If he never picked a side, then what awaited him would be attempts to win him over—just like the current fourth son of the The Bennett Family, Matthew Bennett. Although he is young, he has already been courted at great expense by his second mother. Unlike him, who had a great price paid just to be eliminated.

The former John Bennett had long given up on competing for the position of family head—perhaps out of despair, or maybe he truly lacked ambition. But now, this John Bennett was actually a bit interested in that position.

In fact, John Bennett didn’t care much about being the head of a small family. After all, according to the original plot, he was destined to become the demonic cult leader who would plunge the world into chaos.

But the problem is, that was the original plot. Now, this John Bennett is the John Bennett who has been reborn and transmigrated. Who knows how things will actually turn out? So, you have to eat one bite at a time and walk one step at a time. First, secure the position of heir to the The Bennett Family.

Since ancient times, scholars have been poor and warriors rich. From tempering the body to refining blood and qi, which of these doesn’t require a huge amount of resources and time?

Becoming the family heir means that, if not all, at least half of the The Bennett Family’s resources would be his, allowing John Bennett to progress even faster in martial arts.

John Bennett turned his gaze to Emily and said calmly, “My second mother actually chose to hire bandits to kill me. Isn’t she afraid of being discovered by the The Bennett Family? Do you have any evidence of her colluding with the bandits?”

Since John Bennett had chosen to compete for the position of family heir, his three brothers were all obstacles. If he could get evidence now, he could eliminate one of them first.

Emily thought for a moment and said, “There’s no evidence. The second madam directly sent one of her trusted servants to contact the bandits. Those bandits only knew that someone from the The Bennett Family was looking for them—they didn’t even know exactly who. There’s no written evidence left behind.”

After saying this, Emily put on a pitiful expression and looked at John Bennett: “Young master, I’ve told you everything I know. Can you spare my life?”

John Bennett smiled and said, “Don’t worry, I don’t kill women.”

Upon hearing this, Emily immediately showed a look of relief. But John Bennett suddenly exerted force and snapped her neck!

Looking at Emily, now lifeless and still with confusion in her eyes, John Bennett said calmly, “I lied to you. You actually believed that? So naïve, yet you try to be a spy?”

John Bennett dragged Emily’s corpse out of the carriage and instructed Thomas Brooks, “Bury her.”

Thomas Brooks and the other servants all shuddered, but none dared to say a word.

Emily was a maid bought by the The Bennett Family; her life belonged to the The Bennett Family. Of course, she could be played with or killed at will.

Besides, the second young master had clearly changed these past two days—he seemed like a different person, far more ruthless. They didn’t dare to say anything.

Seven days later, John Bennett finally walked out of Shang Mang Mountain. At the end of the official road, a bustling prefectural city appeared before John Bennett—this was Tongzhou Prefecture, where the The Bennett Family resided, one of the few major prefectures in Wei County.

Speaking of which, the history of Wei County is quite interesting.

Wei County was originally the small state of Wei, located between the three great powers of the era: Northern Yan and Eastern Qi. It once helped Qi attack Yan, but was ultimately destroyed by Yan.

Yan, holding a grudge against Wei for attacking it, implemented a high-pressure policy in Wei County, causing the people and martial artists there to rebel. Even Yan’s top general stationed in Wei County, ‘Hengshan Sword Overlord’ Fang Longquan, was seriously injured by a mysterious person and lost an arm. For a time, Wei County was in chaos, forcing Yan, who dared not massacre the city, to temporarily withdraw its troops.

In the end, Yan reached an agreement with Wei County: it would not station troops there, but would send civil officials to govern.

So, in name, Wei County is under Yan’s jurisdiction, and its taxes go to Yan, but in reality, it is self-governing.

Of course, these major court affairs have little to do with small families like the The Bennett Family. Without imperial officials in charge, the martial world of Wei County is very free, and some martial factions live quite well.

As one of the three great families of Tongzhou Prefecture, the The Bennett Family owns an entire street in the southern part of the city.

The carriage stopped in front of the The Bennett Family’s gate. As soon as John Bennett got out, he saw the main doors open. A richly dressed noblewoman in her forties, accompanied by a group of maids and servants, walked out. Seeing John Bennett standing in front of the carriage, her expression changed slightly.

Seeing this person, John Bennett wore a faint smile and cupped his hands, saying, “Greetings, Second Mother. It’s been a year since we last met, and you look even younger than before.”

This noblewoman was the mother of the The Bennett Family’s third son, David Bennett, the The Bennett Family’s second madam, known for her ruthless and venomous nature.

Although it was David Bennett who had him exiled to the mines, the mastermind behind it was most likely this second madam.

Moreover, this second madam had quite a background—she was the only daughter of the founder of Tongzhou Prefecture’s Kaishan Martial Arts School, ‘Iron-Splitting Hand’ Andrew Cooper.

Andrew Cooper was a local tyrant in Tongzhou Prefecture. Although not at the innate level, he was at the peak of the Blood Condensation stage and was influential in all aspects of Tongzhou Prefecture.

Over twenty years ago, when the The Bennett Family had just moved to Tongzhou Prefecture, it was because John Bennett’s father, Charles Bennett, married Andrew Cooper’s daughter that they were able to establish themselves so quickly.

The second madam looked at the smiling John Bennett before her and couldn’t help but frown.