Live to Travel

On that particular day, the wind howled wildly, the sky was draped in a gloomy gray, and heavy clouds hung low overhead. With each gust, the trees danced in a frenzied ballet.

Inside the temple, a young man named Jin sat gazing vacantly at the ceiling. His thoughts were lost in the past, unable to accept the harsh reality before him. Beside him lay an old man, adorned in a heavy, yet expensive robe. He lay peacefully still, devoid of life.

Gritting his teeth until they audibly ground together, Jin's face contorted with barely suppressed emotions. He resolutely turned his gaze towards the motionless figure on the bed, determination hardening his features.

Slowly, Jin reached under the blanket and gently covered the old man. He then inhaled deeply and knelt beside the bed, kowtowing three times, followed by nine knocks of his head on the floor. Each knock threatened to release the tears he held back, but he persevered, knowing displays of grief were disrespectful during this ritual of utmost respect and gratitude.

After a moment, Jin rose and made his way outside, ignoring the raging storm and rain. He walked through a wilderness of tall grass and trees, his destination a grassy plain marked by weathered wooden symbols, each seemingly imbued with ancient wisdom.

Despite the pouring rain, Jin began digging the ground with his bare hands. Each scoop of mud sent shivers through his body, but he continued relentlessly until a sizeable hole had formed. By the time he finished, the storm had subsided, and the sun was setting in a blaze of orange and purple.

Without pausing for rest, Jin returned to the temple. The sight of his master confirmed the painful reality of the situation. He carefully carried his master's body back to the grassy plain and laid him to rest in the prepared grave, filling it with dirt until his master was no longer visible.

In their faith, they believe that time is of the essence following a person's passing. The soul must swiftly embark on its journey through the cycle of reincarnation, for even in the briefest of moments, there lies the possibility of their paths crossing again. Although memories and emotions may be wiped clean in each new life, their essence remains unchanged. They are, in their very core, the same beings they once were.

Jin decided to retrieve some alcohol and two cups. As night descended, he sat beside his master's grave, drinking and tossing the empty cups onto the ground. The silence, though heavy, held a profound quality. This seemingly fleeting moment stretched on, an eternity in its own right.

Eventually, the time came to let go. As the first rays of sunlight brushed against his face, Jin reluctantly rose and made his way back to the dilapidated temple. The silence remained, unbroken but somehow different now. His heart ached with the weight of his loss.

He continued his daily routine: tending to the chickens, replacing their hay, and cleaning the manure. Weeks went by, yet his master's final wish echoed in his mind. Despite his desire to fulfill it and travel the world, he found himself unable to leave. He was afraid that the memories that lingered within the temple walls would vanish if he did.

Days bled into weeks, and Jin continued his chores. As he wiped sweat from his brow one afternoon, he looked up at the vast blue sky, his thoughts once again lost in a world beyond the confines of the temple.

Suddenly, a startling chime resonated through the air:

DING!

"Hello host! Welcome to Live to Travel!"

Jin jumped in surprise, almost losing his footing and tumbling into a pile of chicken manure.

"What... that..." he muttered, bewildered.

[Scanning host body... 40%... 70%... 85%... 100%. Ding! Host body successfully scanned. Please say "status."]

"My body...?" Jin couldn't comprehend the situation, yet he followed the system's instructions.

"Status," he uttered.

[Name: Jin Li

Age: 22

Strength: 15

Agility: 17

Endurance: 13

Charm: 16

Popularity: N/A

Skills: Currently none (acquired from the system)

(Please note that the average score for people is 10.)]

Jin gaped in amazement. He was familiar with this kind of trope, having encountered similar stories during his time living off the mountain. Yet, this seemingly fictional concept now manifested right before his eyes.

Unconvinced, Jin rubbed his eyes vigorously, but the floating interface remained persistent. Curiosity gnawed at him, prompting him to inquire, "System, or whatever... what can you do?"

[Grant you skills.]

"Skills? How so?" Jin questioned.

[By livestreaming your adventure, you can earn tickets corresponding to your popularity rating. Tickets come in tiers: bronze, silver, gold, diamond, and amethyst. Each tier requires reaching a specific follower count through live broadcasts: 1,000 for bronze, 10,000 for silver, 100,000 for gold, and so on. You can use these tickets to unlock random skills beneficial to you as the host. Additionally, occasional special tickets will be issued, allowing you to directly choose a specific skill.]

"Really? This sounds absurd," Jin commented.

[It is a blessing...]

"But how do I start this livestreaming thing? I don't even have a phone, let alone an internet connection," Jin reasoned.

[Ding! Congratulations for obtaining a newbie gift. Please open your inventory to claim it.]

Following the system's instructions, Jin swiped the floating interface and tapped the inventory button. There he saw it: a red gift box adorned with a ribbon. As he tapped the box, it began to shake, as if something struggled to get out. After a moment, it burst open, revealing the contents:

[Congratulations for obtaining a state-of-the-art drone, a cellphone with built-in data connection that never runs out, a remote for the drone, and lastly, a camera stick.]

These items materialized within Jin's inventory. He tapped the drone icon, and it instantly appeared in his hand. The sleek metal device featured four individual blades and a smart steering function, even boasting the ability to charge itself using solar energy. The second item, the phone, resembled any other phone at first glance, but its unique feature was the endless data connection. Even in the most remote locations, Jin wouldn't have to worry about losing signal. This amazed him, as far as he knew, such technology wasn't yet available.

[You don't have to worry about complicated things, my host. Just say "action" and the drone will automatically film and connect you to the viewers.]

"Thank goodness I don't have to mess with any of this... but how do I start?" Jin pondered.

[I recommend continuing with your usual tasks and let the system handle the rest.]

"Uhhh... okay?" Jin responded hesitantly.

"Action," he announced, unsure of what awaited him.

The drone buzzed to life, hovering in the air with its camera directly focused on Jin, who felt a slight blush creep up his cheeks. He decided to accept the situation, believing it somehow connected to his master's wish.

The camera had been rolling for a few minutes when Jin glanced at the viewer count, causing a flush of heat to rise on his face.

Viewers: 0

"Whatever," he sighed with resignation.

Jin exited the temple, revealing a vast expanse of grassland. He walked cautiously, avoiding branches and navigating around steep ledges, his movements demonstrating familiarity with the terrain.

As Jin journeyed up the treacherous mountain path, clad in his white Taoist robe, he became oblivious to the drone following him, completely absorbed in his task. Little did he know, his viewership was steadily increasing:

Viewers: 493 

yet, it's still steadily increasing