Era of Mist

Chapter 241 -240: Perfect Déjà Vu, Wind-Gallop

Shi Tiexin didn’t like the sound of that at all.

‘What makes you so sure you’ll win and I’ll lose? Look at you, all smug and confident. Anyone who didn’t know better would think you’ve already won!’

“And how do you know you’re going to win?”

“Of course I know. Because—” The Car God’s expression suddenly turned cocky. “I’m just better than you!”

‘Hmph. I get it. You sly fox, you’re just trying to play mind games with me.’

“I’m not going to get into a war of words with you.” Shi Tiexin slapped his motorcycle. “Let’s settle this on the track.”

“Fine. It’s about time anyway. Let’s get started!”

The two of them went to the starting line.

VRMMMM. They both revved their engines, feeling the breath of the machines.

Fujiwara Jizhen snatched his green hat—er, green helmet, and strapped it on. His muffled voice came from inside: “Oh, right. After you lose, you can treat me to breakfast. I know a little stall that’s especially good.”

‘Are you ever going to stop with these psychological tactics?’

‘I can’t be bothered to argue with you.’

‘I’ll fight you a different way!’

‘Sigh, I thought this race would be a bit purer, but the Car God was right. This era really doesn’t allow for that!’ And so, Shi Tiexin looked at a certain certificate posted to the side of his vision.

‘Emmm… It’s a bit of a shame, but I guess I’ll have to break a round number today.’

‘As they say, you gotta pay to play. If you’re broke, you’re a joke.’

‘Add, add, add! Allocate my points!’

Five points of golden light surged in, and a star flew out.

Amidst the radiance, another star soared into the azure sky, hanging high in the Celestial Universe, emitting a soft, shimmering light.

[Basic Driving Technique α4 Modified, Layer 1 Progress Increased to: Perfect]

[Attribute Activated: Wind-Rider +1]

[Wind-Rider: Embrace speed! Fly with your vehicle and slice through the wind!]

The moment he finished spending his points, Shi Tiexin felt a difference. It was hard to say exactly what had changed, but as he touched the motorcycle’s throttle, he suddenly felt a true sense of becoming one with the machine. He could almost hear its voice, feel its frequency, know its every strength and weakness, and perceive the… style hidden beneath the cold metal.

His Comprehension attribute took effect, and his driving interface revealed all the vehicle’s technical details.

At the same time, his Perception attribute kicked in, and Shi Tiexin felt a surging passion, an eagerness to test his limits. He knew his bike craved speed, craved flight, craved the chance to roar and unleash its full potential.

So Shi Tiexin put on his helmet as well. They looked at each other and simultaneously held up three fingers.

A wordless, mutual understanding.

Three…

Two…

One…

Go!!

VROOOOM!!

Exhilarating explosions erupted in the engine’s cylinders. Fuel injected, air was sucked in, and the mixture of vapor and oxygen ignited in a flash from the spark plugs, bursting forth with astonishing thrust.

Go…

Go—

GO!!!

Accelerate, accelerate, accelerate!!!

One black, one green. The two racers shot forward at the same time, beginning a fierce race along the mountain road. Under the violent acceleration, Shi Tiexin had to tense every muscle just to keep from being thrown off his beloved bike. The wind noise outside his helmet rose to a screaming pitch, filling the space within.

The sound of the wind was all he could hear.

The push of the wind was all he could feel.

The winding road stretching endlessly before him was painted in a clear picture in his mind. Shi Tiexin suddenly realized that things were truly different now.

Perfect and imperfect… they were worlds apart!

This feeling was incredible!

Shifting up, shifting down, straightaways and curves… before, he had needed his system’s visual aids or careful mental calculations. Now, he didn’t need any of that.

Beyond the precise but cold data, there was now an inexplicable feeling. It was a sensation that couldn’t be put into words, but it was like the final, perfect brushstroke that brought a painting to life, adding a soul to his technique.

WHOOSH! Like a black bolt of lightning, his figure sliced through the wind. Shi Tiexin suddenly realized he didn’t care where Fujiwara Jizhen was anymore. His presence didn’t even matter. Simply riding his beloved bike, flying at full speed on an empty road—this alone was the ultimate thrill.

—Of course, that was also because the green figure was no longer in his line of sight.

Fujiwara Jizhen hadn’t chosen the road leading into Tokyo City, but one heading out to the suburbs. Japan’s landmass is small, with a sharp distinction between urban and rural areas. And with the current economic depression, the farther out one went, the quieter and more deserted it became. There was no need to block off the roads.

At five-thirty in the morning, the world was dim and hazy. But as he rounded a mountain pass, a brilliant light suddenly broke through from the left.

Shi Tiexin couldn’t help but look to his left. He saw the rising sun, a perfect disc breaking through the horizon where sky met sea. A thousand rays of rosy light illuminated the heavens.

RUSTLE. A mountain breeze swept through, and the wild cherry trees lining the road burst into bloom. Petals swirled into the air before drifting down like pink snowflakes. The golden light of dawn shone upon the cherry blossoms of the spring fields. In that moment, the scenery was breathtaking.

Compared to the dim, dark, and somber Tokyo Metropolitan Area, this scenery was truly like a Pure Land.

Shi Tiexin’s eyes widened, and he stared, stunned, at the magnificent view before him.

He glanced back. The green figure was in hot pursuit. Noticing Shi Tiexin’s backward glance, Fujiwara Jizhen pointed to the rising sun, then to the scenery all around them, and finally patted his own chest.

It dawned on Shi Tiexin. So this was Fujiwara Jizhen’s intention for setting the race at this exact time and place. The morning sun shining on a snow of cherry blossoms… it was an impossibly beautiful sight!

Shi Tiexin gave him a thumbs-up in return.

‘And now—to repay you for this hospitality, the only thing I can do is go all out and beat you so badly you’ll be left speechless!’

Throttle to the floor.

VROOOOM! The black lightning accelerated again, blasting through the corridor of cherry blossoms and kicking up a swirling storm of pink rain as it sped on toward the outskirts of Tokyo.

A vast expanse of green fields opened up before him, the scenery instantly becoming wide and open.

Green grass, wildflowers, a country road… everything felt free and untethered.

Flying through this environment, he could feel the wind rushing past his ribs. The fierce gale blew past his strong arms, becoming turbulent at his sides and back. The swirling vortex of air created a strange lift, making Shi Tiexin feel as if he had grown wings. If he weren’t holding on tightly to his bike, he felt he might actually take flight.

This was his first time racing in the sunlight.

This was his first time charging across open fields.

Shi Tiexin suddenly looked up at the sky.

It was an incredibly dangerous move, but he did it anyway.

The sky was a gradient of deep cyan, navy blue, rose purple, and brilliant orange, which gradually gave way to azure as it brightened. With an irresistible, colossal force, the sunlight took command of everything in the sky.

So this was the sun as seen from Central Star!

This was truly a magnificent sight that no simulation could ever replicate!

In this moment, he finally felt that all his previous street races had been pathetic and mind-numbingly boring. Only this, racing like lightning between the vastness of the heavens and the earth, was true riding. Only by breathing in this playful airflow that wrapped around his body could one be said to have truly felt… the wind of freedom.