"Look at you, in your magnificent armor, wielding the Targaryen's sword. Dressed like a Targaryen heir. What do you intend to inherit? All of this? All of this, I forged with my own hands. You've never shared your life with me, and now you want everything I have? I don't know who patronized you, but I will find out. And then I'll hang his head on my gates."
Daenerys ultimately didn't kill Aegon. She needed to determine if he was truly of Targaryen blood. If so, he might still be of some use—to leave a few descendants for the Targaryen family. In other words, to act as a stud and produce a few children. Because Daenerys's body had been damaged by dark magic, she was almost infertile.
However, if the other person truly is of Targaryen blood, then a very interesting question arises. The prophecy of dragons having three heads becomes even more credible. It means that there is still one person of Targaryen blood alive in this world. If that person is found, Aegon might not even be able to remain a stallion.
As for Ser Jon Clinton, if Aegon's identity is true, it means he raised a Targaryen. While that doesn't guarantee Daenerys's affection, it at least ensures his survival.
Blackfire was naturally taken back by Daenerys; this sword truly held immense significance for the Targaryens. If possible, Daenerys would even like to reclaim all Targaryen swords.
That evening, Daenerys had dinner with Lu Xuan.
"Teacher, do you think I did the right thing?"
"Heh, this is your home, Daenerys. You have the right to do whatever you want. Whatever you choose, no one can blame you. After all, you are the last Targaryen."
“I think so too. Even if Aegon’s blood is real, his intelligence is completely inadequate to bear the glory of the Targaryen family’s revival. He’s too impatient, too arrogant, or as my teacher would say, ambitious but incompetent. He could have approached me and slowly gained my trust by coming to me as an exiled Targaryen. Maybe then I would have thought more highly of him. But his performance at the door was simply that of a useless piece of trash.”
“It’s understandable. Ser Jon Clinton may be a good man, a loyal knight. But he’s clearly not a good teacher. Aegon never received any real training in the ways of the emperor. It’s normal for him to behave this way. There’s no need to take it to heart.”
“I understand. I’ve already started preparations. We’ll set off for Westeros in three days. I need to see the true state of the Seven Kingdoms with my own eyes before I can make any further plans.”
“This is indeed something that needs to be done. Do you remember the news that came from those caravans a few days ago?”
"You mean the legend of the White Ghost?"
“It was indeed a legend. But since it has suddenly become popular in this era, there must be a reason. It’s better to believe it than not. Even if there is only a one in ten thousand chance that it is true, we must take it seriously.”
“I understand. The last stop on this adventure will be the Wall. I’m actually quite curious about it too. What is the legendary end of the world like?”
.................
Westeros, in the North, at the Wall.
Jon Snow looked out over the walls of the Wall at the densely packed wildling tents, and felt a headache coming on. Despite his unwavering faith in the Wall, their numbers were simply too few. One hundred thousand wildlings against fewer than three hundred guards. Unless a miracle occurred...
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Chapter 282 Old Town
Paiya's magic progressed extremely rapidly, and he was now beginning to feel fortunate to be following Daenerys. Being near the dragons had accelerated his magical advancement. Many ancient secret arts were no longer considered secret arts.
"Your Majesty, I have the results. That young man is indeed of your clan."
“Is that so? Then give him a courtyard and let him stay there. Under no circumstances can he leave the courtyard. Apart from three meals a day, no one can have contact with him. Let Ago be in charge of this.”
As one of the earliest centaurs to follow Daenerys, Aggle was absolutely reliable in both skill and loyalty. Crucially, he was a centaur, and his loyalty was unwavering. In this matter, he was even more dependable than Ser Barristan.
Three days later, Lu Xuan and Daenerys were fully prepared. It's worth mentioning that this trip included another person: Barristan. On one hand, they needed Barristan's connections to get to Westeros. On the other hand, it was also to keep him away from Aegon Targaryen.
It's still Drogon and Viserion, two dragons. Daenerys needs to leave one dragon behind to ensure stability here. Her Dragonwalker ability allows her to quickly possess Rhaegal, the third leader, ensuring control over the situation.
Lu Xuan could use his true energy to reduce the weight of the two of them, thus lessening Viserion's burden.
The dragon soared into the sky, its first stop being the old town.
Despite its name, Old Town is actually one of the most prosperous cities in the Seven Kingdoms.
As the most important port of the seven kingdoms, it is a center for maritime and land trade. Ships from all over the world gather here, and their routes cover the entire Westerly Summer Islands, the Free City-states, and other places across the Narrow Sea. The port is always bustling with activity, crowded with all kinds of ships.
The city itself has a unique charm, whether it's a trickle of water or a torrential river. Coupled with the numerous canals and cobblestone streets, it creates a delicate picture reminiscent of the water towns of southern China.
Unlike King's Landing, where the streets are littered with excrement and reek of foul odors, Old Town is clean and tidy, with almost no litter in sight. Its various streets, alleys, and lanes transform Old Town into a charming and elegant maze.
From afar, you can see the iconic building of Oldtown, one of the most famous buildings in the Seven Kingdoms: the Tower of Ascension. It is both a castle and a lighthouse, located on Battle Isle in Oldtown, at the wide mouth of the Mead River where it flows into Whispering Bay, with a blazing fire burning at its highest point day and night.
The flames of the towering tower guided the three. Under the cover of night, they landed on the outskirts of the old town, sending the two dragons to hunt at sea. At dawn, they followed passing caravans into the old town.
The main purpose of coming to the old town is to study at the school.
In the story of A Song of Ice and Fire, the Citadel may not appear frequently on screen, but its influence is undeniable. Many major historical events bear the subtle shadow of the Citadel. Lu Xuan even feels that the Citadel is the root of the chaos among the Seven Kingdoms, the deepest hidden mastermind.
The Citadel is situated on the banks of the Meadow River, its towers and domes connected by stone arch bridges, with residential buildings constructed on these bridges. On either side of the main entrance stand two tall, green sphinx statues, one male and one female, representing a monster with the body of a lion, wings of an eagle, and a tail of a serpent.
The academy is not a place that can be entered casually. At least, people like Lu Xuan and his two companions, whose identities are unknown, cannot enter without permission.
All three had donned makeup, or rather, disguised themselves. Using a combination of disguise magic and makeup techniques, they transformed into three noble scions of Braavos. Dani was the head of the household, while Lu Xuan and Barristan were her accompanying guards. They had come to visit the Citadel after hearing about its reputation.
The City does have a department to receive visitors. After all, it's a temple of knowledge, and countless people come here every day seeking answers to all sorts of questions. However, those who deal with these visitors are mostly young apprentices. They are generally responsible for writing letters and wills, reading letters, or selling simple, popular books.
The classified information that Lu Xuan and his group wanted to access was not open to ordinary people.
The City's collection of books is not a library, and the knowledge within it is not free. In fact, it can be said to be the core of the City's monopoly on knowledge.
"I've already found out that to enter the library of the academy, one either needs to become a scholar's apprentice or have a letter of recommendation from a person of high enough rank. Both of these are quite difficult for us."
After making some inquiries, Barristan spoke to Lu Xuan and Daenerys.
Dani then spoke up.
“I’ve inspected the defenses around the Citadel. They’re quite tight; the Hightoar family has put a lot of effort into this area. It would take some effort to infiltrate, but it’s not impossible.”
“That’s the Academy City. Wouldn’t it be beneath our dignity if we infiltrated it?” Barristan clearly disagreed with Dani’s suggestion.
Dani: "Don't worry, Sir Barristan, we won't let you infiltrate. You just need to keep watch."
Barristan: "..."
The plan to infiltrate the academy at night was finalized. The three found a hotel to rest. After all, they had been flying for five consecutive days and were all exhausted. The exploration of the academy would take place on the second night.