Asking the Tiger Under the Pine Shade, Wiping the Bow to Keep the Promise

Sun Yuangui paused slightly, nodded, and followed Liang Shanbo to a pine tree at the edge of the field.

The pine tree wasn't tall, but its branches and leaves were lush, providing a cool shade. The ground was covered in fallen pine needles, soft to the touch. Under its shade, sunlight was filtered through the leaves, creating dappled patterns of light.

Liang Shanbo stopped, turned around, and looked at Sun Yuangui: "Brother Sun, I want to ask you a few questions."

Sun Yuangui nodded: "Brother Liang, please ask."

Liang Shanbo slowly said, "Brother Sun is acquainted with Xiao Hu. I'd like to know, what kind of person is Xiao Hu? What is his temperament like?"

Sun Yuangui was slightly taken aback.

He didn't understand why Liang Shanbo suddenly asked about Xiao Hu's character, but he still answered truthfully: "I've known Xiao Hu since I was a child, so I know him quite well. He's a fighter who loves to fight and has never liked studying. He's only interested in wrestling, archery, and wielding weapons. However, he's a straightforward person. He says what he thinks and doesn't hide anything. When he associates with people, he doesn't care about their social status, but only whether they are compatible with his temperament."

Liang Shanbo then asked, "If someone were to defeat him in a contest, would he be resentful? Would he refuse to pay the three thousand coins? Would he seek revenge afterward?"

Sun Yuangui shook his head subconsciously: "No. Brother Xiao isn't that kind of person."

His tone was very confident: "I know him. He's the kind of person who, once he loses, he loses; he never reneges on his debts. He lent out those three thousand coins himself, so why wouldn't he pay them back? Besides, the Xiao family is a prominent family in Qiantang; three thousand coins is nothing to him. As for revenge, he certainly won't. He respects capable people, and if someone were to challenge and defeat him, he would respect them, and might even become their friend."

He suddenly stopped talking at this point.

He stared at Liang Shanbo, his eyes filled with surprise and doubt, his voice changing tone: "Huh? Something's not right. Brother Liang, why are you asking these questions?"

Liang Shanbo remained calm, his tone equally composed: "I also wish to challenge Xiao Hu."

Sun Yuangui's eyes widened instantly, and his voice rose sharply: "What? You...you also want to challenge Xiao Hu?"

Liang Shanbo nodded: "That's exactly what I was planning."

Sun Yuangui's eyes seemed to pop out of their sockets, his voice urgent and loud: "No! How could you possibly be a match for Xiao Hu? Look at what happened to Yu Yanzhi today! You're not much stronger than Yu Yanzhi. If you challenge Xiao Hu, aren't you just asking to get beaten up?"

Liang Shanbo simply smiled slightly.

Sun Yuangui paused for a moment, then asked, "Brother Liang, are you perhaps short of money?"

He said earnestly, "If that's the case, you can borrow from me. I can't lend you too much, but I can lend you one or two thousand coins. Yu Yanzhi challenged Xiao Hu this time for those three thousand coins. I tried to persuade him, saying that if he needed money, I could lend it to him. But he refused to lend me the money and insisted on challenging Xiao Hu. I couldn't persuade him, so I could only let him do as he pleased. And you saw the result!"

He sighed and said, "Don't follow his example! Don't go looking for a beating and humiliation. You, Liang Shanbo, are someone who can defeat Wang Shu in debate. Your talent is first-rate in our Jiazhai. Why do something so reckless for three thousand coins?"

After listening to him, Liang Shanbo remained calm: "Brother Sun, rest assured. Since I dared to challenge him, I naturally have some confidence."

Sun Yuangui glared at him: "You're confident?"

His voice rose again: "Xiao Hu is so strong, much stronger than you. He's also a master wrestler. No one in our academy has ever beaten him, not even Wang Shu. Where do you get your confidence?"

Liang Shanbo did not explain, but calmly said, "Please ask Brother Sun to arrange a duel for me with Xiao Hu. Let's set it for noon tomorrow."

Sun Yuangui stared at him for a long time, and saw his determination, his composure, and his unwavering resolve.

Sun Yuangui shook his head, his expression a mixture of helplessness and regret: "Alas! Someone as talented as you, just like Yu Yanzhi, is someone who won't listen to advice. Fine, since you insist, I'll challenge Xiao Hu to a duel on your behalf. But... are you really sure?"

Liang Shanbo nodded: "I've thought it through."

Sun Yuangui patted Liang Shanbo on the shoulder: "Alright. I'll go find Xiao Hu now."

After he finished speaking, he turned to leave, then turned back and looked at Liang Shanbo: "Aren't you going back to the school?"

Liang Shanbo smiled slightly: "Brother Sun, please go ahead. I'll stay here for a while."

Sun Yuangui nodded and walked away alone.

Liang Shanbo stood there, watching Sun Yuangui walk away.

The pine tree's shadow fell on him, dappled and mottled.

A faint smile appeared on his lips.

The reason he inquired about Xiao Hu's character from Sun Yuangui was because Xiao Hu came from a prominent local family in Qiantang. As a poor man, he needed to be cautious about challenging such a person; he couldn't risk trouble for three thousand coins. Now, hearing from Sun Yuangui that Xiao Hu was a straightforward man who would accept defeat and wouldn't retaliate, he felt relieved.

As for whether or not they can win—

He knew in his heart that although his body in this life did not look strong, his physical abilities were beyond those of ordinary people. His strength, speed, endurance, agility, and all kinds of athletic qualities were extraordinary.

This is the amazing change he brought about by his time travel.

He did a hundred push-ups every day in the school dormitory, which amazed Zhu Yingtai. But for him, it was just the most basic exercise.

This body's true capabilities extend far beyond this.

Xiao Hu was indeed strong, weighing nearly 200 pounds and covered in muscles.

But Liang Shanbo wasn't without a chance of winning.

He took a deep breath and walked around in the field, which was covered with foxtail grass, plantain, and dandelions.

This wilderness will be his arena for tomorrow's battles!

……

……

Sun Yuangui is an impatient person.

He returned to the school from the wilderness and went straight to the Yizhai school dormitory area.

He arrived at the gate of Xiao Hu's school. The door was ajar. He raised his hand and knocked on the doorframe, calling out, "Brother Xiao! Are you there?"

Xiao Hu was sitting on his wooden couch, carefully wiping a bow with an old piece of cloth. He wiped it very meticulously, inch by inch, his movements slow but steady, as if he were used to this job.

Hearing the call from outside the door, he gave a deep, muffled reply: "Come in."

Sun Yuangui pushed open the door, went through the outer room, and came to the inner room.

Xiao Hu raised his head and grinned: "Brother Sun, you saw that fight just now. That Yu Yanzhi is really too fragile."

Sun Yuangui sat down on the wooden couch opposite him, chuckled twice, and didn't reply.

Xiao Hu lowered his head again to wipe his bow and arrows, and casually asked, "Brother Sun, what brings you here?"

Sun Yuangui cleared his throat and said, "Brother Xiao, another student from our Jiazhai wants to challenge you to a duel."

Xiao Hu paused, then looked up, his thick eyebrows slightly raised: "Oh? Who?"

Sun Yuangui said, "His name is Liang Shanbo."

Xiao Hu thought for a moment, then shook his head: "Liang Shanbo? I've never heard of him. Does your Jiazhai have such a person?"

Sun Yuangui said, "He's new here, only been here a few days. He's from Shanyin, Kuaiji."

Xiao Hu grunted in response, without much reaction.

Sun Yuangui added, "Brother Xiao, this Liang Shanbo is no ordinary man."

Xiao Hu put down his bow and looked at Sun Yuangui: "How is it extraordinary?"

Sun Yuangui leaned forward, his tone serious: "This man possesses the ability to memorize anything he sees, and he can even out-argue Wang Shu. He's only been here a few days, yet he's already the foremost scholar in our Jiazhai!"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Hu became interested in the challenge: "This person actually possesses such skill?"

Sun Yuangui nodded: "Absolutely true. I saw it with my own eyes and heard it with my own ears."

Xiao Hu paused, then asked, "Why did he challenge me?"

Sun Yuangui hesitated for a moment, then said, "I suppose it's for those three thousand coins; he comes from a poor family."

Xiao Hu nodded.

Yu Yanzhi was after money, as were the previous challengers. It's not surprising that Liang Shanbo, being from a poor family, would challenge them for money.

Xiao Hu picked up the bow from the couch again and said to Sun Yuangui, "Alright. Tomorrow at noon, the usual place. I'll wait for him."

Sun Yuangui stood up, cupped his hands in a respectful gesture, and said, "Then I will go and report back to him."

Xiao Hu nodded again and continued to wipe the bow with the old silk.

Sun Yuangui took a few steps, then turned back and looked at Xiao Hu: "Brother Xiao."

Xiao Hu looked up at him: "Is there anything else?"

Sun Yuangui hesitated for a moment, but still spoke up: "Brother Xiao, Liang Shanbo is my friend. Tomorrow in the duel, you...you should go easy on him."

Xiao Hu grinned: "I won't hurt him intentionally. It's just that in a contest, some bumps and scrapes are inevitable."

Sun Yuangui didn't say anything more and went out.