Within the Yotsuyu Clan, Kurusu Kunoichi was considered a highly esteemed samurai.
Not only was Kurusu Kunoichi an exceptional swordsman, but he had also been assigned to protect Yomogawa Ayame as her personal guard.
Therefore, Fang Li had chosen to challenge Kurusu Kunoichi at the Martial Contest not only because it had triggered a Side Mission, but also because he wanted to use Kurusu Kunoichi as a way to get close to Yomogawa Ayame.
After all, his Main Mission Two was closely tied to Yomogawa Ayame, so making contact with her was absolutely necessary.
Now, Fang Li had finally met Yomogawa Ayame.
"Hello, Miss Ayame." Fang Li politely greeted Yomogawa Ayame.
However, to Kurusu Kunoichi, that greeting was far too disrespectful.
"You, that greeting was far too casual." Kurusu Kunoichi glared at Fang Li and said in a low voice, "Lady Ayame is the eldest daughter of the Yotsuyu Clan. It would not be surprising if she inherited the position of clan head and became the ruler of Aragane Station someday. At the very least, add an honorific when addressing her."
Faced with Kurusu Kunoichi's faintly threatening words, Fang Li rolled his eyes and could not even be bothered to respond, giving Kurusu Kunoichi the urge to draw his sword.
Instead, Yomogawa Ayame suddenly said as though she had just realized something, "So you are the Wanderer who defeated Kurusu?"
Kurusu Kunoichi, who had just been about to lose his temper, immediately looked as though he had swallowed a fly, his face turning as constipated as ever.
Seeing that clearly, Fang Li chuckled inwardly and deliberately replied with a smile, "That's right. I'm the Wanderer who defeated Kurusu."
Kurusu Kunoichi felt utterly stifled.
To begin with, Kurusu Kunoichi's pride was greater than that of most samurai. His rigorous and serious nature also made him value a samurai's dignity immensely. Every word and action of his was exceptionally rigid; he could practically be called a model samurai.
Yet Kurusu Kunoichi, who took such pride in being a samurai, had been defeated in public by a Wanderer who had never studied martial arts.
It was easy to imagine how unwilling Kurusu Kunoichi was to accept that.
That was why Kurusu Kunoichi had spent the past few days constantly pestering Fang Li, trying to redeem his previous defeat.
Now, not only had he failed to redeem that loss, but the person he was most concerned with protecting had mercilessly stabbed him in his sore spot, while the culprit looked like he was gleefully kicking him when he was down. How could Kurusu Kunoichi not feel awful?
"...In terms of true strength, I definitely won't lose to you." Kurusu Kunoichi stared fixedly at Fang Li and said through gritted teeth, "Don't get too full of yourself, Wanderer."
"I'm not getting full of myself, you know?" Fang Li spread his hands and said, "You just keep refusing to accept it, so I merely reminded you. I hope you can use that as motivation to keep improving and work harder in the future."
As he said that, Fang Li even patted Kurusu Kunoichi on the shoulder with an expression that seemed to say, I'm only doing this for your own good.
This time, Kurusu Kunoichi's expression truly looked like that of someone suffering from constipation.
"Hehe..." Yomogawa Ayame could not help covering her mouth as she laughed.
Unbeknownst to her, that laugh was practically a critical hit to Kurusu Kunoichi.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to make fun of Kurusu." Yomogawa Ayame smiled faintly, then turned her gaze toward Fang Li. "I just find Mr. Fang Li very interesting."
"Interesting?" Fang Li was surprised and almost blurted out, "Back when I was in school, this was nothing more than the usual teasing between a bunch of lousy friends."
"School?" Kurusu Kunoichi froze.
"School?" Yomogawa Ayame said even more surprised, "Mr. Fang Li, you attended a private school?"
Only under Yomogawa Ayame and Kurusu Kunoichi's astonished gazes did Fang Li realize that he had misspoken.
In this era, attending school was no simple matter.
Most of the land outside had already been occupied by the Kabane.
The various Stations could barely even protect themselves.
A private school was something only those with status and standing could afford to enjoy.
Fang Li remembered that in this era, the only schools open to commoners throughout the entire country seemed to be elementary educational institutions like Terakoya.
Therefore, those who could attend school were generally no ordinary people.
And no matter how one looked at it, a Wanderer could not possibly have had the opportunity to attend a private school.
So, if Fang Li really had attended one, it would likely arouse suspicion.
After a moment of silence, Fang Li smiled at the two of them and said, "There's nothing to be surprised about. The place where I once lived did allow people to attend school. It's just that... that place is no longer in this world."
Hearing that, both Yomogawa Ayame and Kurusu Kunoichi fell silent.
"I see." Yomogawa Ayame spoke with what seemed like sympathy. "Has the station where you once lived fallen?"
"After your station fell, you were fortunate enough to survive, then escaped here alone, didn't you?" Kurusu Kunoichi closed his eyes and said quietly, "No wonder you never studied martial arts, yet your speed is so much faster than an ordinary person's."
Clearly, both Yomogawa Ayame and Kurusu Kunoichi believed that the station where Fang Li had once lived had been overrun by the Kabane, that he had survived alone, struggled desperately across land filled with Kabane, and fled all the way to Aragane Station, where he had been taken in.
That explained why Fang Li had attended school, as well as why he possessed decisiveness and speed far beyond ordinary people despite never studying martial arts.
Of course, that was merely what Yomogawa Ayame and Kurusu Kunoichi believed.
Fang Li had not lied.
After all, the place where Fang Li had once lived really did allow people to attend school, and that place truly was no longer in this world.
"N-No, it's all right. Being able to survive is already a good thing." As though trying to comfort Fang Li, Yomogawa Ayame said, "How about coming to the Yotsuyu Clan and becoming a samurai, Mr. Fang Li?"
"Become a samurai?" Fang Li's expression immediately turned strange.
"With all due respect, Lady Ayame." Kurusu Kunoichi frowned and bluntly said, "This guy may have some skill, but he lacks any foundation in martial arts. I'm afraid he isn't suited to becoming a samurai."
"Not suited?" Yomogawa Ayame blinked and said with an innocent look, "But didn't Mr. Fang Li defeat Kurusu? Even that isn't enough?"
"I..." The corner of Kurusu Kunoichi's eye twitched violently as he began roaring inwardly.
Why did she have to bring that up?!
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