They returned to Anchorage to rest.
Climbing Mount Denali is no easy feat. It's the highest peak in North America, exceeding 6,000 meters in altitude.
Denali, in the Native American language, means "House of the Sun ".
Native Americans believe that the Sun's home is on the highest peak of Mount Denali.
For a long time, Mount Denali was called Mount McKinley, so Huang Liang was unfamiliar with the name Denali. But when McKinley was mentioned, he remembered that it was the president's name. The mountain was named after the president until 2015, when it was officially restored to the original name passed down by the Native American tribe.
Liang had never climbed a mountain. He had seen a movie a few years ago about climbing Mount Everest, and if it weren't for something called national honor supporting him, it would be hard to imagine how those people accomplished the final feat. He knew that real mountaineering would only be more difficult than depicted in the movies.
Hong Kui told Huang Liang that Mount Denali is one of the most difficult mountains in the world to climb, not to mention that it is winter now and no one has ever reached the summit during this season.
Huang Liang asked him, "Can we do it?"
Hong Kui said, "Yes."
Huang Liang asked him why he could.
Hong Kui suddenly laughed mysteriously and said jokingly, "Because we are the chosen ones."
Huang Liang said, "According to the clues in the dream, that thing will only glow during a total lunar eclipse. If there's no total lunar eclipse, we won't be able to find it at all."
Hong Kui said, "I've already had someone check, and we're lucky. There will be a total lunar eclipse in ten days, Alaska will be able to see the entire process. But unfortunately, the weather forecast shows that there's a high chance of blizzards in south-central Alaska during that time. That means we only have about a week to prepare, and then, two amateur climbers will have to challenge one of the world's most difficult mountains to climb in winter."
Huang Liang was stunned for a long time, then smiled wryly and said, "He really is the chosen one."
Their rest period in Anchorage was too short for them to receive professional training, but they had a method akin to cheating: practicing in their dreams.
First, they gathered various materials about Denali Peak, especially pictures and videos. Then, with the strong financial support of the Wolf Family, they dispatched helicopters and drones to conduct extensive reconnaissance along all directions of Mount Denali. When all this information was copied into their dream, just like in a game, a near-real Mount Denali stood before them.
In their dreams, they tried countless times, over and over again, climbing the snow slopes and struggling forward on the icicles. They experienced the pressure that the thin air exerted on their hearts and lungs, and the pressure between the scorching sun overhead and the icy snow beneath their feet almost crushed them; they felt as if they were walking through a narrow crevice.
In less than a week, they experienced years of training in their dreams. Their physical functions gradually changed as they experienced these conscious sensations.
Huang Liang felt his muscles getting stronger, and once his toes even got frostbite, as if he had really walked in the snow for three days and three nights.
Before setting off, Hong Kui found a mountain guide from a local Native American tribe, while Enluke stayed down the mountain to provide support.
The Native American was clearly reluctant, because nobody wanted to go up the mountain at this time of year; it was tantamount to suicide.
"We don't need to climb to the summit," Hong Kui said.
The Native American still shook his head. "That's still too dangerous. Who knows when the mountain god will get angry? Storms, avalanches, ice cracks—anything can happen at any time. Even if you only get halfway up the mountain, danger is everywhere."
Huang Liang knew the Native Americans were right. No matter how much they practiced in their dreams, they could not simulate the ever-changing weather conditions on Mount Denali. They could only create a mountain landscape exactly like reality in their dreams, but they could not predict the future.
Hong Kui glanced at Enluke, Enluke immediately understood and placed a large wad of US dollars in front of the Indian. That was probably more than he could earn in 10 years.
A glimmer of light appeared in the Indian's eyes, but it paled in comparison to the glow of the snow outside. His face was filled with hesitation.
Just then, the door to the inner room opened, and his wife came out carrying the child, announcing that dinner was ready. The child, perched on the woman's shoulder, stared wide-eyed at the room full of strangers.
Upon seeing his wife and children, the Indian's face, like the Alaska weather, began to change. His expression gradually hardened, yet his eyes filled with tenderness.
Hong Kui added, "This is just a deposit. If everything goes smoothly and we find what we want, you'll receive ten times the final payment. Don't worry, even if something unexpected happens to us, you'll still get the money. Enluke will give it to your family."
For the sake of the large sum of US dollars, the Native Americans finally agreed.
Nine Alaska Malamutes accompanied them up the mountain.
The first half of the ascent went smoothly. Because they had rehearsed it countless times in their dreams, they roughly knew the direction to climb.
The Indian guide knew every danger on the mountain: where the snow was hollow, where there were cracks, and where the bear traps were.
After climbing a small peak, Huang Liang saw the exact same scene he had seen in his dream on the Harding Icefield: two enormous mountain peaks rising abruptly from a continuous range of snow-capped mountains, towering into the clouds, with sunlight reflecting off the year-round snow and creating an eerie glow.
"That's it! That's it!" Huang Liang shouted excitedly.
"Can you pinpoint the general direction?" Hong Kui asked. "At least we need to know which mountain it is. The total lunar eclipse is very short; I'm afraid we won't make it to the location it indicates in time."
Huang Liang shook his head and said, "I can't be sure which mountain it was. The fog was very thick on the mountain at that time. It was the white wolf who led me there."
The Native American guide found it very strange and asked, "What are you talking about? What white wolf? Have you been here before?"
Huang Liang was already quite familiar with him, and joked, "I have indeed been here, but only in a dream; a god brought me here."
The guide was quite surprised, seemingly unable to believe that God would bring a different kind of person to the sacred mountain of the Native Americans, but he didn't say much, because at that moment, fog rolled in on the mountain.
"A storm is coming," the Indian said. "We'd better go back now."
Huang Liang looked at Hong Kui, Hong Kui gazed resolutely at the distant mountains and said, "No, we won't go back. The total lunar eclipse is tonight, and we only have this one chance with the Tushu."
The Native American said angrily, "Are you crazy? The storm will kill you. What are you looking for? You're angering the gods! How can a man defy the gods?"
Huang Liang looked up at the pale sky and said, "We are fighting against the gods."
"What?" The Native American said he didn't understand.
The wind picked up. It whistled through the air, cutting like knives onto people's faces and the books.
The wind grew stronger, carrying snowflakes, ice particles, and the roar of the mountain god.
The fog grew thicker, obscuring the sunlight and blocking people's vision.
"Go back now!" the Native American pleaded, his voice trembling.
The nine Alaska Malamutes he brought also started whimpering and trembling. But clearly, they weren't afraid of the storm.
At that moment, a long howl echoed from within the thick fog.
Huang Liang saw the shadow of the white wolf, appearing and disappearing in the mist ahead.
The whistling continued, and at the same time, Huang Liang suddenly heard a strange "quack" sound.
He looked up abruptly and saw a black dot flash briefly in the clouds before disappearing completely.