"Back then, if he hadn’t humiliated and deceived me first, I wouldn’t have laid a hand on him and killed him, all his own doing!" Cao Wuheng said indifferently.

"You scoundrel, even now you dare to utter such words. Just over a trivial matter, you would kill your own brother born of the same mother. You are utterly ruthless and do not deserve to be my son, Cao Longxiang. Get out!"

With a furious shout, Cao Longxiang stepped forward and swung his arm, unleashing a terrifying wave of True Qi that surged toward Cao Wuheng.

Facing that terrifying force, Cao Wuheng’s expression tightened slightly.

"Enough!"

Just then, a commanding shout rang out, and a figure appeared in the hall. Instantly, Cao Longxiang’s terrifying True Qi dissipated into nothingness.

The figure that appeared was an elderly man in a white coat, with white hair, leaning on a dragon-headed cane. He appeared to be at least seventy or eighty years old, but his eyes were bright and spirited, and his posture was as straight as that of a pine that had stood for a thousand years.

Seeing the elder, the faces of the Cao Family members present all changed as they bowed and said, "We pay respect to the old Family Head!"

"Father, how come you are here?"

Cao Longxiang’s face stiffened as he saw the elder and quickly spoke.

"Hmph, had I not come, would you have our Cao Family end our lineage?"

The elder snorted coldly with a voice full of energy and a commanding presence, and slammed his dragon-headed cane onto the ground, making everyone’s heart tremble.

He was none other than the old Family Head of the Cao Family, Cao Tianhu, the true authority of the Cao Family, and one of the individuals at the very pinnacle of power in Huaxia.

"We dare not!"

Cao Longxiang, who had previously carried himself with the authority of a fierce tiger, suddenly lost all presence in front of the elder, bowing deeply as he spoke.

"Hmph!" Cao Tianhu snorted as he looked at Cao Longxiang, then turned to glance over his shoulder at Cao Wuheng. Upon seeing Cao Wuheng, the heavy authority on his face immediately faded, transforming into that of a friendly old neighbor. His aged eyes looked at Cao Wuheng with deep longing.

"Wu Hen, you’ve finally returned. Do you know how much your grandfather has missed you over the years you’ve been away?"

Cao Tianhu’s face was filled with affection and longing, resembling that of a grandfather who had not seen his grandson for a long time and was now reunited.

"Grandfather, I’m sorry, it is Wu Hen’s fault for not coming back sooner," Cao Wuheng said, his head bowed.

"It’s alright, as long as you’re back now. Besides, you are now truly a member of the Cao Family, worthy of being the future Family Head," Cao Tianhu said calmly.

"Father! He..." Cao Longxiang’s face changed upon hearing his father’s words.

At this moment, Cao Tianhu’s gaze turned to Cao Longxiang and said, "What, do you have an objection to my words?"

"Father, he killed his own brother and caused Hui Ru to die of heartbreak. How can such a person become the Family Head of the Cao Family?" Cao Longxiang said gravely.

"Hmph, right now our Cao Family only has Wuheng as an heir. If he doesn’t take on this role, who will?" Cao Tianhu retorted coldly.

"Cao Wuheng, do you even have the face to come back?"

At that moment, an ice-cold, crisp voice sounded, followed by a graceful figure walking in.

This figure was clad in a military uniform, sporting a tidy cropped hairstyle, delicate and flawless features, crescent eyebrows, bright eyes, a straight nose, cherry lips, and healthy wheat-colored skin.

She had a belt cinched around her waist, outlining her slender figure and accentuating her proud bosom, which soared high like the clouds and was at least a D-cup in size.

Her long, straight legs were clad in tight military trousers, with each leg at least a meter in length, and she wore a pair of black military boots. Her entire demeanor exuded a valiant and formidable aura, like a heroine among women.

Especially significant was her military rank, at the level of senior colonel. For someone of her age to hold such a high rank was an anomaly in the military, as the rank above senior colonel was that of a general.

There weren’t many generals in the whole of Huaxia, and without exception, they all had distinguished military achievements or had made outstanding contributions. Of course, a young female general like Ye Luo was definitely unprecedented.

No matter what, being a woman and having reached the rank of senior colonel at merely twenty-six or twenty-seven years of age was truly a unique case in the military.

With the appearance of this woman, the gazes of the Cao Family members once again unanimously turned towards her.

"Big sister!"

Cao Wuheng called out to the woman.

This person was none other than Cao Wuheng’s sister, the eldest daughter of the Cao Family, Cao Jianjia, who was also known as the female War God in the Huaxia military.

"You have no right to call me the eldest daughter, and I do not have a relative who kills his own flesh and blood brother," Cao Jianjia said coldly.

"Cao Wuheng, weren’t you doing well as the Crown Prince of the Tian Group? Why bother to return? This family doesn’t welcome you, and I don’t wish to see you," Cao Jianjia said, looking at her younger brother with eyes filled with intense hatred.

"Enough, Jianjia, don’t say anymore. No matter what wrongs Wuheng committed in the past, it’s all in the past now. Now that Wuheng has become the Crown Prince of the Tian Group, his return will undoubtedly elevate the Cao Family’s status even more," said Cao Tianhu.

"Grandfather, you are attracted to his title of Crown Prince of the Tian Group and the support of those old monsters from the Tian Group, aren’t you? Is that why you let him return to the Cao Family?"

"Just because of these reasons, can we forget the death of Wu Jun and my mother’s death? This guy is ruthless and manipulative. His return to the Cao Family will only bring more troubles," Cao Jianjia said with a cold tone.

"That’s enough, I still have the final say in this family. Regardless, Wuheng is the only inheritor of the Cao Family now, and he must return. If anyone opposes again, don’t blame me for being rude. Wuheng, come with me," Cao Tianhu said to Cao Wuheng, and the two of them left the place.

Suddenly, most people in the hall dispersed, leaving only Cao Longxiang and Cao Jianjia behind.

"Ah..." Cao Longxiang sighed.

"Father, are we just going to let him return to the Cao Family like this?" Cao Jianjia asked Cao Longxiang.

"I’ve long understood his character. He’s cunning and cruel, with ruthless methods. If he becomes the future head of the Cao Family, I can’t even predict to what depths he will drag it," Cao Longxiang replied.

"I never imagined that I, Cao Longxiang, upright and forthright my whole life, would have such a son. Perhaps we really did focus too much on Wu Jun in the past and neglected him, leading to his current character and to the tragedy five years ago," Cao Longxiang said with a deep sigh.

"No matter what, I will never acknowledge him as my brother. I don’t know what grandfather is thinking, to actually want him to be the future head of the Cao Family," Cao Jianjia huffed coldly.