Beyond the Great Wall

"You six, plus those two. The eight of you are coming with me on patrol. This time, we're going to the Far-Northern Abyss to contact the Beastmen there and see whether they've lost control of the Abyss."

Kui Niu gave no preamble. Chen Cheng thought the six men chosen on the spot might be frightened or confused, but they accepted their orders in unison without asking why.

They were clearly true elites. Soldiers like them did not ask why; they carried out their commander's orders.

"All right. You six, go back and get ready. We're leaving the city at once."

"Commander, there's nothing we need to prepare."

One of the six spoke with his fist cupped in his palm.

Each man wore a captain's armor and carried a weapon at his waist and a somewhat battered Space Bag.

Kui Niu glanced at him, then turned to the other five.

"None of you have anything to prepare?"

Clearly, Kui Niu was not talking about supplies or weapons. He wanted them to go home and tell their families. They were heading beyond the Great Wall alone, into Beastmen territory.

The dangers along the way were bad enough. Once they reached Beastmen territory, its royal clans had little affection for the Human race. Many of them wanted every human dead.

What Kui Niu had really offered them was a chance to say their last words.

But the other five also saluted.

"There's nothing to prepare."

Kui Niu looked like a bull on the verge of a rampage. His breathing grew heavy, and he snorted.

"Don't say I didn't give you a chance. Let's go."

He swept Chen Cheng and the other seven along with him, flying toward the foot of the Great Wall.

The camp stood below the Great Wall, but there was