Chapter 42

"Ahem... Ahem..." Qiao Jiajin lay on the ground, coughing continuously, feeling as if his internal organs had been shattered.

The small glasses-wearing boy reacted quickly, immediately getting up and starting to reposition the iron plate.

"Come and help!" he shouted at the few women behind him, "If these two fall, we're all done for!"

The girls, though frightened, knew the situation was urgent. They all bent down, gritting their teeth and began moving the iron plate.

Qi Xia lay on the ground, feeling dizzy.

The black bear's attack seemed to have knocked his soul out of his body. He couldn't imagine how Qiao Jiajin had managed to withstand two attacks alone.

"I'll make that fat bastard who ran away pay..." Qiao Jiajin gritted his teeth and cursed.

"Seeking benefits and avoiding harm... it's human nature..." Qi Xia lay on the ground, muttering to himself, "The 'Memorial to General Liang Shang' says, 'When it comes to seeking benefits and avoiding harm, fearing death and loving life, it is the same for all...'"

"Did you get hit in the head?" Qiao Jiajin struggled to open his eyes and looked at Qi Xia, "What does it have to do with some general? If that sausage hadn't suddenly abandoned us, this iron plate wouldn't have fallen like this..."

At this point, the iron plate had been propped up by the girls, and the small glasses-wearing boy bent down to pull Qi Xia and Qiao Jiajin: "Guys, are you okay?"

The two stood up, weakly supporting the iron plate.

"We can't say 'okay,' we can only say 'not dead,'" Qiao Jiajin said while glancing at the black bear.

After this collision, the beast didn't look much better either. Its massive body seemed dazed, and it kept shaking its head to stay awake.

"This time, it's my turn!" the small glasses-wearing boy said, "You two go rest at the back of the group."

Saying that, he imitated Qiao Jiajin's posture, lowering his body and using his shoulder to brace the iron plate.

But the small glasses-wearing boy looked too frail. Just holding the iron plate was

extremely difficult for him. His legs trembled, and the veins on his forehead bulged.

"Damn... Is this iron plate so heavy..." He felt his posture was wrong and slightly adjusted the angle of his legs, but the iron plate didn't get any lighter.

"Bro, I'm not doubting you," Qiao Jiajin shook his head helplessly, "But if you can't hold the iron plate, standing behind it won't do us any good. We'll all die anyway."

"Maybe... maybe you should do it..." the small glasses-wearing boy smiled awkwardly and stepped aside.

At this point, the group had basically adjusted their defensive formation, and Qiao Jiajin was back to bracing the iron plate.

The black bear had also recovered. It was about to attack the iron plate again but noticed the middle-aged man standing alone.

"Shit! Lao Lu!" the small glasses-wearing boy panicked, "Come over here!"

"Hmph." Qiao Jiajin snorted, "If that fat bastard wants to go out and die, let him."

"No..." the small glasses-wearing boy's expression turned cold, "Lao Lu saved my life before. I can't just leave him!"

"You're really stupid." Qiao Jiajin said.

But before the small glasses-wearing boy could come up with a way to save Lao Lu, the black bear was already blocking the path between the group and Lao Lu.

It seemed to understand that if Lao Lu hid behind the iron plate, it would have no chance of killing him.

The small glasses-wearing boy looked very anxious. After a long pause, he turned to Qi Xia and said, "Can you save Lao Lu?!"

Qi Xia's eyes turned cold, and he said, "Sure, go save him. I won't stop you."

"I... I can't... I want to ask you to help..." the small glasses-wearing boy trembled, "You look like a strong person. Can you help me..."

"No." Qi Xia said without hesitation, "If you want to go, go yourself."

The small glasses-wearing boy wanted to say something more but realized he had no good reason to ask a stranger to risk his life.

After much thought, he could only grit his teeth and say, "Alright... I'll go save him..."

He slowly let go of Qi Xia's clothes and stared at the black bear.

Then, the small glasses-wearing boy took three comical deep breaths, shouted to boost his courage, and stomped his right foot on the ground, ready to charge at the black bear.

Just as he was about to, Qi Xia reached out and stopped him.

"Whoa... What are you doing?!" the small glasses-wearing boy was startled, almost twisting his waist, "What's the matter?!"

"You'll die. Aren't you afraid?" Qi Xia asked slowly.

"Am I not afraid?!" the small glasses-wearing boy was almost in tears, "But I can't just watch Lao Lu die!"

"Since that's the case, let's make a deal." Qi Xia stared at the black bear and said, "If I can keep you alive in this game, your 'Dao' will belong to me."

"Huh?" The small glasses-wearing boy didn't expect Qi Xia to suddenly make such a demand and didn't know how to respond.

"Of course, if you don't agree, you can go save him yourself."

Qi Xia's tone was firm, leaving the small glasses-wearing boy in a dilemma.

He and Lao Lu had risked their lives to participate in this game but hadn't gained a single 'Dao.' What was the point of all this?

"I can only promise to give you my 'Dao,' but Lao Lu's..." the small glasses-wearing boy said hesitantly, "I don't know if he'll agree."

"Then you vouch for him." Qi Xia said, "You two are together, right?"

"I... I..." The small glasses-wearing boy thought for a long time and decided that life was more important than 'Dao,' "Alright... I'll vouch for him. If we both survive, our 'Dao' will belong to you."

"Good." Qi Xia nodded, "Take off your shoes and give them to me."

"What?"

"Your shoes." Qi Xia repeated.

The small glasses-wearing boy didn't know what he was going to do, but quickly took off his dirty sneakers and handed them to Qi Xia.

"Hunting rules, animals are sensitive..." Qi Xia silently recited, "First taboo: attacking from behind."

Qi Xia weighed one of the sneakers in his hand, then took a step forward and threw it with all his strength, hitting the black bear's back.

The black bear was startled, its entire body trembling as it quickly turned around to look around.

"Second taboo: injuring the nose."

Qi Xia picked up the other sneaker and threw it hard at the black bear's face.

The sneaker hit the black bear's nose, not with much force, but it made the bear stagger.

The black bear was enraged again, completely ignoring Lao Lu and charging straight at Qi Xia.

Qi Xia reacted quickly, pulling Qiao Jiajin's clothes and adjusting the direction of the iron plate.

The black bear's attack this time seemed uncoordinated, simply using its front paws to hit the iron plate.

Once, twice, three times.

Although it roared wildly, the power of these attacks was clearly not as strong as before, and they were all blocked by Qiao Jiajin and the iron plate.

Lao Lu also ran over in a panic and joined the group.