[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-lord-of-the-proles":3,"chapter-lord-of-the-proles-lord-of-the-proles-chapter-198":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},2290496,4478,"Chapter 198: Iron Sheep Trio","lord-of-the-proles-chapter-198",198,"\u003Cp>Goods loaded, ten large carts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Donkey-head maggots from the new land pull the carts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Each donkey-head maggot is three meters long, lying flat on the ground, standing one meter and fifty to sixty centimeters high; when the driver shouts, they shriek in unison and rapidly crawl forward, dragging the cargo.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ma Wu rode the Swallow at the front of the convoy, with Aqin beside him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng sat in the cart at the rear, with Xianxian and Qiaocui following behind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the convoy set out, Zuo Wugang watched from the plot of land, his heart heavy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Escorting caravans is slang for “pulling a Gua ,” and this is one of the duties of a Gua .\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Trouble had arisen in the new land; logically, such a situation called for the head Gua  to intervene personally, but for some reason, Ma Wu did not use Zuo Wugang this time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Back in the wooden hut, Zuo Wugang collapsed into bed; Cao Zhida and Zhen Jincheng had nothing to do, so they had the cook prepare two dishes and drank gloomy wine together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Old Cao, we’re still outsiders. We’ve bled and fought for Fifth Master, yet he still doesn’t trust us.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If anyone treated us well, it was Seventh Master—he’s the one who brought us in. I’ll never forget that debt.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But Seventh Master and Fifth Master are true brothers. We’re outsiders. If Fifth Master ever turns on us, Seventh Master won’t side with us.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two brothers sighed heavily, drank for over two hours, got thoroughly drunk, and fell asleep.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After sleeping half the day, a subordinate burst into the room shouting: “Brother Cao, Brother Zhen, some people broke in and burned our warehouse!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhen Jincheng and Cao Zhida woke up and rushed toward the warehouse; before they reached it, a man walked over with a smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You two are going to save the warehouse? Don’t bother—it’s Ma Wu’s cargo, not yours. Dying for it isn’t worth it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhen Jincheng narrowed his eyes: “Who the hell are you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cao Zhida gritted his teeth: “Do we even need to ask? It’s this bastard who set the fire!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Both drew their weapons, ready to attack, but the man lowered his palm: “Gentlemen, I’m only looking out for you. Ma Wu treats you as outsiders—he doesn’t deserve your lives. Isn’t that right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What the hell kind of logic…” Cao Zhida began, then suddenly realized the man’s words made perfect sense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhen Jincheng’s cultivation was slightly higher than Cao Zhida’s; he rubbed his forehead and stared at the man: “You’re De…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Bitter medicine cures illness; harsh words aid action. My words may be unpleasant, but I speak from genuine concern.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter what you do, you must put yourself in others’ shoes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Ma Wu treated you like true brothers, we’d charge through fire and water without hesitation—but how has Ma Wu treated you? Don’t you know?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhen Jincheng shook his head, still resisting: “This is our duty…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What duty? You’re just earning a living. Stay alive, eat, drink, have women—that’s real duty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If you die, what’s left? Cross the bridge to reincarnation, and your life is over. What duty then?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cao Zhida and Zhen Jincheng had spent their lives as Gua .\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They’d complained before, but they’d never broken their duty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But today was different. They returned to their rooms, packed their bags, observed the situation, and decided their next move.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If nothing major happened, they’d shout a few times to show they’d contributed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If something major happened, they’d flee immediately, ensuring they weren’t implicated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How could two well-known Gua  behave like this?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because they’d encountered a fifth-layer Virtue cultivator who lowered their moral Dixian !\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>First- to third-layer Virtue cultivators excel at crushing others from a moral high ground; this technique is called “See Virtue and Strive to Match It”—imposing a moral standard to trap opponents in self-restraint.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fourth-layer Virtue cultivators have another method: they lower the opponent’s moral Dixian ; this technique is called “Alienate Heart and Virtue.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those affected forget all moral constraints and act purely in self-interest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This Virtue cultivator roamed the area, persuading every Ma Wu subordinate who tried to resist to turn back; if he met hunters, he had another speech:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Raid! Quick, raid! Ma Wu’s gone, outsiders are attacking—he’s finished. In a moment, everything will burn to ash.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What are you waiting for? Do you still plan to do business with Ma Wu?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ma Wu is dead—he won’t live to see it. Raid now! Whoever grabs it, owns it. Whoever’s slow loses.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The hunters’ moral Dixian  sank to its lowest point. They began looting—cargo, money, even each other. The entire plot descended into chaos.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he walked, the fifth-layer Virtue cultivator encountered Xiao Chuanzi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Chuanzi carried a steam engine on his back, its boiler blazing, smoke billowing from the chimney; he gripped a steam hose, ready to fight!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Virtue cultivator said: “Young brother, don’t be reckless. Don’t lose your head. Listen to me:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You’re just a laborer. Your boss pays you, you work. You owe him no favor, no loyalty. There’s no reason to die for him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Chuanzi shouted: “Fifth Master has been kind to me!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Virtue cultivator laughed loudly: “Young man, saying that proves you’re still young. You work, you earn, you eat—what debt do you owe him?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fifth Master treated me differently!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How differently? All nonsense. Hahaha…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Plop!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A sticky mass landed in the Virtue cultivator’s mouth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d been laughing loudly, mouth wide open, intending to utterly shatter Xiao Chuanzi’s moral Dixian  through mockery.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instead, Xiao Genzi fed him a spoonful—directly shattering his dietary Dixian .\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Virtue cultivator spat a dozen times, then glared at Xiao Genzi, who now stood on the roof: “Brat, you want to die?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Genzi held his spoon, face grim: “How can you talk like that? I gave you food, and you curse me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zuo Wugang stood beside Xiao Genzi, looking down at the Virtue cultivator and smiling: “No wonder he’s morally bankrupt.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Virtue cultivator looked up: “Oh? Isn’t this Big Gua  Zuo? Your boss doesn’t want you—he doesn’t even use you for escorting. Still here begging to die?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zuo Wugang looked at Xiao Genzi: “His name is Wang Qi. He used to be a flower-tongue on Iron Sheep Mountain—morally bankrupt and foul-mouthed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Genzi, give him another spoonful later—clean that stink out of his mouth.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Genzi actually scooped another spoonful; behind him, a shadow flew toward Genzi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zuo Wugang kicked out, striking the man, who crossed his arms to guard his chest, rolled over, and landed beside Wang Qi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zuo Wugang chuckled: “This one’s Yu Dacheng. He’s from the same gang as Wang Qi—a body cultivator. Look at him—jumping around like a toad.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A fifth-layer body cultivator and a fifth-layer Virtue cultivator stood before Zuo Wugang—he showed no fear: “You’re the Three Heroes, right? Where’s the word cultivator Du Shuping? Bring him too—I’ll handle you all at once, save the trouble!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fifth-layer Virtue cultivator Wang Qi said: “Attacking with numbers isn’t honorable. I’m a man of martial virtue…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zuo Wugang laughed: “Genzi, feed him another spoon. Old Wang, if Du Shuping doesn’t show, I’m attacking now!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before his words ended, Zuo Wugang was already before Wang Qi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Qi was a Virtue cultivator, one layer weaker—he had no chance against Zuo Wugang. Body cultivator Yu Dacheng leapt, slamming his chest toward Zuo Wugang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“After all these years, your only useful trick is still that toad technique!” Zuo Wugang kicked Yu Dacheng in the head, sending him flying back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stepped forward and kicked again; Yu Dacheng’s back sprouted warty bumps, like a toad’s, and he slammed into Zuo Wugang again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These bumps were hard, sharp, and poisonous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zuo Wugang still didn’t dodge—he kept kicking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To a Wu Xiu, everything is a weapon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His shoes were weapons—unbreakable weapons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was confident he could kick Yu Dacheng to death without giving him a chance to retaliate—that’s the power of a Wu Xiu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After several kicks, someone shouted: “I’ve searched high and low!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zuo Wugang laughed: “Du Shuping, you’re here. Your trick won’t work on me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Riiiip!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before Zuo Wugang finished speaking, his leather boots shattered into pieces scattered across the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Du Shuping’s trick worked—“Tread through iron shoes, yet find nothing”—Zuo Wugang’s boots had truly shattered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The toad’s bumps pierced his feet—he was poisoned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zuo Wugang hopped back two steps, staring at Du Shuping, who had just appeared: “You’re sixth layer?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Du Shuping smiled: “Old Zuo, didn’t expect this, did you? We’ve suffered enough at your hands—time to settle the score.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zuo Wugang gritted his teeth and nodded: “Enough talk. All of you—come together.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Old Zuo has spoken—let’s honor him!” Du Shuping called to his brothers: “Come, send Old Zuo on his way.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Du Shuping, sixth-layer word cultivator, was evenly matched with Zuo Wugang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The other two—a fifth-layer Virtue cultivator and a fifth-layer body cultivator—would overwhelm him quickly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No need to speak of experience or tactics; all were seasoned veterans, each skilled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zuo Wugang knew he’d die here—but he didn’t flinch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He might lack judgment, but in life-or-death, he never backed down!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zuo Wugang had spent his life as a Gua —failed, lost face—but never lost his duty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He tore off a strip of cloth, tied his calf tightly, stood straight, and faced the three: “Come on—come all of you!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The three stepped forward—then someone shouted from the roof: “Old Zuo, good man—I never misjudged you!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zuo Wugang heard the voice, looked up: “Seventh Master?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How had Li Qi returned?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wasn’t he escorting the cargo with Fifth Master?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng had indeed returned—more accurately, he’d never left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To everyone’s eyes, Li Banfeng was a man in a hat with a big beard, hat brim pulled low, face nearly invisible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not seeing his face made things easier—because Li Banfeng wasn’t good at drawing faces.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d drawn a fake man to escort the cargo instead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only Ma Wu knew about this—not even those close to him were told outright.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the chessboard, Li Banfeng moved his horse, signaling Ma Wu to move first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He did not move his chariot, signaling his intent to stay behind and hold the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Horse moves, chariot stays—that is the tactic!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The reason it couldn’t be spoken aloud was that Li Banfeng didn’t know where the traitor was; he feared word might leak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn’t even dare stay inside the house, fearing the traitor would spot him; he spent most of his time in his Personal Dwelling, emerging every half-hour to check the situation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had just stepped out when he ran into these three bandits from Tieyang Mountain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng looked at the three men and said: “I’m a man of martial virtue—I didn’t ambush you.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But I’ve seen you fight for so long, your strength is clearly drained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If I strike now, it’d be unsportsmanlike. For fairness, I’ll cut myself first!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Du Shuping was stunned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Is this guy insane?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He glanced at Dexiu Wang Qi and asked: “Did you use a technique on him?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Qi shook his head: “No technique—I didn’t even notice him until just now…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng pulled out a knife, sliced his palm, and let the blood drip onto the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Watch closely, friends—I’m wounded too!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Du Shuping, a Sixth-Level Literary Cultivator, was the first to react: “He’s the landowner—run!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The three bolted, sprinting all the way to the edge of the plot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A curtain of water descended, sealing off the plot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the landowner sheds blood, invaders face punishment from the Land Spirit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Physical Cultivator Yu Dacheng gritted his teeth and charged forward; the moment he struck the water curtain, he exploded into a bloody pulp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The water curtain turned slightly red; Du Shuping and Wang Qi froze in terror.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shu Yongquan whispered in Li Banfeng’s ear: “Do you want them dead or alive?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alive—I need to find out who sent them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fine. If these frontier settlers sent them, let me know—I’ll have to speak with Qiu Daxiang too.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the words faded, countless water droplets erupted across the curtain, striking Du Shuping and Wang Qi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Each droplet pierced straight through them, turning both men into sieves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>PS: Our Banfeng practices martial virtue—he can be a Dexiu too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",2035,"2026-06-20T03:43:13.043Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","e06e076c9417cf19039285e94d4b8b56e51aa68d1f23df7450bd1465394b0f19","lord-of-the-proles-chapter-199","lord-of-the-proles-chapter-197",863,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Flord-of-the-proles-cover.jpg"]