Ning Fei glanced at the live chat. The viewers were still discussing the cuckoo bird.
He explained calmly:
"Everyone, nature is often harsh. We can't view everything from the perspective of the weak, nor judge an animal by human morality. Nature has its own rules. Let me give you an example: zebras. People think of zebras as meek herbivores, only prey for carnivores on the plains, but they, too, have a surprising side."
He continued, "In a zebra herd, when a new male leader takes over, the female zebras will kick their young to death in front of him to gain his favor. They may even involve him. I saw this on Animal Planet. A female zebra frantically kicked her foal, her hooves and chest covered with its blood, while the new male watched coldly."
"This is a survival rule for these seemingly gentle creatures. I just hope people understand that nature has its own laws. Human emotions and morals don't necessarily apply here."
Ning Fei's calm tone made the message sink in. The viewers were thoughtful as they listened to his story.
"Is that true? Do zebras really do that?"
"The natural world is so much crueler than we thought."
"This host really knows his stuff."
"This is the first time I've seen such a calm, insightful outdoor host. I'm hooked!"
"Yes, other outdoor streamers just yell and scream, but this guy is a true gem."
After sharing his perspective on nature, Ning Fei turned his focus back to the task at hand. He had a goal to accomplish—boost the livestream's popularity to over 200,000 views. For most streamers, even veterans with years of experience, reaching such numbers was no small feat. But with exciting content, the audience grows quickly.
Ning Fei then pulled out four large watermelons from his cellar and set them on the table.
His viewers were stunned.
What was the host doing now? He'd just saved a little bird, and suddenly, there were four big watermelons.
"Friends, I promised to show you my knife skills yesterday, and today, I'm here to make good on that promise," he said with a smile.
"Knife skills?" the audience was intrigued.
"Can he really perform knife tricks?"
"Really? What kind?"
"Haha, I'm excited to see this."
Curious comments flooded the chat.
Ning Fei didn't explain much further. He took out a set of knives, laid them beside the watermelons, and got to work.
The knife set was comprehensive, with large and small blades for different techniques. Ning Fei's mastery over the knife was precise. Each cut, each amount of pressure, was perfectly controlled.
The audience watched, mystified. Ning Fei seemed to be cutting into the watermelon, yet nothing visibly changed on the surface.
"What's he doing?" some viewers wondered.
"I thought he was going to show knife skills, but I don't see any difference."
"Is this just a stunt?"
"Maybe he's just poking holes in it?"
The chat began to fill with skeptical comments.
In truth, art isn't always visible until the very end. Ning Fei's skill was exceptional. The watermelon rinds he carved remained attached in certain spots, so when he finally revealed it, the result would be striking.
Focused on his carving, Ning Fei didn't notice the rising skepticism in the chat.
Many new viewers joined, some curious, some dismissive. Some were captivated and willing to wait for the final reveal.
Liu Sen, one such viewer, was relaxing at home, flipping through live channels. He noticed the outdoor setting in Ning Fei's stream and was intrigued by the peaceful environment.
When he joined, he saw Ning Fei intently carving away at the watermelons with only faint cuts showing on the rind.
"What's this guy doing?" Liu Sen muttered to himself, watching the confused chat.
The comments were full of questions and even a bit of criticism:
"A swordsman?"
"What's so special about this?"
Seeing no noticeable changes in the watermelon, Liu Sen shrugged in mild disappointment.
Just then, Ning Fei lifted his head, wiped his brow, and smiled, saying, "Alright, friends, the carving is complete. Let's see the result!"
He'd spent nearly an hour on the carving, and by now, around 80,000 people were watching.
Ning Fei moved the camera closer so that the watermelon was front and center on the screen.
Liu Sen stared, puzzled.
But then, Ning Fei carefully lifted a piece of the watermelon rind. Slowly, he peeled back the remaining pieces, revealing the full carving.
All at once, the viewers were stunned.
Liu Sen's jaw dropped. "Holy…!" he exclaimed, unable to contain himself.
There, carved into the watermelon rind, was a lifelike tiger descending from the mountain, its gaze fierce and commanding. Even through the screen, the carving's detail and intensity made it look almost real.
The chat exploded:
"Holy crap!"
"666666" (Internet slang for 'awesome') filled the screen.
The reward notifications came in nonstop.
Ning Fei's skills as a swordsman had left everyone speechless.
And at that moment, his livestream's popularity soared like never before.