[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-lord-of-the-proles":3,"chapter-lord-of-the-proles-lord-of-the-proles-chapter-808":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},2291106,4478,"Chapter 808: The Fool Weeps, the Ghost Laughs","lord-of-the-proles-chapter-808",808,"\u003Cp>The peddler suddenly appeared, causing Yu Zhuo to go limp with fear and nearly fall off the step-climb.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Be careful! Such a high step-climb—you mustn’t fall!” The peddler grabbed Yu Zhuo and steadied him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Zhuo tried to call for help, but saw the peddler pull out a sliver of elm shavings from his chest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shavings are byproducts of carpentry, usually burned for firewood or used to make particleboard; elm shavings are rich in resin, and when soaked in water, they can be turned into hair gel for styling, so they count as miscellaneous goods.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The peddler wet the shavings, tidied Yu Zhuo’s hair, then used the edge of the shavings to slice off Yu Zhuo’s head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The guards on the carriage stood stunned, none moving to protect Yu Zhuo—a silent force held them frozen in place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Tiecheng, crouching behind Yu Zhuo with a cloth sack on his back and hands tucked in his sleeves, wept bitterly: “You’re cruel! What are you doing? You kill the man, yet you pretend to worry he’ll fall? Look how well-off his brother was—now your hand has erased him! What will those two brothers do now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The left head, Lian Xian, and the right head, He Shun, both turned to look at the peddler.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A cloud of dust fell from the air; the peddler took the shavings and combed Lian Xian and He Shun’s hair: “Go find out where your elder brother is.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoosh!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The peddler waved his hand again, and both heads fell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Tiecheng wept even harder: “You’re too ruthless! You didn’t spare a single one of the three brothers! What will their men do now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The men still stood frozen nearby.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Zhuo’s faction had always been in charge of managing the Great Totem—this much Lu Mao had not lied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But because this faction was neglected, Yu Zhuo’s subordinates had long been out of combat; seeing Yu Zhuo’s three heads severed, they still didn’t know who these assassins were.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One of the new pavilion members shouted: “Quick! Protect Master Yu!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This stunned Sun Tiecheng—he was weeping deeply, and this remark made him choke on his tears: “I’m telling you, all three heads are gone, the man is dead, undeniable proof—and you still want to protect him?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though absurd, the guards, upon hearing the order, acted without hesitation, rushing forward to protect Master Yu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Tiecheng said to the peddler: “That man’s command worked well!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do you have to remind me? Don’t you think I noticed?” The peddler leapt to the new pavilion member and severed his three heads too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You really are something—killing anyone you see?” Sun Tiecheng wept while watching, searching for the next person to give an order.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was his and the peddler’s unspoken agreement: since these men had long been out of combat, target their leaders—fall behind one step, and you fall behind them all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Keep them from ever mounting a response.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next man was smarter—he ordered everyone to activate the first-class weapons and prepare for battle immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The peddler stepped forward and killed him too. Sun Tiecheng wailed: “It’s over! Everyone’s dead—who knows which first-class weapon to activate?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was right—there were so many first-class weapons; which one should they activate?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Tiecheng wailed loudly, using some technique that made his sobs audible across the entire mountaintop.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His weeping instilled fear and torment; some covered their ears, but Sun Tiecheng’s tear-streaked face lingered before everyone’s eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chaos erupted across the mountaintop—everyone ran about frantically, over ninety percent unaware of what they were even doing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fortunately, a few remained calm—they knew which weapons to use against the enemy. The demonic cultivators’ first-class weapons had been running continuously; these weapons were designed to maintain order, to suppress soul rebellion, and could be deployed instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tens of thousands of souls lingered on the mountain’s slopes and base; to the cultivators, these souls were combat assets. Six first-class weapons activated their methods—some rang bells, some burned incense, some burned paper, some formed hand seals—each summoning souls to surround the peddler and Sun Tiecheng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The peddler didn’t dodge or hide—he charged straight into the souls, left hand holding a wrench, right hand a short knife, combining martial and artisan techniques, and in moments, he dismantled two first-class weapons into ruins.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Tiecheng judged the moment right, opened the sack on his back, and released Gui Jianchou.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gui Jianchou didn’t strike immediately—he let out a loud laugh: “Poor souls! We suffer no more! That first-class weapon is destroyed—we’ve rebelled! We’ll fight them to the death! Hahahaha!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Tiecheng continued weeping: “It’s because you rebelled that the first-class weapon was destroyed!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The souls on the mountain stood frozen for a long time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What are these two doing?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This makes no sense!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If you said the first-class weapon was destroyed, and the souls rebelled—that would make sense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now you say the first-class weapon was destroyed because the souls rebelled—does that make sense?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It could make sense!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After rebelling, destroying the first-class weapon—that’s perfectly logical!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Entering the Great Totem, only one in ten thousand survives—isn’t that just walking to death?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If we rebel, the first-class weapon gets destroyed—if we rebel all the way, won’t all of them be destroyed?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Charge!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The souls charged recklessly, fighting the first-class weapons to the death—the scene spiraled completely out of control, and the demonic weapons were destroyed one after another by the peddler.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Tiecheng wept harder and harder, his sobs tearing at his soul; the peddler listened, his heart like a knife slicing through him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gui Jianchou laughed louder and louder, doubling over with mirth; the souls grew bolder with every laugh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two dashed wildly across the mountain, one weeping, one laughing, voices rising and falling, blending cultivation arts of fools with demonic arts, echoing across the entire peak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the chaos, the peddler reached the Great Totem.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking at the scarred ring, he truly didn’t believe it had been repaired to seventy percent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But regardless, there was only one thing to do now: destroy it completely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The peddler was about to release Ai Yi when he saw a man walking toward the Great Totem.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His name was Han Shuangcheng, a cold cultivator—the peddler recognized him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eight years ago, Han Shuangcheng reached the ninth-layer limit, advanced to the tenth layer in Neizhou, returned twice to Puluo Province, stirred no waves, and as far as the peddler knew, he hadn’t even secured the position of local deity in any new territory—he had no future in Shang State.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now he came to the Great Totem—perhaps seeking a chance at advancement, or perhaps merely becoming its sacrifice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The peddler looked at Han Shuangcheng and smiled: “What are you here for? Buying miscellaneous goods? I didn’t bring my cart today.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Han Shuangcheng was afraid, but after hesitation, he charged at the peddler.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After years of obscurity in Shang State, he craved a chance to prove himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The peddler stood still—he couldn’t move lightly now; a layer of completely transparent ice covered the ground, and one misstep could cause a slip.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Never panic when fighting a cold cultivator—but Han Shuangcheng was no threat to make the peddler panic. The peddler pulled out a rattle, shook it twice, and the ice beneath shattered instantly; Han Shuangcheng’s ice armor cracked open a fissure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One more shake of the rattle, and Han Shuangcheng’s body might explode—but the peddler hadn’t expected the broken ice to gain awareness and surge toward him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Han Shuangcheng’s cultivation had improved greatly; he had survived passing through the Great Totem and clearly gained much.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The peddler slapped the rattle—the drumhead expanded from palm-size to over three feet wide.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He swung the rattle left and right, expecting to deflect all flying shards—but these ice fragments were both tough and sharp, piercing through one layer of the drumhead and lodging inside the drum cavity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The peddler dodged the shards with his Free and Easy technique, glancing at the damage on the drumhead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What kind of ice? How could it be this sharp?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The peddler grabbed a shard and examined it—the thickness varied noticeably; a blade edge had been ground into the ice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blade cultivation art: Hand-Initiated Sharpening.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The essence of this technique lies in turning ordinary objects near you into weapons; when dining with a blade cultivator,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>always watch his utensils—he might use Hand-Initiated Sharpening at any moment, turning chopsticks into needles, plates into knives.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though useful, this technique demands high cultivation; though blade cultivators unleash a storm of blades at once, most are crude—either dull or brittle; true superior blades are exceedingly rare.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even a ninth-layer earth cultivator can produce only one or two superior blades in a short time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After reaching Cloud Level, the number of superior blades increases slightly—but still remains limited.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Any shard that pierced the drumhead must be a superior blade; so many shards piercing it prove Han Shuangcheng forged many superior blades.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Han Shuangcheng had been fused with a blade cultivator master by the Great Totem—the fusion was clearly highly successful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But why did blade and cold cultivation mutually enhance each other? Was there a connection?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The peddler was still pondering this when Han Shuangcheng thrust two ice spikes toward his chest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Qianjiao owned a pair of Emei daggers, crafted for her by Bai Qiao Niang; on several occasions, Lu Qianjiao went mad and stabbed the peddler with them—he felt the sensation was nearly identical to these ice spikes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>First, the ice was well-chosen—hard, yet not brittle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The tips were well-forged—exquisitely sharp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The key was the fusion of cold and blade cultivation arts producing such results—beyond the peddler’s expectations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Han Shuangcheng poured all his strength into the spikes, snapping them—but still failed to pierce the peddler’s skin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The peddler took the broken spikes, melted them into water, then refroze them in his palm, carving them slightly with his fingers into an ice spike.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Han Shuangcheng stared, dumbfounded—he hadn’t expected the peddler’s cold cultivation to be even more skilled than his own.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The peddler tested the spike’s tip, smiling: “You know what? Cold and blade cultivation are a perfect match—I never thought of it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Plop!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The peddler drove the spike into Han Shuangcheng’s third eye—the wound bled little; Han Shuangcheng felt almost no pain. He struggled, but his entire brain was rapidly freezing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Tiecheng wept: “Look how cruel you are—you’ve killed another.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gui Jianchou found Han Shuangcheng unusual—he’d tried to claim him as a spirit servant, but after much effort, he sensed no soul.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked at Sun Tiecheng: “Stop crying—he’s not dead yet!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Tiecheng wiped his tears: “You cry! If you cry, he’ll die!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Both wept two more times—and Han Shuangcheng stopped moving.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The peddler tossed the corpse aside and called: “Release her.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Tiecheng opened the sack and let Ai Yi out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ai Yi was furious: “What kind of mess is this? I went through so much trouble bringing you here, and you just stuffed me into a sack!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The peddler had come to Shang State first to scout, locating Yin Capital; Ai Yi had been responsible for bringing others, using the Gourd Village to transport Sun Tiecheng and Gui Jianchou.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since Yin Capital’s strength was unknown, the peddler hadn’t let Ai Yi act first—he went in himself, then followed with Sun Tiecheng and Gui Jianchou, whose minds were more stable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now it was clear: the peddler had vastly overestimated Yin Capital’s people. They relied on the Great Totem’s hidden location and the difficulty of finding Yin Capital, and their defenses were lax. Had he known their weakness, he should’ve had Ai Yi blow up the Great Totem from the start.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Tiecheng said: “It’s not too late to send you now—get to work quickly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A Yi carried the explosives toward the Great Totem; the peddler knew the thing would explode in an instant, so as soon as A Yi set down the explosives, he grabbed her and ran.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>BOOM!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a tremendous explosion, the massive ring completely collapsed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the center of the ring lay a deep, profound darkness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The peddler pulled out a jar of snow cream, scooped out the cream, and smeared it over the darkness; the cream instantly spread into a thin film, enveloping the entire mass of darkness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>THUD!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The peddler slapped the snow cream jar; the cream, as if sensing a summons, wrapped the darkness and plunged entirely into the jar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tightening the lid, the peddler tucked the snow cream jar into his pocket and turned to A Yi: “Retreat!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A Yi was bent over, picking up stones—she had filled an entire sack with the shattered stones of the Great Totem.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hurry up!” the peddler feared more traps remained in Yin Du and kept urging A Yi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But A Yi was greedy; one sack wasn’t enough, so she filled two more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As expected, a large number of First-Class Weapons suddenly appeared on the slope; Yin Du had been lax in defense, but not entirely unprepared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This place had housed the Great Totem and was once the capital of the Shang Kingdom—how could its resources not be vast?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The peddler grabbed A Yi and bolted back; Sun Tiecheng grabbed A Gui and also retreated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A Gui rang his bell and burned incense, collecting countless spirits along the way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When they reached the entrance of Gourd Village, Sun Tiecheng cursed: “You bastard, you’ve hit the jackpot!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gui Jianchou burst out laughing: “In a few days, I’ll show off to Song Qianhun and see whose spirit servant is more numerous!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d truly struck gold; Sun Tiecheng roughly counted—there were at least ten thousand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A Yi sealed the exit of Gourd Village and swiftly relocated the village; she hadn’t come away empty-handed either—she’d collected three full burlap sacks of the Great Totem’s stones.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With the Great Totem destroyed, the peddler felt elated: “A Yi, go get Old Seven. Let’s have a drink together.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A Yi was busy studying the shattered stones of the Great Totem and brushed off the peddler: “Li Qi isn’t easy to find—he’s grown powerful now; it’s hard to even see him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The peddler frowned: “If you can’t find him, can’t your mother?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You girl, go find him right away—don’t ruin the mood!” Sun Tiecheng glared at A Yi; she stuck out her tongue and hurried up to the clouds to find A Yu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A Yu, upon hearing the news, plucked a golden hairpin and gently traced its surface.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good—he’s not on the little train; otherwise, I might not have found him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a moment, A Yi contacted Li Qi, who arrived at Gourd Village via Lian Kuo’s bridal chamber.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Learning the peddler was unharmed, Li Banfeng was overjoyed; A Yi set out wine, and everyone drank heartily. With Li Banfeng’s permission,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A Yu descended from her house in the clouds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qiu Luoye stared, eyes wide: “You actually invited the peddler to dinner?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A Yi laughed: “Follow me, and you’ll eat well, drink well, and gain face—what more could you want?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bai Xinsheng glanced at his master, Bai Wusong: “Maybe we shouldn’t leave—I think being a daughter-in-law here in Gourd Village is great!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bai Wusong glared at Bai Xinsheng: “Don’t speak nonsense—you’re a disciple of the White Crane Gang; don’t disgrace the sect.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bai Xinsheng shook his head: “Master, you worry too much. The head of the White Crane Gang, inside and out, has become someone’s daughter-in-law—we’ve already lost all face.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qiu Luoye and Bai Wusong each kicked Bai Xinsheng; everyone laughed and joked, when suddenly A Yu sighed: “I never expected the Great Totem matter to be settled so easily.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Tiecheng looked at A Yu: “It’s good it’s settled—why aren’t you happy?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The peddler agreed with A Yu: “When I destroyed the Great Totem before, I nearly lost half my life. I never imagined it’d be this easy this time—the one who controlled it must be utterly incompetent.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng also wanted to speak on this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether the Great Totem itself or the Shang Kingdom’s attitude toward it, both seemed absurdly careless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Tiecheng thought this normal: “If the Great Totem were still intact, we’d never have taken it down so easily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But since it’s broken, you’ve guarded a useless wreck for years—you couldn’t possibly care as much as before.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A Yu snorted: “What do you mean useless? With the Great Totem, the Land Seal can sense spiritual energy. Now that it’s destroyed, the Land Seal can’t gather qi—what will the Land God use to ascend? The Inner State has suffered a massive loss!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Tiecheng laughed: “Let him suffer—it’s fine as long as we don’t. Fool’s City has plenty of ways to gather qi.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A Yu looked at Sun Tiecheng with disdain: “How much qi can you gather from a patch of old land?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Tiecheng waved his hand: “Fool’s City is different now—it won’t be old land much longer. Old Seven, didn’t I ask you to go back and check? When will you return?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll go back in a few days,” Li Banfeng said, looking at the peddler. “Now that the Great Totem matter is done, I deserve a few days of peace.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The peddler shook his head: “You can’t rest—I’ve urgent business. You still need to watch over Pu Luo Province.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng said: “What other urgent business?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The peddler’s expression turned serious: “I’m going to see my lover.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng stared: “Is that urgent?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The peddler grew annoyed: “You spend your days doting on your wife—how would you know the suffering?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A Yu also grew annoyed, looking at the peddler: “Aren’t you also in love with someone in Gourd Village? Why don’t you go see her?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The table fell silent. The “lover” A Yu meant was the Sky Maiden.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The peddler lowered his head and drank; Sun Tiecheng glanced at his wife: “Why bring this up? We were just talking about Fool’s City. I’ll take you back—I’ve restored flesh and blood to the people; they no longer need to be deceived—they know they’re alive!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The only trouble is they eat too much. Before, they ate just to hold onto memory; now they eat to fill their bellies. I’ve been buying grain everywhere, but buying alone isn’t enough—I need them to farm. There’s plenty of land outside Fool’s City!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A Yi beamed: “Brother, I’ll go back too! I heard you have the Xuan Sheng Red Lotus—I’d like to borrow it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Who’s your brother?” Sun Tiecheng glared at A Yi. “The Red Lotus is gone!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone was startled. A Yi asked: “Did you lose it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I didn’t lose it!” Sun Tiecheng took a sip of wine. “Old Train turned it into a small furnace!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A Yu snapped: “Why did you change it? The Red Lotus was made by the Sky Maiden and the peddler together!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Red Lotus held special meaning for the peddler and the Sky Maiden—it witnessed their bond.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The peddler set down his wine cup: “I asked Old Train to change it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A Yu’s face darkened, silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Tiecheng said: “If we hadn’t changed the Red Lotus, where would Fool’s City’s flesh and blood have come from? I’ll remember this favor. Past matters are settled.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A Yu stared at Sun Tiecheng, fury rising: “You’re so heartless—you say it’s over, and a whole city’s lives are just ‘over’?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Tiecheng held his wine cup: “The lives are recovered—what else can we do? Don’t we keep living? But I haven’t forgotten the debts I owe.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The atmosphere at the table grew heavy. Li Banfeng asked A Yi: “What do you need the Red Lotus for?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A Yi kept eating and drinking, ignoring the mood: “The Great Totem shattered—I collected some stones. I want to refine them with the Red Lotus and see what happens.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng said: “The Great Totem was made of stone?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A Yi thought: “I don’t yet know what material it is—it looks like stone. I’ll study it for a couple days, then head to Fool’s City.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng nodded: “I need to prepare too.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the feast, the peddler and Li Banfeng spoke privately. He first asked about the recent situation in Pu Luo Province.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing of Bei Xianzhong, Lu Xiaolan, and Hao Lianshen, the peddler found it strange.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yu Zhuo was never smart—his foolishness isn’t surprising. But Qiao Yi shouldn’t have ignored the Great Totem. I feel he’s still holding back.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng recalled Lu Mao’s description of the Shang Kingdom’s court: “Qiao Yi is losing power in the Shang Kingdom—perhaps he wants you to eliminate Yu Zhuo.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The peddler nodded: “That fits his motives, but the cost is too high. Without the Great Totem, the Shang Kingdom’s control over the Land Realm has weakened drastically. Do you think Qiao Yi will accept this loss?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng said: “I’ll go to Chao Ge and gather intelligence.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The peddler said: “Try to bring Cui Ti back.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng hesitated: “I went, but he refuses to return.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The peddler sighed: “We’re all respectable people—he won’t come back, so we can’t force him. A Yi made me a rope the other day—it’s very useful. Take the rope and tie him up, bring him back.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leaving Gourd Village, Li Banfeng contacted Ba Suan and Boluo; they’d been gathering intelligence near Chao Ge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The plague in the city was contained; Qiao Yi was busy vying for political power and had made no other moves recently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The destruction of the Great Totem was an opportunity for Qiao Yi—he’ll likely stay busy for a while. Li Banfeng told Boluo and Ba Suan to closely monitor Chao Ge’s actions in the coming days.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With arrangements made, Li Banfeng decided to visit Fool’s City—but he didn’t want to return empty-handed. To turn old land into true land, you need not only qi, but also hope.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He contacted Xiao Ye Ci and had her prepare goods. He went to Ye Songqiao and bought every piece of furniture in the shop, nearly filling all thirty-three train cars.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Furniture wasn’t enough—Fool’s City lacked many things. Sun Tiecheng had said it lacked food, so Li Banfeng went to the orange grove and bought many good seeds from the old man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Food alone wasn’t enough—they needed clothes too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng went to Yu’s Cloth Shop.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was late; the clerks had rested. Yu Nan sat alone at the counter, tallying accounts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One entry had an error; she recalculated several times. Hearing footsteps enter, she didn’t look up, only asked: “What would you like to buy?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng said: “Clothes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What kind of clothes?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ready-made garments—all of them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Nan paused, still not looking up: “Just ready-made garments?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Also fabrics—Muben Satin, Kuduan, Ning silk, Huaxian Chun, Huasha, Hangluo, Hangfang, Huyue—I want them all.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Nan looked up, smiled—she hadn’t expected Li Qi to remember so many names.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She asked Li Qi: “Buy tobacco?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes,” Li Banfeng sat at the counter. “Two packs of Great Fairy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>PS: When they first met, Li Banfeng bought tobacco at the cloth shop; Yu Nan gave him two packs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thank you to patron Xin Wuguang, and to Ren Wuguang and Gui Wuguang for their great support.\u003C\u002Fp>",3831,"2026-06-20T03:43:18.603Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","b41633ae33a90cfc271b66ba97af3824e9ce74799bd221689622c6bd5b6c05ac","lord-of-the-proles-chapter-809","lord-of-the-proles-chapter-807",863,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Flord-of-the-proles-cover.jpg"]