He turned to look around, only to see the girl standing in front of a row of weapon racks.
Her gaze swept from left to right, then from right to left, carefully sizing up every single weapon on the racks.
Bai Xuan was slightly taken aback.
This girl had seemed completely indifferent to everything along the way.
She had remained completely unperturbed when locked in the cage, and paid no mind to the wounds on her body.
She had even endured the excruciating pain during her treatment without making a single sound, yet now she was actively examining weapons.
His heart stirred. Phoebe was already Level 3 and possessed extremely high talent.
Since battles would be unavoidable on the road ahead, he might as well take this opportunity to choose a suitable weapon for her.
He stepped forward and asked softly, “Want a weapon? Go ahead and pick one you like. I'll pay for it.”
Phoebe turned her head. Her golden-red eyes glanced at him, but she didn't speak.
Then, she slowly turned back, continuing to focus her gaze on the weapon racks.
Bai Xuan felt that she must have understood him.
First, she walked over to the longsword rack, drew a longsword, and held it in her hand. She lightly weighed it, then swung it twice, her movements appearing somewhat unpracticed.
Bai Xuan thought to himself that a longsword was indeed the conventional choice for an adventurer; she had good taste.
But in the next second, Phoebe lost interest and returned the longsword to its place, walking over to the broadsword rack instead.
She picked up a broadsword and swung it a few more times than before, but in the end, she shook her head and placed the broadsword back on the rack as well.
Bai Xuan was left somewhat bewildered.
Leaning against the counter, Mora had been quietly watching this play out, and now she couldn't help but tease.
“Your companion has rather high standards. Longswords won't do, and broadswords don't suit her either. I'm afraid she'll need a custom-made weapon.”
Bai Xuan shook his head helplessly. “I don't have any suitable materials on me. Even if I did, they might not make a handy weapon.”
There was another half of the sentence he kept to himself.
Moreover, a custom-made weapon would cost a non-trivial amount of gold coins.
Phoebe turned a deaf ear to their conversation and continued walking forward.
She didn't stop until she reached the wall in the middle of the shop, tilting her head up to stare intently at it.
Bai Xuan followed her gaze, and his heart instantly skipped a beat.
Hanging on the wall was a massive double-bladed axe.
【Rock-Crushing Mountain】
【Quality: Excellent】
【Materials: Primarily forged from Dwarven Smelted Gold and Mountain Copper, with Black Iron as a secondary material, mixed with a small amount of Thunder Iron.】
【Properties: Thunder Vein Resonance (The purple electricity lingering around the axe head forms a weak circuit, continuously stimulating the user's bioelectrical signals to simultaneously increase their strength and endurance for a short duration)】
The axe was of an exaggerated size. Every time he came here, he would silently criticize it in his mind.
Who on earth would be foolish enough to buy such a massive axe?
He comforted himself inwardly, thinking that perhaps Phoebe was just passing by and taking a casual look.
Yet Phoebe just stood there, completely motionless, her gaze locked onto the double-bladed axe without even blinking.
The last trace of hope in Bai Xuan's heart was utterly shattered.
He sighed helplessly, walking over to Phoebe's side to persuade her. “You didn't set your sights on this, did you?”
“This thing is too big and heavy. It doesn't suit you.”
Phoebe continued to stare at the double-bladed axe. Only after a long while did she slowly turn her head to look at Bai Xuan.
There was no emotion in those golden-red eyes.
Yet, for some reason, Bai Xuan felt that her gaze lingering on him was waiting for his nod of approval.
He even faintly felt that there was a trace of acting spoiled hidden in her eyes.
But as soon as this thought arose, he immediately dismissed it.
This girl had endured excruciating pain without a single sound, and her personality was cold and tough. How could she possibly act spoiled?
He must have misread her.
Bai Xuan helplessly turned around, reached out and took the double-bladed axe down from the wall.
The moment the axe entered his hand, his arm involuntarily sank a bit.
This weight was even heavier than he had anticipated.
Without using Spirit-Weight Equilibrium to adjust its weight, his staff was far lighter than this axe.
If he had just arrived in this world back then, he might not have been able to lift this axe.
Fortunately, his strength had improved, allowing him to hold it steadily.
Holding the axe horizontally in his hands, he lightly weighed it and turned to Phoebe.
“This thing is very heavy. Be careful.”
Phoebe reached out with her slender, pale hand and gripped the shaft of the axe.
But one hand couldn't wrap around it completely, so she placed her other hand on it as well, tightly gripping the shaft with both hands.
Bai Xuan did not let go immediately, instructing her softly.
“I'll let go slowly. Feel the weight for yourself.”
He gradually released his grip, and the weight of the axe slowly transferred to Phoebe's hands.
Her arms sank slightly, but she quickly stabilized herself.
Bai Xuan let go completely. Phoebe stood in place, holding the shaft with both hands, the axe blade pointing downward. Her posture was straight, and she remained absolutely motionless.
Bai Xuan looked at Phoebe, then at the axe that was larger than her entire body. After looking back and forth twice, he said tentatively.
“Why don't you try it out?”
With that, he led Phoebe to the open space in the middle of the shop and moved the surrounding racks aside to avoid accidental damage.
Phoebe stood in place, holding the shaft with both hands as she quietly felt the weight of the axe. After a moment, she slowly raised her hands.
The axe swept gently past her side, kicking up a faint gust of wind.
She slowly turned around, the axe blade spinning in a full circle before steadily returning to its original position.
The movement wasn't fast, but it was exceptionally fluid, not at all like someone using such a heavy weapon for the first time.
Immediately after, she raised the axe and slashed forward, quickly pulling it back before delivering a horizontal sweep. Her movements were clean and decisive.
Finally, with a heavy thud, the end of the shaft slammed onto the floor, causing even the floorboards to vibrate slightly.
Phoebe raised her hand to wipe her forehead. Although she wasn't sweating, the gesture seemed to convey that she was “a bit tired.”
She looked down at the double-bladed axe in her hands, then looked up at Bai Xuan, her eyes still devoid of emotion.
But Bai Xuan could clearly sense that she was very satisfied.
The hope he had clung to finally died.
It seemed that buying this axe was absolutely unavoidable.
“Do you like this one?” Even though he already knew the answer, he still asked to confirm.
Phoebe looked at him, but her hands remained tightly wrapped around the shaft, showing no intention of letting go.
Bai Xuan turned his head helplessly to look at Mora.
He saw Mora leaning against the counter with her arms crossed, a slight curve at the corner of her mouth, wearing a look that said, “I knew this would happen.”
“How long has this axe been hanging here?” Bai Xuan asked.
“Calculate it yourself,” Mora said calmly.
“It's been hanging there since the first time you came to my shop.”
Bai Xuan turned his head back to look at Phoebe, who was still tightly gripping the shaft. Ultimately, he let out a sigh and looked at Mora.
“How much was this axe again?”
Leaning against the counter, Mora crisply quoted the price.
“Two hundred gold coins. No bargaining.”
Bai Xuan's eyelids twitched violently, and his expression darkened slightly as he said tentatively.
“Can't you make it a bit cheaper? I'm an old customer, after all. Surely you can give me some face.”
Mora couldn't help but laugh, her laughter carrying a hint of teasing, her eyes shining brightly.
“Who was it that came in before and called this axe a joke of the market?”
Bai Xuan was instantly choked up, an awkward expression crossing his face.
Every time he came to Mora's blacksmith shop, he would criticize this axe in his mind.
Previously, Mora had asked him what he thought of the axe, and now she had used his own words against him.
The fool turned out to be himself.
He sighed helplessly. Knowing that bargaining was hopeless, he stopped struggling and said honestly.
“I don't have that much cash on me. I'll pay half first, and I'll find a way to gather the rest as soon as possible. Shall we write up a contract?”
Mora waved her hand, her tone extremely casual, showing no intention of making things difficult for him.
“No need for a contract. We're old acquaintances. Just give me the rest whenever it's convenient for you.”
As she spoke, her gaze landed on the axe that Phoebe was tightly hugging.
Her tone gradually softened, carrying a hint of melancholy.
“I poured most of my painstaking effort into this weapon. It's been hanging here for so long, and no one has ever understood or wanted it. Honestly, it didn't feel great.”
“Now that someone truly likes and needs it, it can be considered a good ending for this axe.”
Hearing this, Bai Xuan instantly let out a sigh of relief.
Without a payment deadline, he at least didn't have to rush to gather money everywhere and could breathe a bit easier.
He immediately counted out one hundred gold coins from his Space Ring, stacking them neatly on the counter. Looking up at Mora, he said.
“One hundred. Count them. If there's one short, I'll make up for it.”
Mora merely glanced at them before casually sweeping them away, not even bothering to count.
Bai Xuan turned around, looking at Phoebe, who was hugging the axe beside him, and deliberately pulled a stern face to tease her.
“Did you hear that? This weapon isn't cheap—a whole two hundred gold coins. You'll have to work hard in the future to pay me back.”
Then, he added another sentence, his tone carrying a hint of heartache.
“This money is enough for me to forge another two and a half staffs.”
Phoebe continued to hug the axe tightly, slightly tilting her small face to look at him.
There were no obvious ripples in those golden-red eyes.
But Bai Xuan knew in his heart that she definitely understood.
In reality, he was only saying it.
The staff he currently held in his hand was worth far more than two hundred gold coins.
Just the materials used to craft the staff were likely several times that amount.
At this moment, Mora walked out from behind the counter, instructing him seriously.
“The maintenance method and required materials for this axe are not ordinary. Common blacksmith shops won't have the corresponding materials.”
With that, she turned and walked toward the warehouse behind her.
“I'll give you a maintenance kit first. It's free, so don't mind its simplicity.”
Before long, she walked out carrying a small wooden box and handed it to Bai Xuan.
Bai Xuan opened the box to find oilcloth, whetstones, and specialized maintenance paste all neatly packed inside.
Just looking at this set of items, he knew it was worth quite a bit.
He gently closed the box, solemnly thanked Mora, and casually swept it into his Space Ring.
His happiness didn't last long before a thorny problem presented itself to Bai Xuan.
This axe was too massive; his Space Ring couldn't fit it at all.
The way he and Phoebe were currently dressed was meant to be low-profile.
If they walked down the street carrying such a massive axe, even if it was wrapped in thick cloth, it would still be extremely eye-catching.
When the time came, they would definitely be questioned by the town guards.
But if he changed back to his original white robe and staff, it would be even worse. It would be like walking straight into a trap, and he would be recognized instantly.
Standing in front of the counter, Bai Xuan pondered for a moment and came up with an idea.
It seemed they could only wait until nightfall, when the streets were quiet and deserted, to leave.
By then, even if they were discovered by the guards, given that the town's elites had been deployed and the defenses were empty...
...forcing their way out directly would still be much easier than trying to break through now when there were so many people.
Having made up his mind, Bai Xuan turned to Mora and said, “Master Mora, could you please let her stay here with you for a while?”
“I'm going out to handle some matters, and I'll come back to pick her up once I'm done.”
Mora nodded readily. “She can stay as long as she likes. It's quiet here anyway.”
She took another glance at Phoebe, her eyes holding a hint of appreciation, and turned to tease Bai Xuan.
“This girl looks small and thin, yet her strength is as great as yours. That's quite rare.”
“Why don't you let her learn blacksmithing from me? I'm confident I can train her into a good blacksmith.”
Hearing this, Bai Xuan almost failed to keep a straight face.
Let a descendant of the Glay Royalty with a five-star Skycrown learn blacksmithing from you here?
He had worked so hard these past few days to deliver messages, intercept caravans, and had even thrown in two hundred gold coins; nothing could go wrong now.
Moreover, Mora herself was already targeted by Zane.
If Phoebe stayed here to learn blacksmithing, wouldn't she be walking straight into a trap once Zane's people discovered her?
Bai Xuan quickly cleared his throat, barely maintaining his composure as he tactfully declined.
“Master, you must be joking. She'll only stay for a bit, and I'll come pick her up as soon as I'm done with my business.”
“I snuck in this time, and we're too eye-catching. If we're discovered, there will be big trouble.”
After saying that, he turned to Phoebe, his tone softening slightly.
“Wait here obediently. I'll be back soon, so don't run off.”
Phoebe hugged her axe, standing quietly in place, her eyes silently watching him.
Bai Xuan looked into her eyes and nodded gently.
Yes, she had agreed.
He delayed no further, turning around to push open the door and walk out.
Standing at the doorway for a brief moment, he quickly identified his direction.
Then, he quickly turned into a nearby alley, his figure soon vanishing into the shadows.
Bai Xuan planned to go to the Coarse Pottery Flask Shop.
He was looking for Lorrain.
Familiar with the route, he turned onto that street.
When he pushed open the shop door, everything was just as before, the scene inside identical to his memory.
The racks were filled with various bottles and jars, and the air was thick with the mixed scent of herbs and minerals.
Lorrain was standing behind the counter, looking down as he focused on fiddling with something in his hands, not even raising his head when someone pushed the door open.
Bai Xuan walked softly to the counter and stood quietly.
Only then did Lorrain look up. His gaze lingered on him for several seconds before he finally recognized him.
“What happened to you?” He frowned, carefully sizing Bai Xuan up from head to toe, his tone filled with confusion.
“Did you get robbed on the road? How did you end up looking like this?”
Bai Xuan instinctively tugged at his dusty, coarse cloth clothes.
“Special circumstances. I could only disguise myself like this to sneak into Blackcreek Town. My previous identity is no longer viable here.”
Lorrain set down the item in his hand and leaned against the counter, his tone carrying a hint of amusement.
“Offended someone? Let me guess—”
He paused, his gaze sweeping over the grime on Bai Xuan's face, speaking as if he were absolutely certain.
“Is it the Cross family?”
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