Big Moon Ballad

Chapter 2669 Northern Expedition
"So what exactly have you thought about? Do I personally want to be the crown prince?"

Inside the Ganlu Palace, Ying Xun sat below Ying Baoyue, his face grim.

Behind him stood two figures, one large and one small, both transformed into human teenagers—Hua Li and Ying Long.

Shortly after Tengshe sent the message, these two people brought Ying Xun from Hou Liao, so fast that even Ying Baoyue hadn't expected it.

The distance between Later Liao and Former Qin was not as far as that between Southern Chu and Later Liao, but given Ying Xun's level of cultivation... crossing the continent at such a fast speed would be very difficult for his body.

"Uh, I didn't expect you to come so quickly," Ying Baoyue said, looking at the boy who was too angry to speak. "Are you alright?"

"What a bastard!"

This was the first time Ying Xun had ever been so angry. "When these two guys grabbed me, I thought I was going to die!"

He was peacefully secluded in a cave at the foot of Yunshou Peak when, with a bang, the cave wall was smashed open.

A hand reached in, grabbed the back of his neck, and pulled him out.

The next moment, he was swallowed up by a huge creature, and everything went black before his eyes, and the world spun around him.

"So you were brought here by Yinglong while he was in his mouth," Ying Baoyue looked Ying Xun up and down, noting that only his clothes were a little wet. "No wonder you're alright."

"Is this what you call nothing happening?!"

Ying Xun slammed his hand on the table, causing the teacups on it to jump up.

After Yinglong spat him out of his mouth, he was taken directly to Ganlu Palace, where he learned why Ying Baoyue had asked him to come.

No one had asked him whether he wanted to come before.

“Oh, maybe I sent the message too quickly,” Tengshe said casually, picking his ear. “I only asked the White Tiger God to send you here, and forgot to tell you.”

What do you mean by forgetting?!
Ying Xun glared angrily at the deity, while Tengshe's vertical pupils glanced at him.

Ying Xun felt a chill run down his spine and had no choice but to turn around and glare at the two smaller figures behind him.

"Since the White Tiger God won't tell you, aren't you going to ask him?"

Why did you just grab him without even asking what happened?

Hua Li shrugged. "What's there to ask about the Beast God's orders?"

“Exactly!” A little boy who looked about five or six years old next to her clenched his fist and nodded in agreement.

This little boy is Yinglong.

Although Yinglong is now at most a nursing dragon, Yingxun didn't dare to get angry at the dragon, so he could only glare at Ying Baoyue instead.

But Ying Baoyue's attention was completely drawn to Yinglong.

"Yinglong, can you transform into human form now?"

The transformation here doesn't mean being able to transform into human form, but rather being able to revert to the appearance of a dragon.

After Yinglong hatched from his egg, he remained an infant. He stayed with her for a while before being sent to the Western Ridge Snow Mountain to be cared for by Tuoshan Ghost and Hua Li. Ying Baoyue hadn't seen him for some time and was surprised to find that not only had his human form changed in age, but he could also transform into a giant dragon to carry Ying Xun to her.

"It can only last for about an hour, Mother," the little boy said somewhat embarrassedly, "It's all thanks to the White Tiger God who gave me some true essence and soul that I was able to grow into what I am today."

No wonder.

If it grows at a normal rate, Yinglong's appearance may not change for decades, remaining in its juvenile state.

The White Tiger God shared his cultivation with Him, no wonder Yinglong obeyed the White Tiger's every word.

Did the White Tiger God send you a message?

“The White Tiger God said that the person has been brought to you, and also asked the two of us to stay and help you,” Hua Li said. “He said you will need us.”

Ying Baoyue felt a surge of gratitude towards the Mountain Spirit and the White Tiger God.

The mountain spirit must have already known about her situation and made this arrangement.

“Mother,” Yinglong came over and took her hand, “the Mountain Spirit Goddess said you are going to save my elder brother, right?”

“Yes,” Ying Baoyue lowered her head, “I’m going to save him.”

The little guy's eyes were brimming with tears. "I can't feel my older brother anymore. It's been several months."

“That’s because you’re too far away from him,” Ying Baoyue patted Yinglong’s little head. “Once I bring you closer to him, we’ll definitely find him.” She was sure she could find him.

Ying Xun listened to their conversation, utterly astonished. The next moment, he slumped back into his chair and let out a long sigh.

"Is that why you want me to come back and become the crown prince?"

The journey to find the vanished Azure Dragon God was fraught with peril, even for a low-level cultivator like him.

After all, what in this world could possibly trap the Azure Dragon God?

This will be a great war between gods and humans.

Ying Baoyue nodded. "This journey to the Western Rong is fraught with danger, and I am not certain that I will be able to return."

There are too many grudges to settle: the Azure Dragon God and the White Dog God, her and the Cloud Lord, the Great Qin and the Western Rong.

"If I can win this battle, Xun'er, I have a feeling that this will be our last battle."

It all started from the moment the Azure Dragon God fell.

More than 20 years ago, after the great battle between the Azure Dragon God and the White Dog God, the Qin Dynasty unified the entire land. However, the price was the fall of the Azure Dragon God. Emperor Taizu Ying Di's power swelled to its extreme, and he began to purge the meritorious officials, which eventually nurtured a monster like the Lord of the Clouds.

She and her master ultimately perished in a chain of grudges and desires.

The grudges from many years ago have not been resolved.

"Really? Has it come to this?"

Ying Xun was silent for a moment, then said, "Go ahead and rest assured, I'll take over this responsibility for you for now."

He actually loathed this position, but he knew very well that he had no choice but to take it.

He can't escape, and he has no way to escape.

As a descendant of the Ying clan, Ying Xun knew very well that the founding war of the Qin Dynasty would end in a great battle between the Azure Dragon God and the White Dog God.

This time, history will repeat itself.

When the nest is overturned, no egg remains intact.

If Ying Baoyue does not resolve the hatred between herself and the Western Rong and the White Dog God, then the Shan Hai Continent will never have a peaceful and tranquil day.

"Xun'er, if I hadn't come back..."

"Why are you thinking so much?" Ying Xun said calmly. "If you hadn't come back, the rest would be for us, your descendants, to worry about."

“But there is one thing you can rest assured about,” Ying Xun said, gazing intently at Ying Baoyue. “I am only temporarily acting as regent for you. When you return, the title of former King of Qin can only belong to you.”

"I am not your crown prince, and you do not need to pass this throne to me."

“Xun’er…”

"Alright, stop talking nonsense," Ying Xun turned her back to him. "You wouldn't really want me to call you 'Mother,' would you?"

Ying Baoyue smiled bitterly.

“Baoyue,” Ying Xun suddenly spoke with his back to her, “you no longer owe my father anything.”

Ying Baoyue was stunned.

"Go in peace. His spirit and mine will guard this palace and wait for your return."

Ying Baoyue's eyes welled up with tears, and she smiled, "Okay, thank you."

"Former King of Qin, I wish you great military success."

……

……

Historical records state:

In the first year of King Yue of Qin, King Yue of the Former Qin and the Qin State Master led three armies to conquer the Western Rong, leaving Crown Prince Xun to oversee the state. This event is historically known as the "First Year's Campaign against the Rong".

(End of this chapter)