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His heart finally settled.

When leaving Linxi, his heart had overflowed with yearning; now, holding that yearning to his chest, he felt a wellspring of warmth amid the freezing snow and ice.

"Lan Zhi, I am so happy."

His lips pressed lightly against Rong Xi's brow, lingering for a long moment before parting.

Rong Xi's brows and eyes curved in amusement. "I knew you missed me, so I showed mercy and brought myself for you to see."

A wave of utter softness filled Qin Ke's heart at that moment, and he said softly, "The frontier is harsh and dangerous. I want you to go back to Linxi."

Seeing Rong Xi about to retort, he reached out to press a hand over the latter's lips and continued, "But you are bound to refuse. I won't force you, but you must not wander outside alone. Do you understand?"

Rong Xi knew full well that he could not help with the fighting, nor would he cause trouble.

"You focus on guarding the city and don't need to worry about me." Rong Xi reached out to hug him tightly, burying his face in Qin Ke's chest as he murmured, "I want to go back with you."

Qin Ke's gaze grew exceptionally profound. He gave no reply, merely tightening his embrace around Rong Xi with forbearance and restraint.

Early the next morning, when Rong Xi woke up, Qin Ke was no longer by his side.

He got up and questioned a guard.

The guard replied, "Forgive me, Lord Rong, this subordinate does not know."

As a mere soldier, it was indeed not his place to know what the commanding general of the army was doing.

This wait of Rong Xi's lasted a full ten days.

Late in the night of the tenth day, the camp