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

Chapter 136 Talks
Bai Jingyu's car drove to the underground parking garage of a private club located in the most luxurious area of ​​Jiuchuan City.

This place is renowned among the upper class of Hisakawa for its extreme privacy and top-notch cuisine, and reservations are usually made months in advance.

But clearly, Bai Jingyu's name is the best passport.

A private elevator provides direct access to the only private room on the top floor.

When the elevator doors opened, what greeted the eye was not opulent splendor, but rather an ultimate blend of simplicity and luxury.

The floor-to-ceiling windows covering the entire wall offer a stunning view of the dazzling nightscape of Hisakawa.

And in the field.

A large dining table has been set out, and the exquisite tableware gleams with a warm luster under the light.

A manager in uniform with a composed demeanor bowed to greet them and led the four to their seats. The waiters then began to serve the dishes in an orderly manner.

Clearly, ASH had arranged everything on their way here.

Bai Yuetian whistled and sat down casually opposite Bai Jingyu, with Bai Yuekui and Yang Chen sitting down on either side of him.

He looked around curiously.

“Great, Dad. I’ve never been to this place before.”

Bai Jingyu sat down in the main seat, but he seemed a little reserved.

Upon hearing what Bai Yuetian said, he immediately replied, "If you like it, you can come every day from now on."

"No need for that," Bai Yuetian shook his head.

"."

Bai Jingyu looked at the three "young people" opposite him, especially his own children, and for a moment he didn't know how to start a conversation.

The dishes were served one after another, each plated as beautifully as a work of art.

"I didn't know what you guys liked to eat these days, so I had the chef make some of your signature dishes," Bai Jingyu broke the silence.

"Hopefully... it suits your taste."

"I'm not picky about food, I'll eat anything!" Bai Yuetian was the first to pick up his chopsticks.

The atmosphere at the dinner table remained delicate.

Aside from Bai Yuetian eating with great enthusiasm, frequently commenting "This is delicious" and "Dad, you should try this," Bai Jingyu and Bai Yuekui seemed to have lost their appetite.

Bai Jingyu wanted to speak several times, his gaze lingering on Bai Yuekui's calm profile and Yang Chen, but he didn't know where to begin.

He picked up a piece of food with his chopsticks and placed it on the plate in front of Bai Yuekui: "Little Kui, try this. You...you used to like fish when you were little."

Bai Yuekui paused for a moment, looked at the snow-white fish on the plate, and said softly, "Thank you... Dad."

The word "Dad" brought a pang of sadness to Bai Jingyu's heart, but also a sense of comfort.

He tried to find a topic to talk about: "Um... Dragon Bone Village, how many people are there now? Is life still peaceful?"

Yang Chen continued, "Mr. Bai, there are several hundred people in Dragon Bone Village now, and Village No. 2 is mainly used to accommodate people from other settlements, with a population of less than three thousand. Life is quite stable for everyone."

"Just call me Jingyu," Bai Jingyu said subconsciously, then realized it might not be appropriate and coughed lightly.

"Hmm...that's good. If you need anything, just tell me. Supplies, equipment...I can figure something out."

"Don't worry, Dad, we definitely won't hold back with you," Bai Yuetian said, his mouth full of food, his words muffled.

"But we don't lack food or supplies now, what we lack is how to deal with those things."

The conversation finally veered into a deeper level.

Bai Jingyu's expression also turned serious: "I've seen all the information ASH showed me. Mana ecology... Devouring Beasts... These things are completely unknown to the current scientific community. It will be too difficult to stop them."

“We never thought we could completely stop it,” Bai Yuekui finally spoke.

“Initially, the outbreak spread very quickly, and countries did not even have effective countermeasures. They could only accumulate experience by time and lives. But now, we can skip this step directly.”

"So what do you want?"

She looked at Bai Jingyu, her gaze sharp: "Unite all forces that can be united."

"This requires enormous resources, top-notch scientific research capabilities, and global collaboration. This is not something Hisakawa Kazuki can accomplish alone. We need you, Dad. We need your future influence, resources, and status to drive this forward."

Bai Jingyu met his daughter's gaze, which held the familiar intelligence of Theresa, as well as a decisiveness honed by the cruel years.

He took a deep breath and nodded heavily: "I understand. Now that I know, I will not sit idly by. I will do my best in the mayoral election and push forward the Internet of Things project. These are all ways to accumulate capital and influence."

He paused, looking at ASH's virtual image, which was projected onto a small terminal next to the dining table.

"ASH, starting tomorrow, I will do my best to help you upgrade your current hardware and provide you with computing power support."

“I secretly prepared these in your name when I first arrived,” Ash replied gently.

"With past experience, I can avoid many detours."

"Okay, alright. Just do whatever you need from now on." Bai Jingyu nodded blankly.

Bai Jingyu then rubbed his temples again: "But persuading all parties, especially the Coastal Alliance, requires solid evidence and... the right timing."

He looked at Bai Yuekui and Yang Chen: "The information you brought concerns the future, and it's difficult to use it as direct evidence now."

“We understand,” Yang Chen nodded.

“We can provide some technical details, such as research on the source of life, and when the time is right, we can let them witness it firsthand.”

"However, regarding the ecological samples and those two medicines, we cannot yet determine whether it is because immortality was 'successful' or because the Mana ecosystem began to erupt at the predetermined time. Therefore, it would be better to conduct subsequent research on combating the ecosystem with us."

The conversation gradually shifted to a more practical level, and the atmosphere became less awkward than before.

Four people—a father, a pair of children from the future, and a son-in-law from the future—reached a consensus on how to save a world that was unaware of its impending doom.

The plates gradually emptied.

Bai Jingyu looked at the children, hesitated for a moment, and then asked, "So... what are your plans now? Are you going to stay in Jiuchuan, or... go back there?"

Bai Yuekui and Yang Chen exchanged a glance.

Bai Yuetian swallowed the last mouthful of soup and said nonchalantly.

"I'll run back and forth! There's a whole mess to deal with over there, I can't just leave it all unattended. And here, of course I have to come check on you often, Dad, to keep an eye on your work! And maybe give you a little something extra to eat!"

Bai Jingyu was amused by his words and a genuine smile appeared on his face, but his eyes were filled with more worry.

"Was it safe to go back and forth? Ash said you used a kind of... spell power?"

"Yes, it's very safe, it's instantaneous," Yang Chen explained simply, without elaborating on the specifics of the talisman. Although Bai Jingyu was curious, he wisely refrained from asking further questions.

Dinner is coming to an end.

Bai Jingyu looked at the deep night outside the window, pondered for a moment, and then turned his head.

In a cautious tone, she said, "How about... you stay in Jiuchuan? I'll arrange accommodations for you; it'll be absolutely quiet and safe, and everything will be convenient."

Bai Yuekui gently shook his head: "No need, Dad. Let's go back first."

A clear hint of disappointment flashed across Bai Jingyu's eyes, but he quickly nodded to show his understanding.

"Okay, I'll do as you say." He stood up.

The four of them got into the car again.

The car eventually stopped outside a quiet, upscale residential area, where the outline of the Bai family's villa could be seen in the distance.

The car came to a stop, and several people got out.

The night breeze was cool and carried the fresh scent of plants.

Bai Jingyu looked up towards his villa, where warm light shone from the window of his second-floor bedroom.

"The light is still on." Bai Yuetian followed his gaze and softened her tone.

"Mom is still waiting for you."

He turned his head and patted Bai Jingyu's arm: "Alright, Dad, we'll stop here. You can go up now."

Bai Jingyu withdrew his gaze and looked at the three people standing side by side.

His lips moved slightly: "Then... I'm going back."

Bai Yuetian grinned and nodded, "Yeah, if you're free tomorrow, we'll take you around our area! I have a lot of influence in the village!"

Upon hearing this, Yang Chen and Bai Yuekui glanced at Bai Yuetian, but both chose to remain silent.

Bai Jingyu responded almost immediately, his tone urgent, as if afraid of missing this opportunity.

"Yes! I have time!"

Tomorrow's meetings, project negotiations... everything else becomes insignificant in the face of "going to see the world of children."

He can refuse, he must refuse.

Upon receiving a positive reply, Bai Yuetian smiled and said, "Then it's settled. I'll pick you up tomorrow."

Bai Jingyu looked at them deeply once more, as if trying to etch their images into his heart, before turning and walking towards home.

Bai Yuekui, Yang Chen, and Bai Yuetian stood there, watching his figure disappear into the shadows, until they heard the faint sound of a door opening and closing in the distance.

The surroundings became completely quiet, with only the rustling of leaves in the evening breeze.

"Let's go," Bai Yuekui said softly.

The three figures disappeared silently.

Bai Jingyu pushed open the door and his eyes immediately fell on the sofa in the living room.

Theresa was leaning against the armrest of the sofa, a thin blanket casually draped over her, and she was already asleep.

Bai Jingyu walked over slowly with light steps, squatted down, gazed at her gently for a moment, and then reached out and patted her arm very lightly.

"Teresa..."

"Teresa, wake up, go back to your room and sleep. You'll catch a cold here."

Theresa's eyelashes fluttered, and she opened her eyes groggily, her gaze still somewhat hazy when she saw Bai Jingyu standing close by.

“Jingyu? You’re back…” She raised her hand and rubbed her eyes.

"Yes, I'm back," Bai Jingyu replied softly.

Theresa sobered up a bit and glanced at the clock on the wall: "Why is it so late? Was it something complicated that you only just finished dealing with it?"

Bai Jingyu looked at her, nodded, and said in a somewhat complicated tone, "Yes, I met with a few... very important people."

"A very important person?" Theresa asked, puzzled, and straightened up.

"Is he an important figure from the Coastal Alliance? I haven't heard you mention any such arrangements for tonight."

“He’s not from the Alliance.” Bai Jingyu shook his head. He stood up, pulled Theresa up with him, and put his arm around her shoulder as they walked toward the bedroom.

"They were...some unexpected guests. I'll tell you the details later...when it's more appropriate, okay?"

Theresa keenly noticed that her husband seemed different, more tired than usual.

She wasn't one to pry, and seeing the weariness in Bai Jingyu's eyes, she didn't press him further.

"Okay, if you don't want to talk about it, then don't." She nodded and leaned against him.

"But no matter how important it is, you should take care of your health and not stay up too late. You look exhausted."

"I know." Bai Jingyu hugged her tighter, feeling the real warmth and breath of the person beside him.

"Let's not talk about this anymore. It's so late, go back to your room and get some sleep."

The two walked up the stairs hand in hand, their footsteps echoing softly in the quiet night.

The bedroom door closed gently.

Theresa seemed to be really tired; almost as soon as her head hit the pillow, her breathing became long and even, and she drifted off to sleep again.

Bai Jingyu, however, was wide awake.

He lay flat on his back, staring at the ceiling with his eyes open.

And then there are the "memories" that Ash shows: Tereza's departure, her own despair, the suffering of the children...

His mind was in turmoil.

My body was clearly exhausted, but my nerves were on edge.

He carefully turned to the side to avoid waking Tereza beside him.

He just watched quietly, lost in thought.

I don't know how much time passed, but perhaps my body finally couldn't withstand the accumulated fatigue. My tense nerves gradually relaxed, and my heavy eyelids slowly drooped.

(End of this chapter)