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Wei Wuxian's eyes sparkled as much as the flames of the forges that some blacksmiths were pumping. Ah, the heat! The smell of charcoal and sand and metal! The energy of the place!

"May I help you?" a rugged blacksmith cultivator in his early forties, with his hair in a tight bun and bare arms like tree trunks had greeted him. His eyes went to the void in Wei Wuxian's belt. "Are you here for a sword or...?"

"Um, no, I do have one and I'm monogamous. Can you tell me which way to the classroom?"

"Zhihao-shidi's class? Oh." The man seemed enlightened. "You're..."

"His substitute, yeah."

"End of the hall, last door to the right. You're late, they're already there."

"Thanks! And nope, I'm on time. Teachers should always be five minutes late."

Wei Wuxian turned around to walk, but the blacksmith called him.

"Excuse me? Young master Wei?"

"Mmn?"

The blacksmith showed a shy smile.

"Next week, could you please bring your sword? I'd like to take a look at it, if you don't mind. I study spiritual seals on blades and that would be helpful."

"Right, I keep forgetting about Suibian's seal... You can borrow it if you give me a pint of fresh blood in return."

"Not a chance in hell, you shady brat!" The blacksmith barked in amusement. Wei Wuxian laughed back.

"Okay, joking aside, Sect Leader Jiang still has it right now. When I get it back, I'll definitely bring it here for you." It was due time he contacted Jiang Cheng and have a conversation with him anyway. Jin Ling had been pestering him for a while now about that.

"Thanks, I appreciate it," the blacksmith nodded. "Now hurry up to the kids."

"See you!"

*Did I just make a friend??* Wei Wuxian wondered while he rushed down the hallway.