Back in the castle, Team Leader Zhang and his team continued their methodical search. The interior of the castle was a labyrinthine maze of hallways and chambers, each more eerie than the last.
The walls were lined with ancient, faded tapestries depicting long-forgotten battles and eerie portraits of stern-faced nobility. The air was thick with dust and the scent of mildew, and their footsteps echoed hollowly in the vast, empty spaces.
They passed through grand halls with high ceilings and massive chandeliers that swayed slightly, as if stirred by an unseen breeze.
In smaller rooms, they found decaying furniture, bookshelves filled with moldy tomes, and once-opulent decor now covered in cobwebs.
Every so often, they would come across more signs of battle—scorch marks on the walls, shattered furniture, and deep gouges in the stone floors.
As they moved deeper into the castle, the team's unease grew. The eerie silence was occasionally broken by the distant sound of something scuttling in the shadows or the creaking of ancient wood.
Team Leader Zhang felt a constant prickle on the back of his neck, as if someone—or something—was watching them.
After a while, they came across a door on a staircase. The door was broken, hanging off its hinges, and the doorframe was stuck awkwardly to the wall.
It was clear that the door led to nowhere, its placement seemingly nonsensical. Team Leader Zhang frowned, puzzled by its presence. "Why would someone put a door here?" he muttered. "This door leads to nothing."
Unbeknownst to the team, Xiao Bai and Lil' Blackie had been silently following them, hiding in the shadows and watching their every move.
The cats were curious about these new intruders but wary, knowing they couldn't trust anyone but Lin Xiao.
The sense of being watched finally got to Team Leader Zhang.
He stopped abruptly in the middle of a grand hallway, turning to face the way they had come. "Come out! Who is following us?" he shouted, his voice echoing off the stone walls.
Startled, Xiao Bai and Lil' Blackie quickly hid themselves.
Xiao Bai once again melted into the shadows, his black fur blending seamlessly with the darkness, while Lil' Blackie darted under a nearby piece of furniture.
The team stopped and looked around, their weapons ready, but they saw nothing. The silence stretched on, tense and unnerving.
After a moment, Team Leader Zhang sighed, rubbing his temples. "Maybe it's just this place getting to me," he said, though he didn't sound convinced.
The team continued their search, now even more on edge. They moved more cautiously, their eyes darting to every corner and shadow.
Xiao Bai and Lil' Blackie continued to follow at a safe distance, observing the intruders and trying to determine their intentions.
As Team Leader Zhang led his team further into the depths of the castle, the sense of foreboding grew stronger.
The strange noises they had heard earlier had stopped, replaced by an oppressive silence that weighed heavily on them.
Every now and then, they would hear a distant thump or the faint sound of something scraping against stone, but they never saw anything.
...
...
Xiao Bai and Lil' Blackie watched from the shadows as Team Leader Zhang and his team finished exploring the castle.
The team moved methodically, checking every room and corridor until they were satisfied that they had seen all there was to see.
When they were done, they gathered in the main living room, a once-grand space now filled with dust and decay.
The living room was spacious, with a high ceiling and a large, crumbling fireplace that dominated one wall.
Faded tapestries hung limply from the walls, and the remnants of luxurious furniture were scattered around. A grand chandelier hung above, its crystals dull and coated with grime.
Team Leader Zhang sank into an old, tattered armchair, rubbing his temples as he talked to himself. "Now what should we do?" he muttered, glancing around at his silent team.
They stood there, motionless, waiting for orders.
Team Leader Zhang sighed deeply. "Why did I apply for these brainwashed soldiers? I thought they would be helpful, but they are more like puppets who follow orders without question."
Xiao Bai and Lil' Blackie listened intently from their hiding spots. Xiao Bai, hidden in the shadows, felt a surge of impatience.
He wanted to teleport onto Zhang's head and knock him out, but he remembered Lil' Blackie's advice to stay hidden and cautious.
He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself.
Lil' Blackie, hidden under a piece of furniture, glanced at Xiao Bai, sensing his agitation. She gave him a reassuring look, reminding him silently to stay focused and patient.
They needed to find a way to help Lin Xiao and revealing themselves now could jeopardize everything.
Team Leader Zhang continued to speak, frustration evident in his voice. "We were sent here for a reason, but without knowing what that reason is, we're just wandering around aimlessly. And these soldiers... they're more like drones. They do what they're told, but they don't think for themselves."
Meanwhile, Xiao Bai and Lil' Blackie exchanged a glance. They knew they had to bide their time and wait for the right moment.
Xiao Bai's impatience was tempered by the knowledge that they needed a plan, and that acting impulsively could lead to disaster.
Team Leader Zhang stood up, pacing the room. "We need to find a way to understand why we're here and what we're supposed to do. There must be something we missed, some clue..."
As he spoke, Xiao Bai's ears perked up. Perhaps this was the opportunity they needed.
If they could find a way to uncover the purpose of Zhang's mission, it might give them the information they needed to reunite with Lin Xiao and get out of this place.
Quietly, Xiao Bai and Lil' Blackie continued to observe, their minds working quickly to formulate a plan.
They would stay hidden for now, but they were ready to act when the time was right.