I really don't want to take shortcuts anymore

Luo Qianhuai had long noticed that many of the people walking around him were wearing masks. The masks come in all styles, and most of them are based on paintings of mountain spirits and strange animals, with bold colors and magnificent mysteries.

This is the tradition of the Lantern Festival in Xijing. During the first month of the year, at night, drums are blasting in the sky, torches are shining on the ground, people wear animal masks, men dress in women's clothing, acrobatics are promoted, strange shapes fill the streets, and friends gather to play. It was originally a ritual to drive away ghosts, but it has evolved into a large-scale costume party.

There were many stalls selling masks. Luo Qianhuai pulled Mr. Mo over and ran over, and he spotted two masks at a glance. A fox mask with a white background, the eyes are surrounded by cinnabar and gold powder, and there is a tear mole painted on the bottom of the right eye; the other is an unknown monster, looking mighty and ferocious, with two sides above it It also flies with two wings at an angle.

The stall owner took off the two masks and handed them over, praising: "Young lady, you have good eyesight. This is a nine-tailed fox and a mythical beast, the best way to avoid evil and drive away good luck..."

Luo Qianhuai glanced at him lightly. She could understand that the stall owner wanted to say something auspicious to sell things, but the nine-tailed sky fox was just fine, but that Qiongqi was one of the four ferocious beasts in ancient times. This person could beautify it into a mythical beast. He was deceiving her. Have you read The Classic of Mountains and Seas?

When the stall owner saw her like this, he knew that the young lady had seen through the untruth in his words, but she didn't want to argue too much. Her smile became even more flattering: "My lady, don't blame the younger one. This mask is said to ward off evil spirits, and it is good luck to drive away evil spirits!"

This makes sense. Qiongqi, also listed as an ancient ferocious beast, is much smarter and more rational than the Taotie. Legend has it that it is good at provoking people to argue about right and wrong, and then eats the more reasonable one among them, so it is also known as the most evil beast that punishes good and promotes evil. ...It is quite suitable for a gangster leader like Mr. Mo who walks the line between good and evil.

She put on the nine-tailed fox mask herself, and the corners of her eyes became extremely charming due to the gold powder, and then handed the Qiongqi mask to Mr. Mo.

Mr. Mo pulled his eyes away from Luo Qianhuai's face with difficulty. He didn't dare to take another look, for fear that he wouldn't be able to suppress the turbulent thoughts in his heart.

He turned his head and put on the mask, then turned around. The noise was still there in front of him, but Luo Qianhuai was the only one missing.

He was tall and stood out among the crowd. Even though he looked around, he still couldn't see the figure that made him miss him so much.

"Sir, Mrs. Luo suddenly went in that direction." Wei Ying appeared behind him like a ghost.

"What are you still doing here?" Mr. Mo frowned: "Catch up immediately, don't make any mistakes!"

Who is this person who cannot make mistakes? He doesn't need to tell Wei Ying to understand.

Silently, the camp guards hidden among the crowd received the news and searched from all directions for where Luo Qianhuai was walking.

Mr. Mo and Wei Ying did the same, following the road quickly. Luo Qianhuai was wearing a snow-colored mink cloak and an exquisite nine-tailed fox mask. Logically speaking, he should be quite conspicuous even if he blended in with the crowd. However, they walked all the way to the dimly lit area and could not find him. silhouette.

How could such a big living person suddenly disappear in full view of everyone?

"Sir." He Qing, who rushed over after hearing the news, bowed and saluted: "My subordinates have mobilized all the hidden secrets in Xijing. As long as the person is lost here, the trace will be found within half an hour."

When Mr. Mo heard this, he stopped stroking the white jade finger for a moment, looked down at him, and the icy look in his eyes almost froze him: "Who do you think is responsible for this?"

"Mostly those secret doors." He Qing had a deep understanding of Xijing at night: "Every year during the Lantern Festival, dozens of people get lost. Not only young ladies, but also young children with outstanding looks... ...But compared to the hundreds of thousands of people traveling tonight, the loss of these dozens of people is just a drop in the ocean."

"Those people have always been measured in their actions. The people they selected have no official background. Even if they are never heard from again, they won't be able to stir up any big trouble."

"Oh, the splendid Xijing, under the emperor's feet, can tolerate ghosts and ghosts." Mr. Mo's face was grim: "If we find out who did it, I want them to regret ever coming to this world."

"But Young Master." Wei Ying looked puzzled at the side: "Not to mention how those people could act calmly in front of us. Even if they really did it, Mrs. Luo's skills would never be so simple. Is it better to just surrender? Could it be that Mrs. Luo left in advance?"

It has to be said that Wei Ying's guess is infinitely close to the truth.

Just when Luo Qianhuai handed the mask to Mr. Mo, the system that had been silent for several days suddenly jumped out: "The storage period of the rewards has expired, and the distribution will begin now."

"Start the primary lottery. When the lottery is completed, you will be rewarded with a natural resource gift pack (the content is random), which will be distributed together with other rewards."

There are too many natural resources in this world. Plants, animals, minerals, and water all fall into this category. Luo Qianhuai has no time to think about them.

"This reward distribution adopts a self-collection mode. Since the host's current ability is not enough to complete it independently, this system will enforce it!"

"Wait a minute, system. Can I say goodbye to Mr. Mo first?"

The system ignored her and skillfully kicked her out of the body. Then she disappeared into the crowd like a swimming fish. After three turns, she arrived outside a shop in the back street that didn't look out of the ordinary.

There is a four-character signboard with "Zhongzhou Tea Shop" hanging in front of the shop, and its appearance is also quite elegant.

On Shangyuan night, not all shops facing the main street, except for dining and entertainment venues, have long been closed. The most they can do is open a lantern riddle stall on the front street to make their presence felt.

But now the tea shop is half-opened, and from time to time someone walks to the door and then goes in quietly.

System quickened his pace, passed the person in front of him, and climbed the steps first.

She could see clearly that as the two passed each other, the system silently touched the man's waist, and then there was a cold and hard object in his hand.

The man didn't notice it at all, his eyes still lingered on Luo Qianhuai's face.

Although her face was mostly covered by the nine-tailed fox mask, she could still tell that she was a stunning beauty just by looking at her exposed eyes, chin, and red lips, which was enough to put a strong look of admiration on her face.

The system naturally ignored him and came directly to the door.

The two men were slightly surprised when they saw it was a woman, but they did not show it.

Although there are not many women who come to such a place, it is not impossible.

"What's your business here, little lady?" they asked as usual.

The system made no sound. He turned his right hand upward, revealing a fish-shaped copper talisman in his palm.

The fish charm is about three centimeters long, with fine scale and fin patterns engraved on its body, like an exquisite handicraft.

Luo Qianhuai suddenly remembered that this copper talisman was one of the rewards she received last time, and it was used here.