You look much older than I do, Hu Xiaotian thought. You might even be older than me. Having you call me big brother is a little embarrassing. Since they already knew each other, Hu Xiaotian promptly invited Heldan to sit. Although Huo Ge was a treacherous schemer who had tricked him more than once, they had all been fighting for power, after all, and appearances still had to be maintained. Besides, he and Huo Ge really were sworn brothers, and they might soon share another connection: Huo Ge was Li Tianheng's son-in-law, and he himself would very likely become Li Tianheng's son-in-law too. They would be brothers-in-law as well as sworn brothers. He could hardly neglect the proper courtesies toward Huo Ge's younger brother.
Heldan was clearly a frank, broad-minded man. After giving a few instructions to his accompanying warriors, he stayed in the east hall to chat with Hu Xiaotian. In fact, Heldan was two years older than Hu Xiaotian, but Hu Xiaotian was his elder brother's sworn brother. According to their customs, that made him Heldan's elder brother as well, and Heldan had to treat him accordingly.
Aloof and proud by nature, Xu Mubai had no desire to associate much with these people from the Shajia Kingdom. He ate a little, made an excuse, and returned to his room.
Heldan sent someone to fetch his younger sister as well, but Mengya was apparently angry, and the warrior failed to persuade her to come. Heldan smiled at Zhao Wusheng. "Brother Zhao, please don't hold it against her. She's my nineteenth sister. We elder brothers have spoiled her rotten. She's headstrong and unruly, and she's always causing trouble back in the Shajia Kingdom too. This time, she insisted on coming along to see the excitement, and she's caused me no