Chapter 40: The 80/20 Rule
"Wait..." Qi Xia frowned, as if something had occurred to him. "We have to both resist the enemy AND protect our own people?"
It sounded like a very familiar situation.
Wait... this time there really was a way.
Qi Xia ran over to the iron plate, lifted the heavy object, and slowly rolled it across the ground, as if testing the feasibility of his plan.
"Hey! Qiao Jiajin!" Qi Xia called out. "I found the 'answer'! Get over here!"
"I've been waiting a long time to hear that," Qiao Jiajin said slowly. "Hold on, I'm coming right away."
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 away. He suddenly leaped forward, feet apart, shoulders moving with his waist, and his right fist spun one hundred and eighty degrees toward the black bear's cheek.
*Bang!*
A loud crash. The punch landed squarely on the black bear's face, actually knocking it back a step and a half.
The black bear paused for a moment, snorting hot air from its nose, then shook its head, seeming a bit dazed from the sudden blow.
It had never imagined that this 'prey,' which had been running away all along, possessed such terrifying explosive power.
Qiao Jiajin also shook his arm, which was throbbing from the impact, and cursed, "You dumb beast, you're pretty tough..."
The black bear came to its senses, opened its mouth and roared a few times, then swung down again in fury.
Qiao Jiajin watched the creature's movements closely. He took a small step back with his right foot, then shifted his weight between his feet, not only dodging the attack but also causing the black bear to lose its balance and nearly fall forward.
Seizing the opportunity, he ducked slightly and threw an uppercut from below, striking the black bear squarely on the jaw.
A strange, pained howl rang out. The black bear had taken another punch.
Although this kind of damage posed no real threat to its thick hide, it had indeed grown somewhat wary of the man before it.
"Damn it, my hand's about to break, and you still won't pass out?" Qiao Jiajin spat on the ground, then did a forward roll and slid away from the black bear.
Qi Xia was slightly stunned by this scene. He had thought Qiao Jiajin was just an ordinary thug, but it seemed the man's fighting ability was extremely formidable.
Every move he made didn't look like street fighting—it looked more like mixed martial arts.
Qiao Jiajin came up to Qi Xia, shaking his right hand as he asked, "What do we need to do?"
"You!" Qi Xia snapped back to reality and waved at Qiao Jiajin. "Use this iron plate as a barrier to block the black bear's attacks."
"That's it?" Qiao Jiajin was confused. "Sneaky guy, have you lost your mind? I thought you'd have a better idea!"
"No, this IS the best idea!" Qi Xia pulled Qiao Jiajin in front of him and made him hold the iron plate.
But the plate was round, so it wasn't stable on the ground and easily rolled.
Qiao Jiajin had to lower himself and brace the plate with his shoulder, trying to keep it steady.
"This thing is really heavy..." Qiao Jiajin gritted his teeth. "I can't lift it..."
"You don't need to lift it," Qi Xia explained. "Just roll it on the ground!"
"All right, I get that, but then I can't see that beast," Qiao Jiajin said. "This big iron plate blocks my view. I have no idea where it is—how am I supposed to block its attacks?"
By now, the black bear was getting angrier and began cautiously moving toward Qiao Jiajin.
"I'll watch for you," Qi Xia said, standing behind Qiao Jiajin.
"You?"
"That's right. I'll grab your clothes from behind," Qi Xia said. "If I pull right, you roll the plate right. If I pull left, you roll it left."
"Alright..." Qiao Jiajin nodded and started adjusting the plate's direction, making sure it was facing the black bear. "Thinking about it like this, we probably won't die... just not sure if those bastards over there will try to take the plate."
"They won't," Qi Xia said. "Because I'm going to keep everyone here alive."
"What are you on about?" Qiao Jiajin was taken aback. "You're going to use this iron plate to protect ALL of them?!"
"Hey!" Qi Xia turned and shouted at the group still locked in a brawl. "If you keep fighting, you're really going to die. If you don't want to die, get behind me."
Hearing Qi Xia's words, everyone stopped and looked at him, then at the iron plate in Qiao Jiajin's hands.
The middle-aged man stood up first, wiping his face that had been scratched by someone during the scuffle. "You two idiots, put that plate down!"
He staggered toward Qiao Jiajin, trying to take the plate back, but Qiao Jiajin couldn't let go and could only glare at him.
Qi Xia stepped forward, positioning himself between them.
"Hey! Get out of the way!" the middle-aged man shouted. "Glasses! Come help!"
Qi Xia's mind raced. A voice echoed in his head: *The 80/20 Rule—decision-making power often lies in the hands of just twenty percent of the people. To control a group, you only need to control the few...*
Before the middle-aged man could call for backup, Qi Xia suddenly reached out and grabbed his throat tightly.
The man never expected that this seemingly refined guy would be so ruthless; he froze for a moment.
"Don't make a scene," Qi Xia said. "If you want to live, listen to me."
"Listen to you?!" The middle-aged man's eyes burned with anger. "Who the hell do you think you are? Why should I listen to you?"
Qi Xia's right hand tightened, his grip locking hard on the man's windpipe. "I'm not negotiating with you."
Seeing Qi Xia's actions, Qiao Jiajin couldn't help but frown.
He had only thought Qi Xia was smart, and following him might give them a slim chance of survival—he never expected the man could be so ruthless.
"Cough... you... let go..." The middle-aged man was starting to choke, flailing his arms and pounding Qi Xia's arm. "Are you crazy..."
"Either let me choke you to death here, or stand the hell behind me," Qi Xia said, his eyes as cold as ice, as if devoid of all emotion. "Pick one."
Seeing this, Glasses rushed over, his tone pleading. "Brother... no need for that... no need... just let Old Lü go..."
Even as he spoke, he subtly adjusted his position, moving to Qi Xia's side and edging closer step by step.
Qi Xia quickly sized him up. One side of his glasses had been shattered during the fight, making him look somewhat ragged.
"The law of the hunt..." Qi Xia's eyes locked onto the two men. He murmured inwardly, *The hunter must always be more ferocious than the prey. Even the craftiest prey has its weak points and vital spots...*
"Brother, let him go first... or else..."
Glasses kept inching toward Qi Xia, clearly planning something.
Qi Xia's expression turned cold. He reached out with his other hand, but instead of grabbing the man's neck, he pinched his cheek, pressing his thumb against the broken glasses.
"Whoa!" Glasses yelped and squeezed his eyes shut.
"If you want to cause trouble too, I'll grind those glass shards into your eyes."
"No, no, no...!" Glasses waved his hands frantically. He was half-crouching, tilting his head up, not daring to move a muscle. "I was wrong, I was wrong, big bro. We'll do whatever you say."