"Huh?" Yanyanluo had never expected him to say something like that, and for a moment, she had no idea how to respond.
"Since we're friends for life, I'll get straight to the point!" Fire God smiled at Yanyanluo and said, "I need to borrow Brother Jin Jianglang for a bit. I'll return him to you soon."
"Borrow... Jin Jianglang?" Yanyanluo tilted her ear to listen, looking puzzled. "He belongs to the Shiranui Household. If you need him, you shouldn't have to ask me..."
"I didn't before, but now I have to ask my sister-in-law."
At the words "sister-in-law," Yanyanluo's face flushed bright red.
Her cheeks had always been pale, and that blush only made her look more captivating.
"Fire God, what are you up to?" Jin Jianglang asked in confusion.
"Um... Brother, come outside with me for a moment."
Fire God released Yanyanluo's hand, took hold of Jin Jianglang, and dragged him out of the house. They walked several hundred paces before slowly coming to a stop.
"What is it?" Jin Jianglang asked.
Fire God hesitated for a long time before saying, "Brother, Tsuchimikado Itsuki came to the household."
"Tsuchimikado Itsuki?" Jin Jianglang's eyes narrowed at once. "Did he come looking for me?"
"Yes." Fire God nodded. "They said you killed members of the Tsuchimikado Household without any cause, all for a monster. The patriarch is furious and wants you to return immediately."
Jin Jianglang turned to look at Fire God and asked, "Do you believe them?"
"I held Yanyanluo's hand and sensed everything about her, so I don't believe what the Tsuchimikado Household said." Fire God held out his hand and examined the scabs on it. "Her 'lines' are very clean. There must be more to this, and only you can go back and explain it now."
Jin Jianglang