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

Chapter 26: Why are they all monsters?!

Shi Yan did suspect that Fei Hong was up to something, but he had no evidence.

On the surface, exchanging a few novels for the method to use Scarlet is definitely a win. If there are any problems... then it would be better to terminate the relationship again. Anyway, "Phoenix Clan" is still not finished, so it can be said to be a perfect replica of the previous life.

"Alright, I'll give you the book after this is all sorted out." Shi Yan turned his gaze back to the venue. "Now you can tell me how to use 'Scarlet'."

Your question is too general.

"What?"

"My 'Scarlet' is omnipotent." Scarlet's words were full of arrogance. "What you can do with it depends on what you want to do with it."

Shi Yan frowned: "Are you beating around the bush with me?"

"That's true."

"...Alright." Shi Yan temporarily yielded to Fei Hong. "Then tell me first, how do I find that monster?"

Shi Yan asked about the method to find the monster, not its exact whereabouts; the former was far more important than the latter.

"Just look," Scarlet said leisurely. "Monsters have demonic aura, and the weaker the monster, the more obvious the demonic aura it leaves behind. As long as you see the demonic aura, you can follow it to find the monster."

"I can't see any demonic aura."

"Of course, because you don't have the eyes of a demon. Only the eyes of a demon can see demonic energy," Crimson said. "Oh, no. Strictly speaking, you do have demonic eyes, and that stupid dragon's eyes can too. It's just that this guy isn't willing to help you right now. Sigh, I guess I'll have to use my power."

?

Wait, what's with this sudden tea aroma? And how did it also inadvertently kick another powerful demon?

"I'm not doing this deal with you to listen to your nonsense," Shi Yan said impatiently. "Are you going to tell me or not?"

"Two methods." Scarlet finally cut to the chase. "The first is to look through my scarlet."

Use scarlet to see?

"You mean, use your primordial flame as a medium, like glasses?" Shi Yan asked.

"Hmm..." Crimson pondered for a moment, "What do 'medium' and 'glasses' mean?"

Shi Yan: "..."

"It's basically just putting my scarlet color right in front of you," Scarlet said. "Can't you even understand something as simple as that?"

Who exactly can't understand this...?

Shi Yan sighed, but at least he understood. Wasn't this just like those tomb raiding novels where you smear horse urine or cow blood on your eyes to see ghosts?

...Could this tomb raiding novel also be written by one of my colleagues?

After a brief rant, Shi Yan was actually ready to give it a try, but as soon as he raised his hand, he felt something was off.

It's too conspicuous.

The crimson flame he can summon right now is just a tiny ball; it's simply unrealistic to imagine him searching for monsters all over the venue with such a small flame.

"That method won't work," Shi Yan shook his head. "What's another method?"

"Eat the scarlet."

Shi Yan was taken aback: "What?"

"Eat the crimson," Scarlet repeated. "What, is my Mandarin not standard? Can't you understand this?"

"No, you want me to swallow the flames?" Shi Yan asked warily. "Are you trying to kill me?"

Shi Yan had experienced the power of the crimson color firsthand in the consciousness space, and he didn't want to experience it again.

"What, scared?" Crimson straightened up again, looking at Shi Yan with a mixture of provocation and mockery. "When you snatched it from me, you were..."

"The transaction is cancelled." Shi Yan was too lazy to argue with Fei Hong any further. As soon as he saw Fei Hong trying to beat around the bush and talk nonsense, he simply pressed her down.

"You!" Scarlet was furious, but there was nothing she could do. She was under someone else's roof, so she could only lower her head for the time being and reluctantly explain, "My scarlet is different from the flames of you humans. This is a true, spiritual demonic fire, and it will not harm you."

Shi Yan was still skeptical: "Then why would I swallow it?"

"It will also give you some of the characteristics of a youkai," Crimson said. "Just like I said before, only the youkai eye can see youkai energy. And after you swallow it, you will become a youkai for a short time, so your eyes will naturally be youkai eyes... Hmm, it's a bit like the feeling when I possess you, but this is your own power, so it won't be affected by me."

Shi Yan realized that this was possible. In other words, after swallowing the Scarlet Essence, he could become "Little Scarlet" for a period of time.

"That seems alright." Shi Yan nodded slightly.

"Still okay?" Crimson was enraged by Yan's nonchalant tone. "What do you mean by 'still okay'? Do you know what that means? You humans, on your own, have absolutely no way to harm yokai. Especially against powerful yokai, you humans can't even exert any influence on them. And your so-called 'exorcising yokai' is nothing more than using yokai's weapons against yokai. But my Crimson is different. As long as you can defeat it, it can help you kill any yokai. Remember, any!"

"Okay, I understand. That's really amazing."

Shi Yan read the text aloud without any emotion, which infuriated Fei Hong to the point of being furious, but she was powerless to do anything about it.

After all that talk, it's just about swallowing fire. I thought it would be complicated, but it's completely devoid of any technical skill.

Shi Yan continued to complain in his mind, but of course, it was just a complaint. He knew that without Scarlet's "open source", he probably would never have thought of such an operation as swallowing fire.

Now that he knew the method, Shi Yan didn't delay any longer. He immediately found a secluded corner and snapped his fingers.

As crimson flames rose from his fingertips, painful memories from his previous state of consciousness flooded back.

No, don't be afraid, this is already my own strength.

Shi Yan comforted himself in this way, and then swallowed it in one gulp as if he was going to throw caution to the wind.

In that instant, the expected pain did not occur; instead, an unimaginable warmth filled the air, like a winter bonfire.

At the same time, his vision became clearer and clearer, and things he couldn't see before were rapidly coming into view—a strange, wispy black smoke.

Is this demonic energy?

Just as he was thinking this, someone tapped him on the shoulder: "Hey kid, what are you doing here?"

"Oh, I'm fine..."

Shi Yan subconsciously turned around, and then his eyes suddenly widened to their maximum size.

Because he saw a middle-aged man standing behind him, his body shrouded in black smoke and almost exuding an aura of death.

monster!

It's right in front of me like this?!

Before Shi Yan could react, the middle-aged man's hand, which had been on Shi Yan's shoulder, moved further and landed on his neck.

The middle-aged man opened his mouth, seemingly saying something, but Shi Yan couldn't hear him at all; all he could see was black smoke billowing from his mouth.

So Shi Yan instinctively threw a punch.

With a muffled thud, the middle-aged man was knocked to the ground, staring at him in shock and anger: "What are you doing?!"

What am I supposed to do? You're a monster, and you've come up to me, an exorcist, and you're asking me what I want?!

Too embarrassing!

Shi Yan had intended to say that, but at that moment, as if he had suddenly sensed something, he raised his head and looked into the building.

Then he saw that everyone within his sight—those who had been drawn to his gaze and were looking in his direction—was emanating the same dark aura as the middle-aged man.

Shi Yan was stunned.

What... they're all monsters?!