[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-lord-of-the-proles":3,"chapter-lord-of-the-proles-lord-of-the-proles-chapter-804":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},2291102,4478,"Chapter 804: The Creation of the Great Totem","lord-of-the-proles-chapter-804",804,"\u003Cp>Li Banfeng asked Bei Xianzhong where he came from, and the three of them stammered, none willing to tell the truth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Mao first added specifically: “This matter is imperial secret; it cannot be spoken of openly here.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His meaning was that speaking here was inappropriate, so he would move them elsewhere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng used the Lian Kuo Bedroom Technique to send Bei Xianzhong back to his personal dwelling and brought out Jiu’er.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meng Yuchun didn’t understand Li Banfeng’s technique; when she saw Bei Wushuang vanish, she grew tense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the moment she saw Jiu’er, Meng Yuchun forgot Bei Wushuang entirely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could there really be such a beautiful woman in this world?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meng Yuchun stared dazedly at Jiu’er; from that moment on, no one else could enter her gaze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiu’er knew some medicine; Li Banfeng asked her to treat Meng Yuchun’s wounds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meng Yuchun gripped Jiu’er’s arm, cheeks flushed: “Treating wounds here—won’t this shame me to death?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiu’er understood Meng Yuchun’s dilemma; how could a young lady strip off her clothes in public?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Miss Meng, I’ll take you home.” Jiu’er brought Meng Yuchun back to her cave dwelling, tended to her wound, and was about to leave when she saw Meng Yuchun’s eyes glazed, fixed on her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Miss Meng, is there something else?” Jiu’er noticed Meng Yuchun silent, her face slick with sweat, and assumed the wound treatment had gone wrong. “Does the wound still hurt?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It hurts!” Meng Yuchun replied weakly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiu’er thought carefully; she hadn’t used the wrong herbs, so why was she still in pain?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Miss Meng, bear with me—I’ll check your wound again.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mm!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiu’er unwrapped the bandages and re-examined the wound.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meng Yuchun bit her lip, her cheeks blazing red.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under the steam, Bei Wushuang’s camel face also flushed red.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Xiao gently turned a record, asking softly: “Where are you from?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hulululu—Bei Wushuang’s throat and nose healed rapidly, proving his physique was vastly different from before; he snorted repeatedly: “I come from Neizhou, sent by Lord Yu to claim this territory.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Xiao asked: “Who is Lord Yu?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Grand Secretary, Lord Yu Zhuo.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Xiao pressed the record against Bei Wushuang’s eyes: “Isn’t the Grand Secretary Qiao Yi?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bei Wushuang dodged the record desperately: “Lord Yu is the new Grand Secretary; Lord Qiao is the former.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng exclaimed: “Nonsense! The new ruler is at Santoucha—when did he ever issue an edict to form a new cabinet?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiang Hongying jumped: “Seven Lang , when did you come back? Don’t just speak out of nowhere—warn us first!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Xiao wasn’t startled; her own husband, she wasn’t afraid of when he appeared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She continued: “Who established this new cabinet?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The new sovereign.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng said: “Rubbish! The new sovereign is at Santoucha—when did he ever issue orders to form a new cabinet?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bei Wushuang stared at Li Banfeng, silent; he feared saying the wrong thing might cost him his life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiang Hongying snapped: “Seven Lang  asked you a question—why won’t you answer?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just her aura alone nearly terrified Bei Wushuang to death; he stammered, and Lu Mao first spoke for him inside his mind: “The Shang royal family doubts the new sovereign’s bloodline—perhaps he’s not the true heir.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What nonsense!” Li Banfeng was furious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How could the new sovereign at Santoucha have questionable bloodline? He wasn’t royal blood at all!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Xiao said: “So the royal family installed a new sovereign, then had him replace the cabinet—is that the sequence?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bei Wushuang nodded vigorously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Xiao told Li Banfeng: “They just want to oust Qiao Yi.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Mao first continued: “Lord Qiao mishandled domestic and foreign affairs; court resentment runs deep. Lord Yu sent us to Da Tugeng to unify combat strength and reverse the tide of war.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng studied Bei Xianzhong closely—were these three creations of Da Tugeng?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then this matter needed sorting out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Did Yu Zhuo send you to Da Tugeng? Does Da Tugeng answer to him?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Mao first, as a disciple of the Sage, held some status in Shang; he knew the most: “Da Tugeng has always been under Lord Yu’s command; the Great Furnace is under Lord Qiao’s.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng realized his knowledge of Shang was still shallow—he hadn’t known there were two factions here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the Great Furnace and Da Tugeng each represented a faction, Da Tugeng’s presence was remarkably low-key.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This wasn’t just Li Banfeng’s judgment; his wife also understood Neizhou somewhat, and she’d never heard of Da Tugeng either.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She suspected Bei Xianzhong wasn’t telling the truth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Beloved husband, I sense something odd here. Qiao Yi isn’t easily manipulated, and we’ve never heard of a major figure named Yu Zhuo in Shang. We should find a place where they can’t lie and question them properly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bei Wushuang bowed his head repeatedly: “We speak nothing but truth—no falsehoods.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng used Lian Kuo Bedroom to take Bei Xianzhong to A Yu’s residence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After one glance, A Yu concluded: “This isn’t a person—it’s a being assembled by Da Tugeng.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A Yu’s insight was truly sharp!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bei Wushuang nodded vigorously: “Immortal, you’re right—we were molded by Da Tugeng.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A Yu beamed at Li Banfeng: “Look how clever this camel is—he calls me Immortal.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng asked again: “You say Yu Zhuo formed a new cabinet—is it still in Chaoge?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bei Wushuang shook his head: “No, it’s in Bozhou.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng frowned: “Not in the capital? Then what’s the point of calling it a cabinet?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bei Wushuang feared he couldn’t explain clearly, so he hurriedly gestured for Lu Mao first to speak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Mao first said: “Lord Yu already intends to move the capital.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A Yu told Li Banfeng: “He’s not lying—Shang has a history of relocating its capital.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She could hear their inner thoughts; this ability was beyond Lu Mao first’s resistance—if A Yu wasn’t deceiving, then Lu Mao first spoke truth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since he spoke truth, Li Banfeng asked the most critical question: “Where is Da Tugeng? Is it in Bozhou?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bei Wushuang said: “It’s probably not in Bozhou—we don’t know where it is.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Mao first added: “We departed from Bozhou for Da Tugeng, then returned to Bozhou—but we remember nothing of the journey.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A Yu nodded slightly to Li Banfeng—this too was true.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng asked his second key question: “How much of Da Tugeng has been restored?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Restored?” Lu Mao first was startled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Jinzhong spoke: “Isn’t Da Tugeng always intact? Why restore it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng felt he wasn’t telling the truth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But A Yu judged it true: “Neizhou never told them Da Tugeng was destroyed—in their minds, it has always been whole.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng asked: “Is Lu Xiaolan also a creation of Da Tugeng?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bei Wushuang fell silent; Shen Jinzhong said nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng asked Lu Mao first directly: “Grandfather Lu, you must know about your granddaughter’s affairs?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Mao first hesitated: “I heard Lu Xiaolan serves the court, but which lord she answers to—I truly don’t know.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A Yu shook her head: “Lying! Lu Xiaolan answers to Yu Zhuo!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was Lu Mao first’s inner thought, but he didn’t know A Yu or her abilities—he thought it was a test.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Perhaps by chance, Lu Xiaolan serves under Lord Yu—but I truly didn’t know; in my mind, she served Lord Qiao—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Still lying!” A Yu said. “Lu Xiaolan met Yu Zhuo through your recommendation!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Mao first was terrified—he never imagined this secret had leaked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng said: “Grandfather Lu, why hide this from me? Who Lu Xiaolan serves has nothing to do with me—is this even a secret?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Mao first chuckled nervously: “Since it’s court business, better to be cautious.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A Yu heard Lu Mao first’s inner thought again and told Li Banfeng: “After Lu Xiaolan first encountered Da Tugeng, she changed her identity and defected to Qiao Yi—she’s Yu Zhuo’s spy within Qiao Yi’s circle.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bei Wushuang’s four legs trembled violently—he shouldn’t have known this, and he didn’t want to.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Mao first shook even harder; if this leaked, he’d be dead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Jinzhong remained expressionless—he now distanced himself from Lu Mao first and Bei Wushuang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng didn’t care about the feud between Yu Zhuo and Qiao Yi—he only wanted to know one thing: “Does Lu Xiaolan know where Da Tugeng is?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Mao first dared not answer: “Since her second resurrection, I’ve had no contact with her.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng didn’t care about the past between Yu Zhuo and Qiaoyi; he only wanted to know one thing: “Does Lu Xiaolan know where the Great Totem is?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng studied Bei Xianzhong closely—he was disappointed in Da Tugeng: “You fused three people together and got this? Da Tugeng’s power is truly weak.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A Yu shook her head: “Little brother, compared to you he’s nothing—but ordinary Cloud-Ascended cultivators who meet him won’t stand a chance. That’s true—in the Earth Deities, Meng Yuchun’s combat strength isn’t low, yet she couldn’t resist Bei Xianzhong at all.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even so, this level of power can’t compare to the Pacification Camp. Was it worth the risk for the Peddler to venture into Neizhou for Da Tugeng?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A Yu looked at Li Banfeng: “Little brother, anything else to ask?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing the shift in tone, Bei Wushuang hurriedly said: “Seventh Master, ask anything you like—I’ll answer truthfully.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng pulled out a long sword and asked Bei Wushuang: “Do you recognize this sword?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sword bore bloodstains; Bei Wushuang recognized it instantly—it was his treasure, taken from his nest when Li Banfeng retrieved his contract.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is the supreme treasure of our sect—I learned many techniques from this sword.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The long sword bore splatters of blood; Bei Wushuang recognized it at once—it was his treasure, taken from his nest by Li Banfeng when he sought the contract.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is the supreme treasure of our Dao sect; many of my techniques I learned from this long sword.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Technique?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This is Hong Ying’s ceremonial sword; the blood on it is yours.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How do you learn a technique from this thing?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng had listened with Insightful Spirit Sound—the sword could not speak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bei Wushuang replied: “Cut yourself once with this long sword. If the timing is right, you can grasp the essence of a technique—but such an opportunity is hard to come by. Cut too deep or too shallow, and you feel nothing. Sometimes, after slashing dozens of times, you still fail once.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng stared in disbelief: “You can learn techniques this way?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A Yu looked at the sword: “This blood must belong to a Founding Master or Grand Master of Sound Cultivation. A founder or reformer of a Dao path often embeds their techniques into their blood. By chance, they can transmit the technique to a fellow disciple.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But such opportunities are exceedingly rare. Take this sword: the blood must carry intense willpower, and that willpower must remain embedded in the blade for a long time. Such objects are vanishingly few—encountering one is pure luck.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng was even more astonished: Is my wife a Founding Master or a Grand Master?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Probably a Grand Master. My wife is so brilliant—she reformed the entire Sound Cultivation path. That makes sense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for the willpower on the blade, it’s easy to understand. This was the weapon Hong Ying used to kill my wife. My wife’s hatred toward Hong Ying is concentrated entirely in this sword.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’ve asked all I needed to. Li Banfeng said to A Yu: “Do you still need to keep them?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A Yu nodded: “Yes. They’re good for replenishing the body.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At these words, Bei Xianzhong rose to flee.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before Bei Xianzhong could rise, A Yu had already seen his intent. She yanked a scarf from the wardrobe and tripped him with perfect precision.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bei Xianzhong fell to the ground. When he tried to rise again, the mansion gave him no chance—it pinned his entire body firmly to the floor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng looked at A Yu: “Are you planning to eat them yourself, or give them to the Heavenly Maiden?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A Yu smiled: “To the Heavenly Maiden. When she eats, it’s as if I ate.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Honglian won’t eat raw flesh. What will you do with these souls? Don’t let them escape.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A Yu stepped forward and pinched the camel’s head: “Honglian is Honglian. The Heavenly Maiden is the Heavenly Maiden. These souls won’t be wasted. Don’t worry.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng rose and left the mansion. Before he returned to Suishenju, he could still hear the three men’s wails.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Seventh Master, I’ll answer anything you ask. Spare my life, Seventh Master!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Seventh Master, I’m an old man—I call you Master. Let bygones be bygones. From now on, I’ll serve you faithfully, day and night!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Seventh Master, I’m different from them. I’ve never held a grudge against you. You’re my benefactor—I’m utterly loyal to you!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng shut the door and carried his wife off to the main chamber to play.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng arrived at the orange grove; the old man had already prepared two branches of Blueleaf Poplar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had also peeled an orange and heated a pot of fine wine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng bowed: “Elder, I won.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old man nodded: “I was uneasy, so I went to inspect your territory. The soil there told me—you won without breaking a sweat.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng smiled: “Elder, you flatter me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old man waved his hand: “Not flattery. It’s the truth. I love talented youths. My Dao path has produced many stronger than me—I admire them all, never once felt envy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was unusual.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What status did this old man hold in Earth Cultivation?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng asked: “Is Xu Lao your senior or junior?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The elder sighed: “Seniority means nothing. Xu Han is a man of true ability. His disciples are capable too.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I respect him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They drank a few cups. Li Banfeng told the elder about Bei Wushuang: “Elder, Bei Wushuang isn’t one person—he’s three. The one in his belly is Lu Mao. The one in his hump is Shen Jinzhong.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Great Totem?” The old man didn’t know Lu Mao or Shen Jinzhong, but he’d seen this kind of fusion—three into one. He spoke immediately to the heart of it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng was thrilled: “Elder, you’ve seen the Great Totem?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old man shook his head: “I’ve never seen the physical object. But I’ve seen too many Earth Seals. These are buried in the soil, drawing life-force from the land through their connection to the Great Totem. Through the Earth Seals, I can trace backward—I catch glimpses of the Great Totem’s shadow.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng set down his cup: “Elder, can you sense the Great Totem? Do you know where it is?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old man squeezed a handful of soil and sighed: “I don’t know where the Great Totem is. The soil might know—but they speak too little. A few fragmented words aren’t enough.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng asked: “Do you think the Great Totem has been repaired?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Repaired?” The old man closed his eyes in thought. Around them, orange trees sprouted buds, grew leaves, bore fruit, and many oranges thudded to the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a long while, the old man opened his eyes and looked at Li Banfeng: “I think the Great Totem hasn’t changed.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No change?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng frowned tightly. This was growing more suspicious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Great Totem was a key bargaining chip in Yu Zhuo and Qiao Yi’s struggle—and a vital asset for the Shang State against Pulu Province.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the Great Totem had truly been restored by seventy percent, this would be a top secret for the Shang State—no leak possible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet the Shang State’s behavior suggested they didn’t treat this as a secret.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuan Youshuang discovering the truth was a coincidence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Xiaolan assassinated Ma Wu. Bei Xianzhong came to Pulu Province to seize land. What was this maneuver?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Think differently: if I were Yu Zhuo, at such a critical moment, I would never release anyone modified by the Great Totem—even if their memories were erased, the risk of leakage was too great.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could Yu Zhuo really be reckless?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But if he acted so carelessly, how had he held his ground against Qiao Yi this long?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could the Great Totem not be repaired at all? Was this all just bluffing?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If so, what was the purpose of the bluff? To lure the Peddler into Neizhou?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng broke into a sweat. The old man picked an orange segment and handed it to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Child, eat this segment first.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng was preoccupied; he tasted nothing. But when he swallowed it, a coolness surged through his body, calming him instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old man poured Li Banfeng another cup of wine: “Child, truth and falsehood, illusion and reality—Pulu Province is full of such things. They can’t fool us so easily.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These words eased Li Banfeng’s mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Peddler was no fool. How could he be so easily tricked?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If this was all bluff, the Peddler would escape unharmed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sated and refreshed, Li Banfeng bid farewell to the old man, took the Blueleaf Poplars, left the orange grove, and returned to Suishenju.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tong Lianhua refined the Blueleaf Poplars into Blueleaf Pills. Li Banfeng prepared to bring Jiu’er back and deliver the pills to Chu Er. Zhao Xiao said: “Husband, I have something to ask you. I’ve just learned a new technique. I can’t practice it at home—I must train outside.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng said: “No problem. Where do you want to go? I’ll take you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Xiao shook her head: “You don’t need to come with me. When I truly use this technique, I might injure you. I’ll practice on your territory—and I’ll pick up Jiu’er on the way.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng escorted his wife to the territory, drew her a map, and gave her a simple telephone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Xiao entered a forest and began practicing. She sat beneath a tree, silent. Moments later, leaves throughout the grove trembled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was Zhao Xiao’s own silent technique. It wasn’t truly silent—the sound was there, but so faint it killed without detection.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet the leaves trembled so visibly just now—any enemy would have noticed. Clearly, the technique was far from perfected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After an hour of practice, Zhao Xiao grew tired. She consulted Li Banfeng’s map and found Meng Yu’s door, ready to bring Jiu’er home.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing Zhao Xiao knock, Meng Yuchun tensed: “Jiu’er, who is this?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiu’er recognized the voice: “It’s my sister. It’s time I went home.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meng Yuchun’s eyes held only Jiu’er—she couldn’t bear to let her go.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She asked Zhao Xiao to wait in the parlor. Half an hour passed. Zhao Xiao grew angry: “Meng Girl, if you delay any longer, I’ll take Jiu’er with me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She walked straight into Meng Yuchun’s bedroom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meng Yuchun had been furious—but when she saw Zhao Xiao, Jiu’er vanished from her sight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There are real fairies in this world!” Meng Yuchun stared, dazed, then seized Zhao Xiao’s hand. “Miss, my wound has split open again. Please, check it for me!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiu’er frowned: “Meng Girl, why does your wound keep splitting? I’ve stitched it several times—it won’t hold!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng delivered the newly refined Blueleaf Pills to Chu Er. Chu Er had taken medicine before and had improved significantly—she could now speak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Li Qi seated beside her bed, Chu Er felt sweet joy. She wanted to say something tender—but Xiao Ye Ci and Lu Chunying arrived at Chu’s mansion to visit her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Er greeted them warmly, her heart racing. In the past, she would have immediately driven them out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But this wasn’t the past. Li Qi was watching. Chu Er had to maintain composure: “Ye Ci, Chunying, you’re both busy, aren’t you? Don’t worry about me. I’ve just taken too many pills—I’ll recover soon.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Chunying didn’t leave. She sat beside Chu Er’s bed and teased: “Huaiyuan, your illness is a blessing. Rarely does Seventh Brother care for you like this.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What nonsense!” Chu Huaiyuan snapped. “Do you think I want to lie here? Why don’t you come lie here and try it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Chunying smiled at Li Banfeng: “Seventh Brother, tomorrow I’ll lie down too. You’ll have to care for me just as you care for her!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Ye Ci blushed: “You shameless girl—what are you saying?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Er grew more irritated by the moment. This girl had grown up—Chu Er feared she wasn’t joking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Ye Ci sensed the tension and quickly led Lu Chunying away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The room was left with only her and Li Qi. Tender affection rose in her heart—when the Old Bitter Woman appeared, face grim.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Er wept: “Grandma, you promised suffering and joy arise together. I’ve endured so much—can’t you let me—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Old Bitter Woman shoved a bitter herb into Chu Er’s mouth. Then she saw the pills beside the bed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So many Blueleaf Pills!” The Old Bitter Woman was stunned. “Who gave you these?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Er couldn’t say it was Li Qi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But where was Li Qi?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was right beside the bed moments ago—how did he vanish?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had that little slut Lu Chunying lured him away!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Chunying and Xiao Ye Ci returned home. Xiao Ye Ci read in the study. Lu Chunying settled in the parlor to manage accounts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At twelve o’clock, both were tired and returned to their rooms to sleep.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Chunying took a bath, had just gotten into bed, when suddenly she heard a song coming from outside the window:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The moonlight is so hazy, the earth wrapped in night mist—my dream person, where are you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Dream Person”!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Who is playing this song?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No song should be playing at this hour.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, the Lu family strictly forbids this song—when Lu Dongliang died, the phonograph was playing this very song.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Chunying pushed open the window and saw a woman standing below, singing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only one woman was singing, yet why could she still hear the accompaniment?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Chunying stared at the woman, and the woman looked up at her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The woman was incredibly beautiful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Chunying couldn’t help but shiver,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The woman’s beauty was terrifying.\u003C\u002Fp>",3652,"2026-06-20T03:43:18.603Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","f0600953950690d6737b9f9b2808dff1fa13c8e8757cbfc9a29095e780f418d3","lord-of-the-proles-chapter-805","lord-of-the-proles-chapter-803",863,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Flord-of-the-proles-cover.jpg"]