[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-lord-of-the-proles":3,"chapter-lord-of-the-proles-lord-of-the-proles-chapter-64":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},2290362,4478,"Chapter 64: The Jianghu Code: Give and Take","lord-of-the-proles-chapter-64",64,"\u003Cp>Li Banfeng found a few watermelon seeds on other weapons: “Master Yu, I didn’t misstate it—you really spent the whole day chopping watermelons.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Nan carefully recalled the battle scene: whether struck by spear or slashed by blade, the staff of Geng Family Pharmacy always bled, yet never fell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Throughout the entire encounter, Yu Nan heard not a single word from the pharmacy staff, not even a cry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could they all be watermelons?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could their blood be nothing but watermelon juice?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why would watermelons grow human shapes? Why could they fight?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Shiquan, the oldest warehouse keeper in the cloth shop, drew a puff from his pipe and speculated: “Gengxiu toil hard to reach prominence; at fifth layer they rise as lords. We’ve likely encountered a Gengxiu who’s reached prominence.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gengxiu?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of this Dao sect, Li Banfeng knew nothing beyond its hardship.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What do you mean by ‘reached prominence’?” Li Banfeng asked directly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old warehouse keeper said: “It’s a common saying among Daoists: Gengxiu endure hardship, few practice, but if one persists to the fifth layer, they’ve reached prominence—their cultivated produce becomes bizarre and varied.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ve lived this long and never seen anything like these fighting watermelons—I suspect these are seeds planted by a Gengxiu.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Nan thought a moment, then shook her head slightly: “What is the Geng family? How could they afford a fifth-layer Gengxiu? Besides, I’ve never heard of a fifth-layer Gengxiu in Yao Wang Gou!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old keeper packed another bowl of tobacco: “Master, Gengxiu live hard lives—they work for money. He’s not here to fight; he’s just selling a few watermelons.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And once a Gengxiu loses his land, he must come out to clear new ground. Yao Wang Gou has plenty of new land—perhaps a Gengxiu came here and was met by the Geng family.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What was “new land”?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They always seemed to drop new terms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng said nothing—he didn’t want to interrupt their thoughts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But their thoughts had already stalled: a fifth-layer cultivator was an opponent Yu Nan could not even look up to, especially one who’d reached prominence—no one knew how to respond.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Nan turned her gaze to Li Banfeng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone looked at Li Banfeng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng blinked: “Why look at me? I’ve never seen a Gengxiu.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old keeper drew a puff from his pipe and sighed: “High masters speak only three parts, leaving seven for us to discern.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, they continued to gaze earnestly at Li Banfeng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng said nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He recognized them as watermelons—their unique scent lingered on the weapons. As for how to counter a Gengxiu, he had no similar experience, no established strategy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But against enemies he couldn’t defeat in the short term, Li Banfeng had experience—he’d grown up in Fuli Academy, and had seen too many such foes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Besides Bai Xiang Village, do you have any other place to stay?” Li Banfeng’s advice was for them to flee immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Nan had just suffered defeat, surrounded by wounded men, ignorant of Geng Zhiwei’s methods—staying meant surrendering her life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Worse still, she and her Yu Family Gang still clung to the ways of the Jianghu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With their mindset and understanding, facing a ruthless man like Geng Zhiwei, not fleeing meant death.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Flee?” Wang Xuejiao, the elder sister of Old Eight, stood up. “We’ve come this far—where else can we run? Are we to abandon our honor?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng found Yu Nan’s thinking contradictory: “When you fled from Li Gou to Bai Xiang Village, you didn’t care so much about honor then.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Nan shook her head: “That was different. Back then, we feared ambushes. Now they come openly with swords and spears.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Can’t you defend against open attack?” Li Banfeng still didn’t understand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master Li, you don’t understand what the Jianghu is,” Wang Xuejiao sneered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If the enemy comes openly, you may prepare and fight them—but if you flee, the Yu Family banner falls forever!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng scanned the group: “If you all die here, isn’t the Yu Family banner already fallen?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Xuejiao puffed out her large conscience: “No—it’s by sacrificing our lives that we uphold the Yu Family banner!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng said: “If Geng Zhiwei crushes the Yu Family banner underfoot and urinates on it, what can you do?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Xuejiao snapped: “He wouldn’t dare!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But what if he does? What can you do? You’re already dead—can you rise up and strike him?” Li Banfeng continued scanning everyone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The truth in this world is simple—but some people never understand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Xuejiao lowered her head and muttered: “The Jianghu is bound by these rules…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Can a dead man argue rules with him?” Li Banfeng asked again. Wang Xuejiao was defiant; the others were defiant too—but none could answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old keeper tapped his pipe against the floor and looked at Yu Nan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He understood Li Banfeng’s words—he grasped the logic: “Master, let’s go. Head to Mount Jiangyue’s new land and hide for a while.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Nan nodded slightly. The others said nothing more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone returned to pack their belongings. Yu Nan asked Li Banfeng: “Seventh Master, come with us. New land is harsh, but Geng Zhiwei won’t dare follow.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What exactly is ‘new land’?” Li Banfeng asked plainly—he wasn’t afraid to seem ignorant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Nan was used to it; she didn’t know if he truly didn’t understand or was testing her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“New land means newly formed land. Every year, Yao Wang Gou produces three or five patches, each as large as two or three villages.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>New land appeared every year?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng shook his head—he still didn’t understand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Nan continued: “Imagine two mountains side by side. After a year, they suddenly drift apart, leaving a vast stretch of empty land between them—that’s new land.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Most new land is flat, but exceptions exist: some are hills, some valleys, some swamps, even lakes…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng widened his eyes: “Yao Wang Gou… grows its own land?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Nan nodded: “Not just Yao Wang Gou—everywhere has it. Every year.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng pulled up a chair, sat down, drank water, and calmed his shattered understanding.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Nan reminded him: “Seventh Master, pack your things—we must depart.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No rush,” Li Banfeng waved his hand. “You go first. Take Little Fat. I’ve still got business here.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At two a.m., Yu Nan led the group away from Bai Xiang Village.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By half past three, Geng Zhiwei arrived with over a hundred men and stormed into Yu Nan’s compound.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The group split into two: one faction consisted of living men—some stood behind Geng Zhiwei, shouting and snarling; others surrounded the compound, blocking every exit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The other faction was silent—no speech, no expression. These were the “watermelon men” Geng Zhiwei had bought from a Gengxiu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These watermelon men held knives and axes, but for now, their only function was walking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A servant pulled a cloth sack, scooped out a handful of brown granules, and shoved them into a watermelon man’s mouth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The granules carried a pungent, fishy odor—fertilizer for the watermelon men.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After eating, the watermelon man raised his blade, ready for battle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, over twenty watermelon men had all been fed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two servants brought over a dozen watermelons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These watermelons were unusual—sweet and fishy, unlike ordinary ones.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Geng Zhiwei picked up two slices and crunched them down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, his face flushed, sweat broke out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jia Quansheng and the servants were also eating watermelons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng hid inside the house, watching clearly through the window crack.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why were they eating watermelons?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng didn’t understand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he soon understood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Geng Zhiwei shouted: “Kill!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The watermelon men lacked intelligence. If Geng Zhiwei ordered them to walk, they walked. If he ordered them to kill, they killed anyone they saw.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the watermelon men killed only humans—not watermelons. Geng Zhiwei and his men, having eaten watermelons, emitted the scent of watermelon. The watermelon men would not harm them—they obeyed their commands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was how they distinguished friend from foe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng used his Zhaixiu advantage to slip silently into the back courtyard and hide in the firewood shed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A man opened the door and entered the shed. Li Banfeng sniffed—the unmistakable sweet scent of watermelon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was a watermelon man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watermelon men filled both front and back courtyards.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were the ones who triggered traps.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had Yu Nan stayed, no matter how many ambushes she set, she’d have ended up fighting these watermelon men—Geng Zhiwei would have escaped unscathed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once Yu Nan’s group was wiped out, Geng Zhiwei would order his outer ring to close in—none of Yu Nan’s people would escape.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Geng Zhiwei meant to exterminate them completely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He would never spare Yu Nan—or Li Banfeng. That was the one thing Yu Nan had gotten right.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was why Li Banfeng stayed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Nan had been defeated. Now it was Li Banfeng’s turn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What should Li Banfeng do?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The principle was simple: if you can win, fight. If you can’t, flee.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could Li Banfeng defeat Geng Zhiwei?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before, no. Now, maybe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng had seen the watermelon men’s traits—he now understood Geng Zhiwei’s methods.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He has a chance to win, but it depends on how he fights.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eat a watermelon every day and guard against Geng Zhiwei every single day?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Does this trick work?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It doesn’t work.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There are three reasons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>First, Li Banfeng isn’t sure whether Geng Zhiwei is eating ordinary watermelons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Second, Li Banfeng doesn’t know when Geng Zhiwei will strike—he can’t eat watermelons all the time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Third, Geng Zhiwei recognizes Fifth Layer Wu Xiu; if tomorrow he switches to a carrot man, what should Li Banfeng do then?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So relying solely on eating watermelons cannot solve the problem at its root.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fight Geng Zhiwei directly here?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The difficulty is too great; Geng Zhiwei is too well prepared. Relying only on surprise, the chance of victory is extremely slim.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Matters of the Jianghu must be settled by Jianghu rules.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jianghu rules emphasize reciprocity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I came to his home first—even though I came uninvited, it’s still a visit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then I sent him to a good place—even though he went and never returned, it’s still reciprocity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Isn’t that reciprocity?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Isn’t that exactly the Jianghu code?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for rules like open weapons or hidden daggers, Li Banfeng doesn’t understand them yet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The watermelon man inside the firewood shed saw Li Banfeng and raised his knife to slash.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng picked up a shovel, opened a hole in the watermelon man’s belly, reached into the wound, and pulled out a handful of watermelon flesh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yes, it was watermelon flesh—bright red, with watermelon seeds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The watermelon man felt no pain and kept swinging his knife.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng smeared the watermelon flesh on his face, releasing a watermelon scent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The watermelon man kept swinging his knife.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It doesn’t work!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Indeed it doesn’t work; during the day, Yu Nan and his men fought the watermelon man and got plenty of watermelon juice on them, yet the watermelon man didn’t hold back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Smearing it on the face is useless—you must eat the watermelon flesh; the watermelon scent must radiate from within outward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fortunately, this watermelon man can take punishment, though he’s not very strong; with Li Banfeng’s skills, he can easily hold his own.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the midst of battle, Li Banfeng grabbed another handful of watermelon flesh and swallowed it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The watermelon was sweet, but also astringent; Li Banfeng barely managed to swallow it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The watermelon man kept swinging his knife. Li Banfeng was startled—he’d already swallowed the watermelon, so why wasn’t it working?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not enough eaten?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng dodged the watermelon man’s blade, grabbed another large handful of flesh from the wound, and shoved it into his mouth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was disgusting—why so astringent? It made Li Banfeng sweat profusely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The watermelon man sniffed the air, caught the watermelon scent radiating from within Li Banfeng, raised his knife mid-swing—and froze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Watermelon man,” does not harm watermelon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng opened his portable dwelling, turned back, and shoved the key deep into the watermelon man’s belly—deeply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng vanished. The watermelon man, holding his cleaver, silently left the firewood shed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>PS: This chapter is so long—give a cheer for Shala!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",2014,"2026-06-20T03:43:13.043Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","9ee8b6ca2f9d670a5f06e364c88ac2fb558faccfa9b5be963e0fae9a87e02bff","lord-of-the-proles-chapter-65","lord-of-the-proles-chapter-63",863,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Flord-of-the-proles-cover.jpg"]