The two parties met soon enough, and Ye Wutian did not make way, nor did the four rogues allow a young man to pass first.
Just like that, Ye Wutian and a long-haired rogue collided heartily.
The long-haired rogue staggered back two steps, but Ye Wutian, on the other hand, straight out screamed, "Ouch!," and flew backward three or four meters as if he had been hit by a car.
The three nearby rogues looked incredulously at the long-haired rogue and then at Ye Wutian, who was three meters away. Could it be this kid was made of paper?
The net had been cast, and the fish had swum in; now it was time to pull in the net.
However, before Ye Wutian could speak, the long-haired rogue beat him to it, shouting, "Dammit! Kid, are you blind? Don't just lie there playing dead, get up! I need to discuss this compensation matter with you."
Hearing about compensation, Ye Wutian's eyes immediately lit up, realizing society had progressed; even rogues had become classy enough to propose compensation on their own.
Ye Wutian sprang up from the ground like a carp, eager to inquire, "Tell me, bro, how would you like to compensate?"
The four rogues looked at Ye Wutian dubiously; the kid seemed all too happy about the compensation. Could he be a lunatic?
The four exchanged looks, and the long-haired rogue started meticulously calculating, "Costs of getting to the hospital, registration fees at the hospital, surgery fees, hospital stay, loss of earnings, costs to get back from the hospital, maintenance fees…"
"All these things you've mentioned are just incidental expenses. You've left out the most important part," Ye Wutian reminded.
"Which part?" the long-haired rogue asked, puzzled.
"Of course, the loss of youth. All this vibrant youth spent lying in a hospital, missing out on countless opportunities to meet girls, wasting all those moments that could have been spent in the company of girls—what a tragic affair," Ye Wutian exclaimed.
The four rogues looked at each other, speechless.
"Alright! Then let's include the loss of youth too," the long-haired rogue readily agreed.
Ye Wutian nodded in satisfaction and said, "Now, why don't you figure out the total amount?"
The long-haired rogue sized up Ye Wutian, thought for a moment, and responded, "This should all come to at least five thousand."
Ye Wutian glared, dissatisfied, "Five thousand? That's too little, isn't it? Hospitals are so expensive these days; just entering one can cost over ten thousand. How can five thousand be enough? It should be twenty thousand at least."
"Never thought you'd be such a reasonable person. Alright then, twenty thousand," the long-haired rogue said cheerfully.
"Bro, you're pretty straightforward. I really need the money right now. No need to transfer it to my card; just hand me the cash." Ye Wutian extended his hand toward the long-haired rogue as he spoke.
Upon hearing this, the long-haired rogue flew into a rage: "Kid, don't get it twisted. You're the one paying me."
"What? You guys knocked me flying, and there were so many eyes that saw it. It should clearly be you paying," Ye Wutian retorted with an innocent look.
"Enough of your damn crap. You're not going anywhere today without paying up!" The four rogues immediately surrounded Ye Wutian.
"Isn't this just blatant extortion?" Ye Wutian glanced at the four, stating plainly.
"Exactly, it's extortion. Hand over the twenty thousand yuan now," the long-haired rogue said with a sinister grin.
"Look, bro, for someone as rational as me, how could I possibly agree to such a preposterous demand?" Ye Wutian declared fearlessly.
"It seems I have to beat you until you're blooming like peach blossoms before you understand why the flowers are so red. Attack!" the long-haired thug bellowed.
Seeing the adversary ready to strike, Ye Wutian hurriedly interjected, "Hey! Hold on!"
"What, had a change of heart?" the long-haired thug asked with a sinister smile.
"Brother, you've got it all wrong, I was just wondering, after I knock you guys down, if someone interviews me, what line should I use? Should I say 'Don't fall in love with me, I'm just a legend,' or 'I'm not fighting rogues, just loneliness.' Which one sounds cooler and more reflects my suave and extraordinary demeanor?" Ye Wutian asked seriously.
"You cheeky brat, still tough when you're about to die. Hit him hard!" the long-haired thug roared.
Three thugs immediately raised their fists and charged at Ye Wutian, followed by a series of "bang bang" sounds, and then all three turned into bloodied messes lying on the ground, while the surrounding crowd gasped in amazement.
Looking at the three struggling thugs on the ground, Ye Wutian thought to himself, "Master, this disciple is merely executing heavenly justice, this shouldn't count as using martial arts for offense, right?"
Seeing this, the long-haired thug's face turned pale; knowing he had hit a tough nut, he quickly knelt down and begged with a mournful face, "Big bro, I was blind and failed to recognize Mount Tai. Please have mercy, spare me."
"Are you mourning at me?" Ye Wutian advanced and knocked the long-haired thug on the head, then asked, "Now do you know why the flowers are so red?"
"Yes, yes, I know," the long-haired thug nodded repeatedly in response.
"And why is that?" Ye Wutian pressed.
"Because, because it's summer," the long-haired thug said with a forced smile.
"Wrong! Let big brother tell you why." Ye Wutian said, and then swung his fist at the long-haired thug's nose.
The long-haired thug screamed, and his nose began spouting blood.
"Now you get it?" Ye Wutian asked with a smile.
"Got it, got it," the long-haired thug replied, pinching his nose, his face a picture of misery.
"Knowing it, better cough up the money," Ye Wutian said as he kicked the other three thugs who were lying motionless on the ground, and shouted, "You three, stop fucking lying there playing dead, hand over all your money."
The bystanders were gobsmacked, completely confused about who was extorting whom at this point.
"Big, big brother, we don't have any money on us," the long-haired thug said timidly.
Ye Wutian glared, exclaiming, "What? No money? You've got some nerve then, trying to extort without a penny to your name?"
The long-haired thug shrank his head and glanced secretly at Ye Wutian, replying, "Big brother, it's exactly because we're broke that we came out to extort."
"Can't be that unlucky? I go out to rob some money for once, and you guys could at least give a bit!" Ye Wutian looked at the long-haired thug, then at the other three playing dead, and finally shook his head in resignation, then walked up to the long-haired thug, grabbed his hair, and asked, "Dare to come out and rob again?"
"Dare not, dare not," the long-haired thug shook his head like a rattle.
"What? As a rogue, how can you shrink back at the slightest setback? You should cherish your promising career as a rogue!" Ye Wutian earnestly instructed.
"Yes! Yes!" At that moment, the long-haired thug felt like crying, and the onlooking crowd was sweating profusely.
Ye Wutian patted the long-haired thug on the head, encouraging him, "Hmm! You must be a good rogue in the future. With your outstanding rogue qualities and hard work, you'll surely become a Great Rogue respected by thousands just like your big bro here."