[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-lord-of-the-proles":3,"chapter-lord-of-the-proles-lord-of-the-proles-chapter-95":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},2290393,4478,"Chapter 95: Boundary Line","lord-of-the-proles-chapter-95",95,"\u003Cp>Outer Ditch, Mahuzhan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng wore a top hat and a thick fake beard, crouching in the bamboo grove, silently watching the open ground ahead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The open ground was piled high with thick dust, barren of any grass, and otherwise seemed unremarkable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A butterfly flew toward the open ground; as it reached the center, it suddenly turned to smoke and vanished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A rabbit stepped onto the open ground, hopped forward two steps, and dissolved into smoke midair, scattered by the wind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A bamboo leaf, carried by the wind, crossed the open ground and likewise turned to smoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A mosquito buzzed past; Li Banfeng shooed it over the boundary, and it too became smoke—a small wisp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng folded a paper airplane and threw it across the border; it too turned to smoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He picked up a stone and threw it over—also turned to smoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A dark cloud passed overhead, dropping a few raindrops.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The border line crackled with sound; even raindrops landing on it evaporated instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mahuzhan lies on the border between Yaowangditch and Lüshuibay.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If traveling by train, one must first reach Lüshuibay, then Kudai Kan , then Yaowangditch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But geographically, Yaowangditch, Kudai Kan , and Lüshuibay all adjoin each other, each with its own border—though the border between Lüshuibay and Yaowangditch is extremely remote.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why go to Lüshuibay?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why not go to Kudai Kan ?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was thanks to Li Banfeng having read many newspapers lately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kudai Kan  is also a town, nearly half the size of Yaowangditch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not only is it small, but its environment is highly unusual.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In Yaowangditch, there are more Medicinal Cultivators, but practitioners of other Dao sects are also numerous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But those who permanently reside in Kudai Kan  are generally only two types: Joy Cultivators and their companions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A stranger like Li Banfeng visiting Kudai Kan  for a few days of amusement is normal—but if he stayed too long, he’d inevitably draw attention.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The situation in Lüshuibay is very different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Here lies Lüshuicheng, the largest city in Puluozhou!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And outside the city, a vast expanse of villages and towns.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lüshuibay’s area and population are larger and greater than the combined total of Yaowangditch, Kudai Kan , Haichiling, and surrounding towns—places Li Banfeng believed better suited for hiding.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, is Lüshuibay without risk?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yes—the four great families all have their roots in Lüshuibay; entering Lüshuicheng means wandering right under their noses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But precisely because the four great families are all there, Li Banfeng was certain the Lu family wouldn’t make bold moves in Lüshuicheng—they certainly didn’t want He family to know, let alone the entire quartet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But is Lüshuibay easy to enter?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng walked the entire border for a full day; the current situation was not promising.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Between Yaowangditch and Lüshuibay lies a line—an invisible border—beyond which nothing larger than a speck of dust can pass.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A man, clad in a white robe, walked beside a crane two heads taller than a man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man glanced at Li Banfeng hiding in the bamboo grove and sneered: “Still just a mortal.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng asked in surprise: “Aren’t you a mortal too?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man sneered: “I secluded myself in cultivation for twenty years and have already forged a celestial connection—how could you, a mere mortal, compare? Want to cross the border? I can give you a ride!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng shook his head: “After you, Immortal—I’ll watch first.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man sat atop the crane; the crane let out a long cry and soared into the sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What Dao sect is this?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This man’s cultivation base isn’t low!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng had seen people ride horses, donkeys, camels—but never a crane.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As it circled above, the man on the crane spoke: “Lord, this man is utterly ungrateful.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The crane spoke: “A mortal’s eyes cannot perceive—let him learn his place.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huh?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng stared up at the crane for a long time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had he misheard? Or misseen?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Which one of you is the lord?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Is the crane the lord?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then how dare you ride the lord?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The crane hovered in midair for a long while, estimated at fifty to sixty meters high.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It let out a piercing cry and charged toward the border, the man playing a flute, producing a melody Li Banfeng couldn’t comprehend.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng pulled out his golden earring, ready to carefully discern the melody’s style.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As they crossed the border, the flute’s music abruptly ceased.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Immortal and the crane both turned to ash—no flute remained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This doesn’t work at all!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What now?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He closed himself in cultivation for twenty years and still couldn’t cross—how am I supposed to break through?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Should I enter the Portable Dwelling and throw the key across?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Will the key withstand the border’s destruction?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng believed it would not.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the key turned to ash, could he still exit the Portable Dwelling?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng believed he could not.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Previously, Li Banfeng considered going to the train station, hiding the key inside a passenger’s luggage, and sneaking aboard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The idea was good—but not feasible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because the Lu family would surely station heavy guards at the station, just as Chu Yunlong once ambushed Li Banfeng near the station—but with accurate intelligence, the Lu family would send experts; Li Banfeng would be caught the moment he entered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if he successfully slipped into the station and slipped the key into a passenger’s luggage, the subsequent problems would be just as hard to handle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng didn’t know when to exit the Portable Dwelling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn’t know when this passenger would disembark.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if he managed to see the passenger’s ticket, he still couldn’t accurately predict the disembarkation time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Never rely on train schedules—steam trains don’t run on time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Li Banfeng exited too early and the passenger hadn’t disembarked, Li Banfeng would have no travel permit and no ticket; encountering the formidable conductor could mean disaster—any misstep might cost him his life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Li Banfeng exited too late and the passenger had already reached home, packed his bags, and discovered the mysterious key, what would he do?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he threw the key away, fine—but if he was knowledgeable and handed it to the Lu family or Jiang Xiang’s gang, how would Li Banfeng respond?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the passenger was heading to another province and handed the key directly to the Dark Star Bureau, how would Li Banfeng emerge?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Going to the station is impossible, and right now, forcibly crossing the border is equally impossible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Yeci said there were outposts along the border; after repeated consideration, Li Banfeng concluded he must sneak through one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But where are these outposts?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feng the Shopkeeper’s map didn’t mark their locations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Should he ask around in the village below?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Entering the village had always troubled Li Banfeng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Going inside might draw attention—and even expose his identity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But wandering aimlessly along the border isn’t a solution; at least he needed to know the general direction of the outposts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After much thought, Li Banfeng decided to visit the village—the Lu family hadn’t reached here yet; better to resolve this quickly than waste time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the village entrance, Li Banfeng saw no signposts or stone markers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This mountain is called Mahuzhan—so is this village called Mahucun?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mahucun?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This place sounded familiar—he’d heard it mentioned before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the village, Li Banfeng had no intention of asking for directions directly—that would raise suspicion. He planned to buy something to eat first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The villagers rarely saw outsiders; as Li Banfeng entered, farmers working in the fields, women tending household chores, children playing by the roadside—all stopped what they were doing and stared at him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng was nervous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why are they staring at me?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Are they going to rob me?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng dared not walk deeper into the village; he wanted to find someone nearby to strike up a conversation and ask about the outpost.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing an old woman cooking, he approached and greeted her: “Auntie, I’d like to buy something to eat.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old woman was somewhat deaf; seeing Li Banfeng, she grew fearful and couldn’t understand him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng pulled out a fifty-yuan note; now the old woman was less tense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She gave him five bamboo-tube rice parcels, a jar of pickled fish, and a jar of sweet potato liquor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old lady was honest; Li Banfeng thought she’d given too much and was about to offer more money to chat about the outpost—when he saw her suddenly panic and rush back into her house.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She wasn’t afraid of Li Banfeng—she was afraid of the man behind him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Behind Li Banfeng stood a man in a patrol uniform.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The patrol officer sized up Li Banfeng from head to toe and asked, “Where are you from?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng set down his wine and meal, answering calmly, “From Ligou.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He put the food down so he could draw his knife or pistol more easily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The patrol officer pressed on, “What are you doing here from Ligou?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Visiting relatives,” Li Banfeng replied, still composed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Which relative?” the patrol officer pressed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng frowned slightly. “Do you have to ask that?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Can’t I ask?” the patrol officer sneered. “Ever since you came up the mountain, I’ve been watching you. You’ve been pacing back and forth along the border—trying to smuggle yourself across, aren’t you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you tell me which relative you’re visiting, I’ll take you there myself. I know everyone in this village.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you can’t name them, come with me to the patrol station right now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng had no intention of going to the patrol station—his own identity was unclear, and explaining it would only make things worse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As they stood locked in silence, a woman’s voice suddenly called out, “You heartless bastard! You promised you’d be here yesterday—why are you only showing up now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng froze, turned around, and saw a woman in a qipao stepping forward, grabbing his arm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Officer Wu, this is my brother from Ligou. He came to see me today.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother?” Officer Wu studied the woman with a smile. “Blood brother or adopted brother?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The woman laughed. “What’s the difference? They’re both brothers.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The patrol officer snorted. “Big difference. Blood brothers come from the same womb. Adopted brothers come from the same bed.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Now you’re talking nonsense,” the woman chuckled, and the patrol officer decided not to press further.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked at Li Banfeng. “Kid, you’re lucky. Stay right here and be his adopted brother. Save your strength for the bed. Don’t go wandering around.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The patrol officer left. The woman pulled Li Banfeng quickly into the village’s depths, stopping before a bamboo house. She smiled. “White Sand, what are you doing here?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>White Sand?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng stared at her for a long moment. She looked familiar, but he couldn’t place where he’d seen her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The woman turned her back to him, then glanced over her shoulder with a smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng looked her up and down, then gasped, “Peach!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The mist on Kuwu Mountain was thick—he hadn’t clearly seen her face, but the shape of her peach wouldn’t be forgotten.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The woman sighed. “After all we’ve been through, all you remember is ‘peach’? At least remember the nectarine.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nectarine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You Xuetao.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had once received Li Banfeng’s help on Kuwu Mountain and said she lived in Mazhu Village—no wonder the name sounded familiar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Come, have tea at my place,” You Xuetao said, pulling Li Banfeng toward the bamboo house. He hesitated, reluctant to enter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You Xuetao was a Huan Xiu. She’d told him herself that her partner was a Zhai Xiu—he didn’t want to enter a Zhai Xiu’s home.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You Xuetao tugged him again. “Don’t you trust me? Come on. Wu Jinming is suspicious—he might come back.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Jinming was the patrol officer they’d just met.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng was pulled inside. The bamboo house had two floors. The first floor was spacious, with a tea table and two chairs in the center, and a bowl rack, coat rack, and standing cabinet along the wall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The furnishings were simple but spotless—perfectly suited to a Zhai Xiu’s nature.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“White Sand, why are you in Mazhu Village?” You Xuetao poured him tea.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Just wandering,” Li Banfeng replied. He didn’t drink. His shoes had caked mud from the descent; he deliberately tapped them on the floor. The mud vanished instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was a Zhai Spirit in this house.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wandering through Mazhu Village?” You Xuetao blinked in surprise. This wasn’t a tourist spot. “Brother, tell me the truth—are you trying to smuggle across?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng was formulating a reply when someone upstairs began coughing incessantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cough… cough…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The voice was a woman’s.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You Xuetao frowned and called up, “Don’t worry—it’s just my friend!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng understood. The Zhai Xiu clearly didn’t welcome him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was normal. Zhai Xiu never liked strangers in their homes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng stood. “Thanks for helping me out earlier. It’s getting late—I’ll be going.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You Xuetao stood and blocked him. “Where are you going? Don’t you know crossing the border is deadly?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng paused, then said, “I’m not forcing my way across. I have a friend who needs to cross. Do you know where the checkpoint is?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Checkpoint?” You Xuetao thought a moment. “You mean yesterday’s or today’s?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yesterday’s or today’s?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How many checkpoints were there?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>PS: Dear readers, today’s update is fifteen thousand characters—please praise Salad.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leave a comment for Salad! Engagement is at 86%—Pulu is about to level up to Lv2. Give Salad a little more push.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",2237,"2026-06-20T03:43:13.043Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","8367ae86b346dcfca53d277ad6493b68a54fae29a35c9850369ccd58e4a1e77b","lord-of-the-proles-chapter-96","lord-of-the-proles-chapter-94",863,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Flord-of-the-proles-cover.jpg"]