C8 Frost Moon Village's Zoro's Passion

"What? Guina lost to an outsider?"

"Are you serious? Could you be mistaken? Guina is incredibly strong. I recall that she's beaten everyone who's come to challenge her these past few years. How could she possibly lose?"

"Well, her loss isn't all that shocking when you think about it. She's only eleven, after all. There are plenty of adults out there who are more skilled than she is."

"Absolutely, losing once isn't the end of the world. Guina's still a kid. Whoever beat her must be an exceptionally strong adult."

Despite their initial surprise at the undefeated Guina's loss, the crowd found solace in the fact that she was still just a child.

But the messenger shook his head and wagged his index finger, saying, "No, no, the one who defeated Guina isn't an adult, but a little tyke wielding a wooden sword. Rumor has it this kid is even younger than Guina."

The tavern, previously abuzz with chatter, fell into stunned silence.

Seconds later, a chorus of disbelief filled the air.

"What? A kid younger than Guina beat her? Are you certain about this?"

"This can't be! How could Guina be bested by a mere child? That kid must have cheated!"

"Come on, we're not gullible. Spreading false news like this could earn you a beating!"

As the crowd expressed their skepticism, the messenger insisted, "I'm telling the truth. Guina truly was defeated by that kid, and she even handed over her cherished sword to them."

"No way! Guina adores her sword; there's no chance she'd give it to some kid from out of town!"

"Exactly, there's been some mistake. You can't fool us that easily!"

Amidst the rising clamor and debate,

Lin Mo attached his wine gourd to his belt and hopped off the high stool.

With a composed demeanor, he made his way to the tavern's exit.

As he pushed open the door and stepped out,

Someone exclaimed, "Check out the kid's sidearm!"

All eyes turned to Lin Mo.

And when they caught sight of the wooden sword and a real sword on his waist—the real sword looking eerily familiar to them—they stared in wide-eyed horror, as if they had seen a ghost.

"Huh? Isn't that Guina's saber?"

"For real? Guina actually got beaten by some kid younger than her?"

"What's the deal with that kid? To defeat the undefeated Guina... that's seriously impressive!"

"Ah! I was just making fun of him. He's not holding a grudge, is he?"

Lin Mo left the tavern, completely ignoring the commotion behind him.

Over the next few hours, the news that Guina of Isshin Dojo had been bested by an outsider spread like wildfire through Frost Moon Village.

Lin Mo had planned to complete his sign-in task discreetly and then slip away quietly.

Instead, he'd become the talk of the town.

To avoid further trouble, he decided it was best to keep a low profile around the village from now on.

He headed straight back to Isshin Dojo.

Upon entering the backyard, Zoro came running over, brimming with excitement.

"Lin Mo!" Zoro exclaimed, "I heard you went hunting in the mountains this morning. Was it for training? Next time you go, take me with you."

Lin Mo: "..."

Here we go again.

This pesky guy...

Without a word, Lin Mo walked past Zoro.

But Zoro, undeterred by Lin Mo's cold shoulder, clung on like a stubborn burr, "I've finished my basic training for today. How about we head to the mountains to train right now?"

Lin Mo continued to give Zoro the silent treatment.

Undaunted by the lack of response, Zoro kept at it, "Lin Mo, you said you wanted to learn by fighting, right? Just thinking about it isn't enough. You have to spar with someone stronger to truly understand. So, I've decided, in addition to challenging Guina every day, I'm going to spar with you too!"

Lin Mo came to an abrupt halt, inwardly recoiling.

"Don't bother me!"

Zoro stopped in his tracks, puzzled. "Why not?"

"I'm busy," Lin Mo stated flatly.

"Eh?" Zoro asked, surprised, "Do you still think I'm too weak to spar with?"

Lin Mo didn't bother with a lengthy explanation: "Exactly."

With that, he continued on his way.

Watching Lin Mo's retreating figure, Zoro gripped his shinai tighter, hesitated for a moment, and then, with a sudden yell, charged at him, "If you won't spar with me, I'll just keep attacking until you draw your sword! Ha—take this!"

Lin Mo sensed the murderous intent creeping up behind him, growing closer by the second. Without looking back, he weaved left and right, effortlessly evading a flurry of attacks. As his assailant charged forward, Lin Mo landed a solid punch, sending the attacker soaring into the courtyard.

He glanced at the figure sprawled dozens of meters away, struggling and failing to rise. "Let's see you follow me now," Lin Mo mused with a chuckle, continuing on his way.

As he neared the tea room, Koshiro's voice beckoned from within: "Lin Mo, come in for a drink. I have someone to introduce to you." Lin Mo paused, turning to see the dragon from the previous night seated across from Koshiro.

The dragon's presence in Frost Moon Village was no small matter, and certainly no coincidence. Lin Mo speculated that interacting with this individual might just advance his mission.

After a moment's consideration, Lin Mo entered the tea room and took a seat beside Koshiro. "Care for some tea?" Koshiro offered with a warm smile.

"No, thank you. I've brought my own," Lin Mo replied, uncorking his wine gourd and taking a swig.

"This is my friend, Long," Koshiro introduced with a grin.

Lin Mo nodded in greeting. "Hello."

Long looked at him with a spark of interest. "How old are you?"

"Ten," Lin Mo answered nonchalantly.

"Quite the tolerance for alcohol," Long remarked, his smile hinting at amusement. "Koshiro tells me you're quite skilled with the sword."

"I manage," Lin Mo responded modestly.

Long appraised him closely. "You showed just a glimpse, but you used Kenbunshoku Haki to dodge that youngster's attacks, didn't you?"

Lin Mo met his gaze and replied calmly, "Yes, that's correct."

It wasn't a secret worth hiding.

"You're more intriguing than I anticipated," Long mused. "Yet, I sense something's still amiss." As he spoke, the corners of his mouth twitched into a sly smile, his demeanor shifted, and a glint of gold sparked in his eyes. A formidable presence radiated from him, enveloping the confines of the small tea room.