This isn't a greeting, nor is intimidation; it's humiliation.
This was the first time Gao Guang had ever suffered such direct humiliation since becoming famous.
As status grows, so does one's temper, and in fact, by the standards of his current power, connections, wealth, and privileges, Gao Guang was still considered low-profile and modest. Not exploiting men or bullying women, not behaving outrageously was already quite an achievement.
Yet not only was he kind to others, but he also maintained his humility and politeness. Apart from being restrained by the traditional virtues of Huaxia people, it was truly due to his high moral standards.
But now, someone had mistaken Gao Guang's discretion for timidity, his humility for pushover.
It was tolerable until it was untolerable.
There was no further need to endure when there was no longer anything to tolerate.