Lin Xiao was playing with his cats when he got the message from Li Jing.
The more he played with his cats, the more he realized that even though they shared his common sense, they still had a childlike innocence.
When he received the message from Li Jing, he felt a pang of disappointment at not getting a reward for his efforts.
Lin Xiao decided to clean his mind so he went downstairs to help his mother in the kitchen.
Just as he put his foot on the steps, a sudden system notification popped up:
[Emergency Mission - Rescue Li Jing - Reward +300 Exp +2 Strength].
Lin Xiao was shocked and immediately felt a rush of worry. "What the heck?" he thought.
He had just received a message from her, and now this notification indicated that she was in danger. The problem was, that he didn't even know where she was.
Quickly, he called Li Jing.
The phone rang for a few seconds, and to his surprise, it was picked up.
"Hello?" came Li Jing's voice.
Lin Xiao was surprised and glanced at the mission notification still blaring in front of him:
[Emergency Mission - Rescue Li Jing - Reward +300 Exp +2 Strength].
"Teacher, are you alright?" Lin Xiao asked, his heart pounding.
"Yeah, what happened?" Li Jing replied, sounding slightly puzzled.
Lin Xiao was on high alert. There was something off about her voice. It was subtle, but he could hear it. Thinking quickly, he decided to test her.
"Nothing, I was just wondering when you're going to send me the address where Wang Lei is. You said you were going to send it to me soon."
There was a slight pause before Li Jing responded, "Oh, yeah, I almost forgot. I'll send it to you after we make sure he is safe. Don't worry."
Lin Xiao's heart sank. He never told her to send him the address. She would never be so nonchalant about such an important detail, especially after the events of the past few days.
The mission notification was still active, confirming his worst fears: the person who picked up the phone was not Li Jing.
He needed to act fast. His mind raced with possibilities.
He decided to call Xiaoyu and ask for her help. If she could use her enhanced sense of smell to track Li Jing, they might be able to find her quickly.
Lin Xiao grabbed his phone and called Xiaoyu. After a few rings, she answered.
"Hey Lin Xiao? This is the third time now. What's wrong?" Xiaoyu asked, sensing the urgency in his voice.
"I need your help. Can you come over and bring your smelling ability? It's an emergency. I think Li Jing is in danger," Lin Xiao explained hurriedly.
"Do you know where Li Jing lives?" he added.
Xiaoyu replied, "Yes, I know. I'll pick you up from your house. We'll go there together."
Lin Xiao took Xiao Bai and Lil'blackie with him and quickly went downstairs and made an excuse to his mother, promising he'd be back before dinner, he also told Meiying to cover for him just in case he was late.
He went outside and waited. Soon, Xiaoyu arrived in her car, and Lin Xiao jumped in.
As they drove, Xiaoyu asked, "What's wrong with Li Jing? How is she in danger?"
"Please trust me, and please don't call her," Lin Xiao replied, his tone serious. Xiaoyu looked suspicious but decided to trust Lin Xiao for the time being.
They reached Li Jing's house and quickly went inside. Lin Xiao searched for something that Li Jing had used recently. He found a jacket she had worn the previous day and handed it to Xiaoyu.
Xiaoyu took a deep sniff, her eyes closing as she concentrated. "I've got it. Let's go."
They got back into the car, and Xiaoyu followed the scent trail. They drove through the city, heading towards the outskirts where an old, abandoned building stood.
"This is the place," Xiaoyu said, pointing at the old, run-down building.
Lin Xiao felt a strange sense of déjà vu. "Are you sure?" he asked, his eyes narrowing as he scanned the structure. From the outside, it looked like any ordinary abandoned building—dusty windows, peeling paint, and an eerie stillness.
"Positive," Xiaoyu replied. "But it gives me the creeps."
Lin Xiao sighed and turned to her. "Alright, listen. Stay here. If I don't come back in an hour, call Wang Yong if you know who he is. If not, call the military."
Xiaoyu nodded, her eyes wide with concern. "Be careful, Lin Xiao."
With a final nod, Lin Xiao took a deep breath and stepped inside, his two cats following close behind.
Xiao Bai, his black cat, sniffed the air and purred. "I smell something tasty. Like that red crystal, we found last time."
Lil' Blackie, his white cat, perched on his shoulder, her eyes darting around the room. "Stay alert, Xiao Bai," she whispered, her voice filled with caution.
Lin Xiao moved slowly, his senses on high alert. The interior was just as desolate as the outside suggested, empty rooms, broken furniture, and an overwhelming sense of abandonment. He could hear his own footsteps echoing through the halls.
"There's nothing here," Lil' Blackie murmured. "But we shouldn't let our guard down."
Suddenly, Xiao Bai's ears perked up. "Wait, I hear something," he said, her voice a low hiss. Lin Xiao froze, his heart pounding.
"What is it?" he whispered, straining to hear any sound.
Xiao Bai sniffed the air again. "It's coming from below us. There's something... or someone down there."
Lin Xiao's grip tightened on his flashlight. "Let's check it out, but stay close," he said, his voice steady despite the tension.
As they descended a narrow staircase, the air grew colder, and the smell of damp earth filled their noses. Lin Xiao's flashlight flickered, casting eerie shadows on the walls.
"Be ready, Both of you," he muttered. She nodded, her eyes glowing with determination.
They reached a heavy wooden door at the bottom of the stairs. Lin Xiao hesitated for a moment, then pushed it open. The room beyond was pitch black, but as his eyes adjusted, he saw something glimmering in the darkness.
"Is that...?" he began, but before he could finish, the door slammed shut behind them.