Chapter VII
Nanfeng Goes Back to the Temple
There are more than a hundred gazebos, but more people are still trying to get in. Each pergola is full of people. Still, many people are still trying to push their way inside.
In desperation, Nanfeng could just wander around the perimeter. Because he can’t recognize the words, he doesn’t know which martial art camp is in a pergola. However, it is obvious that the large number of people in front of the one with purple banners is the most dominant in count, followed by the dark blue pergola. The lowest number of people is the pergola with the dark red banners. There are dozens of people in it.
In order to achieve power and success, these people do everything to get what they want. It seemed like they can’t be contented in what they have.
Nanfeng felt sympathy towards them. What is wrong with them? Why do they have to care so much about having power? Life is too short to become miserable.
The truth is Nanfeng felt that he was already very miserable and poor. But compared with these people, he felt that he is a lucky one. So many people in front of him look so pathetic.
Something also bothers him. He suddenly feels emotionally attached to Daogu. It’s like he just become so loyal to her. But she has not promised to accept him. He couldn’t just forget that.
These thoughts are enough to make Nanfeng feel goosebumps all over his body.
Then a master in a pergola is talking about saving people out of water and fire and the righteousness of the sky.
In a heap of panic, Nanfeng did not dare to stay around the shed. This is a trap for him. If they knew that he knows nothing about this, he would just arouse the suspicions of the people.
Although every martial art sect has a pergola, not everyone recruits disciples. Aspiring disciples come after the another but they do not give them a chance to speak up.
The strange thing is that there are sects who seem to accept everyone. The sects of the monks have the most disciples. In their words, they are all about life, and all beings can become Buddhas. No matter how old or young, regardless of the depth of their understanding, they can join in. Nanfeng thought they would run if they know that their heads will be shaved.
After a few moments of thinking, he eventually discarded the idea of joining a martial art sect. Although he is just a Hanako, he still has his pride. He does not want to be with these people.
After making sure that Lu Pingchuan and others are not here, Nanfeng left the venue. He originally wanted to see the contest. Now, even the fun of watching the fun is gone. The atmosphere of the Fa Conference itself is not right. It is not a good thing. The Taoist monk and the martial arts sects do not obey anyone nor heed any voices from the common people. They are just here to compete for a sacred book.
But he doesn’t have any interest in the sacred book. He doesn’t know what that book is for. He couldn’t even understand words and books written by men, let alone a book from heaven.
After leaving the noisy venue, the south wind felt very clean, and then began to think about it. The thing he wanted to do most was to go back to Xicheng to find out what happened to his comrades. He has to wait until the evening. He can’t take any risk.
He is wearing new clothes now though. After finding a spot under the shade of a tree, he slept directly until the evening.
After waking up, Nanfeng got up and began to wander west. He only ate a piece of bread today. He was already hungry, but he did not dare buy anything in Dongcheng. The reason is very simple. Things and food here in Dongcheng are very expensive as compared to the measly costs of living in Xicheng.
In fact, there are a lot of money in the purse left by Daogu. There are still a few pieces of silver. Silver costs a lot these days. One or two pieces of it amounts to almost 800 copper coins. But he can’t spend everything of it right now. This is not only for himself, but also for Changle and Lu Pingchuan. He does not know whether his comrades had been caught by the government. If they were indeed arrested, he could redeem them with the money.
Approaching the border of Dongcheng and Xicheng, he went north where the temple is situated. There was a small hill behind it. He hid in the hill while waiting for the dark.
After half an hour, night finally fell. The south wind got up and cautiously walked towards the temple. After he had carefully observed the situation around the perimeter of the temple, he found no one. But this does not rule out the possibility of someone staying inside.
The temple is very quiet, surrounded by the sound of autumn insects.
Ordinary houses have rear windows, but the temple does not have one. If you want to look inside, you can only go to the front.
Before going the front door, Nanfeng tightened the laces of his shoes in case there is an ambush in the temple. Then he could run faster without worrying about his shoes.
Nanfeng cautiously moved to the front. Although the temple is very dark, he is sure that no one is in it. The statue is very close to the back wall, and there are no people hiding behind it.
“They have already left.”
Suddenly, the voice made Nanfeng sprang up and scared the old man away. He chased after him but he remembered the familiarity of the voice. It was the old fortune-teller. He could not be mistaken.
“Old man, is that you?” Nanfeng asked to confirm before he approach him.
“It’s me.” The voice of the blind man echoed from inside the temple.
He moved back and walked by the threshold into the hall. “How come you are still here?”
“I went out earlier but there was no place to stay at night. I returned here.” said the blind man.
“But where are…”
Before he could finish, the blind man took the initiative. “The people came in the morning. Before that, your friends already left.”
“Where did they say where they are going?”
But the blind man just shook his head.
Because the sky was too dark, Nanfeng did not see him shaking his head. He asked again.
“No, they are in a hurry,” said the blind man.
Nanfeng began to figure out what to do next.
“Where will you go?”
“I will go to Dongcheng.” Nanfeng said. The night fell deep already and it is time to find a place to sleep. But he did not dare to stay here.
The old man took out some food from his bag and handed it to Nanfeng. “Who are you with?”
“Thank you, I am not hungry. You can eat it yourself.” Actually, he was very hungry, but he couldn’t bear to eat an old man’s food.
“You haven’t told me who you are with today.”
“How do you know that I am with someone?”
“I don’t only know that you are with someone. I also know that that other person is a woman.” The fortune-teller smiled.
Nanfeng just wanted to ask if he saw him and Daogu but thought about it and discarded the idea. How can the blind man see them?
“Don’t go to Dongcheng again. Don’t see that woman again.” said the blind man.
“What are you? What do you know?” Nanfeng found it astonishing for how the blind man knew all these.
“Because she is not a real woman. She is a dangerous creature. Stay away from her.”
Chapter VII
Nanfeng Goes Back to the Temple
There are more than a hundred gazebos, but more people are still trying to get in. Each pergola is full of people. Still, many people are still trying to push their way inside.
In desperation, Nanfeng could just wander around the perimeter. Because he can’t recognize the words, he doesn’t know which martial art camp is in a pergola. However, it is obvious that the large number of people in front of the one with purple banners is the most dominant in count, followed by the dark blue pergola. The lowest number of people is the pergola with the dark red banners. There are dozens of people in it.
In order to achieve power and success, these people do everything to get what they want. It seemed like they can’t be contented in what they have.
Nanfeng felt sympathy towards them. What is wrong with them? Why do they have to care so much about having power? Life is too short to become miserable.
The truth is Nanfeng felt that he was already very miserable and poor. But compared with these people, he felt that he is a lucky one. So many people in front of him look so pathetic.
Something also bothers him. He suddenly feels emotionally attached to Daogu. It’s like he just become so loyal to her. But she has not promised to accept him. He couldn’t just forget that.
These thoughts are enough to make Nanfeng feel goosebumps all over his body.
Then a master in a pergola is talking about saving people out of water and fire and the righteousness of the sky.
In a heap of panic, Nanfeng did not dare to stay around the shed. This is a trap for him. If they knew that he knows nothing about this, he would just arouse the suspicions of the people.
Although every martial art sect has a pergola, not everyone recruits disciples. Aspiring disciples come after the another but they do not give them a chance to speak up.
The strange thing is that there are sects who seem to accept everyone. The sects of the monks have the most disciples. In their words, they are all about life, and all beings can become Buddhas. No matter how old or young, regardless of the depth of their understanding, they can join in. Nanfeng thought they would run if they know that their heads will be shaved.
After a few moments of thinking, he eventually discarded the idea of joining a martial art sect. Although he is just a Hanako, he still has his pride. He does not want to be with these people.
After making sure that Lu Pingchuan and others are not here, Nanfeng left the venue. He originally wanted to see the contest. Now, even the fun of watching the fun is gone. The atmosphere of the Fa Conference itself is not right. It is not a good thing. The Taoist monk and the martial arts sects do not obey anyone nor heed any voices from the common people. They are just here to compete for a sacred book.
But he doesn’t have any interest in the sacred book. He doesn’t know what that book is for. He couldn’t even understand words and books written by men, let alone a book from heaven.
After leaving the noisy venue, the south wind felt very clean, and then began to think about it. The thing he wanted to do most was to go back to Xicheng to find out what happened to his comrades. He has to wait until the evening. He can’t take any risk.
He is wearing new clothes now though. After finding a spot under the shade of a tree, he slept directly until the evening.
After waking up, Nanfeng got up and began to wander west. He only ate a piece of bread today. He was already hungry, but he did not dare buy anything in Dongcheng. The reason is very simple. Things and food here in Dongcheng are very expensive as compared to the measly costs of living in Xicheng.
In fact, there are a lot of money in the purse left by Daogu. There are still a few pieces of silver. Silver costs a lot these days. One or two pieces of it amounts to almost 800 copper coins. But he can’t spend everything of it right now. This is not only for himself, but also for Changle and Lu Pingchuan. He does not know whether his comrades had been caught by the government. If they were indeed arrested, he could redeem them with the money.
Approaching the border of Dongcheng and Xicheng, he went north where the temple is situated. There was a small hill behind it. He hid in the hill while waiting for the dark.
After half an hour, night finally fell. The south wind got up and cautiously walked towards the temple. After he had carefully observed the situation around the perimeter of the temple, he found no one. But this does not rule out the possibility of someone staying inside.
The temple is very quiet, surrounded by the sound of autumn insects.
Ordinary houses have rear windows, but the temple does not have one. If you want to look inside, you can only go to the front.
Before going the front door, Nanfeng tightened the laces of his shoes in case there is an ambush in the temple. Then he could run faster without worrying about his shoes.
Nanfeng cautiously moved to the front. Although the temple is very dark, he is sure that no one is in it. The statue is very close to the back wall, and there are no people hiding behind it.
“They have already left.”
Suddenly, the voice made Nanfeng sprang up and scared the old man away. He chased after him but he remembered the familiarity of the voice. It was the old fortune-teller. He could not be mistaken.
“Old man, is that you?” Nanfeng asked to confirm before he approach him.
“It’s me.” The voice of the blind man echoed from inside the temple.
He moved back and walked by the threshold into the hall. “How come you are still here?”
“I went out earlier but there was no place to stay at night. I returned here.” said the blind man.
“But where are…”
Before he could finish, the blind man took the initiative. “The people came in the morning. Before that, your friends already left.”
“Where did they say where they are going?”
But the blind man just shook his head.
Because the sky was too dark, Nanfeng did not see him shaking his head. He asked again.
“No, they are in a hurry,” said the blind man.
Nanfeng began to figure out what to do next.
“Where will you go?”
“I will go to Dongcheng.” Nanfeng said. The night fell deep already and it is time to find a place to sleep. But he did not dare to stay here.
The old man took out some food from his bag and handed it to Nanfeng. “Who are you with?”
“Thank you, I am not hungry. You can eat it yourself.” Actually, he was very hungry, but he couldn’t bear to eat an old man’s food.
“You haven’t told me who you are with today.”
“How do you know that I am with someone?”
“I don’t only know that you are with someone. I also know that that other person is a woman.” The fortune-teller smiled.
Nanfeng just wanted to ask if he saw him and Daogu but thought about it and discarded the idea. How can the blind man see them?
“Don’t go to Dongcheng again. Don’t see that woman again.” said the blind man.
“What are you? What do you know?” Nanfeng found it astonishing for how the blind man knew all these.
“Because she is not a real woman. She is a dangerous creature. Stay away from her.”
