And thus, the infamous race began in earnest—a competition both condemned as a disgrace to the racing world and celebrated for its drama.
But where there are downsides, there are also benefits.
For Zhuifeng, the benefit was undeniable. This controversial race propelled his moniker, Wind God, beyond China's borders and into the global racing scene.
Yet the downside weighed heavily on him as well. The fallout from this event would force him to disappear from the racing world for two whole years.
Zhuifeng took a deep breath as he eyed the Mazda speeding ahead. Quickly executing a flurry of actions—brake, clutch, gear shift, clutch, brake, gas—he swung the car's nose outward, shifted into fourth gear, and moved into the outer lane, aiming to overtake Yamamoto on the long straightaway.
"You think I'll let you?" Yamamoto smirked, seeing the Audi's nose edging outward. Without hesitation, he moved to block Zhuifeng's attempt.
"Damn it!" Zhuifeng cursed under his breath.
Normally, if Liu Tang and the others had heard Zhuifeng swearing like this, they'd immediately ask what was wrong. But tonight, they remained eerily silent. Half an hour into the race, not a single word had been spoken over the comms.
After several failed overtaking attempts, Zhuifeng's frustration was mounting.
Slamming the gearshift into fifth, he violently swung the car's nose again.
Yamamoto wasn't prepared for the sudden maneuver. Momentarily caught off guard, he hesitated.
"Now's my chance!" Zhuifeng exclaimed inwardly.
"…It looks like the Wind God has been trying to reclaim the lead for a while now, but he's been thwarted at every turn. However, the two cars are now neck-and-neck again. Let's see if Yamamoto has any more tricks up his sleeve to suppress the Wind God!" Mu Xin's commentary had a hint of glee, betraying her subtle favoritism for the Wind God.
The previously tense and quiet crowd erupted into excitement. Clenching their fists tightly, they seemed to collectively hold their breath, waiting for the Wind God to make his move and take the lead.
Zhuifeng, however, felt his frustration deepen. "You've got to be kidding me, buddy! Out of all times, you decide to act up now?"
Something was wrong. In fifth gear, his car still couldn't overtake the Mazda. This had never happened before. For the first time, Zhuifeng entertained the absurd thought of abandoning the race and jumping into a river to cool off.
With no other choice, he shifted up again. Just as Yamamoto realized the danger, Zhuifeng, now in sixth gear, surged forward like a sword, slicing past the Mazda and taking the lead.
This time, it was Yamamoto's turn to be stunned. It wasn't just that he had been overtaken—it was how.
"Is that… a DTM car?" Yamamoto muttered, momentarily caught off guard.
Watching the Audi speed past, he blinked in surprise before breaking into a mocking laugh. "A DTM car? So what? A driver who can't even drift properly—what a waste!"
"Yamamoto, don't forget who you're racing against," his boss's voice came through the earpiece.
"I know, boss." Yamamoto smirked, dismissing the warning. The opponent's earlier clumsy drifting attempt only reinforced his belief: no Chinese driver could truly compete with the best of Japan. In his mind, he was still the best racer in Japan—the rightful champion, if not for the sabotage that cost him the title. His response to his boss was perfunctory.
Although it was just a small overtaking maneuver, the crowd on the summit erupted into cheers. "Yeah! Wind God!" they shouted, their pent-up excitement finally released as fists pumped into the air.
But Zhuifeng's face remained grim. Glancing at his rearview mirror to confirm the overtake, his eyes inadvertently flicked to the dashboard—and froze.
"…What?"
What he saw sent a chill down his spine.
In sixth gear, the car's current speed was equivalent to what it used to achieve in fourth.
This can't be happening…
"…And the Wind God has successfully overtaken the Mazda! However, from my perspective, the situation doesn't look very optimistic. The issues we saw earlier—are they isolated incidents or a sign of something more? With so many sharp turns on this track, we'll have to wait and see…" Mu Xin's voice carried a note of worry, her earlier excitement tempered.
Who the hell would be happy right now? Zhuifeng thought bitterly, his face darkened with frustration.
"Liu Tang, are you hearing this? Liu Tang!" he barked into the earpiece.
"Boss, what's wrong? We're listening!"
"…I don't know what's going on," Zhuifeng admitted, glancing at the dashboard again with a sigh. "I'm in sixth gear and flooring it, but the speedometer says I'm only going 270 km/h. What the hell is happening?"
"This… this…"
Hearing Liu Tang's hesitation, Zhuifeng's heart sank. "Liu Tang, it's you guys, isn't it?"
"…"
Sometimes, silence was an answer.
Realizing the truth, Zhuifeng's hands trembled, nearly causing the car to veer off the road. The spectators collectively held their breath as cold sweat dripped down their backs. Zhuifeng managed to steady himself just in time, his heart pounding as he regained control.
"Give me a reason!" Zhuifeng's voice was icy, his anger barely contained. "You asked me to race. You told me I had to win. You said we couldn't afford to lose. So why the hell did you mess with my car?"
"…"
"Speak!" Zhuifeng roared, his composure shattered.
"…Boss, there's something we didn't tell you about Yamamoto," Liu Tang finally admitted. "You know he's a top-tier driver for the NISO Racing Team. But… do you know what V8 is?"
"Of course I know!" Zhuifeng snapped. "Are you talking about engines or the V8 Supercars Championship…? Wait, don't tell me that bastard is a former V8 racer?"
"Well… according to the data we found, before joining NISO, Yamamoto did compete in the V8 Supercars Championship."
"…Damn it. I hit the jackpot," Zhuifeng muttered, exhaling sharply. "But why the hell did you tamper with my car?"
"Boss, we had no choice," Liu Tang explained. "That's only part of the reason. The other is… well, you know your tires have already reached their limit. For your safety, we had Gu Deping adjust the car's speed. We all want you to win, but we can't afford any more accidents tonight!"
Liu Tang's voice cracked with emotion. "Xiao Feng, in my heart, you're not just the hope of China's racing world—you're my friend. My brother. I hope you can forgive me."
Zhuifeng fell silent, overwhelmed by emotion. Liu Tang wasn't just a friend to him either; he was family. After a long pause, he finally spoke. "Brother… Can I call you that?"
Liu Tang froze, stunned. As a university professor and a racing enthusiast, Liu Tang's love for racing had always been his greatest passion—and his greatest regret. With street racing illegal in China and professional racing underdeveloped, he'd always felt stuck in a difficult position. Yet here was his idol, the Wind God himself, calling him brother.
Zhuifeng continued, "I don't know what to do anymore. Brother, what should I do?"
After a moment of thought, Liu Tang replied, "I can't give you specifics, but remember this: your car isn't necessarily slower than his. Right now, what you need is to get in sync with your partner. Adapt to the rhythm, okay?"
"…Do I still have a chance?" Zhuifeng asked, his confidence shaken. The car, once his trusted partner, now felt like a stranger.
"Boss, don't forget—you're the Wind God. If you didn't have a chance, none of us would be here watching!"
Taking a deep breath, Zhuifeng whispered to the car, "Alright, partner… let's figure this out together."
He shut off the comms, silencing the world around him. Clearing his mind, he focused entirely on syncing with the now unfamiliar car.
But there was one thing everyone, including Liu Tang, had overlooked: adjusting to an unfamiliar machine takes time—a luxury Zhuifeng didn't have.
Would he be able to adapt in time?
Notes:
DTM (Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters): A German touring car series, known for its highly modified and powerful cars. DTM cars are often called "F1 cars with roofs" due to their exceptional performance.
V8 Supercars Championship: A popular racing series featuring high-speed, contact-heavy races where drivers can collide with rivals to gain an advantage. It's thrilling and dangerous, perfect for adrenaline junkies.