My past life exposure shocked the entire internet.

Xiang Lan thought for a moment and said, "I like it."

"What a fine young girl! You're the first junior I've ever met who says she likes swords." Xie Leyou was taken aback. "I thought times had changed and no one liked swords anymore."

In the martial arts world, swordsmen are always mysterious and dashing.

The main characters in storybooks are mostly swordsmen who travel the world with their swords, and they have been extremely popular from ancient times to the present.

"Because my brother practices swordsmanship every day." Xiang Lan rested her chin on her hand. "My brother is the best, so the weapon he practices with must be the strongest. That's why I like swords."

Xie Leyou: "..."

He was unsure whether to marvel at the deep bond between Hejia and Xianglan, the brother and sister, or to worry about having no successor.

The son only knew how to oppose him, while the second apprentice used a knife as a sword and created his own style.

The third disciple did like swords, but because he couldn't gather internal energy, he couldn't cultivate the "Nine Swords of Heavenly Journey".

What should I do...?

Xie Leyou gazed sadly at the sky and sighed deeply.

Until a small hand was stretched out in front of him, and a childish voice asked him, "Master, do you want some candy?"

Xie Leyou was taken aback: "...Candy?"

In his entire life, he seemed to have never heard anyone ask him that question.

Of course, it's also because very few people dare to talk to him.

Most of those who saw him also became victims of the Sword Saint's sword.

“My brother said that eating something sweet when you’re sad will make you feel better.” Xiang Lan said earnestly, “This is one of the few candies I have left. Since you’re my master, I’ll give you one.”

Xie Leyou stared silently at the three-year-old girl for a long time before finally taking a piece of candy from her hand.

He was a sword saint, his hands were meant for wielding swords to kill, yet his arm trembled slightly as he accepted the candy.

Xie Leyou didn't know what he was feeling as he put the candy in his mouth, but he did indeed taste another kind of flavor in this world—

sweet.

Xie Leyou seemed to realize something.

So this is what sweetness is?

In some matters, he was even less knowledgeable than a three-year-old girl.

pity……

Xie Leyou gripped Xiang Lan's wrist and checked her pulse.

Once the foundation is damaged, it is difficult to recover. One will never be able to gather internal energy in this lifetime and will be destined to never reach the ultimate martial arts.

How could such a bright child have contracted such an illness?
God is jealous of talents!
He didn't know if he could save her, but if no one could cure her congenital defect, she wouldn't live long.

Xie Leyou sighed and led Xiang Lan into a cave, saying to her, "You can read any of the books here. There is a barrier set up by your master here. Apart from your brother and my two disciples, no one else can enter unless their cultivation level far surpasses that of your master."

But in the martial arts world today, apart from the former leader of the martial arts alliance, Gui Qing, who has defected, where is anyone whose cultivation level can surpass Xie Leyou's?

This is a completely safe place.

"Okay." Xiang Lan obediently replied, "Master, you go ahead, I will study hard."

Xie Leyou's heart almost melted, and he tentatively asked, "How about you recognize me as your father?"

Xiang Lan had already pulled out a book: "No, my brother said I have a father."

Xie Leyou frowned, his voice turning stern: "If you have a father, why didn't he appear when you and your siblings were being chased? Why didn't he protect you? It's clear he's not a qualified father!"

Upon hearing this, Xiang Lan raised her head and looked at him quietly. Her pair of dark eyes, devoid of any emotion, were like two deep pools, unfathomable.

In that instant of eye contact, Xie Leyou felt as if he were being watched by an abyss.

In the depths of the abyss, it seemed as if some colossal creature was about to awaken.

The moment of awakening will shake the entire land.

“My brother said it’s because Father went to protect more people.” Xiang Lan’s tone was also calm. “If Father hadn’t gone, more people would have died, and we will have to protect them in the future.”

Xie Leyou was suddenly stunned, his feelings becoming extremely complex in an instant.

After a long pause, he finally said, "You should study hard. I'm leaving now."

He wanted to find her a light-body skill that could be used without gathering internal energy, as well as a peerless sword.

At this moment, Xie Leyou had only one thought—

This woman is no ordinary person. Despite her frail health, she possesses the strength of a million soldiers and is destined for great things.

But Xie Leyou at that time could never have imagined that this three-year-old girl would become the famous Princess Yongning ten years later, the first crown prince to enter the Eastern Palace as a woman.

Just as he could never have imagined that the little boy he picked up during his travels would one year later enter the world of martial arts and stir up an unprecedented storm of bloodshed.

The trajectory of the Chinese mainland was quietly altered from this moment on.

The wheel of fate began to turn at this moment, but no one knew it yet.

As recorded in historical texts, the first traceable appearance of Shenxiao Tower Master and Princess Yongning should be the battle when Princess Yongning impersonated the Prince of Yan and took charge of Yanshan.

But in reality, they had practiced asceticism on Mount Tianshan that year.

However, at this moment, fate did not pull the threads in their hands together.

One was reading in a cave, the other was practicing martial arts in the deep forest.

Yan Yunyin did not recognize Xiang Lan; at this moment, his heart was filled with hatred for the murderers of his father and mother.

Xiang Lan had never heard of Yan Yunyin; at this moment, all she wanted was to become stronger and protect the one she loved.

June arrived in the blink of an eye, and Xie Leyou returned.

Upon his return, he also took General Hejia from the Shence Army camp to Tianshan.

"Brother!" Xiang Lan ran out happily. "Brother, I've finished reading another book."

"Xiao Lan is amazing." He Jia patted her head. "I'm relieved that you're doing well."

The spiritual energy on Mount Tian is abundant. Although Xiang Lan is unable to condense her inner strength, the spiritual energy is still nourishing her body.

Before Xie Leyou left, he added another seal to her body to alleviate the pain she experienced when her illness flared up.

“Brother, I’ve read a lot of books, and I can help you with that.” Xiang Lan raised her little head. “I’ve almost finished reading all the military strategies.”

Historical records will not mention that Xiang Lan's military skills were initially honed through these books.

"Kid, this is for you." Xie Leyou tossed out a longsword. "Don't forget to practice your sword when you're practicing your spear, or you'll waste your natural sword talent."

He Jia took the longsword, and the moment he held it, he realized that it was an excellent sword.

"This is for my disciple," Xie Leyou said with a smile. "Come and take a look, this is quite a fine sword."

Xiang Lan approached curiously and saw that it was a sword that could be both soft and hard.

And this sword can even be split in two.

“When you’re not using it, you can wrap it around your waist as a belt,” Xie Leyou stroked his beard. “It looks quite nice too.” (End of Chapter)