Gun of Ashes

Under the influence of official power, Orthodoxy gradually began to cover the original beliefs of Gaulunaro. Initially, both the Iron Law Bureau and the Choir thought this would be a difficult process, but judging from the response, they had worried too much.

As long as there is a slight benefit, people will easily give up their original faith. It could be housing, food, or a small income... In short, the influence of Orthodoxy is increasing day by day.

There are also steadfast believers who reject all of this and cause disputes and conflicts due to the growing strength of Orthodoxy, but these do not affect the rise of Orthodoxy.

Flyers with brief doctrines fluttered all over the sky, and missionaries were faintly visible in the crowd not far away.

Hu ao crouched down and picked up a flyer soaked by seawater.

He was a sailor, with tanned skin and a strong body under his jacket. The fishing boat he worked on was still docked for repairs. The ill-tempered captain rarely gave them a few days off, otherwise, he wouldn’t have had the time to slow down and pick up these strange flyers.

”Orthodoxy...”

Hu ao read the words on the flyer.

He had been to school for a few years and could recognize some words. In Hu ao’s original expectations, he wanted to become a teacher, but the poverty of his family prevented him from completing his studies. For livelihood, he went out to sea as a sailor before reaching adulthood.

Luckily, because of his literacy, he was quite valued in the eyes of that ill-tempered captain. Although that guy cursed all day, he surprisingly held a bit of respect for knowledge and such.

”What are these?”

Hu ao read the incomprehensible doctrines. He was merely literate, but these complex doctrines were beyond his comprehension. Yet, turning the flyer over, some words caught his attention.

”Church courses, faith subsidies, regular Holy Communion...”

Hu ao was attracted by these words, which expressed content far simpler than the complex doctrines.

These were Orthodoxy’s welfare policies, which claimed to be benefits but were actually of little practical use. Many citizens did not care about these things; they just glanced at them, then scoffed and threw away the flyers.

The welfare policies of the Evangelical Church were far better than those of Orthodoxy. Over this long development, they had rooted deeply into the soil of Gaulunaro, and many strong monastic orders had emerged. Compared to them, Orthodoxy’s offerings seemed like dismissing beggars.

But Hu ao did not discard the flyer like others; he held onto the wet paper tightly, deeply attracted by its content.

Hu ao was almost twenty-six this year. Unknowingly, he had spent nearly ten years at sea. He was very aware that the money he saved through hard work over these years was far from enough to let him live a superior life, let alone buy a house to live in.

He thought about this and walked to the nearby steps to sit down.

Having studied before, Hu ao had a slightly different perspective on life compared to other sailors. He was very aware that his current efforts would not change anything, merely sustaining life. He did not even dare to talk to the lady at the flower shop by the roadside, who smiled at him every time the ship returned.

He was very aware of his predicament but powerless to change.

This was probably the most desperate moment in life. Sometimes Hu ao also wanted to indulge like other sailors, but he refused to completely fall. He still had some hope for a better life in the future, but this hope was so slim.

But now things seemed a bit different.

Hu ao looked at the words on the flyer, the last line making his heart slightly throb.

”No credentials needed, regardless of status or class...”

Over the long years, the faith of the Evangelical Church on the soil of Gaulunaro had undergone a subtle qualitative change. Although not explicitly stated, it had already become a consensus for everyone and was taken for granted.

They allowed people to believe, but vaguely classified believers, with some saying it was like the Holy Evangelical Pope Kingdom. Somehow, ”believer” had become another form of ”noble,” just without an overly obvious distinction.

People like Hu ao were destined not to be favored. He could pray, but besides inner comfort, he would get nothing from it, let alone the things the Evangelical Church opened. He still remembered a childhood friend who wanted to become a priest, but when he saw him again, he was sitting alone on the roadside steps, looking desolate.

Hu ao carefully calculated Orthodoxy’s welfare. As long as he chose to believe in them, merely the regular supply of Holy Communion could save him a considerable amount of money during the docking period. He didn’t care if the food was good or bad; he had eaten worse things at sea.

Unknowingly, Hu ao was completely moved. He anxiously searched for the address, but that part was soaked by seawater, and the writing was blurred together, making it unreadable.

”Where! Where!”

Hu ao clutched the flyer, anxiously muttering to himself.

With his head down, he walked briskly along the roadside, remembering that there were many flyers here not long ago, wondering why there wasn’t a single one now.