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

Chapter 92 Filial Piety
Just then, Leila walked over and said, "Little Flower, stop fooling around. Look how scared you've made Shanda."

She gently patted her daughter's strong arm.

Xia Hua was slapped by her mother, and immediately dropped her bullying demeanor, sticking out her tongue at Leila and grinning.

"Mom, I was just teasing him. Who told him to ask such a silly question?" she said, making a face at Shan Da.

Leila ignored her daughter's excuses and turned her gaze to Shanda.

Her eyes were gentle, carrying the scrutiny characteristic of an elder and a hint of barely perceptible approval.

“Shanda is a good kid,” Leila said in a low voice. “He seems like a good person to me. He’s honest, kind-hearted, hardworking, and well-liked in the village.”

"Those gifts for my husband, Xia."

Upon hearing the word "gift," Shandong felt a chill run down his spine and quickly turned his head away, avoiding eye contact.

Fortunately, summer has arrived. He went straight to Belenkov's place and is now walking over with his men.

Bai Yuetian also came along; he was definitely going to join in the fun.

"Hey! What are you all doing standing here?" Bai Yuetian's loud voice broke the awkward silence at Shandong University.

Summer came to see Shandong University standing frozen in place, then looked at his wife Leila's ambiguous smile and his daughter Xia Hua's slightly flushed cheeks, and was completely bewildered.

"what happened?"

Leila rolled her eyes at Xia Tianlai, annoyed. "It's nothing, just take care of yourself."

After saying that, he turned around and went to help Xia Dou set out the dishes, leaving Xia Tianlai scratching his head, looking completely bewildered.

"Hey? What's wrong now?" Xia Tian muttered.

Bai Yuetian walked straight up to Yang Chen and his companion: "What, you two finished your honeymoon so quickly?"

Yang Chen rolled his eyes: "What honeymoon? Yue Kui and I are out on business."

"Alright, alright, let's get down to business." Bai Yuetian didn't say much more and reached out his hand to Mai Duo in Yang Chen's arms.

"Come here, Maido, give Grandpa Bai a hug too."

To everyone's surprise, Maiduo flatly refused: "No."

Bai Yuetian was greatly shocked.

"Am I not handsome? Am I that annoying?"

Everyone took their seats. The long, shared table was quickly filled, and the atmosphere instantly became lively.

Steaming hot dishes were served one after another, filling the air with their aroma.

Belenkov sat slightly below Yang Chen and Bai Yuekui. He silently picked up his rice spoon, his movements meticulous, a stark contrast to his rugged appearance.

First, he served Bai Yuekui a full bowl of glistening rice, then respectfully handed it to him with both hands, saying in a low voice, "Boss Bai."

Then, with the same respect, he served Yang Chen a bowl of food, saying, "Boss Yang."

This action made Xu Tong, who was sitting diagonally opposite, almost have his eyes pop out.

He nudged Shanda next to him with his elbow and exclaimed in a low voice, "Holy crap, Fatty, look! Belenkov! He... he can actually be this docile?!"

He recalled the last time he had tried to get Belenkov to help him build a skateboard; it was incredibly difficult, and he almost had to beg Belenkov for help.

"Last time I begged him to make me a skateboard, I practically knelt down. The difference in treatment is just too much."

Summer came and, with her sharp ears, overheard Xu Tong's cricket chirping: "Belenkov was raised by his bosses after all; that's called filial piety."

Bai Yuetian, who was standing to the side, was displeased and handed the empty bowl in his hand to Wulan Aodeng.

"Xiao Deng, can you help Grandpa get a bowl of rice too?"

Ulan Aodeng glanced at the steamer containing rice at Bai Yuetian's feet, sighed helplessly, and took the bowl.

"I got it, Grandpa."

Bai Yuetian nodded with satisfaction: "Hmm~ Not bad, not bad."

Belenkov seemed not to hear their discussion. He served himself his meal, sat down silently, and picked up his chopsticks.

However, as soon as he sat down, a keen intuition told him that a gaze was fixed firmly on him...

Or rather, it was clinging to his daughter, Kolova, who was always by his side.

He subtly turned his head, his sharp gaze sweeping across the room. He saw the black-haired boy, Po Kong, sitting diagonally opposite Old Sun, his head slightly lowered, but his bright eyes, as if drawn by a magnet, were secretly glancing in Kolova's direction.

Po Kong seemed unaware that his focused gaze had been exposed, and a hint of shyness lingered on his face.

Belenkov's thick eyebrows furrowed almost imperceptibly as he followed the piercing gaze to his daughter beside him.

Kolova was eating her meal in small bites, seemingly completely unaware of the gaze directed at her from across the table.

She sat quietly beside her father, her black braid hanging down her chest, the golden rays of the setting sun casting soft shadows on her lowered eyelashes.

She would occasionally answer her father Belenkov's whispered questions in a soft voice, with a touch of girlish shyness.

Belenkov's gaze returned to Po Kong.

Po Kong seemed to finally notice the gaze, and suddenly raised his head, meeting Belenkov's murderous eyes.

He suddenly lowered his head in a panic, almost burying his face in the rice bowl, and his chopsticks moved so fast they flew across the rice bowl.

Why do my legs ache just from being looked at like that?

The lighting in the city lord's hall was always deliberately dim.

Outside the huge floor-to-ceiling windows stretched endless clouds, with occasional flashes of lightning illuminating Morgan's face, a face etched with weariness and cunning.

He sat alone in the high-backed chair of the city lord, a screen on the armrest in front of him emitting a faint blue light.

On the screen is a list of people who will be traveling tomorrow.

As fingertips glide across the screen of light, the list scrolls silently.

Most of them were commoners, with only four-digit numbered IDs, and a few were named after the upper class.

The people on these lists are usually elderly, frail, injured, or... deemed less valuable than the resources they consume.

Morgan's gaze lingered on a name.

Benny.

He still remembered the name; it belonged to the hunters, the person Red Hair saved by defying the life formula.

Morgan's gaze shifted to the medical record assessment that popped up beside him:

Name: Benny.

Identity: Upper Class (Former member of the Hunter Squad)
Disability assessment: Permanent high-level paraplegia of both lower limbs, severe damage to spinal nerves, complete loss of motor function, and the prosthesis cannot achieve neural synchronization.

Resource consumption assessment: Two doses of standard nutritional supplements are required daily, along with a dedicated nursing bed and hygiene supplies.

Completely incapacitated and unable to perform any of the work required for a lighthouse.
Psychological assessment: Depressive tendencies are present.

Based on comprehensive assessment, this individual is a net consumer of resources and has no ability to contribute to the survival and development of the lighthouse; therefore, it is recommended that they be included in the list of those who will be sent on a long journey.

The heavy alloy doors of the hall opened silently, and footsteps sounded.

The visitor was Victor.

"Lord of the city, the list of those embarking on the journey tomorrow has been finalized. The departure ceremony will be held at 7:00 AM on the elevator platform."

Victor's voice was completely flat, as if he were reporting something utterly mundane.

Morgan extended her finger and gently tapped the "Confirm" box next to Benny's name on the screen.

The pale blue light flickered, and Benny's name was permanently locked into the sequence for tomorrow's journey.

"Understood." Morgan's voice was low and hoarse, devoid of any emotion.

"Procedures will proceed as usual, and Charles will also appear tomorrow."

In the past, the pilgrimage ceremony was only performed by some members of the Light and Shadow Society, but now, as people have more and more faith in the Light and Shadow Society, the ceremony has become more elaborate.

It's time for Charles, as the head of the association, to make his appearance.

"Yes." Victor bowed again, without the slightest doubt or hesitation, and turned to leave.

The door slammed shut behind him, separating him from the outside world.

　I'm about to go to Hisakawa to find the child Yuekui (laughs)

　　
　
(End of this chapter)