"Greetings, esteemed ladies of Wei." the warrior said, rising politely and bowing, before kneeling again as tea was laid out. "I am Mamoru of the house of Zhao."
"I can only speak of what I know, having once been a young and hot-spirited duelist myself." he sipped his tea gracefully and smiled at the quality of it. "I do not know if a woman dueling in public can be considered wise, but I think I understand where such a choice might come from."
"To explain myself, I will have to let you in on a small secret. I have been bested by women before," he said with a small smile. "I find no shame in admitting it. No gender is a prerequisite for skill at arms."
"Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for recognition of that skill. Men, no matter how clumsy with the blade, have the opportunity to be test their skill before the council. I myself was tested and recognized when I was nine years only. I was well trained, yes, but not so skilled to be considered a prodigy. I was a boy. A small one. I did not hit my growth spurt for another two years. It is likely that all of you are stronger and hardier now than I was then. Li Xianglan, I overheard you say that you have demonstrated the Kata. I would wager that your skills are at least as good as mine were when I demonstrated for the first time. Quite likely better. The difference is, that I was demonstrating before the Council in a tournament. It is only because I am male that my meager skill was considered enough to see me recognized." Mamoru's smile broadened. "I placed second to last in that tournament. Unsurprising, considering that I was a child competing against grown men. Still though, I was allowed to compete."
"I believe that rise of young women dueling in the streets is a cry for that same recognition and opportunity. Personally, I believe that if skilled and capable women such as yourself were allowed into tournaments, there would be no need for them to duel in the streets. They could keep their duels private, as is proper."
