Chapter 528: Hidden Hints
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
The navigation elfin didn’t usually give opinions about the player’s elfin captures, but this time was an exception. Judging from its tone, it didn’t recommend that the player try blindly. Maybe the elfin only existed for a short time and was hard to capture, which resulted in an abnormally low possibility of a successful capture.
But Zhang Zian did not have a formal job and had lots of free time to kill. He had nothing better to do and besides there were very few customers during the New Year’s break. Regardless, he decided to give it a try and thought it would be a nice walk anyway. Although he didn’t know this elfin very well, he developed an unexplainable sympathy for it. Just like Old Time Tea, the “Strength of Faith” that kept it alive was fading away quickly. Soon its existence would be endangered. Wasn’t it sympathetic?
He turned around, and surprisingly found Galaxy standing outside the storage room staring at him with its silver grey eyes, as if it had something thing to tell him.
“What’s going on, Galaxy? Do you want to play hide-and-seek?” He waited for a few seconds, but Galaxy neither responded nor moved so he asked again.
Galaxy shook its head. “Meow…Galaxy wants to play hide-and-seek. But Galaxy can wait because Zian has something more important to do!”
Zhang Zian paused for a moment. Something more important…what did that mean? Was Galaxy referring to capturing the elfin?
He grew more interested in that elfin. What was it like? Why did Galaxy take it so seriously?
“OK. I’ll be back soon, and we will play hide-and-seek with Galaxy after I come back.”
Time was precious. He nodded without further words, grabbed a fresh bottle of disinfectant from the storage room, then walked downstairs at a fast pace.
When he was halfway on the stairs, he suddenly had an odd feeling in his heart. Wait a minute, why did Galaxy specify those words? Even if Galaxy didn’t come here, he was planning to capture the elfin anyway. The sudden appearance of Galaxy delayed him for a few seconds. He turned his head and stared at him between the stair railings, straight into its eyes.
Galaxy didn’t move and stared back at him the whole time. When he turned around, Galaxy blinked at him three times, then turned its body to face the outer wall of the room as if it were repenting while facing the wall.
Zhang Zian was stunned.
Regarding the new elfin, he felt that Galaxy must know something and came over to tell him. But what did that mean?
At that moment, Wendy the Abyssinian cat squeezed through its side, and Galaxy chased it with excitement. “Meow…hide-and-seek…Galaxy will be the ghost.”
In the blink of an eye, Galaxy disappeared into the living room following Wendy’s steps. Apparently, Galaxy had finished what it wanted to say.
Zhang Zian’s brain was so confused. It was as if he stumbled upon an English passage in which he didn’t know half of the words.
Just let it be. In the end things would mend. He stopped pondering because he couldn’t find the answer. The elfin could disappear any moment, and he had no time to lose.
He hurried off the stairs, threw the disinfectant to Wang Qian, then instructed him while putting on his jacket. “I have to go out for something. As soon as you finish cleaning, just go back to school and prepare for your exams.”
Wang Qian and Li Kun could see the anxiety between his eyebrows, then agreed without asking. But they didn’t understand why the Master was in such as hurry as if he couldn’t wait to find a bathroom. Was there no water upstairs, and he had to look for a bathroom outside?
“Mr. Manager, are you coming back for lunch? Shall I order one for you?” Lu Yiyun asked immediately when he was about to leave.
Zhang Zian spoke to himself for a second. He wasn’t sure how long it was going to take. “No, thanks. Just order your own lunch, and order whatever you like. I have to go now.”
He pushed the door open as he spoke, and didn’t even zip his winter jacket.
He was in such a hurry, that Wang Qian, Li Kun and Lu Yiyun looked at each other in confusion, and felt worried about him. They thought his relative or friend suddenly fell ill or had an accident, and he had to go look after them.
Zhang Zian left the shop, opened up the e-map inside the game, zoomed it to the right proportion, and found the icon indicating the elfin’s location. It was near the east of Binhai City, on the border the of city and the suburb, not far from the pet shop.
He lifted his arm and stopped a taxi. He pointed to a direction and asked the drive to be faster.
It was still New Year’s holiday with very light traffic. The taxi drove fast, and the surrounding scenery moved quickly backwards.
Dongcheng District was an educational area of Binhai City, in which a few higher education institutions were located, including Binhai University. There were countless high schools and elementary schools, and the academic atmosphere was intense. But Zhang Zian stared at the blinking icon on the phone screen, and couldn’t figure out what could be there.
As he only pointed out a rough direction, it was not easy for the driver. He kept asking him about the exact location as he drove.
Zhang Zian handed out his phone, pointed at the screen and asked, “Sir, in this area…are there any landmarks or buildings?”
The driver quickly glanced at it and laughed. “What kind of navigation app you are using? This is a lousy app. You’ll end up in a ditch following its direction…you should get a new navigation app!”
Zhang Zian laughed with embarrassment, and asked the driver the same question.
“Over there…there’s nothing special. Most people visit two places: one is Dongfeng Park, the other is Binhai City Library. Those heading to the Dongfeng Park are mostly seniors. The ticket is free for senior citizen card holders. They dance and practice Tai-Chi there. Most young people visit the library, and I often pick up students and teachers to go there at the gate of Binhai University.” The driver looked at him and added, “Of course, many young couples visit Dongfeng Park in spring-time. But now it’s winter.”
The park and the library?
“Are these two places far from each other?” Zhang Zian asked.
The driver replied, “No, they are next to each other… within walking distance. Some people take breaks from the reading, and walk in the park.”
Zhang Zian had visited Dongfeng Park in high school, but he barely remembered anything. He had only visited the Binhai City Library once in primary school, and only remembered the poor lighting, and that it was an old and crowded place. Not many people were borrowing books there.
“Sir, Dongfeng Park…is it only a park? Are there any historical relics? Or is it related to a famous person? Either from China or other countries?” He asked.
The driver didn’t expect this question, and answered with uncertainty. “I’ve never heard of it. It’s just a park, I guess?”
The car was going fast. They were getting closer to the blinking icon as they spoke.
“How is it? Have you decided where to go?” The driver was getting impatient. “Or anywhere will do?”
If this was a gamble for one of the two places, Zhang Zian decided to bet on the Binhai City Library.
“The library.” He said.
“All right. I’ll make a turn in front then.” The driver observed the road, then turned the steering wheel at the next intersection to the right.
A big park appeared at one side of the road. Even in winter, the evergreens in the park were thriving. Through the branches, there were senior citizens who wore red and white and practiced Tai-Chi, and old ladies who danced Yangko with pink handkerchiefs. A few couples were cuddling and walking among the Wintersweet shrubs.
An artificial pond in the lake was frozen, with a tall sign standing next to it that said “No Skating”.
Zhang Zian widened his eyes, and attentively observed the Dongfeng Park traveling quickly backwards. He did not expect to spot the elfin in this moment, but at least he might find something unusual…but unfortunately, nothing.
This was a common park that could be found everywhere. There was nothing cultural. Apart from its large area, he could not find a reason why this elfin should appear in the park.
The library was a more likely place. He remembered the snowy lionet. That cat with the twisted sexual orientation was a cat from the book. Was this elfin today an animal recorded in a book as well?
“Here we are, right in front.” The driver pointed with his chin.
Zhang Zian didn’t move his neck, and didn’t look forward. He only turned his head once Dongfeng Park was completely out of sight, trying to prove himself wrong until the last minute.
The taxi stopped slowly by the street. After stepping out of the car, Zhang Zian froze in astonishment.
Binhai City Library had clearly been renovated. It was no longer the small and old library from his childhood. It was bigger than he could imagine!
