After everyone was reborn, I was strictly disciplined.

"Waaah—"

After a brief moment of shock, Xie Xingran could no longer hold back and burst into tears.

The cries were urgent and loud, filled with unprecedented terror and pain. Tears streamed down her face like a burst dam, rolling wildly down her cheeks, and even her nose turned red from crying.

He tried to clench his fist after being hit, but Jiang Huaijin stopped him without saying a word.

Jiang Huaijin said calmly, "Don't shake hands, or it will hurt even more."

"Get out!"

Xie Xingran trembled all over in pain, his previous arrogance completely vanished, leaving only deep fear.

He didn't speak again, but just looked down at the little guy who was crying his heart out, his eyes as cold as ice, without a trace of pity.

"Waaah—"

"Jiang Huaijin, you wicked thing! You actually dared to hit me!"

Xie Xingran cried out, unable to move as Jiang Huaijin held him down, and could only kick his legs desperately.

With her other uninjured hand, she slapped Jiang Huaijin's thigh wildly, tears and snot streaming down her face, making her cheeks smear. Her tone was filled with disbelief, grief, and resentment.

"What right do you have to hit me? I'm going to kill you! I'm going to have Grandma tear you to pieces!"

The excruciating pain in his palm continued to spread wildly, the burning sensation like thorns drilling into his arm from his fingertips. Every breath he took pulled at the nerves in his palm, making him tremble all over in pain.

It was only then that Xie Xingran belatedly realized that Jiang Huaijin really dared to teach him a lesson!

He lowered his head, sobbing, and through his teary eyes, he looked at his own palms.

My palms, which were once delicate, fair and flawless, are now red and painful to the slightest touch.

"Waaaaah—"

"Grandma! Grandma!"

Xie Xingran cried even harder, sobbing and shouting, wanting He Anyao to quickly support her. Her tears fell like broken beads, splashing small wet marks on the bed.

"Jiang Huaijin, I hate you! I'm going to get Grandma to kick you out! No—"

"I'll have my grandma chop you up and feed you to the dogs! You unwanted orphan, how dare you hit me! You just wait! I'll never let you get away with this!"

Xie Xingran had never suffered such injustice in her entire life. It wasn't feigned injustice; it was genuine bullying from others.

In his past life, he caused trouble, but with the Xie family protecting him, no one ever dared to lay a finger on him.

His older brother did hit him, but it was because he was speeding and caused a car accident that he got angry and hit him on the head. Afterwards, his older brother apologized and compensated him.

In his mind, he was the chosen one of heaven. Whether in his past life or this life, he was the one who bullied others. There was no reason for others to turn around and attack him.

But today, Jiang Huaijin actually hit him.

How old is he?

He is still a child!

That freak Jiang Huaijin actually dared to hit him?!

This sudden pain and humiliation completely shattered Xie Xingran's pride.

The more he thought about it, the more aggrieved he felt. His crying gradually changed from an angry roar to a sob.

Xie Xingran was trembling uncontrollably, feeling both pain and fear, as well as resentment at being offended. She was like a cub drenched in rain, unable to find anyone to shelter her, and could only vent her emotions by crying and making a scene.

Inside the room, Xie Xingran's cries were intermittent, filled with lingering sobs and resentment, like a small animal being choked.

Jiang Huaijin held him like that, her face expressionless, as if the heart-wrenching crying had nothing to do with her.

His right hand, hanging limply, never rose again; his gaze remained fixed on the crying child curled up in his arms.

After a moment, he spoke slowly, his voice flat and devoid of any emotion, "Ranran, do you know you were wrong?"

Xie Xingran did not reply, but kept her head down, her black hair hanging messily over her forehead, covering her reddened eyes.

His shoulders were still trembling uncontrollably, tears streaming down his face like broken beads, one drop at a time, onto the hem of his clothes. He was muttering something incoherently, his voice soft and rapid, with a strong nasal tone.

Jiang Huaijin listened carefully for a few sentences, but couldn't make out the specific words. However, the resentment and anger in the tone were exceptionally clear, and it was mostly an insult directed at him.

Jiang Huaijin's brows furrowed almost imperceptibly, and the coldness in his eyes deepened, but he still patiently spoke again: "Ranran, as long as you know you were wrong and say 'I was wrong,' I will forgive you."

He bent down, reached out, and gently lifted Xie Xingran's chin, raising the child's downcast face.

The skin touched by my fingertips was burning hot, and her cheeks, streaked with tears, were red and swollen. Her long eyelashes were wet with tears and stuck together, making her look pitiful.

But there was no pity in Jiang Huaijin's eyes, only a silent calm, and his tone remained indifferent: "Ranran, I hit you not to vent my anger, nor to deliberately make things difficult for you."

His fingertips gently brushed away the tear stains on Xie Xingran's cheek; the movement wasn't exactly gentle, but it wasn't forceful either.

"It's because you really did something wrong."

"Tolerating disciples beating fellow disciples and disregarding the sect rules is an unforgivable mistake."

"I am punishing you today so that you will remember that no matter how noble your status, you cannot act recklessly, and you must not harm the weak."

"If anything happens to Lu Chengyuan today, you will also be affected by karma, and it will become an obstacle on your path to immortality in the future!"

"I don't!"

Before Jiang Huaijin could finish speaking, Xie Xingran abruptly turned her head, breaking free from his grip. Her voice was trembling with tears, yet she remained fiercely stubborn.

"I did nothing wrong! Lu Chengyuan deserves it, you're being unreasonable! You're a bad person, all you do is bully me!"

As he shouted, he raised his hand and slapped Jiang Huaijin hard, as if to vent all his grievances and anger.

Xie Xingran's fist was soft and had no force when it hit him, but it completely shattered the last bit of peace in the room and caused the last trace of restraint in Jiang Huaijin's eyes to completely disappear.

"call--"

A long, drawn-out exhale escaped from Jiang Huaijin's throat, his last bit of patience exhausted.

He slowly closed his eyes, his thick eyelashes casting a light shadow beneath them, completely concealing the surging coldness and disappointment within him.

When he opened his eyes again, they were filled with coldness and determination, and his tone was firm: "Ranran, you'd better listen to me."

"Get lost! I'll listen to you!"

Xie Xingran was completely enraged. Her bloodshot eyes glared at Jiang Huaijin as she shrieked, "Who do you think you are? You dare to make me obey you!"

He roared and swung his little fists, pounding them hard against Jiang Huaijin's chest, refusing to back down even though he couldn't hurt him at all.

"When my grandma comes, I'll have her kick you out of the mountain gate so you can never show your face in front of me again! I'll also make her—"

"Bang bang bang!"

A sudden, urgent knocking interrupted Xie Xingran's harsh words.

A gentle and kind female voice came from outside the door; it was He Anyao:

"Ranran, Huaijin, are you inside? Grandma has brought Ranran some freshly steamed shrimp dumplings."

Upon hearing the voice, Xie Xingran's crying paused momentarily, then, as if grasping at a lifeline, her sobs intensified abruptly, filled with deliberate grievance and accusation, as she shouted towards the door:

"Grandma! Grandma, come in quickly! Jiang Huaijin is going to beat me to death!"