[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-lord-of-the-proles":3,"chapter-lord-of-the-proles-lord-of-the-proles-chapter-243":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},2290541,4478,"Chapter 243: Unceasing Sincerity","lord-of-the-proles-chapter-243",243,"\u003Cp>Li Banfeng squatted beside the mountain path for a full day, looting several carts of grain, livestock, cloth, daily goods…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When taking a cart of miscellaneous goods, Li Banfeng specifically exchanged insights with the robbed farmer:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Look at this face cream—clearly poor quality. I’m an expert in this; the peddler’s my junior brother!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Yeci and Lu Chunying carried the small cart back and forth, filling the cave with food and supplies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The children ate until their bellies were round, and Xiao Yeci pulled out needles, thread, and a tape measure from the pile of goods to make them clothes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These children had only one set of clothes each; they got filthy during their escape, and for over a month hiding in the deep woods, their clothes were full of holes—no time to mend, no time to wash, utterly ragged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was done properly: Li Banfeng looted so much cloth precisely to make clothes for the children.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After dinner, Li Banfeng questioned each child about their origins.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A boy named Xiao Suo was playing outside the courtyard when he met a vendor selling medicinal candy; the man said his business was good and offered him free candy to cheer him up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After eating the candy, Xiao Suo passed out; the candy vendor told him to follow, and he followed all the way onto the cart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once on the cart, he tried to return home but couldn’t move—he was beaten to near death if he so much as stirred.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Several other children had nearly identical stories: some met sugar-blowers, others met shadow-puppet performers, some met puppet-show operators.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These were all common tactics used by the Jiang Xiang Gang to abduct children; Li Banfeng had heard similar tales in both Waizhou and Puluozhou.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The remaining children were sent here by their parents—Li Banfeng couldn’t understand that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their parents were outsiders who couldn’t afford to settle in Jingde Village, so they spent all their savings to send their children there, hoping the children might receive the Sage’s education and one day rise above their station.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t your parents come to visit you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The young children stayed silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An older boy shouted: “My father came once—I told him I wanted to go home—he slapped me twice, and I never saw him again.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Children raised here grew accustomed to being tortured.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Children abducted here were forced to endure torture.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What about these children, sent here willingly by their own parents?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Li Banfeng was lost in thought, Lu Chunying suddenly shouted: “Mom, those bastards are stealing food again!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng stepped outside and saw over a dozen half-grown boys standing at a distance, facing off against Lu Chunying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A boy, thirteen or fourteen, held a bamboo stick and yelled at Lu Chunying: “We ain’t wasting our breath on a runner—call your boss out to talk!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Yeci walked out of the cave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The boy bowed to Xiao Yeci: “We walk the road under our Ancestor’s banner, guided by honor heavier than gold—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sister, you’re clearly a money-maker, feasting on rare delicacies—just give your junior brothers a bowl of soup!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Others behind him shouted and clamored; Xiao Yeci was furious and annoyed, staring at the children, unsure how to reply: “Oh my, you little brats, stealing food and talking so insolent!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng stepped out of the cave and responded seriously: “Which gang are you from? What route do you run?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Li Banfeng, the half-grown boys shrank by half.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They didn’t know his cultivation base, but seeing an adult man, fear naturally rose in them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The leader, summoning courage, replied: “We’re disciples of Seventh Elder—if you haven’t heard his name, go ask at our place!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seventh Elder?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng paused, then recalled the boy’s accent: “Are you from Haichiling?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The boy nodded: “Old man, sharp eyes!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng said: “Give me your clan sign.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The boy thought long, then answered: “Ji, ji, ji jiao…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng smiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He meant to say “Ji Tou Man.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re a Niu—do you know Luobing Village?” Almost every family in Luobing Village bore the surname Niu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The boy nodded: “I’m from Luobing Village—I’m Niu Guangda!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do you know Niu Fuzhi?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Niu’s hero, blessed and ambitious—that’s my uncle!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng smiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How did this kid end up here?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Were you kidnapped by a trafficker?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Niu Guangda shook his head: “My father sent me—he said I should learn real skills.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng looked at the other children: “Are these kids with you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They’re not from Luobing Village, but like me, they were sent to Jingxian Village by their parents.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jingxian Village—that’s another village these children escaped from.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng nodded: “Call all your people here—there’s food to eat!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Niu Guangda hesitated, then asked: “Old man, may I ask your name?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Yeci tugged Li Banfeng’s sleeve: “Sir, the world is dangerous—some things shouldn’t be told lightly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Told lightly?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Do you even know my name?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Yeci, like them, didn’t know Li Banfeng’s name either.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng looked at Niu Guangda and said: “I’m Master En.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His surname is En…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Niu Guangda turned to the boys beside him: “Who’s studied the Hundred Surnames? Is there an En surname?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That night, Niu Guangda brought over a dozen boys to sleep in the neighboring cave; Li Banfeng gave them plenty of food but made the rules clear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Food isn’t free—tomorrow, you all work.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Niu Guangda was a sensible boy; he straightened his back and said to Li Banfeng: “No merit, no reward—we understand. Without your grace giving us a bowl of rice, we’d survive today but starve tomorrow—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since you’ve ordered us, we give our lives to you—climb mountains of blades, walk through seas of fire—it’s all your word.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng listened, then fell silent for a moment: “There are two things you must understand:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>First, your life belongs to you—don’t give it to anyone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Second, don’t rashly promise to climb mountains of blades or walk seas of fire—do only what you’re capable of. Don’t cheapen your word, and don’t cheapen yourself. Do you understand?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Niu Guangda didn’t fully grasp it; Li Banfeng spoke more plainly: “Tomorrow I’m going out for real business—have you ever robbed anyone?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Niu Guangda didn’t boast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A nearby boy, Fang Lianfu, eyes bright, looked at Li Banfeng: “Master, we’ve thought about robbing before…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Niu Guangda kicked Fang Lianfu—this sounded like we only dared to think, never act.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master, we can do real business—I’ll take a few bold ones with me—you just guide us a little.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng shook his head: “You don’t know who to rob or who you can rob—actual action isn’t for you yet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Find a few strong ones who can push carts, wait on the slope—when I finish my business, bring back the loot. If you handle this, you won’t let me down.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next day, Li Banfeng led everyone to rob the mountain road again—three days straight, news spread through dozens of surrounding villages.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Villagers mostly dared not climb the mountain alone, but their devotion to the Sage couldn’t end.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If devotion ended, sincerity ended; without sincerity, how could there be hope for learning?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The villagers discussed it and united six villages, sending sixty strong men to escort grain up the mountain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The six villages made a grand show: the day before departure, each village held a feast to honor the sixty men.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On departure day, each village unfurled a large banner at the front of the procession—six banners, each bearing the village name: “Jingde,” “Jingxian,” “Musheng,” “Mingde,” “Sixian,” “Huai’en.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Behind the banners stood six middle-aged men—carefully chosen from each village, worldly, sharp-eyed, experienced in the Jianghu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At departure, the men shouted: “He Wu!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jianghu people called themselves “Lao He”—this meant: “We are Jianghu people—show restraint!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sixty men formed two lines, guarding the villagers carrying food and supplies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As they crossed the bridge, the front-line men shouted: “Xuan Liangzi, ma sa zhe, He Wu!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This had two meanings: one, hurry up—this place might be ambushed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two, warn any ambushers: we’re experts, fully prepared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When climbing the mountain, they shouted again: “Dangzi, ba he zhe, He Wu!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Same meaning as before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After crossing a hill, safely, the grain carriers sighed: “To navigate the Jianghu, you must know its rules—brute force alone won’t work.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The experienced men felt a quiet pride—Sage’s disciples usually looked down on men like them, yet now they could lend strength to the Sage, earning themselves some dignity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ahead lay another mountain; they rested briefly, then climbed the path, formation unbroken.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Halfway up the path, dozens of young women suddenly descended from the mountain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One of the men shouted: “Hua Liangzi ren hai le, ba he zhe, He Wu!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meaning: the other side is numerous—be cautious!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>True Jianghu demeanor—they didn’t lower their guard just because the others were women.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Several men told the villagers to clear the path and let the women pass first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The women stopped before them, smiling, and didn’t move.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These villagers had all been taught by the Sage—they wouldn’t fall for a beauty trap. The lead man stepped forward, bowed: “Our Ancestor grants us a bowl of rice; you ladies have tasted the world’s delicacies—I only eat one path—ladies, leave us a bite.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The women didn’t leave—they drew their weapons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The big man frowned; it seemed clear that reasoning with them today was pointless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sisters, do we really have to break the plates today? If words won’t work, then let’s take up the whips. You’re seasoned hands, and we’re no rookies—wheel and disc, let’s each grab our tools…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bang!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One girl swung her club and knocked the big man down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dozens of girls behind her rushed forward, raising clubs and striking straight for the heads.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These girls were Li Banfeng’s paper dolls; before cultivators, they couldn’t hope to fight, only to distract.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing such a large force on the other side, Li Banfeng had assumed there must be at least a few cultivators among them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Who knew they were all white lambs through and through?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After more than a minute of beating, the sixty big men and the entire group of villagers were driven off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng recalled all his paper dolls, brought them back to his portable dwelling, and let them disintegrate on their own.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Niu Guangda, with several half-grown boys, followed Li Banfeng’s orders and went up the mountain to collect the dozens of carts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These villages had poured everything they had into this—yet still couldn’t get their goods up the mountain. Surely now they’d give up?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Three days later, over two hundred more arrived, escorting grain and supplies up the mountain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These weren’t big men this time—they were all elders over sixty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As they climbed, the elders shouted: “Heroes of the green woods, we’re all coffin-liners. If you’ve got the heart, take what you want from us!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng laughed in anger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What kind of grace could this sage possibly have shown them?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What was the point of sending these elders up the mountain?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng looked at the group of elders and sighed: “Fine. Given your age, I’ll accept this filial devotion—on behalf of my son!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>PS: Banfeng is a straightforward man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1850,"2026-06-20T03:43:16.386Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","25e279db28ee0d72cb66716bde5fdf6f8f6b2f76ed9b4c3961357a9fdc5f4dff","lord-of-the-proles-chapter-244","lord-of-the-proles-chapter-242",863,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Flord-of-the-proles-cover.jpg"]