"Finally, some signs of life."
Jing Yu grumbled.
After so long in the Great Desert, they actually felt rather unaccustomed to the bustling streets for a moment.
The children's shoes had long since worn through, and their feet ached.
Wang Yi was all right. He had practiced martial arts since childhood and had some grounding.
The other three children, however, were struggling to hold out.
So Li Ping'an decided to rest here for a couple of days and, while they were at it, seek out the skilled blacksmith Gu Xizhou had mentioned.
They found an inn and settled in for the time being.
Li Ping'an followed Gu Xizhou to a smithy in the West Market.
One door of the smithy was shut, and the other door was shut too.
Red light blazed inside, and a hammer clanged incessantly.
Gu Xizhou pushed the door open and walked in without ceremony.
The moment they entered, a wave of heat struck them in the face.
The air also carried the smell of rust, which was very unpleasant.
"Old Mo, Old Mo."
"Come to the back courtyard."
A hoarse voice rang out.
The two entered the back courtyard. All sorts of things were piled throughout it; at first glance, it looked like a small factory.
An enormous man stood with his back to them, swinging a hammer over and over.
"What brings you back, lad?"
Gu Xizhou said, "I found what I was looking for, so I came back."
The man stopped hammering and turned his head, his eyes showing a hint of surprise.
"You found her?"
"Yes."
Then the man's gaze fell on Li Ping'an-or, more precisely, the Fusang Tree he carried over his shoulder.
"Fusang? Looks like you really did find her."
"We came to ask you a favor. Before Xun'er left,