Watching Tao Xiao depart with a smile on her lips, Xu Ze retrieved his silver needles amid the sobs of her friends. Clutching the letter tightly, he stood up slowly and strode away under the stunned gazes of the doctors and nurses.
The students kept at a distance had also witnessed the scene—how Xu Ze, after the doctors had given up, used his silver needles to bring Tao Xiao back to consciousness, allowing her to speak for several minutes. Their admiration for him was palpable.
Now, hearing the renewed cries, they knew Tao Xiao was truly gone. Many girls who had stopped crying earlier began weeping again, while some boys fought back tears as they stared at Tao Xiao’s still form surrounded by her grieving friends.
As Xu Ze walked away, the crowd parted silently, leaving a two-meter-wide path for him. His striking, icy expression, streaked with traces of blood, carried an eerie magnetism.
Outside the crowd, Luozi, Gangzi, and the others exchanged glances before following him.
Back in his dorm, Xu Ze carefully placed the envelope under his pillow. He didn’t practice his energy circulation or enter the virtual space—he simply fell into a deep sleep.
Xiao Dao, left alone in the virtual space, sighed at the energy reserves now below 40%.
Tao Xiao’s suicide became the hottest topic at Xing University, and Xu Ze’s name once again dominated conversations. People marveled at his miraculous hypnosis and acupuncture skills, his compassion for the tragic girl, and—as his nominal girlfriend—Sun Linfei became the envy of every female student on campus.
But Sun Linfei wasn’t in high spirits. Watching Xu Ze calmly reading a book, she finally couldn’t hold back.
“Xu Ze… the Tao family’s chances in court are slim. The Zhang family has deep influence in Xing City, and Zhang Juntao covered his tracks well. The Taos don’t have strong evidence.”
Xu Ze looked up at her worried face, his clear eyes warm. “Don’t worry. We don’t need that.”
“We don’t? Why?” Sun Linfei blinked in confusion. “Without solid evidence, no matter how much public opinion favors the Taos, they can’t win this case!”
Xu Ze’s jade-like face remained composed. “Sometimes, justice isn’t about winning a lawsuit. We don’t need the case to succeed—we just need justice.”
Sun Linfei stared at him, realizing she understood him less and less. If even the courts couldn’t deliver justice against the powerful Zhang family, how else could Tao Xiao’s wrongs be righted?
Xiao Dao’s voice echoed in Xu Ze’s mind: “You’ve really decided to do this?”
“Yes.”
“Fine. I’ll do my part, but you need to work too. Before that damn trial, you have to recharge my energy to at least 70%.”
“No problem.”
The second court hearing was scheduled for Monday—three days away. That should be enough time.
The basketball semifinals and finals at Xing University had been postponed indefinitely—or outright canceled—due to the incident. Luozi was the first to propose it, and all four competing teams agreed. None would play until Tao Xiao received true justice.
As one of the most influential universities in the country, Xing U threw its weight behind the cause. The public pressure it helped generate was a major reason the Tao family could still stand in court at all.
As for Zhang Juntao from the economics department? He had fled campus the night of the incident. Regardless of the court’s verdict, he was already unconditionally expelled. The Zhang family protested weakly, asking only for the face-saving label of “voluntary withdrawal.”
Even if acquitted, Zhang could never return to Xing U. Though his crimes remained legally unproven, the entire student body knew the truth. If he ever stepped foot on campus again, no one could guarantee he’d leave unharmed.
Despite the Zhang family’s influence, they couldn’t overturn the university’s decision. Though major Xing City newspapers downplayed the story under Zhang pressure, whispers spread. Tao Xiao’s final post circulated wildly online, sparking outrage and drawing nationwide attention.
Forced into a corner, the Zhangs prepared to face the lawsuit with compromises.
Luozi glanced worriedly at Xu Ze, who’d been motionless in bed for nearly twenty hours. “He hasn’t moved at all… you think he’s okay?”
Pangzi walked over, hesitating. “Probably fine. He said he was exhausted and might sleep a long time.”
Gangzi nodded. “Right. His physique is way better than ours. Even 24 hours straight won’t hurt him.”
On the bed, Xu Ze breathed steadily. Around him, energy particles surged into his body as the circulation loop spun through his meridians—one cycle, two, three…
Xiao Dao watched the energy reserves climb bit by bit. If this keeps up, we’ll have enough.
Xu Ze spent the next three days mostly in bed, running energy cycles until mental exhaustion forced him to sleep. When he woke, he’d start again.
His efforts bore fruit. After eighteen grueling hours, he broke through—forcing a fourteenth cycle where thirteen had been his limit. The energy cluster in his dantian grew denser.
Xiao Dao grinned as the reserves suddenly jumped several points. No pressure, no progress. This kid improves fastest when cornered.
On Monday morning, Xu Ze finally woke refreshed. After his usual lakeside run, he returned to the dorm and devoured three meat buns under his roommates’ stunned gazes.
“So,” he asked cheerfully, “everything ready like I asked?”
Luozi nodded seriously. “Yeah. Hu Xuezhao agreed to join us too. But… five people? Even if we’re all strong, that’s not enough for a fight.”
Xu Ze burst out laughing. “You thought we were going to beat them up?”
“If not, how do we get justice?” Luozi blinked.
“We’re not fighting anyone,” Xu Ze said, still chuckling. “We’re just attending the trial.”
“Attending?” Nearby eavesdroppers froze. Hadn’t authorities restricted access to prevent protests? Only family and select reporters could get in!
Luozi mirrored their shock. “I thought we were blockading the courthouse! You mean we’re going inside?”
“Of course.” Xu Ze’s smile faded. “How else can we get justice for Tao Xiao?”
Though most Xing U students had Monday classes, many skipped to gather outside Xing City Courthouse with signs. They couldn’t enter, but their passionate presence lent weight to the fragile scales of justice.
At the university gates, Xu Ze stepped into a familiar stretch Mercedes. Tang Zhi studied him with a smile. “What exactly are you planning?”
“Just claiming what’s fair.” Xu Ze’s eyes glinted coldly.
“Justice?” Tang Zhi sighed. “Do you know how hard that is to get? The old man says if you want it, he can give it to you.”
Xu Ze started. Old Tang was offering to move against the Zhang family? Zhang Juntao was one of only two male heirs in his generation—crushing him would trigger all-out retaliation from the Zhangs. Even for the Tangs, this wasn’t a trivial favor.
Touched, Xu Ze shook his head. “Please thank him for me, but there’s no need. This justice… I’ll take it myself.”
