Sora, the little fangirl, was a rare beauty even among the surrounding "ten miles and eight villages."
Add to that her father being the High Elder of the Painted Dogs.
So, the chief who was making things difficult for Jon recognized Sora immediately.
Seeing Sora's protective stance, a smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth:
"Hah, Victor, your daughter certainly has a mind of her own."
Seeing his daughter like this, Victor felt a twinge of displeasure.
It was a father's instinct.
Originally, Victor planned to marry his daughter to Hakon to help consolidate his authority.
Meanwhile, Hakon's expression was a mix of shock, anger, and dejection.
"Sora! Get out of here!"
"Father..."
Sora blinked her deep blue eyes, looking at Victor pitifully.
Hughwolf watched the scene with amusement.
If Jon took Sora away, it would be quite beneficial for him.
At least Hakon wouldn't stand so firmly by Victor's side anymore.
Old York, on the other hand, felt surprised and a sense of crisis.
His granddaughter wasn't as pretty as Sora, and now it seemed she wasn't as proactive either.
From what he knew, boys like Jon who grew up without a mother were most susceptible to this kind of "direct offense."
Maybe he should make the dowry a bit richer?
Old York shook his head, wondering what he was thinking. This was a tense standoff!
Seeing the situation, the chief who had challenged Jon suddenly laughed:
"Hahaha, you kid are something else. Been here a few days and you've already plucked the prettiest flower of the mountain clans. My name is Cheek. And you are... Jon?"
"Yes, Elder Cheek."
Jon looked at the tribal leader, who seemed to be in his early thirties. His eyes were narrow and long, cunning like a wolf's.
"I'm no elder," Cheek said, stabbing his sword into the ground and sitting back down. "Gentlemen, I think we can trust this young man."
Hearing this, the others nodded one after another.
The reactions of Sora, her father, and Hakon were too genuine to be faked.
In fact, Cheek's worry had been that Jon was colluding with the Painted Dogs to trick them.
Hughwolf probably hadn't realized that his tireless efforts to help Jon contact these people had aroused suspicion.
They thought the Painted Dogs were conspiring with the outsider to trap them.
As everyone sat back down, Old York breathed a sigh of relief.
He turned to look at Jon and found him completely unfazed, as if nothing had happened.
This sparked a thought in his mind: Is my granddaughter worthy of him?
Old York quickly found the answer.
Setting aside his bastard status, Jon was truly outstanding.
Superb martial skills, first-rate strategy, and exceptional courage.
If any earl or duke had such an heir, they'd be grinning from ear to ear every day.
This might be... a joke from the gods.
However, Jon hadn't fully figured it out either.
The "conflict" came and went quickly.
He simply realized that suspicion among the mountain clans was severe.
Cheek and the others didn't immediately accept Jon's alliance request after sitting back down. Instead, they raised a very practical question:
How would Jon prove he could lead their warriors to victory?
"He..." Sora, who hadn't moved away yet, tried to interject but was stopped by her father.
Sora wanted to say "He defeated Hakon," but the words stuck in her throat.
"Jon, is it? Jon, I've seen the Lannister army you speak of. Their soldiers cover the valleys, their banners blot out the sky. You only brought these few men. How can I trust you? Furthermore, you should know that we often bleed over a single well, a stream, or a wild boar. Even if we hand our warriors to you, how will you convince them to obey your commands and fight for you?"
"Elder Cheek, state your requirements. I will do my best to satisfy them."
"Right now, you need to prove yourself to me."
Although Cheek kept making things difficult, Jon didn't dislike him deep down.
The guy put everything on the table.
But how to prove himself was a tricky question.
At this moment, Hughwolf spoke up:
"Everyone, I have a good idea."
Everyone looked at Hughwolf, Jon included.
Hughwolf seemed to always help him at critical moments.
If he asked for a reward later, that would be fine. If he asked for nothing, Jon would have to be very wary.
Hughwolf stood up and said:
"Everyone knows our Painted Dogs tribe has a Fire-Cache Peak. Long ago, our first Fire Witch lived there. But a hundred years ago, the mountain collapsed, and the path up became incredibly treacherous. No one has been able to climb it for a century. I think if Jon can climb Fire-Cache Peak, it might prove his worth. I also think it would show that the gods of the mountains and the moon accept him, and our warriors wouldn't reject him anymore. What do you say?"
So the test is mountain climbing?
Hearing Hughwolf's suggestion, Sora looked nervous immediately.
She grew up hearing the tribe's stories.
She knew Fire-Cache Peak well. The path destroyed by the collapse was unclimbable!
"Acceptable!" Cheek, the elder who had been grilling Jon, agreed with Hughwolf's suggestion.
"I agree too."
"If he can really climb it, it means the gods accept him. I agree."
Seeing everyone agree, Hughwolf said happily:
"If no one objects, I will be Jon's witness. Of course, everyone can watch from the western slope of our tribe." He looked at Jon. "Jon, if you reach the top, remember to light a fire so everyone can see."
Wait, you guys are testing me, but I haven't agreed yet!
Jon stood up and said:
"Elders, I am but a bastard. There are many brave warriors among the mountain clans. I don't presume I can definitely reach the top. I want to see Fire-Cache Peak first before deciding."
"Good!" Cheek said, a hint of admiration in his eyes.
If Jon had agreed immediately, Cheek would have been reluctant to entrust his warriors to him.
But Jon's caution earned his respect.
So, led by Victor, the group went to a slope overlooking Fire-Cache Peak.
"That is Fire-Cache Peak."
Hughwolf pointed to the mountain ahead.
He didn't need to point. Jon could spot the steepest, most perilous peak at a glance.
On the east side of Fire-Cache Peak, it looked like a giant axe had sliced off a chunk.
It had a smooth, flat "face."
The cliff was almost perfectly vertical!
That must be where the path used to be.
"How is that possible to climb?!"
Old York gasped in disbelief upon seeing the sheer cliff.
"Well, boy? If you think you can't do it, it's not too late to give up," Cheek said teasingly.
Beside him, Hughwolf watched nervously.
If Jon refused the test, all his earlier efforts would be wasted.
Jon looked at the distant peak, evaluating his chances.
Suddenly:
[Remaining Upgrade Points: 2]
"I'm willing to try."