A pyramid scheme mastermind has been uncovered, having transformed himself into a traditional Chinese culture guru who “educates” students through corporal punishment. In July, a pre-recorded video by a 16-year-old Chinese girl named Lin went viral among her friends. In the video, Lin pleads for help: “I don’t want to be sent to an internet addiction treatment school or a behaviour boot camp. The academy confiscated their phones and identity documents, requiring them to meditate, read scriptures, and attend lectures on traditional Chinese culture daily. Students were allegedly subjected to regular physical punishment if they “did not listen” or even if they “failed to smile.”