As someone who can easily defeat even adults, Kuina, naturally, would not accept the fact that a foreign kid, even one younger than her, could be stronger.
Thus, she was determined to prove to Koushiro that she was the strongest!
However, Lin Mo wasn't someone easily provoked, and he didn't come here for a fight.
Facing Kuina's challenge, he was speechless.
Koushiro's face darkened slightly, and he looked displeased. "Kuina, enough! Put down your sword!"
"Father!" Kuina yelled angrily, "I want to prove to you that girls can become sword masters too, the world's number one! Since you think he's stronger than me, I'll defeat him!"
"This child..." Koushiro rubbed his temples, feeling a headache coming on. He turned to Lin Mo, who appeared completely indifferent. "Sorry for the trouble, Kuina just hates losing. There's no malice behind it."
"No problem," Lin Mo shrugged, unconcerned.
Seeing that Lin Mo remained calm despite being challenged, Koushiro became more certain—this child was no ordinary one.
But Kuina had already set her mind on challenging Lin Mo, and perhaps it would do her good to experience some hardship.
With that in mind, Koushiro spoke up, "Since that's the case, Lin Mo, accept Kuina's challenge. Of course, it won't be without a prize."
Koushiro turned to Kuina, "If you lose, the sword 'Wado Ichimonji' will belong to Lin Mo."
The "Wado Ichimonji" was one of the 21 Great Grade swords, a renowned sword.
Lin Mo naturally knew of it.
What surprised him, however, was that Koushiro would offer such a famous sword as a prize for a children's duel...
Kuina's eyes widened in disbelief. "Father, Wado Ichimonji is..."
"I know," Koushiro interrupted, "This is the risk you take for challenging Lin Mo. If you're afraid of losing, then give up the challenge."
Fear should never exist in the heart of a true swordsman.
If such a feeling arises on the battlefield, the consequences would be disastrous.
Kuina glared at Lin Mo, her eyes full of defiance and anger. "I won't lose! I'll challenge you!"
Lin Mo really didn't want to accept this pointless challenge. Even with the famous sword as a reward, he wasn't interested.
Seeing Lin Mo's lack of fighting spirit, Koushiro smiled and said, "If you win, you'll not only get Wado Ichimonji, but also ten jars of special wine that has been brewed and stored for nearly ten years."
Lin Mo's eyes flickered slightly. "Twenty jars."
"I only have fifteen," Koushiro said, "But I'll give them all to you."
"Deal."
Having agreed to Kuina's challenge, the children of the dojo, including Zoro, immediately took their seats, watching the match.
"Kuina, you can do it! You're the strongest in the dojo, show him what you've got!"
"Yes, let this outsider see how powerful our dojo is!"
"Right! Just like when you beat Zoro, knock him down in one strike!"
Zoro: "..."
"Hey, hey!" Zoro glared at one of the kids cheering for Kuina, "You've got a death wish? Keep me out of this!"
At the center of the dojo, Koushiro spoke up. "Alright, everyone, quiet down." He then turned to Kuina and Lin Mo. "Are you ready?"
Lin Mo walked over to the sword rack and casually drew out a bamboo sword.
For a duel like this, he didn't intend to use the Toya Lake sword.
According to the dojo's rules, when dueling, they had to first bow to the altar and then to their opponent.
After the proper rituals were done, the two faced each other.
Kuina held her bamboo sword and faced Lin Mo with a serious expression. "I won't lose!"
"Come at me," Lin Mo said nonchalantly.
"Ha!" Kuina immediately charged at Lin Mo, swinging her bamboo sword in rapid succession, aiming heavy strikes at Lin Mo's face. Each strike was fast and powerful, filled with her anger.
However, each blow was easily blocked by Lin Mo.
Seeing that she couldn't break through his defense, Kuina adjusted the angle of her strikes, aiming from below, then from the left to the right, trying to disarm Lin Mo.
Just as Lin Mo seemed ready to block this move as well, Kuina suddenly twisted, pivoting and reappearing behind him. She raised her sword, aiming for a full-force strike.
Indeed, Kuina's swordsmanship was decent compared to most, but in Lin Mo's eyes, it was still lacking—her speed was too slow, and there were too many openings.
He didn't want to waste any more time on this.
Without hesitation, Lin Mo quickly turned around and, to Kuina's surprise, struck her bamboo sword out of her hand with a single blow.
Kuina felt a sharp pain in her wrist as the bamboo sword fell two meters away onto the floor.
From start to finish, the entire match lasted only a few seconds.
A brief silence followed, then the dojo erupted in shock.
"Wait, wait! Kuina lost?"
"How is that possible? How could Kuina lose?"
"She's beaten adults before—how could she lose to some outsider?"
"My God, who is this guy...?"
Koushiro glanced at the stunned Kuina before declaring the result. "One point, Lin Mo wins."
Lin Mo casually tossed the bamboo sword back into the sword rack.
Coming to her senses, Kuina picked up her fallen bamboo sword and shouted, "No, I won't lose! I won't give you Wado Ichimonji!"
"Kuina, you've already lost!" Koushiro finally spoke firmly to Kuina. "No matter how many times you challenge him, you won't win. Can't you see the gap between you two?"
"No!" Kuina's eyes filled with tears as she clenched her fists, unable to accept the loss. She ran out of the dojo.
"Hey, Kuina!" Zoro hurriedly chased after her.
"This girl..." Koushiro shook his head in exasperation, then turned to the other children. "That's enough for today. Everyone go back and rest."
"Yes, Sensei!" The children saluted Koushiro and, chatting among themselves, left the dojo.
After all the children had left, Koushiro looked at Lin Mo. "Come with me."
Lin Mo nodded and followed Koushiro to the tea room in the dojo's back yard.
They sat across from each other.
On the tea table in front of them was a pot of freshly brewed tea and another pot of wine that smelled wonderfully fragrant.
Koushiro handed Lin Mo a simple yet elegant sword, its hilt and scabbard white in color. "From now on, this sword is yours."
It was Wado Ichimonji.
Lin Mo accepted it without hesitation, tying it alongside Toya Lake at his waist.
They then each raised their cups—one with tea, the other with wine—and drank.
The wine Koushiro had mentioned was indeed quite nice. It wasn't very strong, but it had a refreshing cherry blossom taste that was pleasing to the senses.
Lin Mo enjoyed it.
"How is it?" Koushiro smiled. "This wine's brewing method was passed down from a very special place. You won't find anything like it outside."
"It's good," Lin Mo nodded, confirming the taste.
At that moment, a system notification sounded.
"Ding! Drinking and conversing with Koushiro. Sign-in progress +10%. Current total progress: 30%. Reward: Swordsmanship +1. Current Swordsmanship level: Lv3."
As soon as his swordsmanship reached Lv3, a surge of energy flowed through Lin Mo. His presence grew more intense, and an invisible sword intent briefly expanded from him, only to disappear just as quickly.
Lin Mo was taken aback.
He had only agreed to share a drink with Koushiro because he thought he was a decent person. It was just a gesture of politeness.
He didn't expect that this casual act would result in an unexpected surprise: completing part of the sign-in process.