Deviant: No Longer Human

"Taking a bath, upstairs?" Wang Xiao echoed, his eyebrows arching in mild skepticism. He pondered her response for a moment, his mind analyzing the plausibility of her statement.

Despite his doubts, he decided to verify her claim first. "I\'ll go and take a look," he announced, his voice carrying a note of finality.

As he moved towards the stairs, his every step seemed to echo through the tense atmosphere of the room.

Aisha watched him go, her body tensed like a coiled spring. It was only when his imposing presence began to fade with distance that she allowed herself a small sigh of relief.

The tension in her shoulders eased slightly, yet the apprehension lingered. She knew this reprieve was temporary.

_______

Wang Xiao\'s footsteps were cautious as he approached the bathroom door, his mind teeming with scenarios. Pushing the door open, he was greeted by an unexpected emptiness. The room was devoid of any signs of recent use – no fogged mirror, no damp towels. Just a silent, unoccupied space.

His eyes quickly darted to the window, swung wide open. Raindrops spattered against the sill, dampening the mat below. Wang Xiao usually left the windows open for fresh air, but not when it rained. His brow furrowed as he pieced together the clues. \'Could she have run away?\' he thought, a touch of bewilderment coloring his usually composed demeanor.

With a deep sigh, a mix of frustration and resolve, Wang Xiao moved swiftly to the window, peering out into the rain-drenched world. Without hesitation, he leaped agilely from the window, landing with a precision that spoke of his training.

Outside, he quickly grabbed the nearest guard, his voice firm, his question direct. "Has anyone left the villa recently?" His eyes scanned the area, seeking any hint or clue that might solve this latest mystery.

_____

!?

The guard flinched visibly as Wang Xiao landed before him, his hand instinctively moving towards the hidden firearm under his coat. But as he caught sight of the piercing red eyes glaring at him, recognition dawned, and he relaxed, though only marginally.

"It\'s you, Sir Wang Xiao," he stammered, his voice a mix of relief and residual tension.

Wang Xiao\'s brow furrowed in impatience. "Has anyone left the villa recently?" he demanded, his tone sharp as the rain continued to pour around them, creating a symphony of pattering sounds on the wet ground.

The guard shook his head quickly. "No, sir, no one has—"

Wang Xiao cut him off. "Contact Li Zhiming. I need to speak with him immediately," he ordered, his voice brooking no argument.

The guard hesitated for a moment, the weight of Wang Xiao\'s gaze heavy upon him. He fumbled with his communicator, still wary of Wang Xiao\'s unpredictable nature. After a few tense seconds, he handed the device over to Wang Xiao.

The rain drummed steadily around them, adding to the urgency of the moment. Wang Xiao took the phone, his eyes never leaving the guard.

There was a sense of urgency in his movements, a clear indication that whatever he suspected, or feared, was significant.

When the call finally connected, Li Zhiming finally answered, he relayed the information about the tracker in Anran\'s phone.

Wang Xiao\'s brow furrowed in thought. \'Of course, the tracker... But is my phone even functional after being submerged?\'

He reached into his pocket, pulling out his own phone, which had endured a lengthy submersion in water during his unexpected swim.

To his surprise, the screen flickered to life under his touch, still fully operational. Wang Xiao let out a short, incredulous laugh. \'It\'s 2026, after all,\' he reminded himself, the realization dawning on him that technology had advanced to such a degree.

The latest tech had made his device resilient against elements he used to worry about.

Wang Xiao quickly navigated to the tracking application, his fingers moving with practiced ease.

He was momentarily taken aback by the efficiency and reliability of the technology at his disposal – a stark contrast to the more rudimentary gadgets of the past.

The tracker\'s blinking dot on the screen was a stroke of luck, as it remained tantalizingly close, still within the bustling city, despite its rapid movement.

"Li Zhiming, keep your men on high alert. I might require backup," Wang Xiao declared into the phone, his voice resonating with a potent blend of authority and resolve.

Rain poured relentlessly around him, but his unwavering concentration fixated solely on the crucial mission. He relinquished the phone to the vigilant guard and vanished into the heavens above.

Whoosh!

[Wang Xiao, don\'t fly!] Yin Yue\'s urgent voice echoed in Wang Xiao\'s mind, halting him midair.

The raindrops seemed to freeze around him as he stopped abruptly, hovering against the backdrop of the stormy sky.

"Hm, why?" He queried, a hint of confusion in his tone.

[That hell spirit, from last time, I\'m sensing it again. Look to your right,] Yin Yue warned, her tone laced with caution.

Wang Xiao\'s brow furrowed as he swiftly turned, his eyes scanning the horizon. Far in the distance, he discerned two small, shadowy figures. \'Who is that second one? Are they engaged in a fight?\' he wondered, his eyes narrowing in an attempt to decipher the scene.

[It seems the hell spirit was monitoring Anran. When she ventured out alone, the spirit sought to ambush her but was intercepted,] Yin Yue explained.

\'I see...\' Wang Xiao mused, his mind racing. \'This coincidence is suspcious... Who could that second person be?\'

[Don\'t approach. You\'re already exhausted. Secure Anran and leave. The second figure doesn\'t emanate a hell spirit\'s aura. It\'s wiser not to engage without knowing their full capabilities,] Yin Yue advised, her voice steady yet urgent.

Acknowledging her counsel, Wang Xiao descended slowly, his body cutting through the rain as he landed softly on the ground.

He then proceeded to leap agilely from rooftop to rooftop, moving swiftly and silently across the cityscape.

Each jump was calculated and precise, a testament to his training and physical powers.

The lights of the city blurred below him as he made his way toward Anran\'s location.