[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-lord-of-the-proles":3,"chapter-lord-of-the-proles-lord-of-the-proles-chapter-23":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},2290321,4478,"Chapter 23: Finally Found You","lord-of-the-proles-chapter-23",23,"\u003Cp>How could the key be on the bear’s back?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This question, if you think about it for a moment, has an obvious answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before Li Banfeng entered the door, he threw the key into the tangled grass.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The bear rubbed against the tangled grass to scratch its itch, accidentally brushing the key away and carrying it all the way back to its cave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Following the key, Li Banfeng and the Body Dwelling followed the black bear to the cave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The key issue now is how to take the key off the bear’s back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the black bear about to return to the cave, Li Banfeng hurried forward, picked up a stone, and hurled it at the bear’s back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He couldn’t let the black bear enter the cave—if the key fell into the pitch-dark cave, retrieving it would be far too difficult.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng intended to use the stone to knock the key loose.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unfortunately, this wasn’t within five meters—he was dozens of meters away from the bear, and hitting the bear at all was already a miracle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The stone missed the key and struck the bear’s occiput.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The black bear, struck hard, roared and turned to chase Li Banfeng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng ran, and after chasing for a while, the bear realized it couldn’t catch up; it stood on its hind legs, forelegs hanging before its chest, roaring furiously at Li Banfeng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was a stern warning from a bear—step closer again, and it would cost you your life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After issuing the warning, the bear lowered its forelegs and lay back down; as soon as it turned toward the cave, its occiput took another stone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng meant to hit the key, but his aim and force were always off—he kept striking the bear’s occiput.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enraged, the black bear mustered all its strength, knocked down a tree beside the cave, and displayed its power to Li Banfeng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the bear turned, Li Banfeng threw another stone, again hitting its occiput.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The bear shook its head, looking dazed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng glanced at the key on the bear’s back, growing anxious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the black bear charged, Li Banfeng fled; whenever the bear turned, Li Banfeng threw another stone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After throwing sixteen stones, the bear stopped chasing and didn’t return to the cave—it lay motionless on the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng approached and found the bear wasn’t dead or unconscious—it was still breathing, eyes open, its occiput stained crimson with blood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had it given up?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng picked up another stone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The black bear roared and immediately rose to its feet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng put the stone down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The bear lay back down, utterly still.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In Li Banfeng’s understanding, this meant: don’t throw stones, let’s talk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gathering courage, Li Banfeng went behind the bear, grabbed the key, and turned to run.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only after Li Banfeng’s figure vanished completely did the bear rise from the ground and slowly crawl back into the cave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng, with the key tucked away and covered in dust and mud, walked out of the forest and down the mountainside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the foot of the mountain, Li Banfeng picked up two stones, put them in his backpack, and weighed them—they were about the same as the copper lotus.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The bait had to be convincing; though heavy, a Traveler’s physical condition could handle it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In such an unfamiliar place, Li Banfeng should have had no way to tell direction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet Li Banfeng not only identified direction accurately but, using the sun’s position and footprints on the ground, found a major road.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the Traveler’s talent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng could run faster than the black bear through complex, harsh terrain—that too was the Traveler’s talent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hitting with such precision and force—was this the Traveler’s talent or the Dweller’s?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These questions would need verification later; right now, the urgent task was to find He Jiaqing as soon as possible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This so-called major road was merely a relatively flat, wide dirt path—wide enough for two ox carts to pass side by side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why measure road width by ox carts?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because there was an actual ox cart on the road.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng encountered an old man driving the cart and asked where he could charge his device.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Charge? That’s hard to find—even the village chief doesn’t have it! Try Li Gou!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Following the old man’s directions, Li Banfeng gained some understanding of Yaowang Gou.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yaowang Gou was a town—a very large one—divided into Li Gou and Wai Gou.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wai Gou was vast, encompassing all the villages under Yaowang Gou’s jurisdiction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Gou was the town’s central district; Li Banfeng gave the old man thirty kuai, and the old man drove the cart to take him to Li Gou.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ox cart traveled from morning until dusk; by the time they reached Li Gou, night was falling. Standing on the cobblestone archway street, Li Banfeng wondered where to go next.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Jiaqing had sent his address, but Li Banfeng only remembered “Archway Street”—to find the exact location, he needed to charge his phone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beside the street was a small shop with a sign reading “Feng’s General Store”; its lights were on, so it likely had electricity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng entered the store and saw two candles on the counter—only then did he realize the light he’d seen earlier wasn’t electric, but candlelight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The storekeeper, dressed in a side-buttoned long robe, smiled from behind the counter: “What can I help you with?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Behind the counter stood shelves densely packed with assorted goods.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng asked: “Do you have a place to charge?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Charge?” The shopkeeper sounded as if he’d heard an alien word. “We don’t have electricity here. Ask at Old Xu’s on Yuanzheng Street?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuanzheng Street?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Where was that?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng really didn’t want to walk any further.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do you know someone named He Jiaqing who lives on Archway Street?” He asked, though he had little hope.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The shopkeeper thought for a moment, then shook his head: “I don’t know He Jiaqing, but I know the He Family’s old mansion.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Walk east along the main street, turn south at the second intersection, go to Xiansuanzi Alley—there’s a standalone courtyard there. That’s the He Family’s old mansion.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The He Family’s old mansion?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could it be He Jiaqing’s home?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Very likely!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The shopkeeper was kind; to show his gratitude, Li Banfeng decided to buy something from his shop.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What would be appropriate?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a moment’s consideration, Li Banfeng chose a feather duster.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The duster’s handle was straight, its feathers abundant and multicolored—very impressive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a first visit, he couldn’t arrive empty-handed; this feather duster made a perfect gift for He Jiaqing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng also selected a top hat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The store’s top hat wasn’t high quality, but the style was passable; Li Banfeng picked a black one and put it on immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His hiking cap had resembled a rickshaw puller’s; now, with the top hat, his demeanor instantly elevated a notch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Boss, how much for these two items?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The boss glanced at Li Banfeng’s attire and smiled: “Do you use Huan currency or silver coins? If you have foreign bills, I can exchange them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In this place, confirming currency type was standard before any transaction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng had no silver coins or foreign bills, so he naturally chose Huan currency.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The top hat was thirty-one kuai six, the feather duster seven kuai eight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng pulled his hat low, gripped the feather duster, and walked like a mysterious gentleman slipping through the night, from the main street into the narrow alley.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The He Family’s old mansion was easy to find: along this narrow lane, houses pressed tightly together with barely a gap between walls—yet only one stood alone, with its own courtyard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A courtyard enclosed by green stone walls, featuring a flowerbed; behind it stood a two-story Western-style house, built of blue bricks and red tiles, vines trailing down its walls, radiating luxurious elegance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In this small town, such a mansion was strikingly prominent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could this really be He Jiaqing’s home?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Jiaqing’s family was well-off!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then why did he ever carry stones?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet the mansion faintly carried a fishy odor, making Li Banfeng slightly uneasy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He disliked fish—even at Fuli Academy, when he went a month without meat, he still refused to eat fish.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were no fish vendors nearby—where was the smell coming from?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng arrived at the iron gate and didn’t know how to knock on such a gate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Such a large mansion should have at least one gatekeeper, right?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After watching for a moment, he saw no gatekeeper; he pushed the iron gate—it creaked loudly on its hinges and swung open.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was it appropriate to just walk in?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiaqing wouldn’t mind—if this isn’t his home, I’ll just say I got lost; no one would care.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng crossed the courtyard and arrived at the Western-style house’s front door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A shadow suddenly appeared beside the first-floor floor-to-ceiling window, then vanished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The figure flashed by the window for only an instant—under normal circumstances, Li Banfeng would never have noticed it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But today, Li Banfeng saw it clearly—his vision was vastly different from before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Someone was inside the mansion—and from the speed of movement, that person was no ordinary human.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng gripped the feather duster in his right hand and gently knocked on the door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud! Thud! Thud!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The knocking was soft and slow, elegant and composed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meow!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A black cat suddenly leapt from the second floor to the door’s edge, glanced at Li Banfeng, flicked its tail, and stepped back twice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng froze, then heard a familiar voice from inside the door: “Is that Banfeng?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was He Jiaqing’s voice!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng exhaled deeply and called out loudly: “It’s me. Open up.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After nearly half a minute, the door opened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng frowned: “Why did you take so long?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Jiaqing stood at the threshold, staring at Li Banfeng for a long while: “Brother, you’ve finally come.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m here,” Li Banfeng said, slinging off his backpack with a wry smile. “This journey wasn’t easy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Jiaqing took the backpack casually: “Why are you carrying such a ragged bag?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng blinked: “Is this bag ragged?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Jiaqing laughed: “Of course it is! The seams are splitting. Where did you even buy this thing?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Where did I buy it?” Li Banfeng’s brow relaxed, his lips curled into a smile. “I forgot. I think it came free with my phone credit.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Jiaqing hefted the bag’s weight and asked: “Is the item inside?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng shook his head: “No, I left it at the train station.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>PS: Thank you, dear readers. Thank you to every single one of you for your comments and replies—every word, every character, makes Shala incredibly happy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1785,"2026-06-20T03:43:13.043Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","4472b8bd31a8373152ecbbda1c16fec7cdef11c93d8e99acaccc09a4d8dc46cf","lord-of-the-proles-chapter-24","lord-of-the-proles-chapter-22",863,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Flord-of-the-proles-cover.jpg"]