Live Streaming: Great Adventure in the Wilderness

Chapter 408: Chapter 406: Desperate Situation?

“`

The mountaineering season is canceled.

The news swept through the camp like a hurricane, leaving many astonished, some erupting in anger, while others, who had braced themselves, sighed deeply despite their frustration.

“The Mountaineering Association has no right to make us descend and suspend our summit attempts! No right at all!”

“I paid you eighty thousand Ugly Gold, eighty thousand! Do you realize what that means? You owe me a full refund, plus compensation for my losses! Otherwise, my lawyer will be talking to you.”

In the camp, Bi Fang took off his hat, letting the cold wind howl, while various quarrels competed to flood into his ears, making him laugh involuntarily.

People who made a last-minute decision like him were few and far between. If they were truly here to climb, they wouldn’t still be at base camp. At the very least, they’d be training between Camp One and Camp Two, instead of arguing with the guides at base camp.

Most of those remaining were like Wang Yongbo and Yao Jun. They had money, but once they reached base camp, they realized they couldn’t make it with their physical condition. Besides, the Mountaineering Association promised that this year’s climbing permits would still be valid next year. The current squabbling was just an attempt to recoup some losses, trying to get their money back.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

After walking through most of the camp, Bi Fang went to use the restroom. When he returned, he found that the situation had not improved; on the contrary, it had escalated, with Sherpa people and even himself becoming targets of blame.

“This is a decision made by the Mountaineering Association. I’m just a guide, powerless to change it, sir.”

“Why cancel the climbing season to mourn for them? I paid money! That was their job! They get paid well, so they should take the risk! If an electrician dies from electrocution, should the whole city shut down for three days to commemorate him, huh?”

“Furthermore sir, the Khumbu Glacier is very dangerous after the avalanche. The original route is completely destroyed, and no one can guarantee your safety.”

“Why can that Huaxia person go up when you cannot? Aren’t you supposed to be the most professional climbing guides? Can’t you even outdo an entertainment broadcaster?”

“Let’s go, let’s go, it’s time to descend. I’ll come back next year, I’m used to this, three times in a row now.”

“Fuck your mother, refund my money!”

Thais was explaining from a high platform, but no one was listening; he was so anxious he felt tightness in his chest.

Bi Fang sat on a rock, took out a lollipop from his pocket to replenish his blood sugar, and watched them argue calmly, finding it quite interesting. When Thais relayed that the climbing season was canceled, Bi Fang had felt far more emotional turmoil than any of those arguing before him.

The cancellation of the climbing season unquestionably meant that his efforts were in vain and the mission was doomed to failure, with his limits locked by something called ‘talent.’

This wasn’t just disappointment; it was despair, a plummeting into an abyss of despair.

But lying in bed, calming his mind, he thought it over, and in this situation, if he couldn’t accept it, what else could he do? What comes is a blessing; what goes is fate.

His physical condition could still improve; it’s just that the balance was disturbed, and he could no longer progress uniformly.

If this was the will of Nature, what could be done?

The days ahead might be harder, more tiring, and even more hazardous, but where the heart aspires, no mountain can block the path. To achieve one’s dreams, how could one not pay a price?

A simple truth. If it had been him when he first arrived in this world, maybe he would have been obsessed over it, but after many adventures, Bi Fang was now able to see it clearly.

Seeing that his efforts to calm the crowd were futile, Thais, sweating profusely, apologized to Bi Fang, “I’m truly sorry, Mr. Fang. I know you wanted to complete the no-oxygen summit record and become the first successful Huaxia person to do so, but I’m really sorry. I’m powerless in the face of such an accident.”

Crushing the candy in his mouth, Bi Fang shook his head, “It’s alright; I was prepared for this.”

It was an old move by the Mountaineering Association, and Bi Fang was not at all surprised. Being prepared meant he could face the failure of the mission with such composure.

Picking up the nearby drone, Bi Fang prepared to tell his fans the news, but to his surprise, they were already more informed than he was. As soon as he entered the live broadcast room, they asked him if the climbing season was canceled.

The moment Bi Fang nodded, a wail went up.

[Wori, was the long-awaited climb all for nothing?]

[What can you do about it, go talk to the association]

[Surely it didn’t have to be canceled?]

[Why, oh why? Mourning could be done in another way, why take such a drastic and blunt approach?]

“`

Indeed, why must it be so blunt and crude?

Bi Fang looked up at the sun, squinting his eyes. He could accept it, but that didn’t mean he was content.

“If there has to be a reason, perhaps it’s still the conflict between man and nature?”

Conflict between man and nature?

Thais, who was listening intently nearby, was taken aback, not understanding why Bi Fang would say such a thing. Wasn’t this just an ordinary memorial service? What did it have to do with the conflict between man and nature?

Even Thais didn’t quite understand, let alone the audience in front of the screen.

Bi Fang pursed his lips, uncertain whether to speak in front of Thais, but after hesitating for a moment, he went ahead and said it.

The Sherpa people had lived generation after generation by farming and herding, leading a peaceful and tranquil life. But that peace was shattered by mountaineers from all over the world who came to Nepal with a desire to conquer Mount Everest.

The arrival of outsiders brought the prospect of a better life, and every person has the right to pursue a better life. They wanted a better life for themselves, to let their children stand out and not be trapped in the mountains forever, to provide their parents and children with a warm and full life. However, all these hinged on money, hence the first Sherpas were very happy.

The Sherpa people, living deep in the high mountains, had no other means of livelihood, and mountaineering became their most lucrative activity.

But those who viewed conquering Everest as a wealthy pursuit saw the summit as a prize of fame and fortune, leaving various kinds of trash and corpses on the mountain as they continued to come incessantly, regardless of how it affected the Sherpa people. What did the Sherpas matter to them?

In the grand visions of the mountaineers, the Sherpas often played the role of obedient “servants,” doing everything to aid the climbing to the summit, helping these high-paying clients realize their dreams of conquering the peak.

Climbers would fly from Kathmandu Valley in Nepal to Lukla Airport, then trek for ten days to reach base camp. They were demanding and carried little themselves, relying almost completely on Sherpa labor.

In the past, one person reaching the summit was considered a success, but now everyone paid, and it became the company’s challenge to let everyone reach the summit, which meant more supplies were necessary.

Sherpas built camps from the bottom up, transported, and stored supplies for weeks at a time to give clients the greatest chance of summiting. It was an industry that required manpower, and more and more Sherpas chose to work on the mountain.

“We passed the Khumbu Glacier on our way, and as you know, that’s very dangerous. The Khumbu Icefall is a waterfall formed by the glacier flowing out of the western valley, sensitive to sunlight, with huge blocks of ice breaking off without warning.

Climbers only need to cross the Khumbu Icefall two or three times, but during the transportation and the route-making process, Sherpas need to cross it 30 to 40 times each season. The risk of Sherpas sacrificing their lives is far greater than that of the climbers.”

The audience thought about that scene for a moment—thirty to forty times each season?

Even if the death rate was one percent, multiple climbs would make the probability infinitely higher.

“The death rate is just one reason, the greater reason is exploitation,” Bi Fang adjusted his trouser legs to sit more comfortably and continued.

Nowadays, the business of climbing Mount Everest has become managed entirely by climbing companies. Sherpas serve these companies, with all the supplies needed for the summit being carried up the mountain by Sherpa labor.

Men with faces lined with wrinkles used a single stick as a climbing staff, their backs laden with bamboo baskets filled with three differently colored large mountaineering bags.

Women joined the carrying teams, tying white bags to their backs, again tied over their heads, pressing down firmly with both hands.

Bearing loads larger and heavier than their own body size, they climbed the mountains step by step, while only the children were free to run around.

While climbers, using trekking poles, walked at the front.

Yet even so, their earnings were pitifully small.

Even the Nepali government exploited them, even banning airplanes from transporting supplies up the mountain.

Of the 100,000 Ugly Gold paid by climbers for climbing fees, a large part went into the pockets of the government, with another portion to the climbing companies. After a season of climbing in 2014, each Sherpa got only a small share—about 4,000 Ugly Knife.

“These are all reasons, and also the triggers, until the avalanche in 2014 when the powder keg was completely ignited. Speaking of which, you’re also from the association, you should be aware of what happened after that, right?”

Bi Fang looked toward Thais.

And at that moment, Thais was filled with shame.