Hearing Yu Xiaogang's words, a meaningful smile appeared on Liu Yuan's face.
He really hadn't expected Yu Xiaogang to be so afraid of death. Seeing him looking so terrified, Liu Yuan couldn't help wanting to toy with him.
After all, Yu Xiaogang had given him plenty of reasons to hate him. Simply cutting him down and letting him die would be far too easy on him.
Liu Yuan figured he ought to humiliate him properly first.
Only then would it feel satisfying to send him tumbling from heaven back into hell.
"Oh? Is that the truth?"
With that in mind, Liu Yuan smiled and spoke to Yu Xiaogang.
When Yu Xiaogang heard Liu Yuan's words, he thought he had a chance of surviving. Hope immediately surged through him.
He hurriedly answered Liu Yuan, "That's right! I'm telling the truth. As long as you're willing to let me go, I'll do anything you ask!"
A strange curve appeared at the corner of Liu Yuan's mouth. He continued:
"In that case, kneel down right here and slap yourself a thousand times."
"Five hundred on the left, five hundred on the right—one thousand in all."
"As you do it, repeat these three sentences in order: 'I'm a lowlife. It's my fault. I deserve to die.'"
"Keep repeating them slowly. Once you've slapped yourself a thousand times, I'll let you go."
"How does that sound?"
Liu Yuan smiled at Yu Xiaogang as he spoke, setting the Scythe down in front of him with a clear threat.
Yu Xiaogang froze when he heard Liu Yuan's words.
To be humiliated like this—to kneel down and slap himself, then insult himself too?
If something like this got out, Yu Xiaogang would never be able to show his face again.
The thought made him reluctant to comply.
"Relax. There are witnesses here. Look, aren't there two women over there? They can testify for you, so you don't have to worry about me going back on my word."
"Or were you joking when you said that just now? Do you want to die more than you want to do this?"
Liu Yuan sneered and raised the Scythe in one hand, his killing intent instantly surging.
Yu Xiaogang jumped at the sight of him.
Daring not to hesitate any longer, he hurriedly replied, "I'll start right now! Don't attack! Don't attack! I'll do exactly what you said."
Only then did Liu Yuan give Yu Xiaogang a meaningful look and stop moving.
Seeing this, Yu Xiaogang didn't dare delay any longer. He quickly knelt on the ground as Liu Yuan had instructed, then slapped himself hard, one after another, all the while muttering under his breath.
"I'm a lowlife."
"It's my fault."
"I deserve to die."
"I'm a lowlife."
"It's my fault."
"I deserve to die."
He went on repeating the same few sentences. Each time he said one, he felt unbearably humiliated.
And worst of all, there were two women watching nearby.
If it had only been Liu Yuan and Yu Xiaogang there, then Yu Xiaogang would have been disgraced in front of Liu Yuan alone.
But those two women were there too, and Yu Xiaogang was a regular here. He knew them well.
Now, though, he was being reduced to such a pitiful state in front of them. Yu Xiaogang felt humiliated beyond measure.
Even so, there was nothing he could do.
After all, Liu Yuan had already made himself clear: refuse, and die; stop talking, and die.
Yu Xiaogang felt utterly ashamed of what he was doing.
But he cared more about his life than his dignity.
So this time, he threw away every last bit of pride.
He not only cursed himself like mad but also slapped his cheeks with all his strength. One blow followed another, making loud smacking sounds. His cheeks soon turned bright red.
The two women watched Yu Xiaogang and couldn't help twitching their mouths.
They had gained an entirely new impression of him.
"So he's a spineless coward after all."
"What a disappointment."
"Exactly. This is so embarrassing."
"He'd do even this just to stay alive?"
"Tsk, tsk, tsk. I really misjudged him."
The two women whispered among themselves.
Back when they'd first befriended Yu Xiaogang, he had constantly bragged to them about his heroic exploits.
He'd told those stories so often that even the two women had believed him. For a while, they had thought Yu Xiaogang really was as impressive as he claimed.
But now they could see he was nothing but a spineless, greedy-for-life loser.
The two women looked at Yu Xiaogang with disdain.
As for Liu Yuan, he was treating Yu Xiaogang like a monkey for his own amusement.
Watching Yu Xiaogang curse himself with such gusto and slap himself so hard, Liu Yuan almost burst out laughing.
He really wanted to say, "Huh? I was only joking just now!"
Would Yu Xiaogang be so angry he died on the spot?
Of course, Liu Yuan wasn't in a hurry to answer Yu Xiaogang.
His emotions hadn't been worked up enough yet.
Liu Yuan wanted to make him feel even more humiliated and keep making him hit himself.
Once he had finally finished and came to ask Liu Yuan about it—
Then Liu Yuan would really have some fun with him.
That would definitely make him furious enough to die.
So Liu Yuan watched Yu Xiaogang with an amused expression.
He was already laughing to himself.
But he said nothing, simply watching Yu Xiaogang put on his show like a monkey.
As for Yu Xiaogang, all he could do was keep hitting himself.
He slapped his face hard again and again. With Liu Yuan watching, he didn't dare hold back at all. Though he was hitting himself, Yu Xiaogang struck with tremendous force. One blow followed another, making his head ring until he nearly went cross-eyed. He almost even slapped his mouth crooked.
He kept cursing himself as well. Each time the insults left his mouth, humiliation filled him. He had never imagined that one day Yu Xiaogang would be humiliated like this.
But he could only force himself to swallow it.
He knew all too well that he wasn't capable of taking revenge on Liu Yuan right now.
So he could only endure it in silence.
"Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river! Don't look down on a poor middle-aged man!"
Yu Xiaogang roared furiously in his heart.
"Don't you dare let me survive this!"
"You piece of trash!"
"Because if I do, I'll make you regret it!"
"I'll get my revenge. I'll kill you a hundred times, and I'll make you suffer every torment and humiliation!"
"This is all your own fault!"
"Just you wait!"
Before you continue