[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-lord-of-the-proles":3,"chapter-lord-of-the-proles-lord-of-the-proles-chapter-796":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},2291094,4478,"Chapter 796: The Second Battle of Fengqing","lord-of-the-proles-chapter-796",796,"\u003Cp>Li Qi, Ma Wu, and Feng Daiku sat together in a carriage, heading for the New Land.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Qi believed He Jiaqing intended to move against Ma Wu’s territory, and Ma Wu thought Old Seven’s words made sense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn’t dare delay a moment, didn’t pack his luggage, only took a few weapons and magic treasures, and immediately set off with Li Banfeng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ma Wu indeed needed to go to the New Land—he was the local deity, and during this time away from his territory, no one responded to land reclamation, causing significant delays.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng warned: “Once you return to your territory, don’t rush to respond to land reclamation—otherwise He Jiaqing won’t come.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feng Daiku asked: “Young Master Li, you’re still hoping He Jiaqing will come?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng said: “I’m not afraid of theft, only of being watched. If he never comes, this matter stays hanging, making it harder to guard against.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ma Wu felt uneasy: “Old Seven, you still remember where I buried the deed? In that peach grove halfway up the slope, right by—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng said: “One hundred paces east of the spring, Old Five—I’ve never forgotten. Don’t worry.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feng Daiku also felt uneasy: “If we only had to guard against He Jiaqing, that’d be fine—but there are so many reclamation workers on the New Land; who knows if any of them are his accomplices?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng asked Ma Wu: “Don’t you investigate the origins of reclamation workers?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feng Daiku shook his head vigorously; Ma Wu let out a dry laugh: “Old Seven, you know my nature—some things, I don’t care too much about.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ma Wu acted decisively but lacked caution—a trait exactly opposite to Chu Huaiyuan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He and Chu Huaiyuan received their territories simultaneously; Chu Huaiyuan used only the three laborers Li Banfeng assigned her, and refused all others unless their backgrounds were thoroughly verified, leaving only half her territory reclaimed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ma Wu accepted every reclamation worker without question—they could reclaim land for themselves, accept Ma Wu’s employment, or even take jobs from strangers; Ma Wu interfered in none of it, so over ninety percent of his territory had been reclaimed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had business matters not distracted him, Ma Wu might have reclaimed his territory even before He Yuxiu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Throughout the journey, Ma Wu recounted his conflicts with He Jiaqing—every factory he smashed, every shop he destroyed—even a newly opened restaurant at Huangtu Bridge, because it belonged to one of He Jiaqing’s men, Ma Wu hadn’t spared it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These matters were too trivial; Ma Wu usually felt embarrassed to mention them, and even Feng Daiku thought them petty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But with Li Qi, Ma Wu opened up—he spoke more and more enthusiastically, each tale bringing him greater satisfaction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After half the journey, Ma Wu finished speaking, and Li Banfeng got off the carriage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The carriage was a travel cultivator’s spiritual object—no horses needed, it could eat and drink on its own and ran swiftly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even so, its speed still fell far short of what Li Banfeng was accustomed to.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before leaving, Li Banfeng repeatedly warned: “Once you reach the territory, don’t make a sound—find a place to stay near the peach grove, and let no one know you’re there.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ma Wu asked: “Old Seven, you really think he’ll steal my deed?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng said: “I can’t say for sure he’ll steal it—but other things can be replaced; the deed, we can’t afford to lose.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After getting off the carriage, Li Banfeng walked less than twenty minutes to Ma Wu’s territory. He bought a new fur coat from a hunter, had Zhongbai mix some pigments, and painted the coat until it gleamed like it had been worn for over a decade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhongbai then applied makeup—added wrinkles, bumps, and a messy beard, painting the marks of wind, frost, snow, and rain onto his face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng tucked his hands into his sleeves and walked humbly into a group of reclamation workers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do you need hands? I’m strong.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One reclamation worker glanced at him: “What realm?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng said: “Level two poison cultivator.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No poison cultivators,” the worker waved him off. “Go ask elsewhere.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Poison cultivators risk harming their own team; hiring them requires caution. Some reclamation teams did have poison cultivators, but only trusted ones.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng moved to another spot and this time didn’t claim to be a poison cultivator.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m a level two martial cultivator. Do you need hands?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The reclamation worker asked: “What’s your rate?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng hadn’t participated in reclamation in a long time and wasn’t familiar with rates; he estimated roughly: “Five silver dollars a day.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The reclamation worker pondered for a long while: “Go check elsewhere.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Reclamation was a life-or-death trade; five silver dollars a day was not excessive—Li Banfeng hadn’t asked for much.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mostly, the previous group already had enough hands; adding one more was fine, but paying five silver dollars made them reluctant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng tried another group and lowered his price drastically: “Level two martial cultivator—three silver dollars a day.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The group’s leader waved him off: “Go elsewhere—we’re not in the same business as you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What did “not in the same business” mean?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng grew angry—he’d been so proactive, yet no one wanted him: “Aren’t you here to reclaim land?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The leader snapped: “We have a different employer—we’re paid to do a job, not hired as laborers!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng had seen many reclamation teams paid to do jobs—each with a leader hiring workers—but why were these so different?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng listened nearby and understood the reason.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This group’s manpower was complete—they’d previously worked on another’s territory but hadn’t been paid; through an intermediary, they came to Ma Wu’s territory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Travel cultivators could remember places they’d been; from their descriptions of the terrain, Li Banfeng deduced they’d once worked on He Jiaqing’s territory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now they’d come to Ma Wu’s territory—they were essentially poaching from He Jiaqing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Who was this intermediary? Had Ma Wu sent them?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Poaching was an old-school tactic, but if Ma Wu had done it, he’d have told Li Banfeng—he hadn’t even missed reporting a restaurant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng rubbed his Judge’s Pen: “I think this intermediary was sent by the Hundred Blossom Goddess.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Judge’s Pen corrected: “It’s a fake Hundred Blossom Goddess—he’s deliberately provoking trouble.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From this group of reclamation workers, Li Banfeng had found his first clue—but the intermediary they mentioned would likely never appear again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Li Banfeng considered whether this clue had other uses, his lips couldn’t help curling upward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Judge’s Pen asked: “What are you smiling at?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng didn’t know why—he suddenly felt an uncontrollable surge of joy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He gazed into the distance; many people were digging foundations and building houses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With over ninety percent of the New Land reclaimed, it would soon become proper land; those who succeeded in reclamation all wanted to settle down here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the distance, a suona played—two reclamation workers had married.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not a proper wedding, not even a bridal sedan; the couple scraped together a single feast of celebration and would live together from now on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thinking of his own wife, Li Banfeng’s cheeks flushed—he’d never thrown a wedding feast, but he’d bought her plenty of good food and drink.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That joy surged again; Li Banfeng tucked his hands into his sleeves and stood there, smiling for a long time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tang Dao shook his blade: “Lord, when Qiuqi City became proper land, you smiled just like this.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Did I?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes!” Gloves testified. “When the three laborers treated Qiuqi City as home, the master smiled for a long time—just like this. Why did you feel like smiling?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng crouched down, pulled his hands from his sleeves, scooped up a handful of soil, and faintly sensed a certain sentience.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was the unique perception of a dwelling cultivator—the joy within the soil, slowly surging in his palm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A song drifted to his ears; Li Banfeng turned toward the sound.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I pluck willow threads as strings, singing till my heart breaks—who pities me? At night I count every drumbeat, stitching threads tangle the twin lotus.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A girl played pipa and sang for coins; reclamation workers formed a circle around her, cheering and tossing occasional coins into her basket.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The girl was beautiful and sang sweetly, but Li Banfeng could tell she wasn’t alive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was she a craftsman’s regret? Or a dwelling cultivator’s maiden?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Neither, it seemed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Apparently, a high-level cultivator had settled on this land.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And that cultivator seemed familiar—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Two freshly killed bears, folks, take a look—what’ll you give?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A shout interrupted Li Banfeng’s thoughts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Jiaqing, disguised as an old hunter, carried a bear into the midst of the reclamation workers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the old hunter again, the workers teased him: “Old man, come to trick us again?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Jiaqing smiled: “What kind of talk is that? When have I ever tricked anyone?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re carrying one bear, yet you claim to sell two?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Jiaqing dropped the two-headed bear on the ground: “You can’t tell it has two heads? Or are you just teasing me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We’re teasing you!” the workers laughed, crowding around to haggle—some wanted bear gallbladders, others bear hides, some even wanted the heads.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Many liked buying from the old hunter because his prices were fair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Jiaqing had indeed become familiar with them—he’d come to Ma Wu’s territory six times to scout, and now he’d roughly located the deed’s position and mapped out some of the traps around it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was precisely because of these traps that He Jiaqing kept returning—the traps in the peach grove were crafted by masters, some even by Tang Shi Jiang and Bai Qiao Niang; these traps could kill He Jiaqing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So He Jiaqing was extremely cautious—he wouldn’t act without absolute certainty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At midnight, He Jiaqing entered the peach grove, pulled a piece of bear hide from his robe, tore off a handful of fur, and tossed it into the wind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thief technique: No Treasure, No Landing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The bear fur would automatically seek valuable objects; the deed was extremely valuable. By where the fur landed, He Jiaqing could judge the deed’s burial spot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fur drifted with the wind, and after a long while, settled evenly around He Jiaqing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The “No Treasure, No Landing” technique activated—but failed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ma Wu had buried many valuables beneath the peach grove; the fur followed those treasures instead—this was a deliberate defense against thieves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Jiaqing smiled: “Good thing, Ma Junyang—you’ve prepared thoroughly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most thieves would be stumped, but He Jiaqing had his own method—he used experience to select several spots in the grove, pulled out a thin iron wire, and began probing the ground one by one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the thief technique: Golden Thread Suspended Meridian. Though both techniques sought treasure, Golden Thread Suspended Meridian was far less efficient than No Treasure, No Landing—but far more precise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The first spot tested: beneath it wasn’t the deed, but gold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Jiaqing retracted the wire and moved to the second spot; after probing, he found silver dollars beneath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These are all valuable items, but don’t touch any of them—every one is full of traps.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The third location hides a suona beneath it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Is this suona even worth anything?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The iron wire trembled—a little—the suona must be a spiritual object.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This spiritual object is highly sensitive; the iron wire prodded it, and it seemed to wake up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The awakened suona was annoyed, but wouldn’t act immediately—after all, this was a peach grove on the mountain, and insects or snakes occasionally dug tunnels and brushed against it, which was normal; as long as no one provoked it again, they could withdraw unharmed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Jiaqing estimated the suona’s range of control based on the pulse transmitted through the iron wire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After waking, the suona likely controlled a radius of dozens of meters; within that range, if another anomaly was sensed, the consequences would be severe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Jiaqing would not let the suona sense any further anomaly—he moved lightly across the ground, leaving no footprints, making no sound, moving farther and farther from the suona’s position.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thief cultivation technique: Treading Snow Without a Trace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As He Jiaqing moved, he calmly pondered why this suona was here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By common sense, such a valuable spiritual object was buried here to protect the contract, so it could be concluded that:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ma Wu’s contract lies beneath the suona.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, beneath the suona might also be a trap—Ma Wu was deliberately deceiving, placing this suona to lure others into error.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But to use such a precious spiritual object merely as a decoy would be wasteful—so He Jiaqing believed—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Plop!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Jiaqing fell to the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tripped over a tree root?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Stepped into mud?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Jiaqing didn’t know why he had fallen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This fall enraged the suona.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Waaah! The sound of the suona echoed across dozens of li.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Many wooden huts lit up lamps; the pioneers woke from sleep, unaware of what had happened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The singing girl had been sitting inside her hut; hearing the suona, she picked up her pipa and played “Ten Thousand Ambushes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No one nearby could hear her music, but Mu Yuejuan, high above the clouds, heard it clearly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She immediately woke Ai Yeqing: “It’s started! In Ma Wu’s territory!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ai Yeqing rose at once, went to the second-floor corridor, pulled a string of copper coins from his hat, and stuck them to the wall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The coins slid along the wall, outlining a door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ai Yeqing pushed the door open—inside was a hidden chamber.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mu Yuejuan stepped to the threshold and saw a mountain of copper coins piled high—roughly tens of thousands of coins.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You sneaky Ai Qian Dao, you hid all this? Even I didn’t know!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Without capital, how can you accomplish great things?” Ai Yeqing flicked his hand—tens of thousands of copper coins merged into a single thread, drilling into the top of his head; as the last coin merged into his body, Ai Yeqing stretched his neck and followed Mu Yuejuan into the painting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ai Qian Dao, with this capital, you could match up against Dan Chengjun, right? Isn’t he your enemy? Didn’t we almost die in his hands? Why didn’t you reveal this capital back then?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ai Yeqing shook his head: “Not revealing it meant we almost died; if I had revealed it, I wouldn’t be alive today. Besides, I can’t carry this capital with me—He Jiaqing must finish quickly!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In Ma Wu’s territory, the suona still blared on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Jiaqing sprinted, trying to escape the peach grove; not far ahead, he saw Ma Wu and Feng Daiku.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In another place, He Jiaqing could handle two-on-one easily—but this was Ma Wu’s territory, and He Jiaqing didn’t want to risk it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He leaned casually against a peach tree—and vanished in an instant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thief cultivation technique: Evade Shadow, Hide Form.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, He Jiaqing had merged with the peach tree; even a sky-watcher above the clouds would struggle to locate him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feng Daiku manipulated his emotional threads, probing the peach grove; Ma Wu prepared his Joyfire—ready to ignite He Jiaqing the moment he appeared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the emotional threads circled the grove twice and found no trace of He Jiaqing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ma Wu whispered: “Did he escape the grove?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feng Daiku wasn’t sure, and discussed with Ma Wu to search elsewhere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching them leave, He Jiaqing was about to release the technique—when suddenly, an emotional thread flew straight at him. He had no defense; relying on his agility, he barely dodged, but a large chunk of skin was sliced from his face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Emotional cultivation technique: Love Stronger Than Gold!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before He Jiaqing could understand how Feng Daiku had found him, the thread looped around the peach tree and wrapped tightly around his waist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked down—and understood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feng Daiku could see him because he was glowing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The glow came from nowhere—he didn’t know its origin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had he been struck by Ma Wu’s Joyfire?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No time to ponder—Feng Daiku’s emotional thread was wrapped around his waist; if she pulled, he’d be cut cleanly in two.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shhh—liu liu—Feng Daiku was about to tighten the thread, but it suddenly went slack, falling into He Jiaqing’s hands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Masterful Theft!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Jiaqing had stolen Feng Daiku’s emotional thread.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Stealing one thread was no problem—Feng Daiku flicked her sleeve, and another thread shot out, aiming to coil around He Jiaqing’s neck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Jiaqing swung the stolen thread, entangling it with hers; he pulled hard—and yanked Feng Daiku off balance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feng Daiku gritted her teeth and struggled—her emotional threads were her life’s foundation; she wouldn’t let He Jiaqing gain the upper hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But He Jiaqing truly did gain the upper hand—his wrists and footwork were far more agile than hers; with perfect timing, he moved freely, not restrained by the threads, but controlling her steps. Twice he closed in, using his ring to leave bloody scratches on her delicate cheeks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While they struggled, Ma Wu quickly activated his Joyfire—He Jiaqing smiled; the fire ignited—but not on him, on the nearby peach tree.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thief cultivation technique: Steal the Beam, Replace the Pillar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The peach tree burst into flames; its branches and leaves suddenly grew wildly, entangling surrounding trees.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the fire spread, Ma Wu immediately withdrew his technique—this grove held his contract; he didn’t want to burn it all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Jiaqing remained unharmed, parrying Feng Daiku while chatting with Ma Wu: “Ma Junyang, they said your leg was broken—I see your leg’s fine.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ma Wu tried to use his flirtatious technique on He Jiaqing, but his technique’s speed couldn’t match He Jiaqing’s agility.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feng Daiku released her thread, ceasing the struggle; she spread her sleeve flat in midair and activated the emotional cultivation technique: Net of Parting Grief—tens of thousands of emotional threads wove into a vast net, sweeping toward He Jiaqing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With so many threads—let’s see how he steals them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Jiaqing didn’t hesitate—he waited for the threads to descend, plucked them one by one, and in an instant, the entire Net of Parting Grief was in his hands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He raised the net to throw it at Feng Daiku—she gasped and dodged instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But it was a feint.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This net was her own creation—how could it trap her?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But He Jiaqing’s scare made her dodge—and Ma Wu was left unprotected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Jiaqing smiled: “Old Man Ma Wu, you falsely accused me of breaking your tendons—today I’ll break one for real!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feng Daiku tried to block He Jiaqing’s path with her threads—he stepped aside, closed the distance to Ma Junyang in two steps, then leapt into the air. Ma Wu panicked!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why was He Jiaqing flying? What was he doing?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not only Ma Wu didn’t understand—even He Jiaqing didn’t know. He’d intended to steal Ma Wu’s tendons on his third step—why had he suddenly flown?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Flying wasn’t the issue—his body was unresponsive, as if a vortex nearby was pulling him relentlessly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feng Daiku’s threads wrapped around him—he couldn’t dodge; three gashes opened across his front and back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing more threads coming, He Jiaqing used Steal the Beam, Replace the Pillar—swapping places with a stone on the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ma Wu gritted his teeth—he’d just missed the perfect chance. He Jiaqing hadn’t flown with intent; he’d simply been taking hits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After landing, He Jiaqing turned to find Ma Wu—only to step into empty air and fly up again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time, Ma Wu and Feng Daiku didn’t hold back—no matter why He Jiaqing was flying, they struck to kill.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feng Daiku bound He Jiaqing tightly with threads; Ma Wu ignited Joyfire directly on his body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Jiaqing had to maintain balance, resist the threads and Joyfire—and now, using Steal the Beam, Replace the Pillar was beyond his strength.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But without Steal the Beam, he was just a helpless target, dangling in the air!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ma Wu pulled a short staff over a foot long from behind his back, leapt into the air, aimed at He Jiaqing, and began swinging wildly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feng Daiku watched anxiously—why wasn’t Ma Wu using a blade? Why this staff?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This staff was far deadlier than any blade—it was forged by melting together several spiritual objects, specifically crafted as the Five-Lang Staff.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A sharp weapon might not harm He Jiaqing—but the Five-Lang Staff could.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few blows shattered two arm bones, one leg bone, cracked his shoulder blade and cheekbone; in agony, his focus slipped—the threads bit into his bones, the Joyfire burned through his flesh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Jiaqing turned instantly into a charred lump and crashed to the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was he burned to death?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ma Wu didn’t believe it—he snatched the staff and smashed it down on He Jiaqing’s skull.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Boom!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The blow shattered He Jiaqing’s entire body into a cloud of black ash. Feng Daiku sensed something wrong—the ash scattered with the wind, blinding them both.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From within the ash, He Jiaqing rose to his knees and bolted away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thief cultivation technique: Golden Cicada Sheds Its Shell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though he escaped the shell, his injuries remained—he dragged one leg, fleeing over a hundred li before shaking off Ma Wu and Feng Daiku. They chased desperately, but their speed was far inferior to his.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was no longer in Ma Wu’s territory—he pondered his next move.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Going to Lüshui City might mean another ambush—Ma Wu’s roots there run too deep.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Return to my own territory?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My own territory has Shu Wanjuan; perhaps he can offer him some protection.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But what if Shu Wanjuan refuses to offer protection? What if he kicks me when I’m down—how should I respond?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For safety’s sake, He Jiaqing prepared to go to Kucai Village.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The nearest legitimate territory here is Baiqiao Long; once there, he could find the entrance to Kucai Village. This place is over a hundred li from Baiqiao Long—a distance no problem, and Ma Wu would never suspect He Jiaqing would head to Baiqiao Long.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for why so many strange things happened today, he would ponder it slowly once he reached Kucai Village.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After running over thirty li, a vast shower of petals suddenly descended from the sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Jiaqing was stunned—had the Hundred Flowers Goddess arrived?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Were all the strange phenomena during the battle caused by the Hundred Flowers Goddess?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the petals drew near, they suddenly transformed into copper coins, hurtling toward He Jiaqing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Jiaqing hastily dodged, but wounded and sluggish, several coins struck him firmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Copper coins?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kongfang?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Jiaqing looked around, searching for Master Kongfang’s figure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The mist in the night sky trembled, and He Jiaqing suddenly realized there was an invisible scroll before him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A vast swarm of copper coins flew out from the scroll, and He Jiaqing heard Master Kongfang’s voice: “Go nowhere. Stay right here.”\u003C\u002Fp>",3754,"2026-06-20T03:43:17.761Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","ea9d500b4d08819f9231e414d07687ef498c5d7fb4ffca645f29857b408940f2","lord-of-the-proles-chapter-797","lord-of-the-proles-chapter-795",863,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Flord-of-the-proles-cover.jpg"]