Tongnan City, military airport.
The roar of fighter jets and military trains filled the air as over a thousand soldiers stood in solemn salute, welcoming the return of Navid Byrd, the Five-Star War God of Daxia, to his hometown.
"You guys, I'm just coming home for a visit.
Is all this really necessary?" Navid chuckled as he stepped off the military aircraft.
"It's our honor to welcome the War God back!" said General Long, the highest-ranking officer, with a mix of awe and respect.
Navid Byrd, a legendary figure from Tongnan City. Yet, who would have known that five years ago, he was almost killed, living like an ant?
Five years ago, the Byrd family in Tongnan was annihilated overnight by a scheme from the Zhang, Wang, and Xia families, who seized their vast assets.
Navid's parents, along with over a hundred servants and women, were all massacred.
The place was awash with blood, and Navid was the sole survivor, escaping from a sea of corpses.
That night, amidst the storm and rain, he was severely wounded and relentlessly pursued by the three families. Fortunately, a girl opened a path to life for him, allowing him to survive.
He hid there for a few days to recover, and the girl always wore a veil.
"To be honest, my granddaughter has a scar on her face, so she has to cover it. Since fate has brought you together, I'll make the decision. You two will marry immediately, and you... must never let her down!" the girl's grandfather said, tapping Navid's forehead with his tobacco pipe.
And so, the wedding ceremony was held, and the newlyweds retired to their room.
However, fate had other plans. The three major families intensified their search throughout the city, and to avoid bringing trouble to the kind father and daughter who had helped him, he chose to leave without saying goodbye.
It was only when he left that he realized he didn't even know the appearance or name of his bride. To ensure he could find her in the future, he took a jade pendant from her dressing box as a token.
For five years, he was on the run, eventually joining the military.
With extraordinary courage and determination, he managed to take down enemy leaders amidst thousands, earning the title of One-Star Warrior!
Leading his fierce squad, he launched a surprise attack on the enemy's artillery camp, capturing three hundred with just three men and seizing over ten elite cannons, earning him the title of One-Star War God!
When the enemy nation sent three hundred thousand troops to invade the western frontier of Daxia, he led his army bravely into battle.
Under the thunder of hooves, the enemy lay dead across the fields, and the enemy forces, terrified, dared not entertain any further thoughts of invasion.
Thus, the western frontier of Daxia was secured.
Navid Byrd finally earned the title of Five-Star War God and returned home to visit his family.
Today, he could finally search for his bride and make amends for leaving without a word.
"War God, we've found the owner of the jade pendant you asked us to investigate..."
"Oh? Who is it? What's her name? Tell me quickly!"
Navid Byrd was thrilled, turning to urge his subordinate, Dominic.
Dominic, a Three-Star War God of Daxia, had followed Navid through countless battles and witnessed his rise to the ultimate War God, remaining fiercely loyal to him.
"It's Sierra Yarrow, the daughter of the Yarrow family from Southern Daxia!"
... ... ...
As Navid Byrd approached the front door of the Summers' house, he was about to knock when he heard strange voices coming from inside.
"Frank, I've been so cooperative with you.
When will you get that death certificate for that useless guy done... I want to be Mrs. King already..."
The sultry voice sent a shiver down Navid's spine.
What is this...
"Oh, I told you, very soon, very soon..
Haha, come on, let's handle it now!"
"Dear, that useless guy has been gone for years with no news, and I've had to live with the stigma of being a widow. It's so damn unlucky, hurry up!"
"Alright, alright... Come on, today you can become the real Mrs. King!"
As the voices inside grew louder, Navid felt his heart plunge into an icy abyss.
Was she really the heiress of the Summers family?
She was actually having someone forge a death certificate for him? And involved in such a scandalous affair!
Could this really be the kind-hearted girl who once saved him?
How could it be...
"Sweetie, Priya, as long as you keep me happy, I'll take care of everything! Once that death certificate is done, we can be together openly, hahaha..."
"Yes, and not only that, but I can finally cut ties with that little girl. She's been such a burden all these years. After this, she can go wherever she wants!"
Priya panted as she spoke.
Navid Byrd felt like he'd been struck by lightning, utterly stunned by the words he overheard.
Little girl? Could those few nights of passion have actually resulted in a child? And now, this venomous woman didn't even want her own flesh and blood?
"Priya, don't worry. I know a club owner who's planning some new, unique projects. I bet that little girl won't last a few days there before she's worked to death. Then we can just toss her out and claim she died of illness... How about it?"
"Good, good, make it happen quickly!"
What? Navid's heart ached with rage. How dare they treat his daughter like this! How could there be such a wicked woman in the world? That was their own daughter!
"By the way, Priya, where are you keeping the little girl? Make sure she gets a few good meals first.
That way, she might fetch a better price, haha!"
"She's in the servant's pigsty, eating and sleeping with the pigs. She's living the life!"
My daughter, locked up in a pigsty?
Navid's jaw clenched, his fists tightened until his knuckles cracked. He wanted nothing more than to storm in and tear those shameless people apart, but rescuing his daughter was the priority! Every second she spent in that pigsty was torture for him.
In the servants' courtyard, the pigsty.
Oink, oink... oink, oink...
A few stinking pigs snuffled around, splattering filth everywhere.
A little girl, barely clothed and filthy, huddled in a dark corner, trembling with fear.
"Come on, it's feeding time!"
A servant approached, carrying a bucket of pig slop.
The pigs were excited, and the girl quickly ran over too.
"Please, sir, please, I'm hungry... I need to eat..."
The girl clutched her stomach, looking weak and frail.
"Heh, hungry, are you, little brat? Come on, fight the pigs for it. Let's see who wins, hahaha..."
The servant's face twisted with a cruel satisfaction.
"I'm pouring it now, little one, come and eat, fight for it! Hahaha! You fatherless brat! Hahaha!"
Oink, oink, oink...
The pigs began to eat, and the frail girl was jostled, falling into the muck and mud.
Her eyes were filled with sadness, and she bit her lip, refusing to cry out.
Damn it!!!
Navid Byrd was furious. With a swift leap, he kicked the servant square in the face.
Thud!
The servant was sent flying into the brick enclosure, spitting blood, his body crumpling like a rag doll, lifeless.
"You... sir, who are you?"
The girl was terrified, shrinking back into the mud.
"Come here, your name is Nunu, right?
Come on, I'll take you to get something to eat. From now on... you're not a fatherless brat anymore!"
Navid extended his hand, his eyes filled with guilt.
After five years of battle and countless brushes with death, he had never shed a tear. Yet now, his eyes were red with emotion.