I Kept Searching
After one-eighteenth of a Local Year, the Dog-Headed People finally organized an expedition and, after five-eighteenths of Local Year, set foot in the desolate Center of the Continent of the planet.
The world inhabited by the Dog-Headed People consists of a single continent and a few scattered islands. Even now, the scattered islands overseas remain sparsely populated, and almost all the Dog-Headed People live on the main continent.
Its land area and ocean area are almost equally divided, and what's amazing is that, apart from a few scattered small islands, its landmass is almost entirely a single, continuous piece. Such a large continent, completely glued together, could be called Pangu Continent.
The entire continent straddles the equator, connecting the North and South Poles, with vast oceans on both its eastern and western sides. This geographical environment has created a unique climate: the surrounding areas are rich in moisture and have lush vegetation, while the closer to the Center of the Continent, the drier the climate and the sparser the vegetation. Therefore, the central part of the continent is largely a vast desert.
However, unlike the desert landscapes people are familiar with, the deserts on this planet are not all continuous; instead, they are separated into patches by towering High Mountain and ranges. The highest peaks on the planet are located within the deserts. And the area where the highest peaks are situated is a continuous mountain range, whose summits are perpetually covered in snow.
Because the highest peak is located in the middle of the continent, the melting snow flows down and washes across the desert regions, carving out a great river more than four thousand kilometers long. This river has been flowing for countless millennia.
"Professor Amir, we don't have much food left. We can still turn back now, but if we take any more into the center, it will be a one-way trip."
Looking at the vast desert that the compass needle pointed to, one of the Dog-Headed People in the expedition finally spoke, his gaze fixed on the leader, a Dog-Headed People wearing a cowboy-like hat.
The expedition team consisted of eight members, including its leader, Amir. There was a history expert, two students of the history experts, a theologian, a wilderness survival expert, two strong men in charge of security, and a guy who claimed to be an expert in geography.
When he claims to be a geographer, it is indeed his own claim. He does not have any authoritative certification from any geographical institution, but he is genuinely familiar with the topography and environment of various parts of the mainland. It is precisely because of this ability that he joined the expedition team.
"Brother Eighteen, that old man wouldn't really want to go back, would he?" A Dog-Headed People in charge of security quietly approached the Dog-Headed People who claimed to be knowledgeable in geography and whispered.
"No, this expedition is funded by the state. Professor Amir, as one of the top history professors in the country, won't give up so easily. But the two temporary recruits are another story." The Dog-Headed People known as Brother Eighteen glanced at the Dog-Headed People who was talking to Amir.
That was the theologian in the group, a complete charlatan, who was talking to Professor Amir on the mound, seemingly trying to persuade him to go back.
Actually, when humans lived on the Dog-Headed People Planet, they also had theology. However, they didn't learn the teachings of charlatans, but rather a set of etiquette and worldviews that taught the Dog-Headed People how to obey humans. But as time passed, what humans taught was buried in history, Dog-Headed People world developed its own charlatan theology.
"Shouldn't we go and try to persuade him?" The Dog-Headed People in charge of security also looked in Amir's direction.
"Why try to persuade them? Those who are meant to leave will leave." The Dog-Headed People, known as Brother Eighteen, shook his head, looking as if he had seen through all the ways of life.
Sure enough, as soon as he finished speaking, he heard a few words of arguing coming from Amir's side. Then he saw the theologian say something like, "The True God will not protect you," before turning around and leaving, heading back the way he came.
Accompanying him were a Dog-Headed People in charge of security and a wilderness survival expert. These two had joined the team with him.
"I told you that going down the wrong path would definitely lead to problems, but you wouldn't listen. Now look what's happened, the person is gone, and our expedition is over. Sigh. This might be the last time our teacher leads a team, and if we don't achieve anything, we'll definitely be laughed at by our peers when we get back."
"So what if three people left? I don't think it's that serious. We still have five people. Can't we keep going if there are only five people left?"
"Go? How can we go? It's easy to say. The road ahead is either a vast desert or barren snow-capped Snow Mountain. There's nothing there. What will we eat? I think we should just go back."
"As a student of your teacher, how can your will be so weak? The teacher hasn't even said anything yet!"
"So what do you suggest we do?"
After the three Dog-Headed People left, the sound of two Dog-Headed People arguing came from where Amir was. Judging from their conversation, they were clearly Amir's two students.
After the arguing subsided, the Dog-Headed People known as the myna saw one of the students walking towards it. She was a female Dog-Headed People with soft, orange-yellow fur. By human standards, the expression of this male and Dog-Headed People would be comical, but by Dog-Headed People standards, she was very beautiful.
"Wei Shiba, are you two going back too?" The pretty Dog-Headed People walked over and asked, and it was clear that she was a bit temperamental.
"Oh? San Mei also wants us to leave?" Wei Shiba, the Dog-Headed People known as Brother Shiba, tilted his head and asked.
"It has nothing to do with my hopes. I'm just here to ask you whether you want to go back or continue. Give me an answer. If you want to leave, I'll settle your fees right now. If you want to continue, I'll double your wages. If we really find the Heavenly Gate, I'll give you ten times that." The Dog-Headed People, known as San Mei, was very direct, and her words reeked of capitalism.
Although this expedition was supported by a certain country of the Dog-Headed People, the support was basically only nominal, including some scientific equipment and the basic salaries of the expedition team. Things like adding money to recruit extra team members were not included in the project support funds.
Wei Shiba was well aware of this, so he countered with, "Embezzlement of public funds?"
"No, I funded it myself. Don't misunderstand, I just didn't want to disappoint my teacher." The San Mei of the Dog-Headed People answered decisively, because she was very rich.
"I don't like giving up halfway." A smile appeared on Wei Shiba's Comical Dog Head face. It's a fool not to make money when you can.
Although he didn't want to give up, he figured he might as well take the money that was free.
"You can't tell my teacher about this. Also, now that the wilderness survival expert is gone, what should we do?" The San Mei of the Dog-Headed People looked worried.
"I know a little bit about it," Wei Shiba replied with a smile.