The Difference Between Male and Female Sword Masters

Early morning, the sun rose, dispelling the magnificent night and once again bringing vitality to the world.

A month had passed since the last sword duel, and after Teacher Kubo said those words, Bai Ina chose to stay. Yet, even he himself did not know why he stayed...

Perhaps it was for the dawn that Teacher Kubo spoke of, perhaps it was for the longing in his heart to connect with this world, or perhaps it was for... many, many things. But none of that mattered anymore, because in the end, he chose to stay.

And since he chose to stay, Loxi naturally followed suit. However... during those first few days, Loxi vented the anger in her heart to her heart's content. That little face of hers looked sour at everyone, like an enraged puppy, wanting to snap at anyone who crossed her path...

On this morning, Bai Ina, his wounds fully healed, followed Teacher Kubo to the back of the dojo.

"Yina, are all your sword techniques really something you explored bit by bit on your own?"

Teacher Kubo, standing with his back to Bai Ina, suddenly asked an inexplicable question.

Bai Ina was startled, his expression puzzled, but he nodded without hesitation: "Yes, Teacher!"

"That is truly..."

Teacher Kubo turned around, his gaze toward Bai Ina filled with something strange. After a long while, he asked softly: "Do you know the difference between a male swordsman and a female swordsman?"

"This... I don't know, but there shouldn't be any difference, right!"

After pondering for a moment, Bai Ina shook his head.

"No, there is a huge difference between male and female swordsmen, whether in their style of swordsmanship or their physique!" Teacher Kubo shook his head, looking Bai Ina up and down with that strange gaze before continuing.

"Male swordsmen, whether in physique or sword techniques, appear extremely fierce and domineering. Female swordsmen, because their physique is weaker than men's, do not possess this fierceness and dominance. However... they possess something that male swordsmen absolutely do not."

"That is flexibility. This kind of flexibility cannot be obtained through training; it can be said to be a talent that female swordsmen are born with. Furthermore, the techniques of female swordsmen tend to be more subtle and soft. Their sword moves lack the fierceness and dominance of men, but they possess a dexterity and unpredictability that men lack, with tricky moves that are difficult to dodge."

Having said this, he paused, staring straight at Bai Ina, and said: "Yet, I don't feel a trace of a male swordsman in you. Instead, you... possess everything a female swordsman has, both in flexibility and in your style of swordsmanship."

When he heard the difference between male and female swordsmen, Bai Ina already understood what Teacher Kubo wanted to say, but there was no surprise in his heart. He knew his own situation; his talent for swordsmanship was inherited from Kuina.

He had felt it back then—after merging with Kuina, his body underwent some unknown changes, so he didn't feel the slightest bit surprised that he possessed all the talents of a female swordsman.

"And the sword techniques you have comprehended are further proof that you possess extraordinary talent on the path of... female swordsmanship. Whether it is the strange sword technique 'May Rain' that is difficult for ordinary people to master, or the extremely tricky 'Ghost Slash', these all represent that you possess talent exceeding any female swordsman I have ever known!"

The more Teacher Kubo spoke, the more shocked, absurd, and speechless he felt... This made him scratch his head involuntarily as he continued: "Setting aside why you, a man, have the flexibility of a female swordsman, your body's flexibility actually far exceeds that of any female swordsman I know. Combining these two points perfectly illustrates that you are a true genius of the sword... a female one..."

"..."

Bai Ina was also speechless. He really wanted to ask his teacher not to keep emphasizing the word 'female'.

"However, this does not mean you cannot possess the style of a male swordsman..." At this point, a flash of fanaticism suddenly appeared on Teacher Kubo's face: "Although your 'Tornado Flash' still leans towards the subtle and soft, it already contains a hint of dominance. And you are undoubtedly a man, possessing a man's physique, so you are the most likely to become..."

"An existence that gathers the strengths of both male and female swordsmen in one body!!!"

Bai Ina was startled. To be honest, although he knew the difference between male and female swordsmen, he didn't understand what a male swordsman was truly like, nor what kind of terrifying concept it was to combine the strengths of both.

However, while he didn't know, Teacher Kubo understood the difference deeply. Combining hardness and softness was far from a simple one-plus-one. Therefore, he couldn't help but feel a bit fanatical about the prospect of cultivating such an existence.

"Actually, my talent for swordsmanship is not high," Teacher Kubo suddenly said.

Yet the meaning behind his words left Bai Ina feeling shocked. The dominance and terror of that strike from a month ago were still clearly etched in his mind even today, yet Teacher Kubo was now saying his talent wasn't high... How could Bai Ina not be shocked?

"Heh, find it hard to believe? But it is the truth. One day, when you go to the Grand Line, or even the New World, you will find that the terrifying swordsmen there are as numerous as the hairs on an ox. Someone like me, who barely reached the realm of sensing the breath of all things and cutting through steel, has nothing worth talking about."

Bai Ina was stunned. Sensing the breath of all things, cutting through steel? He had heard of this realm before; in the original story, Zoro realized this realm in his first battle after arriving at the Grand Line.

Originally, he didn't have an intuitive understanding of this realm, but after the battle a month ago and his teacher's words, he suddenly realized that the terror of this realm was far from as simple as it looked in the anime.

"So, after I obtained a Devil Fruit, I resolutely gave up swordsmanship. Although I felt very guilty toward the teacher who entrusted me with Black Blade Dawn, I knew I was destined not to continue on the path of the sword. However, Black Blade Dawn has not been buried by me. It is in your hands now, and I firmly believe you will never let it gather dust!"

Teacher Kubo did not defend his weak talent for swordsmanship at all, but said it without hesitation.

Bai Ina's expression held no contempt; instead, he felt even more respect for his teacher's character! He also understood why his teacher felt so powerful to him back then—his teacher's Devil Fruit was definitely not a useless ability for combat like Loxi's.

"Putting that aside, although my swordsmanship isn't much, I am more than qualified to guide you. In the coming days, I will teach you all my knowledge regarding male swordsmanship and cultivate the path you should take as a male swordsman. However, the path of a female swordsman will have to be explored by yourself. With your talent, I believe that even without guidance, you will be able to find your own way."

Looking at Teacher Kubo's expectant gaze, Bai Ina's heart was filled with gratitude and reverence. Subconsciously, he shouted in a tone he had never used before.

"Yes, Teacher Kubo!"