Lin Xiao finally came home, feeling a little uncomfortable because everyone on the bus was looking at him. He knew it was because of his increased charisma.
As Lin Xiao reached home, he went upstairs as soon as possible, knowing he had come home before school usually ended.
Entering his room, he was surprised to see both his cats holding a red crystal.
"What the heck is this, and where did you find it?" Lin Xiao asked, his eyes wide with shock.
Xiao Bai put his paws on the red crystal and said, "Although everything I own is yours, this is mine. It's very tasty," and then bit into the crystal.
Lil' Blackie climbed up and sat on Lin Xiao's shoulder, starting to explain what had happened.
Lil' Blackie, sensing Lin Xiao's need for more information, gracefully climbed up and perched on his shoulder. "A few hours ago, when you were fighting with the suspect, Xiao Bai and I were bored," he began, her voice calm and measured. "Xiao Bai suggested we go outside for a bit, just for 30 minutes. I agreed, thinking it wouldn't hurt to stretch our legs."
Lin Xiao's eyes widened. "You left the house? Without me?"
Lil' Blackie nodded, continuing her explanation. "Using Xiao Bai's teleportation, we soon found ourselves in a forest. We were exploring when we came across an almost dying man lying on the ground, clutching this crystal." She pointed a small paw at the red crystal.
Xiao Bai chimed in, "It looked tasty, so I took it. And then we brought it back home."
Lin Xiao felt a shiver run down his spine. "An almost dying man... holding this crystal? And you just took it?"
Xiao Bai nodded vigorously. "It was shiny and looked delicious."
Lil' Blackie, sensing Lin Xiao's growing concern, added, "We didn't think it would be dangerous. We just thought it was a shiny rock."
Lin Xiao sighed, his mind racing with the implications. "This crystal has the same energy I felt from that suspect. It might be connected to something much bigger and more dangerous."
As Lin Xiao reached out to touch the crystal, it suddenly crumbled into powder, which was then absorbed into his skin. He felt a surge of energy, and a system notification appeared in his mind:
[Find the dark dimension crystals - Rewards: 50 Exp for each one]
Lin Xiao's eyes widened in shock. "The system... it wants me to find more of these crystals."
Xiao Bai looked up, his eyes wide with curiosity. "More tasty crystals?"
Lin Xiao shook his head. "No, Xiao Bai. These crystals can be dangerous. We need to be careful."
Lil' Blackie nodded solemnly. "We understand. We'll be more cautious next time."
Lin Xiao sighed, feeling the weight of this new responsibility. "For now, let's keep this a secret. We don't want to draw any unwanted attention. I'll need to investigate more about these crystals and what they mean."
Lin Xiao sat on his bed, deep in thought about the dark dimension and the future vision he had seen. He tried asking the system for more information, but it remained silent.
He wondered if the dark dimension was connected to the catastrophic future he had glimpsed.
As these thoughts swirled in his mind, he was suddenly jolted by his mother's voice calling from downstairs, "Xiao Xiao, are you home?"
Panic surged through him. How did she know he was home? How was he going to explain this?
Lin Xiao hesitated for a moment, considering his options. Ultimately, he decided to reply, "Yes, I am home."
He got up and went downstairs, his mind racing with possible explanations.
As he reached the bottom of the stairs, he saw his mother standing there, worry etched on her face. "What are you doing home early today? Your school hasn't finished yet," she said, her voice tinged with concern.
Lin Xiao quickly fabricated a story, hoping it would be convincing. "Because of basketball practice, I was able to come home early," he lied, trying to sound casual.
His mother studied his face for a moment, then sighed. "Alright, but if something is bothering you, you can always talk to me, okay?" she said, her concern evident.
Lin Xiao nodded, feeling a pang of guilt for lying but ultimately believing it was for the best. "I know, Mom. Thank you," he said, offering her a reassuring smile.
After a brief conversation, Lin Xiao returned to his room, his mind still preoccupied with the dark dimension and the vision of the future.
He knew he had to find out more about these crystals and their connection to the events he had seen.
Back in his room, Lin Xiao laid on his bed, pondering his next move.
Should he search the internet for information about these crystals?
Given his new status as a member of the supernatural association, he felt more confident about his actions and less fearful of the authorities.
He decided to give it a try.
Sitting up, Lin Xiao went to his PC and began his search.
He checked various marketplaces, thinking that someone might have put a crystal up for sale because it looked shiny or unusual. Despite his efforts, he found nothing.
He then turned to more general internet searches, hoping for some clues or mentions of similar crystals in forums, news articles, or obscure websites. Again, he came up empty-handed.
Frustrated, Lin Xiao slumped down in his chair, muttering to himself, "Should I just ask Li Jing?" The idea had merit; she was knowledgeable and had access to more information.
However, the problem lay in how to explain the crystal's appearance and subsequent disappearance. "How will I explain that the system ate the crystal?" he thought, his mind racing.
He couldn't tell Li Jing about the system—it was his most closely guarded secret.
Weighing his options, Lin Xiao considered crafting a story that omitted the system.
Perhaps he could say he found the crystal during his encounter with the culprit and brought it home for further examination, only for it to mysteriously disintegrate when he touched it.
That might raise questions, but it could be plausible enough to avoid suspicion.
Should he do it?