At this moment, Thomas Brooks, who was following behind John Bennett, chuckled and said, “Mr. Parker, here’s the thing: the young master has come to collect his cultivation resources for this year.”

Upon hearing this, Mr. Parker was momentarily stunned, then sneered, “Second Young Master, are you joking with me? Your cultivation resources have always been collected by the Eldest Young Master. Why are you asking me for them?”

John Bennett replied calmly, “Then why did you give my cultivation resources to the Eldest Young Master? Did I give the order, or did Father give the order?”

Mr. Parker was taken aback by this. Did such a thing even need anyone’s order? Back then, when the Eldest Young Master took your cultivation resources, you didn’t even dare utter a word, so of course no one would say anything.

Now John Bennett had actually come to question him, making Mr. Parker feel that John Bennett was just here to cause trouble. But as for this Second Young Master, who had never been much valued in the family, he had never cared much about him anyway.

Mr. Parker snorted coldly, “If you’re unhappy that the Eldest Young Master took your cultivation resources, you can go ask him for them yourself. If you want to take it out on me, Second Young Master, you’re overthinking it!”

A dangerous glint flashed in John Bennett’s eyes, but just then, someone suddenly rushed in, slapped Mr. Parker to the ground, and shouted angrily, “How dare you! Speaking to the Second Young Master like that—do you have no sense of rank and respect?”

Mr. Parker clutched his face, looking at the person before him in disbelief. “Head Steward, why did you…”

“Shut up! This is not your place to speak!”

The pharmacy’s Head Steward immediately barked, cutting him off.

This Head Steward from the pharmacy was slightly overweight. He turned to face John Bennett, and his face instantly changed from fierce to extremely amiable.

“My subordinate was ignorant—please forgive him, Second Young Master. All your cultivation resources have been kept safe here in the pharmacy, not a single portion missing. Also, the alchemists have recently refined a batch of top-quality Blood Coagulation Pills, and I’ve set aside a bottle for you. I’ll have it packed up for you right away.”

As he spoke, the pharmacy’s Head Steward immediately ordered someone to pack up the items, respectfully handed them to John Bennett, and personally escorted them out.

After closing the door, Head Steward looked at the still dazed Mr. Parker, who was holding his face, and sighed, “That slap I gave you just now was for your own good. If I hadn’t hit you, you’d be in real trouble today.”

There were many stewards in the pharmacy, and Mr. Parker was one of his trusted aides, so he couldn’t quite believe that Head Steward had slapped him without hesitation.

Of course, now Mr. Parker didn’t dare complain. He just asked in confusion, “Head Steward, why were you so polite to that Chu… Second Young Master just now?”

In fact, Mr. Parker wanted to say “submissive”—the way Head Steward acted just now could even be called groveling.

Head Steward shook his head and said, “Remember, from now on, be more respectful to the Second Young Master—even more so than to the other three young masters. This Second Young Master is not the same as before.”

With that, Head Steward recounted everything that had happened earlier in the Chu family’s council hall.

As the head of the pharmacy, Head Steward was one of the real power holders among the Chu family’s stewards, and he had witnessed everything in the council hall just now.

Earlier, John Bennett had acted so ruthlessly that he nearly beat Mr. Harris to death in front of everyone. That kind of demeanor had sent chills down his spine.

As for Mr. Parker, after hearing this, he trembled all over.

There were ranks among stewards and housekeepers, and he was at the lowest level, while Mr. Harris, as the chief housekeeper of the Chu family, was at the highest. Normally, he would have to bow and salute whenever he saw Mr. Harris.

Yet even Mr. Harris had almost been crippled on the spot by this Second Young Master, and he himself had just dared to be so rude—Mr. Parker felt like he’d been courting death.

Mr. Parker hurriedly thanked Head Steward with tears in his eyes, “If it weren’t for you, Head Steward, I’d be in real trouble this time.”

Head Steward sighed, “Remember, even though we’re all stewards of the Chu family, servants are always servants. Forget your place, and the consequences can be dire. Just like Mr. Harris—he forgot his place, and now not only has he lost all face, but he’ll be bedridden for months.”

On the way back to their own courtyard, Thomas Brooks couldn’t help but say to John Bennett, “Young Master, you were truly impressive just now—even the pharmacy’s Head Steward was so respectful to you.”

“Respectful?” John Bennett shook his head. “That wasn’t respect—that was fear. Good and evil are two extremes: if you can’t be so good that everyone respects you, then you must be so evil that everyone fears you.”

Thomas Brooks shook his head in confusion. “I don’t understand.”

John Bennett pushed open the courtyard gate. “Of course you don’t. If you did, you wouldn’t have spent all these years without even becoming a steward.”

Looking at the rather empty courtyard, John Bennett said to Thomas Brooks, “Go find some wooden stakes and set them up in the courtyard.”

“What do you need wooden stakes for, Young Master?”

A sharp gleam flashed in John Bennett’s eyes. “To practice with the blade!”

To advance in martial arts, what you need is nothing more than talent, perseverance, opportunity, and comprehension—not in any particular order, but to reach the peak, not a single one can be lacking.