After Natsunishi and Kochou Shinobu departed, Ruka soon fell into a deep sleep.
Shinjuro stayed by the bedside, noticing that compared to previous days, his wife's breathing was significantly steadier and smoother.
"To think that merely 'alleviating' it would have such an effect."
"This child... he truly is the most formidable new physician of the Butterfly Mansion—"
Natsunishi, naturally, had not boasted that a single treatment would cure the illness. Instead, he honestly admitted that his current skills still lacked much, and for now, the treatment could only mitigate the symptoms. Ruka's illness still required regular acupuncture and medication to ensure it did not worsen.
But this was enough to give Shinjuro hope. After all, in the past, even the most famous doctors and physicians struggled to achieve the word "alleviation." Furthermore, the youth had spoken plainly: if his medical skills improved further in the future, there might truly be hope for a complete cure.
Shinjuro slowly withdrew his gaze, looking first at his sleeping wife and then at his own hands, which were trembling slightly. It wasn't fear, but rather the stinging sensation of resuscitation after being numb for too long and suddenly touching hope and warmth.
He walked silently to the corner and picked up the Nichirin Sword he hadn't wielded seriously in a long time. The blade reflected his eyes. Had his gaze become so clouded during this time?
That evening, while Natsunishi continued to practice the Flame Breathing with Kyojuro in the backyard, Shinjuro's figure suddenly appeared on the veranda. Without saying much, he stepped forward and directly adjusted one of Natsunishi's power-delivery postures.
"The power of Flame Breathing does not lie in making your swordsmanship as noisy as a fire, nor does it lie in how loud your shouts are when you swing your sword." He looked at his eldest son. "Kyojuro, have you forgotten how I taught you before?"
His voice was low, yet it carried an inexplicable sense of power. The owl-like youth nodded with some shame and answered loudly, "Yes! Father!"
Shinjuro then turned to look at Natsunishi. "It is the will that burns continuously. Flame Breathing is the breathing of willpower. I don't know how your previous cultivator taught you. Your movements have too many impurities. It's as if you've mixed too many different Breathing Styles together."
Natsunishi: "..."
Well, I have indeed practiced several styles. Did you not read the letter my master sent?
Shinjuro did not notice the strange look in Natsunishi's eyes. Instead, he picked up a Nichirin Sword himself and began to demonstrate for the two of them.
"Watch closely. This is the posture Flame Breathing ought to have."
He then saw Senjuro hovering timidly in the distance and couldn't help but let the corner of his mouth curl up slightly. "Senjuro, if you are interested, come over with your brother and watch."
The child, who looked like a tiny owl, scrambled over from the edge of the eaves and stood behind Kyojuro. Large, medium, and small—three owls, perfectly lined up. For a moment, Natsunishi wondered if he should go get a perm just so he wouldn't look so out of place.
Shinjuro took a deep breath. The Breathing Style circulated naturally. A scorching aura, like a spark reviving, ignited silently around him. It burned through the Rengoku estate with the momentum of a prairie fire. It burned away his despondency and the great stone that had long weighed on his heart. For a moment, the firelight from the Nichirin Sword seemed to dye even the evening clouds a deep crimson.
With a Hashira personally providing guidance, the results were naturally far superior to what Kyojuro or someone like Doujima could offer. On the system panel, the progress of [Flame Breathing] began to climb steadily and significantly. The final card for constructing his deck began to slowly coalesce following the hidden medical quest.
Shinjuro had initially thought Natsunishi was just an ordinary swordsman seeking the essentials of Flame Breathing. He did not expect the boy to give him an even greater shock over the following days.
Practicing Flame Breathing? No, this child had already mastered four basic Breathing Styles. If one counted Igarashi's derivative style, that made six. And it wasn't just a superficial understanding. He had achieved proficiency in every single one, basically able to operate [Total Concentration] with ease. As for his primary style, Thunder Breathing, he had even touched the threshold of [Constant].
Even the widely experienced Shinjuro had to admit the other party was a true genius of Breathing Styles. How could a normal person keep several completely different breathing rhythms so distinct? And even if they could, how could they reach this level at this age? Was he practicing breathing techniques in the womb? A peerless genius had emerged from the Thunder Breathing lineage—
Wait, wasn't Kazami Sarayoshi's side practicing Wind Breathing?
Actually, it wasn't just Shinjuro. Even Kochou Shinobu and Kyojuro had asked Natsunishi this question. The swordsman youth simply stated he was merely seeking a better path, and incidentally requested the three of them not to tell Kazami Sarayoshi. This prompted an understanding smile from the three.
However, if it were only exquisite swordsmanship, profound medical skills, and diligent practice, that would be one thing. This child even displayed another startling talent. He practically took over the catering for the entire Rengoku household. Claiming it was for the sake of nourishing Lady Ruka's body, he prepared medicinal cuisine.
Thus, scenes like this began to appear on the Rengoku dining table:
A translucent, amber-colored soup with snow ear fungus spreading like clouds. Under the light, the entire bowl of soup seemed to have faint starlight flowing through the broth. Natsunishi called it [Snow Ear and Lotus Seed Soup].
He selected an old hen and stuffed Poria, yam, lotus seeds, and Euryale seeds into the chicken's belly. Combined with cooking wine as a medicinal catalyst, it was simmered for a full twelve hours. Not a speck of oil could be seen, yet it was golden and crystal clear. He called this [Four Spirits Vitality Chicken Soup].
He even put a great deal of effort into occasional snacks. More than once, he made [Jade Poria and Yam Cakes], which were a gentle, tender green like new spring leaves, with a jade-like luster on the surface. He changed the menu daily, almost never repeating a dish.
What was even more peculiar was that every time a dish of medicinal cuisine came out of the pot, the onlookers seemed to catch a glimpse of some fleeting radiance. Rather than medicinal food, it was more like a delicacy laced with magic. After all, this was the result of [Medicine LV.3] + [Pharmacy LV.1] + [Cooking LV.3].
The effects were slow but certain. Color gradually returned to Lady Ruka's pale face, and her thin frame began to fill out. It gave the lady of the Rengoku house a new sort of worry.
And Ruka was far from the only beneficiary. Shinjuro, Kyojuro, Senjuro, and even the servants of the estate began to live better days than ever before.
He selected high-quality large cuts of Wagyu beef, used astonishing knife skills to slice them as thin as a cicada's wing, and grilled them with a special sauce. Finally, amidst a "sizzle" and rising white steam, he topped it with a perfectly fried, trembling, germ-free soft-boiled egg. The aroma of meat, sauce, and egg mixed together, forming a brilliance capable of striking the taste buds.
It was the [Rengoku Estate Special: Sun Egg Roasted Meat Donburi].
And there were four portions of such a delicacy. The staggering flavor directly silenced Shinjuro. Kyojuro's mouth was full as he offered vague praises of "Umu! Umai!" Young Senjuro even ate until he shed tears of emotion.
Kochou Shinobu couldn't help but think of her elder sister mentioning his cooking skills. This child's / Senior's / Swordsman Big Brother's / Big Radish's craftsmanship—how formidable it was!
Aside from the Rengokus, the servants were not forgotten by Natsunishi. He put kombu, bonito flakes, and the leftover chicken carcasses from the medicinal soup into a large ceramic pot to stew into a dashi broth. Then he added red miso and suitable medicinal herbs to enhance the flavor. Radish chunks, fried tofu, chikuwa, thick-cut beef tendon, potatoes, konjac knots—
The lid was lifted amidst the subtle countdown of the system, and instantly, the rich and mellow fragrance swept through the entire courtyard like a prairie fire. It was steaming hot and overflowing with savory aroma, the food soft and soaked in broth.
[Colossal Medicinal Oden].
A hint of spiciness pierced through the rich fragrance. For a moment, it seemed the winter chill had been driven away.
If this gentleman comes to the Rengoku estate again next time, we shall certainly welcome him with open arms.
More than one person thought this. Even the old servant who had previously received Natsunishi and Kochou Shinobu felt that the next time these two came to the door, perhaps their calling cards wouldn't even need to be checked.
For several days in a row, even the air in the estate smelled of food. Rather than a training ground for swordsmen, it had become more like a gourmet's garden.
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