[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-lord-of-the-proles":3,"chapter-lord-of-the-proles-lord-of-the-proles-chapter-235":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},2290533,4478,"Chapter 235: The Balance Person","lord-of-the-proles-chapter-235",235,"\u003Cp>Xiao Zhenggong stared at Datou, the coin spinning between his fingers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Datou was a Level Five Wu Xiu; though gifted, his strength wasn’t much greater than Zhong Guoshu’s.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Zhenggong wanted to kill him—he didn’t need much effort; this coin in his hand was enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His tone suddenly softened as he asked calmly: “Datou, what exactly are you doing here?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Datou replied: “The captain sent me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Better be honest—the captain never told you to come to the hospital every day. There’s something else going on.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Datou shook his head: “I don’t come every day. Today I just came to take a look.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m asking you now as deputy captain. You know the rules of the Dark Star Bureau—if you don’t cooperate, I won’t be gentle.” The coin had subtly flipped between his thumb and forefinger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I sent him.” Captain Chen Zhangrui suddenly appeared at the door. “Zhenggong, put the coin away. A one-yuan steel piece—you’re playing with it so eagerly, someone might think we can’t even pay our salaries.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Zhenggong tucked the coin away and said to Chen Zhangrui: “I suspect Agent Zou Guoming and He Jiaqing are secretly colluding, leaking bureau secrets. Asking him a couple questions—there’s nothing wrong with that, right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Zhangrui chuckled: “No problem. Ask all you want—but here isn’t convenient. Some things shouldn’t be heard by outsiders. Let’s go back to the bureau and talk slowly. What do you think?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Zhenggong sneered: “No need. I’ve asked everything I needed to. I’ve seen everything I needed to see. I’m just an outsider in the bureau—say too much and you’ll be disliked.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that, Xiao Zhenggong left the ward. Chen Zhangrui and Datou stayed inside for a while, then returned to the bureau together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That night, Datou went to Huahu Park and entered Xindi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the wasteland, He Jiaqing sat by a fire, gesturing for Datou to sit down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Jiaqing was baffled by Xiao Zhenggong’s actions: “Is your deputy captain always this volatile? If he’d really killed me today, would your bureau let him off?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Datou answered: “Your bureau might not hold him accountable. Even if they did, the worst they’d do is issue a reprimand.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A reprimand?” He Jiaqing exclaimed. “Do you guys look down on me so much? Am I not an important person?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re important—but Xiao Zhenggong’s position is special.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What kind of position?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“From what I know, he’s a Balance Person.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s a Balance Person?” He Jiaqing had never heard the term before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s bureau secret. During one operation, Xiao Zhenggong killed a colleague. The man had deep connections—his father was a powerful figure—but the matter was buried.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That powerful man, seeking revenge for his son, used many connections to investigate Xiao Zhenggong. I was dragged into it too, since I participated in that operation with Xiao Zhenggong.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Later, thanks to Captain Chen’s protection, I escaped the storm. I’ve never understood it: Xiao Zhenggong was the killer, yet he faced no consequences, while I, his subordinate, suffered dearly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Later, Captain Chen told me: Xiao Zhenggong is a Balance Person. That powerful man couldn’t touch him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A Balance Person is someone capable of balancing relations between Pulu Province and the Outer Provinces. Xiao Zhenggong’s status in Pulu Province isn’t ordinary—I don’t know exactly what it is.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I know—he’s the boss of the Jiangxiang Gang,” He Jiaqing frowned slightly. “But the Jiangxiang Gang isn’t a major sect in Pulu Province. Why do the Outer Provinces treat him with such respect?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Datou didn’t know the reason: “Just be careful from now on. If he’s decided to kill you, he’ll find another chance soon.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m not afraid of him—I’m worried about you. He publicly framed you, and your captain heard it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Datou wasn’t concerned: “The captain trusts me. He despises Xiao Zhenggong—he won’t suspect me because of Xiao Zhenggong’s words.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Jiaqing sighed: “This time, I’ve dragged you into trouble.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Datou shook his head and smiled: “Aren’t we brothers? Brothers don’t count such things.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Jiaqing pulled out a Jin Yuandan and a packet of herbal powder, shoving them into Datou’s hands: “Take this. Mix the pill with the powder and swallow it—it’s for boosting your cultivation.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You mean, boosting my dark ability?” Datou shook his head and returned the pill. “The bureau has rules: any increase in dark ability must be reported, with full explanation of the method and process.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I can’t take this kind of medicine—I can’t explain the source of the boost. If the bureau finds out, I’ll be severely punished.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Jiaqing laughed: “Do you honestly report every single ability increase to the bureau?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Datou thought it perfectly normal: “It’s the rule. Concealing your own ability is a grave offense.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You told me Xiao Zhenggong is a Level Three Striker. Do you think he hasn’t concealed his true level?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Datou paused, then said: “He’s a Balance Person. I can’t compare myself to him. The bureau has special equipment that detects everyone’s true ability.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Jiaqing shoved the pill back into Datou’s hand: “Eat it without fear—no device in this world can detect your ability.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Remember: take both medicines together. The pill is poisonous; the powder is the antidote. After taking it, rest well.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The bureau’s promises of your future and advancement are lies. Only your own cultivation is real. Never forget that.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Jiaqing returned to his hospital bed and carefully reviewed the sequence of events.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the past, the only person in the Jiangxiang Gang whom He Jiaqing respected was Luo Zhengnan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He realized he had always overlooked Xiao Zhenggong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A gang boss becoming a deputy captain in the Dark Star Bureau—this was suspicious from the start.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Jiaqing had assumed Xiao Zhenggong merely wanted to use his Outer Province position to whitewash his identity, given the Jiangxiang Gang’s terrible reputation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now, it seemed he’d oversimplified things.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The current situation had deviated greatly from the plan. Honglian and Zhao Xiao must be found quickly—delay any longer, and when the major families recover their composure, all prior efforts will be wasted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Zhenggong is too hard to touch. He’d have to turn to an old friend.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Banfeng, where have you been?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You’ve suffered so much—this vast inheritance—you’re just walking away from it?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You can’t possibly be willing to let it go, can you?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Jiaqing fumbled with the buttons of his hospital gown, found the hook on the buttonline, and contacted Ling Miaoying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How’s the newspaper business going?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s going well. The foundation your brother left is solid. Even after such a long hiatus, we’ve regained many old customers.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good,” He Jiaqing praised. “Publish a notice for me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng sat in his Suishenju, quietly watching the phonograph and Hongying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hongying had been steamed for a long time and had listened to two songs from Niangzi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng thought the songs were beautiful, but for Hongying, every lyric was like a whip, lashing her skin open.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even so, she never spoke a word to Niangzi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hongying wasn’t weak—torture alone meant nothing to her. Niangzi knew this well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Following Li Banfeng’s suggestion, they should simply devour Hongying’s soul and let Honglian refine her body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Honglian strongly agreed—but the phonograph refused.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She insisted on uncovering the truth behind everything; this obsession made her furious, even refusing to oil her mechanisms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng always felt uneasy with Hongying around—he’d tricked her here with special means, and seeing her stirred guilt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since he felt guilty, he tried to see her as little as possible. He lived comfortably in Tiemenbao—food, drink, and necessities were delivered, and he could wander freely through the wastelands, completing his Lvxiu cultivation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That evening, after dinner, Li Banfeng was reading a novel in the mansion when Wu Yongchao burst in, drenched in sweat: “Boss, I got it!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Got what?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Newspapers—the ones you always mention.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng had a habit of reading newspapers, but the mansion’s Zhai Xiu didn’t—they cared nothing for events beyond the walls.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Yongchao noticed Li Banfeng always bought newspapers, thought it was exhausting, and today decided to run the errand for him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To buy newspapers, Wu Yongchao trekked dozens of miles through mountain trails, skipped two meals, and got lost several times—unaware that for Li Banfeng, it was just a stroll.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The task was small, but Li Banfeng appreciated it. He hired Li Zhijuan, a Zhai Xiu with exceptional cooking skills, to prepare several dishes and two jugs of wine, treating Wu Yongchao to dinner.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Yongchao devoured the meal while Li Banfeng flipped through the newspaper. One item caught his attention.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Ling family and Ma family were jointly reclaiming land in Xindi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Major families reclaiming land in Xindi was common—but the photo on this article disturbed Li Banfeng deeply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the photo, Ling Miaoying and Ma Chunting stood together on the land. The plot lay within Qiuluoye’s territory. Li Banfeng had been there—it was less than three li from Zhengjing Village.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he turned this land into farmland, it would be as repulsive as what Lu Xiaolan had done when she reclaimed hers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Worse still—it involved the Ma family.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhengjing Village was the home Li Banfeng had fought tooth and nail to build. He would not tolerate any threat to it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ling Miaoying—you’re deliberately forcing me back?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I can’t avoid you anymore. Then I won’t hide.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ma Wu once said the Ling family were a Zouxiu clan; all three brothers were at least Level Seven.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Let’s assume Level Seven.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’m Level Five Zhai Xiu and Level Four Lvxiu—combined, that’s Level Nine. Level Nine has no reason to fear Level Seven.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The problem is the Ma family.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What level is Ma Wu’s father?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I recall Ma Wu saying he was a Level Eight Wen Xiu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eight plus seven equals fifteen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Doesn’t matter—I can fight them in two rounds!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng knew levels couldn’t be added so simply—but he had to return to Zhengjing Village. Even if he couldn’t defeat Ma Chunting and Ling Miaoying, he had to fight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if he lost, Li Banfeng wasn’t worried—he had an escape route on that land, one others couldn’t reach.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before leaving, he split his 800,000 silver dollars into two portions: 200,000 he carried with him; the remaining 600,000 he left in Tiemenbao, entrusting Wu Yongchao to guard it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He trusted Tiemenbao. He trusted this brother.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If trouble came, he could return to Tiemenbao for refuge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Tiemenbao faced crisis, it could use this money as emergency funds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng set out that night, which terrified Wu Yongchao.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lord, I just went out to buy newspapers—how come you left too? If I’d known, I wouldn’t have gone…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng looked at Wu Yongchao and instructed: “Remember three things at all times, never forget them,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Iron Gate Fortress has only one lord, and his name is Lord,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>no matter where he is, he is still your lord,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>no matter if he lives or dies, he is still your lord!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Understood?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Yongchao understood; Iron Gate Fortress understood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their lord was called Lord—these cultivation novices would never forget it for the rest of their lives.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng arrived at Peach Blossom Lake, left his clothes inside his Personal Dwelling, then stripped naked and jumped in, wandered briefly at the lake’s bottom, surfaced, and emerged onto a wasteland.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Back in his Personal Dwelling, he dried himself and was putting on his clothes when Hong Ying suddenly spoke: “Just now, you came in naked?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The phonograph gasped: “Wenchu, how can you see?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hong Ying sneered: “I can’t see—I smelled.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You can smell that?” The phonograph spat steam, shouting sharply, “Are you so desperate for men you’ve gone mad?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s it to you if I want men?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“First tell me why you betrayed me!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I won’t tell you. Kill me or cut me up—I leave it to you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wenchu, when you get beaten later, don’t you dare cry!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The familiar scene unfolded again. Li Banfeng didn’t bother to look, hurried back to the wasteland, followed Yao Lao’s map, and ran nonstop, reaching Qiuluoye’s territory in less than a day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the location shown in the news photo, Li Banfeng saw no pioneers and no glowing land.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What’s going on?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was the news fake?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Did someone set me up?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng wasn’t surprised—the newspaper that published this news belonged to the Ling family.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stood on the land, scanning around. Lu Xiaolan, hiding on her own plot, had heard his voice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mom, he’s here.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhuo Yuling, concealed in the woods, asked Lu Xiaolan through the hook on her sash: “Is now the right time to strike?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Not yet—he’s walking toward you. Wait until he steps into the trap.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng walked toward Zhengjing Village. After a hundred steps or so, he suddenly felt like singing, and began an old folk tune:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Drum fast, gong slow, stop the beat and listen to the song—I won’t sing of idle tales, today I’ll sing of the Eighteen…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The simple melody reached Lu Xiaolan’s ears; her eardrums throbbed violently, blood trickling from her ear canals.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You set a trap here for me?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucky for you, you didn’t meet my wife!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>PS: This folk tune is quite pure. Dear readers, sing along with Shala.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",2192,"2026-06-20T03:43:16.386Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","83b2a5c475eb211d660ed060a0b91a6eff6e4862673128c08048c5641036225a","lord-of-the-proles-chapter-236","lord-of-the-proles-chapter-234",863,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Flord-of-the-proles-cover.jpg"]