"Please convey to Mr. Watanabe that Ling Zhenfei is currently helping to treat a patient at the Watanabe family and does not have time to visit," Ling Zhenfei said with firm assurance to Watanabe Nagayumi.

In truth, he was speaking to himself; even if the old man wanted to go, he probably couldn't. Watanabe Nagayumi would never allow it, so it was better to put it this way to ease Watanabe Nagayumi's mind.

"Mr. Ling, won't you consider it?" Watanabe Nagayumi asked.

Ling Zhenfei understood that Watanabe Nagayumi was testing him, and he certainly couldn't agree. He had a purpose: cure Watanabe Kazushi and then obtain the Heaven-Devouring Yellow Cloth.

"There's no need to consider. I came to Japan for a certain byproduct, which you should know about. So, I won't be visiting. Please convey this message."

Watanabe Nagayumi laughed heartily: "Since you're not going, there's no need to send a reply." After speaking, Watanabe Nagayumi directly tore up the paper crane.

Ling Zhenfei chuckled, but though he smiled, he felt a cold shiver inside, realizing that behind the calm facade of this small town lay tumultuous waves.

Ling Zhenfei suddenly thought he should always remain vigilant, avoiding involvement in the strife between the Watanabe and Hoshino families, lest he brought disaster upon himself and failed to retrieve the Heaven-Devouring Yellow Cloth.

Earlier in the tavern, when someone told Hoshino Meigetsu that Watanabe Kazushi's poison had been cleared, Hoshino Meigetsu looked extremely anxious yet excited, which didn't bode well.

Why did Hoshino Meigetsu seem nervous returning home? Could it be that Watanabe Kazushi had other secrets?

Ling Zhenfei dared not think further, focusing instead on obtaining what he desired.

"Mr. Watanabe, as you have seen, the poison in Mr. Byproduct's body has been cleared. We agreed at the outset that I only needed to clear the poison. What do you say now?"

Watanabe Nagayumi chuckled: "Mr. Ling, your skills are indeed impressive. Although the poison in the body has been cleared, it has already seeped into the bone marrow, and the poison there hasn't been dealt with."

Ling Zhenfei replied, "Mr. Watanabe, that won't do. I promised to help clear all the poison from Watanabe Kazushi's body, but the poison in the bone marrow cannot be cleansed overnight."

Watanabe Nagayumi laughed again and said, "Mr. Ling, that's not my problem. As long as you can completely clear all the poison from my elder's body, I will definitely offer the reward."

Ling Zhenfei's expression changed immediately upon hearing this: "Mr. Watanabe, isn't that somewhat unfair? Watanabe Kazushi is deeply poisoned; complete removal will take at least a year. Am I supposed to wait indefinitely?"

Watanabe Nagayumi replied, "This was Mr. Ling's own promise at the time, not mine."

Ling Zhenfei seethed silently; it was clear that Watanabe Nagayumi was no good person, using such methods to trap him, clearly intending not to give up the goods.

Ling Zhenfei wanted to act, but a thought suddenly occurred to him, convincing him that confronting Watanabe Nagayumi now would be unwise.

Currently, he was at the Watanabe family, the largest family of Iga-ryu Ninja, and although Watanabe Nagayumi was the family head, Ling Zhenfei didn't know who the Clan Leader of the Iga-ryu was.

He certainly didn't know how many masters resided in the Watanabe Manor.

Watanabe Nagayumi was not Ling Zhenfei's match at all, but Watanabe Nagayumi was fearless, which made it clear that his home must have been full of masters.

Ling Zhenfei smiled slightly and said, "Mr. Watanabe, you have indeed played me for a fool. I traveled from Huaxia to Japan, not expecting such a plight.

But I accept it; on the road of growth, who hasn't had a misstep? It's getting late, so I will return to rest."

After speaking, Ling Zhenfei stood up and returned to his room, contemplating what he should do along the way.

Judging from today's conversation, Watanabe Nagayumi didn't intend to give up the goods, which made Ling Zhenfei very angry. He was patient, not losing his temper because he was in the Watanabe family's domain, where he was outnumbered.

So Ling Zhenfei could only tolerate it for now and returned to his room, feeling somewhat stifled with nothing to occupy himself.

Outside his room was a pond surrounded by beautiful plum blossoms in full bloom, captivating even Ling Zhenfei.

After some thought, Ling Zhenfei walked out to a small pavilion by the water's edge, surrounded by the blooming plum trees, aptly named Plum Blossom Pavilion.

Ling Zhenfei entered the Plum Blossom Pavilion, leaned back, took out a book, and sat reading against one of its pillars.

Ling Zhenfei was quite fond of reading, especially about medicine. Although his current skill no longer needed it, he still found learning new things was very necessary.

Engrossed in his book, he unexpectedly heard a cough. He quickly looked up and was surprised to see Watanabe Hideaki.

At that time, Watanabe Hideaki wore a beautiful kimono and held a rather ancient book, standing outside the pavilion.

Ling Zhenfei quickly stood up and said, "Hello, Miss Watanabe, are you also here to read?"

Watanabe Hideaki nodded and entered the pavilion, seating herself not far from Ling Zhenfei and saying, "Mr. Ling, you're still reading?"

Ling Zhenfei nodded and replied, "Yes, I quite enjoy reading."

Watanabe Hideaki opened her book and glanced at Ling Zhenfei, saying, "I see it's a book about culinary arts. Do you have any recommendations, Mr. Ling?"

Ling Zhenfei thought for a while and said, "I don't have any particularly good recommendations. True culinary skills are seldom recorded in books; practice is very important."

Watanabe Hideaki said, "Mr. Ling, the three dishes you made yesterday were truly delicious, and I still savor the memory."

Ling Zhenfei said, "Thank you very much for the compliment, Miss Watanabe, but they were just simple dishes."

Watanabe Hideaki suddenly became excited and said, "Mr. Ling, could you teach me? I really want to learn."

Ling Zhenfei replied, "Are you not the best vegetable grower in Japan? Why would you need to learn from me?"

Ling Zhenfei's comment made Watanabe Hideaki's expression slightly awkward. She said, "Mr. Ling, please don't mock me. Haven't you noticed that all my titles are just others flattering me?

Whether it's cooking well or being a culinary genius, or the best vegetable grower, they're all just meant to please me. People say everything tastes good, even when it's not. That's how I ended up viewing the world in such a limited way."

Ling Zhenfei said, "Miss Watanabe, have you never doubted that?"

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