Koshiro's Grievance

After listening to Mo Xingchen's words, Koshiro pondered for a moment. For a swordsman who had emerged from the New World, he knew that the pirates in the first half of the Grand Line would indeed be a hellish challenge for Kuina and Zoro, who were still children.

Instead of training under protection, it would be better for them to stay with him and solidify their swordsmanship foundation. Before Koshiro could speak, Mo Xingchen continued:

"In a few more years, when Kuina is older, you can let her train alone in the East Blue. If she can reach Marineford with her own abilities, I will then take her to train. Of course, Zoro is welcome to come as well.

However, you'll have to prepare them for death by then. You should know that countless geniuses strive to become Great Swordsmen, but even more fall on their path. After all, reaching the pinnacle of swordsmanship is often accompanied by blood and death. Without this resolve, it won't do."

"Yes! Mr. Mo, I've noted it down!

By the way, I haven't asked yet, what brings you here this time?"

"Nothing much, I was just vacationing in the East Blue and thought I'd visit an old friend. Is Mr. Kozaburo still in good health?"

"My father is doing well. He's probably fishing by the river right now and won't be home until later."

Mo Xingchen felt that they had chatted enough, so he introduced Bogard to Koshiro.

"Koshiro, this is Vice Admiral Garp's aide-de-camp, Bogard. He is also a swordsman, and he's come with me this time because he wishes to seek your guidance in swordsmanship."

Bogard then stood up and bowed to Koshiro.

"Mr. Koshiro, please guide me!"

Koshiro quickly stood up and said with a hint of doubt:

"There's no problem with a spar, but I'm just a little curious. Mr. Mo is a more powerful Great Swordsman than I am. Wouldn't it be enough to just learn from him directly? Why go out of your way to seek me out?"

"Uh~ Vice Admiral Mo's swordsmanship level is too high. I want to directly experience the gap between myself and a Great Swordsman. I can't feel it with him."

Bogard said with slight embarrassment.

Koshiro understood. So, he had been discouraged by Mo Xingchen and wanted to test the waters with a Great Swordsman to regain some confidence.

Hmph, as if I'm some weakling. I'm not the me I used to be! Kid, you're in big trouble!

"Then let's go to the backyard; this place is too small."

The group then proceeded to the open space in the backyard. The two stood in the center, swords in hand, motionless, searching for each other's openings. Mo Xingchen, with the two youngsters, stood on the side, spectating and acting as commentator.

Kuina spoke first, asking:

"Mr. Mo, why are they both standing still?"

"Duels between swordsmen are extremely dangerous. Unlike your spars with Zoro using bamboo swords, recklessness doesn't matter; getting hit just hurts. But being cut by a real sword can be fatal.

Before you ascertain the opponent's strength and swordsmanship style, any rash action can become an opening, and exposing an opening makes you vulnerable to attack. Therefore, who gets the first move is very important."

As Mo Xingchen's explanation to Kuina reached the arena, it distracted Bogard, who was confronting Koshiro. In the blink of an eye, Koshiro seized the opportunity and instantly closed the distance, unleashing an Iaido Slash.

Bogard hastily raised his sword to block with all his might. If it were the old Koshiro, it might have been a clash of two swords, entering a phase of brute force. But Koshiro had also been trained by Mo Xingchen.

Iaido is a rising slash from bottom to top, utilizing the momentum of drawing the sword. Therefore, Koshiro's Iaido Slash wasn't at full power; he wanted Bogard to defend with all his might.

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Koshiro's Iaido Slash was indeed blocked by Bogard's defensive strength. He used the rebound force to twist his wrist, rotating the blade 180 degrees in the air before bringing it down in a chop. Bogard could only continue to passively parry.

At this moment, Zoro asked in confusion:

"Why did Master suddenly move just now?"

"It's because the explanation I was giving Kuina just now distracted Bogard. So, when he blinked, your master seized that opening and attacked first.

Then it was a contest of techniques. First, the Iaido feinted the opponent into defending with full force, then smoothly changed the move to continue the offense. This way, Bogard was completely drawn into your master's attack rhythm. If he couldn't break free, the duel would have been decided."

After listening, Zoro and Kuina were so shocked their jaws almost hit the floor. Since when was blinking considered an opening? And what was this about feinting with Iaido and continuing the offense? They couldn't understand it at all, but they were greatly astonished!

Speaking of which, what were their previous duels compared to this? Were they just child's play?

As expected, Bogard couldn't find an opening to break free from Koshiro's continuous attacks and escape his rhythm. He could only defend passively. After more than 30 moves, Koshiro's sword stopped before Bogard's face.

"Clap clap clap!"

Mo Xingchen was the first to applaud and said, "What a brilliant duel. Koshiro, you've improved a lot."

Koshiro sheathed his sword and looked intently at Mo Xingchen, saying, "Thank you for the compliment, sir. Would you like to come down and play?"

"Alright."

Mo Xingchen slowly walked towards the center of the arena. When he saw Bogard move to the side, he tilted his head and asked Koshiro:

"Can we begin?"

Koshiro stared intently at Mo Xingchen, his lips slightly parted, not daring to let his guard down in the slightest.

"Of course."

Mo Xingchen instantly drew his sword, and three pale golden Sword Qi flew rapidly towards Koshiro. The middle Sword Qi was the fastest, while the left and right ones were slightly slower, completely sealing Koshiro's evasion routes and forcing him to take the hits head-on.

Then, Mo Xingchen slowly walked towards Koshiro. With every step, three Sword Qi were unleashed. When Koshiro blocked the second wave of Sword Qi, he realized something was wrong and thought, It's over.

Koshiro forcefully blocked the first wave of Sword Qi. He found that although the Sword Qi was fast, its power was insufficient. But when he blocked the second wave, the immense power almost sent his sword flying. Before he could think, the third and fourth waves of Sword Qi followed in quick succession.

The power of each wave was different, or two waves were the same and then changed again, with no discernible pattern. If this continued, he could only defend passively until a fatal opening appeared.

So Koshiro decided to go all out, to break Mo Xingchen's offensive rhythm. After unleashing several sword energies with all his might, he charged forward without waiting for the result.

He thought his sword energies would clear Mo Xingchen's relentless barrage, and then he would seize the opportunity for a close-quarters attack. But what he didn't expect was that, As he powerfully swung his sword energies, Mo Xingchen also moved rapidly towards him. He even calculated the general trajectory of the sword energies based solely on Mo Xingchen's sword swings. Then, with skill and boldness, he used the sword energies to obscure his form, and finally dodged the sword energies by a hair's breadth.

When Mo Xingchen's figure reappeared in Koshiro's sight, Mo Xingchen's sword was already at his neck, and his charge came to an abrupt halt.

The scene froze. Koshiro said with a hint of grievance, "Sir, don't you dislike sword energies?"

"I just despise slow sword energies, not sword energies themselves. Can't I just practice them to be faster, with more variations? Besides, how can you have fixed ideas about an enemy!"