Ling Cage: Twelve Talismans? I have everything I need.

Chapter 117 Unaware

In the experience zone of a top-tier digital mall in Hisakawa City.

Bai Yuetian excitedly took off the latest VR device, turned to look at Yang Chen next to him, and his eyes were frighteningly bright.

"How's Orange? Is it fun?" He nudged Yang Chen with his elbow.

Yang Chen had just finished a realistic experience and expressionlessly took off the equipment: "Fun, fun."

"Is it realistic? Let me tell you, the graphics and the simulation are amazing." Bai Yuetian waved his arms, mimicking the actions in the game.

“It’s true, it’s true.” Yang Chen nodded, his tone flat and emotionless.

"Aren't the thorns irritating?"

"Exciting! Exciting!"

Upon seeing this, Bai Yuetian's excited smile suddenly turned into a sly one.

He leaned closer to Yang Chen, lowered his voice, and asked mysteriously in a knowing tone.

"Then...would you like to try something more exciting?"

Yang Chen paused, slowly turned his head, and looked at Bai Yuetian's face, which was full of malice and smirking.

After a two-second silence, he said speechlessly, "What you said is even more exciting... It wouldn't be..."

His gaze drifted to another hidden corner in the experience area, marked with an "18+" sign and displaying more "adult-oriented" content.

Bai Yuetian nodded vigorously, with an expression that said, "My brother really understands me."

"I'm not going." Yang Chen refused decisively, putting the VR device back on the display shelf.

"I'm not interested. Go play by yourself."

"Hey!" Bai Yuetian slapped Yang Chen hard on the back, so hard that Yang Chen staggered forward.

His face instantly changed to an expression of righteous indignation and deep satisfaction.

"Good brother-in-law! I knew I hadn't misjudged you. You've stood the test! You're a real man! You would never do anything like this behind my sister's back! Excellent!"

Yang Chen shook off his arm in annoyance, silently complaining to himself.

I think you wanted to go yourself, and you wanted to drag me down with you as a scapegoat.

He straightened the last demo unit on the display shelf, glanced at the darkening sky outside the window, and turned to Bai Yuetian.

"We've almost finished buying everything: game consoles, new clothes, and snacks for Maido and the others... Shall we head back now?"

We've been out for quite a while now; Yue Kui must be getting impatient.

"Go back now?" Bai Yuetian's smile faded slightly.

He shook his head: "Dad saw her and chatted with her for a bit, but he didn't recognize her... However, I haven't seen my mom yet."

Yang Chen paused for a moment.

He could understand Bai Yuetian's feelings. Having seen her father in person, her longing for her mother was naturally even more difficult to suppress.

but……

"Your mother is currently in her personal laboratory at the Institute of Life Sciences," Yang Chen reminded her.

"That's not the exhibition hall that was open to the public just now. The security level is a completely different concept. It's not that easy to sneak in."

Life science research institutes, especially those involving cutting-edge projects and core researchers, are bound to be heavily guarded, with layers of security including identity verification, iris scanning, and access authentication.

Since they are unregistered, it's almost impossible for them to enter openly.

"I know it won't be easy." Bai Yuetian turned her head, leaned closer to Yang Chen, and lowered her voice even further.

"But Orange, don't you know that... you know how to become invisible? You can just take me in and we can sneak in together, right?"

He gestured excitedly: "As for those access control systems, cameras, electronic locks... leave them to ASH! Didn't she take care of them in the exhibition hall just now? The network here is even more advanced, it's a piece of cake for her, right? Working together from the inside out, it's flawless!"

Yang Chen was speechless for a moment when he saw Yang Chen's well-thought-out expression.

This guy's mind works incredibly fast when he's trying to see his mom.

Seeing that Yang Chen was still hesitating, Bai Yuetian clasped her hands together, her eyes looking pitiful.

"Just one look, Orange. You know me. My mother left early. I was only 14 years old then, and Yue Kui was only 11."

Yang Chen sighed inwardly.

He knew that if he didn't agree today, Bai Yuetian would nag him for the rest of his life. Moreover, both emotionally and logically, it would be difficult for him to refuse this request.

"...Just to take a look?" Yang Chen asked to confirm.

He was genuinely afraid that Bai Yuetian would lose control of her emotions and acknowledge her as his mother in person.

Bai Yuetian nodded emphatically, his expression unusually serious: "I promise, we'll just look. We absolutely won't make a sound, and we definitely won't get too close. We'll leave after we're done looking."

"Okay," Yang Chen agreed.

The two greeted the shop assistant in charge of their area, pointed to the mountain of shopping bags, and said they would come back to pick them up later.

The shop assistants were naturally very enthusiastic towards these two generous big customers, nodding repeatedly.

"No problem, no problem, gentlemen, don't worry, we'll keep an eye on the items for you! Do you need any delivery assistance? We can provide door-to-door service, just give us the address!"

Yang Chen shook his head and declined, "No need, thank you, we'll take it with us later."

Leaving the shopping mall, the city lights began to twinkle, and the neon lights of Hisakawa City were a stark contrast to the tranquility of Ryukotsu Village.

Guided silently by Ash, the two headed towards the Life Science Research Institute on the other side of the city.

The number of pedestrians and vehicles decreased significantly as you approached the research institute area.

Outside a relatively secluded wall, Yang Chen stopped and put on his communication equipment.

"This is it. Ash, how's the situation?"

"The monitoring loop has been set up. The side door access has been temporarily opened for ninety seconds. You have ample time to enter the floor where Theresa's laboratory is located." ASH's voice sounded simultaneously in their minds.

"The route has been displayed in sync."

"Well done, ASH!" Bai Yuetian whispered excitedly.

The demonic power within Yang Chen circulated, enveloping both him and Bai Yuetian.

The two figures vanished from their spot in an instant.

"Let's go," Yang Chen said in a low voice.

He pulled Bai Yuetian along, following the route provided by ASH, and quickly passed through the temporarily opened side door, disappearing into the cold yet bright corridor inside the research institute.

The research institute was very quiet, with only the sound of the air conditioning system and the occasional sound of automatic doors opening and closing in the distance.

Finally, they reached their target floor and passed through an airtight door that required high-level access to open.

A quieter corridor, marked "Senior Researcher Zone," came into view.

ASH's voice rang out again: "At the end of the corridor ahead, the second room on the left, Theresa and Moon Queen are inside."

Bai Yuetian held his breath.

The two remained invisible and silently floated to the outside of the transparent observation wall of the laboratory.

A woman dressed in a white lab coat, with a gentle and quiet demeanor, and bearing a resemblance to Bai Yuetian in her features, was standing in front of a complex instrument, recording data.

In the corner of the laboratory, next to a small workbench, Xiao Yuekui was standing on a chair, looking at what was reflected in the microscope.

Bai Yuetian subconsciously took half a step forward, as if wanting to see more clearly.

Yang Chen gently pulled him back, signaling him to keep his distance.

Just then, the text message that Bai Yuetian had directly converted through the communication device was projected onto Yang Chen's line of sight.

"Yue Kui when she was little! Isn't she cute? I always said she was like a little adult, always tinkering with these things."

Yang Chen looked at the small figure in the laboratory, and the corners of his mouth unconsciously turned up slightly.

He replied to the past, and the text appeared in Bai Yuetian's sight as well.

"Yes, it is very cute."

Bai Yuetian's message popped up again very quickly.

"It was better when I was a kid. Now nobody really talks to me anymore."

Yang Chen could see Bai Yuetian's feigned aggrieved expression through the words, and replied helplessly.

"...If you were normal, Yue Kui wouldn't be like this."

"I'm perfectly normal."

(End of this chapter)