Chapter 137: Jesko
Its headlights swept across the road.
The security guards stepped aside almost instinctively.
The vehicle entered the gathering without slowing.
Conversations faded.
Even several experienced drivers stared.
"Is that a Jesko?"
"No way."
"Who brings that to a street race?"
"That thing costs more than half the cars here combined."
The black car rolled toward the registration line.
It stopped.
The driver’s door opened.
Shen Tian stepped out.
For several seconds...
No one spoke.
His golden hair caught the artificial lights.
His expression was relaxed.
He wore a simple dark jacket and black gloves.
He looked entirely out of place among the loud, aggressive racers.
Yet somehow...
The entire gathering seemed to shift around him.
Chi Lingxi stared.
"...Shen Tian?"
Her voice was nearly lost beneath the engines.
Heavy Makeup Girl looked from him to the car.
"Wait. You know him?"
Chi Lingxi didn’t answer immediately.
Shen Tian’s gaze moved across the crowd.
He found her.
The moment their eyes met...
He smiled.
A small...
Calm...
Reassuring smile.
Chi Lingxi’s unease lessened without her understanding why.
Heavy Makeup Girl noticed.
Her eyes widened.
"You really know him?"
"He’s..."
Chi Lingxi hesitated.
"A friend."
Not far away...
Yun Wanhe slowly turned his head.
His face went blank.
"..."
He stared at Shen Tian.
Then at the black hypercar.
Then back at Shen Tian.
"No."
His hands tightened around the steering wheel.
"No. Why is he here?"
Shen Tian approached the organizer.
"Still accepting entries?"
The organizer looked at the car.
Then at Shen Tian.
"Entry fee doubled for late registration."
Shen Tian handed him a black card.
The organizer stared at it.
"..."
He quickly processed the payment.
"You’re in."
Yun Wanhe’s jaw tightened.
"He has no reason to be here."
"This isn’t coincidence."
A dark suspicion entered his mind.
"Is he following me?"
Xu Ning appeared invisibly beside Shen Tian.
[Host.]
[Target Yun Wanhe’s emotional stability has decreased significantly.]
Shen Tian glanced toward the silver car.
"I can tell."
Soon enough....
Drivers moved into position.
Thirty-six cars lined the abandoned highway.
The course extended through several districts.
The first section was a long industrial straight.
The second climbed into the mountains.
The third crossed an unfinished overpass before descending toward the finish line.
It was dangerous even for professionals.
For amateurs...
It was reckless.
Chi Lingxi sat in the passenger seat of the red sports car.
Heavy Makeup Girl sat behind her.
The boyfriend gripped the steering wheel.
His earlier confidence had begun to crack.
He stared at the vehicles around him.
Especially Shen Tian’s.
Heavy Makeup Girl leaned forward.
"You’re going to beat him, right?"
"Of course."
His voice came out too quickly.
Chi Lingxi looked toward the black car two rows ahead.
Shen Tian sat alone.
One hand rested lightly on the wheel.
He didn’t appear nervous.
He didn’t appear excited.
He looked as though he were about to take a quiet drive.
The announcer raised one arm.
Engines roared.
The noise became deafening.
Yun Wanhe lowered his posture.
Qi subtly spread through his hands and feet.
He would not use enough to reveal any cheating...
Only enough to sharpen his reactions.
"This is mine."
The starting lights turned red.
One.
Two.
Three.
The final light flashed green.
Every car launched.
The highway exploded with sound.
Tires screamed.
Smoke rolled across the starting line.
Several vehicles nearly collided before reaching the first turn.
Yun Wanhe reacted instantly.
He cut between two cars.
Shifted.
Accelerated.
The silver vehicle surged forward.
Within seconds...
He moved from the second row into third place.
The crowd watching the live drone feed shouted.
"Who is car thirty-two?"
"That launch was perfect!"
"He’s already third!"
Heavy Makeup Girl’s boyfriend struggled behind them.
His tires spun too long.
Two cars passed him immediately.
"Damn it!"
Heavy Makeup Girl shouted over the engine.
"Go faster!"
"I’m trying!"
Chi Lingxi gripped the side handle.
The car shook violently as they changed lanes.
Ahead...
Shen Tian remained near the middle of the group.
He wasn’t accelerating fully.
Xu Ning floated beside the dashboard.
[Host.]
[You could overtake all of them on this straight.]
"I know."
[Then why are you waiting?]
Shen Tian looked toward the red car in his mirror.
"Because Chi Lingxi’s accident doesn’t happen yet."
He was staying close.
Close enough to act.
Up ahead...
Yun Wanhe reached first place before the industrial straight ended.
His control was astonishing.
He didn’t simply react to openings.
He predicted them.
Every time another driver attempted to block him...
He was already moving.
The silver car slid through gaps that seemed too narrow.
The spectators went wild.
"Car thirty-two takes the lead!"
"For real!? Who is this guy?!"
"He came out of nowhere!"
Yun Wanhe smiled.
"As expected."
The road began climbing.
Sharp mountain turns replaced the open highway.
This was where weaker drivers would fall behind.
Yun Wanhe entered the first curve without braking until the final possible moment.
The silver car drifted.
Its rear tires moved inches from the barrier.
Then it straightened perfectly.
The driver behind him lost several car lengths.
"Pathetic."
He accelerated again.
For several glorious minutes...
No one stood ahead of him.
No Shen Tian.
No humiliation.
No stolen opportunity.
Only open road.
"This is how it should be!"
Then...
Two headlights appeared in his mirror.
Far behind at first.
Then closer.
Much closer.
Yun Wanhe’s smile faded.
The black hypercar moved through the field.
Shen Tian passed one vehicle on the outside of a curve.
Another through a narrow opening between the mountain wall and a truck.
A third attempted to block him.
Shen Tian changed his braking point and passed on the inside.
No wasted movement.
No reckless swerving.
He seemed to understand the course before reaching each turn.
The crowd’s attention shifted.
"Look at the black car!"
"He was in twelfth place!"
"He’s already fifth!"
"Fourth!"
Heavy Makeup Girl’s boyfriend saw Shen Tian approaching behind him.
His pride flared.
"He’s not passing me."
Chi Lingxi looked toward him.
"Don’t do anything dangerous."
"I know what I’m doing!"
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(Author’s Note: IMPORTANT!)
SEND POWESTONES!!!
ALL SUPER GIFTS (Magic Castle, Space Ship, Golden Gachapon) = MORE ChapterS!