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

Chapter 147 It's time to face it.
Theresa: ".?"

The worry on her face was replaced by astonishment.

She reached out and placed the back of her hand on Bai Jingyu's forehead to feel its temperature, then placed it on her own forehead, murmuring to herself.

"No fever."

Her brows furrowed tightly, her eyes filled with confusion: "Jingyu, are you hallucinating because of too much work pressure?"

"Why don't you come to the hospital with me? I'll take a look at you, or we can ask Professor Horn to take a look too."

"It's true! Theresa, let me explain!" Bai Jingyu grabbed her hand urgently.

He began to sort out the jumbled thoughts in his mind, trying to present them to his wife in the clearest way possible.

"First of all, do you remember that large unexplained expense in my account? That was... that was bought by Yue Tian."

Bai Jingyu's expression became somewhat subtle when he said this: "The other one, the adult Yue Tian from the future, is the one from the two images I showed you before."

Theresa's expression became even more confused. This sounded not only bizarre, but even a little... ridiculous?
Seeing his wife's expression, Bai Jingyu knew that this alone was not enough. He immediately took out his personal terminal and quickly operated it, finding the two portraits from before.

“Look at this!” He turned the screen toward Theresa.

"This is the Moon Sky."

Theresa's gaze was fixed on the screen.

Bai Jingyu then poured out everything he could say.

Ash's evolution, the terrifying vision she reveals of a future Mana explosion, that desolate and hopeless world, and the "Dragonbone Village," the sanctuary the children build within it.

He recounted the connection between the two worlds, the subtly intimate dinner, the awe-inspiring journey to that future world, and their need for the resources and support that this world could provide.

But he omitted everything about Theresa's own death.

Throughout the entire process, Theresa remained silent.

She listened quietly, her expression gradually shifting from initial bewilderment and doubt to shock and disbelief, and then to a dazed state after being overwhelmed by information.

"So...you mean that our world will face a devastating ecological disaster in the near future? And we, from the future...traveled through time...our grown children, have returned to seek help and try to control it?"

Bai Jingyu nodded heavily: "Yes, Theresa. I know this is hard to accept, but this is what's happening. Ash can also testify that she... she's no longer entirely the AI ​​you know."

Theresa fell silent again, raising her hand to rub her temples.

“I need…a little time,” she finally said, her voice trembling slightly.

"All of this...is somewhat..."

"I understand, I understand," Bai Jingyu quickly replied.

Seeing that his wife didn't immediately deny it or think he was crazy, a huge weight was lifted from his heart.

"We can take it slowly. You can ask me any questions you have."

After a while, Teresa raised her head and looked at Bai Jingyu.

She asked, "Where...where are they now?"

Bai Jingyu: Uh

He was speechless for a moment. In the original plan, Bai Yuekui and Bai Yuetian were indeed supposed to return to Longgu Village today to handle the receipt of supplies.

As he was pondering how to explain, ASH's voice rang out on his personal terminal, directly answering Theresa's question.

"Yue Tian and Yue Kui are currently in the private lounge area on the top floor of Bai Jingyu's company."

“They originally planned to return today, but based on your conversation with Mr. Bai Jingyu, Ms. Intherisa, I have informed them that the situation has changed and they are currently still waiting.”

Theresa did not show much surprise at Ash's human touch and initiative in the conversation; her attention was completely drawn to the information in Ash's words.

She paused for a few seconds, then said with great certainty, "I'm going to see them."

Once the idea came to mind, it became incredibly urgent.

Then, as if to confirm something one last time, she added, "Do you...do you have a photo of Yue Kui?"

As she asked the question, her heart inexplicably raced, and the image of the white-haired woman she had glimpsed on the beach that day involuntarily surfaced in her mind.

That inexplicable sense of familiarity, that lingering concern, has now welled up in my heart.

“Yes,” Ash replied immediately.

The next second, Bai Jingyu's personal terminal screen lit up again, and a clear image of Bai Yuekui appeared on it.

Bai Yuekui was standing on a high point in Longgu Village, gazing into the distance. His profile was soft, his short silver hair was blowing in the wind, and his eyes were deep.

Theresa's breath hitched as she looked closely at the woman who bore a striking resemblance to her.

is her.

Sure enough it was her.

That figure who made her inexplicably stop on the beach, the one who lingered in her mind, that gaze that tugged at her heartstrings even in a photograph…

All doubts and disbelief were shattered at this moment.

She stood up abruptly, her movements even somewhat hurried.

“Let’s go to the company now.” Theresa looked at Bai Jingyu, her eyes filled with complex yet unwavering determination.

“Now, Jingyu. I need to see them now.” Theresa finished speaking, but then paused.

She looked down at her casual clothes, which were rather homey, and then subconsciously tidied her hair, which might have been a little messy at the temples.

"Wait... is my current state not good?" She looked at Bai Jingyu.

"After all, it's our first meeting... I mean, our first meeting with them. I should... dress up a bit and be more formal."

Bai Jingyu looked at his wife like this: "No need, Theresa, really no need. They won't care about these things..."

“What do you know?” Theresa interrupted him gently, her brows furrowed slightly.

"It's not a question of whether they care or not."

She ignored Bai Jingyu's persuasion and turned to walk quickly towards the stairs: "Wait for me."

She needed some time, to change into more appropriate clothes, and to compose herself so that she could face the children from the future, children whose suffering she could hardly imagine, in the best possible light.

Just a few steps up the stairs, a small figure appeared at the entrance of the second-floor corridor.

"Mom?" Xiao Yuekui asked in a soft, sweet voice.

"Are you going to the research institute? I want to go too."

Theresa stopped, knelt down, and looked directly into her daughter's clear eyes.

She reached out and gently touched Xiao Yuekui's cheek: "I'm not going to the research institute. Mommy has to go out for a bit to meet... two people."

Theresa paused for a moment: "Little Kui, would you like to stay home and read a book? Mom will be back soon."

Little Yuekui nodded as if she understood, though she was a little curious about who her mother was going to see. But the obedient girl didn't ask any more questions, and just whispered, "Then Mom, come back soon."

"Okay, Mom will try her best."

Theresa gently kissed her youngest daughter on the forehead, then stood up and hurried to the bedroom to change her clothes.

Little Yuekui was left standing there, blinking her big eyes. She looked down at her father, who seemed a little nervous, and then at her mother's retreating figure as she went into the bedroom. Her little head was filled with great confusion.

Inside the car, Theresa sat upright in the passenger seat, her hands folded on her knees.

A well-tailored light gray suit replaced her previous loungewear, and her hair was carefully combed, making her look dignified and gentle.

But her slightly pursed lips and the occasional tapping of her fingertips betrayed her inner turmoil.

She gazed at the receding street scene outside the window, remained silent for a moment, and then asked, "How... do they look? I mean, Yue Kui and Yue Tian."

Upon hearing this, Bai Jingyu quickly glanced at his wife, carefully choosing his words.

“Yue Tian has changed a lot, but…”

He paused, thinking of his son's silicon-based body and the sleeping original body in the life support pod, and felt a pang of sadness.

"But she's very energetic and reliable, Yue Kui..."

When talking about his daughter, Bai Jingyu had mixed feelings, a mixture of heartache, pride, and guilt.

"She's very calm and incredibly strong. Much stronger than we imagined. She doesn't talk much, but she sees things very clearly and has a lot of ideas. It's just... it seems like nothing can make her particularly happy or particularly sad."

Theresa listened quietly, and she could hear the unspoken meaning and heaviness in her husband's words.

"What about Yang Chen?" she asked in turn.

"What kind of person is he? Is he good to Yue Kui?"

Mentioning Yang Chen, Bai Jingyu's expression softened considerably: "Yang Chen... he's a very special person. Calm, reliable, and... he treats Yue Kui very well, respects her greatly, and protects her. You can tell that Yue Kui trusts him a lot and feels more relaxed when she's around him."

He paused, then added, "Most importantly, he stayed with Yue Kui through the most difficult time and never left."

Theresa gave a soft "hmm," her heart easing slightly.

For a mother, there is nothing more comforting than knowing that her daughter has a reliable and loving partner.

"How...did they get here? Time travel, this..."

Theresa still found it unbelievable; it was beyond all her comprehension.

"It relies on a special ability of Yang Chen, but I'm not entirely clear on the specific principles behind it."

Bai Jingyu explained, "It seems to be a kind of power called 'talisman,' which is very magical. It can also heal injuries, and even... well, it has many incredible powers. It is precisely because of him that they were able to survive well in that world and not have to suffer."

Theresa processed this information, each word impacting her worldview until now.

She didn't press further, but simply nodded slightly and turned her gaze back to the window.

As she got closer to the company, her heart began to beat faster involuntarily.

Her hands clenched unconsciously.

Bai Jingyu sensed his wife's nervousness, and gently placed one hand on the back of her slightly cool hand: "Don't worry, Teresa, they are our children too."

Theresa took his hand in return and nodded gently.

The vehicle slowly drove into the underground passage of Bai Jingyu Technology Building and finally came to a smooth stop in front of the private elevator.

It's time to face it.

(End of this chapter)