The Person God of War Shanhe Respected Most Was Yue Xiaofei's Father?

"What? Her?"

Shock was written all over Lin Tiejun's face.

He was from Jiangbei Province and understood better than Lei Zhen just how much weight that name carried.

"Old Lin, who is Jiang Bichij?" Yue Xiaofei pressed.

Lin Tiejun's expression turned grave, and a note of wariness entered his voice.

"She's a powerful woman with connections everywhere!"

"In the Provincial Capital, she can walk straight into the government compound whenever she wants!"

"One word from her can make or break an official project!"

"Even department heads bow and scrape when they see her and respectfully call her 'Madam Jiang'!"

"The year before last, a developer offended her. His company was shut down the next day, and he vanished without a trace. No one's found him since!"

Yue Xiaofei's heart sank as he listened. "What's her background?"

"That's the problem!"

Lin Tiejun lowered his voice further. "No one knows!"

"Some say she's the illegitimate daughter of an old Chief. Others say she's a front for people who came back from overseas."

"But what worries people most is the rumor that her real backer... is in Longdu!"

Longdu!

The name struck Yue Xiaofei like a hammer.

It was the center of power, a place countless people looked up to.

How could a woman from Jiangcheng have connections reaching all the way to Longdu?

"I'm sorry, Old Lin, Uncle Lei. I've caused you trouble."

Yue Xiaofei suddenly lowered his head, guilt in his voice.

If they hadn't tried to help him, neither of them would have crossed someone so powerful.

"What nonsense are you talking about?"

Lin Tiejun cut him off. "We're the ones who owe you an apology! We've let down your grandfather, Yue Qinhu, and your uncle, Yue Zhangkong! If we can't even protect the family of fallen heroes, how can we call ourselves soldiers?"

Lei Zhen's eyes reddened too.

"Xiaofei, don't say that. We're the ones who failed. We couldn't get to the bottom of your father's case, and we can't even deal with Gao Zisheng."

Then Lin Tiejun straightened his back, resolve flashing in his eyes.

"The old Regimental Commander had a fiery temper. He never tolerated wrongdoing!"

"If he were still lucid, he'd bring the Gao Family's roof down, no matter who was backing them!"

"I won't disgrace the old Regimental Commander. I'm going to Longdu to find Marshal Qin's descendants!"

"If I can prove your grandfather was a corps commander, we may yet be able to stand up to Jiang Bichij!"

"Bear with it a little longer, Xiaofei. Wait for my news!"

Yue Xiaofei looked at his wrinkled face, his nose suddenly stinging. "Thank you, Old Lin."

"What are you thanking me for?"

Lin Tiejun waved a hand. "As long as these old bones can still move, I can fight for the old Regimental Commander one more time!"

Lei Zhen patted Yue Xiaofei on the shoulder. "We're going. Call anytime you need us. Remember, you're not fighting alone!"

Yue Xiaofei stood in the doorway and watched their car disappear around the alley corner, a heavy weight pressing on his heart.

The Gao Family!

Jiang Bichij!

Ordinary people couldn't afford to cross either of them!

But Yue Xiaofei wasn't afraid!

The more formidable they were, the more determined he was to fight to the end, even if a mountain of blades and a sea of fire lay ahead!

His phone screen still showed Gao Zisheng's social media post.

Yue Xiaofei stared at that smug face and slowly clenched his fist.

"Just you wait!"

"I'll collect every debt you owe me, with interest!"

Then Yue Xiaofei turned and went back inside.

The house was quiet. Only his grandfather, Yue Qinhu, sat in a wicker chair, fiddling with an old radio.

"Bzzzt—"

Static crackled from the radio, followed by an announcer's impassioned voice.

It was his grandfather's old habit.

He listened to the news every day, even though he couldn't remember most of it.

"Breaking news from the Northern Frontier!"

"God of War Shanhe has led an army of eight hundred thousand to the gates of the Wolf Country Capital!"

"After ten years of bitter fighting, our forces have swept across a thousand miles of northern grassland, expanding the Dragon Kingdom's territory by more than a thousand miles!"

"According to reports from the front, the Wolf Country royal family is preparing to surrender. God of War Shanhe will soon return in triumph!"

"We ask everyone across the nation to pray for our heroes and wish the Dragon Kingdom's army victory!"

God of War Shanhe... Zhao Shanhe!

Yue Xiaofei jerked his head up, fire blazing in his eyes.

Everyone in the Dragon Kingdom knew that name!

He was the brightest rising star in the military, the hero young people revered most!

In the Dragon Kingdom's system of generals, one star was the lowest rank, followed by two stars, three stars...

And nine stars stood at the top!

Lin Tiejun was a retired Major General, a one-star general.

Lei Zhen was a high-ranking Air Force officer, a two-star general.

But Zhao Shanhe was an active-duty Nine-Star General, a man at the very top of the pyramid!

He was one step away from becoming a Marshal!

In peacetime, that was almost unthinkable. Yet he had done it!

Through ten years of hard-fought victories on the Northern Frontier, he had carved out his place among the generals!

"Ten years ago, the Wolf Country army marched south, burning, killing, and pillaging. Countless civilians were driven from their homes."

"It was Zhao Shanhe who held Yanmen Pass for three months with fewer than a thousand surviving troops, stopping the Wolf Country's main force in its tracks!"

"He built an undefeated army that won battle after battle, forging a Steel Great Wall across the grasslands!"

As Yue Xiaofei recalled Zhao Shanhe's exploits, excitement surged through him.

If his two uncles were still alive...

Perhaps they, too, could have fought like Zhao Shanhe, expanding the Dragon Kingdom's territory.

"But... why does he always wear a mask?"

Yue Xiaofei murmured to himself.

In ten years of war, Zhao Shanhe had never appeared before a camera without his Dark Iron Mask.

No one had ever seen his face.

Some said he had scars. Others said he wore it to hide his identity...

The radio broadcast continued.

Cheers from across the country came through the airwaves, loud enough to shake the room.

Meanwhile...

On the Northern Frontier, outside the Wolf Country Capital.

Eight hundred thousand Dragon Kingdom soldiers stood in formation, facing the city walls.

Inside the central command tent...

A figure in a Nine-Star General Robe stood as straight as a pine.

A Dark Iron Mask concealed his face, leaving only his sharp eyes visible.

He slowly took out a yellowed group photo.

Yue Changlong stood on the left, Zhao Mengsheng on the right.

If Yue Xiaofei had been there, he would have been too shocked to speak!

It was identical to the photo he held!

"Boss Yue!"

A low voice came from beneath the mask.

"Can you see it? The Wolf Country Capital is right in front of us. Tomorrow, the Dragon Kingdom's flag will fly over it!"

"It's been ten years. I haven't let you down, have I?"

"You always said the battlefield wasn't just a training ground at home. It was the border when the country needed us. Well, I've done it!"

He lowered his gaze to the photo, his eyes softening as memories surfaced.

"You said that once I accomplished something great, you'd buy me a drink. The strongest stuff there was!"

"Once I take Wolf Country, I'll come find you. Don't go back on your word."

"I wonder how you're doing now. Have you become a Marshal yet?"

"You always said you weren't cut out to be an officer, but I know what you're capable of. You'd put ten Marshals to shame..."

With that, he carefully put the photo away and turned toward the Wolf Country Capital.

"Once the city falls, I'll send a victory report home and give you the greatest share of the credit!"

"I know you don't care about that. I just want everyone to know—"

"Everything I, Zhao Shanhe, can do, I learned from you!"

"Report!"

A messenger suddenly rushed over and handed him a telegram.

"General, news from home!"

"A lot of people have suddenly started searching the internet for the name Zhao Mengsheng!"