At the bottom of West Lake, in the Dragon King's underwater palace.
Upon returning, Ao Qing saw Bai Xiao sitting on the steps, lost in thought.
His heart skipped a beat.
What was going on?
Had Bai Xiao discovered his deception of Xu Jiao Rong?
Bai Xiao's eyes lit up slightly when she saw Ao Qing land, and a smile appeared on her otherwise bored face.
"You're back?"
Ao Qing suppressed his doubts and asked with concern:
"Why are you the only one here? Where are the others?"
Bai Su Zhen pursed her lips and began counting on her fingers.
"Jin Se brought Xia Gu to arrange for the Gu Yuan, they think it's not suitable to place it by the West Lake and want to find a new location."
"Xiao Qing went to play with her friend."
"Hua Yun was just here, she must have gone inside when she saw you."
"And then..."
She pointed at herself and chuckled.
"Just me left."
Ao Qing sat down beside her, close enough to have their shoulders touching.
Bai Su Zhen turned her head to look at him, seeing his rascal-like expression, she sighed helplessly.
"Don't you worry about Xiao Qing getting angry if she finds out?"
Ao Qing didn't push his luck, leaned back against the steps, and looked at the kaleidoscope of light reflected by the water.
"I found your previous benefactor."
Bai Su Zhen's ears perked up instantly, her clear and bright eyes fixed on Ao Qing.
"Really? What's his name? Where is he?"
Bai Su Zhen was genuinely anxious.
After a thousand years of cultivation, she was only one step away from becoming an immortal. No one in the world could resist this temptation.
Ao Qing didn't look at her, showing a sullen expression.
Seeing this, Bai Su Zhen softened her voice, her excitement subsiding.
"I'm too excited."
"It's just that this matter is too important to me."
"Without repaying my debt of gratitude, I will not be able to repay my kindness, and I will never have the chance to become an immortal."
Ao Qing reached out and patted Bai Su Zhen's shoulder, comforting her.
"I know that feeling of unbearable itchiness in your heart, and I understand your impatience."
"So I used a secret technique to transfer your debt of gratitude to me."
Bai Su Zhen froze for a moment, then was shocked, staring intensely at Ao Qing.
"What do you mean?"
"What did you do?"
Ao Qing said every word clearly.
"I used a secret technique, your debt of gratitude will now be repaid by me, and once I have repaid it, it will be your day of becoming an immortal."
Bai Su Zhen was stunned, her eyes fixed on Ao Qing without blinking.
Ao Qing also looked at her, his eyes incredibly calm.
Secret technique?
Where did this secret technique come from?
It was nothing but a lie he concocted to fool this little white snake.
After parting ways with Ji Gong.
Ao Qing had pondered over his words repeatedly.
He couldn't force his way to stop Bai Su Zhen's tribulation.
Because the tribulation that Bai Su Zhen faced was a tribulation of love, not a life-and-death tribulation, a tribulation of weapons, or a tribulation of becoming an immortal...
How could anyone in the world stop one person from falling in love with another?
But soon, Ao Qing changed his thinking.
The tribulation of love remained, but what if he replaced the person in the tribulation from Xu Xian to himself?
He was a dragon, and also the West Lake Dragon King appointed by the Heavenly Court, not a mortal like Xu Xian.
Even if Fa Hai came knocking according to the karmic connection of the past life.
He wouldn't be able to control Ao Qing and Bai Su Zhen's union.
At most, he might try to use the righteousness of subduing demons to attack Bai Su Zhen directly.
Then that bald monk would have to think carefully.
If he dared to make a move, he would have to face Ao Qing's ruthless attack.
West Lake was small, but Ao Qing's skills were not.
A mere bald monk who only barely touched the threshold of becoming a celestial with a few Buddhist treasures.
Ao Qing wouldn't even need to use his second hand to deal with Fa Hai.
After changing his thinking, Ao Qing's vision suddenly became clear, leaving only one problem to be solved.
How could he replace Xu Xian?
The first thing to do was definitely to prevent Bai Su Zhen from encountering Xu Xian.
Under the influence of the tribulation of love.
As long as she saw Xu Xian, she would inevitably be captivated.
Therefore, Ao Qing had secretly instructed Hua Yun and the others that if he wasn't around, they must keep a close eye on Bai Su Zhen.
Secondly, he had to seize the opportunity to devour this little white snake.
Ao Qing believed in a saying.
The meat that has been eaten is yours.
As long as he could trick Bai Xiao into bed with him.
Then with her nature, she would never betray him.
This was the hardest point to achieve in all of Ao Qing's plans.
Xu Xian was the person in the tribulation, naturally having an attraction to Bai Su Zhen.
Bai Su Zhen didn't fall in love with Xu Xian at first sight, it was the tribulation of love that clouded her spiritual light, causing her to lose her rationality.
Ao Qing wasn't in the tribulation, so he couldn't influence Bai Su Zhen like Xu Xian did, with a drug-like effect.
It was true that Bai Su Zhen sometimes felt attracted to him while interacting with him.
But Ao Qing understood that Bai Su Zhen was still focused on becoming an immortal.
If Ao Qing didn't interfere, she would soon realize that she had underestimated the tribulation of love and overestimated her own will.
Bai Su Zhen suddenly laughed and gave Ao Qing a reproachful look.
"You're really a joker, how could there be such a secret technique in the world?"
Ao Qing didn't smile, he looked at Bai Su Zhen seriously, holding her hand and raising his right hand.
"I, Ao Qing, swear..."
Bai Su Zhen was startled and quickly covered Ao Qing's mouth.
"Oaths can't be made lightly!"
Ao Qing's expression was very serious.
"I can prove it to you without making an oath."