Chapter 705: Energy Is Infinite
“Jiang Li, it’s quitting time. Let’s go out for dinner. This is a great chance to toast the boss.”
The person inviting Jiang Li was his university classmate named Xiang Liang. After graduation, Xiang Liang had directly started working and was thriving in his career.
Jiang Li had very high academic qualifications. After starting work, his position and rank quickly surpassed Xiang Liang’s.
Jiang Li lifted his gaze from the case files and said, “No, I just received new evidence materials. I need to review them carefully tonight. This concerns the client’s interests; I can’t be careless.”
“I also haven’t finished reading this month’s law journal yet.”
“Toasting the boss could lead to a promotion and a raise,” Xiang Liang continued to persuade Jiang Li. If Jiang Li got promoted, the vacant position would be his.
Jiang Li was puzzled. “Shouldn’t promotions and raises be based on performance, not drinking capacity?”
Seeing this, Xiang Liang had no choice but to attend the drinking gathering alone.
…
“Jiang Li, orders from above. The client in this case has special connections. Give them some consideration.” Xiang Liang winked suggestively at Jiang Li. Doing this well would leave a good impression with the higher-ups, and a promotion would be just around the corner.
“Sure thing. Just have the higher-ups change the law while they’re at it,” Jiang Li said with a laugh. “I’ll handle it exactly as the law says.”
Xiang Liang immediately shut his mouth.
Jiang Li continued, “Xiang Liang, you didn’t accept any benefits from them, did you?”
Worried Jiang Li might have a recording pen on, Xiang Liang shook his head vigorously. “How could that be?”
“That’s good then. Don’t forget, what the law pursues is fairness and justice, not promotions and raises,” Jiang Li reminded him kindly.
He had been working for several years now. The more he experienced, the more he realized that theory was theory, and practice didn’t seem to care much about what theory said.
Looking at Xiang Liang, Jiang Li remembered the times they attended lectures and audited classes together, learning law with all their might. Back then, Xiang Liang was someone who loudly proclaimed he wanted to become a legal professional who upheld fairness and justice.
Ten years apart, Xiang Liang had undergone a dramatic transformation. The Xiang Liang who used to passionately discuss ideals with him was gone.
Looking at Jiang Li, Xiang Liang’s expression was equally complicated. In his ten years of work, he had seen many young people enter society full of passion and ideals, eager to realize their ambitions. But those people were quickly defeated by reality, becoming just like him.
Only Jiang Li had remained unchanged from beginning to end, stubborn as a child fresh out of school, utterly unfazed by society’s harsh beatings.
It was truly enviable.
He couldn’t do it. He had a wife and children, a mortgage to pay. He wanted to make life better.
He couldn’t reach Jiang Li’s level.
…
A few more years passed. Jiang Li had stepped on many toes and offended many people.
He was framed and taken to court.
The other side’s evidence was solid, sufficient to prove Jiang Li’s guilt.
Even though Jiang Li had never committed a crime.
Jiang Li’s doctoral advisor became his defense lawyer. He came to the detention center and saw Jiang Li in prison uniform, his expression complicated.
He hadn’t expected that after all these years, Jiang Li’s character remained unchanged, his principles hadn’t lowered one bit.
“Jiang Li, you’re stronger than me. I was like you once, wanting to enter society and uphold justice. But I quickly realized I was defeated by reality, fled back to school, and focused solely on researching theory.”
Jiang Li said with an expressionless face, “Professor Kong, I am right.”
Seeing the usually cheerful Jiang Li reduced to this state, Professor Kong’s heart ached.
What kind of blow must this have dealt to Jiang Li?
Fine. Today was a good day to clarify things and make Jiang Li face reality.
Professor Kong sighed. “I know you’re right. But this society doesn’t care about right or wrong. You are incompatible with this society.”
“Do you know why the law constantly pursues fairness and justice?”
“Why?”
“Because it can’t be achieved. After all these years, I’ve come to understand: fairness and justice are fundamentally impossible to realize. I wrote a paper on it but never dared publish it or tell anyone. Now, I want to tell you.”
Jiang Li listened quietly as Professor Kong spoke.
“Humans are profit-seeking animals. But resources are finite, while human desires are infinite.”
“You also know that energy is conserved. The same principle applies to benefits; they are also conserved.”
“A person is a bottomless pit. Finite benefits can never fill it.”
“As long as human hearts remain insatiable for even a single day, fairness and justice can never be achieved.”
Jiang Li seemed thoughtful. “If energy were infinite, if benefits were infinite, could fairness and justice be realized then?”
Seeing Jiang Li’s expression turn somewhat strange, Professor Kong didn’t dwell on the topic. Instead, he said, “Don’t worry. Even though their evidence is solid, I have preparations on my side too. I will definitely get you out.”
Jiang Li fell into deep thought, muttering the words “energy,” “conservation,” “non-conservation” repeatedly under his breath.
…
In the courtroom, to everyone’s surprise, Professor Kong proved that Jiang Li suffered from a mental illness and was having an episode during the crime.
The judge knew Professor Kong must have pulled some strings, but he had no evidence.
According to regulations, mental illness does not constitute a crime.
The judge tapped his gavel. “Jiang Li, not guilty. However, he must undergo treatment at a psychiatric hospital.”
…
Professor Kong went to the psychiatric hospital, wanting to get Jiang Li out. But the attending physician’s words shocked him greatly.
“This patient does indeed have a mental disorder.”
Professor Kong looked at Jiang Li, chatting and laughing with the nurses, having regained his usual smile.
He angrily questioned, “How could he possibly be ill!”
The attending physician explained helplessly, “He does appear normal, and he himself believes he’s not ill. But that’s only if the topic of energy isn’t discussed.”
“The topic of energy?”
“He believes energy is infinite.”
“So what? Who casually discusses whether energy is conserved or not?” Professor Kong gradually realized something was wrong. This wasn’t part of the previous agreement.
The attending physician had received orders from above to firmly not release Jiang Li. Professor Kong’s connections were useless here.
Professor Kong tried every method but couldn’t get Jiang Li out. Eventually, he had to give up on that plan and settled for visiting Jiang Li regularly.
Jiang Li’s position became vacant, and Xiang Liang took over his work.
The old dean brought the children to visit Jiang Li. Looking at Jiang Li in the psychiatric hospital, the old dean deeply regretted ever letting Jiang Li study law.
The old dean wept. “If only I hadn’t let you choose law back then.”
Jiang Li put down the cultivation novel he was reading and shook his head with a smile. “I’m very glad I chose law back then.”
Jiang Li liked reading cultivation novels in his spare time.
And now, he had plenty of spare time.
The higher-ups felt Jiang Li knew too much and remained a potential threat. So, they used their means to kill Jiang Li.
Jiang Li’s consciousness grew hazy, gradually fading.
His lips trembled as he murmured, “What a shame. In the end, I never realized my ideal.”
The collective will of the Nine Provinces found Jiang Li’s soul, guided him to the Nine Provinces, and asked him to become the Human Sovereign to resist the Outer Realm Demons and save the Nine Provinces.
Afterwards, the Executor of Karma instigated an arms race, triggering a world war.
Unending artillery fire engulfed Blue Star.