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

Chapter 165 Are the Three Laws Really Correct?

Elon watched the two guards turn away, pondering the words he had just heard.

“Nursing home”.

A journey... someone abandoned... taken in...

Could it be that those people who were declared to be "going far away" by the lighthouse, who were actually abandoned on the ground to fend for themselves, did not all die, but were taken in by this place called "Dragon Bone Village"?
The principles established by Morgan, in their original intention of traveling far away, were merely to lighten the burden on the lighthouse; the idea of ​​going to the ground to seek hope was just a more respectable way of putting it.

He wanted to ask, but seeing the guard's indifferent attitude, he swallowed his words.

He sat down silently against the cold stone wall, the turmoil in his heart unable to subside for a long time.

If that's the case, then the Lighthouse's so-called "survival rules" seem utterly ridiculous and cruel in the face of a force capable of establishing such a home on the ground.

“Hongkou and Poxiao are still alive, then,” Xuefeng thought of something and quickly leaned over the fence to ask, “have you seen anyone else? His name is Benny.”

Xuefeng gestured, but his hands were shackled, which restricted his movement: "He lost both his legs. Did you take him in?"

Upon hearing this, one of the Returning Origin Warriors turned to look at Xuefeng, and after a moment of thought, asked, "Benny? He's lost his legs?"

"We don't have such a person here."

Upon hearing this, Xuefeng sat back down dejectedly.

Without legs, it's unlikely that anyone on the ground would take in someone like that.

Or perhaps their lives have already been taken by the Devouring Beast.

Just as silence fell over the stone chamber again, new footsteps sounded outside the passage.

The two Guiyuan warriors, who had been facing away from them, immediately turned around, straightened their backs, and said in unison with respectful tones.

"Control the balance!"

A low "hmm" came from outside the door in response.

The hunters inside the stone chamber involuntarily straightened up. Judging from the reactions of the two guards at the door and the title "Zhang Heng," they must be high-ranking officials or leaders here.

One of the Guiyuan warriors then reported: "Zhang Heng, they... they said they know Hongkou and Poxiao."

"I already know." The voice known as Zhang Heng rang out again.

"You all go out first and stay outside to keep watch."

"Yes!" The two Guiyuan warriors carried out the order without hesitation, quickly leaving the passageway open and leaving the space to the people inside and the Zhang Heng they mentioned.

The footsteps faded into the distance, and then a tall figure blocked the halo of light shining through the fence gate.

The newcomer was burly and wore a suit of leather armor that allowed for easy movement. His face bore the marks of years of hardship, and his eyes were sharp as an eagle's as he slowly swept over the seven hunters in the stone chamber.

Elon struggled to get up, but his age and the impact of the previous shockwave made his movements somewhat slow.

Ulan Aodeng's gaze finally settled on Elon, as if he recognized him as the leader of the team.

He waved his hand, his voice still steady: "Sit down. My name is Ulan Aodeng, and here I am Zhang Heng, which is what you understand as the person in charge."

His gaze lingered for a moment on Xuefeng's bruised face before returning to Elon.

"You mean, they're old acquaintances of Hongkou?"

Elon met Ulan Aodeng's gaze and nodded: "Yes. I am Elon, the Hunter Instructor, and they are my team members. Hongkou... is my student and also the Hunter Commander. We... we didn't expect her to be alive."

Ulan Aodeng's face remained expressionless as he simply said, "She's doing well, and so is Dawn. They are now warriors of Dragonbone Village, part of the village."

Red Hair and Dawn not only survived, but also integrated into this place, becoming "warriors".

This further confirmed their previous suspicions that this place called Dragonbone Village was no ordinary survivor settlement.

Xuefeng couldn't help but interject, "Then... then besides Hongkou and Poxiao, have you... have you taken in any other people who came down from the lighthouse? For example... for example, a guy named Benny, who had both legs..."

Ulan Aodeng turned his gaze to the snow-capped peak, interrupting him.

"There was indeed someone named Benny. As for the other travelers..."

He paused slightly, his gaze sweeping over the hunters in their lighthouse uniforms once more.

"We did pick up quite a bit of the 'trash' that the lighthouse threw down."

The hunters found it hard to believe.

Those who reach the prescribed age or whose injuries affect their job performance will be sent away. What use are these people if they are taken in on the ground?
Don't they lack food?

Ulan Aodeng took in their reactions and continued, "Those who wanted to live have found their place in the village. The old, the sick, the disabled—as long as they have a breath left and a will to live, Dragon Bone Village will not give up on them."

"As for you," he said, scrutinizing the seven people inside, "you entered the village with weapons. According to the rules of Dragonbone Village, we can only detain you for now."

He produced a thin data tablet from somewhere, tapped it a few times with his finger, and looked up at Elon: "Names. Say them one by one, I need to register."

Elon took a deep breath and spoke first: "Elon."

Ulan Aodeng bowed his head to take notes, while simultaneously gesturing for the next person.

The seven people took turns announcing their names, and Ulan Aodeng entered the information into the system.

After completing the registration, Ulan Aodeng put away the data panel and turned his gaze back to Elon.

“Hongkou isn’t in the village right now; she’s on a field mission,” he stated calmly. “When she comes back, I’ll tell her you’re here.”

These words left the hunters with mixed feelings.

After finishing his sentence, Ulan Aodeng turned and left without lingering. His tall figure quickly disappeared at the end of the passage, and his footsteps faded into the distance.

Silence returned to the stone chamber.

Xuefeng slumped down and slammed the back of his head against the wall with a dull thud: "What kind of mess is this...?"

Jeff looked thoughtfully in the direction where Ulan Aodeng had disappeared and said in a low voice, "They... seem a little different."

Haji murmured, "Benny...they really took Benny in...and other travelers..."

This newly confirmed news continues to challenge their understanding of the lighthouse and their own past.

Elon sat silently in place, his eyes closed.

Ulan Aodeng's words, Hongkou's news, and other travelers' messages.
He needs time to think carefully about what they have always upheld and believed in.

Outside the door, two Guiyuan warriors returned to their posts.

Meanwhile, at the amusement park in Hisakawa City.

"Wow—!" Little Moon King sat on the carousel, gripping the bar tightly.

Yang Chen stood beside her, supporting her back to prevent her from falling.

Bai Yuetian took Xiao Yuetian to play bumper cars next door. The noise of the two Bai Yuetians and the banging of the cars crashing together created a surprisingly harmonious atmosphere.

Bai Yuekui did not participate in those activities; she simply stood quietly outside the fence, her gaze following Xiao Yuekui and Yang Chen on the carousel.

After the first round, Yang Chen carried the still-enthusiastic Little Moon Queen off the wooden horse.

"What else do you want to play?" Yang Chen asked the little guy in his arms.

"Roller coaster!" Little Yuekui pointed with sparkling eyes at the winding track in the distance.

"You can't play that, you're too tall." Yang Chen chuckled and ruffled her hair. "How about we go play on those flying chairs over there?"

“Okay…” Xiao Yuekui was a little disappointed, but she was quickly attracted by the new project.

Taking advantage of the moment when Xiao Yuekui walked past, Bai Yuekui walked up to Yang Chen.

Looking at the bustling crowd in the distance, she asked, "How are the supplies being prepared? To receive the people from the lighthouse."

Yang Chen replied, "ASH is coordinating. I didn't ask about the specific progress, but it should be a matter of two or three days. What, are you worried that there isn't enough food?"

Bai Yuekui shook his head: "No. It's just that the sudden increase of more than 10,000 people will be very troublesome to settle and manage."

"Things will work themselves out," Yang Chen smiled. "Let's bring them over first; there's always a way. Besides, they can't just come here for free; we still need labor."

Bai Yuekui hummed in agreement and said nothing more.

Little Yuekui, with her short legs, ran back and grabbed Yang Chen's big hand, forcefully pulling him towards the flying chair project.

"Yang Chen! Hurry up! We have to line up!" Yang Chen was pulled along by her and followed her steps. He turned around and called out to Bai Yuekui, "Yuekui, come on, let's go together."

Bai Yuekui smiled and shook his head gently, standing still as he watched the two figures, one tall and one short, merge into the queue.

Little Yuekui tilted her head back, excitedly pointing at the spinning flying chair in the air and saying something to Yang Chen.

Bai Yuekui looked at the lively "self" who was full of curiosity about the world, and then glanced at Xiao Yuetian, who was still outwitting Bai Yuetian in the bumper car area.

In this world where there is no ecological threat from mana and where parents are safe and sound.

The "Bai Yuekui" and "Bai Yuetian" of this world are able to have a complete and carefree childhood that she has never experienced before.

They don't have to face life and death at a young age, nor do they have to bear heavy responsibilities. They can laugh freely and play as they please.

She gently shook her head, a smile playing on her lips.

This... seems pretty good too.

Xiao Yuekui had just pulled Yang Chen to the end of the line when she suddenly seemed to remember something. Her big, dark eyes darted around, and she let go of Yang Chen's hand.

"Yang Chen, you line up here!" she commanded like a little commander, and then, without waiting for Yang Chen's response, she turned around and ran towards Bai Yuekui, who was still standing in the same spot.

She ran up to Bai Yuekui, reached out her little hand and grabbed his finger, shaking it gently.

"Sister! Come on, come with me! Hold me and play with me, okay? Just like Yang Chen did just now!"

Bai Yuekui was slightly taken aback. He looked down at the little hand that had taken his hand, and then met Xiao Yuekui's expectant eyes.

Before she could even refuse, Xiao Yuekui pulled her even harder towards the queue.

"Come on, come on, sister!" Little Yuekui's strength was unexpected.

Or rather, Bai Yuekui realized that he hadn't really put in any effort to resist.

Bai Yuekui was thus half-forced and half-pulled into the queue by Xiao Yuekui.

She was tall and had an aura that made her seem unapproachable to outsiders. Standing among a group of parents playing and laughing with their children, she seemed somewhat out of place.

Yang Chen leaned closer to Bai Yuekui and said with a smile, "Then you two play by yourselves for a while. I'll go buy some drinks and take a break."

As he spoke, he winked at Bai Yuekui.

Before Bai Yuekui could stop him with a look, Yang Chen had already nimbly slipped out of the line and headed towards the beverage shop not far away.

Now, Bai Yuekui was completely tied to the queue by Xiao Yuekui.

She looked down at the smaller version of herself beside her.
The line moved forward slowly, and finally it was their turn.

As usual, the staff reminded them of the precautions, and Xiao Yuekui couldn't wait to pull Bai Yuekui onto the flying chair.

The safety lever dropped, and Xiao Yuekui sat steadily on Bai Yuekui's lap.

The flying chairs slowly started and gradually accelerated. Centrifugal force carried them outwards, and the people and scenery on the ground began to rotate and shrink.

Yang Chen returned with two drinks, looked up at the two figures on the flying chair, smiled, took out his phone, and captured the image of the two "sisters" in the air.

Then he looked to the side and saw Bai Yuetian still there, passionately clashing with his childhood self.

"You brat, I'll run you over."

"I'll run you over too."

Red Hair and Dawn had just returned from an outer patrol mission with Benny.

Just as they were about to put the equipment back in the warehouse, an older Awakened Walker came over and called out to them.

"Red Cocoon!"

Hearing someone call her name, Hongkou turned around and asked, "What's wrong?"

Juexingzhe walked up to Hongkou and said, "A group of intruders came down from the big pot lid this morning and said they knew you. Master Aodeng told me to wait here for you to come back and let you know."

"Coming down from the lighthouse?"

Hongkou was quite surprised to hear this. If anyone could go down to the ground, it would only be the Wilderness Hunters.

Hongkou's eyes flickered with a complex expression.

She immediately pressed further, "Did they say why they came down? Were any villagers injured? Were any of the lighthouse staff injured?"

"According to Master Ao Deng, it seems that they found their way to our area because the Devouring Beasts have been coming down to scout less recently and they were tracking some kind of wheel tracks," Jue Xingzhe recalled. "There were no injuries or anything, but they entered the village with weapons and were captured according to the rules. However, Er Tong and the others held back, so the Lighthouse people were fine."

Hearing this, Hongkou breathed a sigh of relief, as long as no one on either side was injured.

"Oh, right, their people also took two of the beacons. I originally thought you and Qianli had put them in the wrong place."

Upon hearing the word "beacon," Hongkou frowned slightly and immediately understood.

It seems that after she and Qianli placed the beacon and left that day, the hunters happened to search that area again and that's how they discovered the trace?
"Where is Instructor Wulan? I'm coming over now," Hongkou asked urgently, having already made up her mind.

The Awakened One pointed in a direction: "It's in the training ground, go there."

"Thanks!" Hongkou said, and without further delay, she quickly said to Po Xiao and Benny, "Po Xiao, you and Benny put down your equipment first, I'm going to the training ground."

Dawn nodded: "Okay, go ahead, I'll be right there."

Hongkou nodded vigorously, then turned around and strode quickly toward the training ground.

Inside the training field, Ulan Aodeng stood with his back to the camera, arms crossed, watching several young people attempting to enter a state of returning to their original state.

Just then, as if he had eyes in the back of his head, he said in a deep voice without turning his head, "You're back?"

Hongkou stopped a few steps behind him and respectfully replied, "Instructor Wulan, I'm back. I heard... the people from the lighthouse are being held captive in the back mountains?"

Ulan Aodeng then slowly turned around, his sharp eyes looking at Hongkou, as if trying to see something from her face.

He nodded, his tone flat and even: "Yes, seven people broke in this morning. One was a team led by a guy named Elon, and there were also a few others named Xuefeng and Jeff. You should be familiar with them."

He paused, then added, "The person is safe, all the weapons have been removed, and they are locked in a stone chamber in the back mountain."

Upon hearing the name "Elon," Hongkou's face immediately showed surprise.

Xuefeng and his companions were not surprised.

But Instructor Elon? Didn't he already step down from his position as commander of the Hunters due to his age, in accordance with the Lighthouse's regulations, and switch to training new recruits full-time, no longer needing to personally lead teams down to the perilous ground?

How could it be him leading the team down?
A flood of questions welled up in her mind, but Hongkou quickly regained her composure.

She looked at Ulan Aodeng and pleaded, "Instructor Ulan, may I go see them now?"

Ulan Aodeng looked at Hongkou again for a moment, and then slowly nodded.

"Go ahead. You can bring the person out, and you can even look after them temporarily."

His tone shifted, his gaze becoming exceptionally serious: "However, Red Hair, you must remember the village's rules. You must ensure they pose no threat to the village and that they abide by Dragonbone Village's rules. If they make any unusual moves or do anything to harm the village..."

Ulan Aodeng didn't finish his sentence, but Hongkou clearly understood the severity and consequences of his unfinished words.

If it endangers the village, the villagers will not hesitate to directly recycle its life essence.

“I understand, Instructor Wulan.” Hongkou straightened her back, her eyes unwavering. “I will take good care of them; I swear on my life.”

"Okay." Ulan Aodeng nodded. "Go ahead."

"Yes!" Hongkou turned around decisively without further hesitation.

She headed straight for the warehouse and, sure enough, saw that Dawn had already put the equipment away and was running towards her with Benny.

"How was it?" Dawn asked as soon as she returned.

“Instructor Elon is leading the team, along with Xuefeng and Jeff,” Hongkou said succinctly.

“Instructor Ulan allowed me to see them, and... I can take charge of their care.”

A hint of surprise flashed in Po Xiao's eyes, then he understood.

He nodded: "I'll go with you."

(End of this chapter)