【December 31, 2021, 20:00】

…

In the night sky on festival days, the most indispensable thing is the beautiful fireworks.

Everyone went out in old-fashioned clothes, in small groups, wearing yukata, wearing wooden clogs, holding steaming takoyaki in paper bowls, and stepping on slightly damp bluestone bricks and moss-covered stone steps.

The lively festival area was filled with people like this.

In front of a stall selling takoyaki, a woman wearing a blood-colored mask stood.

The bright red knot went around her jet-black hair and tied a knot at the back of her head, revealing a pair of dark eyes like obsidian, dark, quiet, and calm.

Wearing a kimono embroidered with cherry blossoms, she silently accepted the takoyaki from the enthusiastic shopkeeper.

The slightly cold wind blew through her dark hair, like swaying willows in spring. She lowered her head slightly, pricked the bamboo stick, and a hot takoyaki overflowed with delicious juice.

She stepped on wooden clogs and swung through the crowds looking for a spot to watch the fireworks. She rejected several men who approached her and came to a deserted hillside.

After carefully wiping the flat stone with a white cloth, she sat down, facing the slowly passing stream.

She stretched out her hand.

The bamboo stick that poked the takoyaki was held between her two fingers. With a small force on her wrist, the round takoyaki fell down and fell into the flowing stream, and soon drifted farther and farther away.

She watched the takoyaki go away.

She held the paper bowl with both hands, and the red rope in her hair hung down by her ears.

Through the pine needles and bamboo forest, she seemed to be able to see the bright smile of the girl who was always chasing and calling her sister.

The joint team told her that Mizushima Kawaharu only accepted a special status mission, and was similar to an observer who could move freely. Sooner or later, the sisters would be able to meet again.

Mizushima Kawa Sora was willing to believe this statement, but gradually, she began to feel worried.

She and Mizushima Kawaharu had telepathy since they were children, but one day while they were in White Sand Paradise, she suddenly felt that the connection between her and her sister was gone, as if the thread had been suddenly torn apart.

She didn't believe that Haru Mizushima would die. Haru was so smart and eccentric, even though she looked like a madman, she knew that Haru was a real genius.

Genius and madness are sometimes just one step away.

Qing seems to have endless new ideas, and her brain circuit is something that ordinary people can never keep up with.

Mizushima Kawa Sora didn't believe that she was so smart and would die in which instance.

Sitting on a deserted stone, she looked far into the distance and saw the lake at the foot of the mountain.

The server she was in was a limited event area for annual celebrations. People from many different countries came here to enjoy the celebrations, and some people would put lanterns here. The lake was the activity area for the lanterns. At this time, the lanterns had different shapes.

The orange-red lanterns are floating on the clear water, like sparks flowing on the Milky Way.

She watched and suddenly realized something was wrong.

The extremely high mental points allowed her to keenly detect the strong ones among a group of ordinary people. With her quick gaze, she discovered a group of four people wearing masks.

A bright silver light lit up in her eyes, and the next moment, the distant scene immediately became clear in her eyes.

The black-haired young man knelt down, held a corner of the lotus lantern with flickering candlelight, and gently pushed it out.

The edges of his figure were softened by the candlelight, as if ancient oil paint was flowing on his body.

The clear water held up the slightly swaying lantern, making a slight splashing sound.

Soon, this lotus lantern merged into the stream of lanterns like a drop of water, and gradually became connected with other lanterns.

In the brilliant light and shadow, his figure was dimmed extremely softly by the candlelight, as if he had suddenly taken off his guard.

……That is.

Mizushima Kawakora squinted her eyes. Different figures kept flashing in her mind. After a moment, she compared the figures of the four people in the group.

Su Mingan, Noel, Lu Shu and Lin Yin...

She straightened up immediately and left here.

Although she didn't want to believe it, she seemed to have a premonition, a spiritual premonition.

His sister's disappearance, or even death, is probably related to this guy Su Ming'an...

If we can face each other in the eighth world,

At that time, she will definitely ask for clarification.

As for now, this guy's birthday is today, and she won't bother him. She's not such a cool person.

The number one player, his nineteenth birthday, a worldwide celebration...

Compared with the weight contained in this identity, this person is so young that it is shocking.

…

Noel took Su Mingan to many places.

The ancient town of Dragon Kingdom, the Torii of Fuso.

Worldwide gathering, annual Lantern Festival.

Yuguo Art Exhibition Hall, the revolving corridor of Glenland.

...and the 578-meter-high architectural virtual scene, the Pearl Tower.

The Pearl Tower at night is like a lighthouse that condenses light. It is particularly dazzling in the dark night with light snow. Looking from a distance, the extremely tall tower that is as tall as the sky and the earth seems to hold up the entire dark night sky.

.

Going up the elevator, there is an observation deck on the highest floor. Visitors can look out the window through the entire floor-to-ceiling glass.

They could see the rolling hills below, the bright red torii gates, the quaint buildings, the crowded alleys, and the vivid cross streets like blood vessels.

A giant light screen hangs on the tall Pearl Tower.

On the light screen, there is a line of large red characters. The font is like blood, and it is as conspicuous as an aurora in the dark night:

[First player Su Mingan, happy birthday and wish you good luck in martial arts! 】

…

This light screen is extremely conspicuous. It lights up after nightfall. It is high enough for everyone to see it when walking at night.

At this time, most interested tourists gathered in this specially opened activity area, and this light sign was enough for them all to see.

When he climbed onto the Pearl Tower, Su Mingan didn't expect that the players who liked him could give him such a surprise.

Even though he still had to wear a mask and watch in secret, he did receive their thoughts.

Standing on the observation deck on the highest floor, blowing the night wind mixed with light snow, he looked at the land filled with tourists.

What is diffused in the mountains is the gradually disappearing fog, and the lights of lanterns are like diamonds dotted in black velvet, shining in the silent night.

In the street below, ant-like people walked by one by one. The repertoire on various stages was constantly changing. Their performances were swaying from scene to scene, and the music was played over and over again.

At this moment, what Su Mingan saw was a beautiful picture composed of people.

Next to him, leaning against the railing with him and saying nothing, were three quiet people.

After a day of intense play, they seemed to fall into an eerie silence when they arrived at the last attraction.

It seems that just standing here quietly, not going anywhere, not talking, is already very beautiful.

The "click" of the camera kept ringing behind them, and other people were taking photos with each other. Here, the happiness and joy between people seemed to be able to communicate without any hindrance.

The breeze blew up the red rope behind their heads, and the masks tilted slightly, revealing a part of their young faces. They raised their hands in unison to straighten the masks.

After noticing each other's overly synchronized movements, someone finally couldn't help but laugh.

His laughter broke the solid silence, like a pebble falling into a calm lake.

"Su Ming'an." Noel's laughter was loud and came out without any hindrance through the stuffy mask. He arranged the golden braids on the back of his head and said with a warm smile in his tone: "Are you happy today?
Chapter completed!