Lin Xiao was back in the car, his thoughts a whirlwind of confusion and concern.
The recent encounter with Zhao Ming had left him rattled, but it was the system's words that troubled him the most. "Only people that won't betray you are Xiao Bai and Lil' Blackie," the system had said.
Did that mean his mother and sister might betray him if pushed to the extreme?
The idea gnawed at him, casting a shadow over his usually resolute demeanor.
His mother and sister had always been his pillars of support. The thought of them turning against him was a bitter pill to swallow.
He glanced out the window, watching the world blur by as the car sped back to the military base.
The trees and buildings seemed to merge into one indistinct mass, reflecting the confusion in his mind.
He was lost in thought, and so he decided to open the system backpack. Among the items, he noticed a key.
It was labeled as the Hell Mission Key. he asked the system how to use it.
"Just say you want to use it, and it will be activated," the system replied.
Taking a deep breath, Lin Xiao whispered, "Use Hell Mission Key."
A notification immediately popped up:
[Hell Mission Unlocked - Go to Xiangyun Mountain, enter the dungeon, and survive for 1 day - Rewards: ??? - Failure: Death]
Lin Xiao's heart skipped a beat. Survive for a day? And the failure condition was death? He didn't even know where Xiangyun Mountain was. As he was processing this, another notification appeared:
[Timer: 48 Hours]
Panicked, Lin Xiao asked the system, "What is this timer for?"
"The timer indicates the time you have left to start the Hell Mission. If you don't begin the mission within 48 hours, it will be deemed as a failure," the system explained.
Lin Xiao felt a chill run down his spine.
He was now faced with a dire choice: find Xiangyun Mountain and complete the mission, or face certain death. He needed to figure out a plan, and fast.
...
Arriving at the military base, Lin Xiao couldn't help but feel the weight of the timer ticking away in his mind.
The base was a sprawling complex of buildings, surrounded by high fences and guarded by soldiers.
Tanks and military vehicles were parked in neat rows, and the atmosphere was bustling with activity.
A soldier escorted him to Li Jing's office. She was sitting at her desk, her legs crossed, reviewing some files. Her intense eyes looked up as Lin Xiao entered.
"You're back," she said, giving him a scrutinizing look. "Did you feed your cats?"
"Yes, everything's taken care of," Lin Xiao replied, trying to keep his nerves in check. "But I have a question for you."
"Go ahead," Li Jing said, leaning back in her chair.
"Do you know where Xiangyun Mountain is?" Lin Xiao asked, trying to sound casual.
Li Jing looked at him, her expression a mix of curiosity and suspicion. "Xiangyun Mountain? It's not a well-known place. It's about 200 kilometers from here, to the northwest."
Lin Xiao's heart skipped a beat. "Northwest," he repeated, committing the direction to memory. "Why do you want to go there?" she asked, narrowing her eyes. "That's my ancestral place."
Lin Xiao was taken aback. "Your ancestral place?"
Li Jing nodded. "Yes. My family has roots there going back generations. Why are you interested in it?"
Thinking quickly, Lin Xiao said, "I was curious about my superpower ancestor. I thought maybe visiting such places might help me understand my powers better."
Li Jing seemed to consider this for a moment before nodding. "Alright, I suppose that makes sense. But be careful if you decide to go there. It's not a place for the faint-hearted."
Lin Xiao nodded, grateful for the information. "Thank you, Teacher."
As they arrived at the military base, Li Jing led him to her office and handed him some paperwork. "Now, we need to discuss the paperwork for what you did to Zhang Wei. You need to learn how to properly document these incidents."
She explained the various forms and procedures, guiding him through the process of documenting his actions.
Lin Xiao listened carefully, taking in all the details. The paperwork was tedious, but it was a necessary part of his new role in the Cleaning Bureau.
While working through the documents, Lin Xiao's mind kept drifting back to Xiangyun Mountain.
He had a location now, and he needed to prepare for the Hell Mission. The thought of it being Li Jing's ancestral place added another layer of complexity to the situation.
He couldn't afford to fail this mission, and he had less than 48 hours to figure it all out.
Finally, as they finished the paperwork, Li Jing looked at him and said, "Remember, Lin Xiao, being part of the Cleaning Bureau means we have responsibilities. We clean up the messes others make, and we do it without drawing attention. Your actions have consequences, and you need to be prepared for that."
Lin Xiao nodded, understanding the gravity of her words. "I understand, Teacher. I'll do my best."
With that, he left the office and went back to his house.
...
Back at home, Lin Xiao sat at his desk, pouring over his laptop as he researched Xiangyun Mountain.
Thanks to Li Jing's directions, he managed to find the general location of the mountain.
As he delved deeper into his research, his two cats, Xiao Bai and Lil' Blackie, kept pestering him for more food.
They rubbed against his legs and meowed incessantly, breaking his concentration.
"Alright, alright, I'll get you some more food," Lin Xiao said, a bit annoyed but unable to stay mad at their adorable faces.
He got up and filled their bowls, watching as Xiao Bai and Lil' Blackie eagerly devoured their meal.
As he watched them, a thought crossed his mind. He turned back to the desk, a serious expression on his face.
"Xiao Bai, Lil' Blackie," he called, gaining their attention. "I have a mission coming up, and...well, you two are the only ones I can trust according to the system. Would you like to go with me?"
The cats looked at him, their eyes reflecting curiosity.
Xiao Bai, always the more vocal of the two, licked his lips and meow in agreement. Lil' Blackie, with her usual air of calm confidence, simply nodded.
"We'll go wherever you want us to go, Xiao Xiao," Xiao Bai said, his voice clear in Lin Xiao's mind thanks to their shared telepathic bond. "We've always got your back."