Chapter 61: The Shocking Appearance of Tier Two!

Just as Xia Tong was preparing to end her cultivation session and return to her cabin, the sound of the rain was suddenly interrupted by a very faint yet continuous rustling noise.

This sound was subtle and fragmented, resembling the scraping of numerous slender branches and leaves, and it was coming from somewhere along the outer perimeter of the zoo.

Xia Tong’s cat ears twitched vigilantly, and her glazed feline pupils flashed with a cold alertness amidst the dim, rainy veil.

She immediately restrained all her aura, leaped with nimble grace, and silently climbed onto the slippery roof of the cabin.

Using the remaining clumps of weeds on the roof and the cover of the dense rain as camouflage, she peered cautiously in the direction of the sound.

The rustling noise grew increasingly clear and closer. Soon, the heavy friction of tires rolling over muddy ground, along with an engine roar that was deliberately suppressed yet still distinguishable, drifted intermittently into her ears!

It was a vehicle!

They were advancing through the mud, driving with a clear purpose deep into the heart of the zoo.

Xia Tong’s heart tightened abruptly.

Why did one wave of trouble follow right after another... Ever since her rebirth, it seemed as though inescapable complications constantly surrounded her, as if she had been sucked into some mysterious vortex.

...

...

The rain poured relentlessly. Xia Tong curled up behind the slippery, ruined parapet of the roof, the cold rainwater sliding naturally off the film of water covering her body, yet completely unable to cool the alertness in her heart at this moment.

The rustling of leaves and the low roar of the engine stubbornly pushed closer to her location beneath the cover of the torrential rain.

Soon, a heavily modified black off-road vehicle pushed through the violent wind and rain, laboriously crushing the muddy ground.

The headlights carved two pale beams of light through the rainy curtain, finally coming to a stop not far from the dilapidated brick cabin where Xia Tong was hiding.

Someone had arrived. Xia Tong’s expression turned solemn as her thoughts churned endlessly, hoping they wouldn't linger for long.

Unfortunately, her prayer was destined to go unanswered.

A car door opened, and a tall, straight figure stepped out first.

It was a young man with a cold expression and sharp, well-defined features. His eyes were as piercing as a falcon's in the dim light, and the moment he stepped out of the vehicle, he swept his gaze across the surrounding environment with a critical and guarded look.

He wore dark combat attire, and even though it was soaked by the rain, it could not conceal his fierce and rugged aura.

Immediately afterward, the front passenger door also opened, and a woman stepped out gracefully. She held a black umbrella, possessing a slender figure, delicate features, and a gentle, serene temperament that felt utterly out of place with the decay of the abandoned zoo and the wildness of the storm.

However, the subtle hint of shrewdness between her brows prevented anyone from underestimating her.

Xia Tong reined in her aura to the absolute limit. Relying on her petite size and pitch-black fur, she confidently and perfectly blended into the shadows of the roof and the ruined walls.

She believed that in such atrocious weather and dim lighting, even an esper would find it difficult to detect her presence.

Yet, after stepping out of the car, the umbrella-wielding woman glanced casually, seemingly without intent, in the direction of the roof where Xia Tong was hiding. A very faint curve formed at the corner of her lips, and her soft voice clearly pierced through the curtain of rain:

"There's a poor little thing watching us from that abandoned house."

"???"

Xia Tong’s heart shook violently! Her glazed cat pupils shrank abruptly.

Just when had she been discovered? This woman's perceptual ability... was actually this terrifying!

Almost at the exact same instant, the cold notification chime of the "Source Core" sounded in her mind:

[Warning! High-energy lifeform detected! Target: Lin Wan (Female), Class A Healing Esper, Second-Tier Level 1, specialized mental perception enhancement.]

[Target: Lu Ming (Male), Class A Ice Esper, Second-Tier Level 3.]

Second-tier!

They were actually second-tier espers!

Xia Tong instantly understood the chasm-like disparity in strength between them.

First-tier and second-tier represented not merely a difference in energy levels, but a leap in the hierarchy of life itself.

Fighting them head-on would be no different than striking a stone with an egg; it meant certain death!

Her heart sank. Although the torrential rain was her home turf and transforming into flowing water to escape might grant her a glimmer of hope,

these two second-tier powerhouses had braved such atrocious, disastrous rain to venture deep into this perilous abandoned zoo; their objective was bound to be extraordinary.

A bolder and even crazier idea quietly sprouted in her mind.

Rather than fleeing in a wretched manner, why not... take a calculated risk?

She decided to use her current petite and harmless cat form to disguise herself as an ordinary, rain-drenched mutated black cat, infiltrate their vicinity, and bide her time to investigate their purpose.

With thoughts flashing through her mind like lightning, Xia Tong made her decision.

She controlled her muscles, adjusted her posture, and right as the woman finished speaking, as if her footing were slippery, she "accidentally" tumbled down from the edge of the roof.

"Meow-woo!"

A perfectly timed cat cry, tinged with a hint of terror and cowering fear, rang out in the rain.

Xia Tong fell "wretchedly" from the roof into the muddy water, her completely soaked fur plastered tightly against her body, making her appear even tinier and more pitiful. This immediately drew the attention of the two newcomers, interrupting the conversation they had just begun.

She raised her head, gazing at the two uninvited guests with wide, watery, glazed eyes filled with innocence and dread. Her body trembled slightly and uncontrollably, perfectly portraying a pitiful little stray cat that was lost, drenched, and thoroughly frightened.

Then, scrambling up in a fluster, she scurried away in a flurry toward the depths of the brick cabin, tightly curling herself into a shivering ball in the corner of the ruined wall.

A flash of cold light crossed the eyes of the stern man, Lu Ming, and a faint, chilly aura emanated from his body, clearly harboring deep vigilance toward this suddenly appearing black cat.

He subconsciously took half a step forward, seemingly ready to make a move at any second.

"Don't be tense," Lin Wan said, reaching out to gently press Lu Ming’s arm, her voice remaining soft. "Such a cute black cat. It seems to be just an ordinary mutated species, completely non-aggressive." Her gaze landed on Xia Tong with a trace of unmistakable pity.

"Heh... It worked." Xia Tong curled up in the corner, keeping her perception maximized to clearly overhear the conversation between the two outsiders, while a subtle, enigmatic smile formed at the edge of her lips.

With that, Lin Wan walked into the brick cabin and squatted down in front of Xia Tong.

She extended her slender, fair right hand, her fingertips glowing with a soft, milky-white halo. A warm and pure healing energy slowly condensed and then drifted gently toward Xia Tong.

"Meow!" Xia Tong widened her eyes and let out a feigned, menacing hiss.

She gradually relaxed as the healing energy poured into her body...

A chill ran through Xia Tong's heart. This woman, seemingly gentle, was actually testing her!

Although this healing energy was pure, it also carried a hint of probing. If there were overly violent energy fluctuations within her body, or if she showed the slightest bit of resistance, she would likely be exposed immediately.

She forcibly suppressed the restless energy fluctuations inside her and allowed that warm energy to envelop her.

Far from resisting, she narrowed her eyes comfortably, emitting a faint "purring" sound from her throat, and even rubbed her wet head against the ground in a flattering manner.