What do you mean you also want to return to the world?

When Lin Xiaoyue asked, "Who are you?" Shi Yan thought she was joking, so he smiled and replied, "Even if you're not satisfied with the price, you don't have to pretend you don't know me, Lin Xiaoyue."

"Price?" Upon hearing this word, a look of realization flashed in Lin Xiaoyue's eyes, but it quickly turned into disgust. "Sorry, I don't want to do business with you anymore. Please leave."

Shi Yan was stunned for a moment.

If he had previously thought Lin Xiaoyue was joking, why did this answer feel so real?

After saying that, Lin Xiaoyue turned to go back inside, but Shi Yan almost instinctively grabbed her hand: "Wait, Lin Xiaoyue."

"What else do you want?!" Lin Xiaoyue turned around and glared at Shi Yan. "Prostitute dating is illegal! Do you want to go to jail?!"

"What are you talking about?" Shi Yanren was completely dumbfounded. "Isn't what we're trading for that mirror?"

"A mirror?" Lin Xiaoyue's expression turned even uglier. "Then you might as well trade with me... What mirror? I don't know anything about it. If you keep bothering me, I'll report you..."

Lin Xiaoyue wanted to call the police, but then she caught a glimpse of the Hummer with its police lights still on, so she had to swallow her threatening words. She then shook off Shi Yan's hand and rushed home.

With a "click," the door was closed, leaving Shi Yan standing alone at the entrance, lost in thought.

"What happened?" Seeing this, Tang Shi got out of the car and came to Shi Yan's side. "Didn't you reach an agreement?"

"It's not that we couldn't reach an agreement, it's more like..."

Shi Yan recounted the situation with a wry smile. Tang Shi listened, and a look of surprise appeared on her face.

"Are you sure she's not faking it?"

"It doesn't seem like it, unless her acting is really good," Shi Yan said. "But she doesn't need to pretend, does she?"

"I see." Tang Shi said thoughtfully. "Then what do you think?"

"Unless she has a twin sister, but that's too melodramatic," Shi Yan replied, "the only other possibility is that she's been influenced by a monster."

That's the advantage of having monsters; everything illogical can be attributed to them. Especially since Shi Yan had already experienced an exorcism by the Archaeological Bureau, he was naturally prepared for such bizarre events.

"So what do you plan to do now?"

Tang Shi asked again, and it was clear that, just as she had said before, she would not be too deeply involved in this operation.

"We'll have to go in and take a look." Shi Yan glanced at the low wall of the villa. "If there really is a monster, we can just deal with it... By the way, does this count as trespassing?"

"Where did you see this house?" Tang Shi said calmly. "I only see a haunted house."

...That's true.

"Wait, there's also this."

Just as Shi Yan was about to climb over the wall, Tang Shi called him back and gave him a small box.

"What's this?" Shi Yan opened the box and asked in surprise, "A stun gun?"

"Yes." Tang Shi nodded slightly. "According to the regulations of the Sword-Holding Bureau, our power can only be used to deal with monsters, not ordinary people. So if you encounter any troublesome guys, use this for self-defense. Of course, don't use it unless absolutely necessary. After all, this thing is prohibited in our country."

Indeed, this version of China also has strict gun control. Unlike in the US, where they would probably just fire real weapons at this point.

"I understand." Shi Yan put the gun back in his pocket and casually asked, "Is this standard equipment for a Swordholder?"

"Of course not," Tang Shi said. "The Swordholders... or rather the entire demon-slaying organization, even without using the power of demons, possess physiques far exceeding those of ordinary people. Demon slayers like you, with the physical strength of an average high school student, are extremely rare."

Shi Yan's lips twitched slightly: "I'm so sorry, I'm so weak."

"There's no need to apologize," Tang Shi shook her head. "Your time just hasn't come yet."

"Is it not time yet?"

"Yes, the longer you are tainted by the power of monsters, the less your body resembles an ordinary person," Tang Shi said. "At that point, even if you don't want to, you will naturally become a 'superman' in the eyes of others."

What's wrong with becoming Superman? As long as I don't become dead, it's fine.

Shi Yan silently complained in his heart, but still sincerely thanked Tang Shi for her kindness, and then prepared to bypass the firewall again.

"Wait, there's one more thing."

However, just as he finished making the move, Tang Shi called him back.

Shi Yan had no choice but to stop again: "What's wrong?"

"Remember what I just said? Don't be reckless." Tang Shi glanced at the villa inside the wall. "If we really encounter a monster, let me handle it."

"Okay," Shi Yan said. "I'll call you if I find any monsters."

"How can we possibly make it in time?" Tang Shi said. "Just shout loudly when you spot a monster, and I'll rush in immediately."

Shout...call for help?

Shi Yan felt that it was a bit embarrassing for a grown man like him to be begging for help from a young girl (from the perspective of his previous life). Fortunately, his years of working life had made him no longer care about such things, and he smoothly agreed again.

"Okay, go ahead."

Shi Yan made another attempt to climb over the wall, but quickly stopped.

"What's wrong?" Tang Shi asked, puzzled.

"You have nothing else to say, right?" Shi Yan asked cautiously, afraid that Tang Shi would say "There's one more thing" halfway up the mountain.

Is this some kind of old man?

Tang Shi shook her head: "This time it's really alright."

Shi Yan breathed a sigh of relief, and then quickly began to climb over the wall.

However, the wall was not easy to climb. There had been a light rain in the afternoon, and the ivy covering the wall was wet and slippery, making it difficult to grip. This made Shi Yan, an ordinary high school student, climb it with great difficulty, and it took him a long time to finally get close to the top.

But just then, Tang Shi spoke up again: "Um..."

The sound startled Shi Yan. He really didn't want to struggle anymore, so he exerted all his strength and practically tumbled and crawled over the wall, almost falling.

After struggling to regain his footing, Shi Yan asked Tang Shi outside the wall, "Is there anything else?"

As soon as she finished speaking, the door beside her clicked open, and Tang Shi leaned halfway in, then said expressionlessly, "What I was just saying was that this door doesn't seem to be locked."

Shi Yan: "..."

Then, he saw Tang Shi sigh softly, with an expression that said, "Why are you looking so dazed?", which made him feel so embarrassed that he wanted to pick his toes.

Fortunately, Tang Shi didn't say anything, but just glanced at her watch: "Go quickly, and remember, the best time to exorcise demons is during the day."

"……good."