Reaching to the Sky - Chapter 6

The Gathering of the Camps

“You’re good.” Nanfeng sincerely answered. He was very impressed with this young Dao. Not only is she very kind to him, but she also speaks so well. He also noticed that she did not despise the monks and the nuns even though she is a Taoist.

Daogu shook her head. “It is because I have no position in the ranks.”

“You are a Taoist and you are good in what you’re doing. Of course, there should be a position for you.” Nanfeng was a bit confused.

Daogu just smiled and didn’t answer.

As minutes passed by, more and more people are gathering outside the stadium. Among them are many foreigners and their servants. These people are mostly young. Most of them took the time to come here to learn from the masters. Maybe it is not time for the event to start as everyone was stopped by the soldiers outside the venue. No one could enter yet.

Still, more people are packing the sheds outside. The people behind Nanfeng and Daogu began to crowd and push. He was pushed to the front, but was pulled back by Dao.

He is a bit short in height, so his line of sight was blocked by the crowd. “Let’s move forward so we can see clearly.”

“No. Just stay here.” Daogu shook his head.

Nanfeng was helpless as he can only stay with her in the same place. He didn’t want to leave her just yet.

“Did you also come here yesterday?”

Dao nodded.

“Are you also participating in the competition?” He curiously asked. There were at least tens of thousands of people outside the field. Scratching his head, he has given up looking for his companions.

Daogu shook her head once more. “No. I came to listen to the lessons.”

Nanfeng did not ask again. He did not know much about the nature of this guild, nor did he know what the lessons and hearings are about.

After all, he was still a bit cautious of Daogu. He felt like this for a long time. Dao’s hand though is very cold, and it was very comfortable to hold her hand.

Then the crowd began to get a bit loud. The important figures of the various camps began to enter. These people are mostly men. Most of them seem to be middle-aged adults. There were hundreds of them, of which the military accounted for 70%. Nanfeng can see it through their uniforms. The number of monks in the middle is not much. Maybe just a dozen.

These people came to the front of the pre-arranged wooden chairs, but they did not sit down. They turned and looked around.

Nanfeng could not see clearly what they were doing because there is a wooden table blocking his sight.

After a while, three men suddenly appeared on the stage. An old monk wearing a red robe is on the left side. He is already eighty years old. Despite his old age and a head with no hair, he still looked gallantly tall and has a nine-ring Zen stick in his hand.

In the middle is a young Taoist, handsome and full of temperament and charm. He must be around 30 years old. He is wearing a rare purple robe that has a figure of a dragon embroidered on it. The beautiful crown placed on his head is also different from an ordinary Taoist. His left hand is holding a rod that has a handle of pure gold.

Finally, the man on the right side is about 50 years old. He is clad in a gray cloth and has an emotionless expression.

When the three people arrived, the purple Taoist priest swayed his rod, and everyone rushed to see the ceremony. “Fusheng is an infinitely sacred place.”

With this, the crowd instantly suppressed hushed into silence.

Everyone rushed back to return to their areas.

The purple-robed priest retreated to his seat. After he sat down, the Taoist priests in front of the wooden stage also took their seats.

The old monk then stepped forward and put his hands together to indicate the singing of praises for the Amitabha.

Unlike the domineering tone of the purple priest, the voice of the old monk is very peaceful, revealing the indifference and compassion of the world.

Then the old monk took his turn to sit down, and the monks below the stage also took their seats.

Finally, the old man looked around him, and then he clenched his left fist. He held it across the front of his chest with his right hand. He said, “They are coming from afar, and they are indestructible. But I, Lin, will never leave you!”

“Our only leader is you, Weillin!”

The martial arts people in the audience shouted with determination.

“Please!” The man named Lin hushed everyone and then he returned to his seat.

There were a lot of martial arts people in the field, and they hovered and sat down.

Nanfeng felt helpless because of he was not that tall to see the proceedings. When the three masters were still standing on the stage, he could still see it. But when they sat down, he could not see them anymore. He tried to lift his body and looked up. The Taoist priest stood up again. Stepping forward, he said, “If you’re not here to participate, leave. Avoid being injured and hurt for the sake of nothing.”

“Is he really the one who would protect us?” Nanfeng asked.

Daogu nodded.

“Who is he talking to?” asked Nanfeng curiously.

Daogu shook his head.

“Hey, are you okay? You like you’re freezing.” He looked at her, and saw that she is indeed pale and shivering.

Daogu grabbed his hand tightly and did not speak.

The entitled guardian of the country is still standing on the stage. After a while, he extended his right hand. “This is the Yuqing Fa Conference. We are here to fight, not retreat!”

“How old is this person?” This Taoist priest still looks young.

Daogu lowered her head and did not answer again.

Then Nanfeng noticed something different. The priest is looking directly at Daogu. “Is he talking to you?”

Daogu gripped his hand tighter and still did not answer.

Just as Nanfeng was about to continue asking questions, the purple Taoist priest dropped his right hand and turned back.

Nanfeng thought that the competition would start right away. He did not expect that he will listen to the Scriptures when everyone settled down. The scriptures are named Gao Xuanzhenjing. He listened even if he really didn’t want to. He wanted to fully understand the concept of the yin and yang of heaven and earth.

However, he got bored after a long while. Nanfeng looked around and found that most of the people were listening intently, including a hundred-year-old man sitting in the middle. The monks look like they are still pretending to. The martial artists are not listening at all, and their faces express impatience. Some even took a nap.

But there is a person who has been so concentrated on listening. Daogu seemed to forget that she is with him. Her eyes are glued on the stage.

“This doesn’t seem to be exciting at all.” Nanfeng yawned. He did not sleep well last night, and now he felt like he needed some rest.

Dao Gu was nodded a little bit.

“When will the competition start?” asked Nanfeng in curiosity.

“Soon.” Her attention clearly was not on him.

Nanfeng asked this question four or five times more and Daogu would answer just the same. The Taoist priest has been talking for more than an hour already. Some of those who are sitting down the stage already went to the pergola, waiting for the discussion of the scriptures to finish.

“How do you engage in a battle?” Nanfeng yawned again.

“It’s all about experience, young man.” Dao Gu took out her purse and gave it to him. “I have to leave now. I’ll give all these to you.”

“Are you still coming tomorrow?”

“I can’t come again.” Daogu turned back and walked away.

Nafeng immediately followed her. “What do I do with the money? You gave me everything you have. What about you?”

“I’ll just walk back the waterway. You don’t have to worry.” Daogu turned and pointed at the pergola.

Although the time they spent together is very short, Nanfeng already liked being with her.  “I am following a Taoist. Strange.”

“Well, am I really? I’m not in a robe.” Dao laughed.

Nanfeng was shocked. “Are you not a Taoist?”

“Well, I have to go.” Daogu turned back again.

“I don’t know what your name is.” Nanfeng tried to keep up with her.

Daogu did not answer.

Nanfeng looked at the purse in his hand, and remembered that he never had a chance to express his gratitude. “Thank you.”

“It should be me who should thank you” He could still hear her voice in the crowd.

Nanfeng stood still and stared straight ahead until he saw Daogu’s figure walking away. He looked back at the pergola filled with people.

With so many camps and sects, which one is the best?