Meanwhile, in the Reverse World's Kyoto.
"ROAR!!!"
Tamamo-no-Mae, transformed into a giant fox, let out a ferocious roar from her throat. The large stains of filthy blood on her snow-white fur made her appear rather dishevelled at this moment.
"I'll kill you."
A tall evil spirit with decaying grey skin, wielding a spiked club, swung its weapon and flattened a wheel with a human head - a yokai from Japan's Hyakki Yagyō known as a Wanyūdō.
It wasn't just the Wanyūdō.
As a leader in the Reverse World, Tamamo-no-Mae had over a hundred evil spirits under her command.
But now...
As the last Wanyūdō was crushed and torn to pieces by the swarming evil spirits, then devoured, Tamamo-no-Mae's forces...
Were completely annihilated.
Even Tamamo-no-Mae herself, in her true form, had dozens of human-sized evil spirits viciously biting her with their filthy teeth.
"All of you, die!!!"
Witnessing the complete destruction of her subordinates, Tamamo-no-Mae's fox eyes revealed grief and sorrow as she roared in anger, swinging her massive claws to smash a dozen evil spirits into the ground.
As an evil spirit of the Reverse World, formed from people's negative impressions of the concept of Tamamo-no-Mae in Japanese legends, her power far surpassed that of ordinary evil spirits.
But... this changed nothing.
Hundreds of evil spirits, along with the thick, fluid-like black mist, surrounded Tamamo-no-Mae.
No matter how many she killed - whether a few, a dozen, or several dozen - no matter how quickly she eliminated them, new evil spirits would immediately emerge from the black mist to fill the gaps in the encirclement.
Tamamo-no-Mae had lost count of how many evil spirits she had killed.
The only thing she could feel was the power gradually draining from her body, nearly depleted.
Though individually much weaker than Tamamo-no-Mae, these evil spirits emerging from the black mist appeared in astonishing numbers, continuously surging forward like waves.
"Huff... huff..."
In her true form, Tamamo-no-Mae crouched low to the ground, baring two rows of sharp white teeth. Though still barely holding on, her increasingly laboured breathing revealed her precarious situation.
Just then, a powerful disturbance suddenly rippled through the viscous black mist.
A massive evil spirit resembling a giant centipede, with numerous legs and a distorted human face for its head, emerged from the black mist.
Its multiple mouths opened simultaneously, sharp teeth tearing towards Tamamo-no-Mae's neck.
Tamamo-no-Mae attempted to support herself and counterattack, but her limbs went weak, her pristine white colossal body collapsing to the ground.
"Is this the end..."
Gazing at the giant centipede evil spirit lunging towards her, and the surrounding evil spirits and spectres gradually closing in like vultures spotting carrion, ready to devour her completely, her eyes held an extraordinary calm as she murmured softly to herself.
"Hachishaku-sama... what does the most delicious milk in the human world... actually taste like... I'll never get to taste it now..."
Just as Tamamo-no-Mae reverted to human form, slumped on the ground, slowly closing her eyes and peacefully awaiting her final moment, a familiar voice sounded from behind her.
"Evil annihilation complete, The End of Eight Million."
Tamamo-no-Mae opened her eyes to see a flickering darkness burning before her.
"Ye... Ye Xing-kun..."
Ye Xing stood shielding Tamamo-no-Mae, his right hand resting on Onimaru Kunitsuna at his waist, staring directly at the giant centipede evil spirit emerging from the black mist. Beneath the black mask, his eyes revealed a trace of madness.
Beneath his coat, his right arm had completely transformed into the pale ghost hand.
"Come then."
"I'll kill you!"
This centipede-shaped evil spirit, with distorted flesh, was supported by dozens of human-like legs beneath its body.
To be honest, even Tamamo-no-Mae found its appearance nauseating.
Though she was also an evil spirit, her form was beautiful.
Moreover, Tamamo-no-Mae detested ugly things.
Ye Xing's reaction was completely different from hers.
"Looks delicious."
Hearing Ye Xing's amused remark, Tamamo-no-Mae's expression became somewhat complicated.
"Typical of you."
"At such a terrifying moment, you actually develop an appetite."
After chanting his soul's true name and unleashing his Soul Materialisation, Ye Xing once again possessed the ability to transform imagined logical reasoning into his personal reality.
Grasping Onimaru Kunitsuna's hilt with his right hand, he watched the centipede head now less than a meter away and softly uttered,
"One Sword Asura."
Black flames, as if stimulated by something, surged upward from his black coat.
Even Onimaru Kunitsuna's blade became enveloped in black flames.
"This is..."
Before Tamamo-no-Mae could process her shock at the intense spiritual power suddenly erupting from Ye Xing, a black arc resembling a comet flashed across her vision.
When her sight cleared, she discovered the giant centipede evil spirit had abruptly frozen in place, its distorted pupils filled with dark red blood vessels now brimming with disbelief.
The next instant.
As if he had never moved, Ye Xing simply sheathed Onimaru Kunitsuna and murmured,
"That's all."
Without any sound, only a cold breeze sweeping past, as if in response to Ye Xing's words, the giant centipede evil spirit's body fragmented into countless pieces, scattering through the air.
Not just it, but also the hundreds of humanoid evil spirits that had formed an encirclement were instantly torn apart.
Ye Xing opened his mouth and, with a swallowing motion, all the surrounding evil spirit remnants transformed into black mist and were devoured into his stomach.
"Bloody hell..."
Even Tamamo-no-Mae, who always spoke elegantly like a daughter of a distinguished family, was shocked by the scene before her.
She knew Ye Xing was strong, but eliminating so many evil spirits in the blink of an eye was beyond her imagination.
Moreover...
You're way too gluttonous!?
Hundreds of evil spirits, plus that enormous centipede monster - you devoured all that evil spirit power in just one breath?
How exaggerated...
"Satisfying."
Devouring so many evil spirits at once was nothing short of a wonderful feast for Ye Xing.
Exquisite cuisine was certainly good.
But being able to indulge in a free buffet was an essential part of life, too.
However, Ye Xing noticed that although he had eliminated all the evil spirits, the thick black mist before them hadn't dissipated, instead showing signs of slowly extending towards them.
He turned and looked at Tamamo-no-Mae, who had collapsed weakly on the ground, extending his hand.
"Can you still stand?"
Tamamo-no-Mae didn't choose to be stubborn; she simply took Ye Xing's hand and mustered all her strength to stand up.
Though her charming, delicate face still showed clear signs of exhaustion, she hadn't suffered any serious injuries. Forcing a smile, she said:
"Ye Xing-kun... our contract conditions... don't include... huff... don't include you having to rescue me... that you came to save me... truly surprises this humble one."
"That means the contract needs upgrading."
Hearing Ye Xing's amused words, Tamamo-no-Mae didn't focus on the simple statement itself, but rather noticed that the way Ye Xing looked at her seemed to have changed compared to before.
Tamamo-no-Mae didn't know how to describe it.
If she had to say, the previous Ye Xing had always looked at her with an appreciative gaze.
This appreciation wasn't possessiveness or affection arising from seeing a beautiful woman.
Rather, it was a condescending, emotionless appreciation - like a diner appreciating ingredients.
Precisely because of this, Tamamo-no-Mae had always been somewhat timid, afraid that this not-quite-sane exorcist might one day get inspired and decide to eat her.
But now, Ye Xing-kun seemed to be truly starting to treat her as an equal, rather than just an ingredient.
Plus those words about upgrading the contract...
Did this prove that she had finally earned a place in his heart?
"Let's talk somewhere safer."
...
Five minutes later, inside a residential building on the street.
"Once again, allow this humble one to thank you for your rescue."
Tamamo-no-Mae bowed deeply, completely unconcerned that this movement would expose the glimpse of snow-white skin beneath her loose kimono.
"No need for thanks."
Ye Xing waved his hand dismissively, smiling.
"If you really want to thank me, let me have a taste - I've never tried what you taste like before."
Tamamo-no-Mae's smile stiffened as she awkwardly replied:
"That... really isn't necessary."
"Alright, let's get back to the main point. Why did this happen?"
Ye Xing sat down on the sofa, removing the Mask disguise and returning to his usual appearance.
Just as Tamamo-no-Mae was about to answer, the crimson sight that met her eyes made her pupils contract in shock.
"Ye... Ye Xing-sama, you're injured?"
Ye Xing glanced down to see a long, bone-deep wound on his right arm. The flesh had split open on both sides, creating a gruesome sight as blood trailed down his arm, dripping from his fingertips onto the floor.
"Oh, this? It's nothing."
Ye Xing waved his hand dismissively.
"I used an ability that puts tremendous strain on the body to quickly eliminate those creatures. This kind of reaction is perfectly normal."
As he spoke, a layer of black flames appeared around his wound. After burning for a few moments, the slender injury rapidly healed, leaving no scar.
Witnessing this, while amazed by Ye Xing's remarkable recovery ability, Tamamo-no-Mae couldn't help but feel a certain heaviness in her heart.
Last time... even when fighting that giant evil spirit, he hadn't sustained such injuries.
But this time, he was wounded.
Was it because he was protecting me?
Tamamo-no-Mae was experiencing this kind of powerless guilt for the first time.
She knew now wasn't the time for self-pity. Collecting herself, she frowned slightly and murmured.
"This humble one doesn't know why either. While conducting routine patrols and gathering intelligence in the Reverse World, evil spirits suddenly emerged from the black mist that normally dissipates on its own. They attacked this humble one and my subordinates like mad creatures."
Tamamo-no-Mae genuinely couldn't understand why such a thing had occurred.
Judging by the sensation that the giant centipede evil spirit gave her, it belonged to the type that possessed great power but no capacity for thought, acting purely on instinct.
Normally, in an area where such an evil spirit existed, no other evil spirits should appear, or they would become its prey.
Yet this completely unreasonable situation had occurred.
Was someone targeting her?
That seemed impossible.
Tamamo-no-Mae knitted her brows tightly, thinking to herself that she wasn't the type of monster that indiscriminately devoured all evil spirits. Aside from those that acted purely on instinct, trespassed into her territory, and initiated attacks, she basically never devoured others of her kind.
How could she have made enemies among other evil spirits?
Moreover...
Tamamo-no-Mae hadn't encountered a second evil spirit in the Reverse World like herself - one possessing high intelligence capable of employing strategies like "using a tiger to fight a wolf".
It was all too strange.
"Wait a moment..."
As if suddenly remembering something, Tamamo-no-Mae's expression changed abruptly as she looked toward Ye Xing sitting there.
"Since you were able to come to the Reverse World to rescue this humble one, does that mean it's currently dawn or dusk in the real world?"
"Correct."
"Could it be..."
Tamamo-no-Mae suddenly thought of a possibility that horrified her.
"This attack wasn't aimed at this humble one, but rather intended to make you enter the Reverse World... But why would they want you to enter the Reverse World? That makes no sense whatsoever..."
She trailed off at this point.
If the goal was simply to make Ye Xing enter the Reverse World, it would indeed be meaningless for a psychic like him who could freely travel between the Reverse World and reality through the Gate at any time.
But...
Thinking this far, Tamamo-no-Mae's expression changed dramatically. She stood up abruptly, her tone tense and urgent.
"Lord Ye Xing, which area's Gate did you enter through?"
"Just nearby, in an abandoned building about two kilometres away. Why?"
Seeing Ye Xing's expression that "seemed" unaware of any abnormality, Tamamo-no-Mae pressed her lips together tightly, her face filled with anxiety.
"There's no time to explain."
As she spoke, Tamamo-no-Mae had already transformed into her true form, though this time she deliberately didn't make her size too massive, keeping it roughly equivalent to a zoo tiger.
"Please allow this humble one to carry you! We must quickly check the condition of that Gate!"
While riding Tamamo-no-Mae and watching the scenery on both sides of the street flash by, Ye Xing couldn't help but marvel.
"A professional exorcist should have their own dedicated mount. I declare, Little Mae, you are now an external member of the Supernatural Society, specifically responsible for letting me ride you."
At this moment, Tamamo-no-Mae no longer had the mental capacity to respond to Ye Xing's abstract remarks.
She dragged her exhausted body, running all the way, quickly arriving at the location of the Gate that the other party had mentioned.
When she reached the unfinished building, what appeared before Tamamo-no-Mae's eyes was a scene she had anticipated but dreaded most of all.
Nothing.
Empty.
No Gate.
"The Gate... has been destroyed..."
Tamamo-no-Mae transformed back into human form. The physical exhaustion and spiritual despair made it impossible for her to continue standing, and she slowly slid down against the wall, a bitter expression on her face.
"This humble one only knew of this one Gate..."
Ye Xing put away his smile and nodded slightly.
"Yes, I only knew of this one, too."
The atmosphere fell silent.
The Gate was the passage connecting the two worlds.
While Ye Xing had approached the Gate in the real world, Tamamo-no-Mae in the Reverse World had encountered inexplicable attacks and faced mortal danger.
This was definitely no coincidence.
Clearly, this was a carefully planned conspiracy.
The purpose was simple.
Without the Gate, there would be no passage connecting the Reverse World and the real world.
The other party wanted to use this to trap Ye Xing in the Reverse World.
Under normal circumstances, this wouldn't be a big deal.
They could simply search for evil spirits that had fused with a Gate, or wait for a new Gate to form, then return. After all, the Reverse World wasn't lacking in food and drink - it just had no humans. Surviving there wouldn't be a problem.
But regardless of what was behind this long-planned conspiracy, would a powerful being capable of influencing both worlds simultaneously go through so much trouble to trap Ye Xing in the Reverse World just to annoy him?
No, that was absolutely impossible.
Through the dust-covered window, Tamamo-no-Mae saw a crimson crescent moon appear in the sky.
For some reason, she felt the moon in the Reverse World today was redder than usual.
It was almost as if dark red blood might seep out at any moment, creating an inexplicably eerie and dangerous atmosphere.
Just then, Tamamo-no-Mae noticed from the corner of her eye that the thick black mist had somehow surrounded the unfinished building where she and Ye Xing were.
Emerging from it were hundreds of twisted pupils and murderous roars.
"You... can see?"
"You can see."
"You can see!"
Dense as tidal waves, the gathering evil spirits quickly flooded into the unfinished building.
Tamamo-no-Mae looked at Ye Xing standing there with a face full of despair, showing a bitter, apologetic smile.
"Apologies, Lord Ye Xing. This humble one has burdened you."
"Burdened me?"
Listening to the terrifying roars coming from the stairwell before them, Ye Xing merely smiled. Without changing his outfit, he simply gripped Onimaru Kunitsuna's hilt in his right hand, a look of mad anticipation appearing in his eyes.
"So many evil spirits... eating one while killing another, killing while eating... just thinking about it makes me feel quite delighted."
...
Meanwhile, in Kyoto of the real world.
Pop.
With a faint electric sound, Miko Yotsuya, who was sitting on the sofa with her mother, saw the television suddenly go dark.
Her mother tried pressing the remote control, then stood up to turn on the living room light, saying in confusion,
"Hmm? A power cut? I haven't forgotten to pay the electricity bill."
A sense of dangerous premonition surfaced in Miko Yotsuya's heart.
She looked out of the window, and what met her golden eyes was a terrifying, distorted face of an evil spirit pressed tightly against the glass.
"You... can see me."