Two thousand years ago, an emperor's ravenous greed roused Heaven's wrath. A meteor fell upon Gouwood Mountain north of the Great Wall. Within that stone slept the Taotie Beast Queen.
The Beast Queen rarely struck in person—but she spawned endless taotie soldiers. Wave after wave, they ravaged the land, a living warning from Heaven about the cost of greed.
Taotie devoured anything—living, dead, bone, armor—then regurgitated the slurry to feed their queen. A well‑fed queen bred faster, birthing yet more monsters.
The northern territories were scoured clean of human life. Only the southern plains remained populous. The Beast Queen's next target: the wealthiest human city—Bianport.
But to reach Bianport, the swarm must breach the Great Wall, now garrisoned by mankind's elite.
That is the world background of The Great Wall personal instance.
"Let him up!"
Commander Lin Mei disliked unsolicited compliments about her looks, but she was pragmatic. If the youth below truly fought as the Captain claimed, he was a potential ally—and a lethal one against taotie.
The Captain added, still shaky from what he'd witnessed, "General, that man wielded a long Black Blade—terribly sharp. Every taotie corpse down there? One stroke each. But… the Sword's gone. I didn't see where he hid it. He's strange. Please be cautious."
Lin Mei nodded and signaled for a hoist basket to be lowered.
Up the Wall
Fenric let them winch him up. He could have vaulted the parapet in one leap, but out of courtesy he refrained. No need to insult soldiers who'd just watched him butcher seven monsters.
Once atop the wall, Lin Mei strode over. The Crane Army fanned out, loosely encircling him—not openly hostile, but the message was clear: don't bolt.
"Come with me to see the General," Lin Mei said. "How you are handled will be for him to determine."
"Handled?" Fenric's brows lifted. Irritation flashed. "Commander Lin, let's get one thing straight. I'm not your prisoner, and I'm not submitting to anyone's 'handling.' I'll meet your General—if I'm shown due respect."
Every Crane soldier bristled.
"Bold!"
"Slander!"
Steel hissed free as several women drew their sabers.
Fenric's gaze chilled. "Before you act, think it through." He didn't raise his voice. He didn't need to. If it came to blows, he would not show mercy because they were women.
"Enough." Lin Mei cut them off. She studied Fenric. "Then state your purpose. Why did you come?"
"After learning from my father that I'm Han, I set out to find Han lands," Fenric said evenly. Then, with candor that was half test, half tease: "But I'll admit—I'm even more interested in those monsters. If I'm unwelcome, I can leave."
"You misunderstand." Lin Mei inclined her head a fraction. "Friends are welcome. Please meet the General. If you're curious about the taotie, our General may help."
"Fine." Fenric accepted. With his current strength, there was little here that could truly threaten him.
He followed Lin Mei toward the Nameless Imperial Guard's command hall.
The hall held the General, the resident Strategist, and several branch commanders of the Wall's mixed elite forces. Fenric entered standing, level with the dais.
That alone rankled the officers.
"Bold cur! Why do you not kneel before the General?" barked the antler‑crested Commander Ding of the Deer Legion.
"Why should I kneel?" Fenric replied, voice mild—and instantly lit the tinder.
"Presumptuous!"
"Ignorant whelp!"
"General, grant leave to punish!"
Heat flared in Fenric's chest. These men reeked of rank‑born arrogance—so used to seeing people fall to their knees that they'd forgotten respect ran both ways.
Fine. If they insisted on the ceremony, I would teach them what respect meant.
"A bunch of trash want me to kneel?" he said, eyes sweeping the row of lacquered armor. "Try earning it. Show me what you've got."