[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-lord-of-the-proles":3,"chapter-lord-of-the-proles-lord-of-the-proles-chapter-50":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},2290348,4478,"Chapter 50: The Death Bell","lord-of-the-proles-chapter-50",50,"\u003Cp>Li Banfeng suspected Luo Yuni was sitting right beside him, perhaps even closer, perhaps even sitting directly on top of him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under these circumstances, Luo Yuni reaching out was an extremely dangerous move for Li Banfeng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even more dangerous was that Li Banfeng felt no danger at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If this house spirit had no ill intent, then everything was fine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If this house spirit had ill intent and Li Banfeng still couldn’t sense it, that proved the spirit’s cultivation base was higher than his—by at least two levels.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Li Banfeng retreat to a distance, Luo Yuni looked disappointed: “What are you hesitating for? Don’t you really want me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I said it’s not that I don’t want you,” Li Banfeng shook his head again, “I don’t want this house.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was the truth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng very much wanted a house spirit—but in this house, he would never speak Luo Yuni’s name.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though he had only been in Puluozhou for a short time, having heard descriptions from Ma Wu, the peddler, and Xiao Yeci, and witnessed the old woman’s process of cultivating the house spirit, Li Banfeng had begun to discern some patterns.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In this system, there were three key roles: house cultivator, house spirit, and house.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A house cultivator could control the house; the house could control the house spirit; thus, only through this chain could the house cultivator subdue the house spirit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The key to subduing a house spirit lay in the harmony between the house cultivator and the house.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old woman’s talent was truly poor; it took her a long time to achieve harmony with this house.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng had not achieved harmony with this house—at least, he felt no such connection—and under these conditions, he did not believe he could subdue such a powerful house spirit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he failed to subdue it, the situation would become extremely dangerous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had not forgotten Lu Xiaolan, trapped by a house spirit in the He family’s old residence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luo Yuni’s frown eased, and her alluring smile returned to her face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You don’t want this house? Neither do I—I’ve been trapped here for decades, I’m utterly sick of it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You want your special house, and I like that house too—take me with you, I’ll go with you.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once we’re in your house, I’m yours—my abilities are yours, my body is yours.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Take her to the Personal Dwelling?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could it work?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng decided to take a gamble!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Personal Dwelling is my domain, with extremely high harmony with me; according to the old woman’s method, I light a candle, stare at the clock, sense the harmony, and speak her name—I’ll succeed in subduing her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And in the Personal Dwelling, I can enter or leave whenever I want.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If she tries to deceive me, I’ll trap her inside the Personal Dwelling!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lock her up for a while, and I’ll eventually break her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng took a deep breath, removed his short knife, and placed it aside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This knife couldn’t be taken into the Personal Dwelling—it was too dangerous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng himself couldn’t control this strange weapon, but Luo Yuni could; if she brought it into the Personal Dwelling and suddenly turned on him, it would be a fatal threat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In addition, Li Banfeng took other precautions—he touched the remaining rusted pill.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luo Yuni was a wraith; Li Banfeng didn’t know how to deal with wraiths, so if anything went wrong, he could only target her physical form—the old clock.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The rusted pill couldn’t damage the wooden casing of the old clock, but it would severely harm its pendulum, dial, springs, and gears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides the rusted pill, he also had his sickle and shovel, which he hung at his waist, adjusted to the optimal striking position.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luo Yuni’s figure vanished from the pendulum, her soul returning to the old clock.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All preparations complete, Li Banfeng pulled out his key, lifted the old clock with one hand, and entered the Personal Dwelling at top speed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He placed the old clock on the ground temporarily and turned to search for a candle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Strange—the candle wasn’t where it should be, and the matches were gone too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had I forgotten? Or had someone entered the Personal Dwelling?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng frantically searched for the candle—he needed light; without light, he couldn’t see the clock, let alone stare at it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the pendulum of the old clock, Luo Yuni’s face reappeared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time, it wasn’t a reflection—Luo Yuni was inside the old clock; behind her, the gears and springs were clearly visible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her alluring smile faded; her eyebrows slowly rose, her almond eyes lifting sharply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her lips curled slightly; she licked them, her complexion draining of color, her skin now covered in grotesque pallor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng’s thinking was correct, his method was correct—in normal circumstances, he truly could subdue the house spirit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he underestimated one thing: the gap in strength between them, even on his own territory, was insurmountable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Logically, a first-level house cultivator should face a house spirit of no higher than first or second level.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Li Banfeng was wrong—Luo Yuni’s talent was astonishingly strong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before becoming a house spirit, she had already transformed into a powerful evil spirit through immense resentment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After becoming a house spirit, after thirty years of cultivation, her strength reached the sixth level.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sixth-level strength was something Li Banfeng could not fathom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But a house spirit remained a house spirit—Luo Yuni was bound by the house, and this house had formed deep harmony with the old woman, so Luo Yuni could not use many of her powers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luo Yuni realized Li Banfeng knew little about house cultivation; she intended to use him to kill the old woman, then free herself from her bonds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why didn’t she kill the old woman herself?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Haven’t there been precedents of house spirits killing their masters?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng had considered this, and from it deduced that Luo Yuni had withheld much of the truth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To gain Li Banfeng’s trust, most of what Luo Yuni said was true—but this point was her weakness, so she naturally wouldn’t reveal it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In fact, the answer had already been implied in Ma Wu’s, the peddler’s, and Xiao Yeci’s descriptions; through analysis, Li Banfeng had reached a rough conclusion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A house spirit killing its master required one prerequisite: the harmony between house cultivator and house had been broken.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the house cultivator neglected the house, the house would allow the house spirit to rebel, giving the spirit a chance to kill its master—like the extremely slovenly house cultivator Ma Wu mentioned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the house cultivator abandoned the house, the house would loosen some restraints, allowing the house spirit to become an evil spirit and wreak havoc within.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old woman and Luo Yuni got along poorly, but the old woman had deep affection for this house and maintained excellent harmony with it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bound by the house, and bound by the contract between house cultivator and house spirit, Luo Yuni could suppress the old woman’s cultivation, but she could not kill her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if the old woman died, as long as the house remained, the house spirit could not escape its bonds—because the contract between house cultivator and house spirit remained intact, unless another house cultivator took over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The house was the house spirit’s shackle; to break free, a house spirit had only three paths.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>First: become strong enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A strong enough house spirit could forcibly break free from the house’s bonds—Ma Wu had heard of such precedents.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could Luo Yuni, at sixth level, break free from the house’s bonds?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No—not nearly strong enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Second: someone takes the house spirit away from the house.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A house spirit leaving its house becomes an evil spirit; few dared do this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Third: break the contract.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was simple: another house cultivator stared at the house spirit, spoke its name, and if the original house cultivator did not object, the contract was broken—if the house spirit agreed, this was the method of transferring ownership.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luo Yuni chose the third path: breaking the contract.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the old woman’s courtyard, if Li Banfeng stared at the clock and spoke Luo Yuni’s name, the old woman would certainly not object—because she was already dead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The contract between Luo Yuni and the old woman would be broken, and Luo Yuni would be freed from her bonds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But since Li Banfeng had no harmony with the courtyard, Luo Yuni would not become his house spirit—she would immediately kill Li Banfeng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luo Yuni had been sitting behind Li Banfeng all along; though her power was restricted, if she could seize his vital point, she could force him to speak her name.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But she hadn’t expected that the moment she reached out, Li Banfeng ran.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since force wouldn’t work, she tried charm—she repeatedly tempted him to speak her name, thinking she’d succeed easily, but Li Banfeng was far too cautious and refused to say it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If one path was blocked, take another.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luo Yuni demanded Li Banfeng bring her into the Personal Dwelling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time, she succeeded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leaving the original courtyard, she was free.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the Personal Dwelling was now in deep harmony with Li Banfeng—if Li Banfeng stared at the clock in the Personal Dwelling and spoke Luo Yuni’s name, what would happen?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As long as one stared at the house spirit, sensed harmony with the house, and spoke the house spirit’s name, the house spirit became his.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The logic was sound—but in reality, Li Banfeng could never succeed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because Luo Yuni would never give him another chance to speak her name—she now intended to kill Li Banfeng immediately and claim the Personal Dwelling for herself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A sixth-level house spirit, unbound, meant Li Banfeng had no chance of survival.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The pendulum swung rapidly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The minute hand dragged the hour hand around, swiftly reaching the twelve o’clock position.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once the bell rang twelve times, she could slice Li Banfeng into thirteen pieces!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gigglegigglegiggle~\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The clock’s gears ground against each other.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The minute hand was about to align with the hour hand; the bell was about to ring—Li Banfeng was still searching for the candle, and Luo Yuni’s smile grew even more sinister.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hssshhh~\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A beam of flame flared, and the sound of steam hissing came first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng startled—the phonograph had activated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How could the phonograph turn on by itself?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luo Yuni paid no attention to the phonograph.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gong!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A bell tolled!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An invisible blade shot toward Li Banfeng’s spine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng felt a chill; instinctively, he twisted away—but it was futile. He could not evade it. This was a speed beyond his comprehension.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chi!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A stream of white steam burst from the phonograph, effortlessly dissolving the invisible blade!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luo Yuni’s eyes turned blood-red as she stared at the phonograph.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What is this thing?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Does this thing have a spirit?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Can something with a spirit dare to stop me?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Who gave it the nerve?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gong!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A second bell tolled!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enraged, Luo Yuni launched her second attack—aiming not only at Li Banfeng but also at the phonograph. She meant to slice the phonograph into shards.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hu~\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Steam surged forward, enveloping the grandfather clock. The invisible blades never reached their target—they vanished inside the clock’s body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gek gek gek~\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luo Yuni was startled, yet unwilling to yield. She struck again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The gears strained to turn, trying to sound a third bell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The third bell never rang. The clock’s mainspring was locked by invisible force within the steam.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luo Yuni roared repeatedly, still forcing her power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gek gek gek~\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The mainspring quickly reached its limit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chi~\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The phonograph emitted a mocking chuckle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gok!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The clock’s mainspring snapped apart within the steam.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ahh~~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luo Yuni was horrified, then let out a piercing scream—as if her own bones had snapped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hu chi!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another burst of steam surged forth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The glass dome of the grandfather clock shattered. The pendulum broke!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The dial was ripped off. The minute and hour hands bent and melted under the heat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The brass inner frame collapsed. Gears of all sizes scattered in all directions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kachak! Kachak!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Within seconds, the wooden casing of the clock turned into a pile of splinters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everything happened too fast. Li Banfeng made no reaction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luo Yuni’s scream lingered for a long time, as if she had endured unimaginable pain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From within the clock, a wisp of red dust, carried by the steam, was drawn into the phonograph’s horn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By the phonograph’s glow, Li Banfeng stared at the wreckage of the grandfather clock, drenched in sweat, stunned into silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chi chi chi~\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The phonograph’s needle automatically settled onto the record.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>First, cheerful gongs and drums.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, lively flute melodies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then the phonograph began to sing a sweet song:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I see you off beyond the village gate,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There’s a word I must say,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though flowers bloom everywhere,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Long ge li ge li ge long~ Long ge li ge long~\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The wildflowers by the roadside~~~\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Don’t pick them!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>PS: Come on, sing along with the phonograph!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",2158,"2026-06-20T03:43:13.043Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","aef090c82101218d97a8dd6fb08f96ec8c2ae6adf6cf73b45eb251c35c638049","lord-of-the-proles-chapter-51","lord-of-the-proles-chapter-49",863,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Flord-of-the-proles-cover.jpg"]