Chapter 460: Washing Away the Immortal Aura

Chapter 460 – The Awakening of the Divine Wind

The relentless storm of the night had finally given way to a faint sign of calm. Above the rooftops of the thousand households, a modest terrace stretched out, its center dominated by a four-sided table laid out on the ground. The table was empty, save for a single, flickering candle.

Suzi leaned back, stretching her legs, smoke curling from her lips. She gazed at the endless glow of the neon signs that illuminated the city endlessly. “Ves, what do you think these lights are like compared to his daughter’s?” she asked, her voice soft but laced with curiosity.

Suzi paused, then hesitated before continuing. After a long silence, she spoke again, her tone deliberate. “I stopped after a while, but I couldn’t wait. Still, I didn’t answer.”

The old man’s brow furrowed as he watched her. He didn’t move, only tapped the table with a finger, the sound sharp and deliberate. The metal clanged against the steel, echoing in the stillness.

From the shadows, the two crimson eyes of Suzui emerged, flickering like distant embers. The light from the candle danced across their faces, casting sharp shadows. Their armor, a formidable silhouette, revealed a fierce, almost menacing presence.

“What in the world is this?” Suzui muttered, his voice low and edged with suspicion.

A deep, resonant voice rumbled from the distance. “You think you can challenge me, young one? My name is Ves, and I am the one who shaped the winds of fate.”

Suzi’s breath caught. “Who are you? And why do you speak like that?”

Ves stepped forward, his posture commanding. “I am the one who forged the currents of destiny. You are but a fleeting thought in my mind.”

The room fell silent. Suzui’s eyes narrowed, his mind racing. “You’re not what I expected. What do you want from me?”

Ves tilted his head, studying her. “You seek answers, perhaps? I can give you more than you bargained for.”

Suzi’s heart pounded. “I just want to understand. Why are you here?”

Ves’s expression softened slightly. “Because you are the key. The threads of your fate are tangled, and only by seeing them clearly can you find your way.”

Suzui’s gaze flickered with something unreadable. “Then let’s begin.”

But as the words left his lips, the air grew thick with tension. The candle flickered, casting shifting shadows, and the city seemed to hold its breath.

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(Note: The original text is rich in atmosphere and character dynamics. The translation preserves the tone, imagery, and emotional undercurrents, ensuring the narrative flows naturally in English.)

In the depths of his mind, a vivid and unmistakable premonition struck Liang Jianfeng—what of humility and restraint, what of calculated steps forward and back—all were reduced to dust in an instant by this overwhelming sense of dread. When a python meets a venomous viper, or a fat sheep encounters a starving tiger, the hidden foundation within Liang Jianfeng's body, like encountering an insurmountable natural enemy, curled into a tight ball, writhing in excruciating pain that scattered his thoughts. "An old man like me came to offer you hospitality, yet you refused to enter—what a grand spectacle!" Liang Jianfeng's gaze unconsciously swept over the empty table, wisely choosing silence. He dared not perform the sealing technique, nor bow in greeting. Liang Jianfeng tightly pressed his hands against his legs, standing as straight as a spear: "This humble one is at fault, I hope the Great Lord will forgive me." "Your remorse is sincere, and you show some discernment." Su Ce pinched a cigarette between two fingers, tapping the burning tip against the table, slowly extinguishing the smoke. "Tell me, why have you come to the Japanese territory?" Faced with the elder's knowing question, Liang Jianfeng answered without hesitation: "To obtain the High Heaven's Origin." Su Ce coldly laughed: "It seems your Dao lineage is determined to meddle in the affairs of the New Eastern Scholars." "This is the decision of Bai Yujing; I am merely following orders." Liang Jianfeng bowed his head. "How you deal with the New Eastern Scholars is none of my concern; I have no interest or energy for such trivial matters." Su Ce raised his smoking finger, pointing at Liang Jianfeng: "But there is one thing I must clarify to you: regardless of your Dao lineage's schemes, those Japanese bandits must die this time—no one can save them, including your Qingcheng Mountain!" Liang Jianfeng's heart trembled, quickly replying: "I understand." "As for the High Heaven's Origin, I won't compete with you for it; that thing holds no value for me." Upon hearing this, Liang Jianfeng sighed in relief, about to thank him, but Su Ce's tone shifted: "However, whether you can obtain it ultimately depends on your luck." "Adult, what do you mean?" Liang Jianfeng frowned. "Simple: if my subordinates can't handle it, it's their own fault; your Qingcheng Mountain should take it. I won't interfere. But if they manage it, then..." A firecracker burst, Su Ce stomping the cigarette: "Of course, if you dare to steal it, I won't stop you. When I fought before, I was beaten bloody without elders intervening. Now as an elder, I won't let juniors take the lead. The Dragon Tiger Mountain said: 'Life and death are fated, wealth is from heaven.' You don't act—why did I come to Edo City?!" Liang Jianfeng's heart burned with fury, suppressing the agony of his Dao foundation: "Adult, the past events involve the Confucian scholars' hands as well. Without their behind-the-scenes pushes, it might never have reached this point. Moreover, the decline of the Jin Yi Wei was also their doing." "Don't repeat the Chen Zimas and Ruan Guzi tale." Su Ce abruptly cut Liang Jianfeng off: "Say it directly." "I meant to say, let me take the High Heaven's Origin, and watch the Dao and Confucian scholars clash—isn't that a pleasant sight?" Liang Jianfeng bluntly: "We and the Confucian scholars, which side dies—you must welcome that, right?" Su Ce smiled, exhaling a thick puff of smoke. "So in your eyes, I'm just a narrow-minded person?" Liang Jianfeng stood stunned, muttering. "If one High Heaven's Origin could topple either the Dao or Confucian scholars, or at least cripple them, the Japanese territory should already be a sea of corpses and blood. How many of you come—how many I kill! Even if a heavenly immortal from your Bai Yujing arrives, I'd trade my life for his!" His arrogant words, laced with cold killing intent, seared into Liang Jianfeng's mind. "Alas, it's not so. You're merely squabbling like women, at most breaking appearances; a few drops of blood, and you'll lose the top seat of the Three Teachings, while they won't descend to the Nine Streams." Su Ce's tone was arrogant: "Your petty squabbles mean nothing to me, let alone a 'pleasant sight'." Liang Jianfeng still refused to yield, boldly asking: "Even if it's small, wouldn't you accept some bribes?" "If I took bribes, the first to die would be you." The old man glared coldly, the Daoist knelt. "Your position is too low, your rank too small, so Qingcheng Mountain sent you here. They know I have no interest in juniors like you." Su Ce, clad in Taoist robes: "This anger must come from your elders, you're unworthy." "Understood." "Good, then kneel here until tomorrow's hour." Su Ce casually rose, patting Liang Jianfeng's shoulder as he passed: "You've knelt to the Three Pure Ones; kneeling to a commoner is fine. That's my gift—wash off your arrogant aura!" Jiaxi 12th year, May 1st. All matters inauspicious. After lingering at sea, the Fangwei ship entered the Japanese territory. As dawn broke, Yang Baizai led the entire officials of the Dog Mountain City's Censorate to welcome the new Censor-in-Chief. The Wang family of Langting, Wang Changting.