[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-lord-of-the-proles":3,"chapter-lord-of-the-proles-lord-of-the-proles-chapter-188":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},2290486,4478,"Chapter 188: Heart and Liver Treasure","lord-of-the-proles-chapter-188",188,"\u003Cp>The local deity Shuixiongquan set a price: ten li of land.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoever holds one road will be granted ten li of land to Li Banfeng and Ma Wu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ten li of land is no small matter—when the Lu and Chu families jointly tried to carve out a ten-li square territory, they failed, and the Chu patriarch lost his life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ma Wu looked at Li Banfeng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng pondered for a long while before asking: “Is this gorge and this cave yours, or does it belong to Qiuluoye’s family?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shuixiongquan said: “It’s mine. According to the local deity’s rules, neither side may enter the other’s territory before battle. You may set traps in the gorge and the cave—these three days are yours to prepare.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng asked again: “If I hold one key passage, you give me ten li of land—is that ten li square, or ten li in a line?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This had to be clarified—if it was ten li in a line, this whole thing would be a joke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shuixiongquan lifted his teacup and took a sip: “Brother Li Qi, you’re too cautious. I may be unworthy, but I’m still a lord of this land—would I trick you with such childish games? It’s ten li square, of course!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng asked again: “Where exactly is this ten-li square?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If it’s ten li of swamp, this would be a joke too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We can discuss the location. Once you win the battle, you may choose any good land—but one thing: don’t pick land inside my own territory. I have a home too; you can’t drive me out.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng nodded and asked: “Once we’ve chosen this ten-li square, we won’t need to go through the land-reclamation process, right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What are you saying? The land is already yours—why reclaim it? At dawn, the well water flows, and the plot is ready!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To give ten li of land outright—this offer was far too tempting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng had once thought: if I carve out a hundred one-li plots, wouldn’t that also make ten li total?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The idea made sense, but according to Ma Wu’s memory, such a thing could never succeed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>First, a local deity would never allow one person to carve out a hundred plots.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if, by some miracle, you somehow carved out a hundred plots, they could never connect—the empty land between them would be constantly harassed by aberrations, and you’d never build a viable territory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now that the local deity had said this much, Li Banfeng slapped his thigh and said: “Words alone mean nothing!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The local deity smiled: “Put it in writing—do you two agree?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No,” Li Banfeng shook his head, “I’m just asking. This still needs more discussion.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shuixiongquan silently cursed inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Damn it, if you’re not going to agree, why ask so many questions?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shuixiongquan turned to Ma Wu: “Brother Ma Wu, what do you say?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ma Wu rubbed his chin: “I follow Brother Qi’s lead.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shuixiongquan swallowed his anger and said to them: “Young men, you must have youthful spirit. You two are talented, but you’re too cautious.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The battle starts in three days—if you’ve made up your mind, tell me soon. Otherwise, if someone else claims the glory, don’t come crying to me later.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The local deity left, leaving the map on the table.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was deliberately stoking their curiosity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ma Wu, ever cautious, told Li Banfeng: “Brother Qi, don’t look at it. The local deities’ wars aren’t for us to meddle in.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m not planning to meddle. I’m just looking.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng had just resisted Shuixiongquan’s temptation—Ma Wu trusted he wouldn’t act rashly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother Qi, I’ve ordered everyone to stop work. If we can’t hold this place, we’ll have to move at any moment.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Take care of it,” Li Banfeng said, taking the map and returning to his own plot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the portable dwelling, his wife gasped heavily, steam spewing continuously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s happening? After taking the pill, I feel like my soul is unraveling.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His wife’s strange condition was noticed by Honglian.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wicked woman, your soul is incomplete—how dare you take the Xuan Yun Pill? You’re likely going to die.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chiiii~\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His wife still argued: “It’s just one pill—I used to eat these like rice.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Honglian sneered: “You don’t have your old strength anymore, and this isn’t an ordinary pill. This insect king gained unusual power—it should’ve produced two pills.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You fused both pills into one?” the phonograph cried out in shock—she knew her condition well; swallowing two Xuan Yun Pills together would kill her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Honglian sighed: “I didn’t want to fuse them, but I haven’t seen daylight in days—some of the insect king’s power I couldn’t neutralize. The two pills became one. Even a god would drool at the scent.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The phonograph’s voice trembled violently: “You did this on purpose—you wanted the madman to take the pill outside, so the one above would smell its fragrance, find the madman, and rescue you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Honglian sneered: “Don’t say it like that. I made the pills, but the madman took them himself.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You got greedy and swallowed them—this is all your doing, not mine.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I didn’t get greedy,” the phonograph’s awareness was fading, “he gave them to me willingly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you hadn’t coaxed him, would he have given them to you? Shameless woman—you deserve to lose your soul.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I won’t die—dream on, you bitch!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wicked woman, don’t be stubborn. I know a herb that can save your life—if you help me, I’ll save you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How do I help you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You haven’t agreed yet—I can’t tell you now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chiiii~\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The phonograph gasped, guessing Honglian’s plan: “You want me to help you? You still want to summon the one above—if he really comes, will the madman survive?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do you even care if he survives? First, save yourself. I tell you, in Puluozhou, only I can save you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“When you were sold, you heard him say ‘a thousand gold, ten thousand gold, a hundred thousand gold—I don’t care’—and you still treat him as your heart’s treasure?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What man in this world isn’t a liar? Think carefully—would dying for a madman really be worth it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Get out! Get far away!” The phonograph slammed the outer room’s door shut.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng returned to his portable dwelling and felt the room was stiflingly hot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huhhh~ Huhhh~\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His wife was breathing rapidly—something was wrong again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wife, what’s happening?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, my husband, I’m fine—just a bit hot after taking the pill.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Is this pill really that powerful?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng unfolded the map left by Shuixiongquan: “Wife, the local deities are about to fight. Here are their maps—separated by a great mountain, with only two passages: one gorge, one cave. The battle starts in three days—do you think we can win?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The phonograph stared at the map for a moment: “What did the local deity promise you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How did his wife guess so accurately?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He said if we hold one passage, he’ll give us ten li square. I think we can hold the gorge.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The phonograph tucked the map into her case and projected its image onto the wall with light: “Oh, my husband, why do you think the gorge can be held?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng had read military-themed literature: “The gorge’s sides are steep—ambush ten thousand soldiers, and any enemy who enters dies.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chiiii~\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His wife laughed: “That’s how mortals fight. Local deities fight with their cultivators—this tactic won’t work.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why not?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“First, you can’t find ten thousand soldiers. In a hundred-li radius, how many beings have cultivation, intelligence, and battle skill? At most a couple hundred.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you accept the local deity’s offer to guard the gorge, he won’t give you troops—you’ll use only who you have. Brother Qi, how many fighters do you have?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Not many—seven or eight…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides Li Banfeng and Ma Wu, only Zuo Wugang, Cao Zhida, Zhen Jincheng, and the Three Cloak Moth Ladies could fight; Xiao Chuan and Xiao Gen were barely usable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was nothing like what Li Banfeng imagined.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huhhh~\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The phonograph gasped and continued: “Even if the enemy enters the gorge, they won’t necessarily suffer. The tough ones can endure the attacks, the swift ones can rush in, the flyers can strike from above—and those who fly high enough won’t even need the gorge; they can fly straight over the mountain and attack.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You don’t understand cultivator tactics. Holding terrain doesn’t guarantee advantage.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng scratched his head: “Then what’s the use of these key passages?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There is use. Few aberrations can fly straight over the mountain—doing so is like sheep walking into a tiger’s den.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If I’m not mistaken, the flying aberrations will scout above the gorge to cover the main force’s advance—that’s the real strategy. With your seven or eight men, you’re just cannon fodder on a local deity’s battlefield.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your local deity doesn’t expect you to hold the gorge—he only wants you as bait to delay the enemy. Ten li of gorge takes time to cross, and if you fight for a while, even twenty minutes is enough.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Even if you lose, he’ll have a backup—the gorge’s exit will be ambushed.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“As for the local deity himself, he’ll take the cave route—it’s more hidden. He’ll launch a surprise strike, directly attacking the enemy’s stronghold.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He wants me to be bait?” Li Banfeng stared blankly, then asked: “What if I don’t guard the gorge—what if I choose the cave?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My husband, you can’t choose the cave—you don’t know the terrain. If you get lost inside, you’ll be trapped.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll walk it a few times—I’ll learn it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My husband, you’re stubborn. In three days, how many times can you walk it? No matter how well you learn it, can you know it better than a native aberration?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Not knowing the terrain is deadly. The cave has no daylight—in a crisis, you might not even find your way out.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My husband, though you’re mad, you’re clever—you’d never choose to guard the cave. The local deity has already seen through you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng sat up sharply, rubbing his forehead hard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I thought too little. I thought far too little.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thank heaven I didn’t agree to the local deity—if I’d signed the contract, it’d be too late now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shuixiongquan is cunning—he exploited my ignorance of warfare to lure me in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Strange, why does my wife understand military affairs so well?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng was about to ask, when his wife said: “Husband, the Earth Gods are ruthless beings who have lived for countless years—deal with them, and you must be extremely cautious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I think your Earth God isn’t skilled in warfare. He could simply send his own men to hold off the enemy, no need to trick you into risking your lives. But defending the gorge requires some thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>First, lay bait—draw the enemy in. Don’t lay too much, but make the display grand enough that they want to fight, yet dare not commit fully; if they don’t fight, they fear missing the chance. In their hesitation, you’ll buy plenty of time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once the enemy enters the gorge, strike the upper path first—bring down the flying foes. Your methods must be stealthy; this blinds the enemy’s eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then strike the lower path—target those with thick hides and slow limbs, beat them to death. This breaks the enemy’s foundation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Xiu who move quickly usually stay in the center path. Never chase them—if you do, you’ll suffer dearly. Let a few slip through—it’s fine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As long as he sends enough men to hold them for twenty minutes, he can then lead his troops to ambush from the cave side and rout the enemy’s base.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After hearing this, Li Banfeng nodded repeatedly: “If my wife says so, this battle isn’t hard to win.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Husband!” the machine shouted sharply, making Li Banfeng shudder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s wrong, my wife?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I taught you these tactics not so you can go to war!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Earth Gods fight, it's a fight to the death—either victory or death. If your Earth God loses and you can't bear to abandon your land, you will lose your life!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I taught you these tactics so you can see the situation clearly. When battle comes, go to the gorge first. If your Earth God uses the wrong methods, it proves he’s incompetent—this battle, he will surely lose.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, you must abandon your land and flee New Land immediately—don’t let the battle claim you.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Husband, have you remembered my words?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng nodded: “I remember.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Promise me—you absolutely will not go to the battlefield!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His wife’s voice was piercing. Li Banfeng nodded frantically: “I promise.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What’s wrong with my wife?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why has she suddenly become so serious?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ten li of land is tempting, and Li Banfeng values his land dearly—but he’s not mad enough to go fight to the death with an Earth God. He knows his own worth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hssss~\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His wife’s voice softened again: “Husband, stay indoors these two days. Practice your techniques, nurture your body. I’ll find a way to take you to the fifth level.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My wife, this isn’t urgent.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master, I’m in a hurry.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fifth level can’t be rushed—you must first find a way to get the Wu Xiu to the fourth level.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng slept, surrounded by a warm cloud of steam.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When he awoke, his wife was asleep. Li Banfeng slipped out quietly, ate a Jin Yuandan inside the wooden hut, then a Blue Yang Dan, accumulating cultivation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The machine woke to find Li Banfeng gone, deeply worried—he might have succumbed to temptation and agreed to join the Earth God’s campaign.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hong Lian chuckled from the outer chamber: “Wicked woman, you know your time is short, yet you told that madman so much—are you saying your last words?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I fear that madman will die on the battlefield—we’ll all be trapped.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’ve begged and pleaded a thousand times, still want to take him to the fifth level—are you really playing the dutiful little wife?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s it to you, you wretch!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hong Lian snarled: “How dare you insult me? Do you think I won’t kill you right now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huff… huff…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The machine panted heavily—she was weak, and furious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wretch, I won’t even bother with you. Get away!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hong Lian sighed: “I truly want to save you. Let’s make a pact—if you help me…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Get away!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A stream of steam sealed the door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hong Lian sensed waves of killing intent, and fell silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why argue with her?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She won’t live much longer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No need to fight her to mutual ruin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Can you still hold on?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I can hold on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter what, I must wait for that madman to return.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the machine’s casing, the mirror turned slowly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng’s face reflected upon the wall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No matter how much gold, ten thousand gold, or a hundred million gold—I won’t feel a pang giving it to my wife.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hssss~\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The song began again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My darling,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly before my eyes,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I gasp for breath,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moved deeply for you,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hoping you’ll notice,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And return a string of longing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hssss~\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The machine laughed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>PS: Will my wife be killed?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sha La roared: “Who among you dares?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",2511,"2026-06-20T03:43:13.043Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","f4b89e37bf8de1a84f9678cdf34a4f0bc92a825c8d73c134f165b899c1fdaa79","lord-of-the-proles-chapter-189","lord-of-the-proles-chapter-187",863,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Flord-of-the-proles-cover.jpg"]