GROIKTP Chapter 51-60

Chen Ye’s hearing had reached an almost supernatural level. His vision had also improved significantly.

From atop the city wall, he could clearly hear the captain’s orders, even though they were spoken softly.

He did not call for help. With his current strength and strong will, there was no way he would seek help before even facing the enemy.

Chen Ye stood still. After a moment’s thought, he took out the black sword, Shusui, from his personal space. For him, this sword was still quite useful.

Finally, the vibrations grew closer. From the city wall, the captain’s command rang out: “There are seven taotie in total. Archers, aim for their eyes! Don’t let them get close! Everyone else, defend the wall and hold out until the commander arrives!”

Chen Ye was slightly surprised to hear this. Taotie? Aren’t they mythical creatures?

There was no time to think. The next moment, a monster crested the hill and appeared in Chen Ye’s line of sight. It was a grotesque and eerie creature, with a huge head that had only nostrils and a large mouth full of sharp teeth, making it look extremely ferocious and terrifying.

The monster’s eyes were not on its head but under its armpits. Its limbs were powerful, its body agile, and it was three times the size of a human. When it charged, it was as terrifying as a rhinoceros.

Seeing the monster, Chen Ye suddenly realized what kind of world he had entered.

“Shoot!” The captain’s order echoed from the wall. In an instant, a rain of arrows fell from the sky. But the taotie were very alert and protected their armpit eyes when they saw the arrows. Their thick skin and tough flesh made the arrows ineffective.

Not a single monster was harmed by this wave of arrows. The captain on the wall turned pale and shouted through gritted teeth, “Archers fall back! Spearmen, step forward and prepare to engage!”

It was time for close combat. The taotie moved too quickly, and in the blink of an eye, they were at the base of the city wall. At this close range, archers were much less effective and could only assist from the sides.

A line of soldiers holding long spears moved to the edge of the wall. They were clearly frightened, some even trembling. They looked down at the young man below with sympathetic eyes. 

Taotie only ate humans, and they showed no mercy. To them, all humans were delicious food. To the soldiers on the wall, the oddly dressed young man was surely doomed to a horrible death.

As the taotie charged, Chen Ye did not let his guard down. If these creatures were like the ones he had seen in a movie, they were quite formidable.

“Roar!!” A taotie approached Chen Ye, roaring and lunging at him. Many on the wall watched with wide eyes, unable to look away.

Chen Ye remained calm and fearless. With his current strength, these few taotie were not a threat to him.

“Roar!” The leading taotie leaped into the air, aiming to land directly on Chen Ye. Finally, Chen Ye moved. Instead of retreating, he charged towards the taotie. With a few quick steps, he dodged the taotie’s claws and swung his sword in a swift arc.

With a splat, the taotie fell to the ground, motionless. Chen Ye didn’t even bother to look at it, his eyes now fixed on the remaining six taotie, gleaming with anticipation.

He had just received a system notification: “You have killed a Taotie (Soldier Beast) and earned 100 points!”

A mere taotie soldier was worth 100 points?

At this moment, the terrifying taotie, seen by others as fearsome monsters, looked adorable to Chen Ye.

He strode towards the six taotie. After he had taken several steps, the taotie he had just fought finally moved. Its body suddenly split in two, spraying dark green blood everywhere before collapsing to the ground.

It had been cut in half by Chen Ye with a single strike!

Everyone on the city wall was stunned. Even the captain was left gaping, staring at Chen Ye in disbelief.

No one had ever managed to kill a taotie in single combat so easily before.

——————-

Chapter 52

Chen Ye’s strength attribute was now at 72 points. For a normal adult male, it’s typically around 10 points. This meant that Chen Ye’s strength was seven times that of an average person!

Combined with the sharpness of his black sword, Shusui, he could easily cut through even a tank, let alone a taotie monster.

“Personal instances are indeed different from public ones… This time, the system didn’t even assign me a task, leaving me to handle things freely. So, my main target here must be these taotie,” Chen Ye thought as he walked.

Soon, the remaining six taotie surrounded Chen Ye. Although these creatures were fearless, they were not mindless like zombies. On the contrary, they had a certain level of intelligence. Seeing one of their comrades felled by a single slash made them wary.

They encircled Chen Ye, preparing for an attack.

“Hero, watch your back!” a shout came from the captain on the city wall. 

A soldier beside him asked, “Sir, should we go down and help?”

“Let’s… see how it goes first!”

Chen Ye smiled slightly at the captain’s words and tightened his grip on the black sword, Shusui. Earlier, they had called him a kid; now they were calling him a hero.

Ignoring the captain’s warning, Chen Ye focused on ensuring the taotie in front of him didn’t escape. If they ran, their speed would make them hard to chase down. In his eyes, these taotie were just walking points.

A roar sounded behind him, and a gaping mouth lunged for his back. Chen Ye stomped hard on the ground, leaping high into the air, even higher than the taotie. With his current explosive strength and agility, he could easily outjump any athlete.

The attacking taotie didn’t expect the human to jump so high. By the time it tried to bite him mid-air, it was too late. As it lifted its head, it was met with a flash of cold steel.

With a splat, a massive head rolled to the ground, severed by Chen Ye’s sword.

“Roar! Roar!” The other taotie rushed at him. Chen Ye swung his sword, forcing four of them to retreat. They seemed to understand the danger of his black sword and dared not face its edge directly.

One taotie seized an opportunity and bit down on Chen Ye’s arm. Everyone on the wall thought the same thing: it’s over!

No one had ever survived a taotie bite. But what happened next shocked them.

Chen Ye had let the taotie bite him on purpose…

Armament Haki! Activate!

Suddenly, the taotie felt like it was biting steel instead of flesh. Its sharp teeth shattered, two of them breaking off.

The taotie tried to retreat, but Chen Ye grabbed its tongue with his pitch-black hand and ripped it out.

The taotie let out a horrendous scream, which was abruptly cut short as Chen Ye drove his sword into its mouth, twisting it twice before pulling it out. The taotie collapsed to the ground.

Chen Ye knew the taotie’s weakness was their eyes under their armpits, but that didn’t mean damaging other parts wouldn’t kill them. Against his immense strength and the unbreakable black sword, these taotie were vulnerable all over.

Another taotie down! Four remained.

These four had learned their lesson and lunged at Chen Ye together.

“Good!” Chen Ye shouted, his eyes burning with battle lust. He threw the black sword like a javelin, under the control of his telekinesis, and it pierced a taotie’s eye, embedding itself deep within.

The taotie collapsed with a howl, while the remaining three closed in. Chen Ye clenched his fist, his arm turning black as iron with Armament Haki. He dodged their attack, landing a powerful punch on one taotie’s head, stunning it. He then lifted the stunned taotie, showing incredible strength.

The soldiers on the wall gasped. To them, these ferocious taotie were like grandchildren facing their grandfather in front of Chen Ye.

Chen Ye didn’t care what they thought. He hurled the taotie at the other two, knocking them down. With a gesture, his black sword flew back to his hand through telekinesis.

The three taotie struggled to get up, but Chen Ye was already upon them…

———————

Chapter 53

A single Taotie soldier weighs around six to seven hundred pounds. These creatures are enormous, immensely strong, and equipped with sharp fangs. Ordinary people stand no chance against them.

However, Chen Ye is no ordinary person. With his current physical attributes, he is far stronger than a Taotie. He can lift not just six or seven hundred pounds, but even a thousand pounds with ease. It’s almost monstrous!

Moreover, Chen Ye has the advantage of telekinesis. Although he can’t directly control the strong Taotie with it, he can interfere with their movements.

The entire battle lasted only a few minutes. All seven Taotie fell at Chen Ye’s hands. The last one tried to escape but was caught by its tail and dragged back by Chen Ye.

When the battle ended, many soldiers on the wall instinctively swallowed hard, nearly scared out of their wits. They had never seen a human with such formidable combat abilities.

“Could this person be a god of war descended to earth?” the captain muttered to himself, looking at Chen Ye in shock.

Just then, a sound of rapid footsteps approached. A group of female soldiers clad in blue armor arrived quickly. The leader, a stunning woman with big eyes, fair skin, and long black hair, looked even more heroic in her blue armor.

Seeing the female general, the captain hurried forward, saluting respectfully, “Subordinate greets General Lin!”

The female general, Lin Mei, was the leader of the “Crane Army,” an all-female force known for their fierce bravery, rivaling any man in battle.

“Where are the Taotie?” Lin Mei asked.

“They’re… all dead,” the captain stammered, swallowing hard.

“Oh?” Lin Mei praised, “Well done. What are the casualties?”

“General Lin, no one was injured. All seven Taotie were killed by one person!”

“What?” Lin Mei exclaimed in disbelief. “That’s impossible. Who could be so brave?”

“He’s just outside the city wall,” the captain replied, pointing.

Lin Mei looked down and saw Chen Ye, surrounded by Taotie corpses. “He killed all of them alone?” she asked in astonishment.

“Exactly!” the captain explained. “This man came here alone, claiming to be Han Chinese. We found his attire strange and didn’t let him up. Then the Taotie appeared, and he killed all of them single-handedly!”

The captain continued, “The battle was earth-shattering. The Taotie, so powerful, were no match for him…”

Lin Mei felt like she was hearing a myth. But the corpses of the Taotie were undeniable proof.

Lin Mei had fought Taotie before and knew how terrifying they were. Even with her superior skills, she couldn’t guarantee to kill one in single combat, let alone seven.

The man below, aside from some torn clothing, was completely unscathed!

At this moment, Chen Ye approached the wall and shouted, “Hey, I really am Han Chinese. I’ve just lived overseas for a long time, so I look a bit different.”

Seeing the familiar setting, Chen Ye realized he had entered the world of “The Great Wall.” His personal instance was indeed this world.

The captain whispered, “His speech sounds a bit like ours, but quite strange…”

Of course, it was strange. Modern language and ancient language are quite different.

General Lin Mei frowned and thought for a moment. Then she loudly questioned Chen Ye, “You say you come from overseas? Where exactly?”

Chen Ye admired the beautiful general for a moment before replying, “I have been living in England. From my father, I learned I am Han Chinese, so I traveled here alone.”

“Oh? Do you have any proof?”

Chen Ye recalled that in the story, General Lin Mei had learned some English from a foreigner. So he said, “I can speak the language of the English.”

“Speak it then!” General Lin Mei commanded.

Chen Ye immediately spoke in English, “You are very beautiful!”

Lin Mei’s face changed instantly. On the wall, only she understood his words.

This woman, with a strong personality, reacted not with shyness but with anger at being complimented on her looks!

————————

Chapter 54

Two thousand years ago, there was an emperor who was incredibly greedy, making the lives of his people miserable, ultimately angering the heavens. As a punishment, a meteor was sent down, striking Mount Gou Wu north of the Great Wall. 

Inside the meteor was the Taotie Beast King. Although the Beast King didn’t attack proactively, it could produce numerous Taotie soldiers. From then on, the Taotie began to ravage the land repeatedly, causing great destruction. This was the heavens’ way of warning people about the consequences of insatiable greed.

Taotie devoured humans indiscriminately, whether they were dead or alive. After consuming people, they fed them to the Beast King. With enough food, the Beast King could reproduce in large numbers.

Currently, the northern region had been devastated by the Taotie, becoming desolate and uninhabited. The populous southern plains, particularly the prosperous city of Bianliang, had now become the Taotie’s target. But to reach Bianliang, they needed to get past the Great Wall.

The current emperor had stationed the most elite soldiers at the Great Wall to defend against the Taotie.

This is the background of the world in “The Great Wall” instance.

“Let him up!” General Lin Mei, though not fond of compliments on her appearance, was very rational. If this young man was as powerful as the captain said, enlisting him to fight the Taotie would be a major advantage.

The captain beside her said, “General Lin, this man has the strength to lift mountains and wields a sharp black long sword. Even the Taotie are no match for him, as you can see from the corpses below, all slain by his blade.”

“Oh? Where is his black sword now?” Lin Mei asked.

“That’s the strange part, General. I don’t know where he’s hidden it,” the captain added. “This man is quite mysterious. Please be cautious.”

Lin Mei nodded and ordered a basket to be lowered.

Chen Ye was finally brought up to the wall using a basket, which was the usual method in ancient times. In fact, Chen Ye could have easily jumped up himself, but out of respect for the soldiers, he refrained from doing so.

Once on the wall, General Lin Mei approached Chen Ye immediately, and her female Crane Army surrounded him. Although they didn’t restrain him physically, they subtly limited his freedom.

“Follow me to see the Commander!” General Lin Mei said. “He will decide how to deal with you.”

“Deal with me?” Chen Ye wasn’t pleased. “General Lin, let’s get one thing straight. I am not your prisoner, nor will I accept being dealt with. I’ll meet your Commander, but you’d better show me the respect I deserve.”

This statement angered the Crane Army soldiers. “How dare you!”

To them, their leader was a significant figure, second only to the Commander, and they couldn’t tolerate Chen Ye’s tone. Some drew their swords in response.

Chen Ye said coldly, “Think carefully before you act.”

As a straightforward man, he wouldn’t hold back just because his opponents were women. This made the Crane Army even angrier, and they were about to move in.

“Stop!” General Lin Mei commanded, calming her soldiers. She then turned to Chen Ye and asked, “What is your purpose here?”

“Ever since I learned from my father that I’m Han Chinese, I’ve wanted to visit the Han country,” Chen Ye improvised. “But now, I’m more interested in those monsters. If you don’t welcome me, I can leave.”

“There’s a misunderstanding! We certainly welcome friends,” General Lin Mei said. “Please, come with me to see the Commander. Perhaps our strategist can answer your questions about the monsters.”

“Fine,” Chen Ye agreed. Given his strength, he wasn’t worried about what they could do to him.

Following General Lin Mei, Chen Ye walked to the headquarters of the Shadowless Imperial Guard.

Soon, they reached a grand hall where the Commander, the strategist, and other leaders of the Shadowless Imperial Guard were gathered. When Chen Ye stood in the hall, looking the Commander in the eye as an equal, the other generals glared at him.

“Bold! Why don’t you kneel before the Commander?” scolded General Deng, leader of the Deer Army.

“Why should I kneel?” Chen Ye’s words immediately sparked more outrage.

“Outrageous!”

“How dare you disrespect the Commander?”

“Commander, allow me to execute this insolent man!”

Chen Ye was getting irritated. These military leaders seemed arrogant, used to having everyone bow before them. If that was the case, he didn’t mind teaching them a lesson in respect.

“A bunch of fools. You want me to kneel? Show me you have the strength to make me!”

—————–

Chapter 55

As soon as Chen Ye finished speaking, the hall erupted in chaos. Numerous soldiers glared at him with anger, all clamoring to have him executed. Even the usually calm Commander Shao was visibly annoyed, as Chen Ye’s insult targeted his subordinates.

“It seems you have great confidence in your own strength,” Commander Shao said coldly, glaring at Chen Ye. “Since he wants to see what you are capable of, show him your skills. Don’t let anyone underestimate you!”

Normally, Commander Shao would have immediately ordered Chen Ye’s arrest. However, hearing that Chen Ye single-handedly defeated seven Taotie monsters made him more cautious.

Upon Commander Shao’s words, nearly all the generals present volunteered to fight.

“Commander, I request to battle!” General Wu of the Tiger Army was the first to speak up.

General Chen of the Eagle Army quickly followed, “Commander, let me handle this insolent man. I’ll show him our might.”

General Deng of the Deer Army also stood up, “Commander, how can I miss out on this? I request to fight as well!”

Only General Lin Mei of the Crane Army and the strategist remained silent, one because she had an idea of Chen Ye’s strength, and the other because he was not a combatant.

The Shadowless Imperial Guard was divided into five units: Deer, Eagle, Tiger, Crane, and Bear. This force included archers (Eagle Army), axemen (Tiger Army), spearmen (Deer Army), infantry (Bear Army), and the Crane Army specialized in close combat and maneuvers. They were the elite forces of the Song Dynasty, with the Bear Army being the main combat unit led by Commander Shao himself.

As the generals eagerly volunteered, Commander Shao turned to Chen Ye, “I hear you can subdue Taotie? Which general would you like to spar with?”

Chen Ye responded calmly, “No need to be so formal. They can all come at once.”

The generals exploded in anger at his words.

“Outrageous!”

“How dare you!”

“Foolish child, seeking death!”

“Silence!” Chen Ye shouted, stomping his right foot hard.

Boom! The stone floor shattered under the force, leaving a crater with cracks spreading from it.

“Hiss!”

Many gasped in shock, their faces filled with astonishment. The sheer destructive power of a single stomp was overwhelming.

The previously loud generals now fell silent, uncertainty and fear evident in their eyes. Even Commander Shao, usually composed, looked surprised. General Lin Mei’s eyes widened in shock, recalling the captain’s words about Chen Ye being a god of war.

Human strength shouldn’t be this powerful.

In the military, strength was revered. Chen Ye’s display instantly earned him newfound respect from many.

“Impressive skill!” Commander Shao remarked calmly. Then he addressed his subordinates, “Do you still wish to challenge him?”

The generals, their faces flushed with embarrassment, still loudly requested to fight. Fear was not in their nature, having fought Taotie and faced death many times.

Commander Shao nodded, “Then you three, go together and let this warrior teach you.”

“At your command!” the three generals responded in unison.

They understood that facing Chen Ye one-on-one would be humiliating. Seeing his strength, they no longer felt it was dishonorable to fight together.

Soon, the three generals took their positions. General Deng wielded a long snake spear, General Wu held a large machete, and General Chen was ready with his bow and arrows.

The onlookers moved aside, clearing the hall’s center for the combatants.

“Begin!” Commander Shao ordered.

General Deng attacked first, thrusting his spear at Chen Ye’s shoulder, clearly holding back from aiming at vital spots, indicating a sparring intent.

Chen Ye, with agility five times that of a normal person, effortlessly dodged the spear and grabbed the shaft.

At that moment, General Wu leaped from behind Deng, swinging his machete down at Chen Ye. Meanwhile, General Chen had already nocked an arrow, aiming at Chen Ye.

Whoosh! An arrow flew, cutting off Chen Ye’s escape route.

The coordination among the three was impeccable, forming an inescapable trap for Chen Ye. General Deng’s attack was merely a diversion, creating opportunities for his teammates to corner Chen Ye.

If Chen Ye dodged the machete, he would be hit by the arrow.

Normally, one would instinctively avoid the powerful machete to avoid being split in two.

However, Chen Ye didn’t…

———————

Chapter 56

Even Chen Ye was a bit surprised at this moment. The coordination among the three generals was impeccable. If it were any ordinary expert, they would have surely been defeated by now.

But Chen Ye was different. He had long surpassed the limits of normal human abilities. Faced with such an assault, he stood his ground, unmoving.

Seeing Chen Ye make no attempt to dodge, both Commander Shao and General Lin Mei were astonished. Just as Commander Shao was about to warn him, Chen Ye moved.

With a casual push, Chen Ye sent General Deng, who was wielding the long snake spear, stumbling back three steps before he could steady himself, almost losing his grip on the spear.

Meanwhile, General Wu’s large machete was already descending towards Chen Ye’s face, and the arrow from General Chen was speeding towards him.

Chen Ye remained calm, clenching his right fist. His Armament Haki activated, turning his fist pitch black. He then punched forward to meet the machete head-on.

“Impossible!” Commander Shao was aghast. How could a human fist withstand a machete?

But it was too late to stop him…

The next moment, a shocking scene unfolded.

Boom!

Chen Ye’s fist clashed with the machete, shattering it into pieces that scattered to the ground. It was terrifying!

Immediately after, Chen Ye turned his fist into a palm and lightly slapped General Wu, sending him flying.

The hall fell silent, everyone momentarily forgetting to breathe at this display of sheer power.

By then, the arrow had reached Chen Ye. He casually used his telekinesis, causing the arrow to pause mid-air before he grabbed it with his left hand.

Catching an arrow bare-handed!

Then, Chen Ye quickly threw the arrow back at General Chen. The arrow flew faster than it had when shot from the bow, hitting General Chen’s helmet and knocking it off his head.

Even a fool could see that Chen Ye had held back. Otherwise, that arrow could have pierced General Chen’s face.

When the skirmish ended, the hall was silent. Everyone was stunned by Chen Ye’s overwhelming strength. They all thought of one phrase: “God of War Descended!”

General Lin Mei’s eyes sparkled as she looked at Chen Ye. She had never seen such a powerful man. Raised in the military and trained like a man, she, like her fellow soldiers, revered strength. Chen Ye was the strongest man she had ever encountered. Even more impressive was his restraint; he had defeated the three generals without harming them.

“Good!” Commander Shao shouted, breaking the silence. “Your martial prowess is unmatched. On behalf of the three generals, I apologize to you.”

No one felt any resentment anymore. Faced with such a formidable warrior, there was no room for defiance.

“Commander, there’s no need for that,” Chen Ye waved it off. He wasn’t arrogant and acknowledged the courtesy shown by Commander Shao.

Commander Shao smiled, “When I heard you fought seven Taotie alone, I was skeptical. But now, I see it was no exaggeration.”

General Wu, who wielded the machete, suddenly asked, “Warrior, how did you manage to break my machete with your fist?”

Chen Ye’s punch had shattered the blade. If he hadn’t held back, it could have killed him. Wu was grateful for Chen Ye’s mercy and admired his strength, feeling no resentment.

“It’s a secret technique I learned. When mastered, it makes one impervious to blades and spears,” Chen Ye replied smoothly, using his feigned expertise skill, making his lie believable.

“Oh?” General Wu was intrigued. “Warrior, would you consider taking me as a disciple?”

“Ridiculous!” Commander Shao reprimanded. Asking to learn someone’s secret technique right away was indeed impolite.

Chen Ye smiled and declined, “It’s a family secret, not to be taught to outsiders.”

General Wu looked disappointed.

“What is your name, warrior?” asked General Chen, the archer.

“My surname is Chen, given name Ye,” Chen Ye answered.

“Chen Ye, let’s spar with archery sometime!” General Chen still felt competitive about the arrow incident.

“Sure!” Chen Ye agreed with a smile. With his telekinesis, he could precisely control his shots, making any archery contest heavily one-sided.

———————-

Chapter 57

“You don’t have to keep calling me ‘hero,’ it sounds a bit odd. Just call me Chen Ye,” Chen Ye said.

Commander Shao paused for a moment, then suggested, “How about we call you ‘Sir Chen’? It’s more respectful in our culture.”

Chen Ye nodded, “That works.”

“Sir Chen, what brings you to this place?” Commander Shao inquired.

“I learned from my father that I’m of Han descent, so I wanted to visit the Han country,” Chen Ye repeated his previous excuse. “But now I’m more interested in those creatures outside the wall. What exactly are they?”

Commander Shao glanced at the strategist beside him and said, “Strategist, please explain to Sir Chen.”

The handsome strategist, Wang, nodded and began, “Those creatures are called Taotie, monsters sent by the heavens to punish human greed. They’ve been around for two thousand years, originating from Mount Gou Wu.”

Wang detailed the origins and nature of the Taotie. Although Chen Ye already knew this from the story, he pretended to listen intently, wanting to leverage the soldiers’ strength against the Taotie. Despite his power, he knew he couldn’t defeat thousands of Taotie alone.

After Wang finished, Chen Ye feigned surprise, “Such wicked creatures! If not stopped, they will cause chaos throughout the land.”

“Exactly!” Commander Shao agreed. “We guard this place to prevent the Taotie from wreaking havoc. But they are growing stronger, and I fear we won’t hold them off much longer…”

Commander Shao then earnestly asked, “Sir Chen, with your incredible strength, would you help us save the people?”

This was exactly what Chen Ye wanted. He inwardly smiled but maintained a righteous expression, “It’s my duty to help!”

“Haha!” Commander Shao laughed heartily, “Sir Chen is truly a hero. With your help, we stand a chance!”

General Lin Mei, standing beside Commander Shao, looked at Chen Ye with admiration. In her eyes, he was a great hero, young and extraordinarily powerful.

While General Lin Mei was lost in thought, a messenger arrived.

“Commander, we’ve captured two foreigners. What should we do with them?”

Hearing this, Chen Ye’s eyes gleamed. As he suspected, the captured foreigners were likely the main characters of this world.”

The biggest criticism of “The Great Wall” movie was that a foreigner saved the Chinese empire, which Chen Ye had found infuriating. Now that he was in this world, he wouldn’t let such a ridiculous plot unfold.

“Bring them in,” Commander Shao ordered.

Soon, two Westerners were brought in. Seeing them, Chen Ye immediately identified them.

“Hm!” He pretended to exclaim lightly, drawing Commander Shao’s attention.

“Do you know these people?” Commander Shao asked.

General Lin Mei and the strategist Wang also looked at Chen Ye.

Under their gaze, Chen Ye nodded, “Judging by their attire, they appear to be mercenaries from Europe.”

“Oh? Which faction?” Commander Shao asked.

“Mercenaries don’t belong to any fixed faction. They’re driven by money and will do anything for the right price,” Chen Ye explained.

Hearing this, the onlookers frowned.

The two Westerners, not understanding Chen Ye’s words, grew worried seeing the stern looks directed at them.

“Hey, what are they saying? Do you understand?” one asked the other.

“Do you think I understand?” the other replied.

“They look like they want to kill us. Stay still and don’t provoke them. We can’t escape.”

“Damn, we shouldn’t have come here!”

Among those present, only Chen Ye, General Lin Mei, and the strategist Wang understood English.

Hearing their conversation, Wang stepped forward and spoke in English, “Are you mercenaries?”

“Oh, thank God! Someone who speaks English!” one mercenary exclaimed. “Yes, we’re mercenaries. We mean no harm, please don’t hurt us!”

“Why are you here?” Wang asked.

The mercenary, of course, lied, “We were being chased by the monster and ended up here by accident.”

Wang frowned and relayed this to Commander Shao, “They claim to be mercenaries chased by the monster.”

Commander Shao pondered for a moment and then looked at Chen Ye, “Sir Chen, what do you think their true purpose is?”

“Mercenaries follow the scent of money. Without it, they wouldn’t come all this way,” Chen Ye said. “Let me question them further.”

“Please do,” Commander Shao agreed.

Chen Ye approached the two men and asked, “Who do you work for?”

“Sir, we really mean no harm,” William, the protagonist, quickly responded.

“Don’t give me that. I know mercenaries well. You wouldn’t travel so far east without the promise of wealth,” Chen Ye replied.

William and his companion exchanged glances, surprised that this eastern man knew so much about mercenaries.

“You’re here for the black powder, aren’t you?” Chen Ye continued, revealing their true motive.

The two Westerners were shocked. How did this man know their mission? They couldn’t know that Chen Ye was aware of the entire plot.

Although William would eventually become a better person, it was too late now. Since Chen Ye had exposed their aim, their fate was sealed.

General Lin Mei, who understood English, had been translating for Commander Shao. Both now glared at the two foreigners with killing intent.

Black powder was one of China’s most important inventions, kept as a closely guarded secret by the court. For foreigners to covet it was unforgivable.

“You dare to covet our black powder? Your audacity will be punished!” Commander Shao declared.

———————-

Chapter 58

In the original plot, the Westerner William not only became the protagonist but also took the black powder back to Europe. However, under Chen Ye’s influence, this scenario will never happen.

“Take them away and put them in jail!” Commander Shao ordered, and the two Westerners were swiftly taken out, their faces full of confusion.

———-

Chen Ye successfully integrated into the Shadowless Imperial Guard, changing into a new set of gear, replacing his tattered school uniform. Instead of heavy armor, he chose a black cuirass, which he preferred for its flexibility, even though its defense was inferior to that of full armor.

The next day.

“Good morning, General Wu!”

“Good morning, Mr. Chen!”

After exchanging greetings, Chen Ye produced a blueprint and said, “I’ve heard that you’re a master smith, General Wu. Could you help me craft a few items?”

General Wu took the blueprint and saw it was for a double-edged short blade.

“What kind of weapon is this? A hidden weapon?” General Wu asked curiously.

On Chen Ye’s blueprint, the short blade had no handle, implying it wasn’t meant to be held by hand. Usually, such designs were for projectiles or concealed weapons.

“You have a keen eye, General Wu,” Chen Ye smiled. “It is indeed a hidden weapon. Could you make twenty of them for me?”

Recalling how Chen Ye had thrown the arrow back at General Chen with precision, General Wu deduced that Chen Ye must be skilled in using hidden weapons. He confidently agreed, “No problem, I’ll have them ready by noon!”

“Thank you, General Wu!”

Chen Ye needed the double-edged short blades to complement his telekinesis. Controlling large weapons directly consumed too much mental energy. In contrast, controlling small hidden weapons significantly reduced the burden while maintaining lethal effectiveness.

After parting ways with General Wu, Chen Ye decided to explore the Great Wall. Despite having lived two lives, this was his first visit to the magnificent structure.

It was early morning, and many soldiers were training on the wall. They had to adapt to fighting on the wall as they often battled the Taotie there.

Chen Ye first encountered the archers of the Eagle Army. General Chen, still harboring some resentment over yesterday’s defeat by Chen Ye’s arrow-throwing, didn’t greet him.

Chen Ye shook his head with a smile and moved on, passing through the Eagle Army’s training grounds.

Next, he saw slender and agile figures—the Crane Army, an all-female unit practicing their aerial assassination techniques. These involved jumping off the wall with ropes, spears in hand, to attack enemies below, then being pulled back up by their comrades.

The Crane Army was known to suffer the most casualties among the five units, as the Taotie could leap high and often caught them mid-air, tearing them apart.

“Good morning, General Lin!” Chen Ye greeted General Lin Mei with a smile.

“Good morning, Mr. Chen,” Lin Mei replied, her eyes brightening at the sight of him. In his well-fitted armor, Chen Ye’s perfect physique and strong, fearless aura were fully displayed, making him look incredibly heroic.

For a moment, Lin Mei felt this was the true essence of manhood.

“How did you sleep last night?” Lin Mei asked.

“Quite well, actually. I haven’t slept so peacefully in a long time,” Chen Ye smiled, having slept well after many restless nights since joining the reincarnation space.

“Are you here to train?”

“No, I’m just looking around,” Chen Ye said, then curiously asked, “Isn’t it very dangerous for the Crane Army to engage the enemy like this?”

Lin Mei nodded and sighed, “It’s a soldier’s destiny.”

Chen Ye fell silent, recognizing her steel resolve.

After a moment, he asked, “I’ve heard that the Taotie Beast King awakens every sixty years?”

“Indeed,” Lin Mei nodded, “and when it does, there’s a great battle.”

“When is the next awakening?” Chen Ye asked, though he already knew from the plot.

“Soon! According to the Commander’s calculations, it should be within this month,” Lin Mei said gravely.

“Is there any way to stop the Taotie?”

“Kill the Beast King!” Lin Mei replied. “Once the Beast King is dead, the Taotie will no longer be a threat.”

They continued chatting when suddenly, a shout came from nearby, “General, look, it’s a signal fire!”

Chen Ye turned to see thick smoke rising in the distance, a sign of an imminent threat in ancient times.

“That direction…” Lin Mei’s face changed. “It’s bad! The Taotie Beast King has awakened. Notify the Commander immediately!”

———————

Chapter 59

-In the Grand Hall-

All the senior commanders of the Shadowless Imperial Guard gathered to discuss the urgent situation, and Chen Ye was among them.

“Scouts have just reported that the Beast King has awakened!” Commander Shao’s announcement made the atmosphere in the hall grow tense.

Everyone present wore serious expressions and remained silent. Although the Beast King had been dormant for years, they had continually fought against the Taotie soldiers and were well aware of their formidable power. Now, with the Beast King revived, a major battle was inevitable.

“We don’t have much time. If anyone has any ideas, speak up now!” Commander Shao urged.

Still, no one spoke. It was their first time facing the Beast King, and without any experience, no one dared to suggest anything recklessly.

“Then everyone, prepare for battle!” Commander Shao ordered as he stood up.

“Understood!” The generals responded in unison and began to slowly leave the hall.

Chen Ye also started to leave with the others.

“Mr. Chen, wait a moment!” General Wu called after him, presenting a cloth bundle.

Unfolding the bundle, it revealed twenty gleaming throwing blades.

“Mr. Chen, here are the items you requested!”

Chen Ye’s eyes lit up at the sight of the blades. As he took them from General Wu, the system unexpectedly gave a notification:

“Ding! Special item detected!”

Chen Ye was surprised. He hadn’t anticipated that the blades crafted by General Wu would be classified as special items. Though their value wasn’t high, it was a pleasant surprise for Chen Ye.

As special items, he could now store them in his personal inventory at any time, which was extremely convenient.

“Thank you, General Wu!” Chen Ye said, clasping his hands in gratitude.

General Wu grinned, “Don’t thank me. If you really want to thank me, just kill more Taotie!”

“Of course!” Chen Ye smiled. “I had these made precisely to kill Taotie.”

“Good, Mr. Chen. Let’s part ways for now. After we defeat the Taotie, I’ll treat you to some drinks!”

“It’s a deal!”

General Wu turned and returned to his post. Chen Ye then joined Commander Shao, General Lin Mei, and Strategist Wang on the command tower, looking out towards a large canyon.

After a moment, Commander Shao addressed Chen Ye, “Mr. Chen, if things look bad later, you are free to leave. Defending the Great Wall is our duty; you don’t need to stay and risk your life.”

“Commander, there’s no need for such talk,” Chen Ye replied with a smile. “Let’s focus on killing as many Taotie as possible.”

Commander Shao chuckled, having only tested Chen Ye’s resolve. As a military leader, he wouldn’t easily trust an outsider.

“What’s your plan, Mr. Chen?”

“I heard that if the Beast King is killed, the other Taotie will lose control. Is that true?” Chen Ye asked.

Commander Shao nodded, “Yes, that’s correct.”

“Good,” Chen Ye said. “I’ll attempt to kill the Beast King. Cover me.”

Everyone was taken aback by his bold statement. General Lin Mei was particularly alarmed and tried to dissuade him, “Mr. Chen, the Beast King is heavily guarded by many Taotie. It’s extremely dangerous. Please reconsider…”

Strategist Wang glanced thoughtfully at General Lin Mei.

Chen Ye reassured them with a smile, “Don’t worry. I won’t take unnecessary risks. If it’s impossible, I won’t force it.”

Just then, the ground began to tremble, and everyone on the tower could feel it, as if there was an earthquake. But they knew it was the sound of countless footsteps.

Soon, at the end of the distant canyon, a massive horde of Taotie appeared, so numerous they seemed endless.

Seeing this, Chen Ye’s eyes shone brightly. If he could kill them all, how many points would he earn?

Commander Shao’s expression grew grim as he gave the order:

“Sound the drums! Prepare for battle!”

The messenger repeated loudly, “Sound the drums! Prepare for battle!”

“Boom! Boom! Boom!”

The rhythmic drumming signaled the imminent start of the battle. General Lin Mei left the tower to return to her post. Chen Ye also descended and moved to the edge of the wall.

To kill Taotie, he needed to be at the forefront.

Finally, the Taotie horde drew closer. From the wall, the soldiers could see their ferocious, tooth-filled mouths.

Some new recruits, seeing so many monsters, couldn’t help but tremble with fear.

“Archers, prepare!”

Commander Shao’s voice rang out from the tower.

“Yes! Drummers, relay the command: archers prepare!” the messenger shouted.

Immediately, the drumming quickened. Moments later, dozens of catapults launched large, flaming boulders into the distance.

“Boom! Boom!”

The huge stones crashed among the Taotie, crushing many of them.

Chen Ye watched with mild amazement. One couldn’t underestimate the ingenuity of the ancients. This wave of boulder attacks had significantly reduced the Taotie numbers. However, many more Taotie surged forward.

“Come on! More of you!” Chen Ye murmured, retrieving his throwing blades from his personal space, ready to start the slaughter.

———————–

Chapter 60

“Archers, fire!”

The drumbeat changed once again. The archers of the Eagle Army immediately began to draw their bows and fire arrows at the advancing Taotie horde. With so many Taotie, they didn’t need to aim precisely; even blind shooting would hit targets.

However, compared to the massive damage caused by the catapults, the archers’ efforts were less effective. The Taotie had thick hides and tough flesh, making them largely resistant to arrow attacks. Only hitting their eyes, located under their armpits, was truly effective.

The Taotie moved incredibly fast. In the blink of an eye, they were at the base of the city walls. Chen Ye’s eyes flashed coldly as he pulled out his throwing blades and hurled them at the Taotie below.

With the aid of his telekinesis, he aimed directly for the Taotie’s eyes.

“Pff! Pff! Pff!”

One by one, the charging Taotie fell, slaughtered by Chen Ye.

“You have killed a Taotie (Soldier Beast), gaining 100 points!”

“You have killed a Taotie (Soldier Beast), gaining 100 points!”

“You have killed a Taotie (Soldier Beast), gaining 100 points!”

The system notifications were music to Chen Ye’s ears, motivating him to kill even more fervently.

Unleashing his full telekinetic power, Chen Ye ensured that nearly every thrown blade hit its mark. Additionally, he could retrieve the blades with his telekinesis.

However, even Chen Ye couldn’t manage multiple tasks simultaneously. Through experimentation, he found he could control up to five blades at once effectively. Even so, his kill rate was astonishingly fast.

Within minutes, the base of the city wall where he stood was piled high with Taotie corpses, and he had accumulated thousands of points.

Awesome!

No wonder online guides said that personal instances were rare and incredibly valuable. Encountering one was like winning the lottery. Personal instances were indeed vastly different from public instances.

While Chen Ye was engrossed in the slaughter, a sudden scream nearby caught his attention. The Crane Army, composed of women, had suffered casualties. They used zip-line attacks, plunging down with spears to kill Taotie, but as their numbers grew, the Crane soldiers were often overwhelmed and torn apart after killing one.

Chen Ye saw that General Lin Mei was personally fighting and showing great bravery, narrowly escaping the Taotie’s grasp several times. The zip-line attacks were extremely physically demanding, and after a few minutes, General Lin Mei was panting, her forehead covered in sweat. Despite this, she continued to fight.

Seeing this, Chen Ye frowned. He felt that Lin Mei’s intense fighting could lead to an accident. So, while continuing to kill Taotie, he kept part of his focus on her. It would be a real shame if such a beautiful woman were to be eaten by Taotie.

A few minutes later, Chen Ye finally accumulated 8,000 points. Without hesitation, he upgraded his Armament Haki to the Expert level. Instantly, he felt a change in his legs, now capable of utilizing Armament Haki.

Just as Chen Ye was feeling pleased, a sudden cry rang out.

“General!!!”

Looking over, he saw that General Lin Mei’s zip-line had been bitten through by a Taotie, causing her to fall into the midst of the Taotie horde.

“Damn! This wasn’t in the original plot!”

Chen Ye was shocked.

“Could it be that the plot changed because I got rid of those two Westerners?”

Without further thought, Chen Ye jumped onto the wall and then leaped down…

-At the Base of the Wall-

General Lin Mei landed and instinctively swung her spear, scattering the Taotie around her. However, seeing the countless Taotie surrounding her, her face turned pale. It seemed inevitable that she would die this time. Yet, she felt no fear or regret. Dying on the battlefield was a soldier’s destiny.

Just as Lin Mei was resigned to her fate, a tall figure suddenly descended from above, landing in front of her.

Chen Ye landed, immediately drawing his black sword, Shusui. Simultaneously, he threw all twenty of his hidden blades, maximizing his telekinetic output.

The blades, under the force of his powerful telekinesis, flew through the air like a meat grinder, shredding any Taotie that approached.

Chen Ye stood firm, gripping Shusui. Any Taotie that managed to slip through his telekinetic defenses was instantly cleaved in half by his sword.

He looked like a war god!

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