Zhang Yang’s face was etched with deep resignation. Since cultivating inner force, Mi Xue’s temperament seemed to have changed considerably; she had become livelier, and certainly bolder.

Just like last night, while they were secretly practicing, Mi Xue had unexpectedly taken the initiative and climbed on top of him—something that had never happened before.

Zhang Yang wasn't sure if this change was for the better or worse, but he didn't dislike Mi Xue’s new demeanor; in fact, he was rather fond of it.

The truth was, Zhang Yang didn't realize Mi Xue had always possessed a similar nature. It was only after she started dating him that she had slightly restrained herself. Mi Xue’s moniker, ‘Thorn Rose,’ hadn't been earned for nothing.

Following behind the Hummer was a Mercedes-Benz van, driven by Long Cheng.

Before they left, Zhang Yang had asked Long Cheng for a favor: securing a few breeding permits. Beijing was different from Changjing; with a beast the size of Chui Feng, they were guaranteed to attract attention. Without the proper legal documents, it would inevitably become a hassle.

It wasn't trouble for them, but Zhang Yang worried about causing trouble for others. Chui Feng had a difficult temper; if anyone provoked him, they would surely suffer for it.

Long Cheng would wholeheartedly assist Zhang Yang with anything. Soon, the three permits were in Zhang Yang's hands.

Long Cheng had also taken care of the permits for Shandiang and Wuying, and then voluntarily offered to accompany Zhang Yang and the others to Beijing.

Zhang Yang was initially against it, but Long Cheng’s reasoning made it impossible to refuse. Long Cheng had to return to Beijing to report on his duties; the Long family’s outer headquarters were located there. He had to return at least once a year—it was a family affair. Even without Zhang Yang, he would be making the trip, so this was merely on the way.

Later, when Long Cheng learned how many things Zhang Yang needed to transport, he generously offered to follow along in a larger van to carry the goods, saving them the trouble of arranging freight shipping.

With so many items, many of which were valuable or fragile, shipping them was not ideal. Long Cheng was so helpful that Zhang Yang could only agree; he knew Long Cheng was doing him a favor, and refusing felt impossible.

The three vehicles departed the villa complex together.

Changjing to Beijing was roughly a thousand kilometers. Fortunately, the roads were clear now, entirely composed of expressways. Under smooth conditions, the journey would take about a dozen hours.

However, since they were leaving at noon, arriving in Beijing the same day seemed difficult. After some discussion, the group decided to stop overnight in Pengcheng and resume the drive the next morning. This way, they could reach Pengcheng by evening, and after resting, arrive in Beijing around noon the next day, saving valuable time.

This route was decided by the group, and the stop in Pengcheng was primarily for Mi Xue’s sake. Her aunt was married into a family there. She hadn't attended the previous engagement. This aunt had a cousin whose daughter was the same age as Mi Xue, just a month younger. They had been inseparable as children, but as they grew up and got busy with school, especially university, they saw each other less. They hadn't met in the last year or two. Since they were already driving to Beijing, stopping for one night to see the cousin and her aunt’s family before heading to the capital seemed perfect.

Since it was along the way, Mi Xue’s suggestion was quickly approved.

Approved, in this context, simply meant Zhang Yang agreed. Long Feng and Qu Meilan offered no objections; as long as the couple was unified in their decision, that was all that mattered.

Mi Xue drove frighteningly fast. As soon as they left the complex, their vehicle vanished from sight. Long Feng had to speed up to catch up quickly.

Long Cheng had it the hardest. Since he was driving an unmodified van, its acceleration and handling couldn't compare to the Hummer and the Bugatti in front. He could only trail slowly behind. At least he knew the route and wouldn't get lost.

"That girl, driving so fast?"

Upon reaching the expressway entrance, Zhang Yang finally got an update on Mi Xue’s location. This information was gleaned from the toll booth attendants. Mi Xue had entered the highway ten minutes before them. With only one Bugatti in all of Changjing, inquiring about it was simple. Even if people didn't know the model name, they recognized it as an extraordinary sports car. Ten minutes—the drive from the villa to the entrance took less than half an hour. Long Feng had been driving fast, yet she had managed to get ahead by such a margin. No wonder Zhang Yang spoke with such surprise.

"Hold tight!"

Long Feng glanced back and smiled at Zhang Yang, saying those words. Before Zhang Yang could react, he stomped the accelerator, and the Hummer shot forward like a phantom as they merged onto the highway.

In seconds, the Hummer’s speed topped 120 mph; soon after, they were exceeding 140 mph. It was fortunate this Hummer had been modified; otherwise, it wouldn't have the acceleration capability. Long Feng blazed down the freeway at over 140 mph, leaving countless cars in their dust.

"Strange, why isn't anyone chasing us?"

After driving for a while, Zhang Yang looked out the window, perplexed. They had overtaken many vehicles. Long Feng was certainly speeding, but with his skill, pushing the car to that velocity was effortless. Long Feng’s reaction time and calculation abilities far surpassed those of ordinary people; he could anticipate any problem in advance and always devise the optimal solution.

"It is a bit unusual. Perhaps it’s because of Miss Mi and the others!"

Long Feng nodded, pressing the accelerator a little further. The Hummer’s speed increased noticeably.

"It must be them. That makes sense!"

Zhang Yang slapped his forehead, chuckling resignedly. Typically, when a car sped recklessly on the highway, especially an expensive one, or one driven by someone with perceived skill, others would attempt to keep up and engage in a brief burst of street racing. Zhang Yang had encountered this situation countless times, sometimes one or two cars, other times several. The worst was the time he sped back from Hangcheng to Changjing; because of him, Su Zhantao and his group had raced the entire way, sparking a lengthy impromptu racing competition on the road.

Such behavior wasn't ideal, and in a few years, it would likely be obsolete. But at the time, it was quite trendy. This was mainly because the expressways were far less congested than they would become later, allowing vehicles to reach high speeds, and challenging a fast, high-end car had become a kind of unspoken social trend, fueling the phenomenon.

"Ring-ring-ring!"

Less than an hour after entering the highway, Zhang Yang’s phone began to ring. He pulled it out and shook his head self-consciously; it was Mi Xue calling. He wondered where that wild girl had managed to go.

"Zhang Yang, where are you guys?"

As soon as the call connected, Mi Xue shouted on the other end, sounding highly energized.

"Where are you?"

Zhang Yang shook his head again. He hadn't even had a chance to ask; Mi Xue was asking him first. He was certainly chasing from behind, and even at over 140 mph, he couldn't catch up, which indicated their speed was definitely not slow. This began to worry Zhang Yang; Mi Xue wasn't Long Feng. Although she was also a cultivator, she was only at the mid-stage of the first tier. Her ability to react in an emergency wouldn't compare to Long Feng’s.

"We’re at the Huagang Service Area, waiting for you! Hurry up and get here!"

Mi Xue giggled a few times before abruptly hanging up. Zhang Yang’s brow furrowed slightly. His hearing was excellent; besides Mi Xue’s voice, he caught faint, chaotic laughter—sounds that were small and subtle but seemed to be close to her.

"Huagang Service Area, fifty kilometers ahead. We’ll be there soon!"

On the other end, Long Feng murmured softly, pushing the accelerator down further, nearly to the floor. He was already traveling at over 140 mph; reaching a spot fifty kilometers away at that speed would take only about ten minutes. However, this confirmed that Mi Xue’s earlier speed was significant. They had entered the highway ten minutes later and had been relentlessly pursuing them at high speed, yet there was still a ten-plus minute gap, proving their earlier pace was equal to, or perhaps even exceeded, their own.

Thinking of the Bugatti, Zhang Yang felt a familiar pang of helplessness. How could he have agreed to let Mi Xue drive that car? The Bugatti excelled in acceleration and handling; if Mi Xue were so inclined, she could easily hit speeds exceeding 180 mph, leaving them far behind.

Fifty kilometers passed in just over ten minutes, thanks to Long Feng’s extreme speed.

Huagang Service Area was a county-level rest stop, not very large, and there weren't many cars when they approached the access road. Before even reaching the main area, Zhang Yang spotted several vehicles parked irregularly in the center, seemingly forming a circle with Mi Xue’s Bugatti enclosed within.

Long Feng noticed this as well. He eased off the gas slightly, then accelerated again, driving straight off the access road.

"Hey, another one! A Hummer! Wonder if this one has a guy or a gal inside!"

As Zhang Yang's vehicle stopped, a young man with bright yellow hair walked up to the window and peered inside with a grin.

"Buddy, you must have been attracted by that Bugatti up front, too. Too bad you’re a little late to catch up!" the yellow-haired youth called out, leaning against the window to look at Zhang Yang, whose face was already darkening.

Ignoring the man, Zhang Yang directly opened his door and stepped out. In the center of the service area were eight cars. Excluding Mi Xue’s Bugatti, the remaining seven were anything but ordinary: there was a Ferrari, two Porsches, a Mercedes sports car, and a BMW sports car. The other two were sedans, but they were high-end vehicles, each valued close to a million. Seeing a few nice cars on the highway was common, but encountering this many together was rare.

Mi Xue and Qu Meilan were still inside their car, chatting and laughing. Several young people stood beside their vehicle. The one standing nearest the driver’s side door was a young man in a crisp white shirt, looking quite refined. Unlike the others who were flashy, he stood smiling quietly.

"Excuse us,"

Long Feng also got out, moving to stand beside Zhang Yang and effectively shielding the others. Zhang Yang, his face grim, approached the Bugatti’s door. Everyone around instinctively backed away when Long Feng approached, even the composed young man by the door. After Long Feng gently pushed him aside, the young man stared at Long Feng in surprise.

First Chapter RQ