Wei Wuxian raised by a Weapons Master

What if Wei Wuxian, orphaned in Yiling, was picked up and apprenticed to a Weapons Master, instead?

Young Wei Wuxian has been living on the streets of Yiling for two years.  He has established some relations with local store owners and aunties, as he is a small child.  They let him help do errands among the shops in return for food and shelter.  He has a kind and curious disposition, happy to help others with little desire for anything in return beyond his livelihood.  

In doing an errand one day, he observes a man talking with a grumpy store owner who deals in mined stone and precious jewels.  He is caught by the array of daggers being discussed and, peaking his head into the store as they walk in, sees the walls lined with intriguing talismans.  He is shooed off, but visits later and again the next day.  After the man leaves, he learns a bit from the shop owner who is willing to show him some basics on talismans.  

Later some months, the man returns and now finds Wei Wuxian as a helper in the store - scribing talismans.  He has a great eye and a natural artistic sense of space and lines when drawing on the paper.  Finding more about him from the shop owner, he is curious but continues his business and leaves. 

Wei Wuxian finds out he is a materials trader for a Weapons Master that serves the 5 Great Sects.  He comes to Yiling for unique materials and to consult on talismans with the store owner, who used to be renowned for his knowledge... but has since turned reclusive, hiding in Yiling, as his family was murdered.  Further interactions with the trader continue until the trader offers Wei Wuxian to visit the Weapons Master and discuss possible apprenticeship.  Wei Wuxian is thrilled and takes up the opportunity. 

Jiang Fengmian visits Yiling, looking for Wei Wuxian, but is told by locals that he has left the town.  They do not know where he went or if he plans to return.  Jiang Fengmian is disheartened, but accepts this and returns home to Lotus Pier.  Madam Yu heard of his visit, confronts him, and is pleased to hear that Wei Wuxian was not present.  She encourages Jiang Fengmian to move on and focus on his own children. 

At the Weapons Master's house, Wei Wuxian finds there are 2 other apprentices already present.  One focused on swords and another on daggers.  Wei Wuxian is fascinated with talismans and amulets.  He impresses the Weapons Master with his knowledge and he offers to take him under his wing.  Offering room and board, access to books for learning, guidance on building a golden core, and opportunities for experimenting his inventions.  Any inventions are under the Weapons Master's ownership until he leaves his service.  Wei Wuxian agrees.  

Building the golden core is different from regular cultivation, since it is not focused on swordsmanship.  Because they use spiritual energy for weapons creation, they need a core, but do not seek immortality or ascension.  As such, they can build a core through meditation and disciplined forms.  Wei Wuxian chooses daggers, which sparked his first interest in Yiling at the trader's visit.  

Time skip a few years... The Weapons Master serves all the Sects, so over the years, he observes visits from key members of many Sects.  As his knowledge abounds, the Weapons Master requests a visit to the Cloud Recess for access to their library for further training.  This is not the formal lectures which are for the gentry.  It is a special exception for the Weapons industry.  

Through these means, Wei Wuxian meets the Lans and establishes bonds with them.  I'd love to see WangXian develop, of course.  How he meets or interacts (or doesn't interact) with other Sects is at your discretion.  Whether the war and the Yin iron come up is also your choice.  I do think there would be a focus on his scholarly and inventor side, thus how he bonds with the Lans quickly.  He doesn't have interest in politics or war or fighting beyond survival.  He does not have a hero complex.  He does not have any particular loyalties except to his Master.  

This story would have quite a few OC's - the Weapons Master, the materials trader, the grumpy old man store owner, store owners in Yiling, and even the two apprentices.  Lots of people to create and develop, hence there are lots of possibilities!