Chapter 425: Xiao Yan's Admirer — The Beast Marshal Appears!
Xiao Yan's head snapped up, his crimson tiger eyes flashing with killing intent as he glared at the Sky Crocodile General. His voice was chilling. "You really think I wouldn't dare kill you right here?"
The general's face changed, and a wave of powerful yuan power surged from his body—clearly, he was genuinely worried Xiao Yan would make good on his threat.
"Easy now," Lin Fan said with a calm smile, stopping Xiao Yan. He then addressed the Sky Crocodile General, "I'm Lin Fan. This is Lin Dong. We're brothers of General Yan. Today, we came to the Mountain Gathering to meet the Beast Marshal."
Before meeting Xu Zhong, Lin Fan didn't want to alert anyone unnecessarily—so he kept things civil for now.
"Brothers?"
That one word stunned not just the Sky Crocodile General but also many of the nearby faction leaders. Their eyes were filled with surprise and curiosity.
When did the infamous killing machine that was the "Savage Tiger" gain two brothers—and human ones at that?
The Sky Crocodile General frowned in thought, then quickly recalled the names Lin Fan and Lin Dong. His expression flickered before he suddenly smiled. "Ah, so that's how it is. Please, go on ahead."
Lin Fan nodded slightly, and along with Xiao Yan and Lin Dong, passed through the heavily guarded checkpoint, heading deeper into Thunder Abyss Mountain.
The Sky Crocodile General watched their backs with narrowed eyes. He summoned a subordinate and whispered, "Go report this to the Beast Marshal."
Once the man left, the general sneered coldly. "Let's see what you're really planning…"
…
Thunder Abyss Mountain was towering and majestic, lined with massive palace complexes.
In the skies above, defensive arrays flickered from time to time—clear signs of formidable protection.
At the mountain's peak, crowds surged. Countless voices thundered into the sky, as if even the clouds were being torn apart.
Following Xiao Yan's lead, Lin Fan and Lin Dong ascended to the summit.
There, a colossal hall stood like a fortress, and streams of people poured in through its grand entrance. This Mountain Gathering was clearly a major event.
As the top general of Thunder Abyss Mountain, Xiao Yan led Lin Fan and Lin Dong directly to the front rows. Under countless watchful eyes, the trio boldly took their seats.
Given Xiao Yan's status—second only to Xu Zhong—the move drew considerable attention.
But when those same eyes fell on the two humans beside him, many were left puzzled, their expressions filled with doubt and curiosity.
Lin Fan and Lin Dong, however, paid the attention no mind, remaining calm and composed.
Soon after, more generals arrived—among them, the five who had met with Lin Fan the night before.
Upon seeing the trio, they exchanged brief glances before taking their seats without further acknowledgment.
Originally, Thunder Abyss Mountain had nine generals. But with Meng Shan now dead at Lin Fan's hands, only eight remained.
Among them, Lin Fan spotted two more who had not joined their cause.
One was the Sky Crocodile General they had encountered earlier.
The other was a stunningly beautiful, seductive woman with a fierce air about her. A cat-like mark adorned her sharp, attractive face, giving her a wild and alluring charm.
Her appearance drew plenty of attention, but she ignored the stares. Her eyes remained locked on Xiao Yan, and within them was a faint trace of grievance.
Lin Fan immediately understood who she was—and her relationship to Xiao Yan.
Lin Dong, however, was puzzled and leaned toward Xiao Yan. "What's her deal?"
Xiao Yan replied with a sigh, "She's a troublesome one. I beat her once, and ever since, she's been pestering me."
"She one of Xu Zhong's loyalists?" Lin Dong asked.
"Not really… she's from the Nine-Life Celestial Cat Clan. She owes Xu Zhong a favor, so she's hanging around to repay that debt," Xiao Yan explained flatly.
Suddenly, the woman strode toward them, staring intently at Xiao Yan.
"Hey! You said we'd fight again, but you never showed. Why haven't you come to find me?" she demanded.
Xiao Yan frowned. "Didn't have time."
"You—!" The woman clearly had a temper, but her anger quickly faded. She glanced at Lin Fan and Lin Dong, her gaze turning curious. "You actually brought people to the Mountain Gathering? And they're both human?"
"They're my big brother and second brother," Xiao Yan replied with a dark expression.
The woman froze. Her haughty demeanor softened instantly. She turned to Lin Fan and Lin Dong with a bright smile. "So you're Big Brother Lin Fan and Second Brother Lin Dong? A pleasure. I'm Huo Miao."
Her sudden change in attitude shocked everyone nearby—even the generals like Chen Tong exchanged bewildered glances.
Since when did this little wildcat know how to act so… polite?
Lin Fan caught their expressions and chuckled lightly. "Nice to meet you. Thanks for looking out for Xiao Yan."
"Xiao Yan?" Huo Miao blinked, then smiled teasingly as she looked at Xiao Yan. "He doesn't need me to watch over him. I wouldn't dare."
From her tone, Lin Fan could hear a hint of bitterness. He and Lin Dong exchanged a glance, amusement dancing in their eyes.
"You done making things up in front of my big bro and second bro?" Xiao Yan snapped.
Huo Miao pouted, clearly annoyed, then spun on her heel to leave. But as she walked off, her voice drifted back faintly:
"Be careful today."
"She's not bad," Lin Dong commented with a grin.
"Second Brother, quit teasing me," Xiao Yan muttered, flustered. "I really don't feel that way about her…"
As the three brothers chatted, time slipped by. The hall grew louder, filled with leaders of various influential factions—many of whom were as powerful as the late Cao Ying of Blood Python City.
But today, none of them were the focus.
DONG!
A deep bell suddenly tolled, and the grand hall slowly fell silent. All eyes turned toward the massive throne at the end of the hall.
"Haha! Welcome, everyone, to Thunder Abyss Mountain's annual gathering. I, Xu Zhong, thank you all for coming!"
A booming laugh rang out like thunder, echoing through the entire hall.
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