Mm. [He doesn't know the specifics, but... the ayakashi realm was not a good place to be regardless. Add in the circumstances of their arrival, the length of time they were stuck there, the need to partner with ayakashi for survival when they hadn't even believed in them before... He's not going to need much convincing.]

Ayakashi are attracted to the weaknesses in people's hearts. What you're describing... [It sounds like the perfect way to revitalize struggling gods: bring in a food source, keep them miserable, and thrive off of that. Both the humans and the lower level spirits suffer off of it. It's no wonder they had to team up.] ...I've heard of spirits doing something along those lines before, but never at that scale. Invite a bunch of low-rank youkai to pledge themselves to a larger ayakashi for protection, then lock the doors and sacrifice the guests. A one night sort of deal.

...What do you mean, about the dead? Did the ghosts remain behind?