For the record, I'm not actually sure what this would look like. I've read some sources, but honestly, a lot of it goes over my head. I'm just going to wing it and hopes it makes sense for everyone. 

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Qing Shan was excited. Bai had been dismissed to her own devices as he went to the back of the store with his new master for his first lesson. He could barely stop himself from bouncing in his seat. Not only would this allow him more control over his arsenal of tools since he could make it to his own specification, but it was something he had never tried before. In fact, while he has worked with plasma forges and water jets, he had never seen an actual anvil and forge before. Qing Shan couldn't wait to start his lesson.

"Alright kid, I want you to just sit over there for now."

"Yes, Master!"

"The name is Shi, you don't need to be so formal with me kid. Anyways, watch and more importantly listen carefully."

His master went over to a large barrel and grabbed a black ore from it. It looked dull and was oddly shaped like an abstract shoe. He tossed it on top Qing Shan's laps. He then went onto a large oak table and grabbed a shiny bar of metal, it was as large and wide as someone's palm and three inches thick. Although it was smaller than the ore in his hands, it was much heavier.

"The first is raw iron ore and the second a bar of iron I refined earlier. Why don't you play with them for a while?"

One was what he will be learning to work with, the second the goal he must work towards. Qing Shan stared at them both intently, mentally calculating the differences of the mass and volume. He rubbed his thumbs around every nook and crevice feeling the texture.

Seeing his apprentice's intense concentration brought a smile to Shi Hei's face, although it was mostly hidden by his beard, one could faintly see the small creasing of his eyes. A lot of kids barely tossed it around in their hands a few times before getting bored or half-assed it.

"When a material undergoes refining, whether it be minerals or plants, often times everything about their properties changes! Their appearance, their weight, their texture! You must become familiar with all of these, sometimes using just your eyes isn't enough. You have to know every single one of their quirks to truly master their usage."

The blacksmith took another lump of iron from the barrel before starting the forge, his bellows pumping in air vigorously.

"There are two things you must learn to control as easily as your own limbs to become a blacksmith, flames, and force!"

With a few more coals tossed in soon, there was a raging fire within the forge. Waves of heat blasted from it and even as far away as he was it felt more difficult to breathe.

His master took one of the many tongs that hung upon the wall and grabbed the ore with it. He shoved it within the fire and within moments it started to heat up and glow a burning orange.

One second. Two seconds. Three seconds.

He took it out and placed it upon the anvil in a smooth and flowing motion, honed by decades of practice. He hammered at it. It was as loud as it had been this morning when he and Bai had arrived, and yet, now that he heard it without the noise of the crowd he noticed something new. It was not grating to the ears as he had expected, nor harsh as the other smitheries had been. In fact, there was a certain rhythm to it, powerful and full of vigor, like the beating of war drums.

He observed every single moment with intensity. Nothing escaped his eyes. While he didn't understand yet, he could review and analyze it later when he gains the proper knowledge. He memorized everything from the location and frequency of the hammer blows to the breathing pattern of his master. His mind a steel trap that refused to let the smallest detail slip past.

He watched for what felt like hours, but in reality merely 30 minutes, before it suddenly stopped. and in his teacher's tongs was a rectangle shaped ingot of iron. It was different from the one he was given, it's texture rougher and it's luster lacking, but it definitely resembled a chunk of metal more than its previous appearance of a rock.

"This is what you'll be working towards this week. It's called pig iron, a crudely refined iron only good for cheap farming tools."

Another chunk of iron was added to his small collection as Shi dumped into his lap with a thin book.

Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.

"This contains some basic information and pointers regarding minerals, their properties, and where to find them. Read it and I'll test you on it tomorrow. Come back around 2"

With a wave of dismissal Shi went back to the forge and soon the calming beating of the hammer started once again.

'That was something else.'

He had seen some modern blacksmithing shows or tutorial online when he was bored, but it was never that...Mesmerizing. It was like he was watching an artist. A sculpture. A Michelangelo make their David!

It was oddly soothing yet empowering. The act of creation, the ferocity of the flames, the strength of the blows.

And that was only the basics. He had much to learn and he was only all too eager.

He happily left the back and was about to leave the store when something occurred to him.

"Excuse me, sir? I was wondering if you could tell me something?"

He'd probably get in some trouble for this, but the look on her face would be completely worth it.

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It was almost 4 in the evening when Qing Shan had finished his lessons. He had decided to go find Bai. He found her browsing at a weapon's shop. A quick glance showed him that while the store was of decent quality, Ironclad was a step above it. She was grabbing a bunch of different swords and then placing them down after a moment with a disappointed look in her eyes.

'Seriously, this girl...' 

He could barely hold in his laughter at the thought of what was about to happen.

"So, found anything you like?"

Casual as could be he spoke up directly behind her. Normally she had amazing awareness, but she was so absent-minded that she actually jumped and faced him in a battle ready stance. She looked as disgruntled as a cat whose tail had been stepped on.

"Don't fucking scare me like that!"

"What do you mean?"

"Don't sneak up on me!"

"I wasn't though. I opened the door and rolled over here, it's not my fault you didn't hear me."

Qing Shan smiled wryly at her flustered expression as she tried to validate her outrage.

"You're too damn quiet, next time make some noises, or let me know of your presence before you arrive!"

"What? Would you like me to announce myself next time before I approach? Here comes Qing Shan of the Noble Long Family, first of his name, and master of puns"

"YES!"

He stared at her with a small grin, and her ears burned red as she realized she was making a scene and how ridiculous that was.

Although her expression quickly turned back to a calm facade he could tell she was still pissed at him scaring her.

"Yes, yes, I'll be sure to do that next time. Anyways, I got you a present. So could Young Lady Bai find it in her large and magnanimous heart to forgive me?"

He took out a long bundle from the back of his wheelchair. Even covered as it was in thick gray cloth, one could easily make it out as a sword from its shape.

Bai let out a small gasp as her eyes widened in seeming recognition.

"Little Lord, I told you before, I can't accept such a gift."

Her hands clenched the hem of her robes tightly as if to get rid of the temptation within. She was biting her lips so and her eyes wavered ever so slightly. Qing Shan found it immensely cute like a child sitting on its hands and facing away from the cookie jar.

He ignored her words completely and tossed it right to her. The cloth unwinded and barely clung onto the sword. Out of instinct, she caught it close to her chest.

"You touched it last! It is yours now!" He stuck his tongue out at her and wheeled a few feet back. Bai just stared with her mouth open. It took her a moment to get out of her shock.

"Pfft! What kind of stupid logic is that?!" 

Despite the words coming out of her mouth, she had a soft smile on her face as she slowly unwrapped the bundle.

"You shouldn't act so carelessly with such things. I appreciate your thoughts, but its best to return thi-"

Her words ended abruptly and her smile turned stiff.

For in her hand was not the glorious work of art she had seen earlier in the Ironclad, but a plain one commonly found in any shop. Its handle was a dull brown, it's crossguard boring and without engravings, and the blade a murky grey. No matter how much she tried to suppress it, there was a pang of disappointment in her heart.

"Something wrong?"

Qing Shan's voice knocked her out of her funk as she quickly resheathed and wrapped it.

"N-Nothing, nothing is wrong. Thank you for the sword Young master, but I'm afraid I can't accept."

She looked so down as if someone knocked over her ice cream that he couldn't stop himself from laughing like a maniac. Seeing her indignified look he decided to explain himself.

"Pfft, Lol, I'm just joking, that's not the real gift."

This time he handed her a large box. It was made of beautifully polished redwood that and had a faint scent of morning dew. Opening it up revealed the sword she saw lying on vibrant red silk. The crossguard was a crown of flowers.  The scabbard was a glossy black with silvery metal pieces connect coating splitting it into three even segments. Elegantly painted flower petals and patterns made it appear as if they were dancing in the wind after falling from the handguard.

At the pommel, there was a single change that caught her eye. Hiding within the red strands was a white jade moon. Her little lord had clearly gotten that added for her name's sake. 

She might not have known what the price of it was, but judging by how even the box was so extravagant it was by no means a small sum. 

"Look, how about this," Seeing the indecision on her face he decided to be nice and give her a way out "How about this? You just keep it for now, and I'll deduct a little bit from your pay every month until it's paid for."

"I-"

"If you have better equipment then you can protect me all the better for it, right? Come on, I'm hungry, let's go eat!"

He rolled off without turning back. She let out a deep sigh of exasperation, but her face lit up as she followed after him. There was a slight spring to her steps.

'What a forceful child she follows. Simply doing everything at his own pace just like the first time they met.'