Game of Thrones, Ice and Fire, I hatched the Black Death.

Chapter 18 Treasure News

We cannot take the risk.

"Pack your things, only take the most essentials," Will decided decisively. "Food, water, weapons, fire starter. Abandon everything else. We're leaving immediately, heading northwest into the deeper mountains."

Without a word, Daenerys turned and ran toward the shelter.

Will quickly summoned Shadowflame, which was still whimpering anxiously, to his side and stroked its tense neck.

"Well done, Shadowflame," he whispered. "Remember their scent and their route. But now, we need to get out of here first."

Yingyan nudged his hand with her head, and the agitation in her dark gold vertical pupils subsided slightly, transforming into a cold vigilance.

In less than half an hour, they had finished packing up.

Will took one last look at the small valley where they had lived for over a month, which had given them a brief period of peace and provided Shadowflame with an opportunity to break through, before resolutely turning around and taking Daenerys and Shadowflame into the denser and more rugged primeval forest to the northwest.

Instead of flying high, Shadowflame flew low not far in front of them, acting as a scout and guide, its black figure appearing and disappearing among the gaps in the forest.

The deep mountains to the northwest are far more primitive and treacherous than the valleys before.

Towering ancient trees block out the sun, vines intertwine like giant pythons, miasma permeates the low-lying areas, and poisonous insects and ferocious beasts lurk in every dark corner.

Vell and Daenerys were making exceptionally difficult progress. Shadowflame's aerial advantage was greatly diminished in this dense forest, forcing them to lower their altitude most of the time and weave through the canopy to guide them along relatively safe paths and warn them of the dangers ahead.

They dared not stay in one place for more than one night, and obtaining food became extremely difficult. Often they could only fill their stomachs with small animals hunted by Shadowflame, a limited number of edible fungi that Daenerys could identify, and bitter tree roots.

Will's archery skills were difficult to utilize while moving and in harsh environments, so the hunting knife became his primary tool for self-defense and hunting.

But this is also a kind of forging.

Daenerys's wilderness survival skills improved rapidly under pressure. She learned to keep a fire burning in damp environments, to use moss and tree shadows to orient herself, and even quickly memorized the characteristics of a venomous snake and the possible antidotes nearby after being frightened by it.

Her archery skills were still rusty, but at least her bow-drawing posture was much more stable.

Shadowflame's growth did not stagnate due to the harsh environment; on the contrary, it became more agile and nimble through this high-intensity flight, vigilance, and hunting.

Its wingspan exceeded 2.2 meters, and its body length was close to one meter. Its scales had several deep claw marks left during an encounter with a black panther in the forest, but they healed quickly and became even harder.

Its breath is hotter and lasts longer, capable of igniting damp, rotten wood instantly.

Its sense of danger has become increasingly acute, and it has discovered hidden poisonous swamps and dangerous predator dens several times in advance, allowing them to bypass them.

Contract Dragon: Shadowflame.

Satiety level: 65%.

Body length: approximately 1.05 meters. Wingspan: approximately 2.3 meters.

Growth stage: Young dragon stage.

Abilities: Flame Breath (Young Dragon level, increased power), Dragon's Might (Hatchling Dragon level, enhanced scales, sharp claws and teeth, flight (mastered, adaptable to complex environments).

Intimacy level: 67/100.

The satiety level often hovers around the warning line, but growth continues.

Intimacy level steadily increases.

Just as they were about to lose themselves in this seemingly endless primeval forest, the terrain began to gradually descend, the trees became sparse, and the salty smell of the sea breeze gradually overwhelmed the scent of the forest's humus.

After trekking for another two days, they finally emerged from the dense forest, and a bright and open view appeared before them.

This is a hilly area backed by the last mountain ridge and facing a vast bay.

The terrain is gently undulating, covered with low shrubs and rocks, and in the distance you can see the winding coastline and the azure sea.

Unlike the pure natural wilderness before, there are obvious traces of human activity here—not a village or town, but more like a temporary, chaotic camp.

Tents and simple huts of all sizes and shapes are scattered on the hillside, behind rocks, and even on flat areas near the coast.

There were sturdy and durable canvas tents, as well as shelters made of tattered animal hides and branches.

There were many figures, quite a few in number, roughly no less than a hundred.

They were dressed in various ways; some looked like sailors, some like mercenaries, and some were simply ragged vagrants.

Smoke drifted through the camp, mingled with rough laughter, arguments, and even the occasional clang of weapons clashing.

Most importantly, these people did not seem to be paying attention to each other, nor did they appear to be engaged in normal trade or rest.

Their gazes were mostly fixed on the depths of the hills, on that area of ​​jagged rocks and sparse vegetation, their eyes filled with greed, eagerness, suspicion, and a kind of fervor unique to treasure hunters.

Will immediately signaled Daenerys and Shadowflame to hide behind a huge weathered rock.

Shadowflame folded its wings, lowered its body, and its dark gold vertical pupils warily scanned the distant camp.

Daenerys gripped her hunting knife tightly with tension.

They observed carefully.

The camp appeared to be loosely set up, but several key intersections leading into the depths of the hills seemed to be guarded or secretly watched over.

The group of people chatted in hushed tones, occasionally pointing in a direction deep within the hills.

Will needs information.

He told Daenerys and Shadowflame to remain hidden, while he, relying on the stealth skills honed through months of wilderness survival, moved silently like a shadow, using the bushes and rocks for cover, and approached the edge of the camp.

He chose a relatively secluded corner downwind, where two men who looked like down-on-their-luck mercenaries were gathered around a small fire, roasting an unknown sea fish and talking in hushed tones.

Their weapons were casually placed around them, and they were not very vigilant.

Will lurked in the shadow of a rock a few meters away, listening intently.

"Damn it, I've been in this godforsaken place for almost half a month and haven't seen a single copper coin!" A burly man with a scar on his face spat and viciously tore off a piece of fish.

"What's the rush, old one-eyed man?" Another, thinner man with shrewd eyes slowly flipped the grilled fish. "If the 'Silver Sail' Morrison family's treasure were so easy to find, would it be our turn, you worthless fish and shrimp? Those old men of Pentos would have already emptied it all."

Silver Sail Morrison?

Will's heart skipped a beat.

He seemed to have vaguely heard this name when Daenerys recounted the history of the free-trading city-state. It seemed to be a once incredibly wealthy merchant family that made its fortune through maritime trade and lending, but suddenly fell into ruin a little over a decade ago, with family members scattered and their assets lost, becoming one of the most widely circulated mysteries of Essos.