The Japanese-fear sorcerer who started by taking in Tomie

The lights at the intersection suddenly began to flicker erratically.

The shadow of the person in the trench coat stretched long. It was a long, beige trench coat with a high collar, and long, straight, smooth black hair cascaded down their sides. A mask covered most of their face, revealing only two clear eyes that were staring directly at Shin Hengyuan and Tomie.

Tomie then realized something was wrong and turned around abruptly.

The moment she saw the woman in the trench coat, her body visibly tensed up.

How did I end up with this jinx?

"Oh no, we've entered the Slit-Mouthed Woman's territory."

"The Slit-Mouthed Woman? You know her?"

Xin Hengyuan asked cautiously.

The Slit-Mouthed Woman is a product of Japanese urban legends.

There's a rumor about a woman carrying a giant pair of scissors who would ask children on their way home from school, "Am I pretty?"

If the answer is "pretty," she will take off her mask, revealing a wide, split mouth that reaches her ears, and ask again, "How about this?"

If the child answers "not pretty," she will kill the child with scissors.

If the answer is "beautiful," she will cut open the child's mouth to make him as "beautiful" as herself.

Tomie nodded, a hint of hatred flashing in her eyes, and gritted her teeth, saying, "I've dealt with her a few times before. How could I be so unlucky? The Slit-Mouthed Woman roams all over Japan, without a fixed territory; the chances of running into her should be very low!"

"It's alright. As a product of urban legends, there are restrictions on hunting the Slit-Mouthed Woman. Just tell me together in a bit, and nothing will happen..."

"How good is she?"

Shin Hengyuan interrupted Tomie.

"Your strength is alright..." Tomie was about to speak when she realized, "Why are you asking that?"

"The power of the Slit-Mouthed Woman—"

"Hey! You don't want to bring the Slit-Mouthed Woman home too, do you?!"

"No, no, I'm enough for the family!"

Tomie quickly replied. Knowing Shin Hengyuan as she did, she was certain he wanted to take the slit-mouthed woman back with him. After all, Shin Hengyuan was a scumbag who already had her but still wanted another imposter!

Shin Hengyuan is confident in its ability to deal with the Slit-Mouthed Woman, a creature from a ghost story.

In the original urban legends, the Slit-Mouthed Woman was just an ordinary woman with disfigurement, and even if she was enhanced, she wouldn't be much stronger.

A smile appeared on Xinhengyuan's face.

That's the expression that gamers only show when they see a new monster appear.

"Hey! Are you crazy?!"

Tomie called out from behind in a low voice.

But seeing Xin Hengyuan not turning back, she stomped her foot angrily, gritted her teeth, and followed him.

The slit-mouthed woman stood motionless, staring intently at Xin Hengyuan, her clear eyes reflecting his figure.

Fifteen steps, ten steps, and finally, at the fifth step, Xinhengyuan stopped.

At this distance, Xin Hengyuan could clearly see the appearance of the Slit-Mouthed Woman. Moreover, if the Slit-Mouthed Woman suddenly attacked, he could react in time.

The Slit-Mouthed Woman was very tall, about half a head taller than the average Japanese man, standing at approximately 1.8 meters. The broad shoulders of her trench coat accentuated her unnaturally elongated figure, making her appear like a human shadow that had been forcibly stretched.

Although most of her face was covered by a mask, Shin Hengyuan felt that the Kuchisake-onna's appearance must be quite good, judging from the exposed eyebrows and eyes.

Immediately afterwards, the Slit-Mouthed Woman spoke.

The sound had a strange texture, like the sound of scissors scraping against a whetstone.

Am I... pretty?

Those eyes were fixed on Xin Hengyuan, waiting for his answer.

It seems that if Shin Heng Yuan's answer doesn't satisfy him, he'll strike at any moment.

This is the same question again. It's been going on for years, don't you get tired of it? Ugly freak.

Tomie froze in place, inwardly cursing upon hearing the familiar question.

Tomie and the Slit-Mouthed Woman crossed paths 50 years ago, though not in a good way. Tomie encountered the Slit-Mouthed Woman shortly after her birth.

Given Tomie's personality, she would never say something like "beautiful".

It is highly likely that she not only didn't say she was beautiful, but also mocked the Slit-Mouthed Woman.

With Tomie's ordinary fighting strength, she was no match for the slit-mouthed woman, a ghost story level character. The result was obvious: she was torn to pieces by the enraged slit-mouthed woman.

"How can you tell if I'm wearing a mask? Take it off first."

The slit-mouthed woman's eyes widened slightly.

"...What!?"

Clearly, the Slit-Mouthed Woman was also taken aback by Shin Hengyuan's sudden response. In her more than fifty years of life, she had seen countless people and heard countless answers, but this was the first time she had ever heard someone voluntarily ask her to take off her mask.

"You asked me to comment on whether you're pretty or not, but you've covered your face completely."

Xin Hengyuan spread his hands, his tone sincere.

"How is this any different from letting the chef rate the food without tasting it? Take off your mask, let me see, and then I'll give you my evaluation."

Standing behind Shin Hengyuan, Tomie stared at him in shock. Tomie wondered if Shin Hengyuan was also immortal, otherwise how could he be so reckless?

"……are you sure?"

The Slit-Mouthed Woman's voice fluctuated slightly, sounding like confusion or a sense of helplessness.

The slit-mouthed woman slowly raised her hand. The skin of that hand was fair and smooth, and her nails were neatly trimmed and painted with pink nail polish.

From Xinhengyuan's perspective, these are indeed a pair of exceptionally beautiful hands.

The slit-mouthed woman pinched the edge of the mask and slowly pulled it down.

Beneath the mask, her mouth was split open at the corners, a neat, symmetrical slit, like the sides of a mouth had been cut open with scissors.

The slit-mouthed woman's upper and lower lips were separated, and the slits on both sides opened up as well, making the lower half of her face look like a blooming fleshy flower.

"Am I... pretty?" The slit-mouthed woman stared intently at the composed Shin Hengyuan, repeating the question before adding a moment later.

Aren't you scared?

Xin Hengyuan remained as calm as ever.

Afraid? What's that?

Xin Hengyuan was a medical student in his previous life. What disgusting and bizarre things haven't he seen? This is it? It doesn't even reach the level of bizarreness found on Bilibili.

The evaluation of Xinhengyuan is that it is not as good as hydatidiform mole.

"You're beautiful, why are you afraid? Your beauty is unique. It's just that your lips are a bit dry and peeling. Don't you usually use lip balm?"

I don't quite understand Xinhengyuan.

"what!"

The Slit-Mouthed Woman let out a soft cry, then froze, her clear eyes filled with confusion. She hadn't expected such an answer.

After a moment of silence, she subconsciously touched the edge of the crack, her voice unconsciously lowering.

"Okay, I'll apply it next time..."

"Ah, that's a good kid," Xin Hengyuan praised.

Tomie fell into deep thought. So this is how it's resolved? Then what about all the times she was dismembered before? Did she deserve it?

"but--"

The Slit-Mouthed Woman's voice suddenly changed.

Her tone remained calm, but the temperature in the air seemed to drop several degrees suddenly. She exuded a dangerous aura, and her once clear eyes instantly became bloodshot.

"Since you've complimented me on my looks—"

The slit-mouthed woman was holding a huge pair of scissors in each hand, the blades gleaming coldly under the streetlights.

"Then I'll make you as beautiful as me."

Before the words were even finished, the scissors were already aimed straight at Xin Hengyuan's lips...