Faced with the sky-spanning array of evil spirit-forged weapons, the hundreds of yokai—Nurarihyon included—felt a despairing pressure that even stole their breath.
Rio Futaba and Miko Yotsuya were equally dumbstruck.
What in the world was this?
Ye Xing had this kind of move up his sleeve?
Thousands of pitch-black weapons, all condensed from evil spirit power...
No wonder he had remained so unflappable no matter the situation—whether breaking into Kyoto City Museum to retrieve Onimaru Kunitsuna or facing the entire Metropolitan Police Department's encirclement—always appearing utterly confident in his victory.
So he'd been hiding such an astonishing ability all along.
This was no longer within the realm of psychics.
This was practically a superpower, wasn't it!?
"Now then..."
Standing atop the shrine, Ye Xing gazed at Nurarihyon—his expression grave, Nenekirimaru gripped tightly—and smiled.
"Shall we begin negotiations?"
Seeing Nurarihyon still rooted in place, Ye Xing leapt down from the roof, landing lightly on the ground before walking unhurriedly towards him.
As he approached their leader, the hundreds of Nura Clan yokai tensed visibly.
Just as they were about to take action, they felt the oppressive aura descending from the sky and instinctively drew closer together.
"Nobody move!"
Seeing the Unlimited Blade Works in the sky lower slightly towards the ground—though by less than half a metre—Nurarihyon's expression changed instantly. He immediately raised his hand to halt his yokai subordinates.
After his confrontation with Ye Xing, he'd gained a rough understanding of the potency of the weapons condensed from evil spirit power.
"Mirror Pond, Moonlit Slash" was one of Nurarihyon's killing techniques.
Yet it had been blocked for nearly two seconds by that hastily formed black shield, with seventy to eighty per cent of its power neutralised.
Now, if these thousands of evil spirit weapons were to descend simultaneously... what kind of scene would that create?
Nurarihyon reckoned that he and Gyūki would only sustain injuries—surviving wouldn't be an issue.
But the only ones who'd survive would be him and Gyūki.
The other yokai of the Nura Clan...
Probably none would make it out alive.
If hundreds of yokai died here today, the Nura Clan would be finished.
After all, Nurarihyon had aged. He was no longer the powerhouse who'd once conquered other yokai single-handedly to become their supreme leader.
The hero's twilight had come.
And his grandson, Rikuo Nura—with only one-quarter yokai blood—was far from reaching maturity. Currently just an ordinary human boy, he couldn't possibly shoulder the responsibilities of the Nura Clan's third-generation supreme commander.
Nurarihyon understood Ye Xing's message.
Negotiations were possible.
But before they began, everyone needed to recognise one thing.
Exactly which side held the initiative in these talks.
As Nurarihyon pondered this, Ye Xing had already approached him.
With a casual wave of his right hand, a black chair condensed from evil spirit power materialised behind Nurarihyon.
"Supreme Commander Nura, do take a seat."
Seeing Ye Xing's amiably smiling face, Nurarihyon sighed faintly before finally sitting down.
"You two, why are you still standing there?"
Ye Xing waved his hand again, conjuring three more black chairs formed from evil spirit power, then beckoned to Rio Futaba and Miko Yotsuya in the distance.
"Come here."
After a brief hesitation, Rio Futaba and Miko Yotsuya approached.
"Here, here—you sit here."
Rio Futaba had originally thought that she and Miko Yotsuya would sit on either side, leaving the middle seat for Ye Xing.
To her surprise, he directly took her hand and led her to the centre chair—the one directly facing Nurarihyon—before sitting down beside her.
Rio could only shake her head helplessly.
What was this about?
Did he mean for her to handle the negotiations?
"You're slacking off again, aren't you?"
Hearing Rio's quiet, slightly displeased complaint, Ye Xing merely grinned carelessly before turning to study her face intently. His earnest gaze made Rio's cheeks flush with embarrassment.
"What are you looking at?"
Ye Xing maintained his serious expression.
"Ah, Futaba, you look absolutely stunning without your glasses and with your hair tied up in that high ponytail. I can't take my eyes off you."
Rio gave him an exasperated look.
"Stop acting ridiculous. I've always dressed like this in the Reverse World—you've seen it countless times."
"Besides, you already saw me the first time I tried this look."
Beside them, Miko couldn't help but frown slightly.
What did she mean by 'the first time' he saw her like that?
Where had he seen it?
And was that all he saw?
Had he seen... more?
Wait a minute.
Miko suddenly remembered something.
Before the Onimaru Kunitsuna operation, hadn't she been the one to suggest that Ye Xing take a look at Rio's... uncovered areas to find a solution?
Oh no.
Had she just become the scapegoat?
Seeing Ye Xing place Rio in the centre seat, Nurarihyon was also taken aback.
In terms of power, this human girl was worlds apart from the man he had just fought.
Nurarihyon had initially assumed that while Miko and Rio possessed some ability, their relationship with Ye Xing must be something like master and servant.
But judging by their relaxed tone, expressions, and the way they spoke to each other, that clearly wasn't the case.
Rather than master and servant, they seemed to be equals.
At this realisation, Nurarihyon let out a quiet sigh of relief.
Truth be told, he was a little afraid of Ye Xing.
On one hand, the power he displayed was overwhelming.
On the other hand, Ye Xing's behaviour in battle didn't resemble that of a normal human at all—more like a ruthless, bloodthirsty madman who revelled in slaughter.
Now, at last, he was seeing the other side of him—the human side.
As long as he wasn't a complete lunatic, negotiations were possible.
Yokai and humans didn't necessarily have to fight to the death.
Of course, that was Nurarihyon's perspective.
Whether they could actually reach an agreement would depend on how things unfolded from here.
"And you are...?"
Hearing Nurarihyon's question, Rio didn't answer immediately. Instead, she first retrieved her glasses from her pocket and put them back on before replying.
"Just call me Futaba."
Rio wasn't as... unconventional as Ye Xing.
She couldn't possibly bring herself to address someone who looked to be in his seventies or eighties with the same irreverence.
Some courtesy was still necessary.
"Ah, Miss Futaba."
Nurarihyon nodded, his aged face bearing the kindly expression of an elderly man as he smiled.
"Truth be told, our Nura Clan's visit to Kyoto harbours no ill intent. We merely saw the news reports on television and wished to understand the situation."
"Hmm, I believe that."
Rio Futaba showed no surprise.
She'd already discerned as much.
Whether during the recent battle or when they'd first encountered the ambush in the city.
Futaba had sensed their opponents weren't aiming to kill her or Miko Yotsuya.
Quite the opposite - they'd seemed restrained, holding back from unleashing their full power.
At this point, Futaba paused and turned to Ye Xing beside her.
"What do you think?"
"Let me explain first."
Ye Xing smiled. Then, under the astonished gazes of Nurarihyon and the Nura Clan yokai, he delivered a comprehensive briefing about the Nura Clan's background to Futaba and Miko.
From its founding purpose - Nurarihyon's realisation that yokai survival would grow increasingly difficult in the coming era, prompting his desire to create a sanctuary - to the death of second-generation commander Rihan Nura, the strongest of the Nura lineage with his half-human, half-yokai bloodline. And now, the current predicament of Rikuo Nura, who hadn't yet awakened his yokai powers and remained an ordinary human, alongside the Nura Clan's gradual decline.
It was a thorough dissection.
Many details even the assembled Nura Clan yokai hadn't known.
The most shocked listeners weren't Miko and Futaba.
But rather Nurarihyon and Gyūki.
The two yokai exchanged glances, faces filled with bewilderment.
How did this person know such things?
Even the circumstances surrounding the second commander Rihan Nura's death - such closely guarded secrets?
"I see..."
After Ye Xing's explanation, Futaba nodded noncommittally, studying the Nura Clan yokai with curiosity in her eyes.
So such creatures truly existed in this world.
Though most yokai harboured hostility towards humans, it differed completely from evil spirits.
Evil spirits' murderous intent towards humans felt like an instinct carved into their bones - utterly reasonless, devoid of thought.
Yokai were different.
If they could follow Nurarihyon's directives to hide and live in seclusion, it proved they weren't inherently opposed to humans and possessed their own capacity for reasoning.
Simply put.
Evil spirits were dangerous monsters that must be exterminated.
Yokai were merely peculiar creatures with special abilities who happened to hold different stances from humans.
Coexistence between the two was possible.
"So what exactly is your purpose in coming to Kyoto?"
Faced with Futaba's question, Nurarihyon's smile turned somewhat bitter.
"Truthfully, this old man merely wished to speak with you - to understand how Onmyoji of this era view and regard our yokai kind. Nothing more."
"I see."
Futaba turned to Miko.
"What do you think?"
Miko Yotsuya pondered briefly before responding.
"Hmm... I believe that yokai who still commit evil are naturally our enemies. But organisations like the Nura Clan, which maintain a peaceful coexistence with humans and uphold order in the yokai world, could be considered humanity's allies to some extent."
"I share your view."
Rio Futaba nodded slightly before turning to Ye Xing, who sat lazily beside her with his legs crossed.
"And your stance?"
"My stance..."
Ye Xing glanced at Nurarihyon and the hundreds of yokai behind him before answering indifferently.
"Can't eat them. Not interested. Whatever."
Rio naturally understood that when Ye Xing said "can't eat them," he meant he couldn't devour yokai like evil spirits to enhance his abilities.
It seemed yokai and evil spirits were fundamentally different existences after all.
"Then it's simple."
Adjusting her glasses, Rio addressed Nurarihyon calmly.
"You will leave Kyoto immediately and return to your own territory."
"No problem."
Hearing this, Nurarihyon exhaled in visible relief.
Avoiding mutual destruction was the best possible outcome.
From Rio's attitude, Nurarihyon gleaned crucial information.
These three humans possessed extraordinary abilities he'd never seen before - powers that could oppose yokai directly. Yet they weren't like those traditional Onmyoji who rigidly exterminated all yokai on sight, regardless of whether they'd committed crimes.
Having confirmed this, Nurarihyon's peripheral vision caught the thousands of jet-black weapons floating in the sky, condensed from evil spirit power. His mind began working actively.
If that were the case...
Could he establish some form of cooperative relationship with them?
The Nura Clan was currently in its most difficult period.
The first-generation leader Nurarihyon had aged and lost his heart. Even when briefly reverting to his youthful form, his power remained limited.
Meanwhile, Rikuo Nura, with only one-quarter yokai blood, clearly wasn't ready to succeed as the third-generation leader.
At such a time, allying with such formidable individuals - whether called exorcists or Onmyoji - would provide the Nura Clan with critical insurance.
With this thought, Nurarihyon rose from his chair, wearing a kindly smile as he spoke slowly.
"I sincerely apologise for the inconvenience this misunderstanding has caused you three. If you have any requests, please don't hesitate to ask - consider it my apology."
"I do have one request, actually."
Ye Xing stood up, approached Nurarihyon, and slowly extended his right hand...
Placing it on the back of the yokai's bald head.
The distant Nura Clan yokai stared in stunned silence.
Even Nurarihyon himself wore an extraordinarily complicated expression, seemingly torn between speech and silence.
"What an unusual structure. It even has spiral patterns."
Ye Xing continued stroking the smooth surface while offering commentary.
Rio Futaba and Miko Yotsuya exchanged glances before simultaneously facepalming with identical sighs.
Typical you.
After stroking Nurarihyon's head a few times, Ye Xing casually rested his right arm atop the bald dome.
Honestly, it was a perfect fit.
Given their height difference and the shape of Nurarihyon's head, the action looked almost designed for this purpose.
The yokai of the Nura Clan watched in silence as their supreme commander became an armrest. Gyūki wanted to speak up, but after glancing at the thousands of black weapons floating in the sky - all condensed from evil spirit power - he swallowed his words.
Sometimes, circumstances force one to bow.
"Regarding compensation..." Ye Xing mused before smiling at Nurarihyon. "Your Nura Clan must have collected many spiritually empowered weapons over the years. Select a few suitable ones and send them over."
Nurarihyon visibly relaxed at this request, nodding immediately without hesitation. "No problem."
For a centuries-old organisation like the Nura Clan, spiritually charged weapons were hardly scarce.
Ye Xing himself didn't need them - he already had Onimaru Kunitsuna. This was mainly to upgrade Miko Yotsuya and Rio Futaba's equipment. The longsword sponsored by old man Oda was merely an ordinary spiritual object, no longer matching Miko's current capabilities.
Better let the newly appointed 'old man Nura' sponsor some new gear.
"That's all."
Nurarihyon looked surprised when Ye Xing made no further demands. "Just that?"
"What, you want to give more?"
"No, no, no." Nurarihyon waved his hands rapidly. Even with the Nura Clan's substantial reserves, parting with spiritual objects would sting. "This old man simply doesn't understand..."
"What's hard to understand?" Ye Xing waved dismissively, cutting him off. "Both Futaba and Miko told me - though your Nura Clan consists of yokai, you maintain order in the supernatural world. In some ways, you're allies to humanity."
"Killing you here benefits me nothing. We've no reason for a fight to the death."
Then Ye Xing's tone shifted abruptly as he locked eyes with Nurarihyon, speaking calmly: "Though I wouldn't mind visiting your home turf in Ukiyo-e Town for a yokai-hunting spree. Understood?"
Nurarihyon responded instantly: "This was a misunderstanding. It won't happen again."
Ye Xing's expression transformed faster than a page turning, instantly reverting to a benign smile. "Good."
Only then did Nurarihyon's tension finally ease.
Though the process had been... circuitous, he'd ultimately achieved his original objective in coming to Kyoto with his subordinates - determining the Onmyoji's stance toward yokai.
Ye Xing remained an enigma - his battle frenzy and excitement contrasting sharply with his usual abstract, flippant speech. But these quirks mattered little now.
As long as it wasn't that extreme personality type that harboured intense hatred towards yokai, indiscriminately killing every one they saw...
"I think..." Nurarihyon cautiously probed.
"Now that the misunderstanding has been cleared up, perhaps we could establish a contract to build mutual trust?"
As he spoke these words, Nurarihyon noticed Hachishaku-sama and the Goat-Headed Deity not far away, wearing extremely vivid, schadenfreude-laden expressions.
He felt deeply puzzled.
Had he said something strange?
"A contract..."
Hearing these words, Ye Xing revealed a meaningful smile and patted Nurarihyon on the back of his head.
"Then let's sign one."
...
Half an hour later.
Nurarihyon was practically being supported by his subordinate yokai as they left the shrine.
His legs felt weak, stars danced before his eyes, and his chest felt tight.
Not because he'd fought Ye Xing again.
But because Nurarihyon had just signed what could only be described as an exploitative contract.
Clause 1: From all the spiritual artefacts collected by the Nura Clan over centuries, Ye Xing may freely select five items, including Nurarihyon's own blade, Nenekirimaru.
Clause 2: Without permission, no yokai of the Nura Clan may enter Kyoto's territory.
Clause 3: No member of the Nura Clan may disclose today's events.
Clause 4: All intelligence regarding supernatural phenomena collected by the Nura Clan must be truthfully reported to the Supernatural Society without concealment.
In exchange for these four extremely unequal clauses imposed on the Nura Clan, Ye Xing offered one promise:
"I will not initiate attacks against yokai or humans belonging to the Nura Clan."
Just that simple statement.
Miko Yotsuya and Rio Futaba stood dumbfounded nearby.
Damn, even yokai get exploited?
This was worse than what happened with Hachishaku-sama back then!
At least Hachishaku-sama got paid wages.
As for why Nurarihyon signed... he had no choice.
On one hand, the Nura Clan had indeed invaded Kyoto's territory first - effectively a provocation.
On the other hand...
Ye Xing knew the Nura Clan's internal affairs shockingly well, including the circumstances of the second leader's death and even the name of their sole current heir, Rikuo Nura.
This made Nurarihyon deeply wary.
With such intimate knowledge of the Nura Clan, combined with those bizarre abilities...
If Ye Xing truly wished, he wouldn't need a frontal assault - just infiltrate Ukiyo-e Town and kill Rikuo Nura before he awakened his yokai powers...
And the Nura Clan would collapse completely.
There was no alternative.
Other than obediently signing the contract, Nurarihyon had no other way to ensure the Nura Clan's safety.
After the yokai had all left, Miko Yotsuya mused with feeling:
"So... yokai really do exist in this world."
Beside her, Rio Futaba delivered the perfect deadpan remark:
"If evil spirits and spectres exist, yokai shouldn't be that surprising, right?"