Zhongli has always been a man- er archon who would avoid violence and crude weapons if a deal could be arranged. The mindless cruelty was something he couldn't understand - if money and sales could be made, why would you fight?

Yet, against it all, he found his bronze gaze lingering on the new blacksmith, his feet walking on their own as he had begun his now weekly trips to the blacksmith.

He didn't exactly understand why he visited him so much. Maybe it was because he was nice to Xiao. Perhaps it's because he can't get him off his mind. Maybe this blacksmith holds some unspoken power, a vision bestowed upon him from the heavens above.

Whatever it was, Zhongli chose to not linger on it, instead allowing a calm smile to cross his face as he begins to approach the blacksmith's booth once more.