Why is my anime art style so weird?

This otherworldly aura is completely unlike that of a girl of this age; rather, it's more like that of a hermit who has lived in seclusion in the mountains for many years.

A name suddenly popped into Xu Ming's mind.

Are you Megumi Kato?

Xu Ming said somewhat uncertainly.

“Xu Ming, please remove the ‘ma’. I am your classmate, Kato Megumi.”

She said it calmly.

The shaman who had brought Xu Ming here saw that the two indeed knew each other and seemed to have something to say, so she took her leave.

"Lord Miko, the guests have been brought in. Please allow me to take my leave now."

"Well, thank you for your hard work."

Kato Megumi nodded slightly.

After the priestess left, Kato Megumi led Xu Ming to a side hall of the temple.

After the two sat down on the smooth wooden floor, Kato Megumi spoke first.

"Xu Ming, can you tell me where this came from?"

As Kato Megumi spoke, she placed something on the floor and pushed it in front of Xu Ming. It was the amulet that Xu Ming had given to the shrine maiden earlier.

Xu Ming retrieved the amulet and answered calmly:

“I received my admission notice to the Totsuki Tea House and met Granny Fumio at the Polar Star Dormitory. This amulet was given to me by her.”

Xu Ming had a premonition that the Kato Megumi he had met here might be the 'insider' he was looking for.

"I see."

Upon hearing Xu Ming's answer, Kato Megumi nodded slightly.

"And then, Kato-kun, who is..."

Xu Ming suddenly spoke up, asking the question that had been lingering in his mind.

“Fujinami Masaharu is my uncle. I trained at Meiji Shrine under his name.”

Kato Megumi briefly introduced herself.

Then she glanced at Xu Ming slightly and said calmly:

"So, Xu Ming, you can tell me anything you need to know."

Xu Ming's eyes flickered, a hint of hesitation appearing on his face, and he said somewhat reluctantly:

“I encountered some ‘unclean’ things at the Totsuki Tea House, so I came to the shrine to ask for some amulets or something similar.”

After hearing Xu Ming's request, Kato Megumi's expression remained calm and composed.

Xu Ming wasn't sure if she was deliberately pretending to be profound or if she was indeed an insider who was used to what Xu Ming said.

After a while, Kato Megumi spoke.

"I understand, please come with me."

After saying that, she stood up and walked towards the door.

Xu Ming was somewhat confused, but out of curiosity, he followed behind her.

Kato Megumi led him to a clear pool at the back of the temple.

"Please stand here and don't move."

Kato Megumi pointed to the edge of the pool and said.

Upon hearing this, Xu Ming obediently stood still.

Then, Kato Megumi picked up a wooden ladle from the pool and scooped up a ladleful of water...

Xu Ming suddenly understood what she was going to do.

"Wait! Please wait...!"

Kato Megumi frowned slightly, and her tone suddenly became stern.

"Stand still and don't get distracted! I'm about to begin the 'removal' ritual!"

Startled by her powerful aura, Xu Ming was momentarily stunned.

Whoosh!

Before he could react, Kato Megumi had already poured a spoonful of water over his head.

A refreshing coolness spread from the top of my head, instantly sweeping away the slight fatigue from the tour and leaving my mind feeling refreshed.

"..."

Before Xu Ming could react, Kato Megumi pulled out a handful of gohei from somewhere, swayed it, and then swept it around Xu Ming's body, taking it out here and there.

At this moment, Xu Ming truly felt that she was no different from those quacks who sold quack medicine.

But seeing her serious expression and imposing aura, Xu Ming dared not speak or ask.

He could only let her take the imperial coin and torment him for more than ten minutes.

"All right."

Kato Megumi stopped what she was doing, then took out a gold-embroidered amulet from her bosom and handed it to Xu Ming.

"Xu Ming, please carry this with you at all times. It can protect you from weak evil spirits for a year."

Xu Ming subconsciously took the amulet, and a warm sensation instantly spread from his palm throughout his body.

However, Xu Ming quickly noticed several key points in Kato Megumi's words.

"Kato-kun, wait a minute! Does this amulet only last for a year? A weak demon? Does this amulet not work against a powerful demon?"

Xu Ming quickly pressed for an answer.

Kato Megumi seemed to have anticipated his question and calmly explained:

“Even the gods themselves will fall into slumber if they lose the offerings of incense, so how can the blessings of the gods be effective forever?”

As for the protective charms failing in the face of powerful demons… demons and gods are like water and fire; when water overflows, fire is extinguished, and when fire blazes, water dries up. The only difference between them is the relative strength of their powers.

Kato Megumi's explanation left Xu Ming speechless.

He wore a very strange expression as he looked Kato Megumi up and down.

"Kato-kun, your remarks don't sound like those of a devout clergyman."

Kato Megumi's lips curled slightly, revealing a hint of a smile.

"I'm sorry, Xu Ming. I'm just an ordinary apprentice priestess under the guise of the shrine. I still need to continuously cultivate myself to get closer to the Great Sun Goddess."

'You're kidding me!'

Xu Ming immediately shouted in his mind.

He hadn't forgotten the subtle respect the shrine maiden had shown when facing Kato Megumi.

Moreover... Xu Ming slightly raised his eyes and glanced at Kato Megumi.

The other shrine maidens wore simple white robes and scarlet hakama, but Kato Megumi's shrine maiden outfit was not only decorated with gorgeous patterns embroidered with gold thread on the sleeves and collar, but also adorned with many red ropes and gold ornaments.

She looks much more glamorous than an ordinary shrine maiden; who would believe she's a lowly apprentice shrine maiden?

How come I never knew Kato Megumi was so wicked, always spouting nonsense?

Xu Ming couldn't help but curse him in his heart.

The two chatted casually for a while longer.

On the surface, everything seemed harmonious, but in reality, they were secretly exchanging barbs. More precisely, Xu Ming was testing them in various ways, while Kato Megumi easily defused each of his attempts.

Chapter Thirty-Three: Kato Megumi, a Man of Great Skill

Faced with Kato Megumi's impeccable and unfathomable demeanor, Xu Ming was at a loss and took his leave.

Kato Megumi personally escorted Xu Ming to the outside of the temple.

Just as Xu Ming was about to turn and leave, he suddenly heard Kato Megumi's voice coming from behind him.

"Xu Ming, as someone who serves the gods, I have to give you a piece of advice."

'The eerie' is a collection of negative emotions and obsessions. When the deceased transforms into the 'eerie,' their personality and behavior undergo drastic changes.

Law, morality, and reason have lost their restraint; they will only act according to their own desires…

"What do you mean by this!?"

Xu Ming suddenly turned around, his eyes fixed on Kato Megumi.

Kato Megumi didn't say anything more, but simply placed her hands in front of her and gave a polite bow.

Please be careful on the road.

Then the paper sliding door closed silently, blocking Xu Ming's view.

Xu Ming frowned deeply...

After Xu Ming left, the temple returned to silence.

Kato Keisha was holding a calligraphy brush and writing something on a scroll.

Suddenly, as if she remembered something, she stopped, slowly put down the brush, and then clapped her hands.

Swish!

A figure suddenly appeared in the shadows of the temple.

In the dim light, one could vaguely make out that it was a female ninja dressed in a black, tight-fitting ninja outfit.

"Go and find out what he's been up to lately."

Kato Megumi gave the order calmly.

"Yes, Lord Miko."

A barely perceptible soft sound rang out, and the figure vanished again. From beginning to end, she remained out of the sunlight's reach.

Kato Megumi looked at the scroll in front of her, and suddenly the corners of her mouth curled up slightly as she chuckled.