Chapter 968: Your Name
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Zhang Zian was stunned and speechless. What did it mean, physical fight? Should he make a move?
The Warding Off Evil Cat’s insistence that his nature was soft like a woman’s made him very frustrated. From a young age, he had learned that a gentleman moved his mouth but not his hands. How could he just go out and hit people?
In a seemingly eloquent and indifferent manner, it said, “In dealing with reactionaries, we need a zero tolerance attitude. Whether it’s a swindler or a human trafficker, we cannot tolerate it! First we need to kick them over, then kick them down, and lastly step on them so that they can never rise up again!”
“Wait, wait!” Zhang Zian raised his hand to stop its long-winded essay. “We live in a legal society. We can’t just fight at our own free will. Even if we know that they are swindlers and traffickers, we still have to report them to the public security organizations. After all, ordinary citizens have no right enforcing the law. If they hurt people not out of self-defense, they themselves are breaking the law…”
“Breaking the law?” It looked up and laughed. Its gaze was full of contempt, but it was not contempt that was directed at Zhang Zian. “If the secular law cannot meet my requirements, then I will smash the old world and build a new world!”
Zhang ZIan finally understood: This was a tough old brother who was going to fight as long as he did not agree with something. It was, in every way, a fighter, and its promises were too large that it was impossible to take what it was saying seriously.
“But, although you have the soft-heartedness of a woman and you always adopt the wrong method of fighting, you at least managed to get rid of the problem. What is the purpose of your coming to the capital to find me?” it asked without shame.
Zhang Zian corrected it. “Actually, I didn’t come to the capital to find you. One reason is that I have something to do myself in the capital. The other is that… recently, there have been cat abuse incidents of varying degrees throughout the country, especially in Binhai City, where I am from. Binhai City seems to be where the cat abuse incidents are originating from, but I found no reports of cat abuse in the capital area, so I came to find out why.”
“Abusing cats?” As soon as it heard it his words, it exploded. “God d*mn, there’s actually that kind of thing?”
“Yes, it’s hard to explain in detail.” Zhang Zian nodded his head.
It thought for a moment, put its paws on its lips, whistled, and the stray cats on the walls and roofs around it dispersed as if they had been ordered.
“All right, then I’ll go with you to Binhai City to free those meows that have been suffering!” Holding a forepaw tightly, it firmly said, “Clean up all the harmful bugs––invincible!”
There were too many things to insult that Zhang Zian had no energy to. He raised his phone, entered the catching page of the game, and explained, “Then can I keep you in my phone temporarily? It is more convenient. Otherwise, you will be tired from the travel from the capital to Binhai City…”
It waved its paws impatiently. “D*mn it, don’t be so long-winded all day long. Just do what’s convenient!”
“All right…” Zhang Zian forced all the words he wanted to say back in. He pointed the phone camera at it.
Before he pressed the ‘Capture’ button, it spoke again. “Eh! I still don’t know what your name is,” it said. “Report your name to me. This way it is more convenient to talk.”
“I’m called Zhang Zian. I own a pet shop in Binhai City…”
Just after he said that sentence, he was cut off by it again. “God d*mn! I just asked you for your name. Why are you so long-winded? It’s not like I’m introducing you to another person for a matchmaking session!” It vented its discontent.
Zhang Zian’s extensive self-introduction was choked back, but it could not be refuted. It had really only asked for his name and nothing else.
“Then what’s your name?” he retorted. He was prepared to treat others in the same way.
It rolled its eyes and thought for a while. “Name… Those in our business usually use aliases. You can call me Vladimir.”
Vladimir… that name fit in well with its Russian Blue pedigree, but what did “those in our business” mean? What line of business were they in?
“All right, then I’ll call you Vladimir.” Zhang Zian had a lot of questions in his heart he wanted to ask, but it was not a suitable time. He pointed the camera at it again and pressed the ‘Capture’ button.
The Warding Off Evil Cat, Vladimir, instantly disappeared from where it was. Before it had vanished, it said, “As for your invisible companions, you can introduce them to me when we reach Binhai City.”
Zhang Zian let out a breath of relief, feeling that he was much more relaxed. “Grandpa Tea, you are very experienced. What is your opinion of the Warding Off Evil Cat?”
Old Time Tea and Famous had been observing the situation all along and did not say anything. What Vladimir had said before it disappeared showed that it knew that they were present.
“Zian, have you heard of the phrase, ‘Any natural thing will definitely have a nemesis?'” Old Time Tea asked in a low voice.
Zhang Zian nodded his head. He had indeed heard a similar phrase before; it was a simple, dialectical view in the ancient times based on the principle that all things were mutually reinforcing. For example, some people said that where poisonous snakes were found, there was an antidote within seven steps.
Of course, that phrase could not be understood by a far-fetched explanation. A more accurate meaning would be that there was no absolutely invincible existence in the world. If anything seemed invincible, it had to be because the correct way to defeat it had yet to be found.
Old Time Tea thought a little. “I’ve heard that whenever evil spirits come into being, the world is chaotic and people are destitute. There has to be something to ward off evil in order to save the people in the water and fire, such as the phoenix singing on Qishan Mountain, or the book collection hidden in a fish’s belly, or a bonfire and fox calls, or a cock singing and causing the world to be bright… But now, it seems that the thing to ward off evil spirits is the cat…”
Zhang Zian was quiet, remembering the prophecy in Pi’s Untitled Book: “As cats meow about the changing sky, an epic encounter is about to take place in the ocean of sand.”
According to Old Time Tea’s meaning, the phoenix, the fish, the fox, and the chicken all had represented a good omen to ward off evil spirits in special periods of time. Now it was the cat’s turn.
As to whether the legends were real or not––whether the phoenix had really sung on the Qishan mountain, or if books had really been hidden in the fish’s belly, or if a fox had really called next to a bonfire, or it the cock really had such a unique ability––at least many people believed them. Belief was priceless.
Old Time Tea’s words had a deep meaning for them. Since there were so many hidden meanings, he had yet to fully understand. Old Time Tea did not intend to explain more. Afterall, there were still many questions concerning the Warding Off Evil Cat, and Old Time Tea was just deducing. He could only take it one step at a time.
Yet no matter what, the trip to the capital had many rewards.
He entered the elfin pet bar and saw the Vladimir facing the sky as if it could see everything. He lightly clicked on its body.
[Game Hints]: Pet Attribute
[Known As]: Warding Off Evil Cat
[Rarity]: Epic/Legendary
[Feature]: Defeating all sorts of bad characters!
[Origin]: Locked
[Real Name]: Locked