Qi Jiu stood on the brightly lit hot spring street on New Year's Eve, with pedestrians passing by. They drank hot boiled red wine, carried freshly baked hot spring snacks, and kept laughing.

Before the accident or tragedy happened, the night in the hot spring street was illuminated by lights and fireworks.

Qi Qiu quickly organized his thoughts, and there was a small deviation between their expectations and the actual situation of the copy. Xiaomi's "return wish" could not directly offset the accident that had happened that year, but gave Qi Qiu, who was promoting the story line, a chance to prevent everything from happening.

.

Now that we have arrived at the beginning of the cycle, as long as we prevent Xiaomi from using the black ema to make a deal with the evil spirit, the New Year's Eve accident can disappear.

To stop Xiaomi, he first needs to get a normal Ema in case of emergency.

Then he needs to find Xiaomi before she makes her wish and find ways to prevent her from making a deal with evil spirits.

At this time, the moon was about to reach its zenith, and time was running out. Qi Jiu had to act quickly.

Fortunately, the New Year's market on the street had a dazzling array of products. Qi Qiu walked around a few stalls and found a vendor selling praying ema.

"Hello, please help me get an Ema, thank you, how much does it cost?" Qi Jiu asked.

The old woman at the stall took off the ema: "Our ema are all handmade, and each one only costs 5 yuan."

Just when Qi Jiu wanted to exchange cash from the system, he was prompted by the system [Note, because you are currently in a simulated reality scene, survival coins are not the currency here]

Qi Jiu:...This is a situation he didn't expect.

But time is urgent now, and he doesn't have much time to think of ways to make money.

Qi Jiu had no other choice and said apologetically to the old lady at the stall: "I'm sorry, I was in a hurry when I came out just now and didn't have time to bring cash. Can I get it on credit first?"

"I am an employee of Jiekou Hot Spring Hotel. This is my proof of employment."

Just when Qi Jiu was about to take out his copy of the "Employee Entry Rules" to prove his identity, the old lady at the stall smiled and said: "I know, I have recognized him a long time ago. Only the employees of your hotel wear these weird and weird masks."

Qi Jiu breathed a sigh of relief and smiled: "I can leave you an IOU. I'm really sorry."

The old woman waved her hand: "No, I'll give this Ema to you. It's rare to meet someone who likes it, and it can be regarded as a blessing in the New Year."

"Really? Thank you." Qi Zhu knew that time was running out now and it was not the time to politely excuse him. Being able to get the Ema smoothly was more important than anything else.

The old woman smiled kindly and said, "You're welcome. Please be careful when you go out to play at night."

Qi Jiu can always easily win the favor of his elders. After all, which elder doesn't like polite and gentle young people?

"Thank you very much." Qi Qiu picked up the handmade Ema and ran towards the shrine in a hurry.

Although the night market was very lively, it was late at night and there were only a few people in the shrine.

At this time, the moon was almost at its zenith, and Qi Jiu quickly ran to the prayer stand. He quickly browsed it several times and breathed a sigh of relief after confirming that he could not find the ema left by Xiaomi.

"Brother, what are you looking for?" A familiar voice sounded from behind him.

Qi Jiu was stunned for a moment, and he quickly turned around. Xiaomi, who was holding a black Ema in his hand, was standing behind him: "Can I borrow it from you? I'm sorry."

Xiaomi had just written down her wishes and price on the black Ema, and was about to tie the Ema to the prayer stand when Qi Kui, who was standing in front, blocked her way.

At this point in time, Xiaomi still doesn’t know what will happen to her after she has tied the piece of Ema to the prayer stand and made a deal with the evil spirit.

"Xiao Mi, if you need to make a wish, don't use the black ema provided by the shrine." Qi Qiu glanced at the black sign in Xiao Mi's hand, and then took out the ema he just bought from the old woman, "Use this.

"

Xiaomi was stunned for a moment, and looked questioningly at the young man wearing the "Sixteen" mask: "Do you know me?"

Qi Jiu had prepared a set of words early on, and now he said with a natural smile: "Not only do I know you, but I also know why you came here and what wishes you wrote on the Ema."

Xiaomi raised his eyebrows and looked at Qi Kui with suspicion: "Are you a divination master? Then tell me."

"You want your mother to come back to you, don't you?" Qi Jiu knelt down and looked seriously at Xiao Mi's eyes filled with emotion, with a gentle voice, "You came here because this shrine once appeared in

In your dream, you thought the gods here were guiding you here, am I right?"

Xiaomi's eyes widened in disbelief: "You...how could...?"

The Ema with the wish written on it was held in her hand, and the other party would never have a chance to see the handwriting clearly. Moreover, she had never told anyone about her dream about the shrine. It was impossible for the other party to know in advance and come here to trick her...

"But rather than endless nostalgia, your mother hopes that you can start a new life of your own." Qi Jiu lowered his voice and said patiently.

Xiaomi's eyelashes trembled: "But I want to be with my mother..."

Qi Jiu: "It costs a lot for a person who wants to leave to return to the world. Your mother doesn't want you to do that."

Xiaomi raised her voice and retorted: "But I have dreamed of this shrine. The god of the shrine guided me to come and make a wish. He will give my mother back to me!"

Qi Jiu looked at her: "But that will come at a terrible price."

Xiao Mi pouted: "I don't care."

"As long as I can bring my mother back, I don't care what happens." The knuckles of Xiaomi's fingers holding Ema turned white, and she had already made up her mind.

The two stood in silence for a while.

Qi Jiu, quick to wit, opened his own item bar and asked the system: "Excuse me, can my healing items be used by Xiaomi?"

[If there is no sign prohibiting the use of props on the character, it can be used]

Qi Jiu: "I understand."

After saying that, he thoughtfully opened the newly acquired item: "Madam's New Year's Wish".

[Excuse me, do you want to use the one-time item "Madam's New Year's Wish" on the copy NPC "Xiao Mi"? Yes/No]

Qi Jiu immediately clicked "Yes".

[Note: Using one-time props for dungeon NPCs may result in wasted props] The system reminded.

"Thanks for the reminder, but it doesn't matter." Qi Jiu replied.

Anyway, he has no shortage of props to increase his pleasure value, so he might as well take a gamble now.

After all, the probability of convincing Xiaomi through words is not high.

Qi Jiu said to Xiao Mi: "Let me tell you something."

Xiaomi frowned: "What?"

Qi Jiu smiled: "You will understand then."

[Ding! The prop "Madam's New Year's Wish" has been used on the designated NPC]

[Use effect: unknown]

For a moment, the expression on Xiaomi's face froze, and the stubbornness in her eyes gradually dissipated, replaced by mist.

Xiaomi's grip on Ema began to loosen, and the mist in her eyes condensed into water droplets, pattering down from the corners of her eyes.

She heard her mother’s New Year’s wish——

"Xiao Mi, can you help mom realize this wish? Give yourself and everyone a chance to try to start your life again."

Qi Jiu remained silent, squatting next to Xiao Mi and waiting patiently for a long time.

Until Xiaomi was tired of crying, he raised his hand to wipe away the tears from the corners of his eyes: "I just had a long dream."

"I understand." She said relieved.

"If you have decided on a new wish, write it down here." Qi Jiu handed the Ema he bought from the old woman to Xiao Mi.

Xiao Mi nodded and took the Ema. She raised her wet eyelids and looked at Qi Qiu: "Brother, I seem to have seen you in my dream."

Qi Jiu took it for granted that she was talking about an endless cycle of dreams, and smiled: "In the dream, I was a hotel staff, right?"

Xiaomi frowned and nodded, then shook his head: "You are wearing a beautiful robe, with your hair in a high bun, and holding a long pipe in your mouth, standing in the shrine."

She paused, looked at Qi Qiu's mask and said, "I also wear this mask on my face."

It was Qi Jiu's turn to be stunned for a moment.

Obviously, the well-dressed oiran in Xiaomi's dream is that guy.

At this moment, Xiao Mi has used the Ema handed over by Qi Qiu to rewrite his wish——

"In the new year, let's start a new life."

There is no need to pay any price to live a good life, as long as you live the next days seriously.

Xiaomi tied the new wish to the prayer stand and paid Qi Kui ten yuan when he turned around.

Qi Jiu was startled: "Huh? This is...?"

Xiao Mi smiled: "The trademark on the Ema you gave me hasn't been torn off yet, but it says it costs five yuan. With the hexagram money, I'll pay double that."

Qi Jiu smiled and accepted the ten dollars: "Yes, I am a paid fortune teller."

"Brother, goodbye."

"Goodbye."

After Xiao Mi left the shrine, Qi Jiu took the ten dollars he earned and went to a late-night snack shop to buy a bag of hot spring steamed buns. While it was still warm, he placed the bag of steamed buns on the old woman's stall.

The old woman was a little surprised: "Ah, you kid is so polite."

Qi Jiu smiled: "Happy New Year."

The old woman also laughed and gave half of the hot spring steamed buns to Qi Qiu: "You too, happy New Year."
To be continued...