

The waiter guessed, "You and 'Living Dragon' are on good terms?"

Xue Sanniang shook her head and smiled sweetly: "That's only the second point. The most important thing is that I never sleep with men I don't understand."