Miko noticed the surrounding passengers showed no change in expression, seemingly completely unaware of the faint, pale giant hand.
Otherwise, they would have panicked by now.
"So it really is an evil spirit..."
Since awakening her Mystic Eyes, this was the first time Miko had seen such a bizarre entity.
While it resembled an evil spirit, it was just a hand without a human body.
Yet if it were something else, why did its Qi feel similar to evil spirits... no, even more terrifying than them.
What on earth was this thing?
Just then.
Miko suddenly realised that in the brief moment she'd been distracted, the pale giant hand had vanished without a trace, as if it had never existed.
"Just kidding."
Ye Xing patted the molester's cheek, smiling as he released the man's wrist.
"Ugh..."
The previously aggressive train molester was now drenched in sweat, clutching his wrist while suppressing pained whimpers.
His entire body curled up like a shrimp on the cold train floor.
"Um..."
Seeing things had escalated this far, the office lady in OL uniform seemed about to say something.
Before she could speak, Ye Xing glanced at her and said quietly.
"People like you are worse than molesters, you know that?"
Being scolded so publicly made the OL woman visibly uncomfortable. She retorted defensively:
"I-I never asked for your help! Nosy parkers!"
"Still barking at me, are we?"
An ordinary high school boy might have let it slide at this point.
But Ye Xing, as a battle-hardened pianist from the internet trenches, knew all too well that yielding only bred resentment. He had no intention of indulging her.
He waved his phone in front of the OL woman's face.
"Like barking? Then I'll just be unlucky enough to have my phone stolen later."
"And coincidentally, my phone has no lock screen - anyone can open it."
"What an incredible coincidence that the thief uploads this video online."
"And the one-in-a-million chance your colleagues and boss all receive copies."
"Wouldn't that be unfortunate?"
Hearing this, the OL woman's expression changed.
Ye Xing didn't stop there, continuing his verbal assault.
"Of course, if you were just being harassed by a train groper, people might only sympathise with you as the victim."
At this point, Ye Xing smiled and changed tack.
"But what if someone explains the whole story? The groper's already been caught, yet you didn't come forward to testify. Why is that?"
"I can only think of two explanations."
"First, you're a coward without any moral principles."
"Second, you're actually a pervert who pretends to resist but secretly enjoys the harassment."
Ye Xing sighed helplessly, shaking his head.
"Tsk tsk tsk... if everyone thinks you're the second type, you'll become famous overnight."
"And in your daily life afterwards, you'll probably encounter more perverts, won't you? Being such a celebrity now."
"Don't worry, I... oh no, I mean the person who stole my phone... will definitely tell everyone you're not just cowardly, but a deeply disturbed woman who enjoys the whole process."
The office lady's body had gone completely rigid by this point.
She couldn't even imagine what her friends, colleagues, parents and family would think of her if that became her reputation...
"Not screaming anymore?"
Seeing the office lady cowed into silence, Ye Xing chuckled.
"That's more like it. Just go crawl into a hole and die."
As he finished speaking, the train pulled into the station.
Only after Ye Xing pulled her off the train did Miko Yotsuya finally snap out of her daze.
She hesitated for a long moment, unsure how to begin, before finally uttering two quiet words.
"Thank you."
"Hmm, you should be thanking me."
Ye Xing's blunt response actually made Miko feel slightly more at ease.
"By the way... how did you know to record it in advance?"
"I didn't know. You're just too naive."
Ye Xing casually mocked her as he walked ahead, continuing.
"If that woman had any real courage, would she have needed your help? She would've resisted long ago - this was a rush hour train."
"With so many people around, she couldn't even muster the courage to cry for help. Maybe she didn't want trouble, or was afraid of losing face."
"Whatever the reason, helping someone like that only lands you in the situation we just saw. Pointless."
Stretching his arms, Ye Xing turned to smile at Miko.
"So, would you help again next time?"
Miko paused, then, after a few seconds, nodded firmly.
"I would. But next time I'll gather evidence first, like you did."
"That's so like you."
Ye Xing did not attempt to persuade Miko to change her mind.
No one wants to be a selfless saint who gives unconditionally.
Yet everyone hopes there are more such saints in this world willing to help others without expecting anything in return.
A Miko Yotsuya like this is rather good too.
After exiting the train station, Ye Xing led Miko to a commercial street and found the shop where he had previously purchased the talismans.
Sure enough.
The white-haired old man with an immortal-like demeanour was sitting leisurely inside the shop, smoking a cigarette.
Miko glanced around. Though the shop wasn't large, its shelves were packed with a wide variety of goods.
Talismans, bracelets, evil-warding necklaces, prayer beads, deity statues - everything was available.
"Hey, old man."
Ye Xing strode up to the counter without ceremony, pulled out the stack of talismans from his pocket, and slammed them onto the counter, raising a cloud of dust.
"Refund. Return."
"Eh?"
When Ye Xing first entered, the old man was smiling. But upon hearing the demand for a refund, his deeply wrinkled face registered surprise.
"Now, young man, no need to be so aggressive. These talismans definitely work."
As he spoke, the old man's eyes darted behind Ye Xing as if searching for something.
This subtle detail didn't escape Ye Xing's notice.
'Just as I thought,' he mused.
Pulling over a chair, he sat opposite the old man and spoke slowly.
"If I'm not mistaken, you're a genuine psychic, aren't you?"
The old man nodded with a smile, exuding an air of venerable wisdom.
"Well now, in my younger days I was—"
"Enough. Save the boasting."
Ye Xing cut off his nostalgic ramblings and continued calmly.
"You must have genuine items in this shop. Yet you sold me completely useless fakes precisely because you're a real psychic."
"Because you can see - or rather, can't see - any spectres or evil spirits around me."