Chapter 4: The Novice Streamer
Jin Yu scoffed at the sight, “How disgraceful for an elder to slander a young girl and her porcelain as something evil.”
Liu Guanyun had grown up in a Taoist temple and was the most gifted Taoist of his generation. In his heart, he was certain that this sinister aura was extraordinarily difficult to dispel. Yet, in the blink of an eye, it vanished without a trace!
On the surface, Liu Guanyun remained as calm as ever, but inside he was in utter turmoil. Ignoring Jin Yu’s contempt, he hastily returned to the temple to seek... no, to consult with the Grandmaster.
*
Lu Qingfei spent half the day drinking tea at the police station, and by the time she left, evening had fallen. Before returning to her sect, she stopped by the construction site to reassure her second senior brother, who had nearly attacked a police officer.
After their junior sister was taken away, Zhong Qin was uneasy and wanted to follow, but Lu Qingfei firmly refused to let him interfere. He’d been anxious all afternoon.
The moment he saw Lu Qingfei, the tension in his heart finally eased. Any later and he truly would have stormed the police station with a brick in hand. Zhong Qin, holding a boxed meal given by the foreman, handed the only chicken drumstick to Lu Qingfei.
Just like at noon, the two sat side by side.
“Junior sister,” Zhong Qin asked, still shaken, “why did the police want to see you?”
“It was nothing,” Lu Qingfei replied. “I was selling some old jars, and a Taoist master mistook me for a tomb robber.”
Having been educated by Lu Qingfei, Zhong Qin understood that a Taoist master specialized in certain mystical arts.
A thought flashed through his mind. “Junior sister, you could become a Taoist master yourself.”
His junior sister, ever seeking the easy path, had focused on talismanic arts instead of swordsmanship. Talismanic arts consisted of two parts: the talisman papers and the incantations—much like the Taoist masters who catch ghosts and tell fortunes.
Lu Qingfei glanced at Zhong Qin. “I can only use talismanic arts three times a month at most. Second senior brother, do you want me to die on the job as a Taoist master?”
If she ran into a vicious ghost, she’d be dead before she could catch it.
Zhong Qin scratched his nose. “That’s true.”
After finishing the chicken leg, Lu Qingfei wiped her hands with a napkin and stood up. “I’m heading back to the sect. Second senior brother, keep hauling those bricks. Today you move stone, tomorrow it’ll be gold. Keep it up!”
Zhong Qin’s spirits lifted. “I’ll do my best!”
Wuji Sect was nestled within Lingxiao Mountain. Lu Qingfei made sure to return before nightfall. Xie Yunjie was tending to the sect leader and their third senior brother, so after a brief greeting, she made her way to the Scripture Pavilion.
There were many popular live streaming platforms, but Lu Qingfei chose Whale, one of the industry’s three giants. She registered an account and completed a simple identity verification.
To attract viewers, a good channel name was essential. Thus, a live room called “Cultivating Immortality Among Mortals” was born.
Lu Qingfei cleared the books from her desk, found a spot with good lighting, picked up a glass of plain water, and hit “Start Streaming.”
Her stream went live on Whale without a sound, and not a single person entered. Lu Qingfei was in no hurry.
Whale had a policy to support new streamers, pushing their channels to users after half an hour of broadcasting.
No one knew patience like an immortal cultivator.
As she waited, Lu Qingfei took out her last two Fasting Pills. She listed one in the merchandise bar, marking:
Product: Fasting Pill.
Description: One pill ensures satiety and beauty.
Quantity: 1.
For now, Fasting Pills were all she had to sell; the rest would have to wait until she could concoct more with spiritual energy.
Black clouds loomed over the summit of Tianji Sect as the Scripture Pavilion glowed with light. Lu Qingfei lounged lazily at the desk, chin propped on one elbow, a brush in her other hand, yet she hesitated to write.
She was out of money for xuan paper—she had to conserve what was left.
Thirty minutes later, moonlight pierced the dense clouds and Lu Qingfei welcomed her first batch of viewers.
“Falling Flowers, Flowing Water” entered the stream.
“National Treasure Siblings” entered the stream.
“Teacher, Save Me” entered the stream.
…
Within a minute, the viewership had surpassed thirty. Many were drawn by the channel’s name. On Shark, most streamers named their channels after either their own famous names or themed monikers like “King of the Wild” or “High Note Queen.”
Lu Qingfei’s chosen name was fantastical and refreshing, piquing viewers’ curiosity.
“Cultivating immortality? Is this newbie streamer sure she didn’t escape from a mental hospital?”
“Hello? Mental hospital, please come claim your severe patient! [Meme image]”
“Unbelievable! Fortune-telling isn’t enough for the crazies these days—they’re starting on immortal cultivation now!”
“What’s your problem with fortune-telling? It can be pretty accurate, you know!”
Two users began debating fortune-telling versus immortal cultivation in the chat.
Lu Qingfei looked up, sat upright, and aimed the camera at herself. On screen, her facial features were smooth and naturally pleasing; her eyes were round and lively, with bright apricot-shaped pupils and slightly upturned corners, adding a touch of aloofness.
“I have to admit, the streamer really looks like a graceful, ethereal fairy!”
“Makeup? She’s not wearing any, that’s her natural face!”
“I’m stunned—streamer, have you considered debuting as a star? I’ll sell everything I own to support your debut!”
Lu Qingfei saw this comment and her dark eyes curved in amusement. “Thank you, but I have no plans to debut.”
“Sell everything.”
“If you can sell iron with your words and smash pots with your fists, you’re more suited to debut than I am.”
“My god! She looks so cool when serious, but her smile is so sweet—I’m a girl and even I’m head over heels!”
“What a polite streamer! I’m following immediately!”
“Guys, I get it now! The streamer’s ‘cultivating immortality’ is really about cultivating her immortal beauty!”