“Wait a minute…” Qi Xia frowned, as if realizing something. “Fight off the enemy while protecting our own people?”
That sounds like a very familiar situation.
Got it… This time, there really is a way.
Qi Xia ran to the iron plate, lifted the heavy object, and slowly rolled it on the ground, as if testing the feasibility of his plan.
“Hey! Qiao Jiajin!” Qi Xia shouted. “I’ve found the ‘answer’! Come here!”
“I’ve been waiting for you to say that for a long time,” Qiao Jiajin replied calmly. “Hold on, I’m coming.”
The black bear vaguely sensed that its “prey” was trying to escape, so it stood up on its hind legs again, widening its attack range.
But Qiao Jiajin had no intention of running. Instead, he suddenly took a leap forward, planting his feet firmly, twisting his waist to generate power, and delivered a 180-degree rotating punch straight to the bear’s cheek.
**BAM!**
A loud impact echoed as the punch landed squarely on the bear’s face, actually forcing it to stagger back a step and a half.
The bear froze momentarily, its nostrils flaring with hot breaths, then shook its head as if disoriented by the sudden, powerful blow.
It had never expected this fleeing “prey” to possess such terrifying explosive strength.
Qiao Jiajin also shook his aching arm, cursing under his breath. “Damn, you’re one tough bastard…”
Snapping out of its daze, the bear roared furiously and swung its massive paw downward.
Qiao Jiajin focused closely on its movements, taking a small backward step with his right foot before shifting his weight fluidly to evade the attack—not only dodging but also causing the bear to lose balance and nearly topple over.
Seizing the moment, he crouched slightly and launched an uppercut from below, smashing it directly into the bear’s jaw.
A strange howl erupted as the bear took yet another hit.
Though the damage barely fazed its thick hide, the beast was now visibly wary of the man before it.
“Dang it, my hand’s about to break, and you still won’t go down?” Qiao Jiajin spat on the ground, then rolled forward to slip past the bear.
Watching this, Qi Xia was momentarily stunned. He had assumed Qiao Jiajin was just some street thug, but the man’s combat skills were undeniably formidable.
His moves weren’t just brawling—they resembled professional mixed martial arts.
Qiao Jiajin reached Qi Xia’s side, shaking out his right hand as he asked, “So, what’s the plan?”
“You take this!” Qi Xia snapped back to reality and beckoned him over. “Use this iron plate to block the bear’s attacks.”
“That’s it?” Qiao Jiajin frowned. “Are you out of your mind, liar? I thought you’d have a better idea!”
“No, this *is* the best idea!” Qi Xia pulled him forward and positioned him to hold the plate.
But the plate was round and unstable on the ground, prone to rolling.
Qiao Jiajin had to crouch low, bracing it with his shoulder to steady it as much as possible.
“This thing’s heavy as hell…” He gritted his teeth. “I can’t lift it…”
“You don’t need to lift it,” Qi Xia explained. “Just roll it on the ground!”
“Rot in Hell! I get it, but I won’t be able to see the damn beast like this.” Qiao Jiajin grumbled. “This hunk of metal blocks my view—how am I supposed to block its attacks if I don’t even know where it is?”
Meanwhile, the bear, now seething with rage, cautiously advanced toward them.
“I’ll guide you.” Qi Xia stood behind him.
“You?”
“Exactly. I’ll pull your clothes from behind—if I tug right, you roll the plate right. Left, you roll left.”
“Fine…” Qiao Jiajin nodded, adjusting the plate’s angle to face the bear. “With this, we might just survive… though I wonder if those idiots will try to steal the plate.”
“They won’t,” Qi Xia said firmly. “Because I’m going to protect everyone here.”
“What the—?” Qiao Jiajin blinked. “You’re gonna shield *everyone* with this thing?!”
“Hey!” Qi Xia turned and shouted at the brawling crowd. “If you keep fighting, you’ll die for real. If you want to live, get behind me!”
The group paused, looking at him—then at the iron plate in Qiao Jiajin’s hands.
The middle-aged man was the first to stand, wiping blood from his scratched face. “You two morons, put that damn plate down!”
Staggering forward, he lunged to snatch it back, but Qiao Jiajin couldn’t let go—he could only glare at him.
Qi Xia stepped between them.
“Move!” the man bellowed. “Four-Eyes! Get over here and help!”
A thought flashed through Qi Xia’s mind: *The 80/20 rule—control is held by the decisive few. To command a group, you only need to dominate its key figures…*
Before the man could rally his allies, Qi Xia suddenly seized his throat in a vice-like grip.
The man froze, stunned by the seemingly mild-mannered man’s brutality.
“Enough,” Qi Xia said coldly. “If you want to live, you’ll listen to me.”
“Listen to *you*?!” The man’s eyes burned with fury. “Who the hell do you think you are?”
Qi Xia tightened his grip. “This isn’t a negotiation.”
Watching him, Qiao Jiajin furrowed his brows.
He’d thought Qi Xia was just smart—someone worth following for survival. He hadn’t expected such ruthlessness.
“Cough—! L-Let go…!” The man gasped, pounding weakly at Qi Xia’s arm. “Are you insane…?”
“Either I choke you to death here, or you stand down and get behind us.” Qi Xia’s gaze was icy, devoid of emotion. “Pick one.”
Four-Eyes rushed over, pleading, “Boss, c’mon—no need for this! Just let Old Lü go…”
Despite his words, he subtly repositioned himself, edging closer to Qi Xia’s flank.
Qi Xia sized him up—his glasses were shattered on one side from the earlier scuffle, making him look disheveled.
*Predator’s rule…* Qi Xia’s mind raced. *The hunter must be fiercer than the prey. No matter how cunning, every prey has a weakness…*
“Boss, just release him, alright? Otherwise—”
Four-Eyes inched forward, clearly plotting something.
In a flash, Qi Xia’s free hand shot out—not for the throat this time, but the man’s face, his thumb pressing against the broken lens.
“Shit!” Four-Eyes yelped, squeezing his eyes shut.
“Try anything, and I’ll grind this glass into your eye.”
“No, no, no—!” The man flailed, frozen in a half-crouch, head tilted back in terror. “I yield! I yield! We’ll do whatever you say!”
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