Strength Can Lift a Person, 1 Throw Determines Victory or Defeat

Outside the back gate of Wansong Academy was a field.

The field was wide and flat, covered with wild grass. The grass was common foxtail grass, plantain, and dandelion, tall and short, and the students had trampled out little paths.

Beyond the field lies the back mountain. The mountain is covered in dense pine forests, their branches and leaves blocking out the sun, appearing dark green from afar like a screen. Meng Wenlang's "Pine Fence" is located within that pine forest.

At this moment, a large number of people had gathered in the field.

Nearly forty students, from both Dormitory A and Dormitory B, stood in twos and threes, some whispering, some pointing, and some with their arms crossed, waiting to see what would happen.

Many students from Jiazhai came.

Wang Shu stood at the edge of the crowd, his hands behind his back.

Gu Jun stood beside him, his expression as gentle as ever.

The two had just finished listening to Meng Wenlang's lecture at Songzha on the back mountain and, curious about the upcoming duel, came to watch. In fact, Wang Shu had also dueled with Xiao Hu before, but had lost.

Sun Yuangui was already weaving through the crowd, greeting this person and exchanging a few words with that person, his voice loud and his laughter hearty.

Jia Boyang also arrived. He stood on the other side of the crowd, a half-smile playing on his lips, his gaze sweeping across the room.

There were even more students in Yizhai, a total of thirty. Some were talking loudly, while others were laughing and joking, as if they were waiting for some good show to begin.

Liang Shanbo's gaze swept across the crowd and landed on Yu Yanzhi.

Yu Yanzhi stood in the crowd, head down, adjusting his clothes.

He was thin, with a gaunt face and slightly prominent cheekbones. His hair was neatly combed and tied up in a simple bun on top of his head with a bamboo hairpin. He wore a worn-out gray long robe, the fabric of which was rough and the cuffs were worn and faded.

He was unbuckling his belt, his fingers trembling slightly, but he tried to remain calm.

Standing opposite him was Xiao Hu.

When Liang Shanbo's gaze fell on Xiao Hu, he couldn't help but feel a slight chill in his heart.

Xiao Hu was indeed strong, with broad shoulders, a thick chest and back, and thick arms. His legs were like two wooden stakes planted firmly on the ground. He weighed nearly 200 pounds, and his entire body was made of solid, muscular muscles.

His hair was loose and thick, hanging messily over his shoulders and back.

His upper body was already naked.

His muscles were truly astonishing. His pectoral muscles were bulging, his abdominal muscles were protruding, and the muscles on his arms were even more knotted and bulging.

He stood there, like an iron tower.

He stood with his arms crossed, looking down at Yu Yanzhi as he undressed, a slight smile on his lips.

There was contempt and impatience in his smile.

Yu Yanzhi finally took off his long robe, revealing a plain cotton undershirt underneath. He hesitated for a moment, then took off the undershirt as well.

His upper body was indeed thin, with narrow shoulders, thin arms, and a flat chest with almost no muscle, though his skin was rather fair.

Some of the students watching laughed.

"You should go back to your studies!"

"With your build, Brother Xiao could take you down with one hand!"

"Three thousand coins may be tempting, but I'm afraid it's beyond your means!"

As Yu Yanzhi listened to the laughter and words, his lips were pressed tightly together, his cheeks puffed out slightly as if he were gritting his teeth, and a hint of shame and indignation flashed in his eyes, along with a hint of stubbornness.

He didn't speak, but simply folded the clothes he had taken off and placed them on the grass beside him. Then he turned around and faced Xiao Hu.

His hair was still neatly combed and tied up with a bamboo hairpin, not loose.

According to the rules of wrestling, wrestlers often wear their hair loose.

But he was unwilling to distribute it.

He stood there, his thin body appearing somewhat frail in the sunlight, his hands hanging at his sides, slightly clenched into fists.

Sun Yuangui stepped between the two men, raised one hand, and announced loudly, "Today's contest is between Xiao Hu and Yu Yanzhi. The rules remain the same: whoever throws the other to the ground, causing their shoulder or back to touch the ground, wins. No hitting, no kicking, no choking, and no eye-gouging. Do you understand?"

Xiao Hu nodded, his smile deepening.

Yu Yanzhi nodded, his Adam's apple bobbing, but he didn't speak.

Sun Yuangui glanced at Yu Yanzhi, a hint of reluctance flashing in his eyes, but he said nothing. He took a step back and abruptly waved his hand downwards: "Begin!"

No sooner had he finished speaking than Xiao Hu moved. He walked towards Yu Yanzhi, his steps slow but heavy and powerful.

Yu Yanzhi stood still, his legs slightly apart, his body leaning forward in a defensive stance. His eyes were fixed on Xiao Hu, his gaze filled with tension and a hint of determination.

Xiao Hu walked up to Yu Yanzhi, suddenly stretched out his right hand, and grabbed Yu Yanzhi's left shoulder.

His hand was like a palm-leaf fan, with strong fingers, pressing on Yu Yanzhi's thin shoulder.

Yu Yanzhi's shoulders suddenly felt heavy, and his body swayed. He gritted his teeth, grabbed Xiao Hu's arm with both hands, and tried to pry the hand off his shoulder. But his hands gripped Xiao Hu's thick arm like an ant trying to shake a tree.

Xiao Hu grinned and reached out with his left hand, grabbing Yu Yanzhi.

Then, he exerted force with both arms.

Yu Yanzhi was lifted up, his feet off the ground, kicking wildly in the air. He desperately gripped Xiao Hu's arm with both hands, his fingernails scratching several white marks on Xiao Hu's skin. His face turned red, and he made muffled "hoho" sounds.

Xiao Hu lifted him into the air and spun him around halfway, as if displaying a trophy.

Among the students watching, some gasped in surprise, while others laughed.

Then, Xiao Hu slammed Yu Yanzhi to the ground.

A muffled "bang" was heard.

Yu Yanzhi's back slammed onto the ground, his whole body forming a "大" shape, lying on his back.

His hair came undone, and the bamboo hairpin slipped from his hair, falling onto the grass. It rolled twice and came to rest next to a clump of foxtail grass. His hair lay scattered on the grass, covered with grass clippings and dirt. His chest heaved violently as he gasped for breath, his eyes red, but he forced himself to remain calm.

Xiao Hu took a step back and looked down at Yu Yanzhi. There was no smugness or pity on his face, only a faint expression, as if he had done something insignificant.

Sun Yuangui stepped forward, knelt down, and held Yu Yanzhi's shoulder: "Brother Yu, how are you?"

Yu Yanzhi did not answer.

He slowly got up from the ground, his hair disheveled, covering half his face. Several red marks remained on his left shoulder where Xiao Hu had grabbed him, and it was slightly swollen. His back was covered with grass clippings and dirt, as well as a patch of skin scraped off by the ground.

After he stood up, he lowered his head, picked up the scattered bamboo hairpins, and held them in his hand.

Then, he silently walked to the side, picked up his clothes, and put them back on one by one. His fingers were still trembling slightly as he tied his belt.

Some of the students watching laughed.

"So, we've already lost?"

"I thought I could hold on for a few more breaths, but I collapsed in the blink of an eye!"

"Three thousand coins? Do you think you can just take them so easily?"

The laughter and words felt like needles pricking Yu Yanzhi's heart, but he didn't even look at those who were mocking him.

Sun Yuangui glared at the mocking students and shouted, "What are you laughing at! If you're so capable, come and try to fight Brother Xiao!"

The students awkwardly shut their mouths.

Wang Shu stood at the edge of the crowd, watching Yu Yanzhi's back, his brows furrowed, but he didn't say anything.

Gu Jun sighed softly and shook his head.

A faint, ambiguous smile played on Jia Boyang's lips. His gaze lingered on Yu Yanzhi for a moment, then shifted to Xiao Hu, before finally settling on Liang Shanbo in the crowd.

After Yu Yanzhi finished dressing, he turned around, cupped his hands in a respectful gesture to Sun Yuangui, and then to Xiao Hu, his voice slightly hoarse: "Brother Xiao, I have lost."

Xiao Hu looked at him and said, "You do have guts, better than those who don't even dare to take on a challenge."

There was no sarcasm in his tone; rather, there was a hint of sincerity.

Yu Yanzhi paused for a moment, forced a smile, then turned around and walked towards the academy.

The crowd watched him walk away, and then gradually dispersed.

As Sun Yuangui was walking toward the back door of the school, his sleeve was suddenly gently tugged.

He turned around.

Liang Shanbo stood behind him, his expression calm: "Brother Sun, please come in and have a chat."