Why is my anime art style so weird?

She clung to Shiina Mashiro's arm, trembling, and dared not look in Xu Ming's direction.

"I go first."

Xu Ming gave Shiina Mashiro a meaningful look, then turned and left.

He returned home to find the little piglet playing games on the computer. Judging from the sound effects, it seemed to be going on a killing spree in the game again.

After a while, one game ended, and while waiting for the next game to begin, the little piglet picked up a can of cola and took a big gulp, then looked around boredly.

Then it saw Xu Ming standing in front of the mirror, his head swaying left and right, his neck twisting and turning, as if he was trying his best to see what was behind him.

The little piglet, looking completely bewildered, rubbed its bald scalp with its hoof.

"Xu Mingjun, what are you doing?"

"It's nothing, you go do your thing."

Xu Ming gave a perfunctory reply, his eyes darting around.

The little piglet was a bit confused and was about to ask more questions.

Welcome to the Dog Warrior Tribe! The enemy will arrive on the battlefield in 30 seconds. Kill them!

Suddenly, this sound effect came from the computer speakers.

"Ah, it's starting."

The little piglet immediately turned around, rubbing its two hooves together excitedly as it stared intently at the screen.

"Yosh! This time I'm definitely going to get a pentakill!"

The little piglet quickly became addicted to Summoner's Rift.

Xu Ming breathed a slight sigh of relief.

He really couldn't explain his behavior.

Because of something Shiina Mashiro said, as soon as he got home, he couldn't wait to check his back in the mirror.

The result was that he saw nothing, even after he activated his 'spiritual vision'.

Either Shiina Mashiro was joking with him, but judging from Shiina Mashiro's behavior, she's a clueless airhead with no common sense, so that possibility is extremely low.

Or perhaps she meant something else entirely, but Xu Ming and Aoyama Nanami misunderstood due to their different ways of thinking.

Or perhaps... Shiina Mashiro's 'spiritual vision' ability far surpasses his, so she can see things that he cannot.

This conclusion seems to be the least reliable.

However, based on his own sister and Kato Megumi, Xu Ming felt that this conclusion might be the most likely.

Xu Ming's current 'spiritual vision' is only at the most basic level, so it's perfectly reasonable that he 'cannot see' the higher-level 'mysteries'.

If this is the premise, then who is the person standing behind Shiina Mashiro that she mentioned?

Xu Ming couldn't help but look at the portrait hanging in the living room.

I don't know if it was just his imagination.

Why did he feel that his sister's smile seemed particularly sweet tonight, with a hint of joy in it?

'Sister, could it be you?'

This question can only be answered when he improves his 'spiritual vision' level, or when his older sister shows up on her own initiative.

Chapter 110 Ashina Castle

"Ha~~!"

Xu Ming yawned widely.

Because of a single sentence from Shiina Mashiro, he spent the entire night overthinking and didn't sleep well. When he woke up this morning, he felt groggy and disoriented.

After a quick breakfast, Xu Ming obtained information about the final node, 'Tenshukaku', from Kato Megumi before taking the subway to the Totsuki Tea House.

"Ok?"

However, just as he entered the room, he sensed an unusual aura.

Xu Ming couldn't help but sniff. There was a faint, sweet, fishy smell in the air, somewhat like the smell of blood.

Xu Ming frowned. Unbeknownst to him, the Totsuki Tea House had undergone another unusual change, which was not a good sign.

After arriving at Polaris Dormitory, having lunch there, and cleaning up the restaurant, Xu Ming started to catch up on sleep.

"Junior, wake up..."

In a daze, Xu Ming heard someone calling his name.

Xu Ming subconsciously opened his eyes, and a completely unexpected person appeared in front of him.

"Isshiki-senpai!? What are you doing...?"

Xu Ming stared at Isshiki Satoshi in surprise; he clearly remembered that the other party only appeared at night…

and many more!

Xu Ming sat up abruptly and looked out the window.

He remembered clearly that the sun was shining brightly outside before he took his afternoon nap, but now it was pitch black.

He actually slept from noon until night!?

Xu Ming couldn't help but show a wry smile on his face.

Ms. Shiina Mashiro, you've really caused a lot of harm.

No wonder people say that being cunning isn't scary; what's scary is being naturally cunning.

"Junior, is there a problem?"

Isshiki Satoshi asked with a curious look on his face.

"No, it's my own problem."

Xu Ming gave a wry smile.

"Junior, are you planning to go to the ritual point today?"

Seeing that Xu Ming was unwilling to talk more, Isshiki Satoshi changed the subject.

"Yes, only the 'Tenshukaku' remains to be inspected. That's why I came here today, but..."

Xu Ming pointed out the window with a helpless expression.

"It's probably not going tonight."

The Totsuki Tea House is no less dangerous after nightfall. In addition to the unknown 'eeries', there are also potential dangers from poisonous insects and wild animals that only come out at night and hide in the mountains.

For Xu Ming, who had not learned any wilderness survival skills, poisonous insects and wild animals were more dangerous than the "strange"!

To everyone's surprise, Isshiki Satoshi said with a serious expression:

"Junior, I'm sorry to tell you that you probably won't be able to rest tonight."

"!?"

Meeting Xu Ming's questioning gaze, Isshiki Satoshi explained in a deep voice:

"Because tomorrow night is the night of the full moon, the power of the blood moon will be at its maximum."

After three years of preparation, Azami Nakiri is fully prepared, and there's a very high chance he'll officially launch the ceremony tomorrow night.

Xu Ming's expression changed slightly.

"Isshiki-senpai, are you sure?"

Isshiki Satoshi nodded solemnly.

"If you miss tomorrow night, you may have to wait another year for Azami Nakiri."

Moreover, the younger generation should have already smelled it, right? The faint smell of blood in the air indicates that the real world has been affected.

This could very well be a harbinger of the start of the ceremony!

Xu Ming's expression immediately turned serious.

Isshiki Satoshi was right. From the blood moon that only rose after midnight to the bloody smell that could be smelled even in broad daylight, the influence of the unknown evil ritual created by Nakiri Azami on reality was gradually deepening.

God knows what kind of mess the entire Totsuki Tea House will become when he fully initiates the ritual.

Xu Ming was more worried that once the ceremony started, the entire Totsuki Tea House might become like a 'fairytale castle' and turn into Azami Nakiri's domain.

That would undoubtedly be the worst outcome; Xu Ming could even simply type "GG".

The safest approach is to stop him before the ceremony officially begins!

"I understand, I'll head to the castle tower now!"

Xu Ming immediately stood up.

"Then I'll leave everything to you, Xu Mingjun."

Isshiki Satoshi bowed solemnly to Xu Ming.

Xu Ming packed his things and, under Isshiki Satoshi's watchful gaze, stepped out of the gate of Polar Star Dormitory.

As night fell, walking through the forests of Totsuki Saori, Xu Ming felt even more keenly the decline and desolation of what was once Japan's premier culinary establishment than during the day.

Of course, what resonated most deeply was the loneliness, darkness, and eeriness.

The streetlights along the forest path were completely useless, and the road was pitch black. To conserve his eyesight, Xu Ming could only use the faint light from his phone to illuminate the path ahead and proceed cautiously.

The faint light from the phone could only illuminate a small area in front of me, making everything around me seem even darker, as if we were separated into two worlds.

rustle!

Strange noises could be heard from the woods on both sides of the road from time to time.

Xu Ming always felt as if something was following him.

Xu Ming thought for a moment, then summoned the piglet and let it sit on his shoulder to act as a temporary lookout.

After nearly two hours, Xu Ming finally arrived at the 'Tenshukaku' located directly north of the Totsuki Tea House.

A castle hidden among the mountains and forests suddenly appeared in Xu Ming's eyes.

From a distance, the castle has four floors and is a typical example of the Warring States period style.