Adachi Manba laughed and said, “These matters are all easy to handle. I am the most valued warrior beside the Daimyo. As you can see, everyone here recognizes me. If I could put in a good word for you, doing business here wouldn’t be a problem.”

Qin Yining smiled and nodded, not immediately answering. Seeing the intense desire and calculation in his eyes, Qin Yining lowered her gaze and thought rapidly, then replied ambiguously, “Master Adachi truly is a warm and hospitable person.”

Adachi Manba hadn’t seen her respond to his fawning request, feeling somewhat disappointed. But upon second thought, if this woman was truly someone who could be obtained so easily, she wouldn’t seem precious after all.

At this moment, Qin Yining was already smiling and saying, “Having just arrived in your honorable country, I don’t understand the local customs and culture at all. I would very much like to hear about the strange tales and unusual events here. I wonder if Master Adachi would be willing to explain them for this humble woman?”

To demonstrate his extensive knowledge and experience, Adachi Manba immediately began conversing with Qin Yining.

During this time, the tavern owner brought his daughter carrying trays, arranging dishes, wine, water, and eating utensils properly.

Ji Yun knelt behind Qin Yining, filled with worry, very concerned that the food might be poisoned. Especially when she saw Qin Yining generously lift the ceramic cup and taste the contents, she was so frightened that her entire body tensed up.

Seeing that Qin Yining was also at ease with the food and drink without much wariness, Adachi Manba became even more certain of her identity as an ordinary merchant. Moreover, in their conversation, all topics revolved around commercial matters, which completely convinced him of Qin Yining’s identity.

Adachi Manba spoke extensively about local customs and drank quite a bit of wine. Soon after, he began recounting the Daimyo’s heroic deeds, how he looked down upon all nations, while simultaneously boasting about his status as the first warrior beside the Daimyo and his own valor.

He felt that this Madam Yao’s husband was probably a typical frail and scholarly Southern Yan man. How could such a man satisfy such a beautiful woman? She should prefer a mighty man like himself.

Therefore, Adachi Manba embellished his participation in several past battles to the skies, finally adding, “The former first ninja beside Ishikawa Daimyo could only retreat in defeat after just three moves under my hand.”

Hearing this, Qin Yining’s heart jumped, but she asked calmly, “So that first ninja was nothing more than mediocre. How could he deserve to remain beside the Daimyo?”

“Exactly! So that fellow Sakurai was later banished by the Daimyo. Haha!” Adachi Manba laughed proudly.

It really was Sakurai.

Qin Yining blinked curiously, “Banished?”

“That’s right. At that time…” Adachi Manba’s tone paused, then returned to normal, “Sakurai disregarded the Daimyo’s orders and privately went to assassinate the Daimyo of Domei Country, nearly causing a war between the two nations. In his fury, Ishikawa Daimyo had this fellow who acted on his own tied to wooden boards and banished to the sea. After so many years, he’s probably long since fed the fish, hahaha!”

Having drunk wine, Adachi Manba’s voice became increasingly loud, his arrogant laughter passing through the wooden walls to the street outside.

Qin Yining lowered her gaze to hide her thoughts. Just as she was about to speak to flatter Adachi Manba, hoping this person might reveal more information, she heard a cold sneer from outside the door. Then she saw a youth with hair bound high and a lean build, wearing a half-open gray-blue long robe and wooden clogs, slowly walking in.

As the youth walked, his long robe revealed his sturdy yet lean lower legs. His toes gripped the wooden clogs, each step carrying a light bearing. The long hair bound behind his head swayed gently with his movement. A long and short sword were inserted diagonally at his waist, held steady by his crossed-arm posture.

Upon seeing this youth, Qin Yining couldn’t help but think of Sakurai.

Perhaps many years ago, when Sakurai was still highly valued under Ishikawa Sanemi and was healthy, he looked just like this—lean yet full of strength, brimming with youthful vigor, naturally carrying a kind of aloof pride, handsome yet cold.

The youth looked at Adachi Manba and spoke a long string of words in a mocking tone that Qin Yining couldn’t understand.

Behind Qin Yining, Gao Delai pressed his lips together somewhat anxiously, seeming to want to approach Qin Yining but not daring to move closer immediately.

Adachi Manba, who had been basking in self-satisfaction, immediately flew into a rage upon hearing the youth’s words. He stood up abruptly and exchanged a few sentences in Japanese with the youth.

The youth’s tone remained mocking throughout, while Adachi Manba became increasingly agitated.

Qin Yining couldn’t understand what they were arguing about and felt somewhat impatient. But suddenly, she heard a familiar pronunciation from the youth’s mouth.

“Sakurai”—that was Sakurai’s name.

Even if she could misremember everything else, she would never forget the pronunciation and writing of Sakurai’s name.

This person knew Sakurai?

Qin Yining looked back at Gao Delai behind her, her eyes questioning.

Without verbal communication, Gao Delai immediately understood Qin Yining’s meaning and nodded imperceptibly.

Qin Yining immediately knew.

The one arguing with Adachi Manba should be Hirasawa Na, Sakurai’s good friend. He was also a ninja beside Ishikawa Daimyo and was quite famous in this area.

Qin Yining lowered her gaze, suppressing her thoughts.

Meanwhile, Adachi Manba and Hirasawa Na had escalated to the point of nearly drawing their swords.

The tavern owner and his daughter were so frightened they hid in a corner, looking as if they wanted to mediate but didn’t dare.

Qin Yining’s thoughts raced, and she suddenly laughed, “Master Adachi, please calm your anger. Don’t let insignificant people ruin today’s elegant mood.”

Her sudden voice broke the tense atmosphere between the two men.

Both Adachi Manba and Hirasawa Na looked toward Qin Yining.

At this moment, Hirasawa Na also spotted Gao Delai behind Qin Yining, and his expression changed.

Just as he was about to speak, he immediately realized the situation and tightly pressed his lips together, then looked toward the elaborately dressed Qin Yining.

Qin Yining looked at Adachi Manba and smiled, “Sir, don’t you wish to continue drinking with this humble woman?”

Adachi Manba gritted his teeth. He still harbored thoughts about the beauty and really didn’t want to lose face in front of her. He couldn’t defeat that fellow Hirasawa, and if they really fought and he lost face, how could he salvage his dignity afterward?

Thinking of this, Adachi Manba magnanimously sat down and waved his hand, saying something to Hirasawa Na.

Originally, he thought Hirasawa Na wouldn’t let this go easily. Every time they met, Hirasawa was like a mad dog, insisting on challenging him to a duel. When he refused to accept, the other would never give up.

But today, after he said those words, Hirasawa Na actually snorted coldly and turned to leave.

Adachi Manba was very surprised but also secretly relieved.

Qin Yining lifted her sleeve with one hand and held the wine pot with the other, refilling Adachi Manba’s cup.

“Master Adachi, who exactly was that unreasonable person just now? Why did he come to trouble you for no reason?”

Adachi Manba held the wine poured by the beauty, his heart and spirit soaring for a moment. He drank it all in one gulp, feeling the lingering fragrance on his lips and teeth.

“Does Madam Yao remember the banished fellow I mentioned? He’s that fellow’s friend. Because he’s always been jealous of my position beside the Daimyo, he picks fights whenever he sees me, always wanting to compete with me.”