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

Chapter 39 School
The morning light filtered through the gaps in the curtains, casting a warm glow on Yang Chen's face.

He instinctively reached out to the side, only to touch the still-warm sheets.

"Going to aerobics again..." Yang Chen muttered, rubbing his eyes as he sat up.

Faint, rhythmic, old-world music drifted in from outside the window, along with Ulan Aodeng's powerful, resonant voice.

Barring certain special circumstances, Bai Yuekui's broadcast gymnastics schedule remains unchanged.

Yang Chen smiled, quickly got up to wash up, and ate a simple breakfast left on the table.

He checked the time and figured it was time to go and call the two "new students".

As Yang Chen approached Hong Kou and Po Xiao's house, he raised his hand to knock on the door, but then he heard a slight noise from inside.

It was a deliberately hushed conversation and the rustling sound of things being tidied up.

It seems the two woke up earlier than expected.

"Tuk Tuk Tuk"

Yang Chen knocked on the door.

The door was pulled open almost immediately.

Hong Kou stood at the door, her clothes no longer the same as yesterday's; it seemed she had bought a new set of clothes in the village.

His hair was neatly tied back, and his expression showed the alertness of a soldier, but his eyes revealed an undisguised unease.

Dawn stood half a step behind her, equally neatly dressed.

"Good morning, Mr. Yang." The two said almost simultaneously.

"Good morning." Yang Chen nodded, his gaze sweeping over their tense shoulders, his tone relaxed.

"Looks like you're all ready? Come on, I'll take you to meet the principal and your classmates."

The word "classmate" made both Hong Kou and Po Xiao's expressions somewhat subtle.

Dawn couldn't help but clear his throat: "Mr. Yang, we... really want to be with the children..."

"Of course." Yang Chen interrupted him, turned around and led the way out.

"Knowledge knows no age, especially knowledge about the ecology of mana."

“You know nothing about the Mana ecosystem. Put aside your adult identities, today you are first-year students.”

"Red Bandit, Dawn."

The way they addressed each other brought a barely perceptible blush to their faces.

Hong Kou took a deep breath, pulled Po Xiao along, and quickly caught up with Yang Chen.

Dragonbone Village was already awake in the early morning.

Villagers were working in the fields, figures were doing exercises with Bai Yuekui in the small square, and a group of elderly people with gray hair were not far away.

Watching the way those elderly people with gray hair exercised, Hong Kou and Po Xiao slightly opened their mouths wide.

Walking on the stone-paved road, feeling the vitality that was so different from the cold metal passage of the lighthouse, Hong Kou and Po Xiao's tension slowly dissipated.

The villagers he encountered along the way all greeted Yang Chen warmly.

Soon, a building converted from an old warehouse, with a wooden sign that read "School" on it, came into view.

The clear voices of children reading aloud and their chattering could already be heard from inside.

Yang Chen led them to the school gate, gestured for them to wait a moment, and then gently pushed open the door and went inside.

Hong Kou and Po Xiao stood outside, peering curiously inside through the window.

The schoolroom was brightly lit and simply furnished.

Principal Qiu Shi, an elderly woman with gray hair, a kind face, and bright eyes, was standing in front of the podium.

Below sat more than forty children of similar age, who all looked to be around five or six years old.

Ulan Maiduo was sitting in the back row, excitedly talking to her friend next to her.

Upon seeing Yang Chen enter, she immediately sat up straight, her eyes sparkling.

When Qiu Shi saw Yang Chen, he smiled gently and nodded.

Yang Chen walked over to Qiu Shi and whispered a few words to her.

Qiu Shi's smile deepened, and his gaze passed over Yang Chen, looking at the two tall figures at the door who seemed out of place.

"Children, quiet down." Principal Qiu Shi clapped his hands.

The voice wasn't loud, but the noise in the classroom immediately subsided, and all curious eyes focused on the doorway.

"Today, our school welcomes two special new students." Qiu Shi's voice was very gentle: "They come from a very far place, a place called 'Lighthouse'."

"A lighthouse? A giant pot lid!" a child exclaimed in a low voice, drawing murmurs and curious glances.

Qiu Shi did not stop the children's discussion, but smiled and continued, "Although they are much older than you, their understanding of the land we live on, the Mana ecosystem, and the Devouring Beasts may only be just beginning."

"So, starting today, they will work with you to relearn these common-sense principles that are essential to our survival."

She paused, her gaze falling on the doorway, her voice softening further: "Let's welcome Hong Kou and Po Xiao with applause!" The classroom fell silent for a moment, then erupted in enthusiastic applause from the children.

"Clap clap-"

"Welcome new students!"

Wow! It's so tall!

"Red hair is so pretty!"

"That older brother is so tall!"

The children's applause and cheers were unrestrained, instantly dispelling the last bit of adult embarrassment and awkwardness in Hong Kou and Po Xiao's hearts.

Surrounded by this pure kindness, looking at those bright and innocent little faces, a strange warmth welled up in their hearts.

Yang Chen gestured for them to come in from the doorway, a smile playing on his lips.

Hong Kou took a deep breath and exchanged a glance with Po Xiao, both seeing a hint of embarrassment in each other's eyes.

The two men walked stiffly into the schoolroom under the watchful eyes of dozens of bright eyes.

Principal Qiu smiled as he watched them walk to the two empty seats that had been specially arranged for them at the back and sit down.

Po Xiao's tall figure looked somewhat comical sitting on the small wooden stool.

Hong Kou's back remained ramrod straight. Her gaze swept to her right, where Ulan Maiduo was smiling at her.

This prompted her to return an incredibly sincere smile.

"This child is so cute," Hong Kou thought to herself.

"Hello, Sister Hongkou, my name is Wulan Maiduo, you can just call me Maiduo."

Seeing Wulan Maiduo's outstretched little hand, Hong Kou smiled and shook it, her voice unconsciously becoming more husky.

Hello~ Maido~

'Chirp chirp chirp'
Ok?
The sound seemed to be coming from Ulanmaido's drawer?
Hong Kou peeked out and saw two snow-white falcons nestled together in the drawer under Wu Lanmaiduo's table.

'Shh~'

Maido put her finger to her lips, making a shushing gesture.

He then reached into his bag, took out a small round tin can, opened it, and found a bunch of mealworms inside.

Maido held the jar up to the falcons, and the two falcons immediately stuck their beaks inside and began to eat.

"What is this? A chick?" Hong Kou asked curiously.

Maido shook her head: "No, they are falcons."

"It is called Nari Song, it is called Ana Ri."

Maido pointed to the two falcons and introduced them to Hong Kou.

"You even gave them names?" Hong Kou exclaimed.

“Because Narisong and Anari are family.” Ulanmaido turned to Hongkou and explained, “But I didn’t choose the name, my dad did.”

"When they have babies in the future, Dad said I can name them."

Thinking of this, Ulanmaido couldn't help but smile.

“I’ve already thought of a name, it will be Chagai.”

Qiu Shi saw everything clearly from the lecture hall and quietly walked up to Mai Duo's side without her noticing.

She leaned close to Maido: "But even family members shouldn't be brought to school, right, Maido?"

"what!"

Maido was startled by the sudden sound, and her cheeks flushed slightly when she saw who it was.

"headmaster."

Maiduo lowered her head shyly, avoiding eye contact with Qiushi.

Qiu Shi didn't blame her; he simply raised his hand and gently tapped Mai Duo's head with his finger.

"As long as it doesn't interfere with classes, it's fine."

"Alright." Principal Qiu Shi turned to all the students again, his voice regaining its steady tone as when he was lecturing.

"Since we have a new student joining us, let's review what we covered yesterday: what is source matter?"

"What are the prerequisites for becoming a qualified enlightened practitioner?"

The children immediately raised their hands: "I know! It's about being able to master the Return to Origin technique!"

The classroom became noisy again, filled with the echoes of the children's answers.

Yang Chen stood outside the door for a while, and seeing that Hong Kou and Po Xiao were listening quite attentively, he smiled and walked away.

(End of this chapter)