HLM – Chapter 892 Astonishing Results

The dark night sky suddenly became dazzling because of the aurora.

Wang Bo embraced Eva and Dale, leaning back on the sled, staring blankly at the aurora.

He had intended to surprise Eva this time, but ended up being stunned himself. He wondered if this could count as the saying “sending roses leaves a lingering fragrance on one’s own hands.”

At first, the aurora was breathtaking; the longer you looked, the more beautiful it remained, but it no longer carried the same shock as at first glance.

Just then, someone walked over to greet them: “Hi, sir, hello.”

Wang Bo turned to see a lean middle-aged man and asked, “Hi, may I ask—?”

The man smiled: “Sorry to disturb your viewing. This scene is beautiful, isn’t it?”

Wang Bo felt puzzled—what did this person want with him?

But, being a man of good upbringing, he kept his smile and patiently replied, “Yes, yes. I never imagined the sky could be so beautiful. It’s truly breathtaking.”

The man then asked, “Are you visiting Rovaniemi for tourism?”

Wang Bo nodded and said, “I understand how you feel. When I first saw the aurora, I was so overwhelmed that I shivered all over. I felt as if my soul had shed its shell and became part of the aurora itself.”

At that, he extended his hand in a friendly gesture. “Tony Jackson, from Texas, USA, but I’ve settled in this beautiful city.”

Wang Bo shook his hand. “I’m Wang, from China. Like you, I’m an immigrant, though I moved to New Zealand. Did you come here because of the aurora?”

Jackson shook his head with a smile. “No, the main reason is that I’m a dog sled racing coach. This sport is very popular in Finland, and I thought I could develop my career better here.”

Wang Bo understood. He glanced at the two sled dogs beside him and asked, “You came here for these two?”

Jackson nodded: “Although today’s race isn’t over yet, I’d bet that you will win. The championship will be yours.”

Wang Bo shrugged. “Looks like my two kids achieved great results.”

“Of course, outstanding results—155 seconds. That’s incredible,” Jackson said. “Even more amazing, this is the work of just two dogs. Their burst speed is as impressive as a cheetah’s.”

Wang Bo said indignantly, “Yes, but I don’t think they’re necessarily champions. As you said, the race isn’t over yet.”

Jackson replied: “They will be champions. This is a record for this event—no dog has ever finished under 160 seconds!”

Wang Bo vaguely guessed his intention and said: “Even so, what does that prove? This race isn’t very serious, and maybe it’s also because our sled is lighter.”

Because of Christmas, the competition wasn’t very intense. Most participants were just here for fun. They weren’t trying their hardest but enjoying the festive atmosphere. Usually, the owners drove the sleds themselves. Compared to that, Wang Bo’s sled dogs naturally pulled a lighter sled and ran more easily.

After a brief pause, the race resumed. A new team of dogs ran past. Eva checked the scoreboard and returned quietly: “This team’s first place finished in 182 seconds.”

Only then did Wang Bo realize just how powerful his dogs were. They hadn’t just beaten their competitors—they had crushed them.

He looked at Jackson and asked, “So you didn’t come just to greet or congratulate us. You want to buy these two kids from me, don’t you?”

Dale panicked and hugged the dogs tightly. “No, no, no! You can’t sell Zhuang Ding and Queen! Otherwise, I’ll cry every day! I won’t go to school ever again!”

Zhuang Ding whimpered and buried his big head into Dale’s arms. Queen blinked, still unsure what was happening, calmly sitting to the side.

Jackson said: “If you were willing to make an offer, I’d negotiate sincerely.”

Wang Bo smiled: “No, we won’t sell them.”

Jackson interrupted: “I thought so. These two dogs aren’t professional sled dogs, and you’re just tourists. They’re so extraordinary because you treat them as family, right?”

Wang Bo nodded: “Exactly. They’re our family, and we love each other.”

Jackson nodded in understanding: “Perhaps these are the best dogs I’ve ever seen. A child can drive the sled this fast, which means they weren’t even at full power.”

“What do you mean?” Wang Bo asked.

“In sled racing, dogs don’t just drag the sled. They have to maintain balance, so the lead dog is crucial. It chooses the route and protects the owner behind. Part of the dogs’ energy goes into preventing the sled from tipping.”

Jackson said: “I didn’t come to buy these dogs. I know that’s unlikely. My primary goal is to invite them to the Iditarod Sled Dog Race!”

The Iditarod Sled Dog Race is the “World Cup” of the sport, the marathon of sled dog racing. Only the best racing dogs qualify.

According to the rules, each team has one musher and sixteen dogs. They start near Anchorage and sled to Nome—a distance of 1,161 miles, or 1,868 kilometers!

The race originated in the winter of 1925. At that time, diphtheria was rampant in Nome. A batch of diphtheria serum was shipped from Anchorage to Nenana by train but was delayed by a snowstorm.

Brave locals took the serum and ran a dog sled relay 1,125 kilometers nonstop to save lives, saving at least 500 people. This story made global headlines, though later, outside Alaska, most people forgot the 20 courageous men and their dogs.

In the 1970s, the International Sled Dog Racing Association revived the story. In 1973, the Iditarod was established as Alaska’s most prestigious and popular sled dog race. Unlike today’s fun Christmas races, the Iditarod is fully professional, with substantial prizes—over one million dollars for the champion.

Jackson said: “The record is eight days, twenty-two hours, forty-six minutes, and two seconds, set by Martin Buser in 2002. It’s stood for over a decade. I think if your dogs compete, this record could be broken!”