As the car neared the cliff, Lu Ming yanked the steering wheel hard, executing a sharp turn at high speed.
Xiao Zhan sputtered, "Madman, you're a madman! How can you possibly take a corner at that speed? Too fast, the grip is completely insufficient, the car will definitely flip!"
Indeed, the speed was too great, the turn too abrupt. Under normal circumstances, flipping was a certainty, an unavoidable fate.
Facing such a predicament, Lu Ming had his own solution!
Instead of taking the outside of the curve, Lu Ming opted for the inside! This was because the inner edge of the curve had a row of drainage channels, covered with iron bars forming a grid.
As the car drove over these grids, its significant weight would force the wheels into the gaps, essentially getting stuck.
This way, as the car moved, the wheels would catch and then break free, each catch and release imparting a tremendous downward force.
Grip!!!
This drainage channel was used to enhance the car's grip. Although it would cause considerable damage to the tires, it ensured the car could still turn at extreme speeds without flipping.
A genius! To devise such a method for turning, he was truly a genius among geniuses.
In the blink of an eye, the car, gripping the drainage channel at breakneck speed, navigated the turn and returned to the normal road.
Then, Lu Ming slammed on the brakes, bringing the car to a halt.
Safe turn!
They were safe, but the truck behind them met a grim fate.
The truck driver's original plan was to use the impact with Lu Ming's car to forcibly slow down, thus avoiding falling off the cliff, even though his own speed was also high.
However, he never anticipated that Lu Ming would use such an unconventional method to navigate the turn!
This left the truck without a target and no possibility of a braking collision. It could only charge towards the cliff at full speed.
The driver, while braking, furiously spun the steering wheel, also attempting to turn.
But he wasn't Lu Ming. He hadn't utilized the drainage channel, and the truck's inertia was far greater than that of a sedan. Even with the drainage channel, it might not have helped.
At extreme speed, a sharp turn without increased grip could only lead to one outcome – flipping.
As expected.
The truck flipped over, smashing through the roadside barriers, and plunged directly off the cliff.
A few seconds later, a deafening 'bang' echoed as the truck smashed into the bottom of the cliff, followed by a massive explosion.
Flames erupted into the sky.
Even if the truck driver hadn't died from the fall, he would have been killed by the explosion, or if not that, then by the fire.
Even if he were a cat demon with nine lives, he would have met his end with this fall.
Over there.
Xiao Zhan sat in the driver's seat, trembling, his eyes vacant.
He hadn't recovered from the shock, utterly terrified. The feeling of having brushed past death was something he had never experienced before.
Thrilling, exhilarating!
He definitely didn't want a repeat of it.
"Hey," Lu Ming reached out and patted Xiao Zhan's face, asking, "How are you? Scared silly?"
Xiao Zhan slowly came back to his senses, looking at Lu Ming in disbelief. "You, you t-"
Lu Ming shook his head. "No, going back is just avoiding the problem. The issue still hasn't been resolved. Besides, it's not both of us going, it's just me."
Xiao Zhan blinked. "What do you mean?"
Lu Ming said, "Bringing you along would be a drag, just getting in the way. You stay here, take a taxi back yourself. I'll drive to the Jia family alone. Whether I live or die, that's fate."
This...
So manly!
Xiao Zhan gazed at Lu Ming, almost mesmerized. If he were a woman, he might have fallen in love with Lu Ming.
On the surface, Lu Ming was calling Xiao Zhan a burden.
In reality, wasn't he just giving Xiao Zhan an excuse to bow out, preventing him from getting involved in the mess?
This sharp tongue and kind heart warmed Xiao Zhan.
Lu Ming unbuckled Xiao Zhan's seatbelt, opened the door, and pushed Xiao Zhan out, instructing, "Take a taxi back yourself. Remember to change your pants first, so you don't get laughed at when you get back."
With that, Lu Ming closed the door, floored the accelerator, and ventured into the dragon's den alone.
Xiao Zhan stood on the roadside, watching Lu Ming's car disappear, a complex feeling welling up inside him. Even at a time like this, Lu Ming remembered to tell him to change his pants, preventing him from losing face.
He was truly a profoundly kind man, a great elder brother!
In that moment, Xiao Zhan felt ashamed of all his past ill treatment towards Lu Ming.
He slapped himself hard.
"Lu Ming, you must come back alive!"