[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-lord-of-the-proles":3,"chapter-lord-of-the-proles-lord-of-the-proles-chapter-234":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},2290532,4478,"Chapter 234: Want to Kill Me?","lord-of-the-proles-chapter-234",234,"\u003Cp>In the cinema, fifth-layer brawler Zhong Guoshu pressed a knife against Xiao Zhenggong’s ribs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Zhenggong showed no concern, didn’t call for help, didn’t strike back—just stared calmly at the man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhong Guoshu increased pressure, wanting to draw blood from Xiao Zhenggong, but not fatally—fifth-layer Wu Xiu had precise control.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet no matter how hard he pressed, the short knife didn’t break the skin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhong Guoshu stared at Xiao Zhenggong in shock.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>According to the Dark Star Bureau’s records, Xiao Zhenggong was a third-layer brawler—he shouldn’t have withstood a fifth-layer brawler’s force.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had he worn armor?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or carried some magic treasure?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Zhenggong smiled, then suddenly seized Zhong Guoshu’s wrist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhong Guoshu gasped, yanking hard to pull back, but Xiao Zhenggong pressed down with his palm and lifted his fingers, applying precise force to snap Zhong Guoshu’s wrist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Zhenggong’s strike was precise and fluid—Zhong Guoshu couldn’t react at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The short knife clattered to the floor; Zhong Guoshu endured the agony without a sound.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He knew he was no match for Xiao Zhenggong and tried to rise and flee.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Zhenggong casually grabbed Zhong Guoshu’s collar and threw him onto the wooden seat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The wooden seat shattered; the iron frame beneath it bent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhong Guoshu tried to rise, but Xiao Zhenggong stepped forward and crushed him to the ground with his foot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crack. Crack. Crack. Several of Zhong Guoshu’s ribs broke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing the commotion, Deng Pao and Ming Xing rushed over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They just watched—neither moved to intervene.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ming Xing was a man who valued his life—he wouldn’t charge in situations like this, but his shouting was loud: “What’s going on? Who is this?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deng Pao didn’t rush forward or speak much—he’d been hurt by Xiao Zhenggong before and simply stood aside, watching silently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Who sent you?” Xiao Zhenggong asked Zhong Guoshu, pressing harder with his foot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhong Guoshu trembled, struggling to breathe, yet said not a word.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Zhenggong told Ming Xing and Deng Pao: “Cuff him!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The deputy team leader gave the order; Ming Xing had no choice but to move forward—but Deng Pao still stood still.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was right not to move—he was only a first-layer lubricator (Oil Xiu), promoted last month.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhong Guoshu was a fifth-layer brawler—if anything went wrong, Deng Pao would die in an instant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As expected, something went wrong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Ming Xing reached for the cuffs, a man suddenly emerged from beneath the seat and kicked Ming Xing to the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ming Xing immediately passed out, unconscious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deng Pao oozed oil all over his body and fled to a distance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Duan Xiangwen, a fifth-layer recluse, had struck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Exploiting the recluse’s tendency to be overlooked, Duan Xiangwen gained the chance to close in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He flicked his wrist, scattering a pouch of powder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Zhenggong assumed it was poison and held his breath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But it was corrosive powder—it burned like fire upon contact.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What kind of fighting style is this?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Doesn’t Duan Xiangwen get hurt by his own powder?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He does.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But a recluse’s recovery ability is stronger than that of a same-layer Dark Energy user.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This corrosive powder was specially made by Duan Xiangwen—to wound both enemy and himself, then use his superior recovery to wear down the opponent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In a prolonged fight, it’s a decent tactic—but only if the opponent is his equal in level.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Zhenggong’s level wasn’t equal to Duan Xiangwen’s; the powder only caused him slight discomfort.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He tore off Ming Xing’s shirt and wiped the powder from his face; Duan Xiangwen seized this moment, grabbed Zhong Guoshu, and sprinted toward the exit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Zhenggong was still wiping his face, calmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Duan Xiangwen reach the door, Xiao Zhenggong picked up a shard of broken wood from the floor and threw it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The shard pierced Duan Xiangwen’s spine with perfect accuracy—he staggered and collapsed, dragging Zhong Guoshu down with him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To high-layer Wu Xiu, every object is a fine weapon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Zhenggong walked slowly toward the two.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Duan Xiangwen’s lower body was paralyzed—he pulled a clay doll from his pocket and hurled it at Xiao Zhenggong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The clay doll hovered midair and spat a torrent of flame at Xiao Zhenggong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Zhenggong walked straight through the flames—neither he nor his clothes were burned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the high-layer Wu Xiu’s resistance—blades, water, fire—all such attacks were useless against Xiao Zhenggong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He snatched the hovering clay doll from the air, glanced at it, and chuckled: “Hidden beauty in a golden chamber—actually, the craftsmanship is quite fine.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Zhenggong crushed the clay doll in his hand and tossed it to the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Duan Xiangwen shouted at Xiao Zhenggong: “I can’t move—don’t strike someone who can’t resist!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Zhenggong paused, then nodded: “This mansion’s spirit is your ability,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What a pity—you’re a Virtue Xiu, and I despise Virtue Xiu the most.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he spoke, Xiao Zhenggong stood right before them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhong Guoshu suddenly rose and clung tightly to Xiao Zhenggong, turning to Duan Xiangwen: “Go!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Duan Xiangwen didn’t go—he couldn’t go—he still wanted to fight Xiao Zhenggong to the death.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Quite loyal!” Xiao Zhenggong kicked Zhong Guoshu away, picked up a stone from the ground, and flung it at Duan Xiangwen’s head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The stone pierced Duan Xiangwen’s skull like a bullet—he died instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Zhenggong turned, grabbed Zhong Guoshu’s hair, and lifted him off the ground: “Who sent you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhong Guoshu’s face froze, staring at Xiao Zhenggong, twitched a few times, then fell silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had swallowed poison and killed himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Zhenggong returned to the cinema, looked at Ming Xing lying on the floor, and asked Deng Pao: “Is he still alive?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deng Pao retracted his oil, glanced at Ming Xing, and said: “Can’t say for sure yet.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then find out fast—if alive, call an ambulance; if dead, send him to the mortuary!” Xiao Zhenggong left the cinema.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While driving, Xiao Zhenggong kept thinking about one question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Who sent these two?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He knew he had many enemies—names flooded his mind one after another.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His phone rang, interrupting his thoughts—it was Captain Chen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After such a major incident, Xiao Zhenggong should report back to the bureau.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Zhenggong twisted his phone into a knot and tossed it onto the passenger seat, then pressed the accelerator and drove straight home.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next day, Xiao Zhenggong attended a bureau meeting, where they still discussed yesterday’s Cultural Palace incident.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ming Xing was alive; after a night of emergency treatment, he was out of danger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though no bureau agents died, the incident had drawn considerable attention.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a night’s rest, Xiao Zhenggong’s emotions had calmed—he gave a plausible explanation for last night’s events.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He went to investigate the black market and was attacked; preliminarily judged as retaliation by black market traders.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Due to injuries, he went to the hospital for treatment; his phone was damaged during the fight and he missed Captain Chen’s call.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All explanations were reasonable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even when asked which hospital he visited, he gave precise details—he had prepared in advance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Captain Chen asked about his injuries; Xiao Zhenggong brushed it off. After the meeting, Xiao Zhenggong planned to visit the crime scene to check for overlooked clues—Captain Chen approved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shortly after Xiao Zhenggong left, Chen Zhangrui suddenly frowned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Zhenggong’s story had sounded reasonable, but upon closer thought, there was a serious flaw.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If black market traders truly wanted to retaliate against the Dark Star Bureau, they wouldn’t target Xiao Zhenggong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since joining the Dark Star Bureau, Xiao Zhenggong had never once worked on black market cases—he had never offended any black market traders!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a moment’s thought, Captain Chen called in Datou and whispered: “Go to the Cultural Palace and find out what Xiao Zhenggong was really doing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whatever he did, don’t make a sound—just come back and tell me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Datou drove to the Cultural Palace—the crime scene was sealed, but he saw no sign of Xiao Zhenggong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Where was Xiao Zhenggong?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Datou thought for a moment, restarted the car, and left the Cultural Palace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At Yuezhou Third Hospital, the nurse had just changed the sheets and returned He Jiaqing to bed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Zhenggong walked in and smiled at the nurse: “Leave for now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The nurse looked stunned: “How can that be? The patient is still here.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Zhenggong’s smile didn’t fade, but his tone grew slightly lower: “I’m telling you to leave.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The nurse flinched, feeling a force press down on her entire body, making it hard to breathe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She didn’t dare delay a moment and left the ward at once.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Zhenggong pulled up a chair and sat beside He Jiaqing’s bed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a long silence, Xiao Zhenggong asked softly: “Want to kill me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Jiaqing lay motionless on the bed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Zhenggong slapped He Jiaqing’s face: “If you want to kill me, go ahead—I’m standing right here. Don’t pretend to be dead.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Jiaqing still didn’t move.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Zhenggong stood up: “Is this about Zhao Xiaojuan? You’re resentful, aren’t you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’ll tell you straight: Zhao Xiaojuan is in my hands. If you want her, come and take her!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Stand up and fight me. If you have the guts to strike, I’ll give you Zhao Xiaojuan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You won’t move, huh? Then I won’t be polite. You like lying down? I’ll let you lie down for the rest of your life.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Zhenggong pulled a coin from his pocket and was about to flick it at He Jiaqing’s forehead when someone outside the door said: “Vice-Team Leader Xiao, what are you doing here?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Zhenggong turned his head and saw Datou standing at the doorway.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re here too,” Xiao Zhenggong said without surprise. “I was just about to ask you—what are you doing here?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Datou replied calmly: “I came to check on He Jiaqing’s condition. I’ve been following this case all along.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, you’ve been following it. I’ve noticed you’ve been following it too long,” Xiao Zhenggong said, clenching the coin in his hand and rubbing it, as if ready to flick it at Datou’s face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Datou stepped back half a pace: “Team Leader Xiao, calm down. Team Leader Chen sent me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Team Leader Chen sent you to come to the hospital every day? You’re awfully diligent!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’m not as diligent as you. Yesterday I went to the black market just to cover my tracks—and look what a mess it caused.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Last night I kept wondering: how did He Jiaqing know I went to the black market? How did he manage to ambush people in the cinema ahead of time? Who leaked the information?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Datou, what did He Jiaqing give you? How dare you sell me out?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>PS: Don’t discriminate against the Young Boss—he’s also fought his way through blood and storm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Banfeng hadn’t expected that a single explosion of the Tiger Spear would spark so much turmoil.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1792,"2026-06-20T03:43:16.386Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","81b134542a7c2bedcdb0bb5bd486f59cd03a53cff35139e2cff258efbeeb493e","lord-of-the-proles-chapter-235","lord-of-the-proles-chapter-233",863,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Flord-of-the-proles-cover.jpg"]