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

Chapter 189 A Mess
Yang Chen looked down at the package in his hand, then looked up at the peaceful village in front of him.

"It wasn't an illusion..." he murmured to himself, confirming that the brief scene he had just witnessed was not a hallucination, but something that had actually happened.

Unfortunately, I only went back to get some clothes, and I didn't bring my ASH mobile device with me, otherwise I could have had ASH record it.

He shook his head, stopped lingering, and in a flash, he appeared in front of his own residence.

Pushing open the door, in the living room, Bai Yuekui was sitting on the sofa reading a book, while Xiao Yuekui was lying beside him, playing with a mechanical white mouse model in his hand.

"You're back?" Bai Yuekui looked up at him.

"Okay." Yang Chen placed the package he was carrying on the table. "Xiao Kui, I've brought your clothes."

"Thank you for your hard work, Yang Chen!" Xiao Yuekui got up from the sofa, thanked him sweetly, and then went to Yang Chen to take the package.

Bai Yuekui took off his glasses, placed them and the book aside, and said to Xiao Yuekui, "Hang your clothes in the closet, and change after you take a bath tonight."

Little Yuekui took the package and sweetly replied, "Okay, sister!"

She then grabbed her little clothes and ran into the inner bedroom.

Yang Chen and Bai Yuekui were the only two people left in the living room for the time being.

Yang Chen walked over and sat down next to Bai Yuekui, his gaze falling on Bai Yuekui's face.
He pondered for a moment: "Yuekui, when I returned to Jiuchuan just now, it seems... something went wrong."

Upon hearing this, Bai Yuekui turned to look at him, his eyes asking, "What's the situation?"

"I can't quite put my finger on it," Yang Chen said, organizing his thoughts. "On the way back, it felt like I went to another world."

Upon hearing this, Bai Yuekui sat up straight, his brows furrowing slightly: "Another world? Tell me about it."

“I was planning to use the rabbit talisman to come back, but I ended up in Jiuchuan again. It seems that Jiuchuan was right when the ecological explosion was just happening. I even saw your wanted poster there. You just happened to come down from the sky.”

He gestured with his hand: "He was riding that motorcycle. Oh, and your brother seemed to be there too, but he was too small for me to see clearly whether it was him or not."

After Yang Chen finished his description, he looked at Bai Yuekui, waiting for her reaction.

Bai Yuekui did not speak immediately after hearing this.

She leaned back slightly against the sofa, her eyes lowered, clearly lost in memories.

The living room quieted down, with only the faint sound of Xiao Yuekui humming a soft tune as she arranged clothes coming from the inner bedroom.

"Wanted posters..." Bai Yuekui finally spoke, "That should have been after I escaped from the White Tower. Until... for quite a long time, my name and image were on wanted lists everywhere."

“But, ‘coming down from the sky’…” she frowned slightly, “If it was in Hisakawa, and I was wanted… then it could only have been the time when I was surrounded and captured by Gray and his men.”

"So, I just... accidentally saw a scene from the past?" Yang Chen found it somewhat unbelievable.

“It shouldn’t be,” Bai Yuekui quickly denied, shaking her head. “It’s more like the other world you’re talking about. Or rather, another timeline.”

Just then, the communicator in the corner of the living room lit up automatically, and Ash's calm and rational voice rang out, intervening in their conversation.

"Yang Chen, Yue Kui, based on your descriptions just now, combined with my preliminary analysis of the theoretical model and the possibilities of the talisman, there is one possibility."

Ash's voice drew their attention.

"The Rabbit Talisman exhibits the ability of extreme speed and teleportation, which is essentially a mastery of space. However, under certain specific conditions—such as two worlds, or more precisely, two highly similar timelines with key differences—they may create unexpected 'passages' for some reason."

"You mean..." Yang Chen seemed to have realized something.

“Simply put,” ASH continued, “time is not a single river, but a vast network with countless branches. Every choice, every coincidence, can give rise to a parallel world. These worlds may have different time flows and different development trajectories. Some worlds may develop faster than ours, some slower, or go in completely different directions.”

She paused, then offered a more specific speculation: "Yang Chen, the world you just entered by accident is very likely a parallel world that is highly similar to our world, but at a different point in time."

"Based on your description of 'the ecological outbreak just happened,' 'the wanted poster,' and the fact that the Moon Lord 'descended from the sky' and was pursued by the Hisakawa Defense Force led by Gray..."

"That was in the early stages of the collapse of the old world. It was when Yue Kui was trying to obtain key information to fight against the Mana ecosystem, and it was also the time when I connected my brain with the original body."

Yang Chen murmured repeatedly, "So, what I just saw was another parallel world?"

ASH added, "Yes. This incident may just be a coincidence, but it could happen again in the future."

This conclusion instantly made the atmosphere in the living room somewhat strange.

Parallel worlds? Timeline branching? Unexpected time travel?

"What if there's another accident? Will I not be able to come back?" Yang Chen was clearly worried.

Just now, I inexplicably went there and inexplicably came back.

Just then, Xiao Yuekui ran out of the bedroom: "Sister, all the clothes are hung up!"

Her cheerful voice broke the slightly somber atmosphere in the living room.

Bai Yuekui nodded to her: "Okay, let's go read a book over there for a while."

Little Yuekui blinked her big eyes as she looked at her sister and Yang Chen, sensing that they seemed to have something important to say.

Although she is young, she is very sensible.

She nodded obediently and replied, "Oh, I understand."

After saying that, she turned around and walked back to the bedroom, closing the door behind her.

The living room fell silent again.

Yang Chen looked at Bai Yuekui, his brows still slightly furrowed: "Yuekui, how likely do you think it is? If this happens again, will I be trapped in another world and unable to return?"

This is not unfounded worry.

He had always been adept at using the power of the rabbit talisman, but this was the first time he had done it like that.

Bai Yuekui did not answer immediately; she pondered for a moment.

After a moment, she looked up at Yang Chen: "ASH's speculation is based on existing theories. But based on your experience just now, I am more inclined to believe that it is not a stable 'channel'."

ASH then added, "But the probability of being stranded on the other side in a similar situation again is theoretically very low."

"But before that, Yang Chen, you should still take me with you at all times."

Yang Chen nodded, indicating that he understood.

“I understand,” he said. “I’ll be more careful next time. But…”

He stroked his chin. "If... I mean if, we could really travel reliably to other worlds and see other possibilities, it seems... quite interesting?"

Bai Yuekui glanced at him, feeling somewhat helpless that he could still have such a mindset at a time like this, but he didn't refute him, only reminding him lightly: "The premise is that you can ensure a safe round trip."

"Of course," Yang Chen smiled.

Suppress that curiosity about the unknown world for now.

His gaze returned to Bai Yuekui, looking at her delicate face and her short silver hair.

A thought suddenly popped into his head without warning: she had looked like this ever since he first met Bai Yuekui.

He had only seen Bai Yuekui's old photos at ASH's place.

His thoughts drifted away, and he raised his hand, circled around the back of the sofa, and gently placed it on the back of Bai Yuekui's head, his fingers running through the smooth strands of hair.

"Hmm..." He tilted his head slightly, feeling the length between his fingers, "Your hair... isn't it a bit long?"

Bai Yuekui was slightly taken aback by his sudden question, and subconsciously raised his hand to touch the back of his hair.

She touched the ends of her hair with her fingertips, gently twisted them, and felt the length.

"Really?" she countered. "It seems to have grown a little longer."

She has never cared much about her appearance; as long as her hairstyle is kept at an easy-to-manage length, that's enough.

Only after Yang Chen mentioned it did she realize that it was indeed time to prune it.

"Could you trim it for me later?"

Yang Chen replied, "Okay."

He got up and walked towards the bedroom, wanting to see if Xiao Yuekui was really reading obediently.

Gently push open the bedroom door, and you'll see Xiao Yuekui immediately sit down at the desk, holding a book in both hands, looking completely absorbed.

"They're quite well-behaved." Yang Chen smiled, his gaze casually sweeping over the open wardrobe.

He moved closer to the wardrobe as if possessed and peeked inside.

The clothes in the wardrobe were hung fairly neatly, but in the corner, he immediately spotted a thin black garment.

It hung quietly in the corner, standing out conspicuously compared to the other clothes around it.

Yang Chen turned around and looked at Xiao Yuekui, who was sitting upright: "Xiao Kui, are you reading a book?"

"Mmm!" Xiaoyuekui nodded vigorously without looking up.

"You're looking at it so intently." Yang Chen slowly walked to her side. "But it seems like you're holding the book upside down?"

Xiao Yuekui froze, looked down for a closer look, her face instantly turned red, and she hurriedly turned the book around.

Seeing her attempt to cover up her blunder, Yang Chen couldn't help but laugh out loud.

Just then, Bai Yuekui's voice came from the doorway: "What are you doing?" She had obviously been drawn in by the noise from the bedroom and was leaning against the door frame.

Yang Chen looked up at the sound and met her gaze. He didn't say anything, but simply gestured towards the open wardrobe.

Bai Yuekui walked over, and following his gaze, she looked at the wardrobe. When her eyes fell on that familiar black spot in the corner, she paused noticeably.

It's that same outfit again!

The last time her mother, Theresa, came over, she saw it by chance, which embarrassed her for quite a while.

She pursed her lips and, without saying a word, crumpled the clothes into a ball and stuffed them underneath.

"I forgot last time."

Yang Chen had just opened his mouth when Bai Yuekui gave him an annoyed glare.

"Shut up."

After Bai Yuekui finished speaking, he turned and walked towards the living room, leaving behind the words, "Come out and help me cut my hair."

Yang Chen watched Bai Yuekui's departing figure, coughed lightly, and turned to the little Yuekui who was still sitting at the desk, instructing her, "Don't go through your sister's things anymore, okay?"

Little Yuekui didn't turn around, but nodded her head quickly up and down, vaguely replying, "I know..."

Yang Chen said no more, turned around, closed the door, and returned to the living room.

Bai Yuekui had already moved a chair to the center of the living room, holding a comb and scissors in his hand.

"Come here," she gestured to Yang Chen.

Yang Chen took the tools, lifted Bai Yuekui's silvery-white hair, and trimmed the overly long parts.

After the trimming was complete, Bai Yuekui raised his hand and touched the back of his head; the length was just right.

She nodded, acknowledging Yang Chen's skill.

"Alright." Yang Chen put down his tools, looked out the window, and said, "I'll go check on the resettlement area."

The resettlement area was much quieter than it had been in the morning, with crowds of people and medical robots moving around.

The initial physical examination and treatment have been completed.

In another relatively quiet open space, Drake was leading several Returning Warriors and clerks in organizing a bloodline reunion.

Based on files retrieved from the Lighthouse Archives, ASH has compiled a list of family relationships.

At this moment, some adults whose names were called stepped forward nervously to verify their information, their expressions complicated as they faced the names of what might be their own flesh and blood relatives.

The children were not present, which was also for protection.

It is too cruel to force children whose minds are not yet mature to face the possibility of being rejected by their closest relatives.

Drake clearly conveyed the village's attitude to the adults participating in the reunion: if they were willing to reunite, the village would be happy to see them; if they were not, they would not be forced, and all the children would be raised by the village equally.

The atmosphere was somewhat somber, with tears of joy mingling with awkward silence.

Some people hugged tightly, sobbing uncontrollably, while others looked at the names on the list with evasive eyes, and finally shook their heads and silently retreated.

After showing Mark around the village, Hongkou returned to help and felt a mix of emotions as she looked at the scene before her.

At this moment, Qianli came over with a data board in his hand, idly scrolling through the relationship diagram compiled by ASH on the screen.

Suddenly, he stopped pointing, let out a soft "Eh," and handed the data panel to Hongkou, pointing to the two names and accompanying avatars displayed side by side.

“Hongkou, look at these two little girls, Jessica and Erica. Their hair is red in the photos too, though not as vibrant as yours and Honglu's, but it's still red. Could their parents... be related to your family?”

On the data board, both girls did indeed have red hair of different shades.

The information next to them indicates that they are half-sisters, sharing the same mother but different fathers. The information for their parents in the old Lighthouse archives is marked as "Dead (Hunter)" and "Dead (Data Clerk)".

Hongkou's gaze fell on the name "Erica," and her heart stirred inexplicably.

She remembered the little girl who accepted the candy from Principal Qiu Shi.

relative?

She and her sister Honglu are each other's most important family members.

Her memories of her parents had long since vanished, and as for any possible distant relatives... she never entertained any such thoughts.

Hongkou gently pushed away Qianli's data panel and joked, "There are plenty of red-haired people out there. It's not just me and my sister on the lighthouse."

She paused for a moment: "Stop guessing. Get to work, there are still quite a few people on the list."

Qianli didn't mind Hongkou pushing the data panel away and just chuckled.

He tucked the board under his arm and shrugged nonchalantly: "There are so many people in the second village, one more person watching over things won't make a difference. Besides, I still have to go deliver the old man's phone later, I promised him."

He changed the subject, leaning closer: "But Hongkou, to be honest, the testing equipment is all readily available, so doing a test for you won't be a problem. What if they really are related to you by blood?"

"Having more relatives is never a bad thing. Look at those who have found their children, how happy they are crying."

He pointed to a mother and child in the distance who were embracing and weeping.

Hongkou followed his gaze and remained silent for a moment, the words of refusal on the tip of her tongue but she didn't say them.

“...Okay.” She finally spoke softly.

"Let's find some free time when we're done with this."

Yang Chen stopped at the edge of the resettlement area, his gaze sweeping over the crowd, and he caught a glimpse of Hong Kou and Qian Li's hushed conversation.

Just as he was about to turn around to check other areas, a series of hurried footsteps accompanied by conversations approached from afar.

Jiuge was walking briskly with a helpless expression on her face, while Dr. Carrie was almost chasing closely behind her, constantly asking questions.

"Jiuge, you promised. The patient has been seen. Now can you tell me how to activate the source potential? Also, what is the principle behind that device you mentioned that can assist in activation? Where is it?"

Jiu Ge was getting a headache from being pestered, but when he looked up, he saw Yang Chen standing in front of him. As if he had seen a savior, he immediately called out, "Boss!"

She quickly walked to Yang Chen's side and pointed to Carrie, who was following eagerly behind her: "She wants to know how to stimulate source potential and about the potential stimulation hall. Can I take her there to have a look?"

Carrie immediately turned her gaze to Yang Chen and added, "Mr. Yang Chen, no, Mr. Yang."

"I just want to know, I won't do anything unnecessary!"

Yang Chen looked at Jiu Ge, who was being pressed for answers and was almost overwhelmed, and couldn't help but find it a little funny.

He nodded and said to Jiu Ge, "Take her to see it. The ecological base next to the village would also be fine."

He then looked at Carrie: "As for the scenes that are actively triggered, you won't have a chance to see them these next few days, but the equipment can give you an idea of ​​what they are."

Upon hearing this, Carrie's eyes lit up instantly, and she hurriedly assured them, "I understand! I'm just observing, observing!"

Seeing that Yang Chen had agreed, Jiu Ge gestured in a direction to Jia Li: "Let's go, follow me."

“Okay, okay!” Carrie immediately followed.

Yang Chen watched Jiu Ge and Jia Li leave, then turned his gaze to the resettlement area.

There was no disturbance or conflict here, which put his mind at ease.

Only then did he recall the message Hisakawa ASH had mentioned earlier: Professor Horn would be able to assemble his core research team in about a week.

He hadn't told Ash of Dragonbone Village about this yet.

"Looks like I'll have to bring the ASH mobile app over there to sync the messages, and maybe see if I can re-enter that parallel world," Yang Chen thought to himself.

With that in mind, he didn't delay any longer.

With a slight movement, he was back in the living room of his own residence in the next moment.

In the living room, Bai Yuekui had just finished tidying up the few strands of silver-white hair she had trimmed when she saw him return and cast an inquiring glance at her.

"Take the ASH and go to Jiuchuan." Yang Chen explained, walked straight to the table, and picked up the small ASH mobile device.

"Professor Horn will be here soon; I forgot to tell you."

Bai Yuekui nodded slightly to the side.

After giving his instructions, Yang Chen disappeared the next moment.

He had just steadied himself when ASH's voice rang out: "Network access complete, information synchronization complete."

"This is still the world we know and love."

"It seems that it really was just a coincidence before." Yang Chen shook his head with some emotion. Such a low-probability event was indeed difficult to reproduce.

“From a probabilistic perspective, random events are indeed difficult to control,” ASH’s voice remained rational. “However, given enough occurrences, or over a sufficiently long timescale, the probability of encountering another parallel world is not zero.”

"Got it, it's all about luck."

Yang Chen smiled, suppressing his eagerness: "Right now, it's more important to handle the immediate matters. Professor Horn's team, the village expansion, and the resettlement of so many people at the lighthouse..."

"Alright, everything's fine here. Let's go back." Yang Chen didn't linger any longer. With a thought, the power of the rabbit talisman enveloped his entire body once more.

(End of this chapter)