Big Moon Ballad

Chapter 2689 Promise
Both men were startled.

"Wake you up?"

Li Ji was completely at a loss, showing none of the composure he displayed when sitting by Ying Baoyue's bedside.

He had clearly set up a soundproof barrier before talking to Ji Jiashu, so how could he have woken her up?
Ying Baoyue was perfectly lucid as soon as she opened her eyes. She looked left and right at the two men standing opposite each other, stiff as two statues, and finally her gaze settled on Li Ji's... chin.

A ray of moonlight shone through the gap in the curtains, illuminating a corner of the bedside.

Strangely enough, there wasn't a single ray of light in the tent while Ying Baoyue was still asleep.

As soon as she woke up, there was moonlight.

The bright moonlight shone on the fist mark on Li Ji's chin.

Ji Jiashu's scalp tingled instantly, "Embrace the Moon..."

Ying Baoyue sat up, clutching the blanket, without asking any questions. "You didn't wake me up; I've already finished sleeping."

Seeing Li Ji, whom she hadn't seen for a long time, she wasn't overjoyed or surprised. It was as if Li Ji had just gone on an ordinary trip. She breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Ah Ji, you're back."

"Yes, I'm back."

Li Ji was so tongue-tied that he could barely speak.

Ying Baoyue then looked at Ji Jiashu, "Have the soldiers all rested?"

Ji Jiashu nodded. "Everything is arranged. I checked it myself."

"That's good, thank you for your hard work," Ying Baoyue smiled. "Is there anything else?"

"Nothing."

An awkward silence fell over the tent. Ji Jiashu sighed inwardly, "I'm leaving. You get some rest."

Li Ji stood silently by Ying Baoyue's bedside, feeling unsure whether to stay or leave.

"Grand Preceptor," he suddenly spoke, watching Ji Jiashu's retreating figure, "are there any empty tents?"

Ji Jiashu stopped and turned around. "What? Do you want me to arrange it for you?"

Li Ji nodded.

“Ask her not to look for me anymore,” Ji Jiashu gave Ying Baoyue a meaningful look. “I’m going back to sleep.”

As the Grand Preceptor and Military Supervisor of the Qin Dynasty, he naturally had his own tent and position.

Ying Baoyue nodded, "We will break camp at 3:45 AM tomorrow morning."

“Okay,” Ji Jiashu replied simply. He didn’t need to come over tomorrow morning; a guard would wake Ying Baoyue.

Ji Jiashu left, leaving Li Ji standing alone by the bed.

Although it seemed like he was the one who stayed, Li Ji inexplicably felt as if he had lost.

Ji Jiashu has his own identity and status, but he has nothing.

Li Ji looked at Ying Baoyue, a little embarrassed, "Where should I go?"

If Ji Jiashu hadn't come, he could have sat by Ying Baoyue's bedside without any qualms until dawn. But Ji Jiashu's appearance made him realize that he had no right to stay here.

Before heading to the Western Rong, he had only recently rediscovered his identity as a human being and had not yet taken up an official position in the Former Qin.

Who is he?
“It’s up to you,” the two looked at each other in the dim tent. “Where do you want to go?”

Ying Baoyue almost exhausted all her strength to bring this person back from under the icy lake.

After bringing him back, she realized that Li Ji's decision to seal her and the White Dog God together was not solely for the purpose of sealing the evil god.

Deep down, Li Ji didn't feel that it was necessary for him to stay by her side.

In more modern terms, he lacked a sense of self-identity.

Both Ji Jiashu and Gui Chen were by her side and found their place in the Qin court, while Li Ji's position was extremely awkward.

It's already late at night. If Li Ji is to stay in her tent, then who is he?
Putting aside her divine identity, others would only regard him as her "male concubine".

Of course, other people's opinions don't matter.

But this is a problem that she and he had never faced before.

They are not siblings, not teacher and student, not ruler and subject, and not... husband and wife.

Li Ji is either a reincarnation of a god, or at least a demigod.

How can humans and gods be together?
"Do you want me to stay?" Li Ji asked after a moment of silence.

“Do we really have to keep testing each other like this?” Ying Baoyue sighed. “I’ve already said everything I wanted to say before the ashes of the skeletons.” “I’m sorry,” Li Ji’s heart skipped a beat, “I want to stay here.”

"I've already made up my mind."

Li Ji stared into Ying Baoyue's eyes, then suddenly opened his mouth, "Baoyue, do you want to..."

"what?"

Ying Baoyue looked up, a hint of anticipation in her eyes.

Li Ji opened his mouth repeatedly, but ultimately couldn't utter a word.

What does he want to do? Propose marriage? At this time? In this place?
Just before today, he was thinking of sealing himself away for a hundred years until the other person died of old age. What right does he have to say that?
"Any identity is fine, you can arrange it however you like."

"As long as I can stay here."

Ying Baoyue's eyes dimmed slightly, but she knew that Li Ji could never say it.

"Then you will serve as the adjutant in the central army. It just so happens that Eastern Wu has also sent some reinforcements. You will be responsible for commanding that force and participating in decision-making."

Li Ji nodded.

After the arrangements were made, the tent fell silent again.

"Then...where will I stay?"

Ying Baoyue stopped talking. She lay down and turned over. "Whatever, just don't wander off to places I can't find."

Did this person freeze their brain under the icy lake?

I'm still a bit rusty after coming back from a long trip.

Ying Baoyue was too lazy to care about him anymore. Anyway, if he really wanted to run away, either Mu You or Gui Chen could arrange a place for him to stay.

The moonlight quietly disappeared from the tent.

Li Ji looked at Ying Baoyue's sleeping back and scratched his head.

Is this what it means to feel apprehensive as you approach your hometown?

"Hey, you're not as successful as you were when you were a kid."

Li Ji heard the Azure Dragon God within his body mocking him.

"you shut up!"

Li Ji slowly walked to Ying Baoyue's bedside, took off his shoes, socks, and outer robe, lay down behind Ying Baoyue, and reached out to hug her.

Ying Baoyue did not refuse.

She turned around and buried her face in his chest.

The two embraced each other, taking a deep breath of each other's scent.

At this moment, Ying Baoyue finally felt her entire body, even the gaps between her bones, relax.

Let go of all the entanglements, love and hate, responsibilities and identities.

This person has really come back.

It felt as if they weren't surrounded by tents and the dry air of the wilderness, but rather by the deep, verdant scent of a misty forest.

They lay on the small bed in the treehouse, embracing each other.

“I’m sorry,” Li Ji said softly, “I’m late.”

Ying Baoyue buried her face deep in his chest, "I also came back very late."

After Li Zhao and Xiao Li Ji slept in each other's arms, Li Zhao never returned.

Fortunately, no matter what happened, they still have each other and can still hug like this.

"It's good that you're back."

“I will not leave again,” Li Ji said haltingly, having never said such a thing before.

"I want to spend the rest of my life with you."

Even he didn't know how long the rest of his life would be.

He might die if he encounters the White Dog God on the battlefield tomorrow, but he still wants to spend his last day with Ying Baoyue.

Ying Baoyue trembled all over. She raised her head and said, "Okay."