Chapter 570: I study books, but I also learn martial arts

Li Er again spent the whole day today in the Shou Cang Shi reading.

He sat from morning until dusk, with Bamboo Slip, bone fragments, and clay tablets piled before him, one scroll after another, one piece after another, hardly pausing.

He read carefully, and after finishing each scroll he would write translations and comments on the blank Bamboo Slip beside him.

Those comments were written in neat, clear handwriting, well organized, and profound yet accessible.

The watching historians grew more astonished the more they looked, and more convinced the more they looked.

Those were the problems that had troubled them for several years, even over a decade.

The difficult characters in the oracle bone script, the vague records on the clay tablets, the riddles that generations of sages had failed to solve—when they came into Li Er's hands, it was like ice and snow meeting spring sun, melting away one by one, becoming crystal clear and utterly obvious!

"So that's how it is..."

"I've recognized this character for eight years, and now I finally know what it means!"

"Marvelous! Marvelous!"

Exclamations rose and fell one after another.

Someone brought tea and gently placed it beside Li Er.

Someone brought snacks and quietly set them in the corner of the table.

Seeing him rub his shoulders, someone hurried forward and gently began to massage him.

Such technique, such attentiveness, such a face full of admiration—it was more devoted than serving one's own parents!

Li Er didn't mind either, letting them do as they pleased, simply focusing on the classic in his hands.

Only when the sun set and the light gradually dimmed did he set down the bone fragment in his hand and stand up.

"All right, that's enough for today."

He stretched his stiff shoulders and said, "I'll be heading off first."

He paused, then added:

"See you all the day after tomorrow; tomorrow I must go visit Mr. Shang, so I won't be coming."

As his words fell, the historians immediately gathered around.

"Bo Yang is leaving? I'll see him off!"

"Bo Yang, Bo Yang, why not come to my place for dinner tonight? My wife's cooking is unmatched on this street!"

"Go on, go on, your wife's cooking nearly poisoned Laozi last time. Bo Yang, you'd better come to my place—I've just hired a new cook whose roasted meat is absolutely fragrant!"

"Bo Yang is handsome and impressive—just one look and you can tell he's a natural talent!"

An older historian stepped forward, smiling broadly, "My family's eldest daughter, sixteen years old, is also a renowned beauty of this street, skilled in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting—she would be a perfect match for Bo Yang..."

Li Er's steps halted, and he gave him a helpless glance.

The historian grew more insistent, wanting to say more, but was pulled away by someone nearby.

"Enough, enough—your daughter was fighting with someone just a few days ago; what beauty!"

"You don't understand! That's liveliness! That's cuteness!"

A crowd argued loudly, yet none wanted to fall behind, escorting Li Er out the door.

Li Er shook his head helplessly, but did not drive them away.

Stepping out of the Shou Cang Shi, the green ox was already waiting quietly at the door. Seeing Li Er emerge, it lifted its head, let out a "moo," and lay down obediently.

Li Er swung up onto the ox's back.

He lowered his head to look at the historians still gathered around him, thought for a moment, and said:

"If you don't mind, you can come to my place tonight to discuss scholarship."

Hearing this, everyone's eyes lit up at once.

"Really?"

"Bo Yang, is this really true?"

"How wonderful! How wonderful!"

A group hurriedly followed, trailing behind the green ox, marching in a mighty throng toward Li Er's residence.

Li Er said nothing more.

He simply rode the ox, walking at a leisurely pace.

The historians behind him also remained silent, merely following quietly.

The group walked on in silence, passing through lane after lane, venturing into the deepening twilight.

The sky gradually grew dark.

In a secluded alley, Zhao Wen and a few others had been waiting for a long time.

Zhao Wen leaned against the wall, idly playing with the short stick in his hand.

Beside him stood eight burly men, their retinue of enforcers.

Two young nobles were also present, one holding a wooden staff, the other with a short dagger at his waist.

"Why hasn't he come yet?" one of them muttered impatiently.

"What's the rush?" Zhao Wen glanced at him, "That kid always returns at this time; just wait a bit longer."

He gave a cold snort.

"When he shows up, we'll first scare him, let him know we're formidable; if he's sensible, he'll stay away from Miss Liu from now on, and we'll let this go. If he isn't..."

He hefted the short stick in his hand.

"... then let him taste bitterness."

The other two gave a few heh-heh laughs.

Footsteps sounded.

A group of silhouettes turned in from the alley entrance.

Leading the way was a green ox.

Sitting on the ox's back was a youth, none other than Li Er.

Zhao Wen's eyes lit up.

"It's here!"

Zhao Wen waved a hand, and a few people rushed out from the shadows, blocking the alley's centre.

"Stop!"

Li Er lifted his head and stared at the group before him.

Zhao Wen sneered and was about to speak—

Then he froze.

Because behind Li Er, a crowd followed.

A crowd.

Dark and dense, at least a dozen people.

They trailed behind Li Er, moving silently; now they halted as well, all turning to stare at Zhao Wen and his companions.

Zhao Wen opened his mouth, unsure what to say.

Li Er did not move.

The historians behind him also stayed still.

The two sides faced each other, the atmosphere oddly eerie.

Zhao Wen swallowed, his gaze sweeping over the people behind Li Er.

Thin, weak, frail—clearly scholars, the type without any strength to bind a chicken.

He exhaled, regaining his bravado.

"What's the matter?" Zhao Wen let out a cold snort. "Did you think bringing a few people could scare me?"

He waved a hand, and the thugs surrounded him.

"All of you, get out of the way! This is a matter between us and Li Er; outsiders stay out! Otherwise I'll beat you all together!"

The historians exchanged uneasy looks.

Then—

A person stepped out of the crowd.

He was a middle‑aged historian, about forty, sporting a goat‑beard and a loose official robe, looking as frail as the others beside him.

He walked up to Zhao Wen and gave him a quick once‑over.

"Do you intend to attack us?"

Zhao Wen scoffed.

"What? Not convinced? You lot are as skinny as bamboo poles; I could take on ten of you alone!"

The historian smiled.

His smile carried the meaning, "I see you'll look at us just like that!"

"Although I enjoy reading, I have been studying the Body Refining Technique since childhood."

The words hung in the air.

He inhaled deeply.

His official robe explosively burst!

The sound of torn fabric rang through the alley, countless fragments scattering in all directions.

Zhao Wen's eyes widened to perfect circles.

What a body it was!

Bronze‑colored skin, muscles bulging like rock—chest, abdomen, back, arms, each defined with clear lines, brimming with explosive power!

Moonlight fell upon it, giving a faint sheen, like a bronze statue!

The historian cracked his neck, producing a crisp "crack crack" sound.

Then he let out a low roar.

"Ha!"

Blazing red light erupted from his body!

The glare was scorching and intense, turning the entire alley a deep red.

His aura surged abruptly, the stone slabs beneath his feet cracked with a "crack", splitting into fine fissures!

He strode toward Zhao Wen and the others.

With each step, the ground trembled.

He sneered, saying:

"Come, come, don't move. Let me give you a proper reception today!!"

Zhao Wen stood dumbfounded.

The thugs stood dumbfounded.

The two noble youths also stood dumbfounded.

Their short sticks, wooden rods, and daggers now seemed laughably feeble.

In the moonlight, the muscular giant advanced step by step toward them.

Red light blazed, his smile radiant.