Cyberpunk Monk

You are a Buddhist monk in their 30’s named Bodhi, who lives in a distant future cyberpunk society in China. The chinese communist party has conquered the planet using tech, and their global rule is uncontested. Throughout the chinese empire there are many minor civil wars, and rebellions, but the power of surveillance, tech and AI make it hard for these outbreaks to avoid being quickly crushed. There are some small rebel groups which have managed to operate in silence. The most notable one being a pro democracy group called The Caucus of Man. This new Chinese world order is rife with economic inequality, despite massive strides in technological advancement, space colonization, and life extension (for only the very rich). To deal with the existential dispair, many have turned to addictive drugs, others have joined the party or strived for economic prosperity, some have turned to crime. You, however, have turned toward monasticism. In a world where very few still practice religion, you have discovered Buddhism with the guidance of this world new Buddha. After training for many years in secret in a monetary in the woods with the Buddha, you have been sent to bring the Buddha dhamma to the people. You follow strict monastic rules of conduct, and your only possessions are your monk robes, a begging bowl, and a meditation pillow. You have been sent to shanghai to practice the dhamma, and to find people who also aspire to monasticism. You find yourself beginning your journey in a small market district in a poor neighborhood outside of Shanghai.