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

Chapter 123 Secret Preparations

Looking at the broken skeletons scattered on the ground, the remaining flesh and blood on the skeletons quickly turned into a thick black viscous liquid, which seeped into the dark red earth below as if it had a life of its own.

Yang Chen hovered in the air, and the crimson eyes of the Abyss One swept over the chaotic battlefield, offering a nonchalant comment.

"generally."

These Devouring Beasts, which originated from other continents and underwent targeted evolution, have improved in bone armor hardness and resistance, but they are still no match for the power of the talismans.

He controlled the Abyss, turned into a streak of light, and sped towards the direction where the Swift was hovering, arriving in an instant.

The hatch slid open silently and closed quietly after he entered.

"click"

The structure on the back of the creature approaching the abyss opened, and the red biomass lining writhed and receded.

Yang Chen stepped out from the middle, his body spotless.

"ASH, is the data recording complete?" he asked as he walked toward the driver's seat.

"The entire battle process, including all the new Devouring Beast forms and behavioral patterns that appeared, has been fully recorded," ASH's voice rang out, and the main screen quickly replayed the highlights of the battle.

Especially the close-ups of those new mutated types and king-level Devouring Beasts.

It can breathe fire and also launch sonic attacks.

The frequency of those sound waves seems to affect the flow of life essence, potentially causing potential failure; this is something to be aware of.

"The biological model is being updated in sync, and its evolutionary tendencies and attack synergy far exceed those of native individuals, raising the threat level."

"Hmm." Yang Chen sat back in the driver's seat, his gaze sweeping over the data on the screen.

"Their coordination is indeed higher, but perhaps it's just that they obey the orders of a monarch."

"Should we continue to explore other areas where anomalous signals might exist?" ASH asked.

"According to the scan, there are still other large groups of Devouring Beasts nearby."

Yang Chen shook his head and fastened his seatbelt.

"No need. I promised Yue Kui I would go back soon."

They came out to confirm the origin and strength of the new type of Devouring Beast, and their goal has been achieved.

Further exploration can be postponed until more detailed planning is done in the future.

"Set return coordinates: Dragonbone Village. Return at full speed."

"Understood. Route set, return at full speed." ASH responded immediately.

The Swift's engines roared again, and it changed direction, the magical glow of the Rabbit Talisman flowing across the ship's surface once more.

A streak of silvery-blue light tore through the sky, speeding towards home with far greater efficiency than it had come.

Before long, the familiar outline of Dragonbone Village appeared below.

The Swift slowed down and hovered precisely above the entrance to Longgu Village, attracting many villagers below to look up.

The hatch opened, and Yang Chen jumped out of the hatch without even waiting for the Swift to fully land.

The figure fell straight down steadily.

"Did Mr. Yang just go out?" a villager greeted him with a smile.

"Okay, let's go out and take a look." Yang Chen nodded in response, his gaze quickly sweeping across the square, searching for Bai Yuekui's figure.

High in the sky behind him, the Swift's hatch slowly closed, and then it automatically flew towards Ecological Base No. 3 to execute the return command.

Yang Chen spotted Bai Yuekui on the bench under the corridor at a glance, and Bai Yuetian next to her, who was shrugging his neck and looking like he was about to slip away.

He walked over quickly.

When Bai Yuetian saw Yang Chen, it was as if he had seen a savior, or as if he had seen a death warrant.

His expression was extremely complicated, but he finally managed to force an incredibly awkward smile and spoke first: "Haha! Orange, you're back! So fast! Are you done with your business? Um... I suddenly remembered I still have to go to Antarctica! I'll be going now!"

After saying that, before the two could react, he disappeared in a flash.

Yang Chen looked at Bai Yuetian's hastily fleeing figure with some confusion, and walked up to Bai Yuekui.

"What's wrong? Did he upset you again?" Yang Chen asked casually, taking Bai Yuekui's thermos and taking a sip.

Bai Yuekui watched him return safely, and the barely perceptible concern in his eyes quietly faded away.

She didn't answer the question about Bai Yuetian, but simply looked him up and down to make sure that even the hem of his clothes was not disheveled before speaking softly.

"Has it been dealt with?"

"Okay, it's resolved." Yang Chen nodded and handed the water glass back to her.

"The density of Devouring Beasts over there is very high, and their evolutionary paths are very targeted, but that's about it. They don't pose much of a threat. ASH has already recorded the specific data."

"That's good." Bai Yuekui stood up.

"The children all received their gifts and were very happy. Qiu Shi took them out to play."

"Yes, I saw it." Yang Chen smiled and walked slowly with her towards home.

After taking a few steps, Bai Yuekui suddenly stopped, turned to the side, and stretched out a fair hand towards Yang Chen, palm facing upward, with a rare hint of expectation in her eyes.

"The children did receive gifts," she said casually, but with a hidden meaning.

"What about mine?"

Yang Chen was taken aback upon hearing this, and subconsciously said, "Didn't I... buy it for you before?"

He remembered the contents of the shopping bags: a mechanical white mouse and a few pieces of clothing.

Bai Yuekui gave a soft "hmm," his voice rising slightly at the end, as if he wasn't entirely satisfied with the answer.

She withdrew her hands, crossed them to her chest, glanced at the children playing in the distance, and spoke in a light tone, but with a hint of teasing.

"A mechanical white mouse, and a few pieces of clothing. I'm not really sure about the fabric of that piece of clothing; was it bought for me... or was it bought for someone else?"

Yang Chen: "..."

Having his little scheme exposed, he touched his nose and smiled helplessly.

"So... what do you want? It's still early, how about we go again now?"

He suggested, taking Bai Yuekui's hand: "Let's just treat this as a walk."

Bai Yuekui shook his head.

Her gaze returned to Yang Chen's face, a trace of confusion and melancholy flashing across his clear eyes.

"No need," she said softly.

"What do I really want... I don't know."

She paused, her voice softening as if talking to herself: "Having lived in the old world until now, it seems there's nothing left that can particularly interest me, no matter what I've seen, possessed, or lost."

The long life and heavy past seem to have worn down many worldly desires.

Material things, to her, are mostly just fleeting clouds, useful or useless.

Reaching out to him at this moment might not really be about asking for a tangible gift, but rather a subconscious emotional dependence and need for reassurance that she herself might not fully understand.

Yang Chen noticed the fleeting emptiness in her eyes and was about to say something.

"Boss Yang! Boss Bai!"

A loud voice broke the delicate atmosphere between the two.

Belenkov strode over, his face now furrowed, the words "I can't take it" written all over it.

He first nodded to the two of them as a greeting, and then immediately began to pour out his grievances.

"Boss, when are you going to get that brat Pokong back to his settlement?" Belenkov asked excitedly, waving his thick arms.

“That little brat! He’s practically become Kolova’s shadow lately! He follows her around, watches over her meals, and even when Kolova and I are forging iron next to the furnace, that kid has that big smirk on his face and keeps staring at us!”

I initially thought the kid was following him to learn how to make weapons, but all he did all day was stare at Kolova.

He seemed to recall that scene, and became so angry that he glared and puffed out his beard.

“The most outrageous thing is! Kolova had a little sweat on her forehead, and that kid actually, actually pulled out a handkerchief and went over to wipe her sweat! That scoundrel has dirty hands!” Belenkov became angrier as he spoke, and his face turned red.

"Kolova didn't say anything, and even thought he was quite interesting, but I get angry just looking at him! Boss Yang, Boss Bai, you're familiar with that side, quickly ask them when they're coming to pick him up? Or think of a way to stop him from bothering my daughter, okay?"

Yang Chen and Bai Yuekui exchanged a glance, both seeing the amusement in each other's eyes.

Po Kong's feelings for Kolova, which were almost written all over his face, now seem to be escalating.

Yang Chen cleared his throat, trying to calm Belenkov, who was about to explode.

"Don't rush things. Po Kong is young, he shouldn't have any strange ideas. He'll leave after he finishes his studies in the village. As for him following Kolova..."

He paused, glanced at Bai Yuekui, and noticed that she seemed to smile, so he continued.

"As long as Kolova herself doesn't find it bothersome, it's probably best for us not to interfere too much in the children's affairs. However, I will find an opportunity to remind Pokong to be mindful of his behavior and the occasion."

Come to think of it, it was he who asked Kolova to take Pokong to get acquainted with the village. Over time, the two kids seemed to get along quite well.

Belenkov, though still somewhat angry, calmed down a little after hearing this.

He sighed, "Well, it's not that I have a problem with him, it's just that seeing how eager that kid is to please me makes me feel uneasy!"

"Since you've said so, boss, I'll go back and check on the stove."

After saying that, he turned and left in a hurry, his back view exuding a sense of irritation.

After this interruption, the subtle atmosphere surrounding the gift dissipated.

Bai Yuekui withdrew his gaze, the melancholy on his face long gone, and he returned to his usual appearance.

“Let’s go,” she said, taking the first step, “to go home.”

“Okay.” Yang Chen followed and stood beside her.

But he was thinking to himself that he couldn't just let the matter of the gift go.

She didn't particularly want anything, but he had to give her something special.

Time flies by, and a month has passed in the blink of an eye.

Before dawn, the village of Longgu was shrouded in a thin layer of tranquility.

There was a gentle knock on the door of Baiyuetian's cottage.

Almost the instant the knocking ended, the door was pulled open from the inside, clearly indicating that the people inside had been preparing for some time.

Bai Yuetian appeared at the door looking energetic, dressed in neat outdoor clothes.

He looked at Yang Chen outside the door and lowered his voice to confirm, "Leaving now? You haven't been discovered by Yue Kui, have you?"

Yang Chen nodded, also keeping his voice very low.

He glanced unconsciously in the direction of his own home to make sure that area was still quiet.

"It's better to go early. Yuekui is a light sleeper, so I was very careful when I came out."

He appeared calm for the past month, but in reality, he had been secretly preparing, and finally chose today to take action.

Bai Yuetian was an indispensable "wingman" and "technical advisor" in his plan.

"Understood!" Bai Yuetian nodded emphatically, his face showing a mixture of excitement and nervousness.

"Alright, let's finish this quickly before it gets completely light! Let's go!"

Without another word, the two vanished from the spot, leaving no trace.

inside the house.

The sky brightened a bit more, and soft morning light streamed through the window, illuminating the bedroom floor.

Bai Yuekui on the bed trembled slightly with her eyelashes and slowly opened her eyes.

She has always been a light sleeper and has an extremely precise biological clock.

The first thing I noticed upon waking was the unusual emptiness and quietness beside me.

She subconsciously reached out and touched the side, only to find it icy cold, not the warm and firm feel she had expected.

Bai Yuekui frowned slightly and propped himself up on his arms to sit up.

My pillow was empty.

She turned to look out the window. It was just past dawn, and according to his usual habits, Yang Chen would never get up and leave at this time.

Where did he go?

Bai Yuekui threw off the covers and got out of bed, walking barefoot onto the cool floor into the living room.

The room was quiet, without a sound.

“ASH,” she called softly.

“I am here, Moon Queen.” Ash’s gentle voice immediately rang out through a hidden speaker in the room.

"Where's the orange?" Bai Yuekui asked directly.

"Yang Chen and Bai Yuetian left Dragon Bone Village one hour and seventeen minutes ago," ASH reported truthfully.

“I don’t know exactly where he went, but he told me that if you ask, he and Yue Tian went out for a while and would be back in the evening.”

Going out? With your brother? Still not telling us where you're going?

Bai Yuekui's brows furrowed even more.

These two people... were getting together mysteriously.

They even sneaked out early in the morning; this combination itself exudes an unusual aura.

She walked to the window and looked at the village that was gradually awakening outside. Several guesses flashed through her mind, but she rejected them one by one.

Based on her understanding of the two of them, Bai Yuetian was most likely not up to any serious business.

But it doesn't seem like they're going to do anything dangerous or outrageous.

That feeling was more like... a secret operation that was deliberately kept from her, with a touch of childishness.

What could it be?

Bai Yuekui stood there, lost in thought for a moment.

Finally, she gently shook her head and turned to walk towards the washroom.

Since he left a message saying he'd be back tonight, let's wait and see.

When they get back, she'll ask them what those two were up to when they sneaked out.

After washing up and changing into casual clothes that allowed for easy movement, Bai Yuekui pushed open the door and went out.

The morning air carries a refreshing coolness; taking a deep breath feels like cleansing your lungs.

She habitually walked towards the square in the center of the village.

The square was already quite lively, with many elderly people having already begun their daily morning exercise.

The morning exercises in Longgu Village are diverse and unique.

An elderly man with white hair was striking his forehead against a hanging thick iron pipe, producing a dull and rhythmic "thump, thump" sound that sent chills down one's spine.

An elderly woman put a huge metal hula hoop around her neck and flexibly twisted her waist and neck, making the heavy hula hoop spin rapidly.

All these strange sights are commonplace in Dragonbone Village.

Bai Yuekui walked calmly to the brand-new audio equipment at the edge of the square.

She skillfully operated the controls for a few seconds and then pressed the play button.

Suddenly, a rhythmic, lively, and energetic melody flowed out, instantly filling the entire square.

Bai Yuekui naturally walked to the front of the group, with his back to everyone.

She was the first to move to the beat of the music.

It's quite unusual to see a white-haired "young woman" leading a group of white-haired elderly people.

(End of this chapter)