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

Chapter 139 Taste the Moon Queen's Cooking

The discussion gradually subsided. Ulan Aodeng, Nanjixing, Xia Tianlai, and Qiushi exchanged glances, confirming that there were no more urgently needed items on the list for the time being.

Although their requests were scattered, each one concerned the actual operation of the village, research breakthroughs, or the growth of the next generation.

Bai Jingyu listened very attentively and instructed ASH to write everything down.

His gaze swept over the people who had held up the world during the apocalypse, and he nodded solemnly.

“I’ve noted it down. Books, precision instrument parts, special alloys… I’ll procure these as soon as possible.” He paused, then added.

"The method may need to be somewhat covert to avoid attracting unnecessary attention."

"Don't worry about that, leave it to me," ASH replied.

Bai Jingyu nodded slightly, now having absolute trust and reliance on this artificial intelligence from the future, which had already surpassed his understanding.

“It’s about time,” Bai Yuetian suddenly interjected with a grin.

"Dad, are you hungry? You've gone through all that trouble. Would you like to try Yuekui's cooking? She's a really good cook now."

Upon hearing this, Bai Jingyu's face showed an expression of disbelief and surprise.

He subconsciously turned his head to look at Bai Yuekui.

Bai Yuekui received his father's questioning gaze, but his face showed no extra expression. He simply nodded and said, "Let's go."

After saying that, she turned around and walked towards the quiet area where she and Yang Chen lived.

Yang Chen naturally followed, while Bai Yuetian enthusiastically pushed Bai Jingyu, who was still somewhat dazed, saying, "Come on, Dad."

Arriving at another detached house, its exterior was equally simple, but the entrance was neatly tidied and there were two potted hardy green plants.

Bai Jingyu stood at the door, but hesitated for a moment.

After passing by Bai Yuetian's "surprisingly delightful" little house, he felt a little apprehensive, fearing that what kind of shocking scene lay behind that door.

Bai Yuekui seemed to see through his concerns, and without saying much, he simply pushed open the door.

As the scene inside came into view, Bai Jingyu secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

This room is exceptionally cozy.

The walls appeared to have been carefully treated, looking much smoother.

A simple, warm-toned fabric served as a tablecloth, and on the table sat a small vase containing a few unnamed, plain-colored wildflowers.

Everywhere you look, there's a sense of carefully cultivated living.

"Mr. Bai, please make yourself at home. I'll go make some tea." Yang Chen's voice interrupted Bai Jingyu's observation. He walked to a small cabinet in the corner, where there were simple tea sets and a kettle.

Bai Jingyu walked somewhat awkwardly to the sofa and sat down carefully.

His gaze couldn't help but wander around curiously.

A bookshelf was placed against the wall next to it, with books and reference books neatly stacked on it, as well as a few small ornaments that looked like they were handmade.

On a nearby cabinet were several simple photo frames containing photos of Yang Chen and Bai Yuekui.

However, his gaze stopped when it swept across the wall near the inner room door.

There hangs a Tang sword with a simple and elegant design and smooth lines.

The scabbard is blue and looks simple and unadorned.

That is... Alaya-vijnana?

He had seen the knife at the office of the chief executive officer, Dong Mu.

Dongmu had briefly explained to him that this was a token passed down through the Heluo region, forged from a special material, capable of transmitting source energy.

However, the amount of source matter required to use this knife is too large, so basically no one can wield it.

Now it seems that the special material must be the bones of the Devouring Beast.

Yang Chen walked over with a cup of hot tea and handed it to him: "It's not any fancy tea, it's made from the tea trees we grow ourselves, it has a unique flavor, please try it."

Bai Jingyu quickly accepted it, saying, "Thank you."

Yang Chen noticed that Bai Jingyu had been staring at Alaya Consciousness earlier, and explained, "Yue Kui also tried to find a solution in Heluo back then, and this knife was obtained at that time."

"So that's it."

Bai Jingyu silently took a sip of tea. The water was at the perfect temperature and had a grassy aroma, but he couldn't taste much of it at the moment.

His gaze involuntarily drifted back to his daughter's busy figure in the kitchen, a figure he still remembered as a tiny little one.

His fingers tightened slightly around the teacup, but he couldn't help himself and asked Yang Chen beside him in a low voice.

"When did you and Yue Kui......" He paused, seemingly choosing his words, "...become officially a couple?"

Yang Chen was taken aback for a moment, then answered frankly, "Thirty-two years ago."

"Oh..." Bai Jingyu responded subconsciously, his voice slightly unsteady.

Thirty-two years.

It's much longer than all the time he and Tereza have spent together, from meeting and falling in love to getting married and having children, and up to the present day. No, it's longer than he's even older.

He suddenly realized that this young man had spent far more time with Bai Yuekui than he, his father, had.

Just then, Bai Yuetian, who had been listening intently to the commotion, immediately came over, casually put his arm around Yang Chen's shoulder, and patted his chest in front of Bai Jingyu.

"Dad, don't worry! Orange has been rigorously inspected by me and is absolutely qualified! There's no doubt about Yue Kui, so you can rest assured!"

Bai Jingyu's earlier complex emotions were largely dispelled by his son's joking remarks.

He looked at Yang Chen. The man in front of him was indeed calm and reliable, with clear and open eyes, and he could also feel an indescribable "righteousness" about him.

Most importantly, his daughter looked at him with a peace and trust he had never seen before.

He took a deep breath, as if he had made a decision, and smiled gently at Yang Chen.

“Yue Tian is right. Yang Chen, if you don’t mind, please don’t call me Mr. Bai anymore, it’s too formal. Just call me Uncle Bai.”

Upon hearing this, Bai Yuetian immediately chimed in, "Hey Dad, why call me Uncle Bai? That's too formal. Just call me Father-in-law! It's much more intimate! Right, Orange? Come on, say it to me!"

Yang Chen was somewhat helpless due to Bai Yuetian's antics.

But seeing the expectant and approving smile in Bai Jingyu's eyes, he didn't hesitate and respectfully greeted Bai Jingyu in a compliant manner.

"father in law."

The sincere way he called him "father-in-law" made Bai Jingyu's last bit of awkwardness disappear.

He nodded and replied, "Okay."

Yang Chen then stood up and said, "Father-in-law, please sit down first. I'll go to the kitchen to help Yue Kui out."

After saying that, he walked towards the kitchen.

In the kitchen, Bai Yuekui was chopping vegetables with his back to the door. Hearing footsteps, he didn't turn his head, but a smile curved his lips.

Yang Chen walked to her side and picked up the vegetables next to him to wash them.

Bai Yuekui then turned his head, squinted his eyes, and looked at him with a smile.

Yang Chen felt a little uncomfortable being stared at, and asked in a low voice while washing the vegetables, "What are you laughing at?"

Bai Yuekui continued his knife work, teasingly saying, "Nothing. I just thought... someone called you 'father-in-law' quite smoothly just now. I thought you'd have to wait a while longer."

Yang Chen handed over the washed vegetables: "Isn't this... the atmosphere just right?"

Bai Yuekui snorted, took the vegetables, and pointed with his chin to a basket of potatoes next to him: "Alright, stop joking. Go peel those potatoes."

"Yes, ma'am." Yang Chen replied with a smile, picked up the potatoes and peeler, and skillfully began to work.

The only sounds left in the kitchen were the subtle noises of food preparation and occasional conversations.

Through the kitchen doorway, one could see Bai Yuetian talking animatedly to Bai Jingyu in the living room, making Bai Jingyu smile as well.

After a while, the noise in the kitchen gradually subsided.

Bai Yuekui carried out the steaming, fragrant dishes and placed them steadily on the table.

"It's time to eat."

Bai Yuetian was the first to respond, practically jumping up from the sofa, sniffing exaggeratedly as he approached the table: "Wow! It smells so good! Dad, come here, you're in for a treat today."

Bai Jingyu also stood up and walked to the dining table.

Looking at the delicious-looking dishes on the table, I was filled with emotion.

Yang Chen came out carrying a bowl of rice and the last soup, and set out the bowls and chopsticks.

"Father-in-law, please sit here." Yang Chen pulled out the chair for Bai Jingyu.

Bai Jingyu nodded and sat down somewhat awkwardly. Bai Yuetian sat down next to him, while Yang Chen sat next to Bai Yuekui.

"These are just simple home-style dishes, make do with them," Bai Yuekui said, first placing a slice of meat on Bai Jingyu's plate.

"Try this; it's grown in our eco-friendly facility."

"Okay, okay." Bai Jingyu quickly picked up the bowl and took it.

The meat slices tasted much better than he had imagined.

“It’s delicious,” he praised sincerely.

The Bai Yuekui that ASH showed him was nothing like what he was seeing now; he couldn't even imagine such a scene.

"That's right! Don't you even know whose sister she is!" Bai Yuetian said, shoveling rice into his mouth with pride.
Bai Yuekui glanced at his brother indifferently: "Eat your food."

Yang Chen smiled and served Bai Jingyu a bowl of soup: "Father-in-law, try this mushroom soup, it's very delicious."

The meal took place in this somewhat peculiar yet exceptionally warm atmosphere.

Bai Yuetian kept cracking jokes and occasionally revealing Yang Chen's "hidden secrets," to which Yang Chen would then add to the jokes as appropriate.

Although Bai Yuekui didn't talk much, he would occasionally say a few words or serve food to his father.

(End of this chapter)