Narukami Shrine.
The night breeze was cool, yet the atmosphere was unbearably heavy.
Kitsune Saiguu, Yae Miko, and Hanachirusato all cast complicated glances toward Mikoshi Chiyo.
From Chiyo's flustered, indignant words, they all caught the same key phrases at once: "so many people watching,""so impatient."
Which meant only one thing.
Chiyo hadn't refused.
The realization made all three of them grow suspicious as they looked back and forth between Lin Mo and Chiyo.
Each of them pondered the same question: that beautiful drunken "accident" all those years ago—was it truly an accident… or something that happened when emotions overflowed and restraint failed?
"Ah! This is all your fault!"
Mikoshi Chiyo stomped her foot in embarrassment, cheeks burning as she snapped, "How am I supposed to face everyone after this?!"
"Alright, be good. Stay still in my arms," Lin Mo said casually, paying no mind to the others' gazes.
He sat down and pulled Chiyo back against his chest, her soft, delicate body nestled securely in his embrace.
Those gentle words were like the most effective weapon.
Chiyo's resistance melted away at once. She relaxed completely, curling up in his arms and letting him do as he pleased.
At that moment, a rock-element tool blade shimmered into Lin Mo's hand.
Shhk!
The blade swept through the air.
Chiyo's empty sleeve was cleanly severed and fluttered to the ground.
As the fabric fell away, her smooth, pale shoulder was revealed to everyone present.
Yet Lin Mo's eyes darkened with pain.
Beneath that alluring shoulder, her slender, fair arm was gone.
"…Will it hurt?"
Chiyo looked at Lin Mo with trembling eyes, asking cautiously.
As a former oni general, hardened by countless battles, how could she truly fear pain?
This was nothing more than a girl's instinctive softness when facing the one she loved.
Lin Mo didn't answer.
He simply stared at the severed end, resolve flashing in his eyes.
The next instant, he raised the blade high overhead.
Everyone realized what he was about to do.
He was going to cut again—right through the already severed limb.
Chiyo shut her eyes tightly, clutching Lin Mo's thigh in nervous anticipation.
Splurt!
The blade fell.
Blood sprayed.
Unable to bear the sight, everyone turned their heads away from the brutal scene.
"Sa… Saeyuri… it hurts…"
Chiyo pressed herself against Lin Mo's chest, her voice trembling.
Tears shimmered at the corners of her eyes—so pitiful it tugged at the heart.
"Hang in there, Chiyo. The procedure will be over soon," Lin Mo said gently.
As he spoke, he carefully placed the prepared arm against Chiyo's bleeding wound.
The moment it made contact, it was as if the limb gained life.
It adhered tightly to her body.
At the junction, the flesh writhed faintly, as though sealing the wound and adapting to its new host.
"It… it hurts… and it's itchy…"
Chiyo bit her lower lip, shrinking deeper into Lin Mo's embrace.
The slender hand that had been gripping his thigh now clawed at his chest instead, her sharp nails nearly digging into his skin.
"Chiyo, endure it a little longer," Lin Mo murmured, stroking her back soothingly.
"The arm needs some time to fully adapt."
Chiyo nodded lightly, teeth clenched, gazing up at him with watery eyes as she spoke in a quivering voice,
"As long as Saeyuri is here… this much pain… Chiyo can endure it."
The scene left everyone utterly baffled.
When she'd been cut just moments earlier, Chiyo hadn't even frowned—only belatedly forcing a pained expression.
And now?
Curled in Lin Mo's warm arms, basking in his gentle touch and tender words…
Everyone realized it at once.
Mikoshi Chiyo was absolutely pretending to be pitiful.
Yae Miko, at least, could tolerate it.
She knew Lin Mo probably fell for this kind of thing.
Quietly, she made a mental note—perhaps it would come in handy someday.
But Kitsune Saiguu?
She couldn't stand it anymore.
"Ahem!"
She coughed sharply, coldly saying, "Chiyo, that's enough. I'm still right here."
"When you were swallowed by a demon beast back then, you tore your way out laughing and asked us if you were amazing."
"When the Shogun severed your arm, you didn't make a sound."
"And now you're acting like this over a simple procedure?"
"…B-but… it really feels awful…"
Chiyo replied, still wearing that pitiful expression.
Yet, from an angle Lin Mo couldn't see, she shot Kitsune Saiguu a smug, triumphant glance.
"You—!"
Kitsune Saiguu was about to step forward in fury when Yae Miko grabbed her arm and sighed wryly.
"The procedure isn't over yet. Let it go for now."
"Saeyuri!"
Kitsune Saiguu blurted out angrily.
"Chiyo is clearly faking it! She's playing on your sympathy!"
Her expression practically screamed it:
This so-called best friend of mine is a green tea schemer! Stay away from her!
But Lin Mo didn't turn around.
His attention remained fixed on the interface of the arm, observing its changes closely.
…Green tea?
How could Mikoshi Chiyo be green tea?
She was obviously my delicate, pitiful, clingy, thoughtful little sister!
Seeing that the arm had stopped changing, Lin Mo finally looked up at Chiyo, who was gazing at him with unmistakable affection.
"It should be about done," he said softly.
"Mm… it doesn't hurt anymore. It just feels really itchy,"
Chiyo nodded, then once again put on that pitiful look and said sweetly,
"Saeyuri, help me rub it~"
Kitsune Saiguu snapped.
She stepped forward immediately, bristling with menace.
"I'll do it! Trust me—my nails are very sharp. I'll make sure you feel very comfortable!"
Chiyo reacted like a startled rabbit.
She instantly jumped out of Lin Mo's arms, darted behind him, and stuck her tongue out playfully at Kitsune Saiguu.
"Bleh~"
"When you're not around next time, I'll have Saeyuri rub it for me~"
Then she looked straight at Lin Mo and said in a syrupy voice,
"Saeyuri, you won't refuse Chiyo's little request, right~?"
Kitsune Saiguu's fist clenched so tightly it creaked.
She decided then and there—she had to make this vixen understand that Saeyuri was a man with a girlfriend!
"Alright, alright—everyone calm down,"
Lin Mo quickly raised his hand, stepping between them.
"We're all here now. Only Ei is missing," he said.
"Let's go find her together."
"If she sees all of you… she'll probably be very happy too, won't she?"
--------
T/N:
You'll also get 5 extra chapters just for being a free member!
Access 40 chapters in advance on my Patreon : [email protected]/furinaimpact