: A Powerful Body Confronts a Rampant Warrior, His Heroic Spirit Emerges

The following day at noon.

The open field outside the back gate of the school.

Today was even more lively than yesterday.

Nearly sixty students had gathered in the open field. They stood in twos and threes, some from Class A and some from Class B, whispering and discussing amongst themselves.

Because Liang Shanbo had already become famous in Jiazhai, most of the students from Jiazhai came today, curious about his confrontation with Xiao Hu.

Wang Shu came, Gu Jun came, Jia Boyang came, and even Yu Yanzhi came.

Yu Yanzhi was slightly injured yesterday, but he still came today. He stood at the edge of the crowd, his hair still neatly combed and tied up with a bamboo hairpin.

He gazed at Liang Shanbo in the arena, his eyes carrying an indescribable meaning.

He challenged Xiao Hu yesterday for those three thousand coins. He lost, lost miserably, and was ridiculed. Today, Liang Shanbo also wants to challenge Xiao Hu. He heard that Liang Shanbo is also after those three thousand coins.

He felt a complex mix of emotions. On one hand, he secretly hoped Liang Shanbo would also lose. If Liang Shanbo lost, he would share his embarrassment and ridicule. On the other hand, he also hoped Liang Shanbo would win. Because Liang Shanbo, like him, was from a poor family, and he wanted to see Xiao Hu defeated in the wrestling match.

Zhu Yingtai was there, of course. She stood at the edge of the crowd, while Yin Xin stood behind her.

Her gaze fell on Liang Shanbo in the arena, her heart suddenly raced, and her cheeks suddenly felt hot.

Liang Shanbo was untying his hair and taking off his clothes.

His hair was originally wrapped in a brand-new, light gray linen scarf. He took off the scarf, and his hair fell loose. His hair was black, not very long, and only reached his shoulders and back, hanging loosely.

He was originally wearing a brand-new light gray linen robe, with a brand-new plain linen belt around his waist. He untied the belt and the robe, folded the clothes, and placed them on the grass beside him. Underneath, he wore a plain cloth undershirt, which he paused for a moment before taking it off as well.

Then, shirtless, he returned to the field.

When his upper body was exposed to the sunlight, the onlookers, whether from Jiazhai or Yizhai, couldn't help but be surprised.

When clothed, Liang Shanbo's physique, though not particularly thin, was neither strong nor muscular; he looked like an ordinary scholar. But when shirtless, his upper body was surprisingly muscular!

Not the kind of muscular physique like Xiao Hu's. Xiao Hu's muscular physique was characterized by his large build and bulging muscles, which was intimidating to look at.

Liang Shanbo's strength was different. His shoulders weren't broad, but they were well-defined. His pectoral muscles weren't thick, but they were clearly contoured. The muscles in his abdomen were faintly visible, neatly arranged. His arms weren't thick, but they were lean and muscular, with faint blue veins visible on his forearms. His waist wasn't wide either, but the muscle lines of his back extended from his shoulder blades down and disappeared at his waist.

Wang Shu's gaze shifted slightly.

A hint of interest flashed in Gu Jun's eyes.

Sun Yuangui's eyes widened slightly, and his mouth opened slightly as well. He stared at Liang Shanbo's bare upper body and murmured, "This...this Brother Liang, when he was dressed, you wouldn't have guessed he was like this..."

The faint, ambiguous smile on Jia Boyang's lips stiffened slightly.

A complex look flashed in Yu Yanzhi's eyes.

Zhu Yingtai's heart raced, and her cheeks flushed.

This was the first time she had ever seen Brother Liang shirtless.

Looking at Liang Shanbo's lean and muscular upper body, the smooth muscle lines between his shoulders and back, and the faintly visible muscles in his abdomen, she couldn't help but exclaim, "So, Brother Liang's physique is so heroic!"

Brother Liang usually looks like a refined scholar when he's dressed. But when he lets his hair down and goes shirtless, he seems like a completely different person.

This is a charm that is different from usual.

Normally, he is the gentle and refined Brother Liang, brimming with talent and composed. At this moment, he is the valiant and extraordinary Brother Liang, strong and robust, ready to unleash his power.

Zhu Yingtai's worries lessened slightly. But only slightly. After all, Xiao Hu opposite her was much stronger than Brother Liang.

Xiao Hu stood opposite Liang Shanbo. His hair was disheveled, thick, black strands hanging loosely over his shoulders and back. His upper body was bare, revealing bulging muscles that gleamed oily in the sunlight.

He had been looking down at Liang Shanbo with his arms crossed. But when he saw Liang Shanbo's bare chest, a look of surprise flashed in his eyes, and he subconsciously lowered his arms.

He had initially thought that Liang Shanbo was just a weak scholar, like Yu Yanzhi. But the Liang Shanbo before him, though much smaller than him, was strong and muscular, with not an ounce of excess fat on his body.

But Xiao Hu was no pushover. In all his years of fighting, what kind of people hadn't he seen? Those stronger than him, he'd fallen. Those faster than him, he'd fallen too. This Liang Shanbo before him, so much smaller and stronger, what could he do?

A slight smile appeared on his lips.

Sun Yuangui stepped between the two men and raised a hand. His gaze lingered on Liang Shanbo's face for a moment, then on Xiao Hu's. His Adam's apple bobbed, as if he were swallowing, before he announced loudly, "Today's contest is between Xiao Hu and Liang Shanbo. The rules remain the same: whoever throws the other to the ground, making their shoulder and back touch the ground, wins. No striking, no kicking, no choking, no gouging eyes. Do you understand?"

Xiao Hu nodded.

Liang Shanbo nodded as well.

Sun Yuangui glanced at Liang Shanbo again, then took a step back and waved his hand downwards: "Begin!"

Xiao Hu walked towards Liang Shanbo with heavy steps.

He didn't reach out and grab him directly, just like he had done with Yu Yanzhi yesterday. This Liang Shanbo seemed more difficult to deal with than Yu Yanzhi.

He stopped three steps away from Liang Shanbo, his legs slightly apart, his body leaning forward slightly, his arms outstretched, assuming a pouncing posture, his eyes fixed on Liang Shanbo with unwavering focus.

Liang Shanbo stood motionless, his loose hair fluttering slightly in the wind. His hands hung naturally at his sides, neither clenched nor open, but relaxed. His eyes were fixed on Xiao Hu, his gaze calm and serene.

Xiao Hu stared at him for a few moments, then suddenly grinned and said in a deep voice, "I heard you're very good at studying?"

Liang Shanbo didn't speak, he just looked at him.

Xiao Hu chuckled again, then suddenly lunged forward, his right hand flashing out like lightning to grab Liang Shanbo's left shoulder.

This arrest was swift and ruthless.

Yu Yanzhi was grabbed by the shoulder yesterday and then lifted up.

The onlookers all stared at the two of them.

Zhu Yingtai's heart was in her throat. Yin Xin, standing beside her, was also holding her breath with nervousness.

However, Xiao Hu's hand grasped at empty air!

Just as Xiao Hu's hand was about to touch his shoulder, Liang Shanbo suddenly shifted to the right. The movement was slight, merely a slight turn of his body. Xiao Hu's hand slid past his shoulder, grasping only air.

Xiao Hu was slightly taken aback. Although he hadn't used his full strength in that grab, it was still quite fast, something an ordinary person would find difficult to dodge. Yet this Liang Shanbo had dodged it so easily?

Without thinking twice, he reached out with his left hand and grabbed Liang Shanbo's right arm.

This grab was even faster than before.

Liang Shanbo shifted his body slightly to the side.

Xiao Hu's left hand also grasped at empty air.

The onlookers murmured amongst themselves.

Sun Yuangui's eyes widened. Wang Shu's gaze sharpened. Even Gu Jun's gaze sharpened slightly.

A light shone in Zhu Yingtai's eyes.