C4 Frost Moon Village's Unexpected Surprise

Guina, known for effortlessly besting adults in combat, was not about to accept that her skills were inferior to those of a foreigner, especially one younger than herself.

Determined to show Koshiro she was the strongest, she was set on proving her point.

Lin Mo, not one to be easily provoked, hadn't come here to fight.

When Guina issued her challenge, he was at a loss for words.

Koshiro frowned, clearly annoyed. "Enough, Guina! Sheathe your sword!"

"Father!" Guina protested, her voice tinged with anger. "I need to show you that a girl can be a master swordsman, the best in the world! If you believe he's better than me, then I'll just have to beat him!"

Koshiro massaged his temples, feeling a headache coming on. He glanced at Lin Mo's bemused expression and apologized, "I'm sorry you had to see this. Guina is simply too competitive; she means no harm."

"It's okay," Lin Mo replied, shrugging nonchalantly.

Koshiro admired Lin Mo's composure in the face of such a challenge, further convinced of the boy's exceptional nature.

Yet Guina was adamant about her challenge. Koshiro thought that perhaps letting her face some hardship wouldn't be such a bad thing after all.

With that in mind, he said, "Very well, Lin Mo, accept Guina's challenge. But rest assured, this won't be a pointless duel."

Turning to Guina, Koshiro laid out the stakes, "If you're set on challenging Lin Mo, then the Wado Ichimonji will be the price. Should you lose, the sword will be his."

The Wado Ichimonji was a renowned blade, one of the 21 Great Swords.

Lin Mo was well aware of its significance.

He was taken aback that Koshiro would offer such a prestigious sword as a prize for a mere sparring match between youths...

Guina, incredulous, began, "Father, the Wado Ichimonji is..."

"I know," Koshiro interjected firmly, "That's the risk you take in challenging Lin Mo. If you fear losing it, then forfeit the challenge."

After all, fear had no place in the heart of a true swordsman.

In the heat of battle, succumbing to such emotions could have dire consequences.

Guina's gaze was locked on Lin Mo, brimming with defiance and fury. "I refuse to lose. I challenge you!"

Lin Mo had little interest in accepting this baffling challenge. A renowned saber as a prize held no allure for him.

Koshiro, noticing Lin Mo's lack of fighting spirit, offered a smile. "Victory will earn you the Wado Ichimonji, and ten jugs of a special vintage wine, aged for nearly a decade."

Lin Mo's expression shifted subtly. "Make it twenty jugs."

"I have only fifteen, but they're all yours."

"It's a deal."

With Lin Mo accepting Guina's challenge, the dojo's youngsters, Zoro included, settled around them with practiced ease.

"Go Guina! You're the strongest in the dojo. Take him down!"

"Yeah, show this outsider what we're made of!"

"Just like when you spar with Zoro, knock him flat with a single stroke!"

Zoro could only roll his eyes.

"Hey, hey!" Zoro shot a glare at one of Guina's vocal supporters. "You looking for trouble? Cheer for Guina without dragging me into it!"

At the dojo's heart.

"Now, let's have some quiet," Koshiro commanded. "Guina, Lin Mo, prepare yourselves."

Lin Mo approached the dojo's corner where the sword barrel stood, casually selecting a shinai.

He had no intention of wielding his Lake Toya sword for a match of this caliber.

As was customary at Isshin Dojo, they paid their respects to the shrine and their opponent before the swordsmanship challenge commenced.

Once the formalities concluded, they faced off.

Guina, with shinai in hand, confronted Lin Mo with a grave demeanor. "I will not be defeated!"

"Let's begin," Lin Mo responded, unfazed.

With a fierce cry, Guina charged, her shinai slicing through the air towards Lin Mo's face in a rapid succession of powerful, emotion-fueled strikes.

Yet Lin Mo parried each one with ease.

Frustrated by his impenetrable defense, Guina altered her blade's trajectory, sweeping upwards, then side to side, tracing a graceful arc in an attempt to dislodge Lin Mo's shinai.

As Lin Mo appeared ready to block another of Guina's attacks, she made a swift turn, repositioning herself behind him. With a raised sword and fierce determination, she aimed a powerful slash at him once again.

Guina's swordsmanship was decent, especially when compared to others.

Yet, to Lin Mo, it still lacked refinement. Her movements were too slow, riddled with glaring weaknesses.

A quick resolution was preferable.

He had no intention of spending more time here than necessary.

Acting on instinct, Lin Mo spun around and, to Guina's astonishment, knocked the shinai from her grasp.

A sharp pain shot through Guina's wrist as the shinai clattered to the floor, landing two meters away.

The match had lasted mere seconds.

A hush fell over the crowd before they erupted into disbelief.

"No way, Guina lost?"

"How could this happen? How did Guina lose?"

"She's the one who could take down a master. How did she fall to an outsider?"

"Who on earth is that guy?"

Koshiro, observing Guina's disoriented state, declared the outcome, "One point, victory to Lin Mo."

Lin Mo casually tossed the shinai back into the sword bucket.

Regaining her composure, Guina retrieved her shinai from the ground and defiantly exclaimed, "No, I refuse to lose. Let's go again! I will not hand over the Wado Ichimonji to you!"

"Guina, the match is over; you've lost," Koshiro sternly reprimanded her, a rare severity in his voice. "No matter how many rematches you seek, you cannot best Lin Mo. Don't you see the disparity between you two?"

"No!" With tears brimming in her eyes and fists clenched, Guina ran from the dojo, unable to accept defeat.

"Hey, Guina!" Zoro called out, quickly following after her.

Koshiro massaged his temples, exasperated, then turned to the remaining children. "That's enough for today. Practice is over. Everyone, head home and rest."

"Yes, Sensei!" The children stood, bowed to Koshiro, and left the dojo amidst a buzz of conversation.

Once the children had departed, Koshiro beckoned to Lin Mo, "Follow me."

Lin Mo gave a slight nod.

Together, they walked to the tea room situated in the dojo's back garden.

They sat down, facing each other.

On the tea table before them sat a pot of freshly brewed tea alongside a jug of fine wine, its rich aroma wafting through the air.

Koshiro presented Lin Mo with a blade of unassuming white, both hilt and scabbard, freshly retrieved from the storeroom. "From this moment forward, this sword is yours," he declared.

It was the Wado Ichimonji.

Lin Mo took it graciously, slinging it alongside Lake Toya at his waist.

Together, they lifted their teacups and wine glasses, savoring a sip of each.

Truth be told, Koshiro's aged wine was quite delightful. It wasn't overly potent, but it offered a subtle, invigorating taste of cherry blossoms that was truly heartwarming.

Lin Mo was quite taken with it.

"How do you like it?" Koshiro asked with a smile. "The craft of this wine is a legacy from a very unique place, not something you'd typically find for sale."

"Not bad at all," Lin Mo nodded, affirming his approval.

In that moment,

Beep! Engaging in conversation and sharing a drink with Koshiro, sign-in progress +10%, total progress now 30%, with a reward of +1 to swordsmanship level, bringing the current level to Lv. 3.

As his swordsmanship ascended to Lv. 3, Lin Mo's presence surged with a newfound intensity.

A wave of invisible sword intent radiated from him, fleeting yet palpable.

A flicker of astonishment crossed Lin Mo's gaze.

His initial willingness to share a drink with Koshiro was simply out of a sense of goodwill, a small gesture of appreciation.

Little did he expect that this casual act would inadvertently fulfill his sign-in progress.

Indeed, it was a serendipitous surprise.