Human features, a face covered in hard scales, with nothing that could be called skin. Coarse, tangled hair resembled a clump of seaweed, and his expression was far more beast than human, his dark yellow eyes cold and frenzied.
Those eyes could probably see everything in the dark water. A transparent membrane covered them, keeping out the drifting sediment.
Farther down were likewise human arms, chest, and abdomen, but all covered in large, hard scales, with fins on the elbows and between the fingers. His sharp claws resembled daggers.
Then came the source of the scales Pei Ye had felt against him-a long, thick tail, powerful enough to propel that body through the water.
If Xiye was the first Merfolk Pei Ye had ever seen, then the figure before him had far less of the "human" about him, but he was undoubtedly still one of the strange creatures bearing that legendary name.
A Merfolk.
An adult Merfolk.
Chen Renzhong had seemed to be transforming toward this form that day. Now a genuine specimen had appeared before him.
Even the Vermilion Lotus Flame in his throat had not killed him instantly. His daggerlike claws still dug deep into Pei Ye's flesh and bone, while his other claw reached for Pei Ye's throat as he roared.
Pei Ye was hesitating over whether to keep him alive and use False Edict when the black cat beside him said coldly, "Kill it immediately."
Pei Ye hesitated no longer. A horizontal sweep of the Jade Tiger severed the reaching claws. He twisted back to seize the forearm gripping his shoulder. This time he did not lose the contest of sheer strength. Pinning down the great tail sweeping across at him, he cut off its entire head with his sword.
A great cloud of blood billowed