[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-lord-of-the-proles":3,"chapter-lord-of-the-proles-lord-of-the-proles-chapter-248":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},2290546,4478,"Chapter 248: The Name of This Place","lord-of-the-proles-chapter-248",248,"\u003Cp>Ren Wenlie had his throat slit by Li Banfeng; the two remaining disciples, Pei Maojin and Gao Yangting, still stood frozen in place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They dared not turn around, nor dare to take a step forward, for Li Banfeng had said that standing still was the best choice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng patted both their heads and smiled: “Are you disciples of the Sage?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pei Maojin trembled and stammered: “The Sage’s power is boundless! You’ve already committed a grave sin—still, it’s not too late to turn back!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Yangting chimed in: “We’ll speak well of you before our Master. Let this matter be dropped, and we’ll never pursue you again.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng nodded: “Truly, the Sage’s disciples—kind-hearted and broad-minded. Come, both of you, join me in my cave for a sit.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Yeci stood rooted in place, her clothes soaked through with sweat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng regarded the woman with clear admiration: “You’ve earned your merit today. I’ll keep these two Sage disciples company for a while—there’ll be extra reward tonight.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Yeci turned to watch Li Banfeng’s back, unsure what he meant by “reward.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the cave, Pei Maojin still tried to project authority: “I see you’re a reasonable man. The Sage awaits our report—we must depart soon. No need to waste time here.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he spoke, Pei Maojin was on the verge of wetting himself, yet he still believed that if he uttered a few more threats, this bearded man would spare him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Yangting had already realized the situation was dire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He dropped to his knees before Li Banfeng and wept: “Master, I was forced to come! I’ve trained for years, and every year they said I lacked fortune—today, for no reason, I was suddenly named a Sage disciple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They tricked me into coming to die. I didn’t want to come, but I dared not refuse. Master, please spare my life!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the brink of life and death, their reactions were starkly different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Where did this difference come from?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng brought the two into his personal dwelling and studied them closely; after asking only two questions, he found the root.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pei Maojin was born and raised in Muxian Village; in his eyes, the Sage was omnipotent and everywhere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Yangting grew up in Heishi Slope; at fifteen, his family sent him to Huai’en Village. He knew such great figures as the Sage rarely intervened for people like them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng asked Pei Maojin: “What is this place called?” Pei Maojin answered: “It’s the wasteland beside Muxian Village—nameless.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I asked what this entire region is called.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s the Sage’s domain. The whole world is the Sage’s domain.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In Pei Maojin’s worldview, the world was this small.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The same question yielded a vastly different answer from Gao Yangting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master, do you want the outside view or the inside view?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The inside view need not be heard—Li Banfeng had heard it too many times.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The outside view had two versions. Gao Yangting listed them: “My father told me this is Sheng’en Mountain, where the Sage imparts the teachings of the sages.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But on the road, I heard people say it’s not called Sheng’en Mountain—it’s called Jianren Gang.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jianren Gang!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng remembered Yao Lao’s map, remembered Ma Wu’s description of the southern third of Pulu Province. Every time he heard the name Jianren Gang, he wondered: what kind of place deserved such a name?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now he no longer wondered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since arriving here, Li Banfeng had seen too many vile people—until those who refused to be vile became the oddities.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng was astonished; the Singing Machine was even more so.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Husband, how did you come to Jianren Gang?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng shook his head: “This is hard to explain in half a sentence. Wife, have you ever been to Jianren Gang?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chichi~\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The wife replied: “Oh, husband, I’ve never been to Jianren Gang—but I’ve heard of it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng nodded: “Mm. Heard of it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, husband, this place is extraordinary!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes. Extraordinary.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why did the wife speak so hesitantly?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, husband, Jianren Gang is hard to find—these past years, harder still. They say few who enter ever leave. We may be trapped here for a long while.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng blinked: “I’ve already been trapped for a while—over ten days now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ten days isn’t long. I once heard someone was trapped here for decades before escaping.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng waved his hand: “I can’t wait. No need for decades—three or five years, and I’ll have killed every vile person here.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Husband, this cannot be rushed. From your questioning of those two, the Sage they mentioned is no ordinary being. Be careful—within days, he may come for you himself.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Someone who could casually dispatch fifth-layer experts, and such formidable subordinates as Po Yin Yong—this man was no ordinary being.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng glanced at the Singing Machine, sensing she knew more but chose not to speak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the wife didn’t wish to speak, don’t press her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng dragged Pei Maojin and Gao Yangting over: “Wife, it’s time to eat.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Yangting kept weeping: “Master, spare my life! I was forced to come!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pei Maojin still dared to threaten: “I don’t care who you are or where you’re from—harming the Sage’s disciples, you’ll die! Release me now—I’ll plead for mercy. The Sage might still show grace…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hu~\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A thread of steam struck, severing Pei Maojin’s tongue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The wife was in poor spirits—she found Pei Maojin too noisy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After Li Banfeng left the personal dwelling, the wife had no interest in sipping souls—she simply swallowed both men’s spirits whole.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huch~ Huch~\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After much thought, the Singing Machine asked Hong Ying: “Vile woman, when you saw that Po Yin Yong just now, did he seem familiar?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hong Ying snapped back: “Witch, do I even have eyes? How could I recognize anything?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She’d forgotten—Hong Ying was blind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Singing Machine asked again: “Have you ever heard of Jianren Gang?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Never heard of it. The names you mention—Green Water Bay, Yaowang Gully, Haichi Ridge—I’ve never heard any of them. I haven’t even heard of Tiemenbao.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was this absurd? Hong Ying had been trapped in Tiemenbao for years, yet never heard of Tiemenbao.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She truly hadn’t heard. She was both deaf and blind—she’d lost the ability to receive outside information. She didn’t even know where she was. All the world’s changes over these years were unknown to her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You vile woman seems to know much. I suppose you’ve had many misfortunes after death,” Hong Ying’s voice grew darker.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the past, if Hong Ying had brought up this past, the Singing Machine would have flown into a rage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But today, the Singing Machine had no heart for anger—she had long been fixated on Jianren Gang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The horn turned toward Honglian. The Singing Machine asked: “Do you know something about this?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Honglian said nothing—whether she truly didn’t know, or simply refused to answer, she remained focused on refining Cong Shixiang’s corpse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng returned to En Gong Zhai and ordered repairs to the damaged wooden house and gate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The people in the village looked at Li Banfeng differently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They had come to join En Gong because they’d heard he dared defy the Sage, dared steal from the Sage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But today, they’d seen with their own eyes En Gong kill the Sage’s disciples—several of them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From today on, Li Banfeng’s orders needed no repetition; even tasks he hadn’t ordered, they would now think to do themselves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Yeci’s status rose sharply—En Gong himself had declared her an eighth-layer Wen Xiu, an eighth-layer expert.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They didn’t know what “eighth-layer” meant, but anyone En Gong respected was worthy of their reverence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At night, Li Banfeng found Xiao Yeci and gave her one hundred silver dollars.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The promised reward—Li Banfeng kept his word.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Yeci refused: “Master, I can’t take this money.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng paused: “Too little?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Yeci waved her hand: “One hundred silver dollars isn’t small for my daughter and me—but today, I didn’t help you. No merit, no reward. I already owe you so much, and I don’t know when I’ll repay it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides, here, money is useless. We dare not go to the village to buy things—even if we dared, the villagers wouldn’t sell to us.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then save it. For future use.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Yeci lowered her head: “Master, some things I dare not tell Nannan—I only want to tell you. I don’t know what I’ll become, and I don’t want to think about it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That so-called senior brother who came today—I still feel pain in my chest when I think of him. I don’t know if he was a man or a demon. I’ve read so many books, but none described anything so terrifying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master, when you fought him, I was terrified. I never thought you could win. I only wanted to die beside you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng chuckled: “So? Regret following me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Yeci shook her head vigorously: “No regret. As a child, I lived under others’ roofs, became a mother before I even grew up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I dragged Nannan from place to place, begging for survival. Finally, we found a wealthy household—but even they wouldn’t tolerate me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This life, I’ve only ever felt dignity for a short while. Master, forgive me for saying this shamelessly—even if we never leave this place, I’d gladly follow you for life. Master, I…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Yeci looked up—Li Banfeng was gone. Only a sack of silver dollars remained beside the straw mat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Yeci bit her lip, murmuring to herself: “Did I say something wrong? Did he think I meant… something else?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had no such thoughts. I still have a daughter—how could I ever be worthy of him?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng slipped away silently—not because Xiao Yeci had said anything wrong, but because he sensed danger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although he didn’t know the technique, Li Banfeng’s Lv Xiu had reached the fifth layer—he sensed danger waiting at the village’s gate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the gate, he saw a white-clad youth standing quietly. The guards stationed there stood like statues, stripped of all normal reaction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The white-clad youth studied Li Banfeng closely, wondering: who was this man? How had he made three senior brothers vanish—especially his eldest brother?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wanted to look longer, when suddenly Li Banfeng barked: “Do not stare rudely!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The white-robed youth quickly lowered his head and explained, “I mean no harm—I didn’t hurt your people, they’re just temporarily unconscious…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng snapped again: “Don’t speak improperly!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The white-robed youth dared not say more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a moment of silence, Li Banfeng asked, “Did your master send you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The youth nodded and said, “He wants to see you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng said, “If he wants to see me, let him come himself.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The youth didn’t know how to respond. His master meant for Li Banfeng to visit him, but it seemed Li Banfeng had no intention of going.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a pause, the youth added, “My master says he wants to see you in ten days. He told you to prepare.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng frowned and asked, “Why wait ten days? Why not today?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The youth kept his head down and said, “That’s what my master said…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng thought for a moment and agreed: “Go tell your master—I’ll be here at ten o’clock tonight, ten days from now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>PS: Who exactly is this Sage?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No break on New Year’s Eve—readers, please give me a monthly vote!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1887,"2026-06-20T03:43:16.386Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","9a9b8533023cfed1e166d1e71cebc8a31c2d2d63918516f0c783cb9f1b504087","lord-of-the-proles-chapter-249","lord-of-the-proles-chapter-247",863,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Flord-of-the-proles-cover.jpg"]