[{"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-112":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},2264712,4420,"Chapter 112: They","dark-and-dawn-light-years-chapter-112",112,"\u003Cp>Su Huafang’s death did indeed leave Li Lin in a low mood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he could accept it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, Su Huafang had only about half a year left to live.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Three days later, Su Huafang’s ashes were buried on a small hill south of the county; his son was deeply filial, and the grave was built with considerable grandeur.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Huafang had spent decades as a Spirit Hunter and had saved up a good deal of silver, all of which he left to his eldest son.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On this same day, County Magistrate Huang Yan summoned them all together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“For some time now, Yuecheng has been striking at us, leaving us constantly on the defensive,” Huang Yan said, seated on the court dais, his expression cold: “I am not the sort to suffer insults without retaliation. Lately, I have been secretly coordinating with General Tang, preparing to launch a direct assault on Changmei Military Garrison with both the village militia and border troops.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, he pointed to a location on the terrain map.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“East of Changmei Military Garrison lies Lianjiang Village, where we have an inside agent. Once you arrive, he will seek you out and show you how to use backpaths to bypass the garrison and reach the enemy’s rear.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone’s expressions turned serious, clearly growing excited.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Once behind enemy lines, do not engage in prolonged fighting. Your primary mission is to preserve yourselves; if the opportunity arises, burn or destroy the enemy’s logistical supplies—especially grain!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Yan smiled: “Tomorrow morning, you depart. If this succeeds, I will personally authorize thirty taels of gold from the county treasury for each of you. Additionally… each of you will receive two hundred jin of blood rice.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone bowed their fists and replied in unison: “We obey.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Li Xunshou, come with me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching Huang Yan lead Li Lin away, all the Spirit Hunters felt intense envy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bai Zhiwei said: “Li Xunshou really has good fortune in love.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Xiao was astonished: “What good fortune does Brother Li have?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He’s about to marry the County Magistrate’s daughter.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I never heard of this!” Zhao Xiao’s eyes widened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone laughed. Zhao Xiao spent most of his time in the village and naturally knew little of county affairs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The County Magistrate’s household had begun buying up large quantities of items—all wedding gifts. How could anyone not know what was happening?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the other side, Li Lin arrived at the Huang residence, and Huang Yan immediately left him to his own devices.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin had to find his way to the back courtyard himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, when he came to the Huang residence, he felt as at ease as if returning home.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No sooner had he sat down than Huang Qing approached.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She sat before Li Lin, her face flushed, and said: “Brother Li, Father sent for you to ask—through me—what dowry requirements you might have?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin instinctively blinked: “I haven’t even sent the betrothal gifts yet. Isn’t the dowry usually decided after seeing the betrothal gifts?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Qing’s expression grew even more embarrassed: “Father said… just being able to marry me off is already a great fortune. Don’t worry about the betrothal gifts—Huang family will handle everything.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin felt slightly ashamed: “How can I leave everything to the Huang family…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s fine. It’s only right,” Huang Qing said, gazing at Li Lin’s face with shy delight: “I also feel that meeting you is Heaven’s mercy upon me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In this reserved era, a woman speaking so directly like this was truly extraordinary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So Li Lin felt that Huang’s younger sister, to some degree, had inherited Hu Ji’s blunt nature, combined with the gentleness of a Han daughter—this unique temperament made her truly endearing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I understand. Though I needn’t worry about the betrothal gifts, I must still offer something.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Qing whispered: “Also… I heard you’re going on a mission soon. Please be careful. I’ll be here waiting for you to return.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin smiled and nodded gently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not long after, he left the Huang residence and returned home.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since they were to depart at dawn, Li Lin and Hong Luan refrained from intimacy and rested well instead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next morning, after breakfast, Li Lin prepared to leave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hong Luan saw him to the door and said: “Husband, rest easy. I’ll manage the household well. And no matter what happens, I am yours in life and in death—I will wait here for your return.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t worry,” Li Lin patted her head: “I have a divine ability—very powerful. No one can detect me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin arrived at the county government office for assembly; the government office runners had already prepared fine horses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ding Xun saw Li Lin and waved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin walked over; she pulled a vial of Divine Barrier Powder from her sleeve: “Take this. Keep it as backup.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The incident with Eunuch Qi made me realize: when traveling, accidents can happen anytime. If something happens to me and I can’t use the Divine Barrier Powder, use it yourself.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her words carried a strange tone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only the two of them had arrived so far; the others had not yet come.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin thought for a moment and understood: “Ding Xunshou, you’re upset because I took the Divine Barrier Powder from you last time without your consent. I apologize for that.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ding Xun blushed: “Don’t mention it—you understand! I’m still a maiden. If you keep talking like this, I’ll hit you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin smiled: “I’ve already forgotten it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ding Xun gave him a withering look.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon after, the others arrived.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Xiao was also assigned to this mission.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although three more Spirit Hunters had been transferred in, making their numbers seem larger, less than a month had passed and two had already died.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In other words, they had only gained one additional member since before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, Zhao Xiao had no choice but to step in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Riding his fine horse, Zhao Xiao was exhilarated, much like Bai Fanyan had been on his first mission—glancing left and right, wide-eyed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He seemed curious about everything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With seven Spirit Hunters and Ding Xun’s Divine Barrier Powder, they had no concerns about resting at night.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Six days later, they arrived at Lianjiang Village.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The village had few inhabitants—about a hundred households, roughly four hundred people.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As strangers, their arrival naturally drew attention.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet the villagers merely watched them from afar, their expressions cold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bai Zhiwei studied the surrounding terrain for a while, then said: “Let’s rest on that small hill outside the village. Clearly, these people aren’t friendly toward us.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Xiao asked: “Why?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bai Zhiwei replied: “Areas near battle zones are most vulnerable to being caught in the fighting. Our arrival here makes them fear another war is coming—why would they smile?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Xiao nodded vaguely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They rested on the hill, lighting a fire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This area fell under the protection of the altar and the True Lord, so they didn’t need to use the Divine Barrier Powder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After midnight, a man crept through the darkness toward them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His skin was dark, weathered by years of hardship.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon seeing them, his face twisted with grievance: “Thirteen years! I’ve had three children already—and the court finally sends someone to meet me! I thought the court had forgotten me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin and the others exchanged glances.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1218,"2026-06-19T19:39:18.782Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","6d72fc86fb9a6ca6a103a270ad578e25bb5480880d7404c1ad4f928e163fbb7a","dark-and-dawn-light-years-chapter-113","dark-and-dawn-light-years-chapter-111",221,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fdark-and-dawn-light-years-cover.jpg"]