"But..."
At this critical moment, Yui Yuigahama displayed an acuity that contrasted with her usual airheaded demeanour.
"That area's already surrounded by Metropolitan Police Department units. Forget about dealing with armed kidnappers - just getting inside would be impossible, wouldn't it?"
Faced with this question, Ye Xing simply smiled and countered:
"What time is it now?"
Yui Yuigahama checked her phone.
"Half past four... why does that matter..."
Mid-sentence, realisation dawned on her. Her pupils contracted in shock as she covered her mouth.
"You don't mean to..."
"Exactly."
Ye Xing gave a slight nod.
"In half an hour, it will be twilight."
Ye Xing's plan was simple.
Use a Gate to travel to Kyoto in the Reverse World.
Then, using another Gate within the Reverse World, return directly to the real-world location of Kyoto Municipal Kindergarten.
It sounded straightforward.
But the execution was an entirely different matter.
First, Hachishaku-sama's ability to open Gates hadn't completed its seven-day cooldown period.
This meant if Ye Xing wanted to enter the Reverse World, he'd have to find an existing Gate.
The Kyoto in Reverse World mirrored the real Kyoto's architecture and geography perfectly.
In other words.
After entering Reverse World Kyoto, Ye Xing would have to traverse several kilometres - perhaps even over ten kilometres - through that thick, eerie black mist to reach the Gate corresponding to the kindergarten's location in reality.
And that's before considering the return to the real world, where he'd face at least twenty mentally unstable, gun-wielding criminals.
Difficult. Extremely difficult.
This was practically an impossible mission.
If even Yui Yuigahama could grasp this, Miko Yotsuya - being a psychic - understood it even more clearly.
Watching Ye Xing's relaxed expression, her golden eyes flickered with complex emotions. After several seconds' hesitation, she spoke softly:
"Actually... you don't need to take such risks for this matter. Leave it to the Metropolitan Police Department - they're professionals after all."
For someone of Miko's character, saying this was no small matter.
Though she appeared fragile, the train incident had shown her true nature.
Miko was the type who'd sacrifice for the benefit of others.
Provided...
The sacrifice was herself.
Miko understood perfectly - no matter how worried she was about the kindergarten staff and children, she had no right to ask Ye Xing to take such risks.
Moreover, what were the odds of success?
One in ten?
Or one in a hundred?
The risks were simply too great.
"Oh, right."
Ye Xing suddenly seemed to remember something, producing a bank card from his pocket and offering it to Miko.
"There's sixty thousand in here, it's..."
To his surprise, before he could finish, two clear teardrops rolled down Miko's cheeks as she looked utterly heartbroken.
This thoroughly baffled Ye Xing.
"What's the meaning of this, lass?"
Between quiet sobs, Miko's shoulders trembled as she spoke.
"Do you really have to be so intent on dying?"
Yui Yuigahama also looked conflicted as she stared at the bank card in Ye Xing's hand, murmuring.
"Ye Xing, if you die in that black mist, the children still won't be saved. Maybe... we should think of another way?"
Hearing the two girls' words, Ye Xing was momentarily stunned before letting out a wry laugh.
"What are you two thinking? This 60,000 yuan isn't some inheritance I left behind - it's the exorcism payment the old man transferred to me for this period."
"Ah? Oh... I see..."
Realising she'd misunderstood Ye Xing's meaning, Miko Yotsuya - who had been crying moments earlier - flushed red with embarrassment, pulling out a handkerchief to wipe her tears.
'That makes more sense,' she thought.
Knowing Ye Xing's personality, he wasn't the type to deliberately seek death despite knowing the risks.
This was the cautious exorcist who'd declared himself "already low on health" after using just one-tenth of his power.
But still...
"60,000?!"
Yuigahama couldn't help raising her voice at the staggering figure before catching herself and glancing around, lowering her tone.
"Counting from Tuesday, that's less than three days for 60,000 yuan in commissions? That's way too much!"
"Too much?"
Ye Xing shrugged.
"We're fighting actual evil spirits - in other words, saving clients' lives. Do you two have some misunderstanding about professional exorcists' incomes?"
Yuigahama and Miko exchanged glances before shaking their heads in unison.
"This is too much money. We can't accept it - you keep it."
Ye Xing was stunned.
Bloody hell, was this sci-fi?
A schoolyard version of The Three-Body Problem?
This was 60,000 yuan - absolutely no small sum for high schoolers.
And they refused so decisively?
Are you two...
Angels?
"Take it, I've already divided it equally."
Ye Xing placed the card on the table.
"The total was 100,000. We each get 30,000, with the remaining 10,000 as club funds temporarily kept with me."
"This..."
Miko looked at the bank card with complex emotions.
"I took these commissions to help people. Taking money for it... feels strange somehow."
Ye Xing curled his lip in exasperation.
"Have either of you heard the story of Zilu accepting an ox?"
"No."
"Young people these days are so uncultured."
After this complaint, he explained:
"Basically, accepting payment is perfectly justified. Never mind the dangers of eliminating evil spirits - have you considered one problem?"
"If our exorcisms were free, there'd be an obvious consequence."
"Anyone who thought they'd encountered something supernatural would post a commission, regardless of severity, whether it affected their life, or even if their life was in danger."
"Since it's free, clients lose nothing by trying."
"But for us? We'd waste huge amounts of time sifting through piles of meaningless false reports to find those truly in need."
"We have classes during the day, and our time is already tight. How many clients genuinely needing help might get injured or even die in supernatural incidents due to these lost hours?"
These words left Miko Yotsuya and Yui Yuigahama speechless.
They were just ordinary high school girls. How could they have imagined such complex implications behind this?
"Alright, take it."
Ye Xing glanced at his phone's clock, stood up, and stretched with a light chuckle.
"Now, it's time for this professional exorcist to save Kyoto."