138: Chapter 138 We should press on with our remaining strength to eliminate the enemy, and not seek fame like Xiang Yu!

But Zhao Yang had no intention of stopping there.

"With remaining courage, pursue the fleeing foe; do not seek a hollow reputation by imitating the Hegemon!"

Since the other party was no longer just questioning his academics but had started spreading rumors about his character and family, they had to pay the price.

Otherwise, similar rumors would emerge endlessly in the future. He might not care personally, but it would cause irreversible harm to his parents!

Zhao Yang continued to face the camera calmly and said indifferently.

"Many people on the forum say all of this is being orchestrated by a mastermind behind the scenes. What a coincidence, I also feel that someone is orchestrating this. But they aren't orchestrating the creation of a god, but rather the creation of rumors."

"Since everyone is watching the live stream, let's play a game. Let's see if we can find out who this orchestrator really is."

Zhao Yang placed his fingers on the keyboard.

"Director, may I borrow this computer?"

He exited the video software and opened a black command prompt window (CMD).

"Current online forums, although anonymous, leave traces with every post. For example, an IP address."

In 2009, local forums had virtually zero security. For Zhao Yang, who possessed Informatics Lv3, hacking into this amateur website built with templates was like pushing open an unlocked door.

Strings of code scrolled rapidly across the screen, dizzying to behold.

In less than two minutes.

"Found it."

Zhao Yang pressed the Enter key.

A string of data logs popped up on the screen.

"This account, 'Righteous Passerby,' which led the rumor-mongering on the forum and posted over forty attacks, has an IP address of: 218.xx.xx.xx."

"I just used IP geolocation to find that this address is located in Changcheng County, Dijing Haoting residential complex, Building 3, Unit 2."

Zhao Yang's voice was cold, and his gaze became increasingly icy.

"If I remember correctly, my high school classmate, Li Jun, you live in this unit, don't you?"

Boom! The entire circle of Changcheng No. 1 High School, the teachers and students watching the live stream, instantly erupted.

A high school classmate? This whole thing was actually done by Zhao Yang's high school classmate??

Those who knew Li Jun were filled with disbelief.

Because although Li Jun wasn't exactly a star student, he was considered normal, and he usually got along well with everyone.

He actually did something like this! Spreading rumors about his own classmate!

At this moment, Song Xi and Wang Ya looked at the TV in front of them and exchanged glances, their eyes filled with bewilderment.

They hadn't expected things to turn out like this!

"Ya, do you think the person spreading the rumors is really Li Jun?"

Song Xi was silent for a long while before asking Wang Ya, who was beside her.

Wang Ya hesitated, then shook her head.

"I don't know either... But Li Jun's family does live there, and looking at Zhao Yang's actions just now, he shouldn't be lying. After all, this is a live television broadcast..."

Hearing Wang Ya's words, Song Xi fell silent again.

"Why do you think Li Jun would do something like this?"

"Maybe it's because of you?"

Wang Ya hesitated before saying this to Song Xi.

Besides Wang Ya and Song Xi, almost all the students in Grade 12, Class 8 were frantically discussing Li Jun's situation.

Some were not surprised at all, while others had completely not expected this.

Teacher Huang watched the live broadcast, his face flushing red with anger.

To think that this was done by his own student! And it was Zhao Yang's classmate, no less!

Setting aside the uproar of public opinion, the live broadcast continued.

As Zhao Yang spoke, he paused, the corners of his mouth curling slightly.

"Not only that."

Zhao Yang continued operating the computer and said slowly.

"I just took the liberty of checking this IP's posting history. Besides attacking me, this account had some deleted comments from six months ago. I've restored the data for these comments, and the account has already admitted to being Li Jun."

As he spoke, Zhao Yang had already posted some of the comments on the screen.

Irrefutable evidence!

Zhao Yang stood up, looked at the camera in front of him, his gaze sharp, and spoke slowly.

"The internet is not a lawless place. Spreading rumors with over 500 shares is a criminal offense. Li Jun, those posts you made have already exceeded 50,000 views."

"Furthermore, I have found evidence of you hiring internet trolls. Based on this evidence, it has reached the level of serious malicious defamation."

"I have already called the police, and they should be on their way to your home right now."

Dijing Haoting residential complex.

Li Jun watched Zhao Yang's icy gaze on the TV, feeling as if a bucket of ice water had been poured over his head; his whole body couldn't stop trembling.

"He... how did he know the IP? How could he find out it was me?!"

Fear engulfed him like a tide.

He scrambled to turn off the computer and delete the posts, but his hands were shaking so much he couldn't even hold the mouse.

"Knock, knock, knock!"

A rapid knocking sounded at the door.

"Open the door! Police!"

Li Jun's vision went black, and he slumped onto the floor.

...

Public opinion completely reversed overnight.

As news of Li Jun being taken away by the police spread, those posts that had previously jumped on the bandwagon to smear Zhao Yang were deleted completely. Those troll accounts vanished instantly.

In their place was a screen full of praise, apologies, and worship for Zhao Yang's technical prowess.

"I'm sorry, God Zhao, I was too loud; I actually doubted a big shot who could track an IP live!"

"This is a true genius! Accomplished in both arts and sciences! Not only is he good at Biology, but his computer skills are also this awesome! And he can actually discuss math problems with a big shot of Terence Tao's caliber!"

"Kneeling before the big shot! That's God Tao!"

"Indeed! When I saw the big shot on a call with God Tao, I blindly believed in him!"

"Solving the case on the spot, so cool! This is practically the real-life version of The Matrix!"

"The pride of Changcheng! Absolutely the pride of Changcheng!"

"That scene on the live TV broadcast was just so damn cool! I can watch it a hundred times and never get tired of it!"

"Indeed, indeed! Cool as hell!"

Meanwhile, at Zhao Yang's home.

Uncle Zhao Jianye was beaming, constantly refreshing the TV station's live stream replay on his phone. He had watched the part where Zhao Yang connected with Terence Tao and tracked the IP at least ten times.

"Look! Everyone look! This is the level of our Yang Yang! What is the demeanor of a master? This is the demeanor of a master! That Li Jun deserved it; who should he have provoked, but he chose to provoke our Yang Yang!"

Father Zhao and Mother Zhao sat on the sofa, watching the replay on TV, their faces filled with gratified smiles.

"The kid has grown up and can handle things now."

Mother Zhao said with emotion.

"The look in his eyes just now... even I was scared, but it was so satisfying! So satisfying!"

Zhao Yang sat nearby, peeling an Apple for his parents, his heart at peace.

He didn't care what those netizens thought, nor did he care about being the so-called pride of Changcheng.

He only cared that at this moment, the smiles on his parents' faces were relaxed, his uncle's back was straight, and those foul, murky rumors at home had completely dissipated.

That was enough.