He looked coldly into the house and said in a frosty voice, “Edward Benson, you engaged in a private family fight, and according to the family rules, your cultivation should be abolished; moreover, your actions were ruthless. Although William Benson was lucky enough to survive, your intent to kill was obvious. After abolishing your cultivation, both your hands should be cut off as well!”

“I’ll give you ten breaths’ time. Come out and confess, and you can still be dealt with according to the family rules. If you resist, once the family disciplinary hall disciples take action, there will be no mercy!”

Samuel Benson, representing the family disciplinary hall, spoke with a chilling tone, issuing his orders.

This situation was within Edward Benson’s expectations. Yet he remained calm and unafraid.

He slowly walked to the doorway, his icy gaze fixed on Samuel Benson. “Old Samuel, since you preside over the family disciplinary hall, you should know there’s a rule: anyone who trespasses into a private residence may be beaten or crippled without consequence.”

“Nonsense! My younger brother was acting on Young Master Henry Benson’s orders, coming to call you out to greet the guests so you wouldn’t slack off or shirk your duties! How is that trespassing?” Charles Benson retorted loudly.

Samuel Benson nodded slowly. “That’s right. I asked Henry Benson, and he did indeed instruct William Benson to call you. Many people can testify to this.”

Edward Benson let out a cold laugh and asked icily, “Old Samuel, it seems you’re getting senile in your old age. Let me ask you, who is the current head of the family?”

“Naturally, it’s the family head,” Samuel Benson snorted.

“Has the family head officially named an heir? Has he formally announced Henry Benson as the next head of the family?”

Samuel Benson was momentarily at a loss for words.

“If there’s been no official heir named, then no matter how illustrious Henry Benson’s maternal family is, no matter his status, he’s still just another member of the family like the rest of us. What right does he have to give orders? Since he has no authority to issue commands, William Benson was acting on a false order, clearly here to provoke trouble. How can you say he was acting on orders?”

Edward Benson’s words were logical and righteous.

With such righteous momentum, it was like water dousing fire, instantly dampening the other side’s arrogance.

At this moment, a commotion rippled through the crowd outside. A tall, slender figure pushed through the people, forcefully making her way inside.

It was Grace Benson!

Among the younger generation, Grace Benson held considerable status. Moreover, she was currently training outside and had powerful backing, so even the family’s disciplinary hall might not dare to punish her.

Thus, the crowd parted for her without hesitation.

“Old Samuel, today is a day of great celebration for the family. Are you ever going to stop with all this drama?” Grace Benson said, her tone displeased.

Old Samuel was, after all, a family elder. Facing Grace Benson’s questioning, he did not back down. “Grace Benson, the disciplinary hall is enforcing the rules. You have no right to interfere.”

“I have no interest in interfering, nor do I want to. But in broad daylight, ask yourselves honestly—are your so-called actions truly impartial? Who dares to swear to the heavens that this isn’t a deliberate provocation? Who dares!?”

Grace Benson was not a weak woman. Her time training outside had given her a presence that most family juniors lacked.

“If you have a clear conscience, if you dare to swear to the heavens that you have not a shred of selfish intent, then you don’t need to act—I, Grace Benson, will enforce the family law myself! Even if it’s my own brother, I won’t show mercy!”

Grace Benson’s gaze was as fierce as a leopard’s, sweeping over every person in the crowd.

To swear to the heavens was to make an oath to the Dao of Heaven.

Three feet above your head, the gods are watching; the Dao of Heaven is just and cannot be deceived.

Martial cultivators may deceive others and themselves, but they dare not deceive the heavens!

Grace Benson’s forceful challenge made Old Samuel furious inside. But he knew better than anyone that they did not have a clear conscience. From start to finish, this matter was entangled in family strife. To claim there was no selfish intent would be to deceive the heavens!

Old Samuel snorted. “Since you, Grace Benson, are determined to protect this troublemaker, I’ll step back and report to the family head. Let the family head decide!”

With that, Old Samuel waved his hand. “Let’s go!”

Charles Benson was anxious. “Old Samuel, are we just going to let my brother be beaten for nothing?”

Old Samuel shot him a vicious glare, hating how these two brothers were hopeless. Especially William Benson. If you wanted to cause trouble, couldn’t you have lured him out of his house first?

If you get beaten or killed in someone else’s private residence, it’s hard to argue your case—serves you right!

The crowd that had come so aggressively now left in disarray.

Grace Benson let out a soft sigh, her face full of worry. Her gaze shifted to Edward Benson, and seeing his calm and unruffled expression, she couldn’t help but feel a bit annoyed, stamping her foot. “You’re so calm—am I the only one worrying myself sick here?”

Edward Benson smiled gently. “Big sister, you’ve stood up for me once again. In this life, I’m destined to owe you.”

Grace Benson had always doted on this younger brother. Hearing this, her heart softened, and she said worriedly, “Little Yi, the whole family is targeting you now, trying to curry favor with Henry Benson. Today’s grand banquet isn’t just to celebrate Henry Benson entering the Yin-Yang Academy—there’s a good chance the family head will announce the heir. If that happens, Henry Benson will become the titled successor of the Qin family, and your status will be very different.”

“It doesn’t matter.”

Edward Benson waved his hand, his tone indifferent. “I was never meant to belong to the Qin family. Whatever they want to do has nothing to do with me. The only one I acknowledge is you, big sister. To me, you are the whole family.”

Grace Benson looked at him with new eyes. She had thought Edward Benson would be resentful, unable to accept it, full of complaints. But it seemed her brother had seen through it all and was at peace.

That was for the best!

“Little Yi, after tonight, first thing tomorrow morning, I’ll take you away!” Grace Benson seemed to have made up her mind.