This was a standard routine in the Star Soul Tower's illusions, designed specifically to test the participants' character.
And Zuo Xiaoduo was now caught in the middle of it. How could he escape?
Countless participants went wild with rage in circumstances like these, injured people in their fury, and stormed out. Even taking revenge afterward was far from uncommon... Of course, some also knuckled under and worked honestly to pay off the debt until it was cleared and the illusion ended.
Those with strong mental fortitude, however, would choose litigation and turn to the law. As long as they submitted enough evidence, they could turn the situation around. Or they could seek evidence from various sources to clear their names.
This scenario seemed stacked against the participant, but a careful search would reveal far, far too much evidence in their favor to miss. Of course, those involved had to use their own brains to find that evidence. No champion of justice would step forward of their own accord.
How someone handled the same situation, and what methods they used, revealed their character.
By this point, a long time had passed within the illusion, but to the two watching outside the screen, only a few minutes had gone by.
Although Zuo Xiaoduo's face was filled with indignation, although he refused to accept it, although... he truly had no power to resist at this moment. The judicial authorities soon ruled him liable and ordered him to work to pay off the debt.
Watching Zuo Xiaoduo's furious expression, Li Changjiang and Hu Ruoyun both looked helpless.
He actually hadn't chosen litigation!?
Nor had he argued his case. The few things he said were nothing but, "It wasn't me, it really wasn't me..." He repeated them over and over, stammering. He looked simple and honest, but wasn't this taking simple honesty too far? He actually had nothing else to say?
"I originally thought this kid would get a decent evaluation. His mental fortitude shouldn't have been lacking; at the very least, he ought to have had some steadiness. But now it seems he's clearly neither the combat type nor the intellectual type. He doesn't even qualify as the ordinary type... He should be... even if he succeeds in cultivation someday, I'm afraid he'll mostly be suited to support and logistics."
Li Changjiang sighed. "His temperament is a little too soft."
Hu Ruoyun frowned, somewhat puzzled.
Watching Zuo Xiaoduo obediently go off to work, she couldn't, however she thought about it, see him as the sort to meekly swallow a loss.
But what exactly was going on?
Zuo Xiaoduo worked honestly to pay off his debt. A month passed in the blink of an eye, and payday came. The two watched him collect his wages, keep only a tenth for living expenses, then stuff the rest into his pocket and head out.
Clearly, he was going to deliver the money to that family.
Hu Ruoyun and Li Changjiang were both deeply disappointed.
This fellow was far too weak. He didn't have a single drop of hot blood in him.
He had neither methods nor intelligence, nor any attention to detail. Letting others push him around like this was simply a disgrace to cultivators!
Hu Ruoyun grew increasingly bewildered.
Was this Zuo Xiaoduo?
They watched Zuo Xiaoduo arrive at the family's home. On the screen, the consistently meek and obedient Zuo Xiaoduo knocked and received an answer, only for his expression to change abruptly. The instant the person inside opened the door, he lashed out with a vicious kick!
With a boom, he kicked the security door in front of him open, producing an enormous crash.
Everyone inside stared at Zuo Xiaoduo in frightened surprise. They clearly couldn't have imagined even in their dreams that this seemingly simple, honest, submissive youth would be so violent today.
Had their family somehow opened the door the wrong way?
Zuo Xiaoduo charged inside, bristling with menace like a fiend bent on slaughtering an entire household. Without another word, he plunged in like a tiger among sheep, punching and kicking, pointing south and striking north, feinting east and hitting west. Apart from the old man and his wife at the hospital, he gave every member of the family a savage beating!
The old man's son, daughter, daughter-in-law, son-in-law, and two grandsons-every last one of them suffered Zuo Xiaoduo's merciless blows!
As he beat them, he shouted, "That feels good! So damn good! I've waited a whole month for this day! Oh, that feels good! So good I could die! Hahaha..."
Chapter 8: Actually, I'm More of a Bastard Than You!
"!!!"
Watching the screen outside, Li Changjiang and his wife both gaped.
They were utterly speechless.
Never in their dreams had they imagined a reversal like this.
At first, Li Changjiang thought Zuo Xiaoduo had suppressed his feelings until he exploded, reaching the end of his tolerance and swinging to the opposite extreme. But on closer inspection, although Zuo Xiaoduo's beating seemed frenzied, his blows were actually extremely measured. He made no move that would cripple anyone; he hadn't caused even the slightest fracture.
Those beaten would have to lie in bed for at least a few days, however, and agonizing pain throughout their bodies was inevitable. But there would be no serious lasting consequences.
"You-we're going to sue you! You thug! You'll come to a bad end!"
The old man's son lay on the floor, his face filled with resentment. He had suffered the worst beating; every tendon, bone, and patch of flesh on his body had been worked over. He was now in utter agony, hurting so badly he wished he were dead. The rest of the family fared little better, all lying on the floor crying and screaming, a scene of wailing misery.
Zuo Xiaoduo casually pulled over a chair, sat down, and said unhurriedly, "After running into a family like yours, how could things possibly end well for me? Haven't I come to bring you your medical expenses?"
He took out the money and slapped it onto the table. "These are my wages for the month. I was paid three thousand, and I only kept three hundred, in accordance with the law here. The rest is all yours. Buy yourselves some medicine."
The family froze at his words.
Had the vicious, fiendish thug from a moment ago turned back into a little lamb, obediently handing over money?
Wasn't that change of roles a little too quick?
"Judging by the looks of you, you probably can't get up to call the police. I can help."
Swinging his crossed leg, Zuo Xiaoduo used the telephone on the table to call the police, then hung up and said, "I'll wait right here, nice and obedient. I absolutely won't run. That I just hit you is a fact as firmly fixed as a nail in a board. Of course I'll admit it. I'll pay all your medical expenses, down to the last cent."
He swung his leg and chuckled. "You might not understand, but that doesn't matter. I know perfectly well I'm here for a trial. I never expected to rule the roost here, but you pissed me off the moment I arrived, so I'll keep you pissed off right up until I leave!"