The jaws are locked down firmly, but the spirit wasn't expecting a knife in its mouth. Kuai manages to get a good angle and hits something soft inside its mouth, and the spirit immediately releases with a backward jerk of its head.

It's a persistent thing, though, and pretty quick. It snakes its way out of its burrow and around Kuai, trying to keep at his backside and out of reach of the knife. It seeks another opportunity quickly without giving Kuai too much time to think before it rears up and lunges at him, sharp jaws at the ready, needle-like legs grasping for something to cling to.