Ten Day Ultimatum

"Wait a minute..." Qi Xia furrowed his brow, a thought suddenly striking him. "We have to resist the enemy and protect our own people?"

Such a situation sounded oddly familiar.
That's it!... There really is a way. Qi Xia ran to the iron plate, lifted the heavy object, and slowly rolled it along the ground, testing the feasibility of his plan.
"Hey! Qiao Jiajin!" Qi Xia shouted. "I've figured out the {solution}! Come over here!"

"I’ve been waiting for you to say that," Qiao Jiajin replied. "Just give me a moment."
The black bear, sensing its {prey} attempting to escape, reared up on its hind legs to expand its offensive range. But Qiao Jiajin had no intention of fleeing. He lunged forward, planted his feet firmly, and used the momentum from his waist to deliver a powerful punch. His right hand swung in a full 180-degree arc, striking the black bear squarely on the cheek.
{Bang!}

The impact of the punch echoed through the arena, and the black bear staggered backward, taking a step and a half away from Qiao Jiajin.
The black bear hesitated for a moment, its nostrils flaring with hot air as it shook its head, visibly disoriented from the unexpected blow. It had clearly underestimated the explosive power of the {prey} it had been chasing.
Qiao Jiajin, wincing from the jolt to his arm, muttered through gritted teeth, "Durable for a dumbass..."

The black bear quickly regained its composure, mouth opening in a series of enraged roars. With its pride wounded, it lunged again, swinging its massive forearm in a furious retaliation.
Qiao Jiajin watched the bear's movements intently, stepping back slightly with his right foot to evade the attack. He then pivoted on his left foot, shifting his center of gravity—not only to dodge the blow but also to destabilize the bear, nearly making it lose its footing.
Seizing the opportunity, Qiao Jiajin bent his knees, his form coiling like a spring. He unleashed a powerful uppercut, his fist striking the bear’s jaw with a resounding thud.

A peculiar wail erupted from the black bear as it took yet another punch. Although the thick hide rendered the blow largely ineffective, it was evident the creature was beginning to regard Qiao Jiajin with trepidation.
"Dammit, my hand feels like it's going to break. Why haven’t you passed out yet?" Qiao Jiajin spat on the ground, then rolled forward and swiftly evaded the bear.
Qi Xia, observing from the side, was momentarily stunned. He had initially perceived Qiao Jiajin as nothing more than a common hoodlum, but this display of skill was anything but ordinary. The precision and technique resembled those of a trained mixed martial artist rather than a street brawler.

Qiao Jiajin approached Qi Xia, flicking his right wrist as he asked, "So, what's the plan?"
"Come here!" Qi Xia snapped out of his thoughts and gestured for Qiao Jiajin to come closer. "You hold this iron plate to block the black bear's attacks."
"That's it?" Qiao Jiajin was puzzled. "Are you out of your mind, Swindler Lad? I thought you had a better idea!"

"No, this is the most optimal idea!" Qi Xia insisted, pulling Qiao Jiajin in front of him and making him hold the iron plate.
However, the round iron plate wasn't stable on the ground and tended to roll. Qiao Jiajin lowered his body, using his shoulders to hold it steady. "This thing is heavy," he gritted his teeth. ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) "I can't lift it."
"You don't need to lift it," Qi Xia explained. "Just let it roll on the ground!"
"Fuck, I get it, but I can’t see the beast," Qiao Jiajin said, frustration in his voice. "This big iron plate blocks my view. I can’t tell where it is. How am I supposed to defend?"

The black bear, growing angrier by the moment, cautiously approached Qiao Jiajin.
"I’ll watch it for you," Qi Xia said, positioning himself behind him.
"You?"

"Yes. I’ll pull your clothing from behind," Qi Xia elaborated. "A tug to the right means roll the plate right; a pull to the left means roll it left."
"Okay..." Qiao Jiajin nodded, adjusting the direction of the plate to face the bear as much as possible. "This way, we might make it out... I just hope those lan-joengs don’t try to grab the plate."
"They won’t," Qi Xia said firmly. "Because my intention is to ensure everyone here survives."

"What?!" Qiao Jiajin exclaimed, stunned. "You plan to shield everyone with this iron plate?!"
"Listen up!" Qi Xia shouted to the group fighting nearby. "If you keep squabbling, you’re all as good as dead. If you want to live, get behind me."
Everyone snapped out of their panic at his words, glancing between him and the iron plate in Qiao Jiajin’s grasp.

The middle-aged man stood up first, wiping the blood from his face, scratched in the scuffle. "You two guā-pí[1], put down that iron plate!" He stumbled toward Qiao Jiajin, intent on reclaiming it, but Qiao Jiajin wouldn't yield. With his hands occupied, he could only glare.
Qi Xia stepped forward, positioning himself between them.
"Hey! Get out of the way!" the man shouted. "Specs! Come and help!"

Qi Xia's thoughts whirled, a clear principle crystallizing: The 80/20 rule dictates that authority and decision-making power is typically held by a mere 20% of the populace. To dominate a group, one must seize control of its core members...
Before the man could rally his companions, Qi Xia moved swiftly, clamping a hand around his neck with surprising force.
The man, caught off guard by the fierce demeanor of the seemingly refined Qi Xia, was momentarily stunned into silence.

"Stop." Qi Xia commanded, his voice steady and unyielding. "If you want to live, listen to me."
"Listen to you?!" The man’s eyes blazed. "Who do you think you are? Why should I listen to you?"
Qi Xia's grip tightened, his right hand exerting steady, unrelenting pressure. "This is not up for debate."

Qiao Jiajin frowned. He’d always thought Qi Xia was intelligent, and following him might mean survival—but he hadn’t expected such a ruthless side.
"Cough... let go..." the man gasped, struggling for breath as he hit Qi Xia’s arm. "Are you insane..."
"Either I strangle you to death here, or you stand behind me obediently," Qi Xia said, eyes devoid of emotion. "Choose one."

Seeing this, Specs hurried over and said in a pleading tone: "Da ge[2] ah... Come on, don’t be like that... How about letting Ole Lu go first..."
Despite his words, Specs adjusted his stance, inching closer to Qi Xia step by step.
Qi Xia glanced at him, noting the broken lens of his glasses, giving him a disheveled look. Law of the Jungle… Qi Xia's gaze stayed fixed. The hunter is always more ruthless than the prey. No matter how clever the prey may be, it has its vulnerabilities...

"Da ge, please release him... or else..." Specs continued, inching closer, intentions becoming increasingly clear.
Qi Xia’s expression turned colder. With his free hand, he reached out—not to strangle, but to grip Specs by the cheek, pressing his thumb against the shattered lens.
"Damn it!" Specs exclaimed, quickly closing his eyes.

"If you intend to cause trouble, I’ll grind this broken glass into your eye."
"No no no!..." Specs frantically waved his hands. Half-crouching, he tilted his head, too terrified to move. "I was wrong! I was wrong! Da ge, we’ll do whatever you say."