CHAPTER 520: CHAPTER 498: RANG BULUO’S ATTITUDE

Under the protection of about ten Holy Gun Cavalry, three humble carriages moved steadily along the road.

Rang Buluo stroked the velvet cushion, occasionally poking his head out to look at the ground, seemingly puzzled as to why the carriages were so stable.

Martin held a scroll of the "Holy Path Salvation Instruction," marking it with a feather pen.

Unlike the previous enthusiasm at the dock with Horn, Ludvik, huddled in the seat, seemed somewhat gloomy.

He leaned against the hard wooden board, touching his knobby finger bones with sword-callused fingers.

As if recalling the time secretly climbing over walls, standing on the carriage confronting the Robber Knights.

The Juanist Faction’s development to its current state is due to targeting many lords against him, not merely through missionary work.

The Armed Monks of Blago Monastery and wealthy farmer soldiers played significant roles, unable to directly confront Knights but resisting most covert opposition.

For instance, at one point a Demon Hunter attempted to assassinate Juanuo, but Ludvik broke the assassin’s nose with a punch and threw him from the second floor.

Yet now, that bloody aura seemed entirely masked by that benevolent face.

"Hm?" A faint melody made Ludvik open his eyes.

"Did it disturb you?" Martin immediately tried to pull down the curtain, but Ludvik grabbed his hand.

Leaning to the curtain edge, Ludvik asked, "What are they playing? Blue Blood Orphan?"

Martin, being the most involved with and highest ranking in the Salvation Army, surely knew what it was.

After the "Plan" was implemented, Martin was appointed Director of the Revelation Department of the Truth Court, a lower Imperial Priest as Gatekeeper Monk.

Within the Salvation Army Government, he holds a mid-high level position, the department affiliated with Truth Chief Madlan.

He listened by the window for a while before saying confidently, "This is the Salvation Army’s new play, ’Night of the Long Bridge,’ telling the story of Mr. Horn seizing Joan of Arc Castle."

"Adapted from ’Chronicles of the Saint’s Grandson Crusade’? I thought they only performed that play about Blue Blood Orphans?" Ludvik said with interest, somewhat tempted to watch it.

"Recently, they’ve added three new plays, two adapted from ’Chronicles of the Saint’s Grandson Crusade’, ’Night of the Long Bridge’ and ’Storm at Gulag’, and a romance, ’The Laughing Man.’

Raising the curtain to let cold wind and sunlight in together, Martin laughed, "They’re also rehearsing ’Hypocrite,’ named after Gulag Priest Durdafe.

Yet the Literary Department Director Grampwen recently took maternity leave, heading to Black Snake Bay, so it’s been delayed."

Watching laborers diligently digging ditches by the mortar road’s edge, Ludvik’s gaze extended beyond, into the reed thicket, looking at the structures erected at the riverside.

Previously when traveling by boat from Rapids City, he saw quite a few along the way.

The first time he saw them, Ludvik was very surprised; could these farmers afford to hire circus and theater troupes?

He later learned these troupe performances were free, aiming to spread doctrines and laws to farmers.

Placing solemn doctrines into circus and theatrical performances felt peculiar to Ludvik, feeling it lacked respect for the noble truth.

But considering Mr. Horn’s various behaviors, they likely felt no sense of the truth’s solemnity.

"Truly disgracing the Juanist Faction," Rang Buluo said displeased.

Frowning, Martin glanced at Rang Buluo, hesitating to speak.

He did not desire conflict with the Priest of Worship.

Seeing Martin’s conflicted expression, Rang Buluo snorted lightly, leaning against the wooden wall of the carriage.

"Traitor!" he muttered in a voice only he could hear.

This was Rang Buluo’s judgment of Martin!

Monk Rang Buluo, as Priest of Worship, oversaw all Holy Artifacts at Blago Monastery, conducted masses and religious ceremonies, and managed prayer activities.

Perhaps too engrossed in doctrinal scriptures for too long, his character was commendably virtuous, never corrupt, managing the monastery’s finances methodically, yet picky on scriptures.

Compared to other monks’ ambiguous attitudes, Monk Rang Buluo was very dissatisfied with Horn’s titles and origins.

Especially his feigning Holy Father’s descent and masquerading as the Pope made this orthodox monk feel absurd and intolerable.

Isn’t he just a lucky foolish farmer? Yet they must lower their heads to such a regular monk?

Rang Buluo also represented senior monks at Blago Monastery, voicing opinions of some older monks.

They disagreed with the Church’s current ruling system and equally opposed Horn’s so-called Sacred Path Faction.

As a Theologian, Rang Buluo keenly sensed this "Saint’s Grandson" seemingly promoting a religious nation but actually secularizing under religion’s guise.

Should the Salvation Army succeed, it would be doomsday.

Yet circumstances were compelling, plus preventing Ludvik from "selling the monastery," otherwise he wouldn’t have come.

"They’re just a branch of the Juanist Faction, we’re merely here to cooperate."

Ludvik was unafraid of Rang Buluo, straightforwardly said, "At least look at their offer; besides, it was them who saved Xiaochi City. If you could, why didn’t you save it?"

"Principal, what are you saying?" Rang Buluo’s face turned purple as veins bulged on his forehead, retorting, "It’s not about saving them... The Saint Master will punish them for me...

Actually, the reason those rebels were eradicated by the Salvation Army was because I prayed, so Saint Master sent them to eradicate...

Of course, this doesn’t mean they represented the Saint Master; they were just his tools, while we are the spokespersons..."

"Alright, alright, you know my scriptures aren’t as good as yours, don’t go on about it." Ludvik waved irritably, adjusting his posture.

He knew if not stopped, this short and stout monk could debate all the way to the countryside villa.

Only Juanuo could silence him; Ludvik, originating as an Armed Monk, lacked such ability...

Ludvik noticed Martin now sitting in Juanuo’s usual spot.

Originally when going out for missions or traveling to other places, Juanuo, Rang Buluo, and Ludvik sat just like this.

Ludvik guided the carriages vigilantly, while Juanuo and Rang Buluo debated scriptures face to face, often with apprentices chiming in or joking.

A small convoy would roam Thousand River Valley like this, spreading doctrine all year round.

Now Martin had grown, Catherine had grown, Moliat had grown, and Ludvik and Rang Buluo had aged...

Juanuo was no longer here.

"Woo Woo Woo—"

Feeling melancholic, Ludvik suddenly looked up, frowning, "What’s that noise, I think I hear crying?"

Martin quickly knocked on the carriage board: "What’s the matter? Why is there crying?"

"Nothing," came the Coachman’s voice from the front, "A few mischievous children blocked the road, were chased off by the Holy Gun Cavalry, and one slipped and fell."

"Stop for a moment, I’ll get off and have a look," Ludvik shouted to the Coachman.

"That won’t do," the Coachman was startled by Ludvik’s words, "Old Monk, have mercy; if I stop, I’ll be scolded."

Ludvik’s brows furrowed tightly, his expression even a bit annoyed amidst the cries.

"Tsk." Ludvik suddenly opened the carriage door.

"Hey—" Martin was startled, about to intervene, but saw him throwing a bag of candied fruits towards the children at the roadside.

"Candy will ease the pain, it’s sweet."

"Catch, they’re honey-covered preserves, tasty!"

Ludvik, bent over in an inelegant manner throwing preserves, Martin hugged his waist laughing.

"Dean Ludvik still loves kids."

Seeing Ludvik toss candy-filled parcels to the children, Martin tried to ease relations with Rang Buluo, smilingly told him.

Rang Buluo at this moment lost his previous complaining demeanor, sighed with a complex gaze: "The old friend Lu Duo (nickname), joined the Juanist Faction after his only child was trampled to death by passing Knights."

Martin’s smile was instantly stifled.

"Why bring up old stories?" Smiling and waving goodbye to those children, Ludvik clapped his hands, "I simply can’t stand the crying... have we reached the villa?"