Death!
The moment he finished speaking, one of Ye Yan's attacks shot straight at Xu Zhi's face. Contrary to her usual behavior, Xu Zhi neither dodged nor raised her blade to block. She merely turned slightly, avoiding the fatal spot and letting the attack land on her left shoulder. Instead, she stepped forward, closing the distance until she stood directly before Ye Yan.
When barely a meter remained between them, Xu Zhi's left shoulder suddenly seemed to be struck by an invisible blade. Blood sprayed from the wound. Ye Yan had shown no mercy; the force of his attack had nearly cleaved her shoulder in half. Yet despite suffering such a severe injury, Xu Zhi did not hesitate in the slightest. She moved closer, then raised her right hand and pressed it onto Ye Yan's head.
Ye Yan was young, and his poor nutrition during childhood had left him a full head shorter than Xu Zhi. As such, it took little effort for her to seize the opportunity and place her hand atop his head.
The difficult part came next.
Xu Zhi's five fingers clamped down hard around Ye Yan's head. It was only thanks to Ye Yan's ability and the combined weakening from his companions that she could not use her full strength—otherwise, she might have crushed his skull outright. Even so, his head visibly deformed beneath her grip.
The pain was self-evident. Ye Yan immediately wanted to cut off Xu Zhi's hand and get away, but before he could raise his arm, Xu Zhi gripped his head tightly and forced him to look up into her eyes.
And in that instant, Ye Yan saw a pair of gray eyes—and gray moths flying out from their depths.
Ye Yan's struggles instantly ceased. Not because he no longer wanted to