Ye Tian couldn't help but scoff. Did this guy really think he was a three-year-old child? A reward? After Ye Tian had already broken his arm? What kind of nonsense was that?
"Even a kid wouldn't believe something like that. Looks like you're still not being honest!"
Being humiliated by Chen Taotian made Ye Tian feel that he couldn't just let it slide anymore. This guy was treating him like a joke, completely disregarding him.
Ye Tian twisted and broke the man's other arm. Then he said coldly, "Do you know why I'm doing this? It's because you're seriously pissing me off. You really think telling me you'll 'reward' me if I let you go is going to work? Do I look like a gullible child to you?"
"What will it take for you to let me go? I'll do anything—anything within my power!"
Ye Tian laughed. "Alright, since you're so willing, then here's what I want—if you kneel and kowtow a few times, I'll let you go."
"A real man kneels only to the heavens and his parents! There's no way I'm kneeling to you!"
"You say 'no' like you've got a choice?"
Ye Tian was honestly amazed at how stubborn this guy was. After everything that had happened, he still refused to give in. With a sneer, Ye Tian said, "Fine. Since you're so insistent, I'll make you kneel."
He sent a heavy kick straight into Chen Taotian's knee. With a sickening crunch, the man collapsed to the ground, forced into a kneel by sheer impact.
"Hmph, now you understand the price, don't you?"
"Ye Tian, you… you—!"
"What's wrong? So mad you can't speak? Let me tell you something: the reason you're being taught this lesson is because you were too arrogant, too full of yourself. You brought this on yourself."
"What are you going to do to me?"
"What I want now is for you to start kowtowing. If you do that, I might just give you a chance to leave. How about it?"
Ye Tian stared at him, then said, "Alright, if that's your answer, then you can just keep kneeling there."
At this moment, Ye Tian had no intention of letting him go. The guy was not only stubborn but also malicious. If Ye Tian didn't teach him a proper lesson now, he wouldn't be able to forgive himself.
Ye Tian kicked him again. This time, Chen Taotian went flying, landing face-first on the ground in a humiliating sprawl. When he staggered to his feet, his face was already covered in bruises and cuts.
"Well?" Ye Tian said calmly. "Now do you understand the consequences?"
"I get it. I admit I was wrong. This is all my fault—I was wrong."
"Oh? And don't you think it's a little too late for that?"
Ye Tian looked him in the eye and said, "Even if you apologize now, I still can't forgive you. Everything you've done so far has been a complete disappointment."
"What will it take for you to let me go? I've already apologized! Isn't that enough?"
Ye Tian chuckled, then said, "I'll make this clear—I'm not going to let you go so easily. You were the one who brought me to this place, and that means today... you're not walking away."
He intended to scare him and see what kind of reaction he'd get. Sure enough, Chen Taotian was shaken and hurriedly said, "Let me go! I'll do whatever you ask—anything!"
"Alright. Then kowtow. If you can kneel and give me a proper apology, maybe I'll give you a chance."
Chen Taotian now understood he had no choice. If he didn't kowtow, Ye Tian would never let him go. He was out of options.
"Well, just a moment ago you were saying a man's knees are worth their weight in gold. And now?"
It seemed the reality of his situation had finally sunk in. Life only comes once—if you lose it, there's no getting it back. So now, he kowtowed to Ye Tian, loud and clear, and Ye Tian found it quite satisfying.
"Well? I did what you asked. So, are you going to keep your word and let me go?"
"Hmm. I said I might let you go if you kowtowed. I never promised I would."
"You're just playing dirty!"
"I'm not playing dirty. I said maybe, not definitely. And honestly, it's impressive you were even willing to kneel. But I still can't let you go. Someone like you… if I let you go, I'll have a long line of people coming for me afterward. You should already know who I am. If I release you, what happens next? You come back to get revenge?"
But Chen Taotian pleaded, "I swear—even if you let me go, I won't come after you! I've seen your strength firsthand today, and I truly believe no one can beat you."
"Yes, absolutely! So please, just let me go. I'll do anything you say!"
Ye Tian stared at him. In his mind, it was already far too late for Chen Taotian to surrender.