"Lingyun," I hissed, but he was already moving.
Fire hit the ground before the thin line beneath the soil could travel more than a few inches. The grass blackened instantly, curling in on itself as the flames spread around the man's boots. Yuche jerked the metal bands upward at the same time, lifting him clear of the yard before the fire reached his legs.
The man shouted as his feet left the ground. "What the hell are you doing?"
"Saving your shoes," I replied, my expression void of emotion. This... whatever it was was really not on my bingo card for the first year of the apocalypse. And for some reason, I don't remember this happening in my last life. "You're welcome," I continued after a moment, still lost in thought.
Yuche dragged him back onto the porch and lowered him beside the door. His wife reached for him, but Chenghai stepped between them before her hand made contact.
"Don't," he warned.
