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

Chapter 31 Return
Yang Chen followed Bai Yuekui into the house, where several home-style dishes were already laid out on the table.

"Wash your hands and eat." Bai Yuekui's voice came from the kitchen, accompanied by the soft clatter of a spatula.

Yang Chen responded and went to the bathroom. The cool water rinsed his arms, and he looked up at himself in the mirror.

The face in the mirror was unchanged from when he first came into this world decades ago; time seemed to have stood still for him.

"Xiaoyu accidentally traveled back in time using the rabbit talisman, so is it possible for me to go back as well?"

Yang Chen once again dismissed these thoughts.

He had thought about this problem when he first arrived, and had even given the talismans to Bai Yuekui and the others to study, but the magic of the talismans was completely beyond their comprehension.

Besides, I already have family and friends in this world. What would happen to them if I could go back?
He dried his hands and returned to the living room, where Bai Yuekui was placing the last dish on the table. His silver-white hair was casually tied back, with a few strands falling beside his ears.

"You've worked hard." Yang Chen pulled out a chair and sat down, his gaze falling on her smooth profile.

"Hmm?" Bai Yuekui put another piece of meat on his plate. "Why are you suddenly being so polite?"

Yang Chen chuckled lightly: "Never mind what I said."

The two ate their meal quietly, occasionally exchanging a few words about village matters. The sky outside the window darkened completely, and the warm light filled the small room.

After the meal, Yang Chen took the initiative to clear the dishes. Bai Yuekui then went to the TV cabinet, connected the cable to the antique game console, and inserted the cartridge of "Two People Together".

“Come on, Ms. Yang,” she said, picking up the handle and patting the sofa next to her.

Yang Chen dried his hands and walked over, sitting down next to her. The sofa was soft, and the two of them were very close, able to feel the warmth emanating from each other.

He turned his head to look at Bai Yuekui, the light falling on her profile as she focused on the screen.

He felt that being able to quietly play games with her like this was already better than going back.

The two worked together to clear the level, and Yang Chen breathed a sigh of relief.

I put down the handle and stretched my fingers.

He turned his head and found that Bai Yuekui had also relaxed at some point.

Her body leaned slightly towards him, her head almost resting on his shoulder, a few strands of her silver hair brushing against his cheek, bringing a slight tickle.

She seemed oblivious, still intently watching the two cartoon figures resting on the screen.

Yang Chen didn't move, letting her lean against him, his gaze shifting from the screen to her serene profile.

"Are you tired?" he asked softly.

Bai Yuekui shook his head slightly, his voice carrying a hint of post-game languor: "No. This game is quite interesting."

She paused, then added, "It's more interesting than unilaterally crushing someone."

Yang Chen chuckled softly.

"Shall we continue?" he asked.

"Hmm." Bai Yuekui responded softly, adjusted his posture, but did not leave the spot where he was leaning against anything, and put his fingers back on the buttons.

The lights were warm, the game music was upbeat, and two figures nestled together on the sofa.

The armored vehicle bumped along the wasteland on its return journey, the muffled engine noise unable to drown out the oppressive silence inside the vehicle.

The relief of surviving the ordeal dispelled the fear brought on by the two-jawed beast.

"Damn it, that guy the city defense army sent over is a real piece of work!" Haji's angry curses echoed throughout the carriage.

"Not only did they run away, they even drove the car away."

"Alright, save your energy." Xuefeng slumped wearily to the side.

"Aren't you angry?" Haji was still furious. "If that kid were still alive, I would have kicked him to death."

“He’s definitely alive,” Xuefeng replied. “The communicator was switched off, so he’s probably back at the lighthouse by now.”

Hong Kou, driving a black gravity vehicle, followed at the rear of the convoy like a guardian angel.

Through the visor of her visor, she took one last deep look in the direction of the ruins where the two-jawed beast had departed.

Even though the vehicle had already driven away, the scene she had glimpsed in a fleeting moment was etched into her mind like a brand.

Human figure.

Just as the Beast gave up its pursuit and charged madly towards the ruins, slightly above them in mid-air, she seemed to see several extremely tiny, suspended... human figures? The distance was too great, and the sky was dark; she couldn't make out the details, only the outlines of a few blurry black dots.

Is it an illusion? Is it some new, flying Devourer? Or... a survivor from the ground?
The thought kept lingering in her mind.

But the next second, the intense gunfire and Xuefeng's roar on the communication channel abruptly pulled her back to reality.

"Captain! There's another Devouring Beast on the right!"

Hong Kou suddenly snapped back to reality, as the Devouring Beast was rapidly approaching from the flank.

"Damn it, it won't leave you alone!" Haji cursed into the communicator, and gunshots rang out again like popping beans.

"Gravity bodies, cover fire! Concentrate fire on the vanguard! Don't let them get close to the vehicles!" Hong Kou's voice was decisive, instantly suppressing all distractions.

Whatever it is, surviving and bringing the rest of the people back is the only thing we need to think about right now.

The black gravity engine roared furiously, and with a sudden stop and turn, the massive machine kicked up a cloud of dust.

Red Collar brandished his chainsaw, stopping all the Devouring Beasts that approached the vehicle.

Fortunately, the number of Devouring Beasts was not large, and with the firepower from the vehicle and the suppression from the gravity bodies, fewer and fewer Devouring Beasts were able to catch up.

"Charge out at full speed!" Hong Kou immediately ordered upon seeing the situation.

The black gravity engine was running at full power, no longer lingering in the fight, and turned to chase after the convoy that had already broken out of the encirclement.

The vehicle finally arrived at the lifting platform and steadily rose back to the lighthouse.

Hong Kou pushed open the hatch of the gravity body, climbed out wearily, and staggered slightly when she landed.

Po Xiao immediately stepped forward to support her; his left arm was secured with a simple sling, and his face was equally pale.

"Take a headcount and treat the wounded!" Hong Kou's voice was hoarse, but carried an undeniable authority.

Medical personnel were already on standby and quickly moved forward.

Only two people were seriously injured, but many others were slightly wounded. Several hunters were lost on the ground.

Hong Kou felt a pang of sadness, but thankfully the rest of the people were still alive.

"Damn, that kid actually came back alive?"

The first thing Haji saw when he got out of the car was the car that Rock had driven away.

Where is that kid?

Just as Haji was looking around, Elon walked through the crowd and stood in front of Red.

"Red Collar, you're probably in trouble this time."

"Trouble?" Hong Kou was taken aback, looking at Elon's serious expression with some confusion.

"What trouble?"

"I don't know why that guy Rock went back to the lighthouse first, but he went to see the city lord on his way back."

Before he finished speaking, the expressionless face of Victor, the commander-in-chief of the city's defense forces, and the heavily armed and cold-eyed soldiers behind him had already arrived.

“Captain Red.” Victor’s voice was devoid of any warmth. “Lord Morgan is waiting for you in the meeting hall, now.”

He emphasized the word "now" and glanced at the messy convoy and the wounded.

"Why are the city defense troops looking for the captain again?" Xuefeng and the others frowned and muttered to themselves.

"I don't know, but I have a feeling it's not going to be anything good."

“It’s definitely not good news,” Haji spat. “If Rock comes back first, he’s definitely up to no good!”

Hong Kou's heart sank. She glanced at Po Xiao, whose eyes held the same solemnity.

What's meant to happen will happen eventually.

She took a deep breath and straightened her back, which was slightly hunched from exhaustion.

“Okay.” She replied calmly, “Dawn, I’m leaving this to you.”

(End of this chapter)