[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-lord-of-the-proles":3,"chapter-lord-of-the-proles-lord-of-the-proles-chapter-230":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},2290528,4478,"Chapter 230: The Matter Is Settled","lord-of-the-proles-chapter-230",230,"\u003Cp>Li Banfeng looked at Sui Donglan’s large bouquet of flowers, sniffing each one in turn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You call this a good flower? Not a single scent—what kind of good flower is this?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sui Donglan frowned, eyes wet: “How was I supposed to know what kind of flowers you wanted? I thought you just wanted something pretty.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng shoved the flowers aside: “With these trash flowers, you think you can erase the characters on your face? Dream on!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t!” Sui Donglan grabbed Li Banfeng. “How about this—I’ll take you somewhere with flowers, flowers so fragrant you can pick as many as you want.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To be fair, though Sui Donglan was a con artist, she’d put real effort into her research.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The place she recommended was a bit far, but the flowers there were truly abundant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng picked flowers of every color and wove them into a large wreath; from afar, its fragrance was overpowering.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He then asked Sui Donglan to recommend some rouge—color aside, the scent was undeniably exquisite.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once the gifts were ready, Li Banfeng prepared a thousand silver dollars; at midnight, he carried the box, the wreath, and the rouge into the side building.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Han Juncheng was still slumped at the door, dead, but no one dared to collect his body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng swallowed hard and walked further into the building.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He remembered the shape of the spear, but not its location—he dared not wander carelessly inside the side building.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fortunately, his nose was sharp—even sharper than Han Juncheng’s.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He possessed the technique of Hundred Flavors and Luminous Perception; following the chilling yin energy, he quickly found the second floor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the end of the corridor, Li Banfeng did not push open the door; instead, he placed the wreath on his head, opened the rouge box, and waited silently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fragrance slowly drifted into the room; the door creaked open.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng saw the weapon rack, and on it, the spear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Carrying the wreath and rouge, he stepped forward cautiously; the spear sensed the fragrance approaching and suddenly spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Who are you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The voice was low and cold, its pressure striking like a blow, making Li Banfeng shiver.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng slowed his steps but kept moving forward—then the spear roared again: “What do you want?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No answer was needed, nor possible—she couldn’t hear him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng could only gauge the shifts in her pressure to adjust his pace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t come closer! Take another step and I’ll take your life!” The spear roared; Li Banfeng trembled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet he gritted his teeth and pressed forward—his steps slowed, but never stopped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He couldn’t stop—the technique of Avoiding Misfortune and Seeking Fortune told him not to stop.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hong Ying was suspicious now; if he stopped, he’d likely die instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng occasionally touched Tang Dao, murmuring: “Every cut takes a head—prove yourself.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tang Dao shuddered all over, unable to speak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He came from the military, yet now faced his ultimate nemesis.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All other magic treasures trembled—even the wine gourd and the old teapot fell silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng slowly approached the spear, gathered his courage, and placed the wreath upon it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Flowers…” The spear fell silent for a long while, then asked, “For me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng took a deep breath, dipped his finger in rouge, and smeared it onto the spear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What are you doing? How dare you! This… this is rouge?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She hadn’t applied rouge in so long—some things, Lao He didn’t understand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng used the rouge to slowly write two characters on the spear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hong Ying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The spear shuddered; Li Banfeng heard her breathing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You know my name?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng wrote it again on the spear’s shaft.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hong Ying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You… are calling me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the most critical step.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sweat poured down Li Banfeng; his clothes soaked through instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He gripped the key tightly in his hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the spear’s pressure increased even slightly, Li Banfeng would flee immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the pressure didn’t rise—it slightly weakened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He waited five full minutes; during those minutes, he nearly suffocated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, the spear spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You… want me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng gently stroked the spear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m blind and deaf—and you still want me…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How long had Hong Ying been trapped here?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How desperately had she longed for someone to accept her?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meeting Lao He must have been sheer luck; now that Lao He was dead, Hong Ying likely feared she’d never meet another Zhaixiu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hong Ying fell silent—whether moved or suspicious, no one could tell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This had to show sincerity—immense sincerity!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng pulled out silver dollars and lightly touched them to the spear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The spear exploded in rage: “What is this? Do you think I’m some common whore?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng trembled violently, nearly fleeing for his life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fortunately, the spear calmed quickly and asked: “Those were silver dollars, weren’t they?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng picked up two silver dollars and touched them to Hong Ying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Only two? Do you think I’m some cheap woman?” Hong Ying snapped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There’s more,” Li Banfeng said, though he knew she couldn’t hear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng picked up a handful of silver dollars and gently rubbed them along Hong Ying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hong Ying snapped: “Don’t touch my belly—it’s itching!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng moved his hand upward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hong Ying grew angrier: “I’m a girl—how dare you touch there?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng moved his hand downward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Even worse there!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So where the hell was it okay?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This woman was harder to please than a wife.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng carefully placed each silver dollar against the spear, rubbing them one by one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The spear occasionally sneered: “Vulgar man—you bring me vulgar things. Do you think I actually care?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Let me tell you—each silver dollar may touch me only once. If you dare touch me twice with the same coin, I’ll make you regret it!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, all one thousand silver dollars had been touched once; Li Banfeng dipped his finger in rouge and wrote her name again on the spear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hong Ying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why write my name again?” The spear’s pressure surged, then softened. “Didn’t I already agree to you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng gathered courage and gripped the spear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The pressure remained—but the spear no longer resisted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Success was one step away—the house.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the house refused to let Hong Ying leave, Li Banfeng would have to fight it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hong Ying had prepared for this: “I’ve been in this house for many years—I fear it will try to force me to stay.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Don’t get entangled with the house—wait for the right moment and leave quickly!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng wiped his sweat, lifted the spear, and walked straight to the side building’s main door—the house made no move to stop Hong Ying or Li Banfeng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hong Ying had overthought it—the house had long grown tired of her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hong Ying felt slightly embarrassed and explained to Li Banfeng: “You chose your moment well—the house is deep in slumber and hasn’t awakened yet. Take me to your home quickly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng brought Hong Ying into his Suishenju.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The wine gourd stayed silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Blood-Soaked Pendulum pressed tightly against the Thread-Ear Pendant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meng De in the calendar covered his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old teapot pretended to sleep.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Judge’s Brush truly slept.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tang Dao flew recklessly into the second room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng lifted the spear and looked at the phonograph.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The spear still spoke: “Is this your home? Already back so soon? Your house is close to where I was—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This place is strange… what kind of house is this? Who are you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hong Ying sensed something was wrong and roared: “You lied to me! How dare you deceive me—what place is this? This is…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She realized it wasn’t just the house that was wrong—there was something inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wicked woman, I smell your stench—this is your den, I damn well…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng gripped his spear tightly and said: “Attack!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A cloud of steam rushed forward, wrapping tightly around the spear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The spear shuddered, wrenching free from Li Banfeng’s grip, turning to stab him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The steam moved first, shielding Li Banfeng, as the Lady cried out: “Husband, leave the rest to your humble servant!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That earlier tug on Hong Ying had given the Lady the opening she needed—she used a wisp of steam to hurl Li Banfeng into the second room, sealed the door, and began fighting Hong Ying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng crouched behind the door, listening as the two women battled and screamed at each other.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wicked woman, how dare you scheme against me? I’ve been searching for you! Let’s settle this today!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wretch, what are you talking about settling? Just clamp your face between two peaches—you’ve already thrown away your dignity anyway!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng grew anxious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lady, why are you insulting her? She can’t hear you.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After half an hour of fighting, the Lady seemed to be gaining no advantage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was Li Banfeng’s house—she was his house spirit, and yet in his own dwelling, she still couldn’t gain the upper hand?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What should he do?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng couldn’t think of any way to help the Lady.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huff~ huff~\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Lady’s voice grew frantic—she was clearly losing ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A voice crackled from the speaker: “Husband, aid me—focus your will and open a passage!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How?” Li Banfeng didn’t understand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Husband, concentrate your will—open a passage for her.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Which passage?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Her ears!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng focused his will, picturing only the shape and form of an ear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment he imagined the ear canal, a scream rang out from outside the door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The scream came from Hong Ying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her ears were open.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng hadn’t expected a house spirit and a house cultivator could coordinate like this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This must be a new combat technique the Lady developed after taking the Xuan Yun Pill.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hong Ying had been deaf for so many years—now that her ears were open, she should be overjoyed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But before the phonograph, this was no blessing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Lady began to sing:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“In spring, green grass grows, stitching battle robes with care.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In summer, red flowers bloom, drums and horns thunder loud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In autumn, yellow leaves fall, severing enemy heads on the field.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In winter, snowflakes fly, blood sprinkled to honor the fallen.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Lady sang this mournful battle hymn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the first notes, Hong Ying lost all reason.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wicked woman! I did nothing wrong! How dare you shame me!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wretch, how can you claim innocence? Do you even remember a warrior’s duty?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll kill you!” The spear, driven mad, lunged straight at the phonograph.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the song trembled, Li Banfeng and the other magic treasures remained unharmed—only the spear lay motionless on the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng stepped out of the room and looked at the spear: “Lady, finished?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The phonograph panted for a moment: “Finished!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A heavy weight lifted from Li Banfeng’s heart—he picked up the spear: “Good. I’ll deal with her.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sell this thing straight to Luo Zhengnan—the Lady’s vengeance is settled, and the Tiemenbao matter is closed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Husband, wait!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng froze: “What is it, Lady?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Husband, she’s not dead.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Not dead?” Li Banfeng immediately dropped the spear. “Lady, this isn’t a joke—such a fine dish, eat it while it’s hot! Why keep her?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Husband, I beg you—let this wretch live a few more days. I have questions for her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These words have been buried for countless years—if I don’t ask them now, my heart will never be at peace.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lady, keeping such a fierce woman in the house makes me uneasy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Husband, rest assured—she’s bound by my technique. She can’t use any of her powers.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But this…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng was torn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He needed to get this troublemaker out of his house fast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now the Lady refused—what should he do?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The phonograph knew Li Banfeng didn’t want to keep Hong Ying, but some things couldn’t be left unanswered—otherwise, the pain would haunt her for life: “I’ve troubled you, Husband, but I must know the truth. I beg you—grant me a few more days.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Husband, I beg you,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Husband, I sincerely beg you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Lady’s feelings were understandable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But how should he handle this now?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng stared at the spear lying on the ground—its aura still radiated menace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aura…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng unfastened his belt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The phonograph shuddered: “Oh, Husband, are you going to use the family discipline?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You can beat me if you must—I deserve it—but don’t let the household see!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng said nothing. He turned and went into the second room, retrieving a weapon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a spear he’d taken from Old Lady Han’s house—he’d never been skilled with long weapons, so it had sat unused in his personal quarters all this time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Holding the belt and the spear, he looked again at Hong Ying on the ground and asked the phonograph: “Lady, can she still speak?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes. When she wakes, she’ll speak.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng nodded, then tore off the buttons from his robe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A woman selling cloth approached Luo Zhengnan, pretending to buy vegetables, and whispered low: “Someone broke into the Lord’s mansion last night. This morning, the seals on the mansion were gone.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luo Zhengnan smiled: “So it seems the plan succeeded!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>PS: This old fox is hard to fool!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Extra chapter today—noon, twelve o’clock. Dear readers, all your monthly votes go to Shala!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",2187,"2026-06-20T03:43:16.386Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","08e2eb312056d553312453fac1eb92b60313c0e7789f68490ace9a065afa2f83","lord-of-the-proles-chapter-231","lord-of-the-proles-chapter-229",863,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Flord-of-the-proles-cover.jpg"]