HLM -Chapter 1179 The Tortoise and the Hare

The Chinese Rural Dogs had finally become famous.

At the very least, in the history of sled dog racing, they would leave behind a bold, unforgettable mark.

Reporters crowded around, cameras clicking nonstop as they photographed the ten dogs. Wang Bo lined them up deliberately, hoping to use this race as a proper stage to promote them.

Compared to Alaskan Malamutes, Chinese Rural Dogs possessed a different kind of beauty. Their bodies weren’t as thick and heavyset as the Alaskans’; instead, they were leaner, sharper, and more compact.

What truly set Wang Bo’s dogs apart, however, was something Alaskan Malamutes lacked—their spirit. Their eyes always shone with a lively glint, their demeanor eternally upbeat, energetic without being overly excitable. This left the local spectators marveling in amazement.

We’re not just food. We’re cute. And we’re capable too.

The dogs wagged their tails as they posed for the photos, and through the reporters’ hands, their images spread to newspapers everywhere.

There would be a press conference later. For now, Wang Bo needed to rest and wait for the other sled teams to arrive.

This time, he had finished the race in a record-breaking 8 days and 20 minutes, smashing a world record that had stood for more than a decade—the one set in 2002 by Martin Bass.

An official sighed in admiration. “Mr. Wang, you’re incredible. You’ve left behind a monument that future racers can only look up to in awe.”

Wang Bo replied modestly, “You flatter me. I just did okay.”

“Just okay?” Tony exclaimed dramatically. “No, no, no. Just like when God created the world, you’ve lifted this sport into an entirely new realm.”

When this race was first established, completing the course took more than twenty days. Back then, people believed that without changing dogs, a team would need at least twenty days to finish the full distance.

Over time, the record kept shrinking, but only by a few hours at a time. Wang Bo, however, had slashed nearly an entire day off the record—the single largest improvement in the race’s history.

Tony chuckled. “Too bad you were still just a bit short. If you hadn’t gone fishing along the way, or cooked your own meals, or even fallen off the sled just now, you might’ve broken into the eight-day mark.”

“Do you know what people have debated most over the past ten years?” he continued. “That it’s impossible for this race to be completed in under eight days.”

Wang Bo said, “Isn’t that a bit exaggerated? Didn’t they deliver serum back then in just five days and five hours?”

Tony nodded. “Yes, but that was a relay. They ran day and night without stopping. Once a dog could no longer run, it was abandoned and replaced with a fresh one.”

Dale protested angrily, “That’s way too cruel! How could they treat dogs like that?”

Tony sighed helplessly. “There was no other choice, my little princess. You have to understand—on one side were four thousand human lives, and on the other side were just—”

“Ahem.” Wang Bo cut him off quickly. “Dale, you misunderstood. When Uncle Tony says ‘abandoned,’ he doesn’t mean killing them. They were released while still alive. Those dogs could survive—sled dogs are born to live in snowy environments.”

After finishing the interviews, Wang Bo called Eva to share the good news.

Eva exclaimed happily, “You’ve safely arrived in Nome already? All the dogs are fine, right? Zhuang Ding and Queen weren’t injured, were they?”

“Of course,” Wang Bo replied reassuringly. “Don’t worry. I didn’t encounter any polar bears or wolf packs. The journey went smoothly, and I arrived without any trouble.”

“That’s God’s blessing!” Eva said.

Wang Bo chuckled. “So… did God also bless our baby to behave nicely?”

Eva groaned. “Oh my God, don’t even mention it. I have a feeling I won’t be sleeping comfortably for a long time.”

“It’s fine,” Wang Bo comforted her. “Hang in there. Once this phase passes, it’ll be okay. One child is enough for us.”

Eva wasn’t afraid of hardship or tiring work—but she was terrified of losing sleep. If the little girl was a foodie, then Eva was a hardcore sleeper.

After thinking for a moment, Eva said, “We’ll see. Sleeping a bit less isn’t a big problem—if we end up with a smart, cute, obedient child. But if we have one like Dale… haha, then one is definitely enough.”

Dale snapped angrily, “Sister, what nonsense are you talking about? Brother-in-law is on speaker!”

Eva laughed awkwardly. “I know, I know. I’m just joking with you.”

“Don’t treat me like a fool,” the little girl huffed. “You weren’t joking at all.”

“Then how about I buy you five galaxy lollipops as an apology when I get back?”

“Do you think I’m a little kid? Am I still a kid?”

“Then ten.”

“…That’s more like it.”

After chatting with Eva, Wang Bo spoke with his parents for a while, then went to shower and sleep.

Nome was a small town with no large hotels, but staying at a small inn had its advantages. The dogs stayed in the backyard—he could see them just by leaning out of his window.

When Wang Bo woke up, the daylight outside was perfect. He went downstairs to ask around: it was 2:30 in the afternoon, and no other teams had arrived yet. The second-place team was still sixty kilometers away.

Clearly, they wouldn’t make it during the day and would have to return after dawn tomorrow.

To everyone’s surprise, the second-place team chose to travel through the night. Their sled arrived at one in the morning, under the moonlight, braving the freezing wind.

Wang Bo exclaimed, “This guy is really something.”

Traveling at night was dangerous and slower—a strategy that usually wasn’t worth the risk.

Tony crossed his arms and said, “Obviously, your first-place finish stimulated him. If he didn’t push himself, he might not even have secured second place.”

The man showed astonishing perseverance. He forced himself to reach the finish line. According to the organizers’ evaluation, “He fired his very last bullet.”

Upon entering the town, he collapsed straight off the sled. The dogs couldn’t run anymore either; they dragged the sled forward step by step into Nome.

People rushed over to help. Wang Bo joined them, carrying the burly man into a room.

The dogs were taken away, veterinarians hooking them up to glucose drips to help them recover.

After daybreak, another team arrived. That racer said bitterly, “Damn it. I came for the championship. I never thought I’d end up with second place.”

Someone laughed. “Buddy, you didn’t even get second—you’re third. Second place arrived at 1:15 a.m.”

Only then did Wang Bo fully understand Tony’s earlier comment about this man needing to push himself just to get second. He had originally been in third place and overtook his rival while the second-place team rested overnight.

Once he grasped the situation, Wang Bo couldn’t help thinking of the story of the Tortoise and the Hare.

Second place had embodied that fable with his very life. If not for Wang Bo, he would have been the champion.

And with such unyielding determination, he truly deserved it.