Looking at the red threads tied around their wrists, the six women - Kazusa Touma, Mai Sakurajima, Yui Yuigahama, Rio Futaba, Miko Yotsuya, and Saki Kawasaki - felt both embarrassed and somewhat speechless.
There's such a method?
Ye Xing holding six threads equals everyone holding hands while passing through the torii gate?
Exploiting a bug here?
"You..."
When Mai Sakurajima turned her head, she realised that Menma had already jumped onto Ye Xing's back at some point.
Good grief, so it's not just six?
Six people and one spirit?
Not far away, Hina Amano and Marin Kitagawa exchanged glances, both looking completely at a loss.
This... what's going on?
Why weren't we included...
No, that's not the point.
"Tch, this guy..."
Watching Ye Xing walk through the torii gate towards the shrine with Mai Sakurajima and the others, Yukino Yukinoshita felt an inexplicable sense of frustration welling up inside her. She couldn't help but grit her silver teeth slightly and let out a soft click of her tongue.
What a playboy... And they all just let him do whatever he wants.
A strange thought suddenly surfaced in Yukino Yukinoshita's mind.
If she had been the first...
She definitely wouldn't share him with anyone.
When this thought occurred to her, Yukino Yukinoshita immediately realised something was wrong and quickly shook her head.
Why would she think such a thing?
What did it matter who came first or later? She hadn't even considered coming at all.
Though her sister Haruno...
As Yukino Yukinoshita watched Ye Xing's receding figure, the headlines from all those news reports she had collected flashed through her mind.
Along with the trending news article displayed on her still-lit phone screen.
"Famous Sword Mikazuki Munechika Currently on Public Exhibition at Tokyo National Museum."
Yukino picked up her phone and glanced at it, her eyes revealing thoughtful contemplation.
If... it really was as she suspected... then this Tokyo trip, which appeared to be the Supernatural Society's summer activity on the surface, was actually...
Then Ye Xing's true identity would be obvious.
...
When the Supernatural Society members passed through the dozen-meter-long torii gate and reached the shrine entrance, the previously bustling shrine grounds - where many visiting worshippers had been gathered in small groups - suddenly fell silent.
All eyes turned toward Ye Xing.
Not toward him as a person.
But toward the six red threads tied around his wrist, and the six beautiful girls connected to them at the other end.
"What... is this situation?"
"Is there a special ritual today? I haven't heard anything about it."
"Looking at their clothing, they don't seem to be shrine staff either..."
"What is this? A peculiar little train connected by red threads?"
"Eagle catching chicks, red thread edition?"
Amid the visitors' murmuring, an elderly woman in traditional ceremonial robes, in a pretty antique style, frowned slightly and slowly approached Ye Xing's group, her expression displeased.
"You people, do you think the blessings of the gods are some child's play? How dare you behave so disrespectfully!"
"Heh."
Ye Xing responded with a friendly smile, but his words remained as aggressively provocative as ever.
"Watch your tone, old woman. Even if that bloody god came here personally, they wouldn't dare speak to me like that."
"You..."
The elderly woman hadn't expected Ye Xing to say such things and was momentarily stunned into silence.
The surrounding visitors also frowned and began whispering among themselves.
"How disrespectful..."
"Bloody god... that's too offensive."
"Young people these days are truly audacious."
"How dare you speak such blasphemous words within the shrine grounds!?"
The elderly woman's brows tightened, her lips trembling with anger as she prepared to say more. Suddenly, the wind chime hanging before the shrine's donation box began ringing on its own, without any wind, producing clear, melodious sounds.
Ding ling ling!
Hearing the crisp ringing of the bell, the elderly woman first stiffened with solemn expression, then looked coldly at Ye Xing standing before her and spoke in a stern voice.
"The gods are displeased, you should leave quickly to avoid divine punishment..."
Just as she was halfway through her sentence, the wind chimes rang out once more.
Ding ling ling ling ling!
Compared to the previous gentle sound, this time the ringing was much faster.
It felt as if someone had become frantic.
"This..."
The elderly woman clearly hadn't encountered such a situation before and didn't know what message the deity she served was trying to convey.
Meanwhile, Mai Sakurajima, Miko Yotsuya, Yui Yuigahama, and Rio Futaba - these four psychics possessing Mystic Eyes - along with Menma, who was herself a departed spirit, watched the wind chimes sway continuously with complex expressions.
In ordinary people's eyes, the wind chimes were moving without any wind.
But these four humans and one spirit could clearly see a short-statured old man wearing linen clothes with a long white beard, looking utterly anxious as he frantically shook the wind chimes.
So much so that nervous sweat was beading on the old man's face.
"Stop talking, stop talking, I beg you, please stop talking now."
The aged voice was filled with panic.
His short body was drenched in sweat.
His eyes held terror and fear.
This was the guardian deity of this shrine.
And now, this guardian deity in the form of an old man was nearly at his breaking point.
From the moment Ye Xing led the Supernatural Society members through the torii gate, He, as the guardian of this place, had already sensed them.
An ordinary spectre - that was nothing to worry about.
Four special humans who faintly emitted power similar to evil spirits, yet gave off a completely different feeling.
That was manageable, too.
As a guardian deity who had existed in Tokyo for over a century, the old man had encountered psychics before - these visitors were just among the more powerful variety.
But that wasn't the main issue.
The main issue was... among them was one human...
No.
The old deity cautiously stole a glance at Ye Xing standing there.
Unexpectedly, this stolen glance met directly with Ye Xing's amused gaze that contained a hint of... appreciation for ingredients.
In that instant, for the first time since becoming this shrine's guardian deity, the old man felt unprecedented terror well up in his heart.
Is this guy really human?
For some reason.
When the old deity saw this human male, he felt an inexplicable chill trembling through his very bones.
Like a rabbit encountering a tiger.
Natural predator.
His original plan was to hide in a corner of the shrine and only reappear after the group had left.
But he never expected...
His shrine attendant would actually go and provoke them!?
If he didn't jump out now, the old deity truly feared that his time as a god would end today.
DING LING LING!!!
Hearing the increasingly rapid frequency of the wind chimes changing from pleasant and clear to sharp and piercing, the elderly woman's expression suddenly changed as she said sternly to the worshippers.
"The gods are displeased. That's all for today. Please leave quickly."
Hearing the elderly woman's words, the worshippers, though puzzled, naturally gave some credence to such mysterious matters since they had come to the shrine, and without saying much, they filed out through the torii gate one by one.
After everyone else had left.
Just as the elderly woman turned towards Ye Xing and the others, about to say something, the wind chime suddenly began swaying again.
This time, it completely baffled her.
After hesitating for a moment, the old woman tentatively asked, "Does the deity mean... these people don't need to leave?"
Ding ling ling!
"Since the deity has spoken, you may stay, but..."
Before the old woman could finish, the wind chime suddenly began swaying rapidly again.
"This... what exactly do you mean?"
Having served as a divine messenger for decades, the old woman had truly never encountered such a situation.
The old man deity was also growing frantic.
There was no helping it. Although she was a divine messenger, this elderly woman wasn't a particularly powerful psychic - at best, she could only see some faint illusions, let alone hear the deity's words.
The only way these two old beings could communicate was through the wind chime's swaying.
"Bloody hell, can you stop shaking that damn thing?"
To the old woman's astonishment, the moment Ye Xing spoke these words, the swaying wind chime suddenly stopped as if someone had grabbed it.
Under her incredulous, shocked gaze, Mai Sakurajima stepped forward and said with a polite smile, "Grandmother, I believe the deity means for you to leave this place first."
"Eh? Me leave?"
Just as the old woman said this, the hanging wind chime swayed cautiously once.
Ding!
"Eh? You really want me to leave?"
The old woman was dumbfounded.
In all her years serving as a divine messenger, this was the first time she had encountered such a thing.
Was she...
Being expelled from the shrine?
But...
If it was the deity's will, she had no choice but to comply.
After the divine messenger had left, the old man deity who had been standing there swaying the wind chime for so long looked as if a great burden had been lifted from him.
He looked at Ye Xing standing there, his aged face showing both fear and concern.
The next moment, the old man deity did something that Mai Sakurajima and the others had never expected.
With an incredibly nimble movement, he performed what resembled a celebratory sliding kneel, sliding straight towards Ye Xing before prostrating himself entirely on the ground.
"Please spare me!"
Mai Sakurajima, Yui Yuigahama, Menma, Rio Futaba, and Miko Yotsuya were all dumbstruck.
What kind of deity was this?
How could he immediately start begging for mercy on his knees?
It's hard to say who's stronger and who's weaker...
But this courage is far inferior to that golden goat-headed one.
Wait, that's not right.
It shows they're clever, you see - a wise man knows when to submit and when to stand firm.
Ye Xing didn't respond directly, instead turning his gaze towards Yukino Yukinoshita and Marin Kitagawa.
"Since we've come all the way to the shrine, shouldn't you two go and pay your respects?"
Unlike Hina Amano and Kazusa Touma, Yukino Yukinoshita and Marin Kitagawa didn't know the truth about the existence of evil spirits, nor did they possess the ability to observe spiritual entities.
They were completely baffled about what had just happened.
"Pay our respects?"
Before Marin Kitagawa and Yukino Yukinoshita could react, Mai Sakurajima and the others immediately understood the hint, taking these two and leading them to the shrine's offering box and water purification fountain.
Only after they had moved away did Ye Xing squat down, wearing a friendly smile as he looked at the old god trembling before him, speaking softly.
"Bloody hell, with your appearance, you're in charge of love fortunes?"
"That's unfair!"
The old god didn't understand why, but when Ye Xing said these words, it seemed to carry deep resentment; his voice filled with a killing intent that terrified him. Without overthinking, he hurriedly explained with tearful frustration.
"That torii gate wasn't built by me! That legend about walking through it holding hands and never separating - I didn't spread that either! I'm truly wronged! I'm the god in charge of land and wealth fortunes!"
"You're still claiming to be in charge here?"
"I dare not, I dare not!"
The old god didn't care about maintaining his dignity anymore, quickly explaining.
"I just make those who come to pray feel a bit happier. As for being in charge of land and wealth fortunes - that's all fabricated, completely fabricated!"
Most of the so-called gods in Japan aren't actually true deities.
Like this old man before him, and that golden goat-headed one...
Rather than calling them gods, it would be more accurate to call them land-bound spirits residing in shrines.
Not evil spirits, but they could be considered spectres.
"Let me ask you a question."
Ye Xing patted the old man's shoulder, chuckling lightly.
"Why did you make your shrine maiden, that old woman, leave first?"
"This... this..."
Seeing the old god's hesitant expression, Ye Xing laughed as if seeing through his thoughts.
"Afraid I'd kill her?"
The old god gritted his teeth, trembling as he spoke.
"Well... she is this humble one's shrine maiden after all, just an ordinary person. Ignorance shouldn't be punished. If she has offended you in any way, this humble one will take responsibility. Please don't harm her."
"Well said."
Ye Xing nodded noncommittally.
"Though you're a bit weak, you're still a proper god. Quite good - I won't eat you."
The old god breathed a sigh of relief, his expression complex.
"Then... thank you."
As a guardian deity worthy of having an independent shrine, he never imagined he would one day be so humiliated.
Oh well, at least there were no outsiders around.
So what if it's embarrassing for a god? It's just embarrassment.
"One more thing."
"Please ask anything."
"As a local god of Tokyo, regarding that commercial pedestrian street in Shibuya's surrounding area - right here..."
Ye Xing took out his phone, opened the map, and pointed at a location.
"This area - have you heard anything about it?"
"Here!?"
When the old god saw the location Ye Xing pointed out, his expression immediately changed, and he lowered his voice.
"I'd advise against this place. It's quite dangerous. Some of my spectre friends mentioned when visiting that they've seen an evil spirit around here - emaciated, bare-chested, with skin painted black, dressed like a monk."
"Tobō?"
Seeing that Ye Xing actually knew the name, the old god nodded repeatedly.
"Yes, yes, that's it! The Tobō from Hyakki Yagyō, very dangerous..."
At this moment, it was as if an automatic translator appeared in Ye Xing's mind.
Very dangerous = Very delicious.
"It seems the time for feasting has arrived."
...
That same afternoon, 5:50 PM.
"Really, Tokyo's weather is so unpredictable. I wanted to continue shopping," Marin Kitagawa complained softly.
Holding a light novel she was reading, Yukino Yukinoshita spoke calmly. "I actually think this is quite nice."
Yui Yuigahama sat beside her, intimately wrapping an arm around Yukino's shoulder with a sweet smile. "Yukino-chan, why not put the book down occasionally and chat with us?"
Yukino Yukinoshita initially wanted to refuse, but upon seeing Yui's adorable, innocent expression, she sighed slightly. "Occasionally, then."
Just then, the phone in Hina Amano's pocket suddenly rang.
"Sorry, I need to take this call outside."
Watching Hina Amano leave the room, Yukino Yukinoshita's expression remained flawless, though a complex light flashed in her eyes. Looking down at the light novel in her hands, she asked casually, "By the way, where are the others?"
Yui forced a smile, pretending nothing was wrong as she replied, "Well... they're probably still outside. After all, we're not all moving together."
"I see..." Yukino Yukinoshita nodded noncommittally, glancing at the rain falling outside the window as a thought formed in her mind.
Yui Yuigahama...
You really can't lie well.
Meanwhile.
After reaching the hotel corridor, Hina Amano walked directly to the window at the end of the long hallway.
Looking at the rainy sky, she closed her eyes once more and began to pray.
This time, she wasn't praying for clear weather.
But rather...
BOOM!!!
A blinding flash of lightning, accompanied by deafening thunder, appeared in Tokyo's sky.
This thunder seemed to sound some kind of horn.
What was originally just a light drizzle transformed within mere seconds into a torrential downpour, as if rivers were pouring upside down.
...
Ten minutes later.
"It's begun."
Ye Xing stood holding a black umbrella in a quiet, deserted alley somewhere in Tokyo.
Behind him, Mai Sakurajima, Rio Futaba, and Miko Yotsuya all wore serious expressions.
"Let's go."
Ye Xing's voice still carried a hint of laughter.
He slowly lowered the black umbrella, and the umbrella in his hand suddenly transformed into black flames that covered his body and face, leaving only a pair of black eyes visible.
Similarly, Mai Sakurajima, Rio Futaba, and Miko Yotsuya also activated their Soul Materialisation abilities, transforming into their exorcism operation appearances.
Ye Xing stretched his shoulders and led them towards the door ahead, speaking with a light laugh.
"It's time to return the famous sword Mikazuki Munechika to its rightful owner."