After Jon decided to challenge Canghuo Peak, the elders and tribal representatives decided to stay in the Huaquan Tribe first.
After all, coming and going also takes time.
Hugh Wolf took on the task of explaining the history of Canghuo Peak and its past climbing routes to Jon.
He stated that the higher one went, the fewer people should attempt the climb.
Because the 'God of Canghuo Peak' dislikes noise.
"Elder Hughwolf, before the landslide occurred on the mountain, how many people successfully reached the summit of Canghuo Peak?"
"Five or six people, but it was usually only one successful ascent every five or six years.
Those who successfully reached the summit would receive recognition from the Fire Witch."
"Recognition from the Fire Witch? How did the Fire Witch get up there? And what is her recognition?"
"I'm sorry, I don't know that, as it was too long ago." Hugh Wolf answered Jon's question with a reply that seemed to have been rehearsed thousands of times.
It sounded perfectly reasonable.
After all, for such tribal clans, there were no reliable written records.
It was already quite good to know who one's grandfather was.
Who would remember things from one or two hundred years ago?
Jon announced that he would prepare and depart the next day.
And no sooner had Hugh Wolf left than Old York excitedly approached.
His somewhat cloudy, light-colored eyes gleamed, and he was so close that Jon could feel his breath.
"What's wrong, Old York?"
"Nettles!"
"What?!"
"Nettles! Sheepstealer! Their first Fire Witch was Nettles! On the mountain, on the mountain, the last dragon, Sheepstealer, might be living!"
At this moment, Old York, the fervent 'dragon enthusiast,' proved his worth.
He stated that more than a decade after Aegon Targaryen III inherited the iron throne, a knight in the Vale discovered a dragon in a cave.
On the dragon's back was a white-haired woman in tattered clothes.
That dragon must have been Sheepstealer, and that woman was Nettles.
During the Targaryen civil war, the Targaryen royal family was divided into the 'Blacks' and the 'Greens'.
The leader of the Greens was Rhaenyra Targaryen, daughter and heir of Viserys I.
After the Blacks successively lost dragons and dragonriders, Rhaenyra, in order to unleash the power of the dragons she possessed, widely recruited dragonriders from bastards with Targaryen blood.
Nettles was one such bastard, or rather, bastard daughter.
She originally jointly guarded Harrenhal with Rhaenyra's consort, Daemon, but for some reason, Daemon made Nettles leave.
After that, she never appeared again.
In short, 'the bastard dragonrider' Nettles was the 'first generation Fire Witch' of the Huaquan Tribe.
"So, according to you, Hugh Wolf is helping us so much for... dragon eggs!?"
Undoubtedly, Sheepstealer must be dead by now.
Dragons only live for about two hundred years.
The only possible reason Hugh Wolf was so enthusiastic about helping Jon was the dragon eggs left by Nettles.
Otherwise, if it were merely dragon bones, they didn't seem to have much value.
At least not enough to warrant him doing all this for himself.
While not all Targaryens were unburnt, most were very heat resistant.
Recalling Hugh Wolf's characteristic of not being afraid of heat, Jon became even more certain of this guy's objective.
Nettles had lived in the Huaquan Tribe for so long, so it wasn't strange for her to leave behind some Targaryen bloodline.
"That is to say, Hugh Wolf saw my skills and believed I could find the way up the mountain, which is why he spared no effort to help me."
"Hmm! It must be so!"
"How about this, when we set off, let's bring more people to ensure we can control the situation."
"Leave it to me!"
Soon, it was time to depart.
The elder representatives from the other tribes came to see them off.
Chic no longer solely made things difficult for Jon as he did initially; instead, he uncharacteristically urged him to be careful.
Including Jon and Old York, their party consisted of ten people in total: five Winterfell soldiers and five old veterans.
And Hugh Wolf, who volunteered to be the guide, also brought more than ten of his retainers.
Among them was Hugh Wolf's son, Huff.
It's just that for some reason, these retainers looked a bit bloated.
Seeing Jon brought so many people, Huff quickly advised:
"Lord Jon, didn't we say before? The God of Canghuo Peak likes quiet, and you bring so many people..."
"Then you, as a guide, don't need to bring a dozen people, do you?"
"They're carrying our luggage; they'll turn back halfway." Hugh Wolf 'patched up' his son's excuse. "The path gets narrower the higher you go up the mountain, and too many people would make it difficult to pass and would damage the mountain path."
Jon secretly laughed at how clumsy his excuse was.
"Then let these old fellows stay; they've lived on the mountain since childhood and have reverence for the Gods of the Mountains."
Hugh Wolf was initially dissatisfied, but seeing that Jon had only brought old men, he could only agree.
And Jon was confident that he could still defeat Hugh Wolf even if his side was outnumbered.
Soon after, everyone left the tribe and set off on the road to Canghuo Peak.
Along the way, Hugh Wolf and Jon chatted somewhat aimlessly, seemingly intending to make him lower his guard.
Jon, however, didn't care; for him, it was simple to get close to people and say some irrelevant pleasantries.
But the group hadn't gone far when they saw a figure dart out from the woods ahead.
Everyone became alert, some drawing bows, others drawing swords.
However, when they saw who it was, they felt a sense of relief.
"Hey! Jon! Uh... Elder Hughwolf."
"Sola? Why are you here?"
"Canghuo Peak is very dangerous, I want to go with you."
Hearing her say that, Old York scratched his head.
This girl from the wild tribes was so direct.
A girl from Westeros would never say such a thing.
To say 'I will pray for you before the Gods' would already be very suggestive.
He felt more and more that his granddaughter had no competitiveness.
Jon naturally also had a headache.
He didn't want to get involved in any romantic entanglements.
But with night falling, he couldn't leave her alone in the wilderness.
So he had no choice but to discuss with Hugh Wolf about letting her stay.
But just as everyone was setting up camp to rest, another figure intruded upon their campsite.
It was 'King Vinegar' Harken.
When he couldn't find Sola in the tribe, he only had to think for a moment to know where she had gone.
So, taking advantage of no one being around, he chased after her.
The sudden unexpected turn of events caught Hugh Wolf somewhat off guard.
With so many people around, his plans would be difficult to carry out.
And Jon also realized that no matter what Hugh Wolf intended to do, having 'witnesses' around would somewhat tie his hands and increase his scruples.
The next day, everyone set off again.
Along the way, Sola followed Jon like a tail, constantly asking questions.
As for Harken, he wished he could drill holes in Jon with his gaze.
Fortunately, after less than two days, everyone arrived at Canghuo Peak.
Looking up, this steep peak, suspected to have once harbored dragons, stood like a pillar supporting the sky.
Vegetation still grew up to the middle of the mountain, but above that, it was barren.
"This is Canghuo Peak, let me lead the way for you," Hugh Wolf's son, Huff, said.