My past life exposure shocked the entire internet.

Hejia noticed her worry and couldn't help but chuckle: "Xiaolan, you need to eat more so you can grow taller."

Xiang Lan rested her chin on her hand and thought seriously for a moment: "Can I grow as tall as you, brother?"

He Jia wanted to say "impossible" directly, but when he looked down, he saw his sister looking at him with her big, watery eyes, so he immediately changed his mind: "Of course, as long as Xiao Lan eats well and rests well."

His sister grabbed his arm and said, "Okay, I want to eat them all."

Having taken care of Xiang Lan for so long, He Jia knew her tastes well, and in less than half an hour, she had prepared a table full of Xiang Lan's favorite dishes.

Xiang Lan also ate with great relish.

He Jia was initially pleased that his sister was eating well, but in the end, he suddenly regretted saying those words to her before the meal.

Because his sister listens to him too much, she ate a lot today, and then... she got indigestion.

Late at night, Hejia had no choice but to carry her out to find a doctor.

He didn't want to get angry at Xiang Lan, but seeing her suffering from stomach pain, anger still rose in his eyes. He said coldly, "I told you to eat properly, I didn't let you eat until you were stuffed!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Hejia felt that his tone was a bit harsh.

If it weren't serious, Xiang Lan wouldn't have learned her lesson.

Three-year-old Xiang Lan raised her hand and, imitating him, touched the hair hanging down his forehead.

She moved gently and spoke softly: "Brother, don't be angry."

Hejia was no longer angry, but he still pretended to be.

So he kept a cold face.

He Sui said that he was very intimidating when he had a cold face, and he had been very intimidating since he was a child. Even Xiang Heng's deputy generals were intimidated and couldn't help but praise him, saying that the Prince of An's son would definitely be a brave and skilled marshal in the future, surpassing his master.

At this moment, Hejia heard his sister speak again: "Because I want to grow as tall as my brother, so that I can wield a sword and protect him like he does."

Children's fairy tales are the most sincere; they are not sweet words, but simply what they think in their hearts.

Hejia was shaken to his core and finally succumbed to defeat.

He thought to himself, how could he bear to be mean to his sister? It was an heinous crime.

“Brother understands.” Hejia squatted down, paused, and said in a low voice, “But eating too much is bad for your stomach and will actually stunt your growth. Everything should be done in moderation; too much of anything is as bad as too little.”

“Brother, I understand.” Xiang Lan nodded, but then lowered her head. “But I feel terrible right now.”

Hejia sighed and said helplessly, "How can you not feel unwell after eating so much? Take your medicine."

Xiang Lan said, "It's too bitter, I won't drink it."

Xiang Heng was rebellious by nature, and so was He Sui.

Their children are even more rebellious; once they make a decision, nothing can sway them.

Hejia could only continue to coax, "Good medicine tastes bitter, but it's good for the disease."

Xiang Lan still said, "I won't drink."

Hejia: "..."

He had no choice but to reach out and swiftly seal Xiang Lan's acupoints before force-feeding her the medicine.

After she finished drinking the juice, I stuffed a candied fruit into her mouth to neutralize the bitterness.

Only after doing all this did he release her pressure points.

Xiang Lan was very angry, looking at him with teary eyes: "Brother is bad, brother tricked me, I'm not talking to you anymore."

She is young, but stubborn by nature.

I said I'd ignore him, and I really meant it.

After a full twelve hours, Hejia was starting to feel the strain.

He went out and bought a windmill and a rattle drum. He came back and asked, "Xiao Lan, look what this is?"

Xiang Lan turned her head away, still ignoring him.

Hejia then walked around to her again: "All the other children are playing, why don't you come and try?"

Xiang Lan turned around immediately.

Hejia was somewhat frustrated: "It was brother who tricked me, brother is bad, but can you please stop ignoring brother?" Xiang Lan only thought for half a second before saying, "Okay then."

How could she possibly ignore her brother?

But the medicine was so bitter that she was completely unprepared.

The brother and sister reconciled quickly, and the days passed by just like that.

The six months of such tranquility and peace made Hejia feel somewhat unreal.

But Hejia always understood the principle of being prepared for danger even in times of peace.

The quieter it was, the less he dared to let his guard down.

Born in sorrow, die in happiness.

If he were to relax completely, he would surely be in trouble if he encountered danger.

Sure enough, on a dark and stormy night, the enemy came knocking.

The moment He Jia heard the footsteps, he was jolted awake, scooped up the still-sleeping Xiang Lan, and turned to leave.

"Brother?" Xiang Lan woke up from the jolting. She grabbed his shoulders and looked back in the darkness. "Many people are coming."

"Yes, a lot of people." He Jia's expression was cold and indifferent. "Xiao Lan, are you afraid?"

"Don't be afraid," Xiang Lan said. "My brother is here."

Hejia smiled and said, "Brother has always been here."

But even Hejia doesn't know if he can escape safely today.

There were far too many people, easily over a thousand.

"Don't run away, Your Highness." The leader of the men in black said mockingly, "You are indeed talented, but you have such cultivation at the age of nine. However, you can't fight against many people with your bare hands, and you are also at a disadvantage due to your age. Plus, you have a little kid with you. Where can you run to?"

Hejia remained silent, but his steps did not stop.

"Chase them!" the leader of the men in black sneered. "We must bring their heads back today!"

Surrounded by a thousand people, He Jia and Xiang Lan were indeed overwhelmed and were soon forced to the bank of a long river.

The river rolls on, its waves surging fiercely.

"Nowhere to run now, huh?" The leader of the men in black clapped his hands. "Prince An, blame your father for being too arrogant and unwilling to admit defeat. If he had submitted to the emperor earlier, none of this would have happened."

Hejia remained silent.

How could he be swayed by such low-level rhetoric?

The leader of the men in black gave the order: "Kill—"

"A bunch of adults chasing after two little kids, I'm ashamed for you." Just then, a voice rang out, tinged with disdain, "Go back, take another step forward, and don't blame me for being impolite!"

"Who are you?" The leader of the men in black frowned. "This is a matter for the imperial court; please refrain from meddling in other people's business!"

"Mind your own business?" The voice seemed to have heard something amusing and burst into laughter. "Coincidentally, I love meddling in other people's business more than anything in my life."

"If you won't listen to reason, you'll have to suffer the consequences!" The leader of the black men glared menacingly. "If you, you coward, insist on stopping us, then you'll die with them!"

"Death?" The voice seemed to carry a hint of melancholy. "In the current martial world, no one can kill me. I have never even begged for a defeat."

This statement finally made the pursuers realize that something was wrong.

The leader of the men in black's expression changed: "Retreat for now, we'll meet again tomorrow—"

However, it was too late.

He didn't even get to say those words, because a sword suddenly appeared and severed his throat.

The head fell to the ground, but the sword was not stained with a single drop of blood.

The sword weaved through the pursuers, and in just a few dozen seconds, a thousand people perished!

Hejia suddenly looked up.

That is... the Sword Saint's Sword!
Xie Leyou, the Sword Saint of our time! (End of Chapter)