Ning Fei's single-handed swordsmanship astonished everyone as he carved a lifelike tiger out of a watermelon. He was equally pleased with the finished piece.
He checked the viewership in his live broadcast room, which had reached an impressive 120,000. Satisfied with the response, he took out another watermelon and started carving.
What Ning Fei didn't know was that someone had made a short video of his previous carving and posted it online. In this age of the internet, anything noteworthy spreads quickly, and this clip was no exception. Soon, titles like "Watermelon Carving Master Discovered!" and "True Artist Alert!" flooded social media platforms like Douyin and Post Bar, capturing attention everywhere.
At first, the video showed Ning Fei calmly prepping the watermelon. Most viewers didn't know what to expect and doubted the outcome. But as he revealed the tiger design, the internet erupted in awe. Accompanied by dramatic music, a bold "Wild" character caption, and a dark background, the moment Ning Fei pulled back the watermelon peel to reveal the sculpture left viewers speechless.
The video went viral, quickly reaching over a million likes. The original poster added a pinned comment, encouraging viewers to visit Ning Fei's live stream.
In the meantime, Ning Fei had started carving a second watermelon, this time depicting a powerful eagle in flight. As he moved on to the third watermelon, people began pouring into his live room.
"Wow, is this the master? He's so young!"
"He's so handsome—this must be a beauty filter, right?"
"Unbelievable! His craftsmanship is amazing. Who taught him?"
"Are these carvings for sale?"
"Could you carve wood too? I run a carving studio and could offer you a 500,000 yuan annual salary to start!"
The chat buzzed with enthusiasm, and Ning Fei's viewer count continued to climb: 120,000, 140,000, 180,000… until it broke 200,000 within four hours.
Just as he finished carving his third watermelon, the system's notification chimed in his mind: Ding! Congratulations, host! Task completed. You've acquired a new skill: Bird Taming.
Ning Fei was pleasantly surprised. He had worried that viewers might find his carving process boring, but the mystery and skill were enough to hook a large audience. As he removed the rind from the last carving, the image of a wolf howling into the sky emerged, leaving his viewers in awe.
After completing the carvings, Ning Fei ended the stream. Four hours of focused carving had left him hungry—and his young falcon, Xiao Fal, was also eager for food.
The new Bird Taming skill gave Ning Fei the knowledge he needed to properly feed and train Xiao Fal. Unlike other young birds, falcons are carnivores and need a special diet. He could now make a nutrient-rich paste using soy flour, boiled egg yolk, minced meat, and cod liver oil, perfect for raising a falcon.
Long-term birdcage confinement wouldn't work for Xiao Fal, either, as it would risk damaging its feathers and claws from lack of exercise. Keeping him healthy would require some effort.
"Looks like feeding this little guy won't be easy," Ning Fei said, smiling as he glanced at Xiao Fal chirping in his cardboard box.
Taking out his phone, he informed his viewers, "Alright everyone, I'm heading to the city this afternoon to pick up some supplies, so I'll end the live stream here. See you tonight!" With that, he logged off.
His funds were low—only about 2,000 yuan in his account—though he had a bit more to withdraw from his livestream earnings. That would be enough for now. The system showed he had 32,000 popularity points, with 16,000 unspent. Ning Fei decided to save those for a future golden lottery draw, which might bring something special.
After a quick lunch, Ning Fei caught a ride down the mountain with Uncle Zhu, the owner of the largest butcher shop in Qinshan.
"Ning Fei, you did well in college. What are you doing back here?" Uncle Zhu asked, shaking his head. "The mountain's poor; it can't compare to the outside."
Most of the young villagers had moved to the city, with only a few, like Ning Fei, choosing to stay. But he enjoyed the natural world. In this era of concrete jungles, his love for nature was unusual. His dream was to travel the world, exploring mountains, grasslands, valleys, snowfields, and caves, and to share these experiences with others.
Initially, Ning Fei had planned to fix up his temple and then find a job in the city. But the outdoor livestreaming system had opened new doors, giving him the ability to pursue his passion without leaving the mountains.
"Uncle Zhu, everything in the mountains is precious to me," he said, smiling.
Seeing Ning Fei's resolve, Uncle Zhu let the matter rest.
That afternoon, Ning Fei bought cod liver oil, minced meat, and shrimp for Xiao Fal's diet, along with other necessities. On the way back, he enjoyed the lush greenery and the comforting mountain air, already planning his next adventure.