Era of Mist

"Wearing sunglasses this late at night?"

"Hmph. What a poser."

"Hope he doesn’t smash his head into a tree and die!"

Some of the expert racers grumbled resentfully, but others studied the underlings across from them and the man on the motorcycle, their expressions turning cautious and solemn.

Anyone who could train these reckless biker punks to be so disciplined was no simple character.

And anyone who could master such a heavy bike and win race after race was even more formidable.

As he drew closer, they could finally get a clear look at the man’s face and bearing. Look at that majestic aura, that face radiating pure boss energy, that steady posture that seemed to fuse man and machine into one. The more they looked, the more they felt this man was on another level.

Finally, someone spoke up. "You’re the Black Venerable?"

The Black Venerable?

’Is that my new nickname?’

’Hmm, not bad at all.’

Shi Tiexin said in a low voice, "I am."

Someone else asked, "Are you the one who’s talking so big, challenging all of us by yourself?"

’I brush my teeth every day, so my breath is fine, but that’s the general idea, yes.’

"That’s right."

A third person shouted, "Did you have someone spread all that arrogant trash talk?!"

Although he didn’t know exactly what Ah Fei had said, he had indeed given the order. So, Shi Tiexin answered without hesitation.

"Yes."

The eavesdropping crowd immediately burst into an uproar, and discussions broke out everywhere.

"I heard the Black Venerable was going to pluck the Tokyo Wolf’s hair to make a calligraphy brush. I thought it was just a crazy rumor, but I guess it’s true."

"But the Tokyo Wolf barely has any hair left. Even if you plucked him bald, would it be enough for a brush?"

"They didn’t say it had to be the hair on his head. Any hair will do. *Hair*, get it?"

"Hardcore. Truly hardcore. He dares to pluck the old Wolf’s pubes."

"I... I was thinking of his beard..."

"I also heard the Black Venerable is going to make Lady Pe ’battle’ him for three days and three nights! Lady Pe has such an explosive temper, no one dares to mess with her. So that rumor was true too? He’s a total badass!"

"Wouldn’t Lady Pe be absolutely furious?"

"Hard to say. Take a look at the Black Venerable’s build, his aura, his handsome face... Lady Pe might be drooling already."

"And it might not just be drool she’s dripping, hehehehe~~"

Listening to the clamor all around him, Shi Tiexin was a little stunned. ’Just what kind of reputation did Ah Fei build for me? The hair-plucking thing is maybe-sort of-debatable, but I definitely never said anything about three days and three nights! I didn’t!’

He glanced at the Tokyo Wolf. ’Yup, he really doesn’t have much hair left. How could I have the heart to rip out the poor guy’s last remaining strands?’ Then he looked at Lady Pe, the only female racer among the fifteen. Her face was flushed with anger. ’Where exactly is she drooling?!’

"Black Venerable!" a racer shouted. "Did you say that all of us are trash?"

’No.’

’I didn’t say that.’

’But a good boss doesn’t throw his underlings under the bus.’

So, Shi Tiexin glanced at the man. "Aren’t you?"

"So arrogant!"

"We’re gonna teach you a lesson today!"

"Enough talk." Shi Tiexin waved his hand dismissively. "If you win, I’ll do as you say. If I win, you’ll do as I say. We’ll settle this on the track!"

"We race just because you say so? What’s in it for us?" someone said in a snide tone. "There have to be stakes, or I’m not racing."

Stakes? That was customary for street racers. Shi Tiexin had no objection. "Fine."

The man shouted, "If we win, you have to hand over your bike! And you have to get on your knees, kowtow, and slap your own face! Then, you’ll change your name to ’Black Pig’! Do you dare?"

The man’s underlings roared with laughter, while the crowd erupted in another uproar.

But Shi Tiexin didn’t hesitate.

"Alright." He swept his gaze across the group and stated decisively, "If I win, I don’t want anything from you... except for each of you to write me one word: ’Submit.’ And from now on, when my people ride in your territory, you are not to stand in their way."

’As far as the eye can see, I will roam free. There will be no place I, Shi Tiexin, cannot go.’

"Done!" Shi Tiexin’s demand was somewhat unexpected for the racers. Given his previous trash talk, they had expected a much harsher condition.

"That’s it?"

"That’s it—except for you." Shi Tiexin pointed a finger at the snide one. He knew this guy; his street name was Death Fire. "You. On your knees. Kowtow. Slap yourself. Bark like a dog. And from now on, your name is ’Dogshit’!"

VROOM VROOM VROOM! The previously silent underlings all twisted their throttles at once. The roar of the engines erupted instantly, like a vicious dragon’s roar, a soul-shaking sound that completely drowned out the noisy crowd.

Shi Tiexin’s aura was overpowering. Death Fire’s face went pale, and he instinctively wanted to back away. But then, as if he’d thought of something, he gritted his teeth and nodded viciously. "Then it’s a deal! We’ll see you on the track!"

Shi Tiexin said no more. The others quickly agreed, and the sixteen racers moved to the starting line, forming an impressive, single row. Each one began their pre-race preparations, engines thundering as exhaust pipes trembled, spewing fumes and noise. It wasn’t a comfortable environment for a human being, but it was precisely the kind that sent adrenaline coursing through your veins.

At the starting line, Shi Tiexin’s gaze was calm.

This time, the track was 18.9 kilometers long. It started in the mountains outside Tokyo, entered the city, looped through the downtown area, and then returned to the mountains. It had everything: straightaways and curves, wilderness and urban streets.

A distance of less than twenty kilometers might not sound like much—an easy, pleasant drive on a public road. But in a high-speed race, where every second is a brush with danger and every moment demands total concentration, this course was quite long.

It would be a comprehensive test of every racer’s vehicle condition, skill, focus, endurance, and even their luck and courage.

The race starter appeared. It was the same long-legged beauty, now Shi Tiexin’s personal starter. The girl had applied to join his organization a couple of days ago, passed their evaluation, and been accepted. She was incredibly proud, so she was now brimming with energy and confidence.

The beauty wore leather shorts, black leather boots, and black fishnet stockings, with a black leather vest on top. She had on a black beret, her makeup was exquisite, and she looked good enough to eat.

"Is everyone ready?" The beauty waved her small flag in a circle, threw a flirtatious wink at Shi Tiexin in the center, and then bared her teeth in a threatening snarl at Lady Pe beside him.

Shi Tiexin remained unmoved, but Lady Pe couldn’t help but let out a cold snort. She leaned forward, pressing her ample chest flat against the motorcycle. She glared at Shi Tiexin beside her, realizing that he actually was quite masculine and handsome. But that didn’t change her determination to teach him a lesson today.

CLICK. Lady Pe flipped a small, custom-installed switch.

The other racers also made their own preparations, each with their own tricks.

"Ready~~~~?" The beauty waved the flag high in the air, then swung it down abruptly. "GO!!!"

VROOOM! The engines roared to life, and the sixteen motorcycles shot forward as one.