Ning Fei started his live stream.
This was his first time broadcasting, and as he looked at the live stream interface, he couldn't help but feel a bit awkward. He glanced at the viewership counter on the platform.
Zero.
It was inevitable for a first-time streamer. There was a story circulating about someone who talked to their phone for eight hours during their stream, only to end up with a total of zero viewers.
People often say that being an internet celebrity can make you rich, but that only applies to the big names or those with teams behind them. Before going live, many would hype themselves up with videos—be they spoofs, warm or emotional stories, or eye-catching performances—to gain some traction.
But Ning Fei? He just went live without any pretense, and no one was watching.
His live stream was called "The Qingfeng Taoist Livestream."
He thought for a moment, unsure of what to do. He had watched live streams before, mostly game streams or competitive matches. Occasionally, he'd catch a glimpse of a female streamer dancing or singing a love song.
"Forget it, I'll just go with the flow. Trying too hard will only make things awkward," Ning Fei shrugged.
As a Taoist priest, he believed in going with the natural flow of things.
So, he switched the live stream to the drone's perspective, setting it to automatically follow him, and then busied himself with his usual routine.
The layout of Qingfeng Temple was simple. There was an old eighteen-step bluestone staircase about five meters wide leading up to the temple. After years of weathering, the stairs had darkened. Trees lined the path, and moss grew on the lower steps, shaded throughout the year. The stairs gave the temple an ancient, untouched feel, as if they were a relic from a bygone era.
At the top of the stairs stood a weathered wooden plaque with the words "Qingfeng Temple" written in large, bold characters.
It was evening, and after having dinner, Ning Fei should have been resting. But feeling energized, he took out his wooden sword used for daily practice and began his martial arts routine.
Now, when it came to martial arts, Ning Fei's practice wasn't the flashy, grand swordplay you'd see in action novels. It was more akin to the slow, measured movements of an elderly man practicing in the park.
His movements were slow, but precise.
Each move seemed to flow seamlessly into the next, as if he were one with nature itself.
At that moment, Ning Fei hadn't noticed that the viewership for his live stream was rapidly increasing.
6... 52... 231... 320...
Within just a few minutes, the number of viewers had exceeded 300!
And the comments started pouring in.
"Where is this place? The environment looks amazing!"
"Looks like a Taoist temple. The stream's name is 'The Qingfeng Taoist Livestream'?"
"Wait, Taoist priests still exist these days? What kind of gimmick is this?"
"No joke, the guy's movements are really smooth. It's surprisingly calming to watch."
"Weird... this looks just like the slow exercises old folks do in the park, but somehow it's... mesmerizing?"
"I'm curious what this guy actually looks like."
As more people tuned in, the comments continued to roll in. The drone, programmed to follow Ning Fei, had found a perfect angle, capturing both him and the golden sunset in the background.
Under the setting sun, a Taoist priest practiced his sword routine.
It was a beautiful sight.
The viewers were captivated by the simplicity and serenity of the scene. In an era where viewers were bombarded with over-the-top performances or superficial content, this quiet and unpretentious livestream felt like a breath of fresh air.
Some viewers even began recording the stream.
"Wow, I've been watching for 10 minutes and I'm still into it!"
"You think that's something? I've been watching for over 20 minutes. This streamer is really something."
"This place looks real to me. I used to live in the mountains, and this has to be deep in the mountains."
"Amazing. I'm tipping the streamer 100 bird pills!"
"Same here, 200 bird pills from me!"
Urban life is fast-paced, and many young people feel immense pressure. Watching live streams is a way to relax. Some watch gaming, others tune in to female streamers, food broadcasts, or live singing. They're all looking for ways to pass the time and find a bit of joy.
But to their surprise, watching Ning Fei's sword practice brought them an unexpected sense of calm.
It was as if they had tapped into a deeper truth—the Tao itself.
After about thirty minutes, Ning Fei finished his practice.
"Hmm, I'm a bit rusty. Haven't practiced in a while," Ning Fei muttered as he wiped the sweat from his forehead.
While the sword movements were slow, they were physically demanding. Although it wasn't as exhausting as intense exercise, maintaining perfect form still required a significant amount of energy.
Just then, Ning Fei remembered he was still live streaming. Picking up his phone, he was about to end the stream when he noticed that the viewership had skyrocketed to over 1,000!
How did it get so high?
Ning Fei was taken aback.
At that moment, the live stream camera switched to a close-up of Ning Fei's face, allowing the audience to finally see what the mysterious Taoist looked like.
The comments exploded.
"No way, the streamer is handsome?!"
"Wait, I thought we'd need 100,000 followers before he'd show his face!"
"Wow, is this what modern-day Taoist priests look like?"
"That sword routine was really cool. Can you do another one?"
"Wow, I've found a hidden gem!"
"This can't be real... right? He's gotta be using a beauty filter!"
"Look at him closely. The sweat on his face is real. There's no way he's using a filter!"
Ning Fei saw the comments flooding in.
He shrugged. He wasn't too concerned about his appearance.
Let's put it this way: since childhood, he'd received more love letters than he could count. And in college, he was somewhat of a campus heartthrob, with plenty of girls interested in him.
"Hello, everyone," Ning Fei greeted, his voice calm and magnetic. "I'm Ning Fei, the 138th-generation head of Qingfeng Temple. I'm 22 years old. Thank you all for tuning into my first live stream."
"This is my first time streaming, so I don't have much experience. Thanks for your support."
"Today, I'll show you around my Taoist temple."
His gentle introduction was met with enthusiastic responses from the audience.
Still feeling a bit unsure of what to say, Ning Fei switched the stream back to the drone's perspective. The drone floated behind him, following as he walked deeper into the temple grounds.