Chapter 652 - 200: The Backstabber
There were even times when Big White would join the battle, helping to kill quite a few from the Fierce Beast Race, earning the admiration of the Thunder Beast Scouts and Cavalry.
However, when faced with the cavalry’s attempts to lure it, whether by throwing food or trying to capture Big White, it would immediately turn hostile and leave.
Over time, an unwritten rule formed within the scout cavalry: to treat Big White kindly and not to do anything excessive when encountering it.
Once, there was an ignorant new recruit who attempted to set traps and even threw drugged food to try to capture Big White, only to be severely reprimanded by his angry comrades.
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Upon hearing the bald brother’s account, Chen Yan understood.
He finally realized why the soldiers guarding the pass wore such shocked and strange expressions when he brought Big White into Snow Cliff Pass today.
Even when passing by a returning Thunder Beast Scout team, the cavalry would jump off their Thunder Beasts and stand by the roadside, staring at him with wide eyes.
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The round of drinking was nearing its end, and the Brotherhood fellows at the table were visibly intoxicated.
Just at that moment, the noisy inn hall suddenly quieted down!
The door to the cave residence opened, and a tall, skinny figure walked in, head held high.
He wore leather armor, crisscrossed with scars, and there were repaired patches under the arms and on the chest.
The man’s short hair stood like steel needles, his face full of a fierce aura, and a standard long saber from the Thunder Beast Cavalry hung at his waist.
Chen Yan noticed the man was holding a hat in the other hand.
Three blood-red feathers adorned its brim!
Chen Yan suddenly recognized him—during his first journey to Snow Cliff Pass with the Golden Armor, he encountered a group of Thunder Beast Cavalry intercepting Fierce Beast Race’s Sled Scouts on the way, a fierce battle.
The captain of that Thunder Beast Cavalry team was this man!
Three red feathers adorned his hat, a tradition in Snow Cliff Pass’s Thunder Beast Cavalry: for slaying a hundred Fierce Beast Race members, one would earn a red feather!
At that time, he had three feathers on his hat.
As soon as this man entered, the noisy clamor in the hall vanished, and quite a few Brotherhood members stopped their drinks and chopsticks, turning to coldly watch the man at the door.
The man met their aloof gazes, standing upright by the entrance like a javelin.
His presence was as sharp as an unsheathed blade!
"Why is the Thunder Cavalry here in our place?" the bald brother lightly tapped the table and coldly asked, "Did you come to the wrong door?"
The fellows at the table also sneered, and one loudly declared, "This is the Brotherhood, a place for our own brothers only! Outsiders stay out!"
Chen Yan’s heart stirred, noticing a subtle hostility in the locals’ attitude toward the Thunder Cavalry captain.
Ruyi quickly appeared, weaving her way out from the back with her signature smile, her silver bell-like laughter floating into the hall as she moved.
Ruyi swiftly approached the cavalry captain, seemingly in welcome, but subtly positioned to stand just before him—a gesture that made Chen Yan raise an eyebrow.
"Captain Luo, are you here on official business for the Brotherhood?" Ruyi smiled cheerfully, her tone seemingly polite yet with a palpable distance: "The Brotherhood’s matters are handled only with the Commander’s Mansion’s Bureau of Affairs, no dealings with the Thunder Cavalry, right?"
The captain’s brows furrowed slightly, his voice low and hoarse: "I heard someone brought back the White Beast, so I came to have a look."
Before Ruyi could respond, a senior member sitting in the hall sneered, loudly retorting: "What are you looking at! Even if it was brought back, it’s a Brotherhood brother! What business does a White Beast have with the Thunder Cavalry?"
The retort was sharp, and even harsher words followed!
Someone nearby coldly added, "Is someone latching onto a high branch and still thinking of coming back to the Brotherhood for benefits? The White Beast was brought back by our Brotherhood member and has nothing to do with outsiders!"
This statement carried even more information, making Chen Yan’s heart stir.
This fellow named Captain Luo did not flinch, his gaze scanning the hall before falling on Chen Yan. His eyes focused on Big White lying by Chen Yan’s feet, immediately sparking a gleam in his eyes.
Without a word and ignoring the surrounding ridicule, Captain Luo suddenly strode toward Chen Yan.
The bald brother at Chen Yan’s table raised his eyebrows, standing up and unceremoniously blocking Chen Yan.
"Luo, what do you want!" the bald brother demanded coldly.
"Brother Thirty-Nine, I..."
"Pah!" The bald brother erupted in anger, viciously spitting, smirking fiercely: "Luo, who the hell are you calling Brother Thirty-Nine! Do I even know who you are?! Are you even worthy to call me Brother Thirty-Nine!"
Captain Luo’s stern face twitched slightly but quickly returned to its iciness. After giving the bald brother a glance, he said, "Yes, I misspoke."
Disregarding the bald brother, his gaze turned to Chen Yan: "Did you bring back the White Beast?"
Chen Yan looked at him and calmly replied, "Yes."
"Would you..." Captain Luo took a deep breath, "Consider transferring the White Beast to..."
"No," Chen Yan firmly refused.
"I can offer..."
"No discussion," Chen Yan cut him off coldly.