C21 Call You a Person

Wu Ge felt a twinge of surprise as he held the man firmly in his seat. He hadn't given it much thought at the moment; his reflexes had taken over, pinning the man down so he couldn't budge. It seemed the box of university books he had found earlier that day at the entrance of his complex was having an effect. Recalling the notification he'd heard that morning, Wu Ge couldn't suppress a surge of elation.

Earlier, while scavenging, he had considered hiring bodyguards for his protection. But with this newfound ability, did he really need to fear anyone attacking him? Still, the option of employing bodyguards remained on the table.

He gazed down at the man before him with a hint of mockery in his eyes. "What's the matter? Still want to take a swing at me? Try getting past me first."

Wu Ge was certain he hadn't provoked the man. It was this guy who, having too much idle time, had taken out his unnecessary anger on Wu Ge. Well, if that was the case, he couldn't be blamed for not being polite.

Wu Ge's smile broadened, but the man he held down was seething with even greater fury. He had never been treated this way before! He was just a lowly garbage picker; what gave him the right to strike now?

The man writhed under Wu Ge's grasp, his anger palpable. "You'll regret this. I won't let you off the hook. Do you really think you're above it all just because you've got a couple of tricks up your sleeve?"

At this point, Wu Ge wasn't intimidated. Seeing the man's futile struggles, he loosened his grip, and the man tumbled to the ground, landing face-first. He spat disdainfully and wiped his face.

Standing leisurely behind him, Wu Ge watched the man in front of him, curious to see what kind of scene he would cause next. After all, Wu Ge had done nothing wrong; it was this man who had initiated the attack, forcing Wu Ge to defend himself. Any onlooker would agree that Wu Ge was in the right, though it was unclear what was going through the man's mind.

The young man, oblivious to Wu Ge's thoughts, angrily fished out his phone and dialed a number. Within moments, he was on a call.

"Brother Liu, I've been attacked. Get over here quick. This guy is getting cocky on your turf. You've got to reclaim some respect!" he whined into the phone. Wu Ge, standing to the side, couldn't help but chuckle at the man's grievances.

This individual had quite a talent for spouting nonsense, but no matter how impressive the young man's bluster was, Wu Ge remained unmoved.

The person on the other end of the phone seemed to have been roused from sleep, grumbling a string of curses. Once he grasped the situation, he asked with a tone of disdain, "Where is he now, and what happened to get him in such a mess?"

"He's nothing but a filthy scavenger! I tossed a bottle at him, told him to scram, and the jerk actually had the nerve to hit me!" The young man was seething with anger. He was supposed to be the one in control, yet here he was, humiliated by Wu Ge, who had just given him a beating he couldn't return.

He had expected the person on the phone to come to his aid, but instead, he was met with a cold sneer upon hearing his explanation. "A ragpicker has got you this rattled? Don't you have any pride?"

"We've got other things to deal with. I'm hanging up." With that, the call was abruptly ended, leaving the young man staring at his phone in disbelief, his status evidently carrying no weight.

Wu Ge watched with an amused grin, flexing his wrists. "You said you wanted to call someone to take me on, didn't you? But it seems you're having trouble getting anyone here, right? How about we go another round? I won't hold back this time. What do you say?"

He sauntered over to the young man, closing the distance with each deliberate step. The young man, seeing Wu Ge's advance, hastily retreated.

Biting his lip in frustration, he dialed several more numbers, but whether the previous contact had warned others off or not, his calls were met with refusal, and even insults.

The young man's complexion shifted from pale to flushed with anger. These were the same people who had once eagerly taken resources from him, and now, in his time of need, they refused to lend a hand. Had all his genuine efforts been for nothing?

Wu Ge limbered up his wrists, fixing a serious gaze on the man before him. "Well? Shall we begin?" A hint of amusement twinkled in his eyes as he moved closer, prompting the young man to let out a shriek and continue his retreat.

He didn't even think to lock his car before turning to run.

Wu Ge stood his ground, watching the young man's retreating figure before letting out a cold snort. He had thought the guy was tough with all his cursing, but it turned out he was all bark and no bite.

That guy had been out looking for trouble. If the young man hadn't run so fast, Wu Ge might have given him a taste of real pain.

He was determined to make him walk with his tail between his legs from now on.

As Wu Ge was basking in his quiet triumph, applause broke out beside him. Turning to his left, he saw an elderly man in a white training suit, looking on with encouragement. The man's white hair belied his youthful face, and he exuded an air of dignity.

Approaching Wu Ge at a leisurely pace, admiration in his eyes, the old man said,

"I never expected to witness such impressive combat skills today. You were right to teach him a lesson."

It was Wu Ge's prowess that had earned the old man's applause.

Seeing the admiration in the old man's eyes, Wu Ge felt a twinge of embarrassment recalling his earlier harshness towards the young man. He felt compelled to justify himself,

"To be honest, I didn't want to confront him initially. I've always preferred to live peacefully with others."

It was only because the young man kept pushing his buttons and seemed intent on attacking him that Wu Ge had retaliated.

The old man, hearing Wu Ge's explanation, shook his head and gave him a serious look. He spoke candidly,

"You did the right thing! Such people need to be put in their place, or they'll never learn."

He had been an observer the whole time, unnoticed by Wu Ge and the young man.

The old man had felt a surge of anger when he saw the young man toss a drink bottle at Wu Ge in an attempt to shame him. He believed that no profession should be demeaned, and in his eyes, the rich and the poor were equal. The young man's actions were contemptible.

Wu Ge, for his part, had maintained his composure in the face of the young man's insults, reasoning with him until it was clear that words would not suffice, and only then did he strike back.