The blacksmith looked as if he had found his organization, his face full of delight. "All right, brother. Since you're so straightforward, I can't bear to part with it either. I'll make a friend of you—seven taels it is. Just make sure to visit my little shop often in the future."
He Tianshu smiled. "Naturally. I still have a group of brothers there. If I take it back and they like it, I'll definitely bring them over. But when that time comes, boss, you'll have to give me a discount."
The blacksmith laughed as well. "No problem. Strangers the first time, familiar the second—once you become a returning customer, there'll naturally be benefits."
At that moment, Zhang Xiaohua tugged at He Tianshu's sleeve. He Tianshu turned and saw the small sword in Zhang Xiaohua's hand, then said to the blacksmith, "My little brother here seems quite fond of this small sword. How about letting him take it to play with?"
The blacksmith did not care. He waved his hand and said, "No problem. Didn't I already say it? I'll give this toy to the little brother. Just bring a few more people to visit another day."
Everyone was delighted. After He Tianshu paid the silver and asked for directions back to the inn, he took Zhang Xiaohua away from the weapons shop.
He Tianshu was in an excellent mood along the way. He had picked up such a fine treasured sword at such a cheap price; it was far better than going to the woods to practice martial arts. It seemed he ought to come out and wander more often in the future.
Zhang Xiaohua was happy too. He gripped the small sword in his left hand and kept swinging it about, as if his arm had suddenly grown longer.