Lin Xiao approached Ping'an's apartment building, and the sight of it made him understand why Ping'an was so angry.
The building was dilapidated, with peeling paint, broken windows, and garbage strewn around the entrance. It looked like it hadn't been maintained in years.
He made his way to the security office, where an older guard was watching a small TV. Lin Xiao knew he had to be careful.
"Excuse me,"
Lin Xiao said, trying to sound casual. "I'm here to visit a friend, but I forgot which apartment he's in. His name is Zhang Wei. Can you help me find it?"
The security guard looked up and squinted at him. "Zhang Wei, huh? Let me check." He turned to a dusty ledger on the desk.
Meanwhile, Lin Xiao discreetly set Xiao Bai down. "Find his name in the list," he whispered to the cat. Xiao Bai nodded and silently teleported onto the desk, scanning the pages while the guard's back was turned.
"Where is it..."
the guard muttered, flipping through the pages.
Xiao Bai's eyes widened, and he quickly teleported back to Lin Xiao, who immediately picked him up. "Got it," the cat's thoughts translated. "Apartment 4B."
"Thanks anyway," Lin Xiao said to the guard, pretending to give up. "I'll just call him."
He left the security office and headed up the creaky stairs to the fourth floor. Apartment 4B was at the end of a dimly lit hallway. The door looked as shabby as the rest of the building.
"Alright, Xiao Bai," Lin Xiao whispered, setting the cat down. "Do your thing."
Xiao Bai's eyes glowed, and in an instant, the entire lock mechanism vanished, leaving the door slightly ajar.
Lin Xiao pushed it open and stepped inside.
The apartment was a mess. Furniture was overturned and broken, papers and books were scattered everywhere, and it looked like a struggle had taken place. The air was stale, and there was a faint smell of something rotting.
"This place is a wreck,"
Lin Xiao muttered, carefully stepping over debris. He started searching for any clues that might explain what happened to Ping'an.
He found a small desk in the corner with a computer on it. The monitor was cracked, but it looked like it might still work.
Lin Xiao pressed the power button, and to his surprise, the computer booted up. He began going through the files, hoping to find something useful.
Lin Xiao's eyes widened as he scanned the computer screen. Ping'an had been doing his own research on the balloon kidnappers.
There were folders filled with documents, screenshots, and notes. It was clear that Ping'an had been desperate to avoid getting kidnapped.
As Lin Xiao delved deeper into the files, he began to understand the extent of Ping'an's fear.
Suddenly, Lin Xiao heard footsteps approaching from the hallway. He quickly shut down the computer and looked for a place to hide.
He slipped behind a tattered couch just as the door creaked open.
Two people entered the apartment, both dressed in construction clothes.
One was a man with a stern face, and the other was a strikingly beautiful woman. They both seemed shocked to find the door unlocked.
"Who unlocked this door?" the woman whispered sharply. "Didn't we capture everyone from the balloon team?"
Lin Xiao's heart raced. He clutched Xiao Bai tightly, thinking quickly.
He considered using Xiao Bai's teleportation ability to escape, but another thought crossed his mind: he could capture these two to complete one of his system missions.
However, his resolve wavered when he saw the man wave his hand, causing all the broken furniture and scattered items to float into the air and start repairing themselves.
The sight was both mesmerizing and terrifying.
"We need to be careful," the man said. "If there's someone else involved, they might come back."
Lin Xiao's decision was made. These two were far too powerful for him to confront right now.
He whispered to Xiao Bai, "Teleport us out of here, now. And bring Lil' Blackie too."
In an instant, Lin Xiao and Xiao Bai vanished from their hiding spot, reappearing outside the apartment building. A moment later, Lil' Blackie appeared beside them, her eyes wide with confusion.
"We need to get out of here," Lin Xiao said, picking up both cats and hurrying away from the building. As they put distance between themselves and the apartment, Lin Xiao's mind raced with questions and concerns.
He couldn't shake the image of the floating furniture and the woman's sharp, almost predatory gaze.
He knew that he had stumbled onto something much bigger and more dangerous than he had anticipated. This world actually has superpowered individuals.
The reality of superpowered individuals was starting to sink in, and Lin Xiao realized he needed to be more cautious than ever.
Lin Xiao found a quiet corner outside the apartment building and waited. He knew he couldn't leave without gathering more information about the mysterious man and woman. He crouched behind a row of bushes, his eyes fixed on the entrance.
After what felt like an eternity, the man and woman emerged from the building. They walked briskly, looking around cautiously.
Lin Xiao held his breath, making sure to stay hidden. He watched as they made their way to a parked car.
Lin Xiao carefully noted their appearance: the man was tall, with a stern face and dark hair, while the woman was strikingly beautiful, with long, flowing hair and sharp features.
They both wore construction clothes, which seemed out of place given their appearance.
As they got into the car, Lin Xiao focused on the license plate number, committing it to memory.
He knew this piece of information could be crucial for his research later on. The car started and drove off, leaving Lin Xiao standing alone.
He considered following them, but quickly dismissed the idea. Without a vehicle of his own, he would never be able to keep up.
Plus, he didn't want to draw any unnecessary attention to himself. Instead, he decided to focus on the information he had gathered so far.
Lin Xiao pulled out his phone and typed out the car's license plate number and a detailed description of the two individuals.
He also noted down their peculiar abilities, the man could manipulate objects with a wave of his hand, and there was something about the woman that made him uneasy, even without knowing her power.
With this information in hand, Lin Xiao headed home, thinking about how he could use it to further his investigation.
He knew he needed to be careful; the situation was becoming more dangerous, and the existence of superpowered individuals added a new layer of complexity to the mystery.