"That depends on what this so-called immortality actually is."
Suzuki Makoto did not answer the question directly; he was not yet sure what role Isshin Ashina played in this suspicious vortex of immortality.
"Is that so? That is why you wish to know the truth behind the Fountainhead Palace and the Divine Dragon."
Isshin Ashina was not annoyed. He hung the mask at his waist and placed his hand back on his sword hilt.
"You still want to fight? You should be well aware of your own physical condition!"
"I am indeed aware. However, since you wish to fool this old man with such vague answers while seeking answers from my own mouth, surely one more move from me wouldn't be excessive, would it?"
Indeed, it was not excessive.
Suzuki Makoto took a step forward and waited quietly.
"Secret Technique: One Mind!"
Dozens of slashes were unleashed almost simultaneously in a single instant. The explosive power of this aged body was in no way inferior to that of a youth—however, it was far from enough to breach Suzuki Makoto's defense.
Watching the other party receive his ultimate technique without suffering a scratch, Isshin Ashina took a deep breath, yet a sliver of hope rose from the bottom of his heart.
"Can Lord Isshin answer my doubts now?"
"Please, let us enter the Castle Keep. We shall talk in detail."
The two walked into the empty Castle Keep. Inside the main hall, there was no one else but a woman in plain clothes.
The woman, smelling of medicinal herbs, walked to Isshin's side, supporting the panting old man as they walked up the Castle Keep.
The three arrived at a side chamber. The woman went to brew a pot of tea, while Isshin Ashina casually hung up the Tengu mask and invited Suzuki Makoto to sit.
When the tea was served, Isshin Ashina was somewhat dissatisfied.
"Emma, how can we drink tea on an occasion like this?"
"You have already violated Master Dogen's rules enough for today, so you absolutely cannot drink any more sake."
"Tch. That fellow Dogen... he couldn't bear to put down his sake cup even while doing research, yet he raised such an uncute girl."
The old man picked up the teacup and sighed at Suzuki Makoto.
"Then I must ask you to suffer through it and drink tea with this old man."
Suzuki Makoto sat down but did not touch the teacup, simply continuing to stare at Isshin Ashina.
"You want to know about the Fountainhead Palace, you want to know about the Divine Dragon. So, you feel there is something wrong with this immortality?"
"I believe this so-called immortality exists; otherwise, the Interior Ministry would not be willing to call a truce with you and invest heavily in constructing this road. I simply do not believe that those high officials and nobles would share such authority with the commoners."
Suzuki Makoto implied that while he might not know the Fountainhead Palace, did he not know what kind of trash the Interior Ministry was?
"Hahahaha, what a tricky angle, just like your sword. That is correct! The immortality of the Fountainhead Palace is real, but the price that must be paid is more terrible than anyone imagines."
Isshin Ashina directly validated Suzuki Makoto's conclusion.
"The so-called immortality is merely a way to linger on in a wretched state. Time will still be deeply carved into your flesh. You simply will not die. Even if you age until you lose your human form and become a monster, you will still live. As long as the Divine Dragon does not die, and the Power of the Dragon's Heritage is not severed, you can live on and on forever."
Suzuki Makoto quietly waited for the "but."
"But, as a price, they must constantly offer fresh lives to the Divine Dragon. Even for the immortals to restore their vitality, they must suck the lifeblood of the young and strong. And the vitality brought by this lifeblood can only last for a period of time, after which they must feed again."
The man's expression turned cold; he had understood the sequence of events.
The Interior Ministry is now the Divine Dragon's [Thrall].
They constantly lure others to the Fountainhead Palace in pursuit of immortality just to obtain enough young lives. They even deliberately set up the so-called 'Three Months of Drinking Water' ritual as a threshold, partly to extort money, and partly to rationally arrange the timing and order of the sacrifices.
"Then the so-called Western Dragon God is also bullshit?"
"There is no Dragon God. That white dragon had its left front claw cut off. After being heavily wounded, it fled all the way here, running on empty. It just so happened that the Everblossom worshipped in the Fountainhead Palace resonated with its aura. To survive, that dragon chose to merge with the Everblossom, and thus the Divine Dragon was born."
Isshin Ashina sneered, evidently sniffing at the talk of a Dragon God.
"To recover from its injuries, it began to absorb the surrounding life force. Cunningly, it bestowed the so-called power of immortality upon a select few. These people then began to run errands for it, plundering the population from all over. Long before the Interior Ministry intervened, a war had already broken out between the Fountainhead Palace and Ashina—now, they have simply changed their methods."
"So, to prevent the people of Ashina from becoming victims, you and your grandson chose to offer others as sacrifices?"
Suzuki Makoto questioned in a cold voice.
Emma's eyes stared sharply at Suzuki Makoto, while Isshin Ashina fell into silence, bringing the tea to his mouth and tasting its bitterness.
"Although Genichiro pushed all these matters onto the Interior Ministry, the essence is indeed so. And I have tacitly approved of this approach. I cannot refute your accusation—but this is for Ashina, and I absolutely do not regret it!"
This Sword Saint, old but vigorous, had a will that had not changed since the coup twenty years ago.
Suzuki Makoto stood up. Since he already knew the truth of the matter, and the person before him was also one of the accomplices, there was naturally nothing more to say.
"Are you going to the Fountainhead Palace?"
"To kill."
"But I recall you saying that you do not like killing people."
"Are there really any people left in the Fountainhead Palace now?"
Suzuki Makoto asked sardonically, and Isshin Ashina actually nodded in agreement.
"That is true—but do you know how to enter the Fountainhead Palace?"
"Would you help me?"
"I will."
The man was stunned and turned to look at Isshin Ashina.
"What, are you surprised?"
"You could sit by and watch Genichiro Ashina do such things; shouldn't I be surprised by your current attitude?"
The old man sighed and placed his sword on the table.
"The road to the Fountainhead Palace is already completely controlled by the Interior Ministry. Unless you slaughter your way through, you cannot reach the Fountainhead Palace at all—are you sure you want to do this? You can sever immortality for the sake of those ordinary people's lives, but is the price to be the killing of another batch of ordinary people?"
"In that case, there isn't much difference between you and me, is there?"
Suzuki Makoto frowned; he looked at Isshin Ashina, unable to gauge the other's intent.
"Did you not want to become a disciple? Stay here under that name for the time being. I promise you, I can send you into the Fountainhead Palace."
____
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