Chapter 19

Little Zoro said, holding the back of his head.

"I'm going to use two—no, three! I'll become the world's greatest swordsman with three swords!"

Luo En couldn't help but glance at him beside him.

"Have you learned swordsmanship yet?"

"No, not yet. Why?"

Little Zoro was caught off guard by the question, "But I heard there's a kendo dojo over there. I'm planning to go challenge it in a few days."

Luo En glanced in the direction he was pointing,

"A kendo dojo, over there…"

He smiled at Zoro and said, "Thanks for the directions. Then let's meet again at that kendo dojo next time."

"Huh? You're going now? The sky—"

Before little Zoro could finish speaking, he saw the black-haired boy, who looked about his age, sprinting in that direction at an astonishing speed.

Little Zoro scratched his head:

"What a strange guy."

………………

Late at night, snowflakes drifted down from the sky.

Inside the kendo dojo, the lights were bright.

A short blue-haired girl in a white training uniform held a bamboo sword in both hands, still practicing vertical slash after vertical slash.

"Kuina, it's very late. Let's call it a day."

Koshiro, wearing glasses, walked into the grounds and said.

"Father, I'll practice one hundred more times before resting. You go rest first."

Kuina replied without turning her head.

"Alright then, I'll go rest first. You rest early too."

"Got it."

After Koshiro left, Kuina continued her vertical slashes, one after another.

"Ninety-eight, ninety-nine, one hundred!"

Kuina set down the bamboo sword, braced her knees and panted heavily. Her arms were so heavy she couldn't lift them anymore.

Just then, a knock came from outside.

"It's already very late today. The dojo is closed. Please come back tomorrow."

Kuina called out.

The sound outside the door immediately stopped.

"So late at night, and someone still came to the dojo."

Kuina suddenly grew curious. She walked to the door, gently opened it, and looked outside.

Heavy snow was swirling in the sky.

In the courtyard outside the dojo gate, a strange black-haired boy sat cross-legged on the grass, eyes closed, a long sword in a white sheath resting on his knees.

Quite a bit of white snow had already accumulated on his head and body.

"No way—is he planning to stay here like this all night?"

Kuina's eyes widened slightly.

She opened the door, stepped up to the black-haired boy, looked at him and said:

"You'll freeze to death like this."

"No, I won't die."

The boy didn't lift his head or open his eyes.

"Why?"

Kuina was a little curious.

Luo En raised his head, opened his eyes, looked at the short blue-haired girl before him and smiled: "Because I don't want to die."

Kuina couldn't understand at all what he was saying.

Anyone sleeping in the snow on such a cold day would definitely freeze to death. What does wanting or not wanting to die have to do with it?

She didn't want to say anything more. She simply grabbed the hand of the black-haired boy in front of her and pulled him toward the dojo:

"Although I don't know why you came here, I can't just watch you freeze to death at my family's dojo. Tonight, you'll sleep inside the dojo."

Luo En didn't refuse either and followed her into the dojo.

"Kuina, what happened?"

At that moment, Koshiro heard the commotion and came out to check, just in time to see Kuina pulling Luo En inside.

"Kuina, this is?"

"Father, this person was planning to sleep in the dojo courtyard. I saw it was snowing outside, so I pulled him in."

Kuina said, looking at Koshiro.

"Sleeping outside on such a cold day…"

Koshiro looked at Luo En with some surprise.

What's wrong with kids these days? Don't they value their lives?

"Father, I plan to let him… What's your name?"

"Luo En."

"I plan to let Luo En stay one night at our dojo. Is that alright with you?"

Kuina looked toward Koshiro and asked.

"Of course I didn't ask about that…"

Koshiro was just about to agree, but before he could finish speaking, his gaze caught sight of the white-sheathed long sword in the black-haired boy's hand.

He was stunned at first, then a look of shock appeared on his face.

"White sheath, golden Lei Wen—this sword… could it be?!"

"Father?"

Kuina was a little puzzled, not understanding what had come over Koshiro.

At this moment, the black-haired boy beside her named Luo En, gripping that long sword, stepped forward a few paces.

He looked at her father and spoke words that left Kuina utterly astonished.

"The sword is named Lei Qie. With this sword, I humbly request to ask the dojo master to instruct me in swordsmanship."

"It really is this sword. Legend says it hasn't shown itself in the world for several hundred years. I never imagined I'd see it in my lifetime."

Koshiro's gaze burned with eagerness.

He looked toward Luo En: "You've come here to challenge me?"

"To be precise, to ask for instruction. I wish to ask you to teach me how to cut through all things and step into the realm of Sword Master."

Luo En gazed at Koshiro and said earnestly.

Yet he failed to notice that Kuina behind him, hearing those words, slightly widened her eyes.

"Hahaha, the realm of Sword Master isn't that easy to step into. It requires a very, very, very long period of grueling practice."

Koshiro stroked his smooth chin and said with a smile.

He was quite fond of seeing one young aspirant after another appear, chasing the path of the Sword Master.

This dojo, too, had been established for that very purpose.

"Since you've come to challenge me, I suppose I must accept. However, before you challenge me, you should first have a match with her—my daughter, Kuina. Don't be fooled by the fact that she's a girl; her strength is already no less than that of my lord."

Koshiro smiled and pointed at Kuina as he spoke.

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12, The Gap Between Kuina and Luo En (2/5)

The night was dark, the air cold, and heavy snow drifted down.

Inside the brightly lit dojo.

Luo En, carrying a bamboo sword, walked over to stand opposite Kuina.

Koshiro stood to one side, arms folded, watching the two of them.

His gaze rested more on Luo En.