Chapter 13: Shadows of the Crescent Fox

After studying their upcoming adversaries, the trio began preparations.

Jason asked Bai Er to help Sherry choose a weapon. Sherry swung a forged steel blade awkwardly.

Most rookies opted for long steel blades not out of skill, but because they were cheap, easy to wield, and effective against low-level monsters.

Bai Er stopped her mid-swing. "You're unsuited for heavy weapons. Daggers, scimitars, bayonets, or chain whips suit you better." He paused. "A scimitar. It's the easiest to master—slicing requires less precision than thrusting."

Sherry hesitated. "But I've used long blades for a year. Adapting to a scimitar..."

Bai Er snatched her blade in a blur. In the cramped living room, he executed a flurry of strikes in a Golden Rooster Stance, feet barely leaving a circular footprint. The blade danced lethally, each swing targeting three angles.

Jason and Sherry watched, spellbound.

Bai Er tossed the steel blade back. "You're overthinking it. Wrong weapon + wrong technique = wasted effort. With proper training, one day could surpass a year of your clumsy swings." His tone was blunt but factual. "If not for the game's injury recovery, your arms and waist would've snapped by now."

Sherry flushed at the reprimand from a 17-year-old.

Jason chuckled, patting his own broadsword. "Sherry, trust him. My Six-Sided Mace feels different now."

"Keep the long blade? Here." Bai Er tossed it back. "I dabbled in martial arts as a kid. Heavy weapons aren't my thing."

Sherry purchased a scimitar with her remaining credits. Though affordable, she kept her steel blade—prudent, in case the scimitar felt unfamiliar.

Bai Er began instructing her: slashing, hacking, thrusting, parrying—fundamentals paired with coordinated arm, waist, and leg movements. "Master wrist rotation later," he added. "It lets you redirect force effortlessly. But that's advanced."

While Bai Er trained Sherry, Jason practiced footwork against bookshelves, repetition numbing his arms until he accidentally shattered a teacup.

"Rest," Bai Er advised.

Sherry, drenched in sweat but exhilarated, finally grasped the blade's essence. Her prior "skill" had been brute force; now, she understood precision.

Jason set down his mace and focused on agility drills. A sudden thought struck him. He opened the ​​Demonic Suppression Leaderboard​​ and searched Qiao Ruidu—his cousin's name.

Still in the Newbie Village… but now Level 6!

The realization stung. At 6, players could either stay or migrate. Once they left, return was forbidden unless they became ​​Judgment Bearers​​. Qiao Ruidu, like Han Bin, was stuck in the village's final stage.