Outside base camp, more and more people were emerging from the campsite, not to climb, but to see what this year's only qualifier actually looked like.
A white man spat at Bi Fang's feet, but Bi Fang did not even spare him a glance.
"Remember to sign your body donation for organs!" someone yelled at the top of their lungs, followed by a burst of laughter, "Oh, I forgot, probably nobody wants your frozen organs! Hahaha."
Laughter echoed through the camp, but Bi Fang seemed to hear nothing, see nothing, just moving forward.
Snowshoes crunched on the snow, and crampons left sharp holes in the ground.
"Come on!"
A roar rose above all other noises, and people turned back to see—it was another Asian.
Was it the man's companion?
The people wondered.
The laughter did not stop, in fact, it grew even more unrestrained.
"Come on!"
Another roar sounded.
It came from an Asian, a fat man.
"Come on!"
It was from a young Sherpa man.
"Come on!"