[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-lord-of-the-proles":3,"chapter-lord-of-the-proles-lord-of-the-proles-chapter-114":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Lord of the Proles",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2290412,4478,"Chapter 114: Thief Cultivation","lord-of-the-proles-chapter-114",114,"\u003Cp>The small-clamp hand of Ghosthand Gate, Xing Qiushan, stumbled to the front of an old courtyard east of the Hou Tang City God Temple and banged on the door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Someone inside called out: “Who is it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Small-clamp from Yangting Road,” Xing Qiushan replied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clamp hand was a leader in Ghosthand Gate; small-clamp hand meant a minor leader; Yangting Road was where Li Banfeng had been robbed — Xing Qiushan’s territory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xing Qiushan was the man in the suit from last night; he’d taken five men to rob Li Banfeng, only to encounter a madman — three of his men dead, two wounded, and he himself injured.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the main hall, he met Sect Master Xie Juncong and collapsed to his knees, wailing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Boss, our brothers were just doing business on our turf — we cracked a pocket and took a wallet — that monster went for the kill! Three brothers dead, two wounded — Boss, you must avenge us!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He meant: they were stealing on their own turf, took only a wallet, and got beaten to three dead, two wounded — begging the boss to seek revenge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Juncong, over sixty, seemed hard of hearing: “Little Shan, what did you just say? I didn’t catch it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You cracked a pocket and took a wallet — shouldn’t that not have led to a fight?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Indeed — how could stealing lead to a fight?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xing Qiushan replied: “That man was an old hand — he caught us mid-crack.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Juncong pressed: “If you were caught, drop the wallet and run!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Exactly — drop the wallet and flee, and you’d be fine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Boss, we ran — but he wouldn’t let us go, insisted on fighting to the death, we couldn’t escape.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Six of you — you all couldn’t escape?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xing Qiushan grunted: “Boss, we were trapped in an alley — truly couldn’t get out.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“When you moved, you didn’t check your escape route? Come on, Little Shan — you’re no rookie.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We hadn’t eaten in days — we were desperate…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Tsk, tsk, tsk,” Xie Juncong shook his head. “Little Shan, I’m old and addled — tell me honestly — were you just doing business, or were you crossing the line?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crossing the line meant highway robbery.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ghosthand Gate was a sect of thief cultivators — stealing was their trade, robbery their taboo.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xing Qiushan could never admit he’d robbed: “Old Boss, it was strictly business — we’d never break sect rules — Old Boss, don’t you trust me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Juncong stared at Xing Qiushan; Xing Qiushan stared back, not a flicker of evasion in his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a moment, Xie Juncong sighed: “Little Shan, I’m truly addled — but I trust you. How are the two wounded brothers?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They can’t even sit up — badly hurt!” Xing Qiushan wept again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Give them more leaves — let them heal well. Did you bury the fallen brothers?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This… this hasn’t been done yet…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hurry and bury them — rest in peace. I’m just an old fool — I forget these things. Think again — is there anything else I missed? Go take care of it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Juncong seemed to have said much — yet said nothing at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was he truly old and addled?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wasn’t addled at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d spent his whole life in Ghosthand Gate, rising from street thief to Sect Master — what hadn’t he seen? Could Xing Qiushan fool him?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xing Qiushan had robbed — met a hard target — lost men, barely escaped with his life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Logically, Xing Qiushan should’ve been punished by sect law — but Xie Juncong turned a blind eye and let it pass.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Revenge? Forget it. Cleanup? Xie Juncong ignored it — that was punishment enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xing Qiushan left Ghosthand Gate’s lair, mood sour, when one wounded subordinate, Deng Jingcai, handed him a photo: “Big Brother, this came from Hua Shezi — this man is Li Banfeng, the one Lu family is looking for.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xing Qiushan frowned: “Why show me this?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Big Brother, look closely — doesn’t this man look a lot like last night’s madman?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Look alike?” Xing Qiushan thought they were very different — “Last night he had a big beard.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deng Jingcai pointed at the photo: “Big Brother, beards grow or vanish — look at the features, the brows, the eyes — look how similar they are!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Xing Qiushan now saw a resemblance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deng Jingcai added: “Big Brother, if we hand this photo to the Old Boss, it’s a major achievement.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hand it to the Old Boss? Look at your ambition,” Xing Qiushan whispered. “How much is the reward?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deng Jingcai thought: “I heard — alive, twenty thousand; dead, ten thousand; just reporting to Lu family, three thousand.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xing Qiushan frowned: “That’s all?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s a lot! I’m talking silver dollars!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Silver dollars!” Xing Qiushan laughed. “Brother, we don’t just get revenge — we get rich this time!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng, face caked in makeup, opened his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He rubbed his stomach — it ached faintly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The wounds had scabbed over; bloodstains on his clothes and sheets had been washed clean.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The phonograph sat quietly beside the bed, as if asleep.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng pressed open his pocket watch — it was ten o’clock.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ten o’clock.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was troublesome.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng didn’t know how long he’d slept.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His pocket watch was gold-plated, looked upscale — but the craftsmanship was crude; no calendar, no date — he couldn’t tell if it was ten a.m. or ten p.m.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Normally, he’d just step outside and check.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now, stepping out required caution — he was still in Lüshui City.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng carefully pushed open the door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If it was dark, he’d leave at once for Lanyang Village and focus on repairing his wife.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If it was light, he’d repair his wife now, then leave Lüshui City after dark.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng opened the door — outside, daylight blazed — it was ten a.m.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He immediately retreated into his portable dwelling, opened a can of food, ate a bite, then pulled out a screwdriver and wrench to dismantle two phonographs and one projector.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The plan was good — but execution was harder than expected. Li Banfeng had studied mechanics in university, but before these three machines, his knowledge was useless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Prozhou couldn’t use electrical devices on a large scale, so they’d pushed mechanical engineering to its extreme — even a specialist from Yuezhou might not understand these machines.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng held the wrench, wondering where to start, when suddenly the phonograph hissed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Husband~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That voice was intoxicating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So intoxicating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng shuddered, turned to his wife: “You’re awake?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Husband, you’ve just recovered from serious injury — don’t get out of bed. Come rest beside your humble servant.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng had crawled into the front cabinet of the steam phonograph, ready to remove the lever — when a soft stream of steam blocked him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Husband, such heavy work — why must you do it? Go fetch that wretched Honglian.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fetch Honglian for what?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Husband~ just bring that wretched Honglian.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His wife’s voice still occasionally shifted pitch — but it was still intoxicating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng asked no more and quickly brought over the copper lotus.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The copper lotus glowed faintly — she was still refining the corpse of the Cloak Moth Lady.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His wife spoke softly: “Sister Honglian, I have a favor to ask.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The copper lotus saw the steam phonograph — her tightly closed lotus leaves brewed droplets of clear dew.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was she excited to see his wife?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clearly, they got along well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hey~ Sister, look at these machines — exquisite craftsmanship, fine materials — just take them, won’t you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could the copper lotus even accept machines?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Petals didn’t move — the copper lotus seemed unwilling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hey~ Sister, I know you disdain such vulgar things — but last night you heard: these were won by my husband’s life.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the petals, more dewdrops gathered, poised to fall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She seemed to be speaking to the phonograph.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The phonograph listened a moment, then replied: “That’s not true — though my husband did this for me, wasn’t I doing it for our household too? If we two fight over this, won’t outsiders laugh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Someone was indeed laughing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng faintly heard a voice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Meteor flies jade bullet, sword falls on autumn frost — fight! This must be settled — neither can yield!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was Tang Dao.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng pulled Tang Dao from his pocket and kicked him aside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The copper lotus remained silent — his wife grew angry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you won’t give me this face today, I won’t beg you. Husband, step into the outer chamber — I’ll settle this once and for all with that wretch!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng frowned: “You’re injured — why fight?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Not to win or lose — but to preserve dignity. Husband, today I’ll stake my life here — let’s see if Honglian dares fight me in this room!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clang, clang, clang~\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though the gongs and drums played unevenly, their momentum was fierce—Madam meant business.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng stood in the center, unsure how to mediate this situation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a long stalemate, the petals hissed, and the red lotus bloomed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tang Dao sprang up instantly, becoming a bolt of lightning as he darted into the outer chamber and shut the door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A surge of energy rose from the lotus heart, lifting both phonographs and one film projector, sucking them all into the lotus heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng had always believed the bronze lotus could not digest objects lacking spiritual energy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now he understood: unwillingness and inability were two different things.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Less than a minute later, the lotus bloomed again, revealing two lotus seeds within its heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One seed was fully ripe; Li Banfeng peeled it free.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The other was unripe, stuck fast—he couldn’t budge it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hey, husband, that seed isn’t ripe yet~ it’ll take a few more days. First, let little servant swallow this pill.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng held the ripe seed as the bronze lotus closed its petals and continued refining the elixir.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, the seed in Li Banfeng’s hand exploded, spitting out a pale yellow elixir tinged with shimmering silver.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What color was this?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It looked like the color of wood mixed with metal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By the glow of the phonograph’s flame, he saw gears turning inside the elixir, and wisps of steam swirling around them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mechanical elixir?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng opened the phonograph’s back panel, ready to insert the elixir, when Madam cried out: “Hey, husband, what are you doing putting it there? Just let little servant eat it!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So eating it was all that mattered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng placed the elixir into the phonograph’s horn. The machine was instantly shrouded in mist, softly whispering: “Little servant will rest for a moment. Husband, rest well too. When you wake, we shall both be healed.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Steam soothed Li Banfeng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng held the phonograph.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two fell into sweet sleep.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The bronze lotus released two clear dewdrops, one falling onto Li Banfeng, the other onto the phonograph.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the Lu family mansion, Lu Dongliang was organizing the cultivation principles for Lu Chunying’s entry into travel cultivation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The chief steward, Qiu Zhiheng, approached Lu Dongliang and whispered: “Xing Qiushan of the Ghost Hand Sect wishes to meet you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No!” Lu Dongliang refused immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had no desire to receive guests today, let alone someone as insignificant as Xing Qiushan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qiu Zhiheng added: “Xing Qiushan says he saw Li Banfeng on Yangting Road.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Dongliang stared in shock: “Who did he say?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>PS: Banfeng’s identity is exposed—situation critical. Vote quickly to resolve it; comments welcome.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1925,"2026-06-20T03:43:13.043Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","35aa9cb20b889a8003024228a49c199390538abaa5836788f18c095b1ccb4e59","lord-of-the-proles-chapter-115","lord-of-the-proles-chapter-113",863,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Flord-of-the-proles-cover.jpg"]