Chapter 339: The God of Akina Mountain! A Materialistic Goddess's Wavering Heart!
[Ding! Destined Child Positioning Card activated. Searching for Child of Destiny. Searching now, please wait...]
[Ding! One Child of Destiny has been located. Do you wish to display detailed information?]
"Display!"
[Name: Echizen Takumi]
[Age: 19]
[Background: The Child of Destiny from "The Legend of Akina Mountain Car God". Echizen Takumi followed his father, Echizen Taro, from a young age, delivering tofu on the treacherous Akina Mountain, where he honed his impressive driving skills. He transitioned from amateur to professional, ultimately achieving the legend of a Car God. He also reconciled with his childhood friend, Suzuki Natsuki, and entered the hall of marriage...]
[Cultivation: Battle Scum]
[Abilities: Top-tier Driving Skills, Advanced Running Skills, Advanced Music Skills...]
[Personality: Appears lazy and listless on the surface, but cares deeply about racing and Suzuki Natsuki!]
[Items: Modified Toyota AE86...]
[Associated Heroine: Suzuki Natsuki]
[Destiny Value: 600,000]
"Tsk tsk, I wonder if he looks like Jay Chou?"
Shen Anyu smiled, his fingers lightly tapping the leather-wrapped steering wheel of his newly purchased Rosso Corsa Ferrari SF90 Stradale. He was driving with a relaxed, almost insulting casualness, one hand guiding the beast of a machine towards Gunma Prefecture, the home of the legendary Akina Mountain, located about a hundred kilometers from the bustling neon heart of Tokyo.
The interior of the Ferrari was a sanctuary of modern luxury and engineering perfection. The scent of premium Italian leather mixed with the faint, exhilarating aroma of new car polymers. The digital dashboard glowed with aggressive red hues, reflecting off Shen Anyu's calm, predatory eyes. Outside, the scenery blurred into streaks of green and grey as he ate up the asphalt, the hybrid engine purring with a restrained power that promised violence at the slightest touch of the pedal.
Soon, the winding roads of Akina Mountain appeared before him.
Akina Mountain was a majestic double-peaked volcano, its silhouette imposing against the twilight sky. It was infamous in the racing underworld for its five consecutive hairpin turns—the "Five Hairpins"—a death trap for the unskilled and a playground for the gods of the asphalt. It was a sacred pilgrimage site for racers across the globe and a famous tourist attraction in Sakura Country.
Shen Anyu drove leisurely, not bothering to push the supercar to its limits. He enjoyed the scenery outside the window, the lush vegetation of the mountain pass swaying in the evening breeze. He was like a king touring his new hunting grounds, unhurried and confident.
Vroom—!
Just then, Shen Anyu's ears twitched.
His enhanced auditory senses, honed to the peak of the [Innate Realm], picked up a distinct, rhythmic mechanical roar coming from behind. It wasn't the refined scream of a modern supercar, but the raw, throaty growl of a highly tuned, naturally aspirated engine.
Screech—!
The sound of tires shredding against asphalt pierced the air.
Immediately after, a white blur shot past in the rearview mirror. The white sedan executed an extremely dashing drift, the rear of the car sliding out with mathematical precision. The tires smoked, leaving black streaks on the road as it cut the inner line of the curve, defying physics.
With a roar, it directly overtook Shen Anyu's red Ferrari.
"Interesting!"
Shen Anyu narrowed his eyes, a playful glint appearing in his dark pupils. He looked at the white sedan speeding ahead. The classic black and white panda paint job was unmistakable—a Toyota AE86 Trueno.
It was clearly modified. The suspension was stiff, the exhaust note was aggressive, and the acceleration out of the corner suggested a monstrous engine swap under that unassuming hood. Otherwise, a relic from the 80s would never have the speed to pass a modern technological marvel like the SF90, even if Shen Anyu was driving casually.
Inside the white Toyota sedan, the atmosphere was electric.
"Natsuki, I told you I could overtake that red Ferrari! I won, so will you go on a date with me?"
In the driver's seat, a handsome young man with short, messy brown hair and wearing a simple white gas station work uniform raised his right fist in triumph. His face was flushed with the adrenaline of the drift and the sheer excitement of showing off. He looked at the girl beside him with eyes full of undisguised adoration and youthful pride.
This was Echizen Takumi, the newly discovered Child of Destiny.
In the passenger seat sat a girl who could only be described as a visual weapon.
Suzuki Natsuki.
She had long, silky reddish-orange hair that cascaded over her shoulders like a waterfall of sunset clouds. Her appearance was extremely kawaii—absolutely adorable. She had crescent-shaped eyes that seemed to smile even when she wasn't, giving her an aura of purity and gentleness that made men want to protect her.
But if one looked below her neck, the "purity" was immediately contradicted by a devilish maturity.
Her white short-sleeved top was stretched taut, struggling to contain her ample bosom. The fabric clung to her curves, outlining a figure that was far too ripe for a high school student. Every breath she took caused the fabric to strain, adding a lethal touch of sensual charm to her innocent face.
Such a beautiful girl was the dream of countless boys in school, the white moonlight in their hearts, and the absolute center of Echizen Takumi's universe.
At this moment, Echizen Takumi, having just completed a beautiful corner drift to overtake the red Ferrari, was excitedly claiming credit. He was like a puppy wagging its tail, hoping the goddess in front of him would finally agree to a date.
However, the reaction he expected did not come immediately.
Suzuki Natsuki's watery peach blossom eyes were not looking at him. Instead, they were glued to the rearview mirror, staring intently at the sleek, aggressive silhouette of the red Ferrari they had just passed.
A hint of envy, longing, and complex desire flashed deep in her amber eyes.
Having grown up in a poor family, suffering the indignity of counting every yen and wearing second-hand clothes, she had a desire for money and material possessions that bordered on pathology. She loathed the smell of poverty. She longed for a comfortable, easy life where she could buy brand-name bags without looking at the price tag, eat at Michelin-starred restaurants, and never worry about tomorrow.
The car behind them... it was a symbol of that world.
"That red Ferrari... it must be very expensive, right?"
Just then, Suzuki Natsuki suddenly asked softly. Her voice was melodious, but there was a tremor in it that Takumi failed to notice.
Echizen Takumi, who knew everything about cars but nothing about women, answered without hesitation, his tone filled with the objective appreciation of a mechanic:
"A Ferrari SF90. It's a plug-in hybrid supercar. It should be the top configuration. In the current market, it's worth over two hundred million yen—nearly two million US dollars."
Two hundred million yen.
The number exploded in Suzuki Natsuki's mind like a bomb. Her breath hitched slightly, and her hands unconsciously clenched the hem of her skirt. Two hundred million. That was an astronomical figure. It was enough to buy her freedom, her dignity, and her dreams a thousand times over.
She looked around the interior of the AE86. It was clean, but it was old. The plastic dashboard was faded. There was a faint smell of tofu and gasoline that never seemed to go away. Compared to the rolling palace of two hundred million yen behind them, this car felt like a tin can.
But Echizen Takumi, oblivious to her inner turmoil, proudly lifted his chin again. His eyes shone with the stubborn pride of a racer.
"But so what? That red Ferrari definitely can't beat my Eight-Six in a race on Akina. Downhill, I am invincible."
Having followed his father, Echizen Taro, since childhood, delivering tofu on the treacherous curves of Akina Mountain every morning before sunrise, Echizen Takumi possessed a confidence bone-deep in his marrow. He believed in his skills. No matter how expensive the car, the driver mattered most. In these mountains, he was the king.
Upon hearing this, Suzuki Natsuki's watery peach blossom eyes flashed with a hint of complexity. She looked at the boy beside her. He was handsome, talented, and kind. He loved her. But... could he give her the Ferrari? Could he give her the life she craved?
She sighed softly in her heart, burying the dark thoughts deep down.
Then, a sweet, practiced smile appeared on her cute and pure face. She tilted her head, her expression the picture of a supportive girlfriend.
"Mm-hmm, Takumi is the best! No one can beat you!"
Although she longed for a luxurious life, Suzuki Natsuki did not lack feelings. She genuinely liked her childhood friend. It was just that... reality was heavy.
"So, the date?"
Echizen Takumi asked cautiously, his voice trembling slightly with anticipation. He gripped the steering wheel tighter, his knuckles turning white.
Suzuki Natsuki smiled sweetly, her eyes curving into beautiful crescents:
"If you can still come in first in tonight's Akina Mountain race, Takumi, I'll go on a date with you. Just the two of us."
"Hooray!"
Echizen Takumi cheered excitedly, pumping his fist in the air. The AE86 swerved slightly with his movement before he corrected it. For him, wasn't this a guaranteed win? A freebie? He felt as if he had already won the world championship.
However, these two childhood friends did not notice the gaze cast from the red Ferrari trailing silently behind them like a shark stalking a school of fish.
Shen Anyu smiled as he looked at the white sedan ahead. Through the windshield, his vision—enhanced by the system and his cultivation—could clearly see the interaction inside the car seven or eight meters away. He saw Takumi's naive joy. He saw the greed hidden in the depths of Natsuki's eyes.
"He really does look like a younger Jay Chou, tsk tsk. Should I go easy on him because of the resemblance?"
Shen Anyu chuckled, the sound low and magnetic.
"Of course not. In this world, the weak are prey."
Shen Anyu flicked his finger.
Swish!
Two microscopic specks of dust, invisible to the naked eye, shot out from the open window of the Ferrari. They cut through the air and latched onto their targets with precision.
[Ding! Nanometer Monitoring Robots deployed successfully.]
One robot landed silently on the collar of Echizen Takumi's work uniform. The other attached itself to a strand of Suzuki Natsuki's reddish-orange hair.
Shen Anyu tapped the dashboard, bringing up a holographic projection visible only to him. Live feeds from both perspectives appeared.
Then, he slowly followed behind, maintaining a steady distance. He didn't overtake them. He wanted to see where the rabbit hole led.
Soon, they arrived at the foot of the mountain, pulling into a small, somewhat dilapidated storefront.
[Location: Fujiwara Tofu Shop]
The sign was old, the paint peeling slightly. It was a stark contrast to the gleaming skyscrapers of Tokyo or the luxury of the Ferrari.
Echizen Takumi parked the car and immediately jumped out to load and unload the tofu crates for the next morning's delivery.
"Natsuki, you don't have to help!"
"It's okay, I want to!"
Suzuki Natsuki rolled up her sleeves, revealing her pale, slender arms, and began helping him move the wooden crates.
Some friends of Takumi, fellow members of the local "Speed Stars" racing team, were passing by. Seeing this scene—the local racing prodigy and the school goddess working together—they couldn't help but stop and catcall enviously.
"Damn Takumi! You lucky bastard!"
"I really envy you for having such a kawaii girlfriend! She's helping you move tofu? That's true love!"
"Treat her well, or I'll steal her!"
Seeing his friends' sour, envious expressions, Echizen Takumi felt a surge of vanity. He wiped the sweat from his forehead, grinning broadly.
"That's right! Natsuki is the best! She is the best girl in the world!"
But after declaring this, Echizen Takumi looked at Suzuki Natsuki with some trepidation, fearing she might be annoyed by the title "girlfriend."
Although in his heart, Suzuki Natsuki was his beloved, and he sensed she had a good impression of him, they had not yet crossed that final line. They had not confessed.
Suzuki Natsuki was not officially his girlfriend yet.
Hearing the teasing, Suzuki Natsuki pursed her lips and smiled politely. She did not deny it, nor did she confirm it. She simply stood there, radiating beauty in the dingy tofu shop driveway, saving Echizen Takumi's face in front of his friends.
Echizen Takumi was immediately overjoyed. His heart soared. She didn't deny it! At this moment, his mind was racing at 200 miles per hour, fantasizing about their wedding, their house, and the names of their future children.
He watched her struggle slightly with a stack of tofu boxes. Fine beads of sweat appeared on her fair, smooth forehead, causing a few strands of her red hair to stick to her skin.
Echizen Takumi immediately felt a pang of heartache. This was his goddess; how could she do such rough work?
He quickly rushed over and took the tofu boxes from her hands, his voice full of concern:
"Natsuki, put it down! You should go home. It's getting late, and your uniform will get dirty. I can handle the loading and unloading of tofu myself. I'm strong!"
Suzuki Natsuki looked at the grease stains on Takumi's hands and the sweat soaking his collar. She looked at the old tofu boxes. For a split second, a look of fatigue crossed her face.
"...Alright then."
Seeing Echizen Takumi persuade her repeatedly, Suzuki Natsuki did not insist. She wiped her hands on a tissue, bid farewell to Echizen Takumi with a practiced, sweet smile, and turned to leave.
"See you tonight, Takumi."
"See you, Natsuki! I'll win for you!"
Looking at Suzuki Natsuki's retreating figure, swaying gently as she walked down the street, Echizen Takumi stood by his old AE86 and chuckled foolishly.
"Tonight's Akina Mountain race... I must come in first. I have to win. Then, I'll confess. Natsuki... my Natsuki..."
...
Suzuki Natsuki turned the corner, walking away from the tofu shop.
The moment she was out of sight, the sweet smile on her pretty face vanished instantly, as if a mask had been dropped. Her expression slowly became downcast, filled with a brooding melancholy.
She looked at her hands. They smelled faintly of soy beans. She frowned and rubbed them vigorously with a wet wipe, trying to remove the scent.
"Tofu... Tofu... Is this my life?"
She was unwilling.
She was unwilling to stay in a small, rural place like Gunma Prefecture forever. She hated the quiet nights. She longed for the neon lights of the bustling metropolis of Tokyo. She longed for high-end fashion, for jewelry that sparkled under crystal chandeliers, for a life of luxury where she was the queen.
But she understood reality. Echizen Takumi was a good driver, maybe even a genius. But he was just a tofu delivery boy. He had no money, no background, and no ambition beyond racing on this mountain. He could not give her everything she wanted.
"Takumi... I like you, but... what should I do..."
Her heart was torn between love and vanity, a constant war that left her exhausted.
Just as Suzuki Natsuki was lost in thought, walking aimlessly towards the bus stop, she turned a corner at the intersection.
Her footsteps stopped abruptly. Her eyes widened.
There, parked silently under the dim streetlamp like a beast lurking in the shadows, was the familiar, breathtakingly beautiful red Ferrari sports car...
[Akarin Note:
Your Support Keeps This Story Alive!
If you're enjoying this novel, your support means the world to me. Simple actions like leaving a review, power stone, comment, or sharing the story let me know you're out there. It's the greatest motivation for me to keep updating until the very end and ensures this project continues.
For those who wish to support me more directly, you can join my Patreon at [patreon.com/AkarinTL]. As a thank-you, you'll receive access to 50 advanced chapters.
I hope I am still worthy of your support. My life truly depends on this... haha, I know I'm so shameless.]