Chapter 2705 - 2767: Ignorance

At one in the afternoon, Li Yifei and his team drove into Lin City. This city, although not small in scale, was not a place where they lingered, instead they headed directly for the Lin City Internet Addiction Treatment Center. This so-called Web Addiction Treatment Center declared itself as a government-established treatment and rehabilitation center for Internet addiction, a regular hospital in name, but in truth, it was far from regular and had nothing to do with legitimacy.

Before the car arrived, Li Yifei had already seen the exterior of this Internet addiction center. Nestled in the suburbs, the local government had allocated a large area for it, a total of twenty acres, a massive piece of land. The Web Addiction Treatment Center was named a hospital, but in reality, it was built like a prison, surrounded by tall walls and barbed wire. Those inside could not see the outside, nor could they hope to climb out through the walls, as it was utterly impossible. Those outside could likewise not enter, nor glimpse the situation inside. In short... this was a prison, even the four corners had prison-like towers that seemed to be guarded at times.

They did not consider the children sent in by their parents as children, but as criminals, as if going online, playing games, reading novels, etc. was a crime, was unforgivable, and had to be electrocuted to cleanse them of their sins.

Inside, there were several buildings divided into residential areas, treatment areas, and office areas. Yang Wei and others lived here permanently, essentially making it a haunt for demons, perpetually evil,

"Patron, shall we forcefully attack after we arrive?" asked Zhao Zilong, one of the Deputy Captains of the Li family’s security team. He had joined after retiring from the military, initially ranking third in a certain military district tournament, and was recruited by Li Yifei afterward. Naturally, in terms of experience, he was Li Yifei’s junior, boasting an imposing name with skills to match; by ordinary people’s standards, Zhao Zilong could easily defeat a group.

"Forcefully attack?" Li Yifei contemplated briefly before nodding after a few seconds, saying, "Alright, then let’s forcefully attack."

"Understood!" Everyone immediately responded, notifying all three vehicles. Li Yifei was reviewing a document, a personal resume of Yang Wei who founded the Web Addiction Treatment Center and successfully treated over twenty thousand adolescents with internet addiction problems. The center had received multiple honors and nominations from city, province, and national levels. Yang Wei himself had been granted a special subsidy in a certain year by the national government, awarded the fourth Inventive Entrepreneurship Prize of East Hill Province, hailed as the Lin City Healthcare Leader, a national web addiction expert, and had been the Vice Dean at Lin City Fifth Hospital, continuing until now. However, online, Yang Wei did not have these titles, instead being known as the—Magnetic Storm Infantry, Electric Shock Devil.

Such a person, such an institution, continued until today. Li Yifei and others were about to arrive at the Lin City Internet Addiction Treatment Center. A special road was constructed leading to the center, and along the way, they witnessed different landscapes with multiple billboards erected on both sides, filled with promotional slogans, featuring giant photos of Yang Wei. In the photos, Yang Wei, wearing glasses, had his arms crossed, with several machines behind him, alongside the phrase: "Lin City Internet Addiction Treatment Center, Returning You a Healthy Child!"

Ironically, one of the billboards seemed to have been smashed by someone, with several workers conducting repairs below.

Yang Wei himself looked... how to say, not ugly, but definitely exuded a sense of torment, making one instinctively want to stay away, not due to preconceived judgments from knowing his deeds, but purely from the first impression.

This impression wasn’t good at all. Li Yifei curled his lips and firmed his stance.

Since they were here, they would handle the entire matter thoroughly, leaving no trace of trouble behind to prevent the resurgence of foes. For such evildoers, Li Yifei wasn’t worried about their capabilities, because the world had countless fools willing to support them, even fanatically.

Indeed, as everyone was about to reach the Web Addiction Treatment Center, they saw a group of people along the roadside, composed mainly of middle-aged women and some in their forties. These individuals wore matching outfits, akin to school uniforms—blue and white. Despite the hot weather, they donned long sleeves and pants, and the leading few carried banners, prompting Li Yifei to ask the driver to slow down, allowing him to see the banner which read: "Vow to fight the demons of internet addiction to the end, eradicate every online banking youth!"

Beside it was another banner stating: "Internet addiction must be eradicated, vows never to cease."

An old lady over sixty was trembling as she held a flag with a lightning-like design, representing the ’team’s’ emblem. Seeing such a satirical display left Li Yifei speechless, these were the supporters of the Web Addiction Treatment Center. A security guard stopped, intending to inquire, but was immediately surrounded by the banner-holding, slogan-chanting women who excitedly voiced: "Are you here to send your child for treatment? You’ve come to the right place, up ahead is President Yang’s Web Addiction Center. Let me tell you, President Yang’s skills are highly advanced, regardless of how deep or severe your child’s internet addiction is, as long as President Yang promises to treat them, it’s a guaranteed cure!"

The security guard retreated slightly, asking: "Is it really that miraculous?"

An aunt instantly responded displeasingly, saying: "Of course it’s miraculous. Let me tell you, President Yang is like a living Bodhisattva. Without him, our children would be doomed, already stolen away by the demons of internet addiction. It’s President Yang who gave them new lives, a brand-new existence; for our kids, it’s simply a debt of rebirth!"

The vehicle’s occupants heard this with twitching facial muscles, feeling speechless. Meanwhile, outside, the crowd became even more excited: "Wang Jie is right. The children’s lives were given by President Yang, so we naturally organized ourselves to protect President Yang. No one can slander President Yang; cursing him is cursing us, no one is allowed! We also want President Yang to feel our gratitude, our appreciation!"

Upon hearing the outside women’s words, the girl sitting next to Li Yifei got nervously tense; her brother had been brought into this den by these people. There were numerous parent protection groups; what are parent protection groups? They are groups that the parents of so-called internet addiction youths automatically join. Once an issue arises, they collectively attack. Her brother had been coerced, harassed continuously by these parents, some even directly threatening to come to their house to act. This was extremely malicious.

Outside, that group continued to praise how great, what a savior Yang Wei was, saving their children. The security guard asked: "I heard that this treatment involves electric shocks, and with considerable voltage at that, isn’t that cruel punishment?"

"Hah, young man, don’t speak nonsense. What punishment? It’s a treatment method, understand? When you go to the hospital for surgery, doctors perform surgery, is that punishment? President Yang simply researched some machines, advanced equipment, converting electricity into power and channeling it into children’s bodies, exterminating the internet addiction virus within them. Once the virus is gone, the illness is naturally cured, absolutely with no side effects, understand? This is science, what punishment! Let me tell you, I don’t like hearing such talk, don’t mention it again. Considering it’s your first time bringing a child, I’ll tell you again, keep quiet at the place. President Yang has a good temperament, but he also has a temper. If you offend him with your words, then there will be no one to cure your child. If the internet addiction flares up, and the child is gone, let’s see how you handle it!"

The woman’s incessant threats left the car’s occupants laughing heartily, finding it hard to imagine such ignorance and foolishness existed today. However, reality confirmed it, not only existing but in abundance. Not only in abundance but with each one believing they are exceptionally clear-minded, thinking their actions greatly benefit their children.

Especially claiming that electricity transformed into power entering children’s bodies; hearing this left Li Yifei speechless, unless Yang Wei was a cultivator, possibly practicing electric-type techniques and could channel True Qi into children’s bodies. Yet internet addiction is not an illness, nor a virus; where did this notion of exterminating viruses equals cure come from? Isn’t this a monumental lie!

Ironically, such a foolish lie still had a mass of believers. From Li Yifei’s perspective, the real ones needing treatment were these women, these parents instead of those poor children. They were innocent; parents are not a choice, they are born with every child. Some children are lucky, meeting good, responsible parents, while others are unfortunate. And the societal view is not to contradict parental wishes.

"Sister, I’m not talking nonsense; for treatment we ought to understand the principle, right? Kids are also lives, and besides, internet addiction isn’t really a disease..." The security guard wanted to say more but was abruptly interrupted by the woman, who displeasedly said: "Are you here for treatment then? Let me tell you, if you are any nonsense reporter, get out now! You are not welcome here. If you’re a reporter, even if you’re genuinely here for treatment, we do not welcome you either. It would be better if the reporter’s child’s illness led to death! Sisters, don’t you agree?"

"Absolutely, reporters are vile creatures, better off dead. These people are simply beasts, brutes..."

"None of them have good intentions, only willing to report about President Yang if paid; without payment, they fabricate bad news. None of that news is true, don’t believe it!"

"Alright, enough, don’t tell them so much. If you’re here for treatment, hurry to find President Yang, just remember to be polite and explain the illness clearly, don’t conceal the information. If not here for treatment, then get out, we don’t welcome you!"