Seeing Zhou Jing’s appearance, many people’s hearts skipped a beat. They secretly praised this strong man for his strength and immediately became interested.
Zhou Jing shouted a few more times, attracting more and more passersby gathered around. That area of the village turned extremely lively.
…
At the same time, a group of three people entered the village and walked on the street.
The person in front was a middle-aged man. He had two thin whiskers on his lips and a goatee under his chin. He was wearing a robe and holding a folding fan. He looked like an elegant scholar.
Beside him was a man and a woman. The man was in his prime. He stood tall and straight, like a pine tree. His shoulders were wide like an ape’s, but his waist was narrow and slim like a wolf. On his back were two long items wrapped in linen.
The woman was a heroic-looking girl. Her eyes and brows were vaguely similar to those of the burly male, showing that they were a pair of siblings. Her long hair was tied at her waist, and she had a short saber at her waist.
They did not look like ordinary people.
“This Wu Village is indeed prosperous. The owner of this place is kind… Master, should we go and pay a visit?”
The strong man looked at the middle-aged scholar and asked softly.
The middle-aged scholar waved his folding fan, “There’s no need. This is not our place. If we visit rashly, I’m afraid something will happen.”
The burly man scratched his head, “I once had a friend who was supported by Manor Master Wu a few years ago. There shouldn’t be a problem.”
The middle-aged scholar pointed at him with his folding fan as he helplessly spoke,
“It’s hard to tell what’s going on in a person’s heart. Which one of these rich people isn’t related to the officials? What if they suddenly decide to take us in and hand us over? We should try our best not to expose our tracks when we go to the state capital on this trip.”
At this moment, the heroic-looking woman at the side snorted coldly and echoed, “Master is right. How can there be any good people in these wealthy families who have worked hard to build such a huge family business? Do you think they’ll just randomly help out those in need? They’re just fighting for a good reputation and forming a good relationship. Do you really think they’ll let you do whatever you want?”
“Alright, alright. Then we can find a restaurant to rest, right?”
The strong man sounded embarrassed.
“Yes, but less wine.” The middle-aged scholar chuckled.
At this moment, a commotion entered their ears.
The burly man craned his neck to take a look and said in surprise, “Master, Sister, there’s someone performing in front!”
The woman’s expression changed as if she was interested, but she did not move. She turned to look at the middle-aged scholar.
Seeing this, the middle-aged scholar put away his folding fan and smiled, “There’s no harm in taking a look.”
The three of them followed the commotion and arrived at the art show. At this moment, the place was already filled with people. There was an empty space in the middle, and a burly man was shouting. It was Zhou Jing.
Seeing Zhou Jing’s ferocious appearance, the three of them were shocked.
The middle-aged man’s eyes lit up, “What a man! He’s definitely not an ordinary person at all!”
The middle-aged scholar also revealed a look of surprise as he muttered softly, “This person has a fierce aura. Could he be an expert from some village?”
“What kind of art is he selling?” The heroic woman could not help but be curious when she saw that there were no other tools in the field, only a huge rock that was almost as tall as a person.
At this moment, there were also people in the crowd who were cheering.
“That man, you’ve been shouting for a long time. First, you’re not showing anything, and second, you don’t have any weapons. What kind of skills are you selling?”
Zhou Jing patted the stone beside him and laughed, “I don’t have any other skills, but I’m quite strong. Let’s see if I can lift this huge rock.”
As soon as he finished speaking, the crowd burst into an uproar.
This stone was very huge. Seeing that no one could lift it without four to five people, the first reaction of the crowd was disbelief.
The heroic woman was also skeptical.
However, the middle-aged scholar smiled as if he had seen through everything.
“So he’s trying to sell his strength. This is usually a fishy job. That stone is most likely specially made. It looks heavy, but it’s actually hollow inside. After he raises it, he might even start taking out a Strength Pill to market.”
“I see.” The heroic woman understood.
However, at this moment, Zhou Jing raised his hand to stop the commotion.
“Everyone, if you don’t want to believe me, just my words have no evidence. Whoever can lift this huge rock can come forward and try. The truth is obvious!”
As soon as he finished speaking, an idle man who did not believe him stepped out of the crowd and spat twice into his palms. Then, he squatted down and grabbed the huge rock, wanting to lift it up.
However, even after he used all his strength, the stone did not budge at all. Instead, he exerted too much, and a loud fart came out, causing everyone to laugh. He was so embarrassed that he quickly buried his head in the crowd.
After someone made the first move, six or seven more villagers went forward to try. All of them failed.
At this moment, the middle-aged man’s hands itched. He also stepped out of the crowd and cupped his fists at Zhou Jing, “Please, I also want to try.”
Zhou Jing glanced at him and said casually, “Help yourself.”
The strong man did not hesitate. He squatted down, grabbed the stone, and exerted strength. His face gradually turned purple, and veins popped out on his forehead.
The boulder swayed slightly, and he really lifted it a few inches!
However, this person could not take it anymore. He quickly retracted his hand and the stone fell to the ground again.
Seeing this scene, the surrounding villagers could not help but be slightly moved as they whispered to each other.
“There’s actually someone who can lift it.”
“Although it’s only raised a few inches, it’s still quite a divine strength.”
Zhou Jing was a little surprised as well and could not help but treat him differently.
Even a strong man among mortals would not be able to lift the stone he had deliberately chosen. This strong man was really strong. He was probably not an ordinary person.
On the other side, the muscular man took two breaths to regulate his breathing. He cupped his fists at Zhou Jing and retreated to the side of his two companions.
“Brother, you’re so strong,” the heroic woman praised.
“Unfortunately, I can’t lift it.” The muscular man sighed, “It’s too heavy. I guess there aren’t many people in this world who can completely lift it.”
Seeing this, the middle-aged scholar could not help but ask, “Is this thing really a real boulder?”
“The real deal.” The man nodded.
Just as the three of them were secretly surprised, Zhou Jing felt that the time was ripe.
“Everyone has already tried it and knows that this is a real stone. If I can lift it, I hope you won’t be stingy.”
Hearing this, everyone around responded. There were even some busybodies who laughed and jeered.
“I want to see how you raise it!”
“If you can’t lift it, will you pay us instead?”
Zhou Jing did not answer. The corners of his mouth curled up, and in front of everyone, he squatted down and grabbed both sides of the boulder.
Just as everyone held their breaths and focused, a tiger-like roar exploded.
“Rise!”
The entire boulder rose into the air.
Under everyone’s dumbfounded gazes, the stone actually flew up a few meters into the air.
— Not only did he lift it up, he even threw it into the sky!
When it reached the highest point, the stone that flew a few meters was suddenly pulled back down by gravity.
Zhou Jing held the sky with both hands and caught the huge rock that was almost as tall as a person. A circle of smoke and dust bloomed under his feet, but his entire body was stable and did not even sway.
Everyone’s shocked expressions now froze on their faces.
Crack!
The middle-aged scholar snapped the folding fan in half, his eyes almost flying out.
The man’s mouth fell open, and his jaw almost dislocated.
The heroic woman gasped. She felt as though her hair was standing on end.
The three of them looked at Zhou Jing as if they were looking at a ghost!
The entire venue was only silent for a second before thunderous cheers sounded.
“Great!!”
Everyone’s faces were flushed as they clapped and cheered excitedly.
At the same time, the middle-aged scholar and the other two could not help but look at each other in shock.
The burly man had personally tested the weight of the boulder. At this moment, he could not believe it at all.
“Good ability! Even the ‘Heavenly King’, who is known as the number one expert in the Green Forest, doesn’t have such divine power! If I fight him, I’m afraid I won’t be able to last more than ten moves!”
“Is he still human?” The heroic woman’s expression was as if she had seen a ghost.
On the other hand, the middle-aged scholar, who had always been calm, seemed to be drunk at this moment. His face was flushed with excitement.
“I didn’t expect to meet such a good man in such a small place. How can we not befriend him?! If we can invite him to the mountains for the gathering, we can fight all the invincible people in the south!!”