That would have made her words more credible, easing his worries about the Jenkins family's future under Mrs. Jenkins' reign for the next twenty years. He himself wasn't confident he would live another two decades.

Once he was gone, Mrs. Jenkins would wield unchallenged power over the family, and without the right knowledge, the clan's destiny could be grim.

Yet, Maria's explanation didn't fully persuade him.

“Well, I hope so," Canaan murmured, a faint, bitter smile forming on his Lips.

Just then, a young man from the Jenkins family approached swiftly, urgency in his light footsteps. He had an important message for Canaan.

"Canaan... Oh, Maria is here as well." The young man stopped, a blush of embarrassment on his face. He seemed uncertain whether to continue in Maria's presence.

Canaan gestured for him to proceed.

"Go on, it's fine."

"Yes, sir," the young man replied, gathering himself.

"Mr. Barnes has summoned all our family's healers. He wants to discuss and exchange medical insights with them."

Canaan's expression turned doubtful. Exchange medical knowledge? Such an offer seemed almost unbelievable. Mr. Barnes was notorious for hoarding secrets, not sharing them. He was known for being quite selfish.

“How many of our healers have already been summoned by him?" Canaan asked, a hint of iciness in his tone. The healers in their family were generally mediocre, lacking any exceptional skills of late, except for Barbara.

“ALL of them," the young man confessed, his discomfort evident.

“Every healer, from novices to experts, has gone to see Mr. Barnes."

Canaan responded with a dry laugh. An invitation from a medical master like Mr. Barnes was a big deal, even for the most renowned clans in the martial arts world. The Jenkins family had been in decline for nearly two decades, making Mr. Barnes' offer to advise them a golden opportunity.

"I'm a weaponry refiner, not a healer. I don't need to be there,"

Canaan said.

However, the young man shook his head as he said, "Mrs. Jenkins insisted that you attend the discussion as well."

“Why?" Canaan asked, furrowing his brow. He quickly realized the reason. It was about showing unity and support. Mrs. Jenkins Likely wanted all prominent family members to endorse Mr. Barnes’ initiative.

“If it were twenty years ago, I would have ignored such a meeting,"

Canaan mused.

Back in those days, the Jenkins family was at its peak. They wouldn't bother with even the most esteemed medical experts. A single senior healer's attendance was enough.

But things were different now. With a resigned sigh, Canaan stood up, prepared to be just another face in the crowd. He turned to Maria and said, "You're a pill alchemist. Don't waste your time on this spectacle."

Maria nodded, uninterested in Mr. Barnes.