Ten Day Ultimatum

"Excellent." Qi Xia nodded. "I must survive here. If anyone gets in my way, the consequences will be severe."
This declaration struck fear into everyone present. Qi Xia's eyes bore the cold, unflinching look of a killer, leaving no doubt he wouldn’t hesitate to act.

Even Qiao Jiajin, who usually wore a perpetual smile, now looked solemn.
A question nagged at his mind—
What kind of person was Qi Xia?

With this shift in dynamics, everyone stood up and, like a flock of sheep, gathered behind the iron plate.
Seeing this, Qi Xia slowly released his grip. The middle-aged man and Specs, trembling with fear, supported each other.
Qi Xia knew he had achieved his goal. He was now the undisputed leader of this group.

"How are you going to ensure everyone survives?" asked the chubby girl.
"It can be explained in one sentence," Qi Xia replied with deliberate slowness. "The answer lies in the game of {Eagle Versus Chicken Tag}."
"Eagle... Versus Chicken Tag?" Everyone looked bewildered.

"All three roles are now filled," Qi Xia declared, extending his hand to point at the black bear looming nearby. "Eagle."
He then gestured towards the disheveled figures of the two men and five women. "Chicks."
Finally, he turned to Qiao Jiajin and said, "Mother hen."

"Mother hen, huh? F*cking hell..." Qiao Jiajin said with a look of disgust. "Can’t you call it something else?!"
Everyone began to grasp the concept.
The iron plate on the ground was exceptionally heavy. To use it effectively against the Asiatic black bear, the best strategy was to roll it along the ground. However, the plate’s limited area and poor maneuverability posed significant challenges. If the group scattered, they’d be in grave danger.

The optimal solution was for one person to maneuver the plate while the rest lined up behind it.
As everyone pondered their next move, the Asiatic black bear had already closed in, its eyes fixed solely on Qiao Jiajin.
"It’s coming!" Qi Xia alerted.

Upon hearing this, Qiao Jiajin shifted his weight back, angled his body obliquely, and pressed his shoulders firmly against the iron plate.
In the next instant, the black bear swung its thick, solid forearms, striking the plate with ferocious force.
{Clang!}
The loud bang echoed through the room as the bear’s attack was deflected. Both the bear and Qiao Jiajin staggered from the impact.

Fortunately, Qiao Jiajin had anticipated the strike and braced himself. Had he not, the blow—though blocked by the plate—might have flattened him entirely.
Seeing the danger, everyone quickly moved closer together.
Four men positioned themselves at the front, while five women stood in the back.

The middle-aged man also clung to Qi Xia’s clothes, following his lead without protest.
"Hey, Swindler Lad, how many more times do I have to keep this up...?"
Qi Xia glanced at the distant clock and replied, "Don’t worry. We only have seven minutes left."

"Seven..." Qiao Jiajin repeated, stunned. "F*ck, this is just the beginning, isn’t it?"
"The black bear’s stamina isn’t endless," Qi Xia reassured him. "I don’t think it’ll keep attacking nonstop. We just need to survive the first wave and stay alert."
The black bear adjusted its stance and began sidestepping.

Qi Xia tugged on Qiao Jiajin’s clothes, steering him to move the iron plate along the ground, mirroring the bear’s steps.
This maneuver perplexed the bear.
Despite its strength, it lacked agility. Unable to launch a sudden side attack, it lumbered along awkwardly, its massive body struggling to keep up.

But no matter where it moved, the iron plate stayed firmly in its way.
"Grrr——"
The black bear growled incessantly, having circled its targets entirely without finding an opening.

In fact, there was a simple way to counter the {Eagle Versus Chicken Tag} tactic: if the {Eagle} suddenly changed direction—say, going left after consistently moving right—the last person in the {Chicken} line would likely be caught due to inertia.
This was a strategy many had devised from playing the game as kids. Qi Xia didn’t believe the black bear would figure that out anytime soon.
Excellent... Excellent... Qi Xia muttered internally. Just keep the deadlock going like this...

Everyone lined up, gripping the clothes of the person in front. Despite the chain’s length, they maintained a safe distance from the black bear.
"Your method might actually work..." Qiao Jiajin whispered. "It's just... I’m getting tired..."
"Hold on a bit longer," Qi Xia urged. "Six minutes will pass quickly."

"But I haven’t eaten for a day and a night. I—"
"Brace yourself!" Qi Xia shouted.
Qiao Jiajin immediately adjusted his center of gravity, lowering his body in preparation for the bear’s next strike.

{Clang!!}
The impact was stronger this time, nearly knocking Qiao Jiajin over along with the plate.
"This bear really doesn’t know when to quit!" the middle-aged man shouted nervously. "Hey you! Fella up front, hold on properly!"

"Why don’t you give it a f*cking try?!" Qiao Jiajin snapped back, pain shooting through his body as if his bones were about to crack.
The black bear, frustrated that its mighty blow had failed to break the defense, paused—then began to slowly retreat.
"What’s going on?" Specs asked. "Did it give up?"

Qi Xia’s brow «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» furrowed. He had a bad feeling.
Why was it retreating?
Not good! Qi Xia realized. Without hesitation, he crouched and, with Qiao Jiajin, pressed against the iron plate. He turned to the middle-aged man and barked, "Hey! You take over the guiding!"

"Huh?"
The middle-aged man, though confused, understood the urgency. Realizing the iron plate meant survival, he quickly mimicked Qi Xia’s method, gripping the clothes of those ahead and steering the plate’s direction.
As Qi Xia had feared, the bear’s retreat wasn’t surrender—it was a tactic to build momentum for a full-on charge.

"It’s preparing to ram us," Qi Xia said, glancing at Qiao Jiajin. "If we can withstand this one, we’ll make it."
"That’s easier said than done," Qiao Jiajin muttered. "The real problem is whether we can block it."
The bear kept backing up, now nearly pressed against the wall—its next move imminent.

The middle-aged man, watching with growing dread, swallowed nervously.
The bear’s earlier attacks had already been overwhelming. Now, with a full run-up and body weight behind it... could the iron plate endure?
"Fat lou!" Qiao Jiajin called sharply, “Make sure to warn us when it charges!”

But the middle-aged man didn’t respond—his eyes darted about, lost in thought.
Then, just as the bear scrabbled its paws and began accelerating, the man made his decision. Without a word, he bolted toward the rear.
"Hey… you—!" Qiao Jiajin’s curse was cut short by the thunderous footsteps. With no time to spare, he crouched down.

In the chaos, Specs rushed closer, gripping Qi Xia’s clothes and shouting, "The direction’s off! Shift it a bit to the right!"
Qi Xia and Qiao Jiajin exchanged alarmed looks.
"It’s too late now! Hold on tight!"

As soon as the words left them, it was like being hit by a speeding truck. Their bodies, along with the iron plate, were hurled into the air, flying half a meter back before slamming into the ground.
The entire team lurched. The plate was knocked askew—then toppled, pinning both Qi Xia and Qiao Jiajin beneath it.