[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-lord-of-the-proles":3,"chapter-lord-of-the-proles-lord-of-the-proles-chapter-88":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},2290386,4478,"Chapter 88: Tang Dao","lord-of-the-proles-chapter-88",88,"\u003Cp>After vomiting yellow water, then green, then bitter, then salty, until there was nothing left in his stomach, Li Banfeng staggered to his feet from the floor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The record spun on the turntable, the phonograph humming softly: “My lord, why fight such a bitter battle?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng shook his head. “Winning isn’t bitter. My dear wife, please tidy the quarters—I’ll be back soon.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Where is my lord going now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“To buy groceries.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your servant isn’t hungry today, my lord, don’t go.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng paused, staring at the phonograph. “You’re worried about me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The phonograph pouted. “Your servant loves my lord every moment, always.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng smiled and left the Personal Dwelling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The needle shifted slightly; steam drifted gently from the speaker.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is a man capable of great things.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng arrived at the Helmsman’s Hall and saw the tea puddles had vanished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shi Boyu lay motionless on the floor; Li Banfeng did not approach rashly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He first retrieved the key—whether Shi Boyu was dead or alive, Li Banfeng had to recover it, or he’d never leave the Helmsman’s Hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After securing the key, Li Banfeng picked up the teapot, and a magic treasure’s voice whispered: “Are you cold? Want to warm up?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng ignored it, gathered the scissors from the floor, and walked toward Shi Boyu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He pulled out his iron ruler and poked Shi Boyu’s body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shi Boyu twitched slightly—he was still alive, but unconscious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng immediately opened the Personal Dwelling and threw Shi Boyu inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He also tossed in the steward who could turn into a ladybug, the spy with wind-attuned ears, and anyone suspected of having cultivation base—all into the Personal Dwelling—then headed upstairs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wanted to see if there was anything here he needed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After checking every bedroom, Li Banfeng collected over half a million in cash.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How could the Helmsman’s Hall of the Jiangxiang Gang possibly hold only this much?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng suspected he’d missed the real hiding spot. He returned to the largest bedroom to search again—when suddenly, a voice whispered in his ear: “Since you’ve come, let’s settle this. Let us fight to the death!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Who?!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng froze—someone was still hiding in this room?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had he been here all along, or just arrived now?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he’d just arrived, how did I not see him?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he’d been here all along, why didn’t he strike when I first entered?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng swiftly stepped back from the voice’s source, iron ruler in one hand ready for battle, key in the other ready to flee.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After waiting a long while, he saw no figure—but a hidden panel in the wall slid open.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A Tang Dao, one meter long, floated out of the panel and spoke to Li Banfeng: “Green clouds darken snow-capped peaks; lone city gazes toward Yumen Pass. The hour of Juezhan  has come—strike!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clang!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Tang Dao unsheathed, its blade aimed at Li Banfeng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What is this thing?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Magic treasure or spirit entity?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It speaks so much, recites poetry—it must be a magic treasure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If this weapon is so powerful, why didn’t Shi Boyu carry it?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This blade can fly—if he’d used it against me earlier, I’d have had no counter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Tang Dao spoke again: “The general rises, dancing with his long sword; brave warriors’ cries shake the nine realms. What are you waiting for?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng stared blankly. “You’re a blade. Why speak of dancing with a sword?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Tang Dao fell silent a moment, then replied: “The spirit matters more than form—draw your weapon. Today, we stake our lives here!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We’ve just met—must we gamble our lives? Can’t we fight another day?” Li Banfeng pleaded seriously with the blade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why not fight today?” The Tang Dao’s blade never wavered from Li Banfeng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m still poisoned. The toxins aren’t cleared. Even if you defeat me, it won’t be a true victory.” Li Banfeng reasoned calmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Very well. I’ll wait until tomorrow.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clang!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Tang Dao returned to its scabbard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This is truly a blade that listens to reason.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng secured the Tang Dao, still searching for other valuables—when footsteps echoed from below.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What happened? Where’s the Helmsman?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Helmsman hasn’t left the main hall.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s this water on the floor?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Someone had returned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng pushed open the window, opened the Personal Dwelling, and tossed the key over the courtyard wall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When he stepped out of the Personal Dwelling again, Li Banfeng had already left the Helmsman’s Hall compound.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While no one was watching, Li Banfeng staggered to Pai Fang Street, slipped into Chuanzi Hutong, hid the key in Qin Xiaopang’s courtyard, and entered the Personal Dwelling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The lingering poison was real—he lay on the bed, drenched in cold sweat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of all the people he brought back, only Shi Boyu was alive. The phonograph had devoured his soul; all corpses had been sent to the outer chamber and fed to the Red Lotus.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hssss~\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My lord, why carry this blade?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng spoke weakly. “Do you have to ask? It’s a magic treasure.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My lord, magic treasures are precious, but you can’t just take anything you see. This blade is even more troublesome than the teapot.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As she spoke, the teapot suddenly spoke: “Are you cold? No matter what you say, I’m going to warm you up.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The teapot began to spray water—when the phonograph released a burst of steam and pinned it down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh my lord, this teapot’s useless. Your servant will seal it away for now—until you find a way to handle it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My lord, this blade hasn’t recognized you yet. Only if you defeat it in combat will it submit.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng sneered. “Fight? Fine. I’m not afraid of it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My husband, with your current strength, you won’t last a single strike against it. One misstep and you’ll die. Don’t be reckless.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’d love to fight for you—but if I strike too hard, I might destroy it. If I strike too lightly, it won’t yield. The balance is impossible.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No wonder Shi Boyu never carried this blade—he’d never conquered it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng’s guess was correct: Shi Boyu had never subdued the blade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Helmsman of the Jiangxiang Gang couldn’t possibly lack magic treasures—this blade was traded for two others.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a poison cultivator, Shi Boyu lacked combat strength and hoped to compensate with a weapon—but after acquiring it, he regretted it. This blade was uncontrollable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had to defeat it once to claim it—and even then, it wasn’t permanent. He’d have to fight it again later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng didn’t care to think further—he tossed the blade under the bed and fell into deep sleep.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next day, at 1 p.m., Luo Zhengnan, the head of the Medicine King Hall, arrived at the Second Helmsman’s Hall wearing the Jiangxiang Gang’s signature gray forward cap.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Medicine King Hall was the highest Jiangxiang Gang institution in Medicine King Gully—but after taking office, Luo Zhengnan’s first act was to move the main hall out of the inner gully to the remote outer gully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At first, many didn’t understand his decision. Now, seeing the state of the Second Helmsman’s Hall, they understood a little.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luo Zhengnan sat on the sofa, struck a match, and lit a cigarette: “I’ve always told you to go outside the inner gully, don’t just stay cooped up. You ignored me—now you see the value of the outer gully.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Take our main hall, for example: twenty-three households surround it. Every man, woman, child—I know them all. A stranger shows up, I spot them instantly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But you? Strangers have slipped into your Helmsman’s Hall, taken your Helmsman, and you don’t even know what he looked like. With so many people in the inner gully—where do you even start looking?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luo Zhengnan scolded; Xiang Guicheng and Sun Xiaoan listened obediently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As head, Luo Zhengnan treated his subordinates fairly. For such a disaster, other heads might have already killed them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Helmsman’s Hall can’t be left unattended. Guicheng, I recall your cultivation base is at Level Three?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiang Guicheng nodded quickly. “I reached Level Three three years ago.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luo Zhengnan nodded. “As a Rod Master, you’re the natural successor. Take temporary command of the Helmsman’s Hall.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lao Sun, you’ve served longest here—you should’ve been promoted long ago.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Xiaoan bowed low. “Master, just letting this old bone remain in your service is my fortune. I’ll follow Brother Xiang from now on—my life belongs to him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiang Guicheng quickly bowed back. “Brother, you’re too humble.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luo Zhengnan waved his hand. “Humble? You actually believe him? Do you know how many Helmsmen he’s outlived?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiang Guicheng counted carefully—it was true. Sun Xiaoan had been a trusted aide for over a decade. Three previous Helmsmen had vanished under his watch; now, Shi Boyu, after only months, was gone too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Would Xiang Guicheng be the fifth?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That old man who smoked his water pipe—looked downright eerie.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luo Zhengnan stood. “Find a quiet room. Station several people outside the door.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Xiaoan knew the Helmsman’s Hall best—he led Luo Zhengnan to the Helmsman’s bedroom and arranged guards outside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luo Zhengnan entered with two subordinates, locked the door, removed his cap, peeled off the adhesive tape from his scalp, pulled out the plug beneath, and revealed a hole in his skull.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One subordinate brought a rod; Luo Zhengnan inserted it into the hole, twisted it slightly, found the right position, and had his man secure it in place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another subordinate brought a dial disc over twenty centimeters in diameter and inserted it into Luo Zhengnan’s spine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luo Zhengnan shuddered and said: “Slow down—the position’s off!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The subordinate adjusted the position slightly; Luo Zhengnan nodded: “Dial it!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The subordinate gripped the dial and began turning it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shhh~rustling rustling~\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shhh~rustling rustling~\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>……\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The call connected; a voice came through Luo Zhengnan’s ear: “Dear listener, welcome to the Afternoon Tea House. What fresh news would you like to share with us?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luo Zhengnan glared at the subordinate: “Where the hell did you dial?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The subordinate sighed helplessly: “Boss, I didn’t dial wrong.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luo Zhengnan pulled out the antenna and reinserted it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Click—the call disconnected; the subordinate dialed again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shhh~rustling rustling~\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time, it connected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Zhenggong was in a meeting at the Dark Star Bureau when his phone rang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the caller ID, Xiao Zhenggong excused himself to Team Leader Chen, left the meeting, and returned to his office.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Who the hell calls at this hour? Didn’t I tell you all—no major matters, don’t contact me during the day!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luo Zhengnan’s cheek twitched as he forced his tone calm: “Master, something’s happened in the gang—our Second Division’s captain has vanished; he’s probably dead.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So he’s dead? Big deal! If a rat dies in the gang tomorrow, am I supposed to be called about that too?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master, the odd thing is, Shi Boyu just took over the Second Division, and now this…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Handle your division’s problems yourselves. I told you to find Li Ban—have you found him yet?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Not yet. That kid hasn’t shown up at all.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Zhenggong frowned tightly: “I’ve heard rumors—Zhuo Yuling is also searching for Li Ban.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luo Zhengnan froze: “That can’t be—when did this happen? We didn’t hear anything.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You don’t hear anything? What good are you then? You’re all useless!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The call ended.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luo Zhengnan pulled the antenna from his head and plugged in the cap.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This kid’s really something—when a captain dies, he treats it like a rat’s dead!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The subordinate pulled the dial disc from Luo Zhengnan’s back: “Boss, I think this shouldn’t have disturbed the Master.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You don’t understand the rules! I told him—it’s a small matter. If I hadn’t told him, it’d become a big one!” Luo Zhengnan put on his forward cap and paused, then said,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I feel there’s a connection between these two incidents. Think: Chu Yunlong, stationed at the train station, vanished—no body, no trace. Three men from the Second Division died—no body, no trace. And Geng Zhiwei of the Geng Herbal Shop? Same thing. Could all these be the work of one person? Could this be the very person our boss is looking for?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The subordinate exchanged glances and shook their heads: “Boss, our brains aren’t sharp enough to figure this out. You say who did it—we’ll believe it’s them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Bullshit! What do you mean ‘you say who did it’? Go get a few brothers, find out what the Lu family’s been up to lately.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The subordinate said: “I heard the Lu family’s been searching for Lu Xiaolan.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luo Zhengnan glared at the subordinate: “Do you think I don’t know that? It’s all over the papers. Go check if the Lu family’s second concubine has shown any movement.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>PS: Dear readers, don’t casually insert dial discs into your body—the phone bill is expensive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",2125,"2026-06-20T03:43:13.043Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","d2ac44c06d1c9444eb2ba1b597824cb9092002cd5b881343964dc2f8a58a418d","lord-of-the-proles-chapter-89","lord-of-the-proles-chapter-87",863,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Flord-of-the-proles-cover.jpg"]