Alex's mind raced as he tried to think of an explanation. No matter how he looked at it, his story had too many holes. Traveling alone between cities without strength, status, or wealth was practically asking to die in this world.
Meanwhile, Mo Yue quietly watched him struggle for words. However, unlike before, she did not press the matter any further.
Everyone in the cultivation world carried secrets. Some hid their techniques. Some hid their origins. Others hid treasures that could invite disaster if exposed. Information itself was a weapon, sometimes even deadlier than a blade. The less others knew about you, the safer you remained.
Mo Yue understood this well.
"Anyway," she said after a moment, breaking the silence, "if you don't have money, there's not much we can do. Weapons like these aren't cheap to forge. The craftsmen of Rising Moon spend countless days and nights creating them."
Her tone was calm and apologetic rather than mocking.
Alex let out a faint sigh of relief inwardly. At least she had stopped questioning him.
Still, disappointment lingered in his heart.
Ever since entering the shop, he had genuinely wanted a weapon of his own. Not just for appearance, but because he understood how important one could become in battle. Fighting monsters barehanded every time was far too dangerous.
Unfortunately, wanting something and being able to afford it were completely different matters.
"Then I shouldn't disturb Miss Mo Yue any longer," Alex said politely. "I'll take my leave."
He turned around, preparing to head toward the exit.
"Mo Yue… what are you doing here?" A deep voice suddenly echoed from behind them.
Alex stopped and turned instinctively.
An old man was walking toward them from deeper inside the store. Despite his age, his body was sturdy and muscular, giving off a powerful presence with every step. A short black beard rested on his face, while his long hair was tied neatly behind his back. He wore simple white robes, yet the aura around him made those ordinary clothes feel imposing.
As he came closer, Alex noticed an old scar stretching across part of the man's face.
"Nothing, Grandpa," Mo Yue replied casually. "I just made a new friend and was showing him some weapons."
"New friend?" The old man's gaze shifted toward Alex.
The moment their eyes met, Alex felt his body tense unconsciously.
It was not killing intent. Nor was it pressure. Yet for a brief second, it felt as though countless eyes were staring straight through him, peeling away every layer of secrecy he carried.
Alex's heartbeat slowed slightly.
What an intense gaze…
He immediately realized this old man was no ordinary cultivator.
In fact, he was likely the strongest person Alex had encountered since arriving in this world.
The old man observed him quietly for a few moments. Then, for the briefest instant, surprise flickered across his eyes.
It vanished so quickly that nobody else noticed it. Nobody except the old man himself.
Soon, his expression returned to normal, and he looked back at Mo Yue.
"You usually don't make friends," he said calmly. "So? Did he buy anything?"
Mo Yue shook her head helplessly. "He wants to, but he doesn't have enough money."
"Oh?" The old man stroked his beard thoughtfully before glancing toward Alex again.
"Well… I can't exactly let my granddaughter's friend leave empty-handed, can I?"
Hearing his grandpa's word Mo Yue's eyes widened slightly as she looked at her grandfather in disbelief.
"How about this?" he said slowly. "I'll personally help you choose a weapon."
"Boy," the old man said as he turned around, "follow me."
"Ah… alright," Alex replied after a brief pause.
Mo Yue quickly followed behind them as well.
The old man led them deeper into the massive store, farther than Alex had gone before. The atmosphere gradually became quieter, the noise from the outside fading completely.
Eventually, they stopped in front of a large wooden door and without hesitation, the old man pushed it open.
A cold wave of air flowed out from inside.
"Come in," said old man calmly before stepping into the room himself.
Alex exchanged a brief glance with Mo Yue before following the old man inside.
The moment he stepped into the room, his eyes widened slightly.
Weapons filled every corner of the chamber. Swords rested on elegant wooden stands while axes, spears, bows, and countless other weapons lined the walls in perfect order. Some looked ancient and heavy, while others carried a sharp elegance that made them seem almost alive.
The atmosphere inside was completely different from the outside showroom.
If the weapons outside were meant to attract customers, then the weapons here felt like treasures carefully hidden away from the world.
Alex slowly looked around, unable to hide his curiosity. Despite not understanding much about weapons yet, even he could tell these were extraordinary.
The old man walked calmly between the weapon racks before suddenly stopping in front of one. He picked up a blade, glanced at Alex for a brief moment, then shook his head lightly and placed it back without saying anything.
A few moments later, he picked another one.
"Swing it," the old man said as he handed the sword to Alex. And Alex did what he asked.
After a few seconds of swinging, Alex felt something wrong.
'Huh… what was that.' The message was so fast that Alex didn't even have time to react.
On the other hand, the old man standing in front of him became surprised. However, before anyone could notice, he returned to normal as if nothing had happened.
'System, what was that? How can a sword attack? They don't have consciousness to begin with.'
'Oh, does this mean that non-living things have consciousness?'
"Try this one." Once again, the old man handed him a sword. And once again the process started. Every time the system detected outer interference and blocked it, old man became surprised.
After several tries, the old man gestured to Mo Yue and whispered something in her ear. A moment later, Mo Yue became surprised.
"Grandpa, are you sure?" said Mo Yue in a stunned and worried manner.
"I am," said the old man. "However, don't tell this to any of your brothers"
She nodded and went inside a room, then returned with a box in her hand. She opened the box and inside there was a sword on which a white cloth was wrapped.