Ten Day Ultimatum

Chapter 448: Big Dipper

“Ning Eighteen, did you happen upon something?” Bai Nine asked from atop the wheelbarrow.

“Nine jie, I can’t say for sure,” Ning Eighteen shook her head. “It’s only a tentative guess; we must make haste.”

“Make haste?” Qiao Jiajin frowned. “Isn’t our time supposed to be evenly distributed for each round?”

“I wish it were that simple,” Ning Eighteen replied, shaking her head. She closed her eyes and muttered quietly to herself. “This Terrestrial Horse is far more ruthless than we imagined.”

“Ruthless?” Bai Nine frowned.

“She’s misled us,” Ning Eighteen said. “Nine jie, her game isn’t just about Zhuge Liang’s {Wooden Ox and Flowing Horse}. It also involves another of Zhuge Liang’s specialties.”

“What is it?”

Ning Eighteen exhaled slowly. “Astronomical observatory.”

Seeing the confusion on everyone’s faces, she explained, “The {War Conqueror Star} is the seventh star of the Big Dipper. It is associated with waste, and governs husbands, children, and servants. In the military, it represents the death squads and vanguard units, charging into battle to achieve victory—but inherently dangerous, inevitably causing casualties. Being associated with water also makes it fragile... which explains the {ice ball} that shatters at the slightest touch.”

Only then did the rest of the {Cats} recall that Ning Eighteen had mentioned her study of {Purple Star Astrology}. Yet in {End Point}, whether day or night, no stars were visible in the sky.

It was unlikely that even Ning Eighteen herself expected her leisurely pursuit of astronomy to come in handy during a Terrestrial Horse’s game.

Qiao Jiajin moved towards the wheelbarrow once more and, moving forward with the others, turned back with a serious expression. “So, what do you mean by that {make haste} just now...?”

Taking a steadying breath, Ning Eighteen answered, “According to the sequence of the Big Dipper, from {Seven} down to {One}, the next round brings us against the Sixth Star, {Monetary Affairs}.”

“Is there something wrong with the {Monetary Affairs Star}?” Qiu Twenty asked from the other side.

“Of course there is,” Ning Eighteen replied. “{Monetary Affairs Star} governs martial fortune in the world, and within the Five Elements, it belongs to {Yin Metal}.”

“{Yin Metal}...?” Qiao Jiajin’s lips moved as he muttered, “Damn! {Water} gave us ice balls, so {Metal} means we’re going to be blasted with an iron ball?!”

“Highly likely!” Ning Eighteen said. “Which is why we need to make the most of this round. The next round could very well be our death. Qiao ge, you can shatter an ice ball with your bare hands, but if an iron ball comes flying at you—”

“It’s fine, I’ll figure something out...” Qiao Jiajin said, his face grave, nodding before once more leading everyone forward.

Holding a wheelbarrow on the ice, especially one so slick, was incredibly difficult for the group.

Three people stood on each side of the wheelbarrow, and if even one person faltered slightly, the entire {Wooden Ox and Flowing Horse} would slide sideways, forcing the others to exert even greater effort to bring it back on course.

After barely a dozen meters, everyone was already drenched in sweat, struggling with every step.

{Whoosh!}

The {War Conqueror} box sounded as it fired another ice ball at the group. Qiao Jiajin’s eyes stayed fixed on the opening; almost instinctively, he reacted the instant the ball was launched.

If he wasn’t mistaken, Bai Nine remained its target.

Qiao Jiajin released the wheelbarrow, leapt forward with a long stride, and soared through the air. Everyone could only watch as he jumped even higher than before.

The sudden release also caused the wheelbarrow to veer slightly off course.

“Qiao ge, you—” Bai Nine stared in astonishment. From her vantage point, it didn’t look like Qiao Jiajin had merely jumped upward; he had lunged at the ice ball like a starving tiger pouncing on its prey.

His eyes locked on the speeding ice sphere, and midair, he thrust his hands forward, gripping at it with all his might.

{Crack!}

The dull sound rang out as the ice ball, just like before, shattered into fragments in midair.

Though his angle was perfect, the ball’s fragility meant it broke the moment it collided with his hands.

Qiao Jiajin stumbled but landed on the ice without slipping. Everyone noticed that this time he hadn’t skidded, as if he had discovered the secret to launching off the ice in just two attempts.

“Damn it... still can’t catch it. Do I need to absorb the impact somehow...?”

He shook his aching hands, realizing just how difficult it was to catch these high-speed projectiles.

All of this had happened in a heartbeat. Once again, he managed to grab the wheelbarrow just before it threatened to veer off track. Even with a smart team supporting him, he felt that catching the balls made it impossible to focus on pushing the wheelbarrow, and vice versa.

Any uneven force would only render the {Wooden Ox and Flowing Horse} even more difficult to maneuver.

“Going on like this will get us nowhere...” Qiao Jiajin muttered, glancing at the group, his gaze finally settling on Qiu Twenty. “Irritant lad.”

“Huh? Irr–Irritant lad?” Qiu Twenty blinked in surprise. “Me?”

“Yes. Didn’t you irritate that Terrestrial Horse real good before?” Qiao Jiajin waved a hand. “You don’t need to push the wheelbarrow anymore. Come over here.”

Qiu Twenty hesitated for a moment before slowly letting go, and at the same time, Qiao Jiajin released his grip as well.

Now only two men and two women were pushing the wheelbarrow. Although its speed had dropped, it remained stable.

“Follow me.” Qiao Jiajin gestured with his eyes, motioning Qiu Twenty to join him. Together, they moved to the side of the track, facing the wooden box labeled {War Conqueror}.

“Irritant lad, the two of us will intercept the ice balls here,” Qiao Jiajin explained. “Our goal is to protect the wheelbarrow behind us, so that it can keeps moving smoothly.”

“That...” Qiu Twenty hesitated. “I’m not as skilled as you, Qiao ge... I’m afraid—”

“It’s fine.” Qiao Jiajin shook his head. “Have you ever played doubles badminton?”

“Badminton?”

“Mhm,” Qiao Jiajin said. “I used to play doubles badminton with my best friend. If I can’t catch it, you catch it; if you can’t catch it, I catch it. That’s all there is to it.”

Qiu Twenty felt a glimmer of confidence at Qiao Jiajin’s understated account, yet recalling the almost imperceptible ice balls stirred lingering apprehension.

{Whoosh!}

Before Qiu Twenty could even plant his feet firmly, an ice ball hurtled straight toward them. Qiao Jiajin focused, immediately recognizing that its trajectory was aimed squarely at Qiu Twenty.

“Irritant lad—”

Before he could finish his words, the ice ball reached Qiu Twenty.

Qiu Twenty’s eyes narrowed, and he crossed his arms to block it in front of his face. The ice ball shattered explosively against his forearms.

The blow itself was moderate, yet the uneven ground caused Qiu Twenty to stumble backward toward the wheelbarrow.