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

Chapter 124 Special Gift
The air in Hisakawa City was slightly cool in the early morning.

The streets were sparsely populated with pedestrians and vehicles, and many shops remained closed.

Only a few breakfast stalls were lit with warm lights, wafting out tempting aromas of food.

"Tsk, getting up too early isn't good either," Bai Yuetian said, his hands in his pockets, kicking a non-existent pebble at his feet, looking at the deserted commercial street with some annoyance.

"We haven't even opened many stores yet. Our gift-buying plan has gotten off to a bad start, Orange."

Yang Chen's gaze swept over the tightly closed doors of the luxury store, and he felt somewhat helpless.

“There’s nothing we can do about it. Once Yue Kui wakes up, we’ll have no excuse to slip away.” He paused, lowering his voice, “If we tell her we came to Jiu Chuan, she’ll definitely come along.”

In that case, the surprise would be completely ruined.

Bai Yuetian understood this principle, clicked his tongue, and scratched his head.

"So... what do we do now? Just wait? Or find somewhere to kill some time?" he suggested, his eyes darting around.

"I remember there's a square not far from here, a place where old men and women usually do their morning exercises. Shall we go there and take a look first?"

"Let's go." Yang Chen nodded.

It's better than standing here conspicuously.

The two figures slowly walked towards the square that Bai Yuetian had mentioned.

After a while, they appeared at the edge of a fairly large public square.

The square was indeed quite lively, mostly with elderly people.

Some people were practicing Tai Chi slowly in twos and threes, their movements as graceful as flowing clouds and water.

Some gathered together to play shuttlecock, laughing all the while, while others simply took a walk to stretch their muscles.

The atmosphere was peaceful and serene.

But in Bai Yuetian's eyes, it boils down to two words.

boring.

"There's nothing interesting here," Bai Yuetian yawned.

"They have no energy at all. They're not even as energetic as the kids in our village who bang on iron pipes."

Yang Chen didn't respond to his words. His gaze fell on the slowly moving figures, and he suddenly asked a question.

"Bai Yuetian, think about it again. What else do you think Yue Kui might like?" He frowned slightly.

"She doesn't seem to have any attachment to material things. Clothes, snacks, and even high-tech gadgets seem to be just 'tools' to her."

He and Bai Yuetian had discussed this many times this month, but now he couldn't help but think about it carefully again.

He looked at Bai Yuetian with a hint of seeking an answer.

"You've been with her since you were little, you know her best. Think again, does she have any... special hobbies? Or something she's always wanted but never got?"

Bai Yuetian was taken aback by the question, and he stroked his chin, thinking hard with an extremely serious expression.

A few seconds later, he clapped his hands suddenly and exclaimed as if in a flash of realization, "I like brains!"

Yang Chen: "..."

Seeing Yang Chen's speechless expression, Bai Yuetian chuckled and explained.

"She just loves research, doing scientific research, and figuring out those life-generating substances. She's been like this since she was little. Whenever she sees a research sample or data that interests her, her eyes light up a few times more than usual!"

It's like saying nothing.

Yang Chen sighed: "I know that."

"But the laboratory equipment, everything usable in the Nirvana ruins was moved out before. Now, the configuration of Eco-Base No. 3 is probably more complete than many top laboratories in the Old World."

He can't just go and bring back another laboratory; it wouldn't be very useful anyway. He'd have to organize people to build one.

“Uh…that’s true.” Bai Yuetian was also stumped.

He racked his brains for a while, then tentatively said, "Then... the new music equipment? She seems to really enjoy the one for square dancing, right? But didn't you already buy a brand new set?"

Yang Chen nodded. The top-of-the-line audio equipment did make it easier for Bai Yuekui to lead the villagers in their morning exercises, but that was all.

It seems that nothing really makes her feel "especially wanting" something.

Just as the two were speechless and staring blankly at the slow Tai Chi movements in the square, a whooshing sound caught their attention.

The sound came from a small corner on the other side of the square.

A group of elderly men dressed in matching training uniforms were practicing swordsmanship in a somewhat disorganized line, led by a sprightly old man.
The swords in their hands gleamed with a cold light in the morning glow.

The movements were not entirely slow, but rather varied in pace, with the sword blade slicing through the air with a faint whooshing sound.

Their expressions were serious and focused, their eyes sharp, and every move they made exuded a sense of composure and strength honed through countless trials.

The elderly man at the head of the group, in particular, had white hair and beard, but his posture was ramrod straight and his arms were extremely steady.

The sword tip seemed to contain a peculiar rhythm and power as it flickered, causing Yang Chen to glance at it slightly.

"Oh ho?" Bai Yuetian also became interested.

"These old men are quite something! Their sword dance is interesting, not just for show."

Yang Chen stared at the old man: "The rhythm of his breathing, the way he exerts force... it's somewhat similar to Ao Deng's method."

Upon hearing this, Bai Yuetian also took a closer look: "Now that you mention it, it does have a bit of that feel to it."

The two watched each other quietly for a while.

As the morning light grew stronger, more and more people gradually filled the square.

Yang Chen raised his hand to check the time, his brows furrowing slightly: "At this hour, Yue Kui should already be up."

He subconsciously touched his body, took out the small mobile terminal, and asked in a low voice, "ASH, you didn't tell Yuekui that we came to Jiuchuan, did you?"

ASH's gentle voice immediately came from the terminal, the volume just right, so that only the two of them could hear it clearly.

"No. I will reply as you previously instructed: you will be out for a short while and will return in the evening."

Yang Chen breathed a sigh of relief and nodded: "That's good, thanks, ASH."

"You're welcome." ASH paused for a moment, then provided a new message.

"According to feedback from the intelligent management system of shops along the route, some large shopping malls in your target area opened ten minutes ago and their service systems have been activated, but the peak customer flow has not yet arrived. If you go there now, the environment should be relatively comfortable."

"Great!" Bai Yuetian perked up at the news.

"Finally, we don't have to waste time watching that old man practice his swordplay anymore! Let's go, Orange, Ash has already given us directions!"

Yang Chen took one last look at the group of old men, then turned away.

“Okay, let’s go.” He said to Bai Yuetian.

"It's just the right distance to walk there. By the time we get there, all the shops should be open."

Without further delay, the two left the gradually bustling city square side by side, their figures merging into the gradually awakening urban crowd, heading towards the shopping mall.

Following Ash's directions, the two soon arrived at a jewelry store with an impressively luxurious facade.

The heavy glass doors slid open automatically, and the soft interior lighting illuminated every piece of jewelry in the display case, making them sparkle brilliantly.

A well-dressed and impeccably made-up shop assistant immediately greeted them with a smile, her gaze quickly but politely sweeping over the two men. "Good morning, gentlemen," the assistant said in a gentle voice.

"Welcome. Are you looking to see some jewelry? Would you like me to give you a brief introduction, or do you have a specific item you'd like to look at first?"

Bai Yuetian almost instinctively wanted to make a joke, but Yang Chen stopped him with a look.

Yang Chen's gaze had already fallen on the display cases, his eyes sweeping over the extravagant diamond and gemstone rings.

It seems to be searching for something more understated and unique.

He hesitated for a moment, then said to the shop assistant, "We'd like to take a look at... rings, the kind with a more unique design, not so... common styles."

The sales clerk smiled knowingly: "I understand, you're looking for uniqueness and design, right? Please come this way, we have some pieces from independent designers, perhaps you'll find something you're interested in."

Upon hearing this, the shop assistant's smile became even more professional.

She led the two men to a more private VIP display area, saying, "Gentlemen, you have discerning taste. We do have some very special pieces here, such as these few."

She put on white gloves and carefully took a ring from the velvet pad. The ring had a peculiar streamlined matte texture, and the gemstone inside seemed to have a nebula slowly rotating inside.

“These unique pieces, designed by renowned designers from the Hela Empire and transported through special channels, are all one-of-a-kind in design and inlay technique.”

She placed the ring on a black display stand so that the two of them could see every detail.

Then, she looked at the two of them with a hint of curiosity and asked cautiously and politely, "If I may ask, what is your relationship...? This might help me recommend a suitable style."

Before Yang Chen could fully process why the shop assistant had asked such a question, Bai Yuetian grinned, patted Yang Chen's shoulder casually, and answered first.

"I'm his brother-in-law! You're overthinking it. It's not for us to wear, it's for my sister."

The shop assistant immediately showed a perfectly timed apology and bowed slightly: "Ah, I'm so sorry, I misunderstood. Your sister is so lucky to have two such caring family members."

She quickly and naturally steered the conversation back to the main topic, taking out several rings from another display case that were noticeably more delicate and had softer lines.

"These styles might be more suitable for women. They are equally outstanding in design, but they emphasize a combination of elegance and uniqueness."

Yang Chen examined the rings closely. They were indeed exquisite, but he felt that something was still missing.

"Anything else...?" Yang Chen shook his head slightly.

"These... still don't feel quite right."

The sales clerk looked troubled: "Sir, this is already our best and most unique style. If you're not satisfied with these, I'm afraid..."

Before she could finish speaking, Bai Yuetian impatiently interrupted and asked directly.

"Hey, is your designer here? Can we just order directly from him? Money's no object! I want something one-of-a-kind in the world, with the best materials, and the design... it has to be understated yet incredibly cool!"

On the contrary, he used his father's card; Bai Jingyu had plenty of money.

The shop assistant was taken aback by Bai Yuetian's straightforward and audacious request, but her excellent professionalism allowed her to respond quickly.

"We do offer customization services, but you need to make an appointment with our chief designer, Ms. Anna, who usually requires booking at least two weeks in advance. The customization process is also quite complex, involving communicating design concepts, selecting materials, and confirming the model..."

"Two weeks?" Bai Yuetian's voice rose.

"How can we make it in time! We have to go back tonight!" He turned to look at Yang Chen.

He gestured with his eyes, indicating that 'this approach doesn't seem to be working either.'

Yang Chen frowned slightly, about to speak, when the mobile terminal in his pocket vibrated very slightly.

ASH's voice rang softly in his ears: "Yang Chen, I found the brand's chief designer's public schedule. She happened to be conducting her quarterly store tour this morning and should be in the backstage studio right now. Should I try to arrange a meeting for you under the name of 'Bai Jingyu's Special Advisor'? The success rate is estimated at 99%."

Yang Chen's eyes flickered slightly, and he tapped the terminal very lightly with his fingertip to indicate his agreement.

At the same time, the internal communicator on the shop assistant's body beeped softly.

She listened intently for a moment, a hint of surprise flashing across her face. When she looked at Yang Chen and Bai Yuetian again, her eyes held a more serious and inquisitive look.

When she ended the call and faced the two of them again, her smile became even warmer and more respectful.

"Gentlemen, it's quite a coincidence that our chief designer, Ms. Anna, happens to be in the store today. If you don't mind waiting a moment, I'll introduce you now, and perhaps... we can discuss your customization needs directly?"

The clerk had barely finished speaking when Yang Chen and Bai Yuetian were left speechless.

A middle-aged woman dressed smartly and exuding a capable air walked briskly out from the inner studio passageway.

Her gaze fell directly on Yang Chen and Bai Yuetian, a smile on her face.

"Good morning, gentlemen. I am Anna." She extended her hand and shook hands with each of them.

"I heard you two have an urgent custom order? Please come directly to my studio to discuss it in detail; it's quieter there." She was very welcoming.

Clearly, the name Bai Jingyu is very effective.

Upon hearing that there was a chance, Bai Yuetian nudged Yang Chen with his elbow and whispered, "Great job, Orange. ASH is reliable."

Yang Chen remained calm as always and nodded to Anna: "Thank you for your help."

The three entered a studio filled with design elements, yet also piled high with various drawings and material samples.

Anna asked the two to sit down in the chairs in front of the workbench and asked directly, "So, what kind of ring would you like to have custom-made? Do you have any requirements regarding the material, style, or any special meaning?"

Yang Chen pondered for a moment, seemingly organizing his thoughts.

He raised his hand and gestured with his fingertips in the air.

Blah blah blah, listening to Yang Chen's colorful black and multicolored white.

Anna was at her wit's end, but her professional ethics prevented her from swearing.

Realizing that what he was saying was indeed a bit abstract, Yang Chen took out his mobile terminal and operated it a few times.

Show Anna a holographic projection displayed on the ASH terminal.

Detailed 3D models of the Tang Dynasty swords "Alaya-vijnana," characterized by their simple yet sharp designs and smooth lines.

Its scabbard is dark blue, and the details of the guard and hilt are also adorned with deep gold.

“A combination and texture of blue and gold like this,” Yang Chen pointed to the projection.

Designer Anna leaned closer to examine the holographic projection closely, a hint of amazement and intense interest flashing in her eyes.

"This is... a weapon? But its lines and color scheme are truly unique. I get the feeling you're looking for: understated luxury with an inner power."

Bai Yuetian, listening intently, couldn't help but interject, "Yes, yes, yes! It has to be that kind of look that's impressive but not flashy. My sister can command respect with just a wave of her hand, something like that."

Anna was amused by Bai Yuetian's description, but quickly understood what he meant: "I understand, it needs to be aesthetically pleasing and the design needs to be simple and smooth."

Anna quickly sketched a draft on the electronic sketchpad, combining Yang Chen's description, the projection of the Alaya consciousness, and her understanding of "gifting to a strong and unique woman".

A preliminary design concept is rapidly taking shape.

“I think I have some inspiration,” Anna said, looking up.

"Give me a little time to refine the sketch. Would you two like to sit for a moment, or perhaps have some tea and refreshments in the rest area outside?"

"No need, no need, we'll wait here. Hurry up and draw!" Bai Yuetian was even more anxious than Yang Chen. He sat down firmly, determined not to leave until he saw the final design.

Yang Chen nodded, his gaze falling on Anna's rapidly moving pen tip.

　Including this chapter, it's already 8 words. I'm really fired up!

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(End of this chapter)