Realm of the Night God

Chapter 654: Please Change Your Surname

The middle-aged man frowned, the young man's expression turned unpleasant, and the teenager seemed a bit nervous.

From the young man's reaction, it was evident that he was very uneasy at the moment, but more than unease, there was anticipation.

Yang Haoran remained unchanged, wearing a faint smile on his face, appearing indifferent, as if he was unaware that his request might be deemed excessive.

"Friend, I'm sorry, but I can't agree to your request," the middle-aged man refused Yang Haoran directly without hesitation, his tone firm with no room for negotiation.

Yang Haoran had no intention of asking for the reason because he knew that in the current situation, asking wouldn't change the outcome. Moreover, even if he asked, the other party might ignore him. If he insisted on asking, it would be embarrassing for him and the teenager kneeling on the ground.

So, he decided to solve the problem in another way, although this method might make many people uncomfortable or even disgusted. However, he considered this method the most effective and direct way to achieve his goal.

"Hehe, let me introduce myself. I'm Yang Haoran, the Burial Master of Lecheng. I came to your Zhang family this time to discuss some matters with Divine Envoy Xu. Besides that, I heard that something significant happened to your Zhang family. I came here to lend a helping hand," Yang Haoran said, causing gratitude to appear on the teenager's face, while the expressions of the middle-aged man and the young man changed dramatically, and their gazes towards Yang Haoran shifted accordingly.

"So, you're Divine Envoy Yang. Please forgive our neglect," the middle-aged man bowed to Yang Haoran again, his attitude becoming more respectful than before. Seeing this, the young man quickly followed suit and bowed to Yang Haoran.

"Hehe, you're too polite. It's me who came uninvited and caused you trouble," Yang Haoran said with a smile.

"Divine Envoy Yang's visit brightens our Zhang family. How could we consider it troublesome? It's just unexpected that Divine Envoy Yang has time to visit us in Ancheng under the current circumstances," the middle-aged man's words carried implications, and Yang Haoran understood that the other party was doubting his identity."Hehe, some important matters are inconvenient to disclose. Please forgive me. As for my identity, you don't need to doubt it. Since Divine Envoy Xu is in your Zhang family, she will confirm my identity after seeing me," Yang Haoran said with a smile.

"Divine Envoy Yang, please don't misunderstand. I didn't mean to doubt your identity as a divine envoy. And if the divine envoy is willing to help our Zhang family, we are extremely grateful. If my father knew about the divine envoy's arrival, he would surely be very happy," the middle-aged man made a gesture of invitation to Yang Haoran again, but this time, he slightly bent his waist.

"Please, Divine Envoy Yang, come in and discuss the matter in detail. We may need Divine Envoy Yang's assistance today," the middle-aged man said.

"Hehe, I'll do my best to help. If I really can't help, please don't blame me. After all, my abilities are limited," Yang Haoran said with a smile.

"Divine Envoy Yang, you're being too modest. Your willingness to help is already greatly appreciated by our Zhang family. Whether you can help us or not depends on the heavenly will," the middle-aged man said.

"Don't worry, I'll do my best."

With that, Yang Haoran glanced again at the teenager kneeling on the ground.

The middle-aged man understood Yang Haoran's intention, although he felt very embarrassed internally, he immediately gave Yang Haoran a satisfactory reply.

"Since he is a friend of Divine Envoy Yang, there should be no problem with Divine Envoy Yang taking him into the mountains. This time, I'll make the decision on my own. Even if my father blames me afterward, I'll accept it."

Although the middle-aged man answered very readily, his main purpose was to express his dilemma. However, Yang Haoran pretended not to understand.

Seeing that Yang Haoran showed no signs of changing his mind, the middle-aged man could only turn his gaze towards the kneeling young man.

"Get up. You can follow the Yang Divine Envoy into the mountains."

Facing the young man, the middle-aged man was not as polite as he was with Yang Haoran. His expression was indifferent, his tone cold. From his attitude towards the young man, it was evident that he harbored significant opinions about him.

The young man remained silent as before, standing obediently aside. However, his gaze now fell upon the kneeling youth on the ground, his expression cold and his eyes revealing disgust. It was clear that he held a strong aversion towards the youth.

The attitude of the two members of the Zhang family towards the young man was somewhat subtle. Though cold and disdainful, there was no hatred present. Yang Haoran noticed this with curiosity and some confusion, though he kept his composure.

"Thank you, Uncle San."

The young man respectfully spoke, his tone and attitude courteous, yet tinged with a sense of loneliness that was hard to articulate.

Yang Haoran raised an eyebrow slightly at the young man's address to the middle-aged man, feeling somewhat surprised inwardly, though his expression remained unchanged.

The young man was originally an exorcist, and the Zhang family was a renowned exorcist family in Ancheng. His kneeling outside the Zhang family's barrier to plead guilty indicated an unconventional relationship with them.

Yang Haoran had already noticed this beforehand and had speculated about the young man's identity. Could he be related to the Zhang family? This was one of his guesses.

Though he had entertained such guesses, they were still only conjectures and couldn't represent the truth. Therefore, when the young man addressed the middle-aged man as "Uncle San," Yang Haoran was slightly surprised internally.

However, instead of dispelling his doubts, this only intensified them. If they were family, why were the two Zhang family members so cold towards the young man?

Had the young man caused a major problem, implicating the entire Zhang family? Was that why these two clan members were so indifferent towards him and why he was pleading here?

Upon a brief consideration, Yang Haoran felt this possibility wasn't far-fetched. Though the young man seemed upright, even upright people could make mistakes and cause significant trouble.

Yet, Yang Haoran couldn't discern what trouble the young man had caused. With just this fragment of information, he couldn't analyze much. Perhaps it was related to the Zhang family's recent troubles.

The middle-aged man remained expressionless. Though the young man respectfully called him Uncle San, he seemed as if he hadn't heard him at all.

Seeing this, a hint of disappointment flashed in the young man's eyes. Apart from this hint of disappointment, he didn't show any further emotion.

"Hehe, so you're from the Zhang family. I underestimated you before. I didn't expect you to have such a background. By the way, what's your name?"

Seeing the atmosphere becoming a bit awkward, Yang Haoran smiled and spoke to the young man, subtly flattering the Zhang family in an attempt to shift their attention. He intended to take the young man up the mountain and inquire about his needs later.

"I'm Zhang Li, standing tall and upright. My father hopes I'll be a man of great stature, so he gave me this name," Zhang Li replied calmly, neither humble nor arrogant.

Before Yang Haoran could respond, the young man, who had been silent all along, spoke up at this moment.

"You no longer carry the Zhang name. You can use any surname you want, but please refrain from using Zhang as your surname in the future," the young man said, his tone low, devoid of mockery but filled with strong resistance.

Zhang Li remained silent, and the middle-aged man frowned, turning his gaze towards the young man and couldn't help but rebuke him.

"You have no manners. This is not the place for you to speak. How did I teach you at home?"

The young man lowered his head slightly and quickly responded in a subdued voice.

"Sorry, Dad. I couldn't control myself for a moment."

Seeing the young man apologize and admit his mistake, the middle-aged man didn't pursue the matter further. After all, there was an outsider, Yang Haoran, present, and there were things he couldn't say in front of him, nor could he let Yang Haoran witness any embarrassment.

The middle-aged man turned his gaze back to Yang Haoran, his previous unpleasant expression replaced by a smile.

Yang Haoran nodded with a smile and gestured subtly to the impassive Zhang Li, then walked towards the barrier that was shimmering with light.

Zhang Li didn't immediately follow Yang Haoran's pace. Instead, he waited until the middle-aged man and the young man took steps forward before following behind them, entering the barrier together.