I am the old, fiery-faced man from the senior department.

The ink in the inkwell suddenly began to surge.

"Whoa, something's coming out, sir!"

Bai Zhou quickly hid next to Xi, and in the process, threw away what he was holding.

"Hidden here?"

Xi raised her hand and pressed down on Bai Zhou's head, then looked at the ink pool.

Ink surged from the pool, and strange four-legged creatures burst forth from it, then surged to the ground.

It has blue back stripes, a dark body, a snow-white belly, and small white, cloud-like wings on its forelegs.

At first glance, they are beautiful creatures, but upon closer inspection, the saliva left at the corners of their mouths spoils their beauty.

"Sir! Is this... Mo Liang?"

They are known during the day.

"This must be Ah Yao, sir."

"Ah."

The evening is for them.

This type of black goat is similar in size to a chubby steed, making it very suitable for pulling carts.

"Ah, look at them now, they're actually quite cute."

"Go pick two to take out."

Xi snapped her fingers, and the A-Yaos quickly lined up in a long queue, waiting to be chosen.

"You chose two, sir? Were you worried they'd be lonely and wanted two to keep them company?"

Looking at these gnats during the day, I recalled the descriptions of these creatures from outside the painting.

Ah Yao, they live in groups, and feel lonely when alone.

"Hmm, let me see."

Daylight slowly approached these gnats.

First of all, it's the first one.

How should I put it? This one looks perfect no matter how you look at it. This kind of tadpole is actually not suitable to take out.

"Gah?"

Seeing Bai Zhou walk around it, the little rascal tilted its head in confusion, then decisively grabbed Bai Zhou's clothes.

"quack?"

"Ah, you're so beautiful. If I take you out, the other A-Yaos will be overshadowed."

Bai Zhou patted its head and explained why it wasn't chosen.

"quack!"

Having received praise and explanation, this little rascal suddenly raised its head proudly and began to show off to the other rascals.

"Gah. Gah gah gah!"

"Gah? Gah? Gah?"

"Oh!"

Instantly, the entire inkwell erupted into chaos, with various "squeaks" rising and falling.

Some of the attackers didn't even use words; they just started attacking.

The other members of the group, eager for a good show, joined the fight, causing chaos at the scene.

"Um, sir, what's wrong with them?"

Daylight retreated to dusk's side, asking with a mixture of doubt and worry.

"It's alright. Ignore them and choose what you need."

Xi was pondering the car's construction and paid no attention to A Yao's antics.

"Oh."

Looking at the chaotic Ink Pond during the day, Bai Zhou pondered which two A Yaos to choose.

Just then, a few gnats not far away caught his attention.

Are those two yaks working together?

During the day, it appears as two nibblers chasing after other lone nibblers.

"Sir, please take those two!"

The daytime chose them.

The fact that they can cooperate indicates that they have a good relationship, which will make it more convenient to use them.

"Have you made your choice?"

Xi looked in the direction Bai Zhou pointed, and after confirming which two A Yaos were it, she picked up her pen.

###

“You are the chosen ones, the lucky ones. Once you leave, you will represent not only Mo Liang’s identity, but also the Master’s reputation. You can no longer be as casual as before. Also, wipe your drool off and don’t lick me indiscriminately.”

Xi was drawing vehicles on the side, while Bai Zhou was "lecturing" the two chosen A-Beasts. The other A-Beasts that were not chosen stood in a circle and watched them being lectured quietly.

"Gah."

The two chubby cats lay prostrate on the ground, looking very obedient.

They were clever; they knew that the little person in front of them was favored by his master and that they could not disobey him.

Moreover, if they are obedient, they will get good food; those sweet apples are hard to find in their territory.

"Hmm... it's just that if you call them Ah Yao, it's hard to tell which one you're referring to."

As he stroked their heads during the day, two names came to mind.

"So, to distinguish between you two, from now on you'll be called Green Vegetable and you'll be called Radish."

The radish, perhaps because the painter ran out of ink while painting it, was thinner than the other radishes, hence the name "radish" in the daytime.

The green vegetable is named for its darker color than that of the common black goblin, with the ink on its body leaning towards blue, and the white on its abdomen.

Radishes and green vegetables.

"quack."

The two ants looked at each other, confirmed each other's names, and suddenly burst into laughter.

"You gave them names?"

Xi came to Bai Zhou's side, looked at the two lively and playful A Yao, and then looked at Bai Zhou, who seemed to be very satisfied with his naming ability. She raised her hand and tapped him lightly.

"The ink and spirit are merely elements within the painting; once the painting is finished, they dissipate."

"Why do something so meaningless about these illusory things?"

Returning to the sixteenth chapter: truth and falsehood, illusion and reality

"Huh? How can it be an illusion? Sir, aren't they alive and well right here?"

Daylight looked up at dusk with a puzzled expression.

"..."

Xi frowned and stared at Bai Zhou.

"They are merely things I drew with my pen. Brushstrokes and ink washes are not life, so how can they create life?"

Have you ever thought about this?

Xi lifted her pen, the tip touching Bai Zhou's cheek, the fine bristles causing a ticklish sensation.

"Are you also a character created through painting?"

"Ugh?"

A hint of doubt rose in Bai Zhou's eyes, which Xi noticed, and she continued:

"If that's the case, then everything about you is preordained. Every word, every action, every thought is done to follow the will of others. Is that truly real? Can you even be considered alive?"

Ah, can the little devil really understand what she's saying?

Xi didn't know, but she felt that she should talk to someone about these things.

"Sir, I don't quite understand the reasoning you're giving."

As Xi had expected, Bai Zhou did not fully understand what she was saying.

"But I know that I am alive, that I am truly living in this world."

"Even if everything I've experienced is preordained, even if everything I've gone through is fake, even if what I'm saying now is scripted, I know I can still think, I can still feel the emotions of this world, and I can still be with my husband."

"As long as these things haven't changed, I'm still alive."

He looked at her during the day, his holy blue eyes radiating a fervent and resolute light.

"..."

"You simply don't understand at all."

Xi looked at him and gently tapped his head.

She's talking nonsense, especially... ugh, what a stubborn brat. I really don't know what the point of being around her is.

"gone."

Xi withdrew her hand, turned and left.

She was getting tired after spending too much time in the painting.

"Oh, sir, wait for me."

Bai Zhou glanced at the playful Ah Yao again, then quickly followed her.