After realizing this peculiar thought of his own, Huai Shi imdiately took in several sharp breaths of cold air. Luckily, the Antarctic chill was ample, and nobody cared about global carbon emissions increasing by so infinitesimal fraction. It was just that watching Huai Shi huffing and puffing on the spot made him look more and more like a certain ho-wrecking creature.
He faintly heard a shrill voice coming from a distance.
"Seriously, is this human an idiot?"
"Maybe it's sothing wearing human skin," a simple-sounding voice said. "I can sll it; he has a dog scent on him, very much like Asa."
"How is that similar!" the shrill voice imdiately countered. "Asa is black and white with blue eyes. How are they the sa?"
The simple-sounding voice stated, "That's just what I think."
"Well, I think he doesn't look like him at all," the shrill voice retorted. "He doesn't even have fur. How could he be as good-looking as Asa!"
Huai Shi turned his head in astonishnt. Vaguely, in his daze, he saw a Samoyed and a Saint Bernard by the sleds on the dockside, barking loudly.
Are the dogs talking?
No, that's not right... Suddenly, it seed he could understand what the dogs were saying.
Huai Shi eavesdropped for a while, listening to the two of them argue about the difference between himself and Asa. He couldn't help but ask, "Who is Asa?"
"Ah, who's calling ?" AWOOF! A chubby Husky covered in thick fur lifted its head from a dog bowl as big as a washbasin, looking around in confusion.
Imdiately, the other dogs beside the sleds also started a clamorous debate.
Then, an old man carrying goods walked over and kicked them. They promptly stopped their yelping and fell silent, no longer making a racket.
The old man who had tossed the parcels onto the sled was already in front of Huai Shi. He was so burly, wrapped in padded clothes, that he looked almost like a small mountain. His exposed face, marked with frostbite and scars, exhaled steamy breaths. His green eyes examined Huai Shi before him, and he nodded.
"Huai Shi?" he asked straightforwardly.
"That's ." The youth nodded.
"Alright, then let's go."
The old man nodded, showed his guide credentials, and pointed to his sled. "It's a half-day's ride to the front, and it might snow. Have you brought all your things? If not, I can lend you a set."
"I have." Huai Shi nodded, followed him, and sat on the sled.
Then, after the old man blew a whistle, the well-fed sled dogs all started yelping, straining to pull the sled. Watching them, Huai Shi felt incredibly envious... He really wanted to jump down and help pull for a bit.
"It's common to experience such an overabundance of energy after being quickly liberated from the heavy pressure of destiny, but it's rely an illusion. It's very cold here; you need to conserve your stamina."
The old man pulled out a bottle of liquor from under his feet and tossed a flask to Huai Shi. "Your journey ahead is still long."
"Huh?" Huai Shi took it, sowhat understanding yet confused. He felt sothing was off but couldn't pinpoint what.
Noticing his bewildered expression, the old man sipped his strong liquor and snapped his fingers. It was as if layers of fog were instantly dispelled, reactivating points in Huai Shi's mory and consciousness that had been deliberately blocked and concealed.
It was like a bolt of lightning had shot through his spine.
Huai Shi shivered. In an instant, it all clicked. He recalled KP's true nature and how he'd flaunted his superiority ti and again. Thinking of that bastard, he couldn't help but grind his teeth in frustration.
And when he rembered Madam Sophie, he also felt a strange and eerie sensation. Perhaps she and KP were the sa kind of existence.
And the old man in front of him...
"You can call DM," the old man said calmly. "I'm their companion, and I'm here for you, Huai Shi."
"Why?" Huai Shi asked, still bewildered.
"Because next, you will undergo a trial left behind by the forr Utopia."
DM stated, "According to tradition, we, the three Creators known as the Three Sages, need to assess you and determine if you are qualified to undertake the trial. Only then can you beco a recognized, official mber of Utopia."
"Huh?" It took Huai Shi a long mont to react. "Has this entire journey been a test from Utopia?"
"The test hasn't started yet, Huai Shi," DM explained. "Your trial won't be that simple. However, you don't need to feel too much pressure, because this trial has never had a standard answer, and the result each person seeks is entirely different. Besides, Utopia no longer exists, so just consider it a formality."
Huai Shi was utterly confused. Actually, his head was wrapped in a hat, so he really couldn't scratch it anyway.
Facing the biting wind and the wolf-like howls of the sled dogs, Huai Shi pondered for a long ti before finally realizing. "...So, you're saying KP and Madam Sophie were both testing ?"
"Pretty much." DM nodded. "KP bet soone ten US dollars that you couldn't get through Australia safely. ST's requirent was that you had to win one ga of the Card of the Ages from her. Huai Shi, they both see potential in you. They wouldn't deliberately make things difficult for you, nor would they set up any insurmountable hurdles."
Hearing this, Huai Shi couldn't help but look back at him. "I have a feeling you're about to tell that you're different... that your requirents will be particularly strict."
"Correct." DM nodded. "Just as you've guessed, my requirents are strict. In fact, of the three of us, I am the most demanding."
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