413: Will the Taoist sect still be there?

Chapter 413: Is the Daoist Association Still Around?

Lu Ran nodded in approval.

Cen Yu Nuo's eyes were a bit dazed at this moment; she roughly understood what Lu Ran meant.

But…

She turned her head and looked around at the crowd.

She hesitated, saying, “But if that’s the case, everyone here, except for the Tianlong Gate, will also die.”

Lu Ran shrugged.

He said, “The decision is yours, and I actually have another idea.”

Hmm?

Cen Yu Nuo was stunned and asked, “What do you mean?”

Lu Ran said, “I actually don’t care about the lives of these people. I don’t consider myself a cold-blooded animal, nor do I lack reverence for life, but if I were a legitimate Daoist disciple, these people have completely abandoned the Daoist sect, and I certainly wouldn’t care about their lives. But you are different.”

Cen Yu Nuo listened blankly.

“Your master gave me this task, probably not just to make Buddhism disappear from this world, or rather, from Dragon Xia. The rise of the Daoist sect is key, but if there are no believers left, what’s the point of the Daoist sect developing well on its own? That goes against the Daoist sect’s philosophy. So, you can actually give these people a choice,” Lu Ran said.

Cen Yu Nuo seemed to understand part of Lu Ran’s meaning.

She hesitated for a few seconds.

She said, “Of course I can give them a choice, but in this situation, do you think I, as the spokesperson for the Daoist sect, would be useful? No one will listen to me.”

“Yes, the choice is given to them. How they choose is up to them. You can’t choose for them, and they also have to pay the price for their choices,” Lu Ran said, nodding.

Uh…

Cen Yu Nuo said with a wry smile, “Then they still have to die. Any discerning person can see how they will choose with this option.”

Lu Ran, however, shook his head.

He said, “That’s not necessarily true. You have to understand that when people are between life and death, even if it’s just to cope, they will choose to side with the stronger party.”

That would be forcing a choice on them.

But Cen Yu Nuo didn’t seem to intend to do that.

Because destroying Buddhism would force them to choose the Daoist sect out of necessity.

That wouldn't be their heartfelt intention.

By now, Cen Yu Nuo had long been disappointed in these people.

At this moment.

Cheng Maixiang, on Lu Ran’s other side, suddenly interjected, “What are you two whispering about? The Daoist sect? Are you believers of the Daoist sect?”

This was not surprising.

Lu Ran and Cen Yu Nuo came to Tianlong Gate because they had become entangled with it.

Bringing Cheng Maixiang was also because it was on the way to help Cheng Maixiang get her money back.

So, if they weren’t Buddhist believers, they might be Daoist believers.

“Sort of. It’s just that, now, hardly anyone knows about the Daoist sect, right? The Daoist sect has been completely abandoned by people,” Cen Yu Nuo said ambiguously.

Speaking of this.

Cen Yu Nuo herself felt a sense of melancholy.

“No, there are still quite a few Daoist believers,” Cheng Maixiang said.

Oh?

“Where are they?” Cen Yu Nuo asked.

One could hear the urgency in Cen Yu Nuo’s heart, and her tone held a slight hope.

Although Cen Yu Nuo was completely disappointed in these people.

But if there really were still Daoist believers, that would definitely be a comfort to her!

“There are some in Kyoto City. I’ve seen people from the Daoist Association before, but those Buddhist people always suppress them. Their Daoist Association office is even about to be driven out, and they’re living very poorly,” Cheng Maixiang said.

According to Cheng Maixiang's explanation.

After realizing she had been deceived by Buddhism, she woke up and repeatedly went to Tianlong Gate to ask for a refund.

But her rights protection was fruitless.

After learning about the existence of the Daoist Association.

And after further understanding, she discovered that the seemingly dilapidated Daoist sect was the one truly dedicated to the common people.

Cheng Maixiang had thought about joining the Daoist sect.

“But I used to be a Buddhist believer, and I was deceived. It wouldn’t be right to turn around and seek protection from the Daoist sect,” Cheng Maixiang said, shaking her head.

To put it bluntly, she felt a bit embarrassed.

It would be like shamelessly seeking out the Daoist sect.

Buddhism couldn’t handle it, deceived you, and you can’t even get your money back, so you turn to the Daoist sect.

It was almost like being a backup.

“So, the Daoist Association still exists in Kyoto City?” Cen Yu Nuo asked in surprise.

“You know about the Daoist Association?” Lu Ran asked in surprise.

“I know. The Daoist Association is distributed in various cities, but that was in the past, and even then, the Daoist Association’s situation was very miserable. Most of them were organized by people from various Daoist sects, and being suppressed by Buddhism was normal. After I left, I thought the Daoist Associations in various places had gone extinct, but I didn’t expect them to still be around,” Cen Yu Nuo said.

Since that was the case.

Then the monster siege couldn't be easily launched.

Because once launched, if the monster siege entered Kyoto City, it would be equality for all, treating everyone the same.

Everyone would die!

Whether or not to give these people a choice, their lives or deaths didn't matter.

But the Daoist Association members were also in Kyoto City, and they absolutely couldn't all die foolishly with these people!

The Daoist sect and Buddhism were different.

Buddhism treated its believers like leeks to be harvested; the more believers, the more money they made.

The Daoist sect cherished its believers exceptionally.

They were absolutely their own people!

“What should we do now? Should we look for the Daoist Association?” Lu Ran asked.

He certainly understood Cen Yu Nuo’s thoughts.

As long as all the Daoist Association members were found.

And protected.

Then the monster siege could be launched without any reservations.

“Where is the Daoist Association?” Cen Yu Nuo nodded affirmatively, then asked Cheng Maixiang.

“It’s quite far from here, in the suburbs. Originally, they had an office building in the city, but then the land was acquired by Tianlong Group, and they were also driven out. Now they rent a block of apartments in a village in the city’s outskirts,” Cheng Maixiang said.

It really was…

Quite miserable.

Cen Yu Nuo looked at the crowded people around her.

Just as she was about to tell Lu Ran to go to the suburbs to find the Daoist Association.

Suddenly, there was a commotion behind them.

The monk on the stage also stopped speaking.

Behind them.

The crowd parted, and a large group of people forcibly pushed their way in.

Cen Yu Nuo looked back.

Her expression was strange as she said, “People from the Fire Virtue Sect. Judging by their insignia, they should be the Daoist Association of Kyoto City.”

Oh?

Lu Ran’s eyes lit up.

Speak of the devil and he shall appear!

This saved them the trouble of going to the suburbs to find them.

To be honest, Lu Ran himself didn't mind traveling; he could instantly reach the suburbs in a second.

He was mainly considering Cen Yu Nuo.

At this moment.

The Daoist Association members also pushed their way to the center of the venue.

The leading Daoist, though wearing a Daoist robe, had a rugged appearance, with a Bearded Man and thick eyebrows and large eyes.

“This Daoist from the Fire Virtue Sect looks quite fiery,” Lu Ran muttered.

He didn't look like a Daoist; he looked more like a rough blacksmith.

“Indeed. The Fire Virtue Sect doesn’t worship the Three Pure Ones, but rather the Fire Virtue True Monarch. Due to the nature of fire-element Daoist magic, their personalities and appearances might indeed be somewhat influenced,” Cen Yu Nuo explained with a wry smile.