As the Audi surged forward in an instant, Shinohara Kenrei's eyes narrowed. He immediately released the brakes and slammed the gas pedal, accelerating to match Zhuifeng's pace. Now, the two cars were neck and neck, speeding forward at breakneck speeds.
Zhuifeng felt a pang of unease. It was strange—the car hadn't collided with him yet—but he dared not relax. Hugging the inner lane as tightly as possible, he kept an eye on Koizumi, who was tailing him closely, while also watching the road ahead. "Damn it, what's going on here? I should call Liu Tang for help… Wait, where's my earpiece?" Only then did he realize the earpiece that had been hanging by his ear was now gone. Zhuifeng froze, his heart sinking.
Although he had earned the title of "Wind God" in the racing world, Zhuifeng was still just a rookie, a dark horse who had unexpectedly made waves. At the end of the day, he was just one man—a mere university freshman at that. Sure, this race had been forced upon him, and while he tried to go with the flow like the monks advised, Liu Tang's presence had been a crucial support for him. He had trusted that Liu Tang would guide him through this. But now, with his mental anchor suddenly gone, Zhuifeng's fighting spirit evaporated.
Koizumi noticed Zhuifeng's speed dropping slightly and immediately seized the opportunity, pushing his car aggressively forward.
Ironically, that collision was what snapped Zhuifeng back to his senses. The jolt of the car reminded him that while his motivation might have faltered, he wasn't so defeated as to throw his life away. This wasn't just a race anymore—it was a fight for survival.
"I can't keep going like this. If this drags on, I'll be done for. I need to shake at least one of them off." Gritting his teeth, Zhuifeng focused all his energy on the road ahead. "There's my chance!" Spotting a sharp turn up ahead, Zhuifeng let out a resigned smile. "So this is what it's come to... risking it all?"
If he entered the corner at normal speed, he knew he'd never lose either of his pursuers. The skill of these Japanese drivers was no joke. Zhuifeng even found himself begrudgingly admiring their abilities. Any one of these three could have dominated the racing scene in China if they'd been born there.
Of course, Zhuifeng wasn't entirely accurate in his assessment. While Japanese racers did have a reputation in the racing world, they weren't as invincible as he imagined. Even Koizumi, following closely behind, was surprised by what he was witnessing. "What the hell? The boss is this good at racing? Why has he never mentioned it before?"
Nonsense. If Shinohara Kenrei didn't understand racing, he wouldn't have used it as a centerpiece in this operation.
"Risk it, then. I've done it before!" With a bitter smile, Zhuifeng immediately shifted into sixth gear. The engine roared as the car surged forward, reaching 270 kilometers per hour.
"This kid's insane," Koizumi muttered as he watched the Audi pulling further and further ahead. The same thought crossed the mind of Mu Xin, who was still observing from the mountaintop. However, she wasn't as shocked as one might expect, since Zhuifeng had done something similar earlier.
But was this really the same as before?
Zhuifeng's burst of speed not only widened the gap between him and Koizumi but also allowed him to overtake Shinohara Kenrei. Yet something felt off. Even though Zhuifeng had overtaken Kenrei, the latter immediately latched onto his tail, refusing to let go. It was as if he was waiting for something.
Just as Zhuifeng was about to hit the apex of the turn and prepare to brake, a sudden chill ran down his spine. He finally understood. Earlier, Kenrei hadn't tried to ram him because Zhuifeng had been hugging the inner lane—it wouldn't have been effective. The situation was eerily similar to his first encounter with Yamamoto. This wasn't Zhuifeng overtaking Kenrei; it was Kenrei intentionally letting him pass. With Koizumi's drag-racing car incapable of keeping up, Kenrei must have decided to use Zhuifeng's braking and drifting at the turn to seize the inner lane and go in for the kill.
Damn! How devious! Zhuifeng's blood boiled. If I'm going to die either way, I might as well go all out!
Retracting his hand from the brake, Zhuifeng did the unthinkable. Not only did he refuse to brake, but he also floored the accelerator, fully committing to a do-or-die maneuver.
Even Shinohara Kenrei, known for his calculating nature, hadn't anticipated this move. Unlike Yamamoto, however, Kenrei wasn't so easily shaken off. He quickly adjusted his strategy and accelerated, closing the gap once more.
What kind of car is he driving? Glancing into his rearview mirror, Zhuifeng caught a glimpse: a stock 2003 Bentley Continental GT?
2003 Bentley Continental GT specs:
Engine placement: Front-mounted
Drive type: All-wheel drive
Cylinders: 12
Displacement: 5998 cc
Compression ratio: 9:1
Maximum power: 6100 rpm
0–100 km/h acceleration: 5 seconds
Top speed: 318 km/h
Zhuifeng's breathing quickened. Back in 2003–2004, this car had been hailed as one of the fastest. While he might not have cared much in the past, his Audi A4 wasn't what it once was. And whether or not the Bentley had been modified was an unknown factor. If it had been… well, let's just say Zhuifeng knew he was in trouble. For now, all he could do was leave his fate to the heavens.
Tilting the steering wheel slightly to the right, Zhuifeng tapped the brakes lightly, causing the car to oversteer. The tail of the car immediately swung out, following the front as it drifted into the turn. However, the immense speed made it impossible to fully control the vehicle's momentum. Despite knowing Kenrei's intention to seize the inner lane, Zhuifeng couldn't stop the car from sliding past the apex and veering dangerously close to the edge of the road.
"This is my moment," Kenrei thought coldly. Using an inertia drift, he clung tightly to Zhuifeng's car and swiftly turned the wheel. With a burst of acceleration, he pushed into the inner lane, aiming to pin Zhuifeng in place.
"This is bad," Mu Xin thought, her sports background making her keenly aware of Kenrei's tactics. Beads of sweat began forming on her forehead again. What's going on today? First, the decision to broadcast this live was baffling enough, and now this race—if you can even call it that—is getting more and more confusing. Before she could process everything, the image on the screen showed Zhuifeng's car spinning dangerously out of control. Its rear left tire had already lifted off the road.
"It's over…" Mu Xin couldn't take the tension any longer. Clasping her hands together, she shut her eyes tightly.
But on the edge of life and death, Zhuifeng smiled.
He could feel the car reaching its limit. Though the rear left wheel was airborne, and the rear right wheel was on the verge of losing traction, he knew this was just enough. Slamming the brakes and simultaneously flooring the gas pedal, Zhuifeng caused the rear wheels to spin at high speed. The car shuddered, and the airborne left wheel touched down with a thud.
By this point, more than 60% of the car's rear end was hanging off the cliff. Supported only by the rear right wheel, the car trembled precariously.
At that moment, Zhuifeng released the brakes, turned the wheel sharply, and hit the accelerator. With the engine roaring, the car shot forward like an arrow, immediately overtaking Kenrei's Bentley.
Kenrei was stunned. What's this guy up to now?
Based on Zhuifeng's initial movements, it was clear he had intended to use his speed to widen the gap and avoid being caught between Kenrei and Koizumi. But now, though he had avoided the pincer attack, Zhuifeng had left himself vulnerable, trapped between two enemies. What was his plan?
If Liu Tang and the others could see Zhuifeng's expression right now, they would probably be able to answer Kenrei's question.
Zhuifeng might be called the "Wind God," but he wasn't an actual god. And even gods could get angry. As a mortal man, Zhuifeng was no exception.
So it's okay for you to set fire to the temple, but I'm not allowed to light a candle?