[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-lord-of-the-proles":3,"chapter-lord-of-the-proles-lord-of-the-proles-chapter-89":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},2290387,4478,"Chapter 89: It Was an Old Friend Come","lord-of-the-proles-chapter-89",89,"\u003Cp>At 3 p.m., Li Banfeng woke up drowsily, suddenly hearing someone call his name.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A lone wisp of smoke rises from the desert, the setting sun rounds the long river!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s round?” Li Banfeng opened his eyes and saw the Tang Dao standing before him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng stared for a long while, then heard the Tang Dao speak slowly: “The time for final battle has come.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Almost forgot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Last night, Li Banfeng had made a pact with the Tang Dao to duel today.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Flames rose from the phonograph’s fuel tank, and as steam hissed out, a song began: “My lord, your humble wife told you not to keep that blade.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Tang Dao turned toward the phonograph, seeming wary: “One-on-one, fair duel—no outsiders should interfere.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hssss~\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The phonograph scoffed: “You’re lecturing a woman like me about rules?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Tang Dao stepped back two paces and said to Li Banfeng: “You’re ganging up on one. Even if I lose, I’ll never admit defeat.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hoo!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Steam hissed out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The phonograph sang slowly: “Who says it’s unfair? I don’t even need to move—I’ll scatter your soul right now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s… that’s…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the Tang Dao searched for an excuse, Li Banfeng rose, grabbed a bucket, drank some water, stretched his limbs, and said to the phonograph: “Wife, I made a promise with him—today it’s one-on-one. I won’t break it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My lord, this isn’t a game. One misstep and he’ll kill you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wife, don’t worry—I’m certain I’ll win.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Tang Dao barked: “That’s the speech of a true man. Where shall we fight? Outside, or right here?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng looked around: “Fighting here might ruin my belongings.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The phonograph warned: “My lord, if you step outside this door, I can’t protect you!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Tang Dao wanted to fight outside—he feared the phonograph’s interference—but couldn’t say so outright.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a moment’s thought, Li Banfeng said: “Let’s go to the third room.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The phonograph paused: “What’s the third room?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The third chamber—nothing more.” Li Banfeng called his newly opened third room “the third room.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Tang Dao agreed—it was better to be farther from the phonograph: “Aren’t you bringing weapons? I don’t kill unarmed men.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng idly picked up two daggers from the ground—weapons issued to ordinary gang members, crude in material and craftsmanship.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Tang Dao was displeased: “You dare fight me with such shoddy blades? You’re insulting me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng sneered: “We’ll see.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Both entered the third room—a newly carved space, equal in size to the main chamber, still empty. Li Banfeng and the Tang Dao each stood against opposite walls.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clang! The Tang Dao drew its blade; its cold light flashed across Li Banfeng’s face: “You strike first—I’ll let you have three moves.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng pulled a rusted elixir from his pocket.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Tang Dao scoffed: “Now you think to take an elixir? Too late.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng placed the rusted elixir on one dagger. Within moments, the fifteen-centimeter blade turned to rusted slag.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Tang Dao was startled, circling along the wall: “Powerful elixir! You mean to use it against me? I warn you—you won’t land a hit, you won’t even touch me!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng tossed the second dagger into the air and flung the rusted elixir—it struck the blade’s edge dead center.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The dagger fell, covered entirely in rust.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Tang Dao was thrown into disarray—Li Banfeng’s strike had been too precise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But then he saw the rusted elixir had fallen to the floor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A true hero fears no peril, a brave man breaks rather than bends—do you think such tricks can frighten me?” With that, the Tang Dao slashed across the center of the room, blocking Li Banfeng’s path to the elixir.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The rusted elixir was already thrown—he wouldn’t let Li Banfeng retrieve it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng pulled another rusted elixir from his pocket, stared at the Tang Dao, and said coldly: “You’ve got some balls.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Tang Dao retreated to the wall, its blade trembling slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How did he still have another elixir?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Say it clearly—do you truly want me to strike first?” They were less than five meters apart; Li Banfeng could hurl the elixir at any moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clang!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Victory’s song sung before the sovereign, portraits painted on the Qilin Terrace—I’ve wandered my whole life, now I’ve found my true lord, and I offer my service as loyal hound.” The Tang Dao slid back into its scabbard and lay flat on the floor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hss~\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the main room, the phonograph scoffed, showing clear contempt for the Tang Dao.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng asked: “What’s your name?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I have no name or surname—my lord may call me as he pleases.” The Tang Dao remained prostrate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hss~\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No name?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The phonograph grew wary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng said to the Tang Dao: “No name is improper. You’re a magic treasure—you deserve a proper name. I’ll give you one.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My lord’s naming is my greatest honor!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng thought long and said: “From now on, I’ll call you Er Dao.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Tang Dao found it vulgar; it rose slightly: “Why not Da Dao?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng pulled out the sickle: “He followed me first—he’s Da Dao.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Tang Dao was displeased but said nothing more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng hung the Tang Dao on his belt, then thought it too flashy—but it was too long to carry elsewhere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The sickle’s more compact.” Li Banfeng sighed—then the Tang Dao shrank, becoming a dagger under ten centimeters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A fine magic treasure—it could change size and understand Li Banfeng’s thoughts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng tucked away his new blade and returned to the main room. A cloud of steam swept over him, rubbing gently against his skin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng blinked: “Wife, what are you doing?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The phonograph sang softly: “My lord, ‘triumphant return’ and ‘homecoming’ cannot be used together—your humble wife celebrates your victory.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t celebrate—I might lose control.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The steam faded, but the record still spun on the turntable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This blade… isn’t an ordinary magic treasure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At dusk, Li Banfeng left his dwelling and entered Qin Xiaopang’s courtyard, just as Qin Xiaopang was hanging laundry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Seventh Brother, what brings you here?” Xiaopang was delighted and hurriedly invited Li Banfeng inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Seventh Brother, have you heard? The deputy chief of Jiang Xiang’s Medicine Hall’s Second Division vanished—disappeared right inside his command platform. The dozen men with him are gone too—no trace alive or dead!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Really? Then Jiang Xiang’s been crippled.” Li Banfeng’s tone still carried traces of the Tang Dao’s influence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiaopang scratched his head: “Seventh Brother, why are you talking so formally? Jiang Xiang’s definitely hurt—not just the deputy chief, but their Saint, Zhong Desong, is gone too. You remember him? He ate at the bun shop last night.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng shook his head: “I don’t recall him. With such a big incident, Jiang Xiang must be hunting the killer, right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiaopang shook his head: “No word of any manhunt. Xiang Guicheng just took over as deputy chief—and he hasn’t gone looking for the killer. Today he did ask Zhang Liuze a few questions, but Zhang Liuze ignored him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng had blown up the Xianle Dance Hall, and Jiang Xiang had handled it quietly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now they’d destroyed the entire command platform—and Jiang Xiang was still quiet?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This made Li Banfeng feel the situation was growing stranger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At ten p.m., Li Banfeng circled Wai Gou, returned to Li Gou, and arrived near Feng’s General Store.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A record stand stood outside the shop—Feng’s agreed signal with Li Banfeng: if the stand was there, Feng had new information.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was it about the travel permit?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng wanted to return to Yuezhou as soon as possible—but he still hadn’t raised twenty million, mainly because the battle at the command platform yielded little.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the store, he learned there was still no news on the travel permit—but the red elixirs had sold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feng sold them for a good price—two hundred thousand—and kept two-tenths as commission, giving Li Banfeng one hundred sixty thousand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng was pleased. He left five Xuan Chi elixirs with Feng to sell on consignment—the two-million goal now seemed within reach.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Piaofang Street had few pedestrians tonight—after Jiang Xiang’s consecutive incidents, people in Li Gou dared not go out after dark. Li Banfeng wanted to buy a newspaper and walked far before finding a newsboy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The evening paper was full of reports on the attack on Jiang Xiang’s command platform. The headline clearly stated: Deputy Chief and Saint missing, whereabouts unknown.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The attack was major, but the news shouldn’t have spread this fast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This wasn’t like the Xianle Dance Hall incident—then, Li Banfeng used explosives, and all of Li Gou was shaken.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But at the command platform, he used tea water. If Jiang Xiang wanted to hide it, they could’ve kept the news silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why did it feel like they were leaking it on purpose?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What was Jiang Xiang’s goal?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng glanced at page two and saw another headline: The Lu family successfully reclaimed new land on Mount Jiangyue, claiming over two hundred mu alone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the photo, Li Banfeng saw Lu Dongliang, head of the Lu family—and a familiar face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Private detective Daboyins!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was helping the Lu family reclaim land on Mount Jiangyue?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was he one of the Lu family’s men?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wasn't Jiang Xiang the one who hired you?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Is the Lu family looking for me?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What do they want with me?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could Lu Xiaolan have already been released?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng’s heart tightened; he put away the newspaper and prepared to investigate at the He family’s old mansion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Li Banfeng entered Chuazi Alley, he suddenly heard a familiar voice from afar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master Qiu, let me tell you once more—we don’t know if that’s the Lu family’s eldest daughter. We’ve never seen her.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The tone of that voice was unmistakable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Ye Ci?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why is she here?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Is she looking for the Lu family’s eldest daughter?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng realized the situation was dangerous; he immediately pulled out his key and entered the Suishenju.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Ye Ci, Lu Chunying, and the Lu family’s head steward, Qiu Zhiheng, walked into the alley together. Xiao Ye Ci repeated: “We truly haven’t seen the eldest daughter. If you’ve mistaken someone, please don’t take offense.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qiu Zhiheng smiled faintly: “Madam, Miss, you needn’t worry. I’m just here to take a look.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the three had gone far away, Li Banfeng slipped out of the Suishenju without a sound.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the night, he could barely make out their silhouettes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Ye Ci—he recognized her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Chunying—he recognized her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The third person—he also seemed familiar, because his build was so distinctive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Over one meter eighty tall, weighing less than eighty jin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Monkey Qiu—the same Monkey Qiu who saved my life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>PS: Dear readers, Master Qiu has arrived. The real show is about to begin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1790,"2026-06-20T03:43:13.043Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","1720a89614607918600d7f4ceb4fc92d544e26bb246ddc94a3c938b6771e7b62","lord-of-the-proles-chapter-90","lord-of-the-proles-chapter-88",863,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Flord-of-the-proles-cover.jpg"]