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

Chapter 145 Everyone talks about it
When Yang Chen led Hong Kou and the others back to the village, the sun was already setting.

After hanging the Alaya consciousness back on the wall of the hut, he walked straight toward the training ground.

The shouts and commands coming from the training field were clearly audible.

From afar, one could see Ulan Aodeng standing at the edge of the field, his eyes piercing as he focused on the training session inside.

And next to the field, that small figure was particularly eye-catching.

Ulan Maiduo was gripping a wooden six-section spear that was a bit heavy for her, repeating the basic movements of thrusting, parrying, and sweeping.

He seemed somewhat out of place compared to the other practitioners preparing for enlightenment.

Yang Chen slowed his pace and walked to Wulan Aodeng's side, without disturbing Maiduo's training.

He watched quietly for a while, a hint of approval in his eyes.

Ulan Aodeng noticed his arrival, turned his head, and greeted him in a low voice: "Boss Yang, you're back."

"Hmm," Yang Chen responded, his gaze still fixed on Mai Duo, and spoke.

"The supplies will arrive in three days. Ao Deng, you should inform Nanji Xing in the next few days to have the people in the village and the second village prepare. We need to build a few backup shielding towers. Normally, the main tower will be kept on, and when equipment needs to be replaced or the main tower needs maintenance, the backup tower will be activated in time."

Ulan Aodeng nodded seriously: "Understood. I'll go find Antarctica after their training is over."

After finishing his business, Yang Chen's gaze returned to that hardworking little figure.

"Has Maiduo been practicing the Six Harmonies Spear technique these past few days?"

Ulan Aodeng followed his gaze, his usually serious face softening slightly: "Hmm, Maiduo seems to be serious; she hasn't slacked off in training at all."

Yang Chen watched as Mai Duo thrust out her spear with renewed vigor, her stance already showing promise.

He nodded, not going forward to disturb them, but simply watched Maido's training quietly with Wulan Aodeng for a while longer.

Looking at Mai Duo's earnest and stubborn little face, Yang Chen suddenly seemed to remember something and turned to ask Wu Lan Ao Deng.

"What has Hai Sang been doing these past few days?"

Ulan Aodeng's gaze remained fixed on his daughter on the field, and he answered calmly, "When he's out on field duty, he sometimes practices on his own. Why are you suddenly asking about him?"

"It's nothing," Yang Chen said with a hint of regret.

"I just feel like this kid has suddenly become less affectionate towards me. He used to always call Tasia and Fang Yuan 'Brother Yang,' but now he only calls me 'Boss' respectfully. Tasia and the others have followed suit and changed their way of addressing me very quickly."

Ulan Aodeng paused for a moment, thinking to himself, "I can't exactly tell you it's because I thought he was disrespectful and beat him up..."

He remained expressionless, only vaguely replying, "Hmm... I guess I've grown up and know my limits now."

Yang Chen could only nod and say nothing more, but the subtle sense of loss in his heart still lingered.

Perhaps children will always be like this as they grow up; Qiu Shi was like that back then too.

Just then, Maido finished her training for the day, let out a long breath, and put down the heavy wooden gun.

She raised her hand to wipe the sweat from her forehead, turned her head and saw the two people standing on the sidelines. Her face immediately lit up with a bright smile, and she jogged over.

"Dad! Brother Yang!" Her voice was still slightly out of breath as she looked up at the two of them, her eyes sparkling.

The way he called out "Brother Yang" was so natural and affectionate that it instantly dispelled the faint melancholy that had arisen in Yang Chen's heart because of Hai Sang.

A smile involuntarily appeared on his face as he bent down and patted Maido's hair: "You've been practicing very hard, are you tired?"

Mai Duo shook her head vigorously, puffing out her little chest: "Not tired! Brother Yang, my bayonet technique is much better today!"

"Yes, I saw it," Yang Chen confirmed with a smile.

"You've made great progress. Keep it up, and you'll definitely be even better than your dad in the future."

As Wulan Aodeng watched his daughter and Yang Chen interact intimately, and then thought of his own son, who had become so rigid after being "educated" by him, his lips twitched almost imperceptibly.

He couldn't bear to hit or scold Maiduo, but Haisang was different.

If anyone is to blame, it's Hai Sang, the older brother, for failing to set a good example from the start.

Hmm. Let's also include Hai Sang in the list of people who built the shielding tower.

Maiduo looked up at him curiously and asked, "Brother Yang, why haven't I seen you these past two days? You haven't come to school either."

Yang Chen squatted down, looked Mai Duo in the eye, and explained, "I've been busy with something else these past few days..."

He was halfway through his sentence when a thought suddenly popped into his head, and he asked with a smile.

"Mado, would you like to see the old world?"

"The Old World?" Myodo blinked her big eyes, somewhat puzzled.

"Are we going to the city ruins over there?"

“It’s not ruins.” Yang Chen shook his head.

"It's a real world, a world without the Mana ecosystem, without Devouring Beasts, where people live and go to school normally... I'll take you to see it, and we'll come back in three days."

Maido's little mouth opened slightly, her face showing an expression of longing.

A world without Devouring Beasts? What would that be like?
She had only seen the images in school.

But soon, her little brows furrowed again, and she hesitated, saying, "A world without Mana ecology? But... but I still have to train these two days... and I haven't finished the homework the principal assigned..."

Yang Chen couldn't help but chuckle at her mature demeanor, which made her both eager to go and worried about the training.

"Whether it's practicing martial arts or studying, you have to pay attention to the balance between work and rest, and the balance between tension and relaxation. Seeing a wider world is itself a kind of learning and cultivation, so I've decided on this happily."

Maido hesitated for a moment, then subconsciously turned to look at her father.

Looking at his daughter's expectant eyes, and then at Yang Chen, Wulan Aodeng understood.

With Yang Chen leading the way, he had no reason to worry about going to the Old World or even just taking a stroll through an ecologically dense area.

He nodded firmly to Mai Duo: "Go ahead, follow your arrangements, Boss Yang."

With her father's permission, Maiduo almost jumped for joy: "Great! Thank you, Dad! Thank you, Brother Yang! I want to see what the old world is like!"

"Mm." Yang Chen smiled and stood up, then ruffled Mai Duo's hair again.

"Go change your clothes, we'll be leaving soon."

"Okay!" Maiduo responded loudly, turned around and ran towards home, her steps light and quick, as if the fatigue after training had been swept away.

Ulan Aodeng watched his daughter's cheerful figure, shook his head, but smiled as he said to Yang Chen.

"Boss, I'll leave Maido to you."

"It's not a problem at all," Yang Chen said gently, watching Mai Duo run off into the distance.

While the two were talking, Maiduo had already changed into a clean and neat set of casual clothes and ran back quickly, her little face full of excitement and anticipation.

Yang Chen reached out his hand, and Mai Duo unhesitatingly placed her small hand into his large one.

"Hold on tight." Yang Chen smiled down at her.

Maido nodded emphatically: "Mmm!"

The next moment, the power of the Rabbit Talisman surged slightly, and the two figures instantly disappeared from the edge of the training field.

Almost at the same moment they arrived at a secluded corner of Jiuchuan City, Yang Chen's ASH mobile device vibrated slightly, receiving a communication request from Bai Yuekui.

As soon as Yang Chen answered the phone, Bai Yuekui's voice came through: "Chengzi, why are you only coming now? What happened in the village?"

"It's nothing," Yang Chen replied casually, leading Mai Duo, who was curiously looking around, forward.

"We just re-inspected and maintained several shielding towers, and replaced the crystals just in case. It took a little time."

Upon hearing that the village was safe, Bai Yuekui's tone visibly relaxed.

"Oh, then come over to my house. Have you eaten yet?"

"Yes, we've eaten. We'll be there soon," Yang Chen replied.

Bai Yuekui keenly noticed the "we" and asked in confusion, "We? Is anyone else with you?" Yang Chen looked down at Mai Duo, who was trying to adjust to the bright lights and tall buildings around her and seemed a little nervous, and smiled into the communicator, "Yes, I brought Mai Duo with me."

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the communication line, followed by Bai Yuekui's voice, which seemed to carry a hint of amusement.

"Maido?...Okay, I got it. Come over quickly, I'm in a bit of trouble."

Trouble? Judging from Bai Yuekui's tone, it didn't seem like a big deal.

After ending the call, Yang Chen felt the small hand holding his tighten.

He looked down and saw Maiduo looking up at the bustling traffic and flashing neon lights around her, her little face filled with excitement and a little timidity. She saw the smartly dressed pedestrians, the hovercars whizzing by, and the towering glass buildings...

Everything was completely different from the desolate ruins and villages she was familiar with.

"Don't be afraid," Yang Chen said gently, holding her small hand tightly.

"It's safe here. Come on, I'll take you to get something delicious to eat."

He took her hand and they blended into the crowds of Jiuchuan City.

Maido's eyes widened as the vibrant, bustling, and lively world before her overlapped with the "old world" in the images.

As Yang Chen led Mai Duo through the door, a slightly noisy sound greeted them.

In the living room, Bai Yuekui was sitting cross-legged on the soft carpet, intently staring at the huge screen that occupied the entire wall. His fingers flew across the game controller, and the screen was filled with dazzling lights and shadows, clearly indicating that the battle was in full swing.

The restaurant area next door was even more spectacular.

Bai Yuetian and Bai Jingyu sat at the dining table with their arms around each other's shoulders, with several empty wine bottles and leftover dishes in front of them.

Bai Yuetian was clearly drunk. He hugged Bai Jingyu, whose face was also flushed, tightly and slurred, "Dad! Although... hiccup... strictly speaking, you're practically another Bai Jingyu now! And! I'm older than you!"

He suddenly slapped Bai Jingyu on the back, making a "smack" sound.

"Here's the deal! From now on! You'll call me Dad! And I'll call you Dad! How about that? We'll each keep to our own roles! Neither of us will lose out!"

Bai Jingyu was clearly drunk, his eyes were a little glazed over, and he was jolted by Bai Yuetian's slap. He then slammed his hand on the table, making the dishes rattle, and his tongue was tied in knots.

"Fine! Whatever you say! I'll do whatever you say! Good son... uh, good dad!"

Yang Chen was speechless at the chaotic and comical scene, and could only cast a questioning glance at Bai Yuekui, the only one who was sober.

Is this the trouble you were talking about?

Bai Yuekui's gaze remained fixed on the screen, his fingers continuing to operate, only casually offering an explanation: "He drank too much."

Then, she noticed the little girl next to Yang Chen, who was staring at the scene with wide, curious eyes, looking at it with a bit of confusion. She waved to Mai Duo.

"Maiduo, come over here."

Mai Duo let go of Yang Chen's hand, walked to Bai Yuekui's side, and obediently called out, "Boss Bai."

Bai Yuekui grunted in agreement, put down the controller for the moment, grabbed a handful of beautifully packaged snacks from the snack box next to him, and stuffed them into Maiduo's hand.

"Eat some of this first."

Yang Chen shook his head helplessly and walked over to the two men who were arm in arm, almost like brothers, or even recognized each other as father and son.

He reached out and placed his hands on Bai Jingyu's and Bai Yuetian's shoulders respectively.

A soft, pure blue light flowed from his palm and quickly entered the two people's bodies.

The power of the horse charm gently cleansed and dispelled the confusion brought on by the alcohol.

Almost instantly, Bai Yuetian and Bai Jingyu's dazed eyes regained their clarity at a visible speed, and the flush on their faces quickly faded.

The two shook their heads simultaneously, seemingly not quite realizing what had just happened.

Bai Yuetian blinked, looking at himself still with his arm around his father's shoulder, then at his father's eyes, which had regained their clarity. Fragments of those "bold words" from earlier flooded back into his mind...

Bai Jingyu was also stunned. He subconsciously touched his back, which had been a little sore from his son's pat, and then thought back to what he had just promised...

The father and son exchanged a glance and remained silent.

"."

Yang Chen broke the silence, looking at Bai Yuetian and asking, "How did you get so drunk with your silicon-based body?"

Bai Yuetian: "When you're happy from drinking, let ASH amplify your senses."

Yang Chen shook his head helplessly, then looked at Bai Jingyu, who had an embarrassed expression, and said, "...Father-in-law."

He found it hard to imagine how Bai Jingyu, who was usually so calm and composed, could have gone this far with Bai Yuetian.

Bai Jingyu, now sober, recalled his absurd "each to their own opinion" remarks and felt his ears burning.

He rarely drinks alcohol, you could even say he almost never touches it.

But today... today Bai Yuetian was in high spirits and repeatedly invited him, saying things like, "Dad, try this," and "Dad, we've never drunk together before."

Faced with the eager, expectant eyes of his now-adult son, whom he had lost and then found again, a mix of guilt and doting affection overwhelmed him. He drank cup after cup, almost unable to refuse, until...

He stood up somewhat awkwardly, coughed lightly, and tried to cover his embarrassment: "Well... it seems to be getting late."

Bai Yuetian quickly stood up as well, showing a rare display of consideration, and said, "Dad, you must be tired today. Shall I walk you home?"

Bai Jingyu was more than happy to agree and immediately nodded: "Alright, then I'll head back first."

He walked towards the door with slightly hurried steps. As he passed through the living room, he glanced at Bai Yuekui, who was still focused on the game screen and seemed indifferent to everything around him. He paused for a moment and then spoke.

"Then Yue Kui, I'll be going now."

Bai Yuekui's gaze didn't even leave the screen for half a second.

He simply raised his free hand and waved it in the air as a farewell, his tone flat and indifferent.

"Ah."

Looking at his daughter's indifferent profile, Bai Jingyu felt a slight embarrassment from the drunken stunt gradually turn into disappointment.

But he didn't say anything more, only sighed softly, turned around and followed Bai Yuetian out of the room.

The door closed gently.

The room became much quieter, with only the game sound effects and the soft sound of Maido carefully unwrapping the packaging.

Yang Chen sat down next to Bai Yuekui, looking at the dazzling battle scenes on the screen, and casually asked, "Is this the trouble you were talking about?"

Bai Yuekui controlled his character to execute a beautiful combo to defeat the BOSS before pressing the pause button and turning around.

First, he looked Maido up and down, who was eating snacks and curiously observing the living room environment, before looking at Yang Chen and gesturing with his chin toward the messy dining table in the dining area.

"Two drunkards, one insists on acknowledging a father figure, and the other readily agrees. Isn't this trouble big enough?"

"Mai Duo." Bai Yuekui ignored Yang Chen and looked at Mai Duo.

Have you eaten? Shall I make you something new?

Maiduo quickly swallowed the snack in her mouth and obediently shook her head: "No need to trouble yourself, boss, I ate it at home."

Her gaze, however, involuntarily drifted towards the huge game screen, her eyes filled with curiosity.

Bai Yuekui noticed her gaze and raised an eyebrow slightly: "Want to play?"

Maido nodded somewhat shyly, then quickly shook her head: "I...I've never played this before..."

"It's very simple, I'll teach you."

Bai Yuekui seemed to have found something more interesting than playing games, so he shoved another controller into Maiduo's hand and began to explain the button functions in a simple way.

Yang Chen smiled as he watched Bai Yuekui quickly get into the teaching and Mai Duo, who was both nervous and excited.

He got up and walked towards the restaurant, deciding to clean up the mess at the table first.

(End of this chapter)