Forge a path to success.

Chapter 262 Public Trial of the Touch Man
"Court is in session, in all its might!" The tentacle girl slammed her small gavel three times. "Summon the defendant, Tentacle Man, to court!"

The courtroom doors swung open with a bang, and the fallen girl and the red-haired woman escorted Chu Hengkong in, one on each side. The suspect, Touch Man, had a vacant stare and a stiff expression, looking like an innocent bystander who had stumbled into a horror movie set in a nightmare.

He was brutally forced into the dock by the two heretics, and the fallen girl used black mud to stick him firmly to the ground so he couldn't move. There was originally a chair behind the dock, but the red-haired woman smashed it on the ground three times with a loud bang, turning it into a pile of wood chips, and casually threw away the remaining chair leg.

"Huh?" Chu Hengkong was bewildered.

The Fallen Girl and the Red-Haired Woman walked to the witness stand, their eyes filled with such ferocity that they seemed ready to devour him whole. The Tentacle Girl's silver robe had transformed into a style resembling a judge's gown, and her pirate hat was adorned with a picture of Vande blowing bubbles.

She struck the hammer again and shouted, "Touchman, do you know your crime!"

Chu Hengkong was utterly bewildered: "What crime have I committed?"

Heaven have mercy, the One Heart Ritual was completed long before the Ascension Point 3. Everyone had already communicated and negotiated, so why is this happening now? Even if there's a commotion, Deathwing should be the one leading it, what business is it of yours?
The tentacle girl sneered, tossed the hammer aside, and crossed her legs: "You're about to die, and you still want to deny it. Prosecutor, please present the facts of the case!"

The female mechanic walked into the courtroom with a cold expression, holding a thick stack of indictment documents as thick as a dictionary. She tapped the documents and said, "72 standard hours ago, Chu Hengkong applied for assistance in designing a dating plan, citing 'stabilizing team morale and eliminating potential threats from the ghost body.' I assisted in designing three main plans and 18 backup plans, along with 648 lines of dialogue for different unforeseen circumstances, ensuring a flawless response."

"The prosecutor with the real weapon has worked hard." The tentacle girl nodded. "How was the actual execution?"

The cyborg woman's pupils turned a terrifying blood red: "0 complete execution plans! In actual testing, 7 simulated contingencies occurred, with a 0% application rate of the corresponding dialogue! The dating plan is a mere formality, a huge waste of the Empire's computing power!"

The tentacle girl empathized: "He's absolutely a bastard!"

"Not only that, but during the final date, Ji Huaisu, the woman he was dating, had already expressed her feelings, and the plan was only one step away from success." The cyborg woman fired a disintegration ray. "But he actually shut down on the spot, failing to achieve any of the strategic objectives. The operation was a complete failure due to his personal factors!"

Chu Hengkong dodged the ray attack with a flick of his head, his heart pounding with fear: "I made a highly flexible and improvisational response based on the situation at the time..."

The mechanical woman slammed the video data onto the table, and the blank expression on the first photo was clearly visible.

“Disgraceful wretch,” she said coldly.

"I..." Chu Hengkong was speechless, "Holy crap..."

"Then get to work!" the redhead slammed her hand on the table and yelled. "You talk a good game, but what about your actions?! Where are your actual actions? The girl had already confessed her feelings to you, and you just stood there dumbfounded! Bah!"

The red-haired woman spat disdainfully, and Chu Hengkong snapped, "What the hell is it to you if I'm on a date?!"

"Detective Chu seems to have forgotten that we are all of one mind. If you live a comfortable life, we are naturally happy too, but if you hesitate, we will suffer." The red-haired woman sneered repeatedly. "I don't have much of an opinion, after all, I already know what kind of person you are. This one over here is really not going to be able to hold on."

The girl, now completely lost, slumped onto the table and immediately began to wail: "It's hopeless! Even now, she's still hesitating. How many years is this relationship going to last?! I'll never see my family again! Waaah—"

This high-decibel wailing was incredibly devastating, a veritable ear-piercing scream. The tentacle girl secretly slipped two noise-canceling earplugs into her ears. The red-haired woman tenderly hugged the sobbing loser and gently comforted her, "Don't cry, don't cry, I'll fuck you."

"Wow! Don't come any closer!"

The fallen girl ran to the judge's bench for help in fear, but the tentacle girl dodged away in disgust: "Hehe, keep your distance, don't want to get your hands dirty."

"You all don't want me, I don't want to live anymore!"

The condemned lay on the ground, wailing uncontrollably, their massive black tears flooding the courtroom like a tidal wave. Seeing the water had reached waist-deep, Chu Hengkong quickly shouted, "Stop it! Let's discuss our needs properly!"

The tentacle girl hoisted the hammer and said, "So you're admitting your guilt?"

"What nonsense are you spouting..." Chu Hengkong said helplessly, "What's wrong with adults taking things slowly when they're dating..."

"Blushing and having your heart race after being kissed, unable to sleep at night—what kind of adult are you? Just a little tentacled guy!" the tentacle girl scoffed. "Now, I invite the prosecutor and the jury to announce the verdict."

“I refuse to provide it with computing power,” the mechanical woman said.

"Death penalty!" the red-haired woman shouted.

"Throw him out!" the fallen girl cried. "I don't believe him anymore, let's all die together!"

"That's the jury's opinion for now, buddy. What else do you have to say? Hurry up before the verdict is handed down, or you'll miss your chance," the tentacle girl said lazily.

Chu Hengkong gasped, thinking to himself that he never expected these bastards to collectively rebel over a date. Quick-witted, he said, "I object! I haven't hired a lawyer yet!"

"Since your performance was so disgraceful, no one is willing to be your lawyer," the tentacle girl gloated. "Then, I hereby declare—"

"I object!"

The tightly closed courtroom doors were flung open with a thud, and the intruder stood menacingly in the doorway, blinding light streaming in from behind. "The defendant's lawyer... is only now required to appear!"

"you are?"

"who?"

All the heretics and Chu Hengkong turned their heads in unison, only to see the intruder dressed in a scholar's robe, wearing a triangular mage's hat, and carrying an ebony staff. Her skin was a beautiful chocolate color, and her long, wavy golden hair flowed down her back.

"I am the partner of the weak, the magician of justice," she said loudly.

"It's the Spiral Tower guy..." "A menacing reflection." "Now, let's begin the practical test—"

The tentacle girl stopped the real machine with one hand: "Kid, don't test it, you'll get beaten to a pulp, and that would be bad for someone's spine. Attorney, please remember not to be late next time. The case is clear, do you have any further suggestions?"

The female sorcerer walked over with small steps, lifting her skirt, and seeing that there were no chairs, she leaped and sat down in the defendant's seat. She waved her staff, unhurriedly: "I believe that the actions taken by the defendant, Chu Hengkong, are the most reasonable judgment that meets the needs of everyone present."

"What makes you say that?" the tentacle girl asked with a forced smile.

The female mage raised her hand and pointed forward, saying in a resounding voice, "If you had agreed yesterday, how would it have been convenient for you to cheat on me later!"

"I confess!" Chu Hengkong shouted hoarsely, "Throw this scoundrel out!!"

The red-haired woman exclaimed in surprise, then thought to herself, "The lawyer is right...!"

The fallen also pondered: "This...this is also a concern..."

"What are you worried about? I haven't even started dating yet, are you assuming I'll cheat?! Is that the kind of person you think I am?"

The tentacle girl closed her eyes and shook her head: "Dude, I have to say, some things are better left unsaid to your brothers than to yourself..."

The female mage tapped the table: "Please don't laugh, everyone. This is a very practical consideration. Let's not even mention the little girl from the Guangshi family; Xiao Qingxia's heart is completely devoted to him. If we agree now, how are we going to explain it to Xiao Qingxia later?"

She grinned, sticking out a long, demonic tongue: "I'm sorry, Qingxia. I've decided to go live a good life with Sister Huaisu. Thank you so much for all your help before. We'll be best friends forever!"

Chu Hengkong's face turned ashen: "Shut up."

“It’s hardest to accept the kindness of a beautiful woman. The defendant isn’t a moral guardian, so it’s only natural for him to have such concerns,” the female monk said. “Besides, this is a minor matter. Everyone knows the real core issue perfectly well: the defendant is not in a state where he can talk about love right now.”

In her concluding remarks, she said, "We haven't found the boss yet, so we'll talk about everything later."

Sighs echoed through the courtroom, except for the mechanic girl who showed absolutely no interest. Everyone in the underworld knew what his true form was like; if he could let go of his obsessions and embrace a new life, he would already be at level 4 by now.

“I still don’t think this is right,” the fallen girl muttered. “Yes, the boss is important, but Huaisu is also a good girl who has been through thick and thin with us. It’s not right to just leave her hanging like this.”

Chu Hengkong silently rubbed his forehead; this tone sounded like the old man's spirit had returned from the dead to scold him. He raised his hands and said helplessly, "Alright everyone, I understand what you mean. Arguing with yourself isn't a good thing. Let me handle it myself, okay?" "We really don't trust you anymore," the red-haired woman said.

I'll talk to you first thing tomorrow morning!

"Since the defendant has such courage and determination, we have no choice but to compromise." The tentacle girl slammed her gavel. "This case is adjourned and postponed for retrial. Everyone, please disperse."

The mechanical woman glared at him, saying, "I refuse to provide you with computing power again."

"I'll definitely use your plan next time." Chu Hengkong's scalp tingled. "Everyone, let's disperse, let's disperse..."

The female mage laughed twice, grew wings, and flew away. The others who were supposed to fly away flew away, ran away, or flowed out flowed out. The tentacle girl was left with her small hammer thrown down and her tentacles resting on his shoulder.

"If I hadn't advised you, you would have been focused on the ritual for three consecutive nights tonight."

"Thank you..." Chu Hengkong said weakly.

·
The next morning, Ji Huaisu got two steamed buns and a bowl of congee with preserved egg from the cafeteria. Just as she sat down to eat, she saw a small snake sneak over and coil up next to her seat.

"What's wrong, Youyou?" Ji Huaisu asked, sipping his porridge.

"Huaisu, let me tell you, developing feelings is a gradual process, not something that happens overnight," Youyou earnestly advised. "Being proactive is certainly a good thing, but you can't rush it. People like the martial arts practitioners from Longxiang, who are immersed in martial arts training every day, won't know how to handle you if you rush them, you understand?"

"I understand, I understand." Ji Huaisu munched on a steamed bun. "I watched Dad and you grow up since I was a child, and I learned a lot of experience from you both."

Youyou flicked her tail and said, "What nonsense are you learning?!"

Ji Huaisu chuckled as she wiped her mouth: "You two have shown me from your own experiences that love should be quick and decisive; if you drag it out, you never know how long it will drag on!"

"Huh? When did I go too fast..." Youyou realized, "Ji Huaisu!!"

"I'm going to go find love now, bye-bye, Lord Huilong~"

"This kid!" Youyou angrily flicked its tail, and the other ordinary team members eating nearby pretended not to hear and dared not utter a sound.

Chu Hengkong spent a long time fixing his hair in front of the mirror, but he was distracted.

Fan De went to the city library early in the morning to read. He planned to ask Ji Huaisu out for a chat again today, and he had to make his thoughts clear to the girl. But he wasn't good at these things. If he said the wrong thing, Ji Huaisu would probably be sulking for half a day, and if it caused a misunderstanding, he might even get slapped.

This time, the Immortal Machine resolutely refused to provide assistance, and he had to rely entirely on his own brain for the simulation calculations. He was really struggling to think about it, and his head was throbbing.

Just then, a lively knock sounded at the door, and Chu Hengkong opened it, startled. Ji Huaisu stood at his door with her hands behind her back, wearing a white dress and a casual jacket. Unusually, she wasn't wearing a ponytail today; her blonde hair was casually draped over her shoulders.

She revealed what she had hidden behind her: a box of DVDs and a large bag of potato chips.

"I bought the Shura Island anime DVD yesterday, wanna watch it together?"

"Okay."

He moved aside, sat back on the sofa, and watched Ji Huaisu busy herself in front of the water screen at home. After a while, an image appeared on the water screen, and she sat down next to Chu Hengkong, slamming open the bag of potato chips.

"Are you going to eat?"

"Give me half."

They naturally sat side by side and watched the entire 60-minute animated feature film, "The Heartbreakers," occasionally offering their comments. The second season required new discs, and Ji Huaisu went to get them again. Chu Hengkong complained, "It's not as convenient as on Earth."

"You don't use discs over there?"

“We don’t use them anymore. The old discs could hold more information, at least enough for one more episode…” Chu Hengkong said, then realized something was wrong. “No. That’s not right. Stop right there. That’s not what I was going to say.”

"So what are you trying to say?"

Ji Huaisu put her hands on her hips, leaned closer to him, and smiled, revealing her little tiger teeth: "Are you talking about other girls? Or is it the past you can't forget?"

"I..." Chu Hengkong was speechless for a moment.

The blonde girl sat down next to him and put her arm around his shoulder: "Ah Kong, you should know that you've never been one to keep secrets. I can tell just by looking at you. Otherwise, why didn't I take you yesterday?"

"What do you mean 'take care of me'?! Seriously?! You actually have such thoughts?!"

"Liking someone but having a purely spiritual relationship with them? You're kidding me." Ji Huaisu nudged him. "It's natural to be with someone you like, but don't treat love like a task you have to complete. That will make life exhausting."

“I’m always like this.” Chu Hengkong was silent for a while. “Huaisu, can you give me some time?”

"What, are you planning to get married tomorrow?"

“No,” Chu Hengkong said with a wry smile. He said earnestly, “What I want to say is that I still need some time to change, to finish what I have to do… but I also want to be with you. So…”

Ji Huaisu turned his head and listened attentively.

He took a deep breath and made up his mind.

"Maybe I only like you right now, but would you be willing to date me first?"

"Sure," Ji Huaisu smiled. "Then you'll be my boyfriend!"

He breathed a sigh of relief, as if a huge weight had been lifted from his heart, and his tense body relaxed. Ji Huaisu put her arm around his and said slyly, "You feel relieved because you don't feel like you've let me down, right?"

"Correct."

"Do you like me a little more now?"

"Have."

"Then you'd better be prepared. Now that we're already dating, I'll keep making advances every day."

"I will be conquered by you."

"You are an impregnable fortress!"

A new animated film started playing, and Chu Hengkong watched it calmly for a while.

Huaisu.

"how?"

"Thank you," he said softly, "for being with me."

Ji Huaisu tapped him, and the highlight in the water curtain overshadowed the blush on his face.

“…You.”

(End of this chapter)