Arrogance and Celestial Dragons! A Conversation with Koushirou

Dunn's voice echoed through the woods. Kuina, who had been in the middle of an attack, suddenly stopped. Even Zoro, who had been striking at Dunn with a serious expression, sensed that something was off with Kuina's mood and halted his movements as well.

"Are you trying to say that a woman can also reach the pinnacle through her own efforts?"

After a moment of silence, Kuina looked up at Dunn, who had just removed his eye patch, and asked.

"No, I'm saying that some people are born with terrifying talent that the vast majority can never hope to match, and you only need to surpass yourself."

Dunn smiled, shook his head, and spoke.

"I don't know who said what to you, but your swordsmanship has become hesitant—well, that's about the feeling I get."

Dunn looked at Kuina, then shifted his gaze to Zoro.

"As for you, you're brainless and stubborn, but your progress is remarkably fast."

This was Dunn's own assessment; over the past month, he could feel that Zoro's strength was increasing at a rapid pace.

Truth be told, the innate gap between people in this world was indeed terrifying.

"Are you complimenting me or insulting me?"

Zoro pointed at his own nose, looking somewhat hesitant.

"Complimenting you!"

"Oh, then thanks!"

Zoro nodded, then looked toward Kuina.

He, too, had sensed that Kuina's mood seemed a bit off.

"Some things you have to figure out for yourself. When I first arrived, your father asked me why I wanted to learn the sword, and I gave him my answer."

After saying this, Dunn waved his hand and headed toward the dojo; he still had his own matters to attend to.

Kuina's personality was a bit too headstrong; she needed to come to her own realization.

Perhaps she still needed Zoro to provide the spark of clarity.

He hadn't sparred with Kuina for as long as Zoro had.

Their relationship was, at most, merely familiar.

Dunn didn't concern himself with what would happen in the woods after he left; instead, he went straight to see Shimotsuki Koshiro.

Shimotsuki Koshiro seemed to be waiting for Dunn. Seeing him approach, he raised a hand and gestured for Dunn to sit.

Dunn naturally didn't stand on ceremony and sat cross-legged directly opposite Koshiro.

"Thank you."

As soon as he sat down, Shimotsuki Koshiro spoke his thanks.

"About Kuina?"

Dunn asked in return upon hearing this.

"Yes, about my daughter."

Koshiro did not deny it, nodding in direct admission.

"Zoro's strength is improving quickly. I can feel that Kuina is finding her spars with him increasingly difficult."

Shimotsuki Koshiro sighed.

"Due to innate physical differences, female swordsmen face a significant gap compared to their male counterparts. Kuina's personality is just too strong-willed."

When Shimotsuki Koshiro said this, Dunn could hear the dilemma in his tone.

"So, you were the one who said this, making Kuina so distracted lately?"

Dunn naturally knew this and understood what Shimotsuki Koshiro meant.

To some extent, it was a way of preparing Kuina for the inevitable.

As a father, he certainly knew his daughter's personality; perhaps he was worried that she wouldn't be able to overcome the mental hurdle if she were to be defeated by Zoro in the near future.

"That is indeed the case, but I don't have a better solution."

Shimotsuki Koshiro raised a hand to rub his temples, looking helpless. As he spoke, he looked up at Dunn.

"And you—your talent is good. No, I should say it is exceptionally good. Perhaps even on this vast sea, your talent is not inferior to those at the very pinnacle."

Shimotsuki Koshiro said this with great sincerity.

These were his true feelings.

Immense physical strength, recovery, learning ability, and the temperament to endure monotonous training.

If it weren't for the fact that he saw Dunn had no intention of taking a master, Shimotsuki Koshiro would have truly wanted to take him on as a disciple.

However, this terrifying talent made Shimotsuki Koshiro feel that he might not even be qualified to do so.

"I won't argue with that."

Dunn smiled at the remark.

The ability to quantify his own stats alone already placed him above everyone else.

The auxiliary effect of digitization on cultivation was even stronger than Dunn had previously imagined.

Hearing Dunn say this, Shimotsuki Koshiro shook his head helplessly, his expression then turning serious.

"In the span of a month, your growth has far exceeded my expectations, but I also have some doubts about you."

Doubts?

Dunn looked at the earnest-looking Shimotsuki Koshiro, curiosity etched on his face.

"Your identity—or rather, are you a World Noble? Or perhaps, are you a Celestial Dragon?"

When Shimotsuki Koshiro asked this, his tone was very grave.

"A Celestial Dragon? You mean me?"

Dunn had considered that Shimotsuki Koshiro might be curious about anything, but he never imagined he would ask this.

"Why would you think I am a Celestial Dragon?"

"Because from you, I can sense that feeling of looking down upon everything."

Seeing Dunn's reaction, Shimotsuki Koshiro already knew the answer, so he spoke directly about his feelings and the reason why he had asked such a question.

"This temperament of yours is natural, not deliberate. When I first saw you, I thought it was some kind of arrogance or pride. But it seems different."

Dunn did not refute this upon hearing it; instead, he rubbed his chin and began to ponder.

Since Shimotsuki Koshiro said so, it must be true.

But he should still be considered humble, right?

He wasn't some Long Aotian; even if he wanted to cross swords with the powerhouses of the sea, he would at least wait until he had developed his strength first.

Wait.

Dunn suddenly understood why Shimotsuki Koshiro felt this way.

It was because he viewed everything in this world from the perspective of an outsider.

Because he was an outsider who knew what would happen in the future, he naturally carried a sense of superiority.

This feeling appeared quite naturally.

"It seems you have thought of the reason."

Dunn's change in expression was caught by Shimotsuki Koshiro, who spoke up.

"Yes, I have thought of the possible reason."

Dunn did not deny it.

"As long as you have thought of it, that is fine. Now, let us talk about what you want to learn from me."

After hearing Dunn's reply, Shimotsuki Koshiro did not continue to probe, but instead changed the subject.

He did not know the cause of that temperament in Dunn, but because of the matter regarding Kuina, he could offer a reminder; since the other party had already figured it out, there was no need to say more.

"Swordsmanship, and Haki."

Dunn did not hesitate in the slightest.

"Haki? Very well. The method you used when sparring with Kuina and the others is indeed a way to train Observation Haki, though their strength is too weak, so the effect is very limited. As for Armament Haki, it requires a certain level of physical constitution, and yours is more than sufficient."

Shimotsuki Koshiro had guessed what Dunn wanted to learn when he saw him attempting to train Observation Haki, so he was not surprised at this moment.

Although Haki was not common in the Four Blues, it was not a great secret either.

"As for swordsmanship, my suggestion is that I can provide you with pointers on the power of the sword, but you must find a style that suits you yourself."