Kazuha led Shao Yun, Lumine, and Paimon into the stern cabin of the Alcor.
As they walked through the ship, he spoke in a soft, courteous tone. "The Alcor is not just our home—it's a vessel that blends both commerce and combat. Because of that, we don't have many private rooms, but I'll do my best to accommodate you."
At last, he stopped before a door and gently pushed it open, revealing a room that instantly lit up their eyes.
The room was simple yet cozy. It lacked extravagance, but it had a distinct charm of its own.
A comfortable bed rested against the wall, beside it a small table for meals, and even a practical wardrobe in the corner. Every detail was thoughtfully designed for the needs of travelers.
"This room isn't large, but it has everything you'll need. I hope it suits you."
Kazuha turned and looked at the three of them. "Are you satisfied with the accommodations?"
Lumine beamed with a contented smile and nodded. "It's wonderful, Kazuha. Thank you for the trouble. Having a place to rest like this already means a lot."
Kazuha smiled lightly and waved off the thanks.
"It's the least I can do. Also, I'd like to mention—the Crux Clash will soon take place on the open grounds of Guyun Stone Forest. If you're interested in watching, you're more than welcome. It'll definitely be a lively event."
Shao Yun's eyes lit up with interest. He nodded solemnly. "Got it, Kazuha. Go on with your duties. Don't worry about us. You've done enough already today."
Kazuha gave them a gentle nod before turning and walking away, leaving the three alone in the room.
…
Once Kazuha left, Shao Yun had the system confirm this room as their temporary "hideout."
With lodging settled, Shao Yun took Lumine and Paimon up to the deck, where the sea breeze greeted them with its salty, liberating scent.
The trio boarded one of the Alcor's small boats and headed toward Guyun Stone Forest.
Upon arrival, they chose a quiet beach as their training ground.
The sand beneath their feet was soft and fine. Waves lapped gently at the shore, their rhythm weaving a pleasant melody.
Shao Yun took out Algernon's Revolver from his Legend of the East satchel. The polished weapon gleamed coldly under the sunlight.
He handed the revolver to Paimon and encouraged her, "Paimon, this will be your weapon. It's a little heavy, but I believe you can handle it."
Paimon received it with both hands, her expression a mixture of surprise and concern. She gripped the handle tightly, trying to keep it balanced.
Then Shao Yun turned to Lumine. "And yours?"
Lumine smiled slightly and retrieved her own finely-crafted Gunslinger Revolver from her waist, showing it to Shao Yun.
"Right here."
Shao Yun nodded approvingly, then drew his own cowboy revolver and began a detailed explanation.
Pointing to the single-action hammer, he said, "Now I'm going to teach you the basics of shooting. Look closely—my revolver is single-action, while yours are double-action. The key difference is, for mine, I have to manually cock the hammer before each shot. But yours can fire just by pulling the trigger."
Lumine responded casually, "Sounds easy enough."
Shao Yun shook his head slightly with a trace of exasperation. "It sounds easy, but pulling the trigger on a revolver requires strength. Don't underestimate it."
Lumine sensed his seriousness and nodded. "Got it."
Believing practice was the best teacher, Shao Yun pulled six glass bottles from his backpack and set them about ten meters away.
He stood beside Lumine and began walking her through the firing stance.
"You first, Lumine. Start with the aiming posture."
Lumine gripped her revolver with her right hand, mimicking Shao Yun's stance, lifting the gun with one hand and pointing it toward the bottles.
Shao Yun stepped behind her, carefully adjusting her stance as he explained.
"Keep your wrist firm. As a beginner, I recommend using both hands—right hand on the grip, left hand supporting from beneath. That'll steady the gun and soften the recoil."
Lumine adjusted her hold as instructed, gradually finding her rhythm.
When Shao Yun saw she was ready, he said softly, "Alright. Aim at the bottles and fire."
Lumine took a deep breath and pulled the trigger.
With a sharp bang, the bottle shattered on impact—dead center.
Her eyes lit up in disbelief as she stared at the fragments scattered across the sand. "I hit it! I really hit it!"
Shao Yun smiled with pride. "Well done, Lumine. For someone who's never used a gun before, hitting a ten-meter target on your first try is a miracle. Keep practicing, and you'll be the next sharpshooter."
Encouraged, Lumine's confidence soared.
Her next five shots were flawless—every bottle shattered cleanly under her aim. She and the gun moved as one. It was breathtaking.
Afterward, she rubbed her slightly sore wrist and palm with a satisfied smile.
She turned to share the moment with Shao Yun, but a practical concern struck her.
"Shao Yun, what do I do when I run out of bullets? How do I reload?"
She had hit the crux of the problem. Shao Yun had never given it much thought—he either used elemental energy or instinctively restocked from his backpack, which felt infinite.
But obviously, Lumine couldn't dig through his bag. She didn't know how, and it was inconvenient.
"Hmm... that's a good question..." Shao Yun frowned and called out mentally, "System, get out here and help me."
The system was ready. A new interface popped up showing ammo pricing:
[Revolver Ammo (60 rounds): $1 (50,000 Mora)]
Shao Yun had money to spare. Price wasn't an issue. But how would Lumine access the bullets?
The system offered two prompts:
[Processing...]
[While Lumine is wearing the cowboy outfit, she can draw ammo from her waist pouch. The cost will be deducted from your account.]
Shao Yun grinned mysteriously and pointed at the pouch on Lumine's belt. "Lumine, reach into your pouch."
She obeyed, and to her amazement, pulled out a gleaming brass bullet.
Staring at it in disbelief, she asked, "When did you put this in?"
Shao Yun smiled and held a finger to his lips. "Shhh. Don't ask. It's Native American sorcery."
Lumine chuckled and didn't press further. Holding her revolver in one hand and the bullet in the other, she asked, "Now how do I load it?"
Shao Yun took her Gunslinger Revolver and demonstrated smoothly.
He opened the cylinder, pressed the ejector rod to pop out the spent casings, then reloaded with practiced ease.
"Got it? Just pop the bullets in and close the cylinder."
Lumine nodded and did just that, carefully loading six rounds before snapping the chamber shut.
Shao Yun looked on with approval and gently patted her shoulder. Turning to the sea, he said, "Now shoot into the water. Get used to the recoil."
Lumine followed his instructions, walking to the shore and firing at the waves. The sound of gunfire mingled with splashing water.
After several rounds and reloads, her movements grew smoother and more confident.
Shao Yun then reset six bottles in their original spot.
His gaze turned to Paimon.
She recoiled slightly. "I don't want to use a gun... I'm scared..."
Shao Yun approached and gently patted her head. "What's there to be scared of? I'll teach you."
Paimon's small hands clung tightly to the heavy revolver. Her fingers trembled.
She looked up at Shao Yun, her eyes filled with anxiety and resistance. "I... I don't know if I can..."
Shao Yun stroked her head gently. "Don't worry. I'm right here."
He adjusted her grip, ensuring she could handle the weight.
Then he stood directly behind her, pressing close to support her with his body to brace the recoil.
Paimon felt an overwhelming sense of safety. She took a deep breath to calm her racing heart.
Under Shao Yun's guidance, she summoned her courage and pulled the trigger.
Bang! The shot echoed through the air, startling both the beach and Paimon's nerves.
She squeezed her eyes shut, her body tense, breath caught in her throat.
When she opened her eyes, she realized she had fired a shot. It missed—but it was a start.
Shao Yun smiled and patted her shoulder. "Not bad, Paimon. That was your first step. Try again!"
But Paimon shook her head, clinging to Shao Yun's neck. "I don't wanna... You and Lumine will protect me, right? I don't need to learn this, do I?"
Shao Yun sighed but didn't yield.
"You don't have to use it—but you must learn it. Non-negotiable."
Seeing Shao Yun unmoved, Paimon flew behind Lumine and wrapped her arms around her neck, tears brimming as she whimpered, "Lumine, Shao Yun's bullying me..."
Her voice was part-pout, part-plea, melting hearts.
Lumine turned around, sighed, and said, "Paimon..."
Paimon looked up with pleading eyes. "Look into my eyes. Can you really let him bully me like this?"
She was searching for a final sanctuary.
Just then, Shao Yun approached. His tone left no room for argument.
"Lumine, there's no debate here. You might never use it, but you have to know how."
Then he turned to Paimon, voice softening a little. "I only want you to shoot one bottle. Just one. That's it. Trust me—it's not hard."
Lumine, seeing Paimon's trembling expression, gently pinched her cheek. "Paimon, listen to Shao Yun. Once you master this, you won't have to worry about wild boars ever again."
"Do it for yourself. And for your survival in this world, okay?"
Though reluctant, Paimon drifted back to Shao Yun's side.
Her little hands gripped the revolver, eyes still unsure but determined. She aimed it at the distant bottle.
Shao Yun encouraged gently. "Take a deep breath. Relax. Don't be nervous."
Paimon bit her lip, shut her eyes again, and pulled the trigger.
Bang! The shot rang out—but the bottle remained.
Shao Yun, undeterred, grew even more encouraging. "So close! Paimon, you almost had it! Just one more time. But this time—don't close your eyes. You can do this!"
Paimon took another deep breath, steeled herself, and stared hard at the target.
No hesitation this time—she pulled the trigger.
Bang! A crisp crack echoed.
The bottle shattered into a thousand glinting shards.
Shao Yun cheered, "Amazing! Paimon, you did it! See? You can be a sharpshooter!"
Paimon stared at the broken remains, overwhelmed with joy and pride.
"I did it! I really hit it!"
Then, hands on hips, she grinned smugly.
"From now on, call me Sharpshooter Paimon! I'm totally capable!"