The Japanese-fear sorcerer who started by taking in Tomie

Ten minutes later.

Chenglong came out from behind, respectfully carrying a wooden box covered with a brocade curtain. He carefully placed it in front of the counter and then took out a bronze incense burner.

At this moment, the old woman stepped forward and extended her hand. Chenglong understood and handed her three sticks of incense.

The old woman held the incense stick between her fingers, and without her lighting it, the incense burned itself without a flame, and three wisps of smoke rose up.

She held the incense sticks and bowed three times to the wooden box with utmost respect. Then she placed the incense sticks in front of the incense burner and muttered something under her breath, indistinctly, as if she were reciting scriptures or some strange language.

After doing all this, the old lady turned around and waved to Xinhengyuan.

"Baby, come and pay your respects."

Xin Hengyuan stepped forward and, imitating the old woman, bowed three times to the wooden box.

"Alright."

The old woman nodded in satisfaction and waved to Chenglong, "Open it."

Chenglong stepped forward and gently lifted the brocade curtain. The moment it opened, a soft Buddhist light emanated from the box, illuminating the entire antique shop.

Everyone felt as if they were bathed in a spring breeze, except for Tomie, who frowned slightly and felt a little uncomfortable, but it was only a little uncomfortable.

Over the past century, Tomie has seduced many people and caused countless families to be torn apart and destroyed. But she herself has also paid the price for it, being murdered, dismembered, and mutilated, dying and being resurrected repeatedly.

That unparalleled charm was not something Tomie could control; it was etched into her very being from the moment she was first murdered.

It's like getting stuck in a bug in the underworld.

If you say Tomie is bad, then Tomie is indeed not a good person, but if you ask what heinous crimes she has committed, upon careful consideration, it seems that she hasn't done anything.

"What is this?" Shin Hengyuan frowned and subconsciously used the [Appraisal] skill on it.

Wooden carving of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva

[Rare/Extremely Rare Item (Requires Synthesis)]

[1. Auspicious Light: This wooden carving has three charges. You can use an action and consume one charge to hold the carving and unleash a dazzling auspicious light. Evil creatures within the area of ​​the auspicious light suffer 8d6 radiance damage. Three charges are restored each day at dawn.]

[2: A good person may use this wooden carving as a holy symbol, gaining a +2 bonus on spell attack rolls when holding or wearing it.]

[3: The wooden carving embodies the wishes and power of all living beings. If you spend time contemplating the residual power of faith within it, your perception attribute and perception limit can be increased by up to 2.]

"Holy crap." Looking at the impressive attribute descriptions, Xinhengyuan couldn't help but swear.

It deals extremely high Radiant damage and can also increase your attribute cap. Since I don't have a staff yet, this thing can even be used as a staff.

Invincible!!!

This Buddhist teaching is wonderful; we must learn it.

Xin Hengyuan's eyes immediately lit up with desire, his mouth watering. He said to the old woman, "Grandma, how much is this Buddha statue? Name your price, I..."

Xin Hengyuan hadn't even finished speaking.

"Not for sale," the old woman interrupted with a smile. "For rent only, not for sale."

Xin Hengyuan's smile froze on his face, but seeing the old lady's resolute expression, he had no choice but to give up.

"How much is the rent? Can I rent it for a year first?"

"It's calculated daily. As for the daily rent... well, Grandma hasn't decided yet. Chenglong, how much do you think is appropriate to charge this kid per day?"

"Grandma, let him use the things first, we can talk about the rent later."

Cheng Long appeared at just the right moment, carrying a coffee pot.

"How about this?" Xin Hengyuan pulled a bank card from his pocket and slapped it on the counter with a swift and decisive motion.

Tomie: ...This card looks familiar... This seems to be my money.

"Sorry, I took out the wrong card. This is the right one." Xin Hengyuan took the card back without changing his expression and took out a second card from his other pocket.

"There's 50 million yen in this card. I'll rent it for a year. Is that enough?"

Fifty million yen—exactly the full amount of the insurance payout after his parents' unexpected death. However, Shin Hengyuan still holds Tomie's card, which contains a staggering one billion yen!

Therefore, Shin Heng Yuan doesn't care about this mere fifty million yen at all!

Xinhengyuan: I'm not interested in money.

Renting for a year doesn't mean you can only rent for one year; it means that Xinhengyuan believes they won't need the service after a year!

Chenglong paused slightly in the coffee pot, her gaze quickly scanning back and forth between the bank card and Xinhengyuan, her breathing becoming rapid.

Money, so much money!

With this money, I won't have to worry about rent anymore, and I'll never have to worry about being kicked out by the landlord again.

Orange-brown eyes almost shaped like coins.

The old lady, unhurried, first asked for the PIN, then carefully checked the card's authenticity and confirmed the amount was correct before putting the bank card into the drawer and smiling as she said, "Deal."

Grandma is still very steady.

No wonder he's a gender-swapped version of his father.

Xin Hengyuan nodded to himself.

Then, Xin Hengyuan reached out to take the Buddha statue, but the old woman slammed the brocade box shut, slapped it onto Xin Hengyuan's hand, and said earnestly:

"What's the rush? There's one more thing. Once you take the Buddha statue back, you must sincerely worship it every day, place it in a clean, high place, and clean it with a duster every day."

"There's one more thing: the Buddha statue must never get wet. Once it gets wet, its power of vows will be lost. Don't blame me if that happens."

"There's one more thing..."

Master, please stop chanting, please stop chanting.

Xin Hengyuan now understands what the Great Sage felt back then; he feels a mix of emotions.

I can't imagine how Chenglong has spent these past few decades.

Xin Hengyuan silently gave Chenglong a thumbs up.

Chenglong responded with a wry smile.

"Alright, within a year, I'll register this little Buddha in your name. If you don't return it within the time limit, the deposit of 50 million will belong to me."

The old woman took a sip of coffee and said, "Oh dear, Chenglong, did you add too little sugar again? And one more thing, go and get the contract and inkpad for me."

Chenglong silently handed over the lease agreement and inkpad that she had already prepared.

Xin Hengyuan hurriedly signed and sealed the document, fearing that his grandmother might change her mind.

Tomie watched with great interest, probably finding it satisfying to see Shin Hengyuan being tormented by the old lady.

Hmph, this is what happens when things aren't going well for me!

Oh no, this is Ah Q's victory method!

The old woman put away the contract and nodded in satisfaction. "Alright, little one, you can take the Buddha statue away now."

Upon hearing the old woman's words, Xin Hengyuan immediately reached out and took out the Buddha statue. The moment he picked up the Buddha statue, Xin Hengyuan felt the faint power emanating from it.

This power was exactly the same as the one I had felt at Asakusa Shrine.

So this is the power of faith?

Xin Hengyuan couldn't help but think to himself.

He then put the Buddha statue into the [Pet Space] and bowed respectfully to the old woman.

"Thank you, grandma."

The old woman waved her hand: "Kid, if you have nothing else to do, go ahead. Oh dear, Chenglong, the coffee's cold again! This shabby shop's going to close down sooner or later; they don't even have anyone who can make coffee!"

"Coming..." Chenglong replied weakly.

Shin Hengyuan didn't linger any longer, grabbed Tomie's wrist, and pushed open the door to leave.

"Spatial magic? Wow, the new generation really is something else... These young people these days are really something..."

"Alright, alright, alright! A great era of change is coming! Oh dear! Chenglong, why isn't the coffee here yet? Grandma, I'm surviving on that coffee..."