Reaching to the Sky - Chapter 6

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?