Souren Araya (Part 1) / Souren Araya (Part 2)

"Cough cough--"

The girl's weak body had probably not fully adapted to the outside environment, and she suddenly coughed softly a few times.

"Let's go back first."

The man behind her spoke to her very considerately.

"But..."

"Don't worry, next time if you don't mind, I can bring both children to visit you."

Perhaps sensing the girl's predicament, the man very considerately requested another visit.

"So... it's a deal?"

Although she is already in her twenties, her demeanor is far less childish than her appearance suggests.

"Yes, it's a deal."

The girl's conflicted expression instantly brightened, and even the spirits floating in mid-air began to circle lightly around the two of them, expressing their joy.

"Then let's go back."

Perhaps the moment the door, which shouldn't have welcomed any visitors, was opened, the girl had already made her decision—

Like moths drawn to a flame, even knowing that the "warmth" before them will turn them to ashes, they still rush headlong into it. Having already lost everything, they still try their best to reach out and grasp that sliver of "impossible warmth."

Looking at the sleeping girl in front of him, Wang Xiaoming, coming back to his senses, realized that it was already approaching evening. Listening to the girl's steady breathing, he got up, gently tucked her in, silently left a blessing, and then quietly pushed open the door and left the ward.

May your future be filled with sunshine, and may you be free from all worries and sorrows.

Wang Xiaoming sighed softly as he left the ward, as if trying to release all the pent-up frustration in his heart. Once he had calmed down, Wang Xiaoming softly called out to the empty corridor outside the ward:

"Come out!"

As Wang Xiaoming's voice echoed into the darkness at the other end of the corridor, the scene before him suddenly changed—

The walls of the empty corridor before me melted slowly, like a piece of hot chocolate, revealing the golden patterns hidden beneath.

--It's a barrier!

Upon witnessing this scene, Wang Xiaoming instantly made a judgment.

There's no need to think back; in the entire the Garden of Sinners series, the only reliable barrier master is that person. Considering my previous actions, it would be strange if I didn't alert him.

But if, as Wang Xiaoming suspects, it was that man who set up this barrier... then this barrier probably won't be easily broken.

Really--

In the blink of an eye, the entire corridor had been transformed into another world. Bizarre, golden Sanskrit characters filled Wang Xiaoming's vision.

The next second, a tall, black figure suddenly appeared at the other end of the corridor.

The moment this figure appeared, the atmosphere of the entire space seemed to freeze.

Sorry Orz

Incidentally, the only female protagonist in this book is Medea.

Because it's very important, I specifically mentioned it. _(:з"∠)_

Chapter 163. Souren Araya (Part 1)

Early morning at Aozaki Office, before Fujino Asagami and Kokutou had started work.

Bang--

Touko Aozaki, with a cigarette dangling from her lips, stared in astonishment at Wang Xiaoming, who slammed a small stack of documents onto the desk in front of her.

"What's wrong? You look like you're on fire?"

Looking at Wang Xiaoming's gloomy face, Touko Aozaki teased him, but still picked up the document he had placed in front of her and glanced at the cover:

"It's a medical record... Kirie Fujou? Isn't that the person you asked me to find before?"

"Take a look first, then we'll talk."

Wang Xiaoming took a few steps back and sat back on the sofa, speaking listlessly to Touko Aozaki. Only then did she realize that the man in front of her looked much more dejected than usual.

Something must have happened.

Thinking this way, Touko Aozaki stopped trying to distract him from recovering and instead gently opened the medical record in her hand and slowly read through it.

As time went by, the cigarette between Touko Aozaki's fingers gradually burned to the end, and her beautiful eyebrows furrowed slightly.

"How's the situation?"

Seeing that there had been no movement from Touko Aozaki for a while, Wang Xiaoming, who had reopened his eyes, asked her.

"It's a malignant tumor, and her condition is constantly worsening. If this continues, I'm afraid she won't survive..."

Although Touko Aozaki didn't finish her sentence, her meaning was crystal clear.

The person on the medical record is nearing the end of their life.

"I see."

After hearing Touko Aozaki's words, Wang Xiaoming Wang Xiaoming sighed softly, but whether the feeling in his voice was one of melancholy or relief... was unclear.

"But speaking of which, why do you always seem to know such strange people?"

Touko Aozaki held up the medical record in her hand and waved it in front of Wang Xiaoming's eyes:

"That just came to my mind. The surname Fujou seems to be a branch of a very ancient pureblood race. I'm quite curious, did you already know this, which is why you asked me to inquire about her whereabouts?"

"Yes."

To Touko Aozaki's surprise, Wang Xiaoming readily admitted to the question after hearing it.

"I heard that the Fujou family only has one last bloodline, so I wanted to go and see. Don't look at me so surprised, it's not like it's something I can't talk about."

Perhaps sensing the slightly somber atmosphere, Wang Xiaoming made a lighthearted joke before revealing the information he had "learned" about Kirie Fujou.

"..."

"I see... the same consciousness, different containers, dual existence... If my memory serves me right, this family seems to be experts in prayer. So that's it, their very nature is to live by curses. The surname 'Fujou' perhaps refers to something unclean."

After listening to Wang Xiaoming's story, Miss Touko Aozaki lit what was now her umpteenth cigarette, pondered for a moment, and then shared her opinion:

"And prayer and curse are, in a sense, the same thing. This peculiarity should be the answer that Kirie Fujou prayed for. However, mere prayer cannot truly create a dual existence; it seems someone has given her another vessel. Although I don't know what you intend to do, if you're going to target her, you should be wary of this person's existence."

"Ah, thanks for reminding me..."

After hearing Touko Aozaki's reminder, Wang Xiaoming sighed before replying:

"However, I already saw him last night."

The entire corridor where Wang Xiaoming was located had been completely transformed into another world.

At the other end of the corridor, in front of the only passageway leading to the stairs, stood a tall, black figure, motionless, like a black stone monument.

Perhaps sensing Wang Xiaoming's gaze, the black figure standing there raised its head, revealing a face full of distress.

With just this one movement, Wang Xiaoming could feel the entire airflow change. The relaxed atmosphere began to thicken, making it difficult to breathe. Was this what they meant by the air freezing?

"Who are you?"

A voice, as heavy and distressed as his expression, echoed down the corridor.

"Me? Just a reporter passing by."

Wang Xiaoming shrugged, clearly not intending to answer him.

The man in black showed no further interest in asking questions, and raised a hand from under his black coat.

Slowly, he raised his left hand to shoulder height. His palm opened limply, as if beckoning someone from afar.

Immediately afterwards, a short shout rang out, and the man snapped his open palms shut as if he were crushing something.

"--Shh!"

"That person must be Souren Araya. You've met a formidable opponent."

Touko Aozaki, who was sitting to the side listening to Wang Xiaoming's story, said thoughtfully:

"Looks like he's about to make another move."

--Souren Araya

He can be considered the driving force behind the entire series of stories in "The Garden of Sinners). Except for the "Future Gospel" chapter, his presence can be seen in every other chapter.

While Touko Aozaki was studying at the Clock Tower, Souren Araya was born into a family that practiced the Tendai sect of Buddhism during the war-torn period in Japan. During his time as a monk, he tried countless times to save people who were going to die for various reasons but failed, and came to realize that it was impossible to save everyone.

Therefore, I realized that no one could save me, and I also believed that if I couldn't save people, I should at least clearly record their deaths.

From then on, he abandoned his beliefs, became Magecraft, and began to interpret the origin of mankind, collect death, and pursue the vortex of the Root.

When he was studying at the Clock Tower, he was classmates with Touko Aozaki for a period of time, so it's not surprising that Touko Aozaki could guess his identity from the few words Wang Xiaoming described.

They had made numerous attempts to open a passage to the Root, but for various reasons, they ultimately failed.

This time, he set his Shiki Ryougi on Mikiya Kokutou, the still-unawakened sweetheart of Kokutou Mikiya. He wanted to obtain Shiki Ryougi's body, which was naturally connected to the Root, in order to reach the Root.

Fujino Asagami, Kirie, and another yet-to-be-met Rio Shirazumi were all chosen by Araya as sacrifices to stimulate Shiki Ryougi's awakening and make Shiki Ryougi aware of her true nature.

Fujino Asagami fared somewhat better; she was encountered by Shirou before becoming Araya's pawn, and then, with Wang Xiaoming's help, was placed under Touko Aozaki's protection.

Kirie, on the other hand, was targeted by Araya very early on. After her family members died, the high medical expenses needed to keep her alive were paid by Souren Araya, an old friend of her father.

Wang Xiaoming even suspected that the deaths of Kirie's family members were part of Souren Araya's plan.

"But speaking of which, how did you manage to get away in the end?"

Touko Aozaki looked up at Wang Xiaoming with some curiosity and asked, as a former classmate of Araya, she didn't think he would be so kind as to let Wang Xiaoming leave.

"Ah, about this matter..."

Upon hearing Touko Aozaki bring up the matter, Wang Xiaoming responded with a rather smug smile:

"Everyone has a few trump cards up their sleeve, right?"

I've wanted to call you that for a long time, but I didn't dare.

The results of my previous physical exam came back; my liver function was a bit poor, so I've been busy with follow-up tests these past few days, hence the slower updates. I'll try to update another chapter tonight. That's all.

(By the way, everyone really needs to take better care of their health. A medical checkup often reveals a whole host of health problems QwQ)

Chapter 164. Souren Araya (Part 2)

"Shh--"

Souren Araya suddenly closed his outstretched hands, as if he were crushing something.

The next second--

Wang Xiaoming, who was standing opposite Araya, had his thin summer clothes torn to shreds and scattered on the ground. He seemed to have become weak and listless because of the blow.

Without a doubt, Araya's previous attack hit its target squarely.

It was an intense impact that was invisible to the naked eye, striking the entire body evenly from all directions. If I had to describe it, it would be like being hit head-on by a speeding truck.

However, Souren Araya was originally supposed to be the beneficiary of this attack, was not as happy as one might expect. Rather, he had maintained his usual sour expression.

The hand still held in mid-air was not lowered. In Souren Araya's eyes, a purple emblem was shimmering faintly on the chest of Wang Xiaoming's exposed upper body.

"A defensive Magecraft... but it's useless."

A hint of surprise flashed in Araya's eyes, and then without pausing, he opened his outstretched palm and clenched it tightly again.

A buzzing vibration emanated from the surroundings, but Wang Xiaoming, who was prepared, managed to dodge it in time. Then, under the reflection of the surrounding runes, Wang Xiaoming could clearly see that the air at the spot where he had just been standing had been slightly distorted!