With all the residents of this city and at the party celebrating the start of the new year, seeing a familiar face was a greater relief than Huaisang could have guessed it would be. The more formal and correct greeting wasn't even off-putting. It had been far too long since they were -xiong to one another. While the Nie and Jiang sects were on peaceful terms and even allies after a fashion, there was not the friendship of youth. Being away from home and at the mercy of a rather strict task master could form bonds in ways few other things could.

Though formalities aside, the other sect leader had a look about him that was unfamiliar to Huaisang. And of course he was curious about it's source.

"Jiang-zhongzhu," he greeted back with a salute of his own, his newly returned Shuixian clasped in his hand. "It is good to see you as well. Shall we?" He asked as he gestured towards the interior of the tea house. There was conversation to be had and it wasn't fit for the street and all who might pass by. "I am eager for a quiet corner where we might talk." He paused, thinking for a moment. "Though I suppose there are few who would understand our native language? Or does magic affect that as well?"

He all but threw his hands up as his mind threatened to wander down a winding train of thought that tried to puzzle out how this realm worked.