On the Broken Bridge.
Xiao Qing and Bai Bai stood back-to-back, facing West Lake.
Xia Gu, adjusting her paints, watched Ao Qing in the distance with curiosity.
Ao Qing had changed into a scholar's robe, and with a brush in hand, he gently dabbed at the canvas before him.
Zhi Qiu Yi Ye crouched by the bridge, a look of bewilderment on his face.
"What is he doing?"
Jin Se leaned against the railing, having already figured out Ao Qing's little scheme.
"He's got nothing better to do."
Zhi Qiu Yi Ye was stunned, confused.
Ao Qing sketched simple lines on the paper, his mind occupied with other matters.
Earlier, Zhi Qiu Yi Ye had pretended to be a messenger from the Centipede Demon, and though he hadn't managed to capture the Pear Planting Daoist and his accomplice, he'd gleaned some valuable information.
For example, the Pear Planting Daoist hadn't left Yu Hang because his accomplice had found a woman who perfectly met their criteria.
The Pear Planting Daoist and his accomplice had decided to abduct the woman as well and hand her over to their messenger.
Zhi Qiu Yi Ye had mentioned this news without much thought.
But Ao Qing was well aware of the situation.
He still remembered the look the pear-selling vendor had cast at Xiao Qing.
Ao Qing was eight parts sure that the woman the pear brothers were referring to was Xiao Qing.
This made it even more impossible for him to let Xiao Qing act alone.
Forget assigning her tasks.
Ao Qing didn't even want Xiao Qing to be alone for a second.
The same went for Bai Su Zhen and Xia Gu.
Knowing that the other party would target the women, Ao Qing naturally couldn't let them be in such danger.
But not allowing them to participate was also impossible.
Xia Gu was fine, she only wanted to help with Ao Qing's affairs.
Xiao Qing and Bai Bai were genuinely kind-hearted.
If they weren't allowed to participate, they would likely be unhappy for days.
So Ao Qing's mind raced, and he came up with the current plan.
He revealed the news that Xiao Qing was being targeted.
As soon as Xiao Qing heard this, the idea of acting as bait sprang to mind.
But that was precisely what Ao Qing wanted.
With a little shift in perspective,
that absurd idea could be transformed into a good way to keep an eye on Xiao Qing, Bai Bai, and Xia Gu.
Ao Qing 'agreed' to the plan.
He had Xiao Qing and Bai Bai go to the Broken Bridge together to 'act as bait,' while he and Xia Gu pretended to be artists, painting a portrait of the two.
This way, all three women would be under his protection, and they would also feel like they were playing a part.
His gaze swept over Xiao Qing.
The simple-minded snake demon was holding her sister's arm, a bright smile on her face.
With her by her side, Bai Su Zhen was no longer worried, silently waiting for Ao Qing to finish painting.
Xia Gu, beside them, softly adjusted her paints, whispering:
"Actually, you don't need to care so much about what we think."
Ao Qing, with a flick of his brush, drew lifelike eyes on the blank space of Xiao Qing's face.
"Don't say such things in the future. You're all mine, how can I not care?"
Xia Gu was startled, a light blush spreading across her face as she chuckled.
"I thought I didn't count."
Ao Qing bent down to get paint, and as he stood back up, he planted a kiss on Xia Gu's delicate cheek.
"Nonsense. You think you can escape?"
The blush on Xia Gu's face deepened, her eyes sparkling.
"No, no, I won't run."
On the other side, Jin Se clicked her tongue twice, her gaze growing increasingly strange as she looked at Ao Qing.
She slightly opened her mouth, her voice resounding directly in Ao Qing's mind.
"You're so protective of your women."
Ao Qing began to draw the details of Bai Bai's portrait, casually replying:
"What else would I do? Let that silly girl actually go as bait? She's too naive, she'd get tricked."
Jin Se looked at Xiao Qing, the snake demon, completely oblivious, was happily smiling.
Jin Se understood the source of her joy.
She had helped her husband, and she had a shared portrait with her dear sister.
How could she not be happy?
Jin Se slowly lowered her eyes, a tiny bud blooming in her heart.
The entire day,
Ao Qing had painted a shared portrait for Xiao Qing and Bai Bai, as well as individual portraits for Xia Gu and Jin Se.
Even Zhi Qiu Yi Ye received one.
The final stroke fell on the paper.
Hua Yun's voice rang in Ao Qing's mind.
She had fed the ghostly beings brought by Jin Se with incense power.
There were six hundred of them that still retained their consciousness.
Ao Qing tore the paper from the drawing board and threw it to Zhi Qiu Yi Ye, his gaze turning toward the direction of West Lake.
The calm lake suddenly churned with water.
Soon, ghostly beings, one after another, emerged, floating on the surface, revealing their heads as they looked at the people on the bridge.
Under the cover of Yin Qi,
the few pedestrians on the bridge didn't notice, only feeling a sudden chill, as if it were winter.
Jin Se glanced at Ao Qing, then at the ghostly beings regaining their consciousness on the lake, her heart filled with joy.
Xiao Qing lay on the bridge, watching with wonder. She had never seen so many ghostly beings gathered together.
Bai Bai was more composed, standing behind Xiao Qing, watching quietly.
Ao Qing turned to Zhi Qiu Yi Ye, who was crouching by the bridge.
"Daoist Zhi Qiu, I'd trouble you to take these ghostly beings and find the current hiding place of those two Daoists."
Zhi Qiu Yi Ye readily accepted the order, taking the flag handed to him by Hua Yun and leading hundreds of ghostly beings into action.
Hua Yun also came ashore, standing beside Ao Qing, gently wiping her damp hair.
She seemed to have taken a break to wash her hair, and she smelled heavenly.
"Husband, I want a painting too."
Having received Ao Qing's approval, she could finally use that title, and she was overjoyed.
Ao Qing took Hua Yun's small hand.
"You like red."
"After I kill those two Daoists, I'll paint you with their blood."
Hua Yun giggled softly.
"Okay."