My sworn brother's sworn sister is not my sworn sister

Tang San, full of anticipation, was suddenly choked up.

However, he could understand; the relationship between Xiao Wu and Jiang Jiu was clearly not heading toward that of mere siblings.

The children in this world were far more precocious than those in his previous life.

In his past life, he hadn't even had a clue about such things by the time he was in his twenties.

But Tang San was not entirely inflexible.

"Brother Jiu, what about you?"

Once Jiang Jiu was settled, Xiao Wu would naturally be settled as well.

"Are you serious?"

Tang San was stunned for a moment, thinking of the letter he had tucked away, and then nodded firmly.

He truly wanted another family member.

Of course, two wouldn't be too many either.

He would treat them as true family from the bottom of his heart.

Although his newly recognized family members had a more intimate relationship.

But there was no helping it; an older brother would eventually marry, as that was the natural order of things.

"Alright then, shall we go through the motions?" Jiang Jiu finally agreed.

Given the situation, if he didn't agree, things would be awkward whenever they met in the future; after all, he had witnessed a side of someone else's life at its lowest point.

"Really? That's great!"

Tang San was thrilled, and then he ran straight out.

"Hey, San." Jiang Jiu didn't know what Tang San was going to do, but he felt that Tang San was acting a bit erratic right now.

Just then, Xiao Wu was also staring straight at him.

"Xiao Jiu, after you and Tang San swear brotherhood, will your relationship be closer than the one between you and me?"

"How could that be? You are still my teacher. Besides, relationships aren't measured that way."

Jiang Jiu was quite open-minded about titles; rather than being trapped by the framework of labels, he valued the feelings shared between people more.

"I don't care, I want to swear brotherhood with you too!"

"What's wrong with being sworn siblings? Sworn siblings are the same!" Xiao Wu realized this in an instant.

"Fine, fine, fine." Jiang Jiu rubbed Xiao Wu's little head.

No matter what the relationship was, it wouldn't affect how he and Xiao Wu got along.

Not long after, Tang San ran back. His face still carried an excited expression, and he was clutching a live rooster in his hand.

"Is it this formal?" Tang San really intended to go through a relatively formal process.

"Brother Jiu, when is your birthday?" Tang San asked while clearing off a table to use as an altar for the ceremony.

"January 1st," Jiang Jiu said without changing his expression.

"What a coincidence! I was also born in January, just a little younger than you, Brother Jiu."

"Oh, Xiao Jiu, I asked you before and you wouldn't tell me!" Xiao Wu puffed out her cheeks at the side.

"Did you ask?"

"Of course I did."

"It's enough that I remember your birthday."

Xiao Wu was pacified by Jiang Jiu in a few short moments.

On the other side, Tang San used water to substitute for wine and then dripped the rooster's blood into it. With the preparations nearly complete, he turned to look at Jiang Jiu.

"Brother Jiu, let's begin."

The ceremony, full of the flavor of the martial world, suited Tang San's background, though it felt a bit wild to Jiang Jiu.

Fortunately, there was no need to worry about any issues with drinking the rooster's blood; at most, it would be a bit unpleasant to swallow, but they weren't savages who drank blood and ate raw meat, after all.

It could only be said that Tang San had already considered things enough for Jiang Jiu; normally, they would each have to drip their own blood into the cup.

Once the motions were finished, the way Tang San looked at Jiang Jiu was completely different.

"Big Brother!"

Unlike Jiang Jiu, Tang San placed great importance on "titles."

A father was a father, no matter what; likewise, a sworn big brother was truly a big brother.

From then on, Tang San would treat him according to the standard of a big brother, rather than the way some people established the reality of brotherhood first and then logically formed the name of brothers later.

Of course, this was only during this special period.

At other times, a situation like swearing brotherhood would never occur, and without a formal oath, "Dai the Boss" would simply remain "Mu Bai."

"Second brother..."

"Let's just stick to what we called each other before; I'll still call you Little San."

"Alright, Big Brother." Tang San smiled, his mood clearly much better; he was even able to joke around now.

"Jiu, give me some money."

"What's wrong?" Jiang Jiu asked while pulling Gold Soul Coins from his pocket.

Seeing Xiao Wu grab the Gold Soul Coins and run outside, he already knew.

"Little San, I'll need to borrow your space again."

"Brother Jiu, my home is your home. Use it however you like."

Jiang Jiu found Tang San's eager expression a bit overwhelming.

It should slowly return to normal after this.

Tang San and Jiang Jiu worked together to clear off a new table.

Soon, just as Jiang Jiu had expected, Xiao Wu came running back excitedly, clutching a rooster.

"It's my turn, it's my turn!"

Watching Xiao Wu wrinkle her little face as she drank the rooster blood, Jiang Jiu couldn't help but smile.

However, the moment he remembered he had to drink it twice himself, he couldn't bring himself to be happy.

"Brother Jiu!" Xiao Wu put down the cup and performed a mock salute with her fists.

"Sister Wu!" Jiang Jiu played along.

"Haha, that's so weird, calling me Sister Wu." Xiao Wu's peculiar sense of humor kicked in again.

After laughing for a while, she added with a mischievous glint in her eyes, "Jiu, from now on, you have to respect me like a teacher, but also dote on me like a little sister. Got it?"

"I'll listen to everything you say, Little Sister Teacher Wu."

"Seriously, stop teasing me!" Xiao Wu couldn't stop laughing.

As for Tang San, he and Xiao Wu tacitly avoided mentioning their own sworn sibling relationship, essentially taking it for granted that they had each sworn brotherhood with Jiang Jiu.

Even though they were Jiang Jiu's sworn younger brother and sister respectively, that didn't necessarily mean the two of them had to be close.

There might have been a bit of "love me, love my dog," but there was also the possibility of finding each other an eyesore, especially when night fell.

Lying on the bed he had slept in since childhood for the first time in a while, such thoughts bubbled up in Tang San's mind.

If Xiao Wu weren't here today, would he and Big Brother be sleeping side-by-side?

Of course, this wasn't to say Tang San had any extraordinary ideas about Jiang Jiu; it was simply his understanding that sworn brothers sleeping side-by-side was a sign of deep friendship.

I can't think like that, that's for the future... Tang San ultimately reflected; Big Brother's happiness was more important.

Though he was still a little envious.

Jiang Jiu, on his end, naturally had no idea what Tang San was thinking. If he had known, he would only be thankful that Xiao Wu was there.

Early the next morning, Tang San woke up intending to practice his Purple Demon Eye, but he heard a clattering sound in his ears.

"Brother Jiu." Tang San got up and discovered it was Jiang Jiu in the kitchen area.

"Your stove is a bit tricky to handle, but I've figured it out. You can rest a bit longer; I'll have Xiao Wu call you for breakfast in a moment," Jiang Jiu said casually upon noticing Tang San.

"Big Brother..."

It had always been Tang San cooking for Tang Hao; who had ever made breakfast for Tang San?

Jiang Jiu's move, perfectly in line with his persona, had an outstanding effect.

He had always been an early riser and took care of Xiao Wu; making breakfast now was quite reasonable—it was just a simple task.

Jiang Jiu calmly solidified his position as the sworn elder brother.

If you don't win over the people with small favors, will they follow you? Tang San, this sworn younger brother, was certainly won over.