The masked assailant stiffened for a second, caught off guard by Xu Qi's audacity.
Feeling Xu Qi's hand sinking into her skin, her fiery qi flared violently in response. His touch made her shiver uncontrollably as if she had been grasped by something she couldn't resist.
But before he could be hit by her retaliation, Xu Qi twisted his body, using the momentum to spin her off balance and create some space between them.
"Let go!" Albeit late, she hissed, her voice trembling with a mix of fury and disbelief.
Xu Qi released her with a graceful flourish, stepping back with an exaggerated bow as if he had just concluded a formal dance.
Stepping back gracefully, he twirled his fan open once more, its tassels catching the flickering light from the dissipating flames.
The way he did that was so practiced. Anyone would be fooled.