[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-lord-of-the-proles":3,"chapter-lord-of-the-proles-lord-of-the-proles-chapter-82":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},2290380,4478,"Chapter 82","lord-of-the-proles-chapter-82",82,"\u003Cp>Don’t do anything at all?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Duozhu Shi Boyu was deeply dissatisfied with Sun Xiaoan’s reply: “The dance hall was blown up, the Geng family pharmacy burned down—do we just ignore this?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Xiaoan shook his head repeatedly: “Boss, these might not even be related.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How aren’t they related? The Geng family pharmacy and the Yu family cloth shop fought, so the Geng pharmacy was surely burned by that man-woman—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I sent men to watch the Yu cloth shop, and then the dance hall got blown up— isn’t that the man-woman’s revenge?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Xiaoan held his water pipe, sighed, and said: “Boss, I still say it: the man-woman lacks the ability to blow up the dance hall. Can Du Hongxi really be taken down by her?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Even if the Geng pharmacy was burned by her, that’s just her feud with Geng Zhiwei—Geng Zhiwei is dead, so the feud is over.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shi Boyu grew even more annoyed: “How can you call it over? The Geng pharmacy is under our Jiangxiang Bang’s protection, and now there’s a death—do we just stand by?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Xiaoan shook his head: “How can you say we’re doing nothing? Haven’t we done enough? Three of the four managers at the helm station have already gone—haven’t we shown enough face?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Go further back: the man-woman killed Rong Jin’an; Geng Zhiwei killed over a dozen of her subordinates; then he burned down her ancestral home in Baixiang Village—yet she said nothing, hid and dared not show her face. What do you think she fears? Isn’t it our Jiangxiang Bang’s reputation?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We gave the Geng family every courtesy—it was Geng Zhiwei himself who overreached and lost his life. Who else can we blame?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shi Boyu remained silent, and Sun Xiaoan continued: “As for the dance hall incident, it might be connected to Qin Fatty. But what relationship Qin Fatty has with the man-woman—we don’t know.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shi Boyu asked: “Who exactly is this Qin Fatty?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Xiaoan packed his water pipe with tobacco and drew a puff: “I’d never heard of him before, but now he’s with San Ying Men. I don’t know if you’ve heard of San Ying Men’s name in Lüshui Bay, but if this is tied to San Ying Men, we can’t act rashly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shi Boyu fell silent for a long while, then said: “Wait for the Hall Master’s orders.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn’t agree with Sun Xiaoan’s view, and Sun Xiaoan said no more, quietly puffing his water pipe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the afternoon, the Hall Master sent someone to the helm station. Shi Boyu had dressed neatly and was preparing to meet him, but the messenger told him: “No need to see the Hall Master—he says this matter is settled, forget the Geng pharmacy, forget the Yu cloth shop, find Jia Quansheng as a scapegoat, demand money from the old Geng man to rebuild the dance hall.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shi Boyu stared, stunned: “Is that how we’re handling this?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The messenger handed him a letter: “Duozhu Shi, this is from the Hall Master. He also told you: keep your heart calm, move your hands swiftly—first steady your mind, then settle the matter, and handle the rest step by step.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shi Boyu, upon hearing this, was stunned speechless: “Is that how we handle this matter?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng slept in his private quarters until afternoon, then woke up from a full bladder. He was about to step out when he saw Zhou Yujuan standing motionless beside his bed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How is she alive?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng immediately sat up and grabbed the sickle beside his pillow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chit-chit-chit~\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The singing machine spoke: “Dear husband, don’t fear—this woman has already been subdued by your humble servant; she’ll serve you faithfully from now on.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Subdued?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The phonograph spoke: “My dear husband, do not fear—this woman has already been subdued by your humble servant; henceforth, she will serve you with unwavering devotion.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I devoured her soul. I kept her body, infused it with a bit of spiritual essence—it still has use.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What use?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The soul has been consumed; keeping her body, infused with a touch of spiritual essence, still proves useful.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The singing machine cleared its throat: “Husband, bring me Honglian, that vile woman, and pick a fine weapon—refine them together, and you’ll gain a magic treasure.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What kind of magic treasure?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It depends on Honglian’s abilities.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Refining a weapon and a corpse into a magic treasure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng scratched his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What kind of weapon is suitable?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That pair of scissors from yesterday was perfect—it’s a weapon with spiritual essence!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng frowned: “That scissors could kill on its own—wasn’t it already a magic treasure?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The singing machine patiently explained: “Husband, you don’t understand. A magic treasure is a gem—intelligent, emotional, aware of circumstances, loyal to its master, capable of advancement. A weapon with spiritual essence is merely raw jade—dull, ignorant, unloyal. The two are worlds apart.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So there’s such a difference between magic treasures and spiritually aware weapons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng fetched the bronze lotus from the outer room. Its petals were open, revealing three lotus seeds—yesterday’s harvest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One was Du Hongxi’s—he was a Level Two Yan Xiu. The seed shattered, yielding four Xuan Chi Dan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The number of pills produced grows exponentially with cultivation level—if one day I killed a Level Nine, wouldn’t I get five hundred and twelve Xuan Chi Dan?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One Xuan Chi Dan equals ten days of cultivation. Five hundred and twelve would be over five thousand days—that’s equivalent to a direct one-and-a-half-level advancement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One was Du Hongxi’s—he was a Level Two Yǎn Cultivator—and when the lotus seed shattered, four Xuanchi Elixirs emerged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The number of elixirs forged grows exponentially with cultivation level; if one were to kill a Level Nine one day, wouldn’t that yield five hundred and twelve Xuanchi Elixirs?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One Xuanchi Elixir grants ten days of cultivation; five hundred and twelve elixirs equal over five thousand days—equivalent to an immediate advancement of one and a half realms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next two lotus seeds shattered one after another, each yielding two Xuan Chi Dan. Altogether, Li Banfeng now had twenty-four Xuan Chi Dan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Slowly accumulating isn’t bad. Add the Zi Huan Dan, and I can earn nine months of time. Keep this up, and a full year’s cultivation will come quickly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, if I can sell them smoothly, get cash, and return to Waizhou, it’d be perfect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng put the pills into a cloth bag, placed the bronze lotus beside Zhou Yujuan’s corpse, and laid the bloodstained scissors beside her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Honglian sensed it, absorbed Zhou Yujuan, and ignored the scissors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, if one could sell them smoothly for cash and return directly to Waizhou, it would be even more perfect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The singing machine cried out: “Oh, husband! Stop Honglian, that vile woman! She’s being lazy—she only refined the corpse, so now it’ll yield only two Xuan Chi Dan, barely useful!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Stop the bronze lotus?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Is that easy to do?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The petals had already closed. Li Banfeng didn’t know how to open them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The singing machine roared: “That vile woman has no sense of gratitude! Husband, don’t fear—I’ll enforce household law for you. Watch me teach her!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, the bronze lotus grew defiant. Dewdrops flew everywhere, keeping Li Banfeng at bay.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The singing machine flew into a rage: “Oh, husband! Look what you’ve done—spoiling this vile woman until she no longer respects you! I’ll give her a proper lesson!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Steam surged, turning the bronze lotus red-hot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The bronze lotus spat dewdrops, striking the singing machine’s horn with a pinging sound.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, how bold this vile wench is!” the singing machine shrieked. “Husband, help me!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fine!” Li Banfeng replied, then bolted to the outer room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The singing machine cried out: “Husband, where are you going? Husband, you’ve abandoned me!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng shut the door, lit a candle, and quietly read the newspaper at the table.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Household matters are about human relations, not violence. Wait until they calm down, then talk to them properly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After an hour, there was no sound outside. Li Banfeng crept back into the main room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Steam still lingered; the bronze lotus remained scorching hot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The singing machine whispered mournfully: “Petals fall, drift through the sky, red fades, fragrance gone—who pities them? Soft silk threads cling to spring pavilions, light fluff clings to embroidered curtains.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Burial of Flowers.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One of the most heartrending songs in Pulu Province.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wife, must you be so miserable?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The singing machine wept: “Husband, you’re cruel! That vile wench was arrogant, and I was enforcing household law for you—you didn’t even help me!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That sounded like she’d suffered greatly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though he hadn’t witnessed the battle, the singing machine showed not a single mark, while the bronze lotus still glowed red.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Household matters are household matters,” Li Banfeng murmured. As he spoke, the lotus slowly opened its petals.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In its center lay one lotus seed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The bronze lotus had only consumed the corpse, not the scissors—logically, it should have produced only two red pills.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But when the seed shattered, a golden earring popped out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng picked it up. The entire ring was the size of a silver coin, with a gap in the band meant for hanging from the ear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Where did this earring come from?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng thought hard—he remembered it had been on Zhou Yujuan’s ear all along. He’d forgotten to take it off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The bronze lotus ate the corpse but left the earring—what did that mean?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chit-chit~\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The singing machine chuckled: “Oh, husband, this earring was worn for so long by this Kui Xiu, it absorbed some spiritual essence. Honglian was useful after all—she refined the earring along with the Kui Xiu into a magic treasure.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng asked: “What does this earring do?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This woman was a Kui Xiu in life—she had the gift of the wind’s ear. Wear this earring, and you’ll gain seven or eight tenths of her ability.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The phonograph couldn’t help laughing: “My dear husband, these earrings have been worn by this Kui Cultivator for so long, they’ve absorbed some spiritual essence—Red Lotus proved quite useful, fusing the earrings and the Kui Cultivator into a single magic treasure.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng quickly clipped the earring onto his earlobe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though he had no piercing, the earring was heavy and painfully tugged his ear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He listened for a long while—heard nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wife, is this thing useless?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, husband, you’re a Zhai Xiu, she was a Kui Xiu—different Dao paths, different mechanisms.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng removed the earring: “Then it’s still useless.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Husband, don’t rush—lean closer!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Again with the ear-to-ear closeness?” Li Banfeng was reluctant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng removed his earring and said, “So it’s still useless?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Husband, don’t rush—lean in closer!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Again with the close contact?” Li Banfeng was reluctant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hssss~\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The phonograph sighed plaintively: “Husband, have you taken a new love outside and grown tired of this old wife?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s not that I’m tired of you—it’s just that you’re too eager…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before he could finish, the phonograph burst into wailing: “Poor little servant! Poor little servant!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sssshhh!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A great cloud of steam surged over Li Banfeng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng’s entire body burned with agony, as if his skin had been stripped away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She’s serious!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why has the phonograph suddenly gone mad?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng didn’t hesitate—he bolted for the door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before he reached it, the phonograph screamed again: “Husband, where are you going? Husband, have you truly abandoned your little servant? Husband!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her cries were piercing; steam churned violently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amid the scorching steam, Li Banfeng lost consciousness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Weren’t we getting along just fine before?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Weren’t we always close, cheek to cheek?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How could she turn on me so suddenly…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deep in the night, Li Banfeng awoke to the sound of singing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Autumn comes, lotus scent fills the air,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Young maidens dream of home each night,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When they wake, no parents’ faces near,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only the bright moonlight by the window.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Four Seasons Song.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why is she singing “The Four Seasons Song”?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I can still hear the song.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’m still alive—she didn’t kill me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wait, don’t be blindly optimistic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maybe I’m only a soul now—or worse, she’s already devoured even that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng struggled to his feet, using the phonograph’s flickering glow to survey his surroundings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s the Body Dwelling—I’m still in the Body Dwelling, not inside the phonograph’s horn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng touched his skin and flesh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The flesh was still there—tactile, real.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not only that—it was perfectly intact, not a single burn mark.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Good—I’m still alive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng felt along the wall, creeping toward the door. While the phonograph seemed calm, he planned to flee the Body Dwelling at once.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clang-clang-clang!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The singing stopped abruptly; drums and gongs erupted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng froze, pressing himself hard against the wall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The pressure was too great—he suddenly felt nothing behind him, his body squeezing through a hole in the wall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Do I have that much strength?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course not.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng examined the hole he’d made—its edges were sharp, clean, perfectly defined.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s a door!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Body Dwelling now had another door!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What did this mean?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng glanced around. Though pitch black, he clearly sensed the space had changed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Body Dwelling now had another room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The phonograph crackled to life with new singing:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My husband’s away, my heart is torn,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My faithful love, a lonely moan,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A woman without husband, lost and bare—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’ll add another wife for you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another wife?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The phonograph added another room to the Body Dwelling?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How much power has she yet to reveal?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hssss~\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The phonograph sighed softly: “Husband, don’t be angry with your little servant—I offer you two layers of cultivation.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What two layers of cultivation?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How did it become two layers?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>PS: Dear readers, Li Banfeng has reached Layer Two—please help Protagonist reach Level 2! His outreach index and fan count are already maxed, interaction rate is at 63%, salvation is in sight. Dear readers, leave a comment, give Shala one more push!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",2309,"2026-06-20T03:43:13.043Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","e9e1a557bc84d0ddb3568a6c23dfa04e4be3f7234fc1ff2e20c9333eddd2bf05","lord-of-the-proles-chapter-83","lord-of-the-proles-chapter-81",863,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Flord-of-the-proles-cover.jpg"]