Early the next morning, Gregor escorted Lord Tywin back to Casterly Rock.
Accompanying the Duke were Lady Jenny Westerling, Sweet-talking Rafferd Clegane, and dozens of cavalrymen from Clegane village.
After passing through Casterly Rock, Lady Jenny and her entourage took the northern road to Cliff Rock to prepare for their family wedding with Gregor Clegane ten days later.
Sir Gregor was left with only three men: Dunson Clegane, the executioner; Pollifer Clegane, the die-hard fan; and his adopted daughter Julie Clegane.
Early in the morning before Tywin Lannister's departure, Maester Harry released a raven to send a message to Cheswick, the big boss of Lannister Harbor, ordering him to lead his bravest and most fearless brothers back to Clegane Village, as the Mountain was going to take Cheswick on a big mission.
Clegane Village is very close to Lannisport, and the two territories border each other.
While busy in Lannisport recruiting his old followers and taking over newly emerging gangs and small mercenary groups, Chiswick soon received a Raven Letter. He couldn't read a single word, so his literate brothers read it to him.
Chiswick was overjoyed upon hearing the news. Since pledging allegiance to Lord Mountain, he had not yet shown any outstanding achievements. The group of former members of the Warblade who had become pirates had not yet found out which part of the Sunset Sea they were in, so Chiswick had not yet set sail to recruit them.
This was a golden opportunity. Lord Mountain suddenly sent a letter, asking him to take his bravest and most capable brothers back to do something big. Chiswick was instantly filled with energy, like a balloon that had been inflated. He immediately selected seventeen men, making a total of eighteen riders including himself, and rushed back to Clegane Village at breakneck speed.
After lunch, Gregor and his party of twenty-three riders, two horses each and three horses each, along with the old cavalryman Thomas Mann, left Clegane Village in the care of the witch, Lady Allen, and Master Tob Mott. Then, feeling at ease, Gregor led the twenty-two men out of Clegane Village.
Gregor and his party took a shortcut, heading straight north without passing through Casterly Rock. They marched at a rapid pace and reached the River Road in less than half an hour.
The River Road is the only official road connecting the western border to the eastern River Lands. After entering the mountains, there is a famous pass on the western border, which is also the only major border city between the western border and the eastern border: Golden Tooth City.
Sir Gregor's first goal was to go to Golden Tooth City.
Golden Tooth City and the Marble family's Brand City to the north are completely different places; they don't even match the general directions.
What's the secret behind this?
Although no one understood, they didn't ask Lord Demon Mountain; they simply focused their energy on moving forward.
Before setting off, all twenty-two people knew that Lord Mountain was going to settle scores with the Marbran family of Branded City. Earl Damon and his heir, Sir Adam, had actually dared to gather all the nobles, big and small, in the North to form an alliance, occupy the Westerling family's lands and refuse to return them, and claimed that they were not afraid of war.
If you want war, then let's fight!
Although the Mountain said nothing upon receiving the news, he was already furious. He wouldn't be the Mountain if he didn't deal with the Marble family.
Just these twenty-two people around him? And one of them is a little girl named Julie Clegane, and the other is an old horseman named Thomas Mann.
Before setting off, both Chiswick and Dunsen the Executioner, two absolutely fearless warriors, raised questions. The Mountain merely glanced at them and said, "If you're afraid, then stay."
This made Chiswick's face turn bright red, and made the executioner Dunsen feel utterly ashamed.
Being so scorned by Lord Demon Mountain made the two absolute powerhouses taste what humiliation was.
Dunsen was alright, having been with the Mountain for a long time; Chiswick, however, was a newcomer to the Mountain, whom the Mountain valued highly and specially summoned back to give him a chance to prove himself. Before the group had even set off, the Mountain told him to stay if he was afraid, words that made Chiswick's dark face turn red.
He finally realized that the Mountain was the Mountain, and all the heroic deeds that Chiswick had done before, such as conquering gangs in the East, South and North of the city, were trivial matters in the Mountain's eyes.
To dare to challenge the Mountain, an alliance of over twenty noble families in the North, with only twenty-two men, truly makes one a hero. This sheer courage alone was enough to make even a formidable man like Chiswick bow down, leaving Chiswick and his loyal followers utterly convinced and subservient.
So no one objected anymore. Everyone kept their doubts to themselves, mustered their courage, and followed the Demon Mountain out of Crigon Village.
In just over half a day, not long after dark, Demon Mountain and his group arrived at the foot of Golden Tooth City, hundreds of miles away.
Although it was a journey of hundreds of miles, the Hejian Avenue was an official road, flat and wide, making it very easy to travel. In addition, Mo Shan kept moving without stopping, changing horses when they got tired, eating bread on horseback when hungry, and drinking wine when thirsty. Therefore, in just over half a day, the group arrived at the gates of the famous Golden Tooth City, covered in dust.
The Mountain shouted for the gates to open from under the drawbridge. The centurion guarding the city was startled to hear the Mountain's voice and immediately sent a messenger to Lord Leo Lefred.
Count Leo was also taken aback. What was the great demon Mountain doing in Golden Tooth City? He dared not delay and immediately rode out to greet him. The drawbridge was slowly lowered under the light of countless torches.
As the Mountain and his party entered the city, Count Leo Lefford came to greet them.
On the suspension bridge, the Mountain said, "Earl, quickly prepare food, wine, and hot water. We're starving. Let's eat first, then we'll discuss something important with you."
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The executioner Dunsen, his adopted daughter Julie, the old cavalryman Thomas Mann, Big Head Chiswick, and the foul-mouthed Arthur all breathed a sigh of relief. It turned out that Lord Mountain was shrewd despite his rough exterior, and had long thought of coming to Golden Tooth City to ask Count Leo for reinforcements. All twenty-two people traveling with him secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Among the four great families of the Westerlands is the Leo Lefford family. In terms of military strength and political power, the Lefford family is even more powerful than the Marbran family of Branded City.
The Mountain was respectfully welcomed inside by Count Leo.
After a hearty meal and a relaxing hot bath, everyone emerged from the bathhouse. The Mountain said, "Count Leo, I'm holding my family wedding in Cliff Rock City in three days. I've taken a special detour today, traveling from the far west to the far east, just to invite you to my wedding."
Leo suddenly realized what was going on and laughed, "Since Sir Gregor has come to extend this sincere invitation, Leo will certainly come to offer his congratulations. Sir Gregor, we will depart first thing tomorrow morning."
"No, Earl, time is too tight. I must depart tonight," Gregor said.
Earl Leo laughed: "Sir Gregory is quite the joker."
"I'm not joking at all," the Mountain said seriously. "Sir, you don't need to bring any guards. We are your guards. I swear on the honor of my family and in the name of the Seven, the Cleganes will protect you. Earl, please change your clothes. —Dunsen, Chiswick, what are you standing there for? Get dressed and ready to go."
To travel from Goldtooth, the easternmost city in the Westerlands, to Rocky, the northwesternmost city on the coast, one must pass through a large city, a necessary route: Marble's Mark City.
The Mountain will lead twenty-two men to breach the high walls and thick walls of Brand City tomorrow night!