Big Moon Ballad

Chapter 2663 Deadlock
"I really find it strange."

Ji Mo stared into Ying Baoyue's eyes, "What exactly is your relationship with the Azure Dragon God?"

As a divine son, he could vaguely sense a special connection between Ying Baoyue and Li Ji, but this connection was different from the connection between a divine son and the beast god they served.

Ji Mo had always been curious about what kind of person someone like Ying Baoyue would fall in love with, but after learning about her, he was even more surprised.

Is a relationship between humans and gods... really possible?

"Can you and him share any feelings?"

For the first time, interest ignited in Ji Mo's indifferent eyes.

Ying Baoyue was silent for a moment, then said, "Don't ask so many questions, I can't explain it clearly either."

"Can you explain what happened between you and your master?"

The flame in Ji Mo's eyes died down, and he sat back down to continue meditating.

"Then tell me what happened up north? How come that guy just disappeared and never came back?"

Upon hearing this, the little red bird on Ji Mo's shoulder also stomped its feet anxiously, showing great concern.

“I don’t know, I only know that he and Yun Zhongjun have been alone in one place,” Ying Baoyue said, rubbing her temples. “They’ve been there for half a month.”

"Half a month?"

Even the usually indifferent Ji Mo was taken aback. "No wonder Lord Yun Zhongjun didn't appear this time."

Ji Mo did not intend to completely ignore the current situation in Nan Chu. In his original plan, if Yun Zhongjun or Emperor Ying appeared, he would show himself even if he was harmed by the backlash of the formation.

Unexpectedly, neither of the two important figures showed up, so he didn't get a chance to appear.

“Now that he has trapped Yunzhongjun, you can take this opportunity to subdue Xirong,” Ji Mo said. “This is a good opportunity.”

Ying Baoyue was silent for a moment, then said, "I'm going to save him."

"Save him?" Ji Mo raised an eyebrow. "Did he ask you to save him?"

The reason why Suzaku insisted on sending an avatar to follow him this time was because the Azure Dragon God had lost contact but had not asked other beast gods for help.

According to the Vermilion Bird God, the Azure Dragon did not send out any distress signals, nor did it show the aura of impending doom it had before.

Ji Mo glanced at the little bird hopping on his shoulder. "The Vermilion Bird said that the Azure Dragon is not in any danger."

Li Ji did not ask her to save him; in fact, he resisted her approach and wanted to sever his connection with her.

Ying Baoyue took a deep breath. "That's his business."

She wanted to save him; that was her business.

"No."

“If you go to save him, wouldn’t that make all his efforts go to waste?” Ji Mo sneered. “What if he releases Yun Zhongjun? All his efforts over the past few days will have been in vain.”

The reason the troubles in Nanchu were resolved so quickly was that the Zen temple did not continue to interfere.

"Don't forget who you are now."

Ji Mo looked at her with a half-smile, and said slowly and deliberately, "Former King of Qin."

"A monarch should prioritize the overall situation and not be swayed by personal feelings."

Ying Baoyue felt a lump in her throat, unable to choke on her words. "Are you deliberately trying to provoke me?"

She suddenly realized something, "Is this why you want to resign from your position as Imperial Preceptor?"

Ji Mo's trip to the north was not for the greater good, but more like a personal vendetta.

Ji Mo didn't speak, but simply looked out the window. They had already crossed the Lancang Sea and reached the territory of the Former Qin Dynasty.

“Your master protected you too well in the past,” Ji Mo said, looking at the vast expanse of water in the distance. “You can risk your life if you want, and marry whomever you want.”

Lin Shubai never truly restrained Lin Baoyue, nor did he burden his disciple with that heavy identity.

The title of monarch or the divine son of a nation is both noble and burdensome.

Having lived through two lifetimes, Ying Baoyue has finally taken on the responsibility of being a monarch, but she is still as willful as ever.

“You personally led the army, leaving my son in the country to bail you out,” Ji Mo glanced at her coldly, “You’re having a great time fighting abroad, but what about Jia Shu?” Ying Baoyue was stunned and fell completely silent.

“After you died in your previous life, do you know how many people were punished because of you?” Ji Mo stared into her eyes. “If you don’t return this time, the Former Qin will be leaderless, and all those who followed you before will not have a good ending.”

The first person to be in unbearable pain was Ji Jiashu.

Ji Jiashu was not even allowed to die as a martyr; as the national advisor, he also had to handle Ying Baoyue's funeral arrangements.

Ying Baoyue closed her eyes, her chest heaving. "I'm sorry."

"Our Ji family doesn't know what we owe you," Ji Mo said calmly, "but you've dragged one by one into this mess."

Ying Baoyue felt a tightness in her chest, "I..."

She had endured for a long time, and only raised an army to march north after the matter in Southern Chu was completely resolved. But even so, could she still not go to save Li Ji?

“I understand what you mean,” Ying Baoyue said after a moment of silence. “I will do my best.”

Ji Mo glanced at her but didn't say anything more, and the two fell into silence.

The carriage swayed and lurched as it headed towards Guiyang.

……

……

Li Ji opened his eyes in the icy lake water.

This is a special space, formed from his memories, not the real world.

Outside was a deep, dark lake, but inside was a place he knew well.

A dilapidated little courtyard.

"How much longer are you going to stay here?"

Li Ji opened his eyes as he sat on the moss-covered steps and looked at the other person in the space.

Yun Zhongjun stood in the courtyard, wearing a Shura mask on his face, with a ferocious dog head perched on his shoulder, staring at him expressionlessly.

"Is the matter in Southern Chu over?"

Li Ji looked up, his eyes bloodshot.

"If you really want to know, why don't you go and investigate Ying Baoyue's memories yourself?" Yun Zhongjun sneered. "Isn't that woman's soul tied to you?"

Li Ji lowered his head and quietly examined a small flower at his feet. "Then she will be able to find this place immediately."

He doesn't want her to come looking for him at all right now.

"You're going to keep waiting here if she doesn't come?"

Yun Zhongjun surveyed the dilapidated courtyard around him. "I'm tired of seeing this cold palace of Eastern Wu. Can we have a change of scenery?"

"No."

Li Ji looked up. "I don't want to show you the other place."

Throughout his life, he lived in only two places for an extended period. One was the Cold Palace of Eastern Wu, where he was imprisoned since birth, and the other was the small courtyard in the Cloud and Mist Forest.

That courtyard held the happiest memories of his life, and he was unwilling to reveal even a fraction of them to Yun Zhongjun.

Yun Zhongjun rolled his eyes so hard they almost reached the sky. "You talk as if I've never seen that place before."

Li Ji's brows twitched. "Speaking of which, I haven't settled accounts with you for that matter yet."

Yun Zhongjun manipulated his memories, making him mistakenly believe that Ying Baoyue was the murderer of Li Zhao, causing him and Ying Baoyue to suffer for a long time.

"Haven't you already remembered?"

Yun Zhongjun sneered, "I've done far more than just this one thing. If you want to settle accounts with me, then open this barrier and have a proper battle."

Li Ji used all his power to trap him and the White Dog God within this barrier, neither attacking nor releasing them.

If a fight really breaks out, Li Ji will inevitably have to open this barrier, giving him and the White Dog God a chance to escape.