“The court now rules on the case of Zhang Juntao, Li Benlong, and Li Jiangming, accused of rape. Due to insufficient evidence, the original verdict is upheld—the charges are not proven.”
Though they had braced themselves for this outcome, Tao Xiao’s mother let out a heart-wrenching wail the moment the judge finished speaking. Her husband, silent beside her, held her tightly as tears streamed down his face. Overnight, grief had turned half her hair white. He didn’t offer empty comfort, nor did he speak. He simply held her, the sight of it crushing the hearts of everyone watching.
In stark contrast, the Zhang family was jubilant. They shook hands in celebration, relieved to finally put this matter behind them. One of Zhang Juntao’s uncles even nodded subtly at the judge, a faint smile on his lips—as if offering silent thanks.
Zhang Juntao, Li Benlong, and Li Jiangming wore smug grins as they prepared to step out of the defendant’s dock and rejoin their families.
Seated in the front row, Xu Ze watched it all unfold. He shook his head slightly, exhaled, and then—his lips curled into a cold, chilling smile.
Beside him, Luo Zi and the others had been waiting for his move. Seeing that icy expression, they shivered—but then excitement surged through them. Xu Ze was about to act.
His recent feats, combined with his habit of never making a move unless success was certain, had earned their absolute trust. They knew they hadn’t come here today just to watch.
As Xu Ze’s smile grew colder, a sudden crackling noise erupted from the ceiling. Everyone looked up in shock.
The courtroom’s fluorescent lights flickered violently, sparks dancing across their surfaces—before plunging the room into darkness.
Gasps filled the air as the space dimmed, the only light now seeping in through two corridor windows.
Then—
A bone-chilling scream tore through the room.
“WHY… WHY…?”
The voice was so raw, so full of grief and hatred, that everyone shuddered involuntarily. Even Luo Zi and the others, who had expected something to happen, felt their hearts seize in terror.
But for Zhang Juntao, Li Benlong, and Li Jiangming—the voice was familiar.
Their faces drained of color in an instant.
Luo Zi and his friends recognized it too. It was the same desperate, broken cry Tao Xiao had let out before she jumped.
Remembering her final words, the four of them glanced nervously at Xu Ze. Was this his doing—or was something else happening?
But Xu Ze’s cold, controlled expression reassured them. This was his work. Still, they couldn’t help but wonder—how was he pulling this off?
The rest of the courtroom sat frozen in terror. Tao Xiao’s parents, however, reacted differently. Upon hearing that voice—so achingly familiar—their grief twisted into something desperate, almost hopeful.
“Xiao Xiao… Xiao Xiao… is that you?” her mother cried, frantically scanning the room.
Her father, tears streaming down his weathered face, dropped to his knees and pounded his chest in anguish. “Xiao Xiao… Your mom and I failed you… We couldn’t get justice for you… If you’re angry, blame me… Blame your useless father… I’ve even robbed you of peace in death…”
His wife collapsed forward, arms outstretched, sobbing. “Xiao Xiao… Are you here? Can you see me? Let me see you… Please… I miss you so much…”
The raw despair in their voices thickened the already suffocating atmosphere. Even the most composed individuals in the room felt their spines prickle with dread.
Was this… real?
The judge, though pale, was the first to regain composure. He quickly realized the screams were coming from the courtroom speakers.
“Cut all audio equipment—now!” he barked at the bailiffs.
The two men, though shaken, hurried to shut off every microphone and speaker. But just as they thought they’d succeeded—
“WHY DOES THIS WORLD HAVE NO JUSTICE?”
The voice returned, louder, more distorted.
“WHY IS THERE NO RIGHTEOUSNESS?”
“WHY…?”
The bailiffs exchanged panicked glances. Everything was already turned off.
Even the judge paled further.
As for Zhang Juntao and his friends—they were huddled together in the defendant’s dock, trembling violently. These young men, who had spent their lives bullying others without consequence, were now paralyzed with fear.
Xu Ze watched it all from his seat, his smile deepening.
Then—a voice in his mind interrupted his satisfaction.
“Xu… Hurry. Overloading the lights and speakers drained too much energy. If they cut the power completely, we won’t have enough reserves.”
Xu Ze gave a slight nod. Time to end this.
He stood and walked calmly toward the defendant’s dock.
Tao Xiao’s voice still echoed through the room, repeating her final, despairing words: “Why…? WHY…?”
The Zhang family, once so arrogantly dismissive, now clutched each other in terror. To them, Tao Xiao had been nothing—just another poor girl their sons could toy with and discard.
But hearing that voice—so full of pain and rage—they finally understood.
This was what their actions had wrought.
Then came the final, venomous declaration:
“If this world has no justice… then I will become a vengeful spirit. I will haunt those beasts day and night… until my hatred is spent!”
The courtroom’s terror peaked.
The judge, however, had regained his skepticism. Snatching his phone, he snarled: “Cut the power to Courtroom Three—NOW!”
By then, Xu Ze had reached the defendants.
“Scared?” he murmured, his voice deceptively soft.
“You should be.”
His eyes burned with an unnatural light as he locked gazes with the three petrified young men.
“Did you hear her? Tao Xiao won’t let you go. She’ll haunt you… day and night… until you beg for death.”
His pupils dilated, bloodshot from the mental strain.
In the virtual space of his mind, Xiao Dao—his AI system—let out a sigh. With a snap of his fingers, he diverted the last reserves of energy into boosting Xu Ze’s neural activity.
Xu Ze’s psychic assault intensified.
The Zhang family, realizing no actual ghost had appeared, started recovering their bravado. Seeing Xu Ze looming over their sons, they rushed forward, shouting: “What the hell are you doing?!”
But Xu Ze was at the critical moment.
Luo Zi and the others immediately blocked the Zhangs’ path, buying him those final, precious seconds.
Xu Ze’s voice dropped to a whisper, yet every word struck like a hammer:
“She’ll never leave you. Never. You’ll see her in your dreams… in every shadow… until you lose your minds.”
His pupils flared—and the mental image of Tao Xiao, her face twisted in anguish, seared itself into the trio’s minds.
Just as the Zhang family and bailiffs broke through—
Xu Ze threw his head back and laughed.
It was done.
From this moment on, those three would be trapped in endless nightmares, their sanity eroding day by day—until fear itself destroyed them.
Then, the speakers crackled again.
Tao Xiao’s voice had changed. It was softer now, almost gentle—yet laced with something eerie.
“Xu Ze… Do you believe there’s justice in this world?”
A familiar, clear voice answered after a pause: “Yes.”
“But… I don’t.”
The response came firm and unwavering: “Trust me. If I say it exists—then it does.”
Tao Xiao’s tone brightened slightly. “Really? Then… I’ll believe you.”
Xu Ze’s voice rang out, strong and certain:
“I swear to you—this world will have justice.”
