Chapter 155: Trauma simulation

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*Xin Lei*

Dongcheng. That's where we had to go. We had to return to the place where it all began. 

We started in Dongcheng, where I first met Bai Li and began investigating Dad's case on Fu Ting and a quest to find little Fu Meili. That case opened up a whole other can of worms that took us to Andingzhen where Chu Jie and Cocoa got kidnapped, Langfang where we discovered the horrible truth in the Natural Park and finally found Fu Meili, lying dead and buried under the ground, and then Tianjin where we stopped the deal.

And now our journey was taking us back to Dongcheng. I shuddered. It was akin to completing a circuit. Going around and around, we would head back to our starting point.

My instinct was telling me that it would soon be over. This was the last stop. This was the last link where everything would fall into place. I believed that this would be the last and final confrontation.

The boss who was hiding behind those virtual walls was soon to be exposed.

I recalled Liao Chuntao, not uttering anything until the end. I remembered Fu Meili's fear and cries. I remembered all those countless victims who suffered such horrifying death at the hands of that boss.

I clenched my dress. Something stirred inside me.

It will end. It was all going to end. We will soon find Chu Jie and Cocoa.

The boss managed to escape all this time. But not this time.

As if Bai Li felt my thoughts too, he silently intertwined his hand against mine. I looked up at him and smiled. 

I traced my finger on his palm.

"We will soon find them. Cocoa will be back with us."

Bai Li smiled and slowly nodded. "En."

But amidst his smile, I could sense a faint trace of worry and nervousness. "I want to fight Xin Lei. I want to avenge them. I gave them my word. But can I do it? Every time I lose to my PTSD. Will I be a disappointment again?"

"You won't be a disappointment, Bai Li."

It was Yuan who spoke from behind me. "Despite that, you cannot see, you have served the Army for five years and led many operations. You have lived your life fairly well. You need to trust yourself, Bai Li. Of course, you continue the medication I am giving you, but I have another method which can greatly help you deal with your anxiety."

I brightened.

Another way to treat Bai Li? If it works, then he wouldn't have to suffer anymore!

I quickly typed. "What is it? What method? Will it help Bai Li?"

Yuan nodded and sat beside us. "It will. It is called Exposure Therapy. It is one of the methods with which we treat PTSD too. This type of intervention helps people face and control their fears by exposing them to the trauma memory they experienced in the context of a safe environment."

Bai Li asked, "Safe environment?"

"Yup. Basically, it means that we will try to simulate or replicate the situation that you faced, which instilled fear in your mind. Exposure either by mental imagination, writing your memories down, or visiting that place that reminds you of the trauma is the method. When you repeatedly expose yourself to the memories, you gradually become less sensitive about it. That anxiety in your heart starts to ease. Plus, when you remember the scene over and over again, it can unlock some of your other memory that may have gotten shut down because you felt too guilty."

I nodded. Sure, Bai Li would feel uncomfortable in the beginning to remember and go through it, but if it can lessen his anxiety, then it was worth giving a shot.

Bai Li clasped his hands, and I sensed his nervousness.

Of course, remembering how an innocent man died by your hands, even if accidental, would be hard to bear.

I typed. "So, Bai Li has to write down his memories?"

Yuan said, "Actually, the best method would be for Bai Li to visit that place where that traumatic event occurred. Physically experiencing it again has more effect. But of course, we cannot visit that place now since we are far from Dongcheng. So writing memories is the best option."

He sighed. "Though we can use virtual reality, we don't have the tools for it."

I typed. "Virtual Reality?"

"Yes. Like how it's used in games. You feel as if you are a part of that game who is playing in that artificial world. You can interact, move around, and sense like in the real world. We can create a virtual environment to resemble the traumatic event. That would have more impact. That is the second-best option after physically visiting the place in real life. But well, it requires lots of tools for it."

"I can do it."

I was startled to hear Qi Qiang's voice.

He grinned sheepishly. "I didn't mean to listen in your conversation, but I can help you with the virtual environment. I have the software for it to create any environment and situation you need. I have played numerous games using VR, too, so I'm well versed in it. I don't think you will have to worry about the goggles and helmet and all stuff. Bro Zhen's Intelligence team will surely have it. Virtual Reality is actually also used by the military and other police forces to simulate security and plans for an attack. VR is pretty useful to map out location and plan strategy if they have to raid any base or hideout."

Bai Li said, "I think I had heard about it in the Army too before. But it wasn't there for a good thirteen years when I was in, so I think they might have recently started it."

Yuan seemed amazed, as well. "Qi Qiang...you are amazing. I didn't know that you could help us with VR, too, not just the dark web. You are a computer genius!"

I looked at Qi Qiang in appreciation. "You are our tech angel! You are brilliant!"

Qi Qiang seemed to blush furiously. "It's nothing much really... Every hacker or coder knows this stuff. It's nothing special."

I shook my head and typed. "Of course, it is special. You know so many things, and without you, we couldn't have come this far. We wouldn't have gotten any clues about the boss and Chu Jie if not for you. And now, you are also helping us with treating Bai Li's PTSD. It is admirable that you know these things and can also implement this stuff practically to help us. You have got the talent and have worked hard on it. Of course, it's special."

"That...that.. you are making too much out of it…" He murmured.

"Aww, is somebody getting shy?" Liao Huifang just entered. "Don't tell me you got a crush on sis Xin Lei now?"

*Cough Cough*

Qi Qiang coughed hard, and I could only helplessly shake my head. But I felt good to see Liao Huifang a little more cheerful than before.

Luo Zhiqiang just came from behind her.

I glanced at both of them and raised my eyebrow.

Hehhh...is her cheerfulness because of him?

"Stupid Huifang! Watch your mouth! What nonsense are you spouting!?"

"But your face is so red~~I think Bai Li got a new rival."

"I will take you on, kid." Bai Li said to which I looked at him dumbfounded.

Ah?

I tugged him.

"What? A rival is a rival. I will take him seriously if he really likes you."

My mouth twitched.

"You…Don't listen to her! She is an idiot anyway! And it's hot here. That's why my face is red!" Qi Qiang quickly spoke.

"I can see the air conditioning on, Qiang." She sneered.

Qi Qiang glared at her. "It is just switched on! There is no cooling! It isn't working properly."

I laughed, watching the antics of these two.

Luo Zhiqiang said, "I heard some of the conversation. Like Qi Qiang said, we do have VR equipment if you need them."

I typed. "Really? That is awesome! Then we can use VR, as Yuan said."

Yuan nodded. "It's decided then. How much time will you need to configure VR, Qi Qiang?"

"Not much. I will have to know the details from bro Bai Li, and then I will accordingly create a replica of that event in my software. Once it's done, we can connect the VR headset with my software, and Bro Yuan will be able to use it."

We nodded.

Bai Li said, "I will tell you the scene and details later."

"Okay."

"For now, can you look more into Zhang Xiulan? Maybe somewhere you can find her details about her or the one helping her. Anything. Even a blurry photo is fine."

"On it."

Qi Qiang zapped through a bunch of information with such lightning speed that it was hardly visible. The. He stopped at a certain piece and said,

"I think I got something."