Chapter 518: Sibling Affection
The old man knew Yang Haoran's surname, of course, because Ma Ling had told him.
After Ma Ling learned that Yang Haoran wanted to visit their home, she immediately called her family and also informed them of some of Yang Haoran's information. That was how the old man knew Yang Haoran's surname.
"Hello, patriarch. I hope my sudden visit isn't too much of a disturbance," Yang Haoran said with a smile.
"Haha, not at all, not at all. I, this old man, couldn't be happier to welcome you, how could I feel disturbed? For Emissary Yang to visit our Ma Family is an honor for us. Even Emissary Xu from our Ancheng Underworld Division, we wouldn't be able to invite her over even if we wanted to. I, as her grandfather, feel very proud that Xiao Ling has made a friend like Emissary Yang."
The old man's face was beaming with enthusiasm. His words not only elevated Yang Haoran to a considerable position but also subtly complained about Xu Meijing.
Yang Haoran did not get angry at the old man's complaint, as he could sense that the old man harbored no ill will; he was simply stating a fact.
Of course, he also didn't get carried away by the old man's praise, knowing that these were mere pleasantries, to be half-believed, but not entirely.
"The patriarch flatters me too much. Your words make me quite embarrassed," Yang Haoran replied with a smile.
The old man's face was full of warm smiles as he made a welcoming gesture to Yang Haoran.
"Then I shall impose," Yang Haoran said with a smile, then his figure flickered, moving from the car roof to stand before the old man.
He didn't casually enter the house but smiled and greeted the middle-aged man.
"Hello, Uncle. I'm disturbing you."
The middle-aged man's stern expression instantly softened into a smile as he hastily cupped his hands in return to Yang Haoran.
"Emissary Yang is too courteous. If it weren't for your intervention this time, my little girl would have been in danger. Our entire family is grateful beyond words; how could we possibly consider your arrival a disturbance?"
"Uncle, please don't take it to heart. Friends should naturally act this way."
Yang Haoran replied to the middle-aged man with a smile, then nodded to Ma Ling's second brother, acknowledging him.
Ma Ling's second brother was surprised. He hadn't expected Yang Haoran to remember him. Normally, in such situations, a junior like him was almost always ignored, and he had long grown accustomed to it. But Yang Haoran hadn't forgotten him, even actively smiling and showing goodwill, which surprised him and made him develop a considerable good impression of Yang Haoran.
Yang Haoran's attitude not only made Ma Ling's second brother feel good but also put the middle-aged man and the patriarch at ease.
"Why are you still standing on the car roof? Just standing there drinking the northwest wind?"
The middle-aged man's gaze now shifted to Ma Ling on the car roof. He dropped the smile from his face and asked with a stern expression.
Ma Ling gave a dry chuckle, pointed at the car beneath her, and said, "You guys take Uncle inside first. I'll get these two big guys into the courtyard."
Hearing this, the middle-aged man looked at Ma Ling's second brother and said, "Second Brother, you stay here and help your sister."
The middle-aged man made this decision because he sensed that Ma Ling's power fluctuations were weak at the moment. He knew Ma Ling had been seriously injured during this mission, so for safety's sake, he left Second Brother to help.
Although the middle-aged man was very strict with Ma Ling, he cherished his daughter deeply in his heart.
"Got it, Dad."
Second Brother stayed behind, while Yang Haoran, at the old man's enthusiastic invitation, stepped through the gate of the Ma Family Compound.
Within this Ma Family Compound, Yang Haoran clearly sensed the presence of a restrictive formation barrier, but this barrier did not obstruct his entry. He wasn't sure if the old man had used some method, or the middle-aged man had, or if it was due to the barrier itself.
Yang Haoran didn't dare to jump to conclusions about the specific reason, but this didn't stop him from feeling curious about the restrictive formation barrier. At the same time, it also made him look forward to this trip even more.
His previous choice to tear open space outside the Ma Family Compound was partly out of respect, and partly because Ma Ling had told him that their Ma Family Compound was covered by a powerful barrier. Without sufficient strength, it was impossible to directly teleport inside the courtyard through the barrier.
After they appeared, the three—the old man, Ma Ling's father, and her second brother—had opened the courtyard gate and personally came out to greet them. This was because after receiving Ma Ling's message, they had been waiting for Emissary Yang's arrival in the Ma Family Compound. When spatial fluctuations appeared outside the compound, they sensed it and immediately came out to welcome him.
Seeing the three of them step into the courtyard gate one after another, Ma Ling pulled a face at the retreating back of the middle-aged man, who was the last to enter. However, just at that moment, the middle-aged man suddenly turned around and caught Ma Ling in the act.
Ma Ling's expression froze, feeling caught between a rock and a hard place.
The middle-aged man frowned deeply, seemingly suppressing his internal rage. He pointed a finger at Ma Ling from a distance and said, "You just wait for me."
Leaving behind a harsh warning, the middle-aged man's figure disappeared into the courtyard entrance. At this moment, Second Brother ran towards the car with a grin, looking up at Ma Ling.
"Heh heh, Little Sister, you're getting better and better at making faces. When you have time, teach Second Brother. Dad looked absolutely delighted when he saw your face just now."
Hearing her second brother's words, Ma Ling couldn't help but roll her eyes.
"You're a grown man, learning to make faces. Have you no shame? Besides, was Dad's expression just now 'delighted'? He looked like he wanted to eat me alive! How was that delighted?"
"Didn't Dad tell you to wait? In my opinion, he's definitely preparing a big gift for you, and he'll reward you handsomely then, haha!"
Seeing her second brother doubled over with laughter, Ma Ling darted off the car like a little tiger and pounced on him.
"You're laughing at me? I'll let you laugh! You're rejoicing in my misfortune! I'll tear your mouth off!"
Seeing this, Second Brother took off running, laughter still spilling from his lips, while Ma Ling chased fiercely behind him, scolding him as she ran.
After Yang Haoran and the two old men left, the two siblings started playing around outside. Although they were both quite old, sibling shenanigans sometimes had nothing to do with age.
Moreover, both siblings were of the lively type. When they were together, tussles and fights were inevitable. This was already them being somewhat restrained with age; a few years back, the Ma Family Compound was a chaotic mess every day because of these two siblings.
"Didn't you go out on a mission? Why are you at home? You made me go out alone and almost die! You didn't care about me at all, and now you're rejoicing in my misfortune. See if I don't beat you to death today!"
The siblings' noisy antics were quite loud, audible even inside the compound. The middle-aged man heard their ruckus and showed a wry smile on his face, but his eyes revealed a sense of happiness.
The old man, however, seemed a bit embarrassed as he smiled at Yang Haoran and said, "Heh heh, these two siblings have been mischievous since they were little. I hope Emissary Yang doesn't find it laughable."
"The patriarch overstates. I haven't known Ma Ling for long, but I can somewhat discern her personality. The fact that I can befriend her means I quite like her character, so why would I laugh? " Yang Haoran said with a smile.
"Hahahaha, I'm relieved to hear Emissary Yang say that. Come, come, this way please. I've already had tea prepared. Let's go inside and chat leisurely."
At the old man's enthusiastic invitation, Yang Haoran entered the Ma Family's reception hall for esteemed guests. As soon as he stepped into the hall, he smelled the fragrance of tea, and a woman was brewing it.
The three of them took their seats, and Yang Haoran, at the old man's invitation, took a sip of tea.
"How is it? Does this tea suit Emissary Yang's taste? " the old man asked with a smile.
"Very good, it suits my taste perfectly," Yang Haoran replied with a smile.
Yang Haoran didn't understand the Way of Tea. Although he enjoyed drinking tea at home, it was merely that he liked drinking it; he wasn't particular about the intricacies. He felt that if it tasted comfortable, it was good tea, and he would drink a few more sips. If it didn't taste comfortable, it wasn't good tea, and he would drink fewer sips.
The tea before him indeed felt very comfortable to drink, so his answer to the old man was genuine.
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