The Japanese-fear sorcerer who started by taking in Tomie

"Isn't this a temple? Is it reasonable for a temple to enshrine gods from Taoism?"

Shin Heng Yuan expressed their incomprehension.

It's like having Buddha instead of the Three Pure Ones enshrined in a Taoist temple—it's quite awkward.

Asakusa Tamae narrowed her eyes to slits and explained:

"Asakusa Temple and Asakusa Shrine have always been next to each other. The temple is the temple, and the shrine is the shrine."

"Tourists think this whole area is called Senso-ji, but actually, if you walk through the main hall and further in, you'll find yourself in the shrine grounds. For hundreds of years, the priests and monks of both shrines have performed their respective duties."

"We've kept to ourselves for many years now. Doesn't Gen-kun know that?"

New Hengyuan: "..."

How could I possibly know that!

In the real world, Asakusa Shrine does exist, but it does not enshrine Inari, the god of the temple, but rather the builder of Senso-ji Temple.

This may be the difference between worlds.

"In recent years, with the development of modern society, deities like Inari have lost their importance. Young people prefer to worship more famous gods and Buddhas, so only occasionally will some elderly people come to offer incense."

Asakusa Tamae exclaimed.

"Now that Asakusa Shrine is affiliated with Senso-ji Temple, it's impossible to deliberately attract visitors, but we still occasionally have monks come over to help with cleaning."

"What's your relationship with Asakusa Shrine?"

Xin Hengyuan asked the question.

He had long noticed the shared surname between Asakusa Tamae and Asakusa Shrine.

"Me? I am the current priest of Asakusa Shrine. But now, there is no one else at Asakusa Shrine but me."

"So you brought me here to solicit customers?"

When Xinhengyuan does something, it's either silent or amazing.

These words nearly caused Asakusa Tamae to strain her back, and she could only awkwardly laugh it off.

"What should I do?"

"here."

Asakusa Tamae walked to the wooden box and gently shook the hemp rope.

The copper bell emitted a very clear, low hum.

"Put the coin in here, then reach into the box, think about what you want, and then take out a piece of paper."

Xin Hengyuan nodded, stepped forward, clasped his hands together, and bowed slightly in respect.

After all, this was a god, even if he had fallen from grace. He was still a god, not someone a mere level one sorcerer like myself could compare to. I should still show him the respect he deserved.

He took a 500 yen coin out of his pocket and tossed it into the wooden box.

Normally, five yen is enough for someone to draw a fortune slip or ask for blessings, but Shin Hengyuan thinks that since Asakusa Shrine is so poor, they should give more.

He closed his eyes and began to ponder.

What is there to ask for? For Xinhengyuan, there really isn't much. Fortune? He's never believed in fate. Wealth? He's not short of money right now…

The only thing that worried him was the hellish star that might or might not come, the vortex galaxy of Black Nest Town that was capable of destroying the entire world, and the monsters that had not yet shown themselves.

Now, Xinhengyuan only has one thing in mind!

That is immortality and eternal life!

If I had never met Tomie, never walked into that bar at dusk, and the system had never appeared—

So Xin Hengyuan will probably live a peaceful and healthy life.

The inheritance left by his biological parents is enough for Xin Hengyuan to finish college, find a decent job, rent an apartment, maybe even get a cat, then meet a beautiful girl, get married, and grow old...

But he met Tomie and gained extraordinary power.

Ambition then grows like a tide.

At first, all I wanted was to survive, to survive in this world overrun by monsters.

Later, I wanted to become stronger, to stand in a higher place, and to make monsters look up to me.

Now, he not only wants power, but also time—infinite time, to contain infinite power!

Immortality! Forever!

Xin Hengyuan slowly opened his eyes, put his right hand into the narrow opening of the wooden box, and his fingertips touched a neatly stacked pile of paper.

Xin Hengyuan rummaged through the pile of paper scraps with his fingertips, then pinched one of them and pulled it out.

Asakusa Tamae leaned closer, her foxy eyes landing on the unfolded piece of paper.

God rewards hard work.

Xin Hengyuan smiled as he looked at the four characters, folded the paper neatly, and stuffed it into his pocket.

Xinhengyuan is very satisfied with these four characters.

He is the reason why New Hengyuan has come this far!

System, add points!

"It seems that Gen-kun really likes this fortune slip," Asakusa Tamae joked.

"It's pretty good," Xinhengyuan said with a smile.

"By the way, does the shrine have any scriptures or ancient books that have been passed down from ancient times?"

Shingen was about to say goodbye to Asakusa Tamae when he remembered the purpose of his visit to Senso-ji Temple and hurriedly asked her about it.

Asakusa Tamae narrowed her eyes: "Gen-kun, what do you need all this for?"

"That's right. I've been feeling restless lately, so I wanted to copy some scriptures and ancient books to cultivate my mind."

New Hengyuan remained calm and unhurried, offering the excuse they had prepared long ago.

"In that case, please wait a moment, Gen-kun."

Asakusa Tamae bowed slightly to Shin Hengyuan before turning and leaving.

A dozen minutes later, she returned, taking out a thin scroll of scripture from her bosom. The paper was yellowed and tied with a faded string, and it looked quite old.

Shin Hengyuan's eyes lit up, and he asked, "What is this?"

"This is the Inari Heart Sutra, which contains 268 characters. Copying it and reciting it silently has the effect of calming the mind and purifying the soul."

Asakusa Tamae introduced with a smile.

This is great stuff!

"How could I possibly accept this?"

Xin Hengyuan spoke modestly, but his hand instinctively took the money.

"I will return it as soon as I finish copying it."

"No need." Asakusa Tamae shook her head, her eyes curving into shallow crescents. "This was originally a copy. Since Gen-kun likes it, then take it."

"Then I shall respectfully comply."

Xin Hengyuan decisively put the scroll into his small bag.

"Alright, it's getting late. I'll come to the shrine to see you again when I have time."

Having achieved his goal, Shin Hengyuan bid farewell decisively and left the shrine without looking back.

Asakusa Tamae watched his retreating figure with a smile, her smile deepening, and a few pink glints flashed in her eyes.

Click, click.

The stone foxes on both sides of the shrine began to move.

They spat out the stone keys they held in their mouths, twisted their stiff bodies, and walked with elegant fox-like steps to squat down on either side of Asakusa Tamae.

"Yuan-kun! We will meet again."

Asakusa Tamae stood still, whispering softly.

The moment the last note faded, the pink light in her eyes suddenly intensified.

An invisible pressure emanated from her, heavily enveloping the entire shrine.

The rope and wind chimes swayed without wind, and the two stone foxes on either side lowered their bodies, their stone heads bowed deeply, as if they were kneeling in worship or in fear.

far away.

Shin Hengyuan has already expanded beyond the boundaries of Senso-ji Temple.

He stopped, turned around, and looked into the distance at the shrine, which was mostly obscured by the shadows of the trees.

The smile on his face had vanished, replaced by a profound solemnity.

He took out his phone, found the message his middle school teacher had replied to a few minutes earlier, and glanced at it.

"Asakusa Tamae? I checked, there's no such student. Shinji, are you sure you're not mistaken?"

really.

He turned off the screen, put his phone back in his pocket, glanced one last time in the direction of the shrine, turned around, and disappeared into the crowd without looking back…