[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-dark-and-dawn-light-years":3,"chapter-dark-and-dawn-light-years-dark-and-dawn-light-years-chapter-101":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Dark and Dawn Light-Years",{"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},2264701,4420,"Chapter 101: Dawn Ends in Void","dark-and-dawn-light-years-chapter-101",101,"\u003Cp>Everyone’s faces turned pale, filled with deep disappointment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Except Li Lin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because his attention was elsewhere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the very bottom of this stone chamber hung a painting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The painting depicted a white ocean, with a silver moon hanging in the sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the lower right corner of the scroll was inscribed a verse: “Half the path is shrouded in gloom; without dawn, all becomes void!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was identical to the illusion he had seen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was “gloom” referring to the Gloom Character Technique?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then what was “dawn”?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Dawn Character Technique?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin couldn’t help but step forward and took down the painting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He turned it over and over, but found nothing of value—it was merely an ordinary painting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, the others gathered around.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bai Zhiwei asked: “Inspector Li, have you discovered anything?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin shook his head: “No, it’s just an ordinary scroll.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone grew disheartened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Immortals really love to torment people—why place so many blank heavenly books here?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Huafang chuckled: “These aren’t blank heavenly books; we likely simply lack the conditions to observe them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What conditions?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Huafang said: “Who knows? Perhaps it’s some elusive immortal fate, or a special talent.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone felt this made sense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ding Fengqiu said: “Why don’t we each take one book out? See what changes arise later—it’s all up to individual fortune.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone agreed to the proposal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though they found nothing extraordinary, no one left the place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They kept flipping through books and bamboo slips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hoping to find one with “writing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But after turning pages all night, until the next day, they gained nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone grew discouraged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since these were “treasures” kept in a secret chamber, they must be valuable—but they gained nothing at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was deeply frustrating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The only one who gained anything was Li Lin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had entered a peculiar array, and seemed to have uncovered a new “secret.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dawn… what could it be?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After leaving Goukong Cave, Ding Fengqiu thought for a moment, then brought back some turf from nearby and covered the cave entrance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“These grasses grow tall and thick—only we will know this place; no one else will come.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Huafang smiled: “Even if they find it, they can’t enter. The only person in this world who might unravel that array is probably Inspector Li.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ding Fengqiu looked at Li Lin: “Inspector Li, if you ever have free time, visit my Ding family in Guicheng—I’ll sweep the bed and welcome you as an honored guest.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now everyone believed Li Lin was from a prominent family.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Except Zhao Xiaohu… because he was still too young and lacked experience—he had no concept of such things.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin smiled: “There will be opportunities.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ding Fengchun, Su Huafang, and Bai Zhiwei left first, since they had come here secretly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin, Bai Bu Fan, and Zhao Xiaohu returned to Beiliu County.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They did not go to see County Magistrate Ma; instead, they went straight to the posthouse to retrieve the steeds borrowed from the Military Office.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They had no intention of meeting County Magistrate Ma.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn’t want to get involved in this damned political infighting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as the three stepped out of the posthouse, they saw County Magistrate Ma standing before them with several constables.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Three inspectors, why are you leaving so hastily? Did I fail to entertain you properly?” Magistrate Ma said with a smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin’s face remained expressionless: “I have urgent business and must return.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then I won’t detain you,” Magistrate Ma continued smiling. “Here is a token of appreciation—please don’t refuse.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he spoke, three constables stepped forward, each holding a small wooden tray, each tray bearing three gold ingots.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bai Bu Fan and Zhao Xiaohu’s eyes nearly bulged at the sight of so much money.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But they suppressed their greed and looked to Li Lin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin thought for a moment, then smiled: “Thank you, Magistrate, for your gift.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He took the three gold ingots and placed them in the steed’s saddlebags.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bai Bu Fan and Zhao Xiaohu happily accepted their gold ingots as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin mounted his horse and bowed: “Magistrate Ma, may we meet again under better circumstances.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course, of course,” Magistrate Ma said, stroking his beard contentedly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he and the government office runners stepped aside to let them pass.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The three rode off quickly from Beiliu County.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Along the way, Bai Bu Fan and Zhao Xiaohu were extremely excited.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was their first time receiving so much money.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Xiaohu, let’s go to Hongxiuzhao—we’ve got money now, let’s try the courtesan’s charms.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Xiaohu was tempted, but suddenly remembered someone and shook his head firmly: “No, I’m saving for a wife.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bai Bu Fan stared at him in surprise: “Who have you set your sights on?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Xiaohu grinned but said nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bai Bu Fan was displeased and pressed him with words, trying to make him speak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Zhao Xiaohu only laughed foolishly and gave no answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Time passed amid their bickering; before evening, the three rode back to Yulin County.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After returning the steeds to the Military Office, Bai Bu Fan and Zhao Xiaohu departed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin needed to report to Huang Yan about the Beiliu County Magistrate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, he concealed the matter of Goukong Cave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After listening, Huang Yan slammed his fist on the table: “That scoundrel Ma Youde dares to deceive me… When I take office as Prefect of Jincheng, I’ll make him regret it—this infuriates me!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin smiled; it was the first time he’d seen Huang Yan lose his composure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But it was clear Huang Yan and County Magistrate Ma had a decent relationship.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leaving the county office, Li Lin returned home and enjoyed the warmth of his bed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next day, Li Lin took out the “Nourishing Nature Scripture” and read it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After spending the entire morning, he once again gained the “Body Cultivation +1” proficiency.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he went to the Papermaking Bureau.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The papermaker, upon seeing him, excitedly brought out two large stacks of yellow talisman paper.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sir, we’ve been waiting for you a long time.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin inspected the paper’s quality and was quite satisfied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After paying the final balance, Li Lin took the talisman paper home.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He used cinnabar to draw the talismans.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he infused the paper with yin energy and hurled it forward!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time, the summoning was extremely fast—a greenish-blue chain of lightning appeared in the air, but vanished before touching the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin immediately understood the reason for failure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not enough yin energy was infused.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Second attempt… the moment the paper left his hand, lightning struck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It nearly struck him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These talisman papers, made from lightning-struck wood, were extremely efficient at drawing lightning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Slightly increasing the yin energy infusion greatly accelerated the lightning’s arrival.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After trying another dozen times, Li Lin finally mastered the precise amount of yin energy to inject.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin was very pleased with himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he stood with hands on hips, laughing loudly, Zhang Afu approached and whispered: “Master, several government office runners are outside.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Has something happened at the county office again?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin instinctively turned to fetch his spear or other weapons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Zhang Afu said: “Master… you’ve been reported for disturbing the peace.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin fell silent, then realized—he was indeed in the wrong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Next time he practiced the Lightning Technique, he must go outside the city, to a place with no one around.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Tell them I understand—I won’t practice anymore.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Afu let out a breath—he was also afraid of sudden lightning strikes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially when it struck the house, he feared the lightning might curve and kill one or two of the servants.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since he wasn’t practicing thunder arts anymore, he might as well practice spear techniques.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin picked up the wooden spear, about to go through the forms, when Zhang Afu came over again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master, someone is outside…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m not practicing thunder arts anymore.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, it’s Young Master Zhao coming to pay a visit.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Zhao Hao? Quickly invite him in.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin put away the long spear and wiped the sweat from his brow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1344,"2026-06-19T19:39:18.782Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","b943527c1b692f82e8cab83fa65dca4148aefd962e6f5cb27de7655b830a1fa0","dark-and-dawn-light-years-chapter-102","dark-and-dawn-light-years-chapter-100",221,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fdark-and-dawn-light-years-cover.jpg"]