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

On the other side, Fang Xue also led Wei Xiong into the house, where four chairs were placed next to the table.

Seeing Qin Pi frown and look displeased, Fang Yu assumed he was upset that there was no food or wine on the table, and quickly said to the waiter, "Waiter, bring the food quickly."

After the food and wine were served, Fang Yu noticed that Qin Pi still had a gloomy face. Not only that, Wei Xiong's expression was also not good. Fang Yu couldn't help but wonder, "I've been so polite. Even if I need their help, they shouldn't be looking at me like this..."

Qin Pi glanced at Shen Chen standing at the door and sneered, "Chief Fang, I remember I just introduced you to my sworn brother, didn't I? Why are you turning him away like a stray dog?"

Fang Yu suddenly realized that this was the reason for Qin Pi's displeasure.

But she felt that Shen Chen was not worthy to sit at the table and talk, so she said, "Brother Qin, please understand, this matter concerns our Dog Tooth Mountain stronghold, and it is best for those who are not involved to remain unaware..."

Before she could finish speaking, she saw Wei Xiong, who had been sitting to the side, stand up and say casually, "I am not from Dog Tooth Mountain, so this matter has nothing to do with me. I will take my leave."

Fang Yu was extremely embarrassed and hurriedly explained, "That's not what I meant..."

Wei Xiong sneered, "So it seems that Miss Fang looks down on my sworn brother, which is why she stopped him at the door?"

Upon hearing this, Fang Yu quickly reprimanded the henchmen at the door: "You blind fools, what are you doing stopping Master Wei's sworn brother?"

She suddenly realized something, her pupils contracted slightly, and she looked at Shen Chen at the door.

This person actually became sworn brothers with both "Skinner" and "Straw Hat Bandit" at the same time?

Fang Yu's contempt vanished instantly. She quickly stood up and extended her hand to Shen Chen, intending to welcome him into the house: "Master Shen, my two underlings were ungrateful and neglected you. I apologize on their behalf."

At the same time, Fang Yu focused even more intently on sensing Shen Chen's aura, but couldn't detect a trace of martial arts training in him. He couldn't help but think to himself, "How can an ordinary mortal be on good terms with both Wei Xiong and Qin Pi? It's hard to understand..."

Shen Chen looked at Fang Yu's outstretched hand but did not shake it. He simply nodded to Fang Yu and then sat down.

Fang Yu awkwardly withdrew her hand, inwardly cursing Shen Chen for his petty nature.

Fang Xue, who was standing to the side, poured wine glasses for Shen Chen and the other two, while the henchmen next to them kept flattering Qin Pi and Wei Xiong.

Qin Pi picked his ear with his little finger, blew a breath, and then looked up at the Fang sisters, Fang Yu and Fang Xue: "Chief Fang, just say what you have to say. We're all brothers, no need for fancy words."

Fang Yu took a deep breath, suddenly knelt on one knee, clasped her hands in a fist and pleaded, "Please, Master Qin, save my brother, Fang Yong!"

Fang Xue, who was standing next to her, explained the situation simply and directly: her younger brother, Fang Yong, had been arrested by the authorities half a month ago and sentenced to death by a thousand cuts. The execution was scheduled for three days later.

To ensure her brother Fang Yong could be rescued, she sought help from all sides. After learning that Qin Pi, nicknamed "Skinner," had escaped from prison, she immediately went to Xue San Niang's inn to look for him.

"Brother Qin, your abilities are extraordinary. If you were able to escape from that prison, rescuing my brother Fang Yong will surely be a piece of cake." Fang Yu looked at Qin Pi and Wei Xiong with hopeful eyes. "With your help, I will repay you handsomely after rescuing my brother!"

Upon hearing this, Wei Xiong did not express his opinion but looked at Qin Pi and said, "I want to hear Brother Qin's opinion."

Qin Pi thought about it and decided that since his bandit brothers had asked him for help, he should help them.

Just as he was about to nod in agreement, Shen Chen spoke up and asked, "Miss Fang, I've also heard of the name 'Flying Shadow Thief' Fang Yong. I've heard that his ability to scale walls and roofs is unparalleled, and that he once stole a hundred taels of gold in one night."

"I am truly curious, who exactly captured your brother?"

Qin Pi, upon hearing Shen Chen's words, also realized what was going on: "Brother Shen is right. I remember that Fang Yong's agility is even better than mine. You can count the number of people in the entire stronghold who can outrun him on one hand... How did he get caught?"

Fang Yu said with hatred, "He was captured by that Yuan Ying."

Upon hearing the name "Yuan Ying," both Qin Pi and Wei Xiong's expressions changed.

Yuan Ying, a famous constable of the Great Yan Dynasty, nicknamed "Divine Eagle Hand," possessed unparalleled grappling skills. He had captured at least eight hundred, if not a thousand, villains with his hands.

"So it was Yuan Ying...that makes no difference," Qin Pi murmured. "The group of swift men who captured me called themselves Divine Eagle Catchers, and each of them possessed considerable martial arts skills...If I had encountered Yuan Ying himself, I would have been defeated even faster."

Shen Chen then asked, "May I ask which prison Fang Yong is being held in?"

"It's the prison in Pingyang County." Fang Yu seemed to realize that Qin Pi and Wei Xiong were starting to be wary of Yuan Ying, so he quickly added, "I've already sent my brothers to find out. That Divine Eagle Hand left Pingyang County the day before yesterday and went to Nanjun."

"Oh...I see!" Qin Pi scratched his head repeatedly, his muscular arms bulging. After much deliberation, he finally turned his gaze to Shen Chen. "Brother Shen, what do you think?"

Shen Chen thought for a moment and said, "Miss Fang, to be honest, Brother Qin and I escaped from the prison in Anxi County, and we are not familiar with the prison in Pingyang County."

"Moreover, we heard some news in prison before," Shen Chen said. "Zhang Fuguang, the county magistrate of Anxi County, has been staying at a restaurant in Pingyang County for the past few days. His purpose is to entertain the imperial envoy. In other words, Pingyang County now has two county magistrates and one imperial envoy. The possibility that they don't have a top-notch expert protecting them is too low. I highly doubt the news that Yuan Ying has already left."

Shen Chen's analysis was logical and clear, and Wei Xiong, who was standing to the side, had already understood it. He immediately stated his position: "It seems that going to Pingyang County is likely to be dangerous, so I will not go. Please forgive me, ladies."

Qin Pi hesitated. After listening to Shen Chen's words, he felt that it was reasonable not to go to rescue Fang Yong, the "Flying Shadow Thief," but if he really didn't go, it would seem disloyal.

"Heh." Fang Yu suddenly sneered twice. She stared at Shen Chen and Qin Pi, and said sarcastically, "What kind of heroes are you to stand by and watch someone die? Qin Pi, I used to think you were a real man, but today I see you're no different from this spineless, greedy dog!"

Fang Xue's expression changed, and she hurriedly grabbed Fang Yu's sleeve: "Sister!"

Qin Pi's face turned red at a visible speed. He was about to start cursing Fang Yu when Shen Chen suddenly stepped forward and slapped Fang Yu hard across the face without any mercy.

"Snapped!"