[{"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-121":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},2264721,4420,"Chapter 121: Don","dark-and-dawn-light-years-chapter-121",121,"\u003Cp>As his paper-folding skill improved, his control over the paper figures became more precise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Previously, once given an order, the paper figures would only complete the main task and ignore secondary ones.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For example, if you told them to secretly find someone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then… they would find the person for you, but not do it ‘secretly’.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instead, they would appear openly beside the target, causing a commotion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now, ‘they’ seem capable of achieving true ‘secrecy’.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next morning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Several small paper figures crouched like cats, hiding in the grass or behind trees, surveilling an area.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was a sparsely populated stretch outside the city wall, a small grove with excellent cover.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A secret tunnel had been opened, guarded by several menacing blue-clothed thugs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Women were crawling up one by one from the tunnel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some had lost their hands, others one eye… they helped each other, moving slowly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The blue-clothed thugs occasionally kicked the slower women.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the other side, Li Lin stood in the government office courtyard and addressed the fifty government office runners before him: “No need to split into teams—follow me directly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone was puzzled, but Li Lin was the Assistant County Magistrate; they simply obeyed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fifty government office runners was already a large number, especially for ordinary people.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Passersby seeing the group of government office runners approach all scrambled to the side, terrified that any sudden movement might draw their attention and bring them undeserved misfortune.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The government office runners guessed Li Lin was likely arresting someone—otherwise he wouldn’t mobilize so many at once.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the direction they were heading? Clearly toward Head Constable Yan’s residence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The government office runners’ expressions were uneasy; a few opened their mouths but held back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the end, no one spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Tong looked deeply sorrowful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The group soon arrived at Head Constable Yan’s home.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, Head Constable Yan was chopping wood bare-chested, but when he saw Li Lin arrive with fifty government office runners, his expression darkened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was this the old saying—new official, three fires? And the first one burned straight to him?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Head Constable Yan felt intense tension and confusion: “Assistant Magistrate, what is this?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Put on your official robes and come with us.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Head Constable Yan paused, then relaxed: “Wait a moment—I’ll change clothes inside.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If they meant to arrest him, they wouldn’t ask him to wear his robes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Tong’s eyes narrowed slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, Head Constable Yan emerged dressed in his official robes, carrying his waist sword.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Just follow us,” Li Lin said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Head Constable Yan nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Assistant County Magistrate was the highest military authority in the county; all head constables and troop leaders fell under his command.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After speaking, Li Lin turned and walked away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The others immediately followed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, Li Lin exited the city gate; the government office runners grew even more confused but dared not ask.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this point, Yu Tong’s expression grew grim.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He slowed his pace, quickly falling behind the group.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as he seemed about to break away, Li Lin suddenly turned: “Yu Tong, where are you going?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Tong froze, forcing a smile: “Assistant Magistrate, I wasn’t going anywhere!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, three figures stepped out from the nearby grove.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Bai uncle and nephew, along with Zhao Hao.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The three surrounded Yu Tong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The government office runners stared, confused.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin said: “Gentlemen, thank you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Hao bowed and smiled: “No trouble at all—I owe you too many favors; this is nothing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bai Zhiwei also smiled: “Go ahead—we’ve got this man.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He’s possessed by a ghost—be careful.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hahaha, we specialize in hunting ghosts.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bai Bu Fan chuckled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Killing people? Spirit Hunters can do that too, but compared to martial artists, they’re weaker.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For hunting ghosts, three martial artists can’t match one Spirit Hunter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin confidently led his men away toward the secret tunnel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a quarter-hour, fifty government office runners surrounded the blue-clothed thugs, and upon seeing the maimed women, their expressions softened with pity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There are likely more inside the tunnel—send down a dozen men to bring them up.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Immediately, over a dozen government office runners entered the tunnel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As more women were rescued from the tunnel, Li Lin’s face grew colder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were too many—over sixty women now, young and old.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The government office runners trembled, fearing Li Lin would take out his anger on them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because… most of them knew about Xingzhuang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They had simply never reported it—or couldn’t report it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because the people don’t accuse, the officials don’t act.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, Bai Zhiwei and the others dragged Yu Tong over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Tong’s face was deathly pale.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He appeared utterly drained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Where’s the female ghost?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bai Zhiwei smiled: “I’ve captured it… Assistant Magistrate Li, let’s make a deal—give me that female ghost.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You want that ugly thing?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Better than nothing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fine.” Li Lin smiled. “But since you’re getting such a big favor, you owe us a big meal.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No problem—I’ll host a banquet tomorrow at Jinyu Pavilion, fine wine and food for everyone.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin bowed: “Thank you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He felt a flicker of joy, but then saw the women with severed limbs, missing eyes and ears, and sighed softly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another half-hour passed; all the women from the tunnel were brought to the surface.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The women stared blankly; even seeing the government office runners, they neither cried nor struggled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin said: “Count them. Take the blue-clothed thugs and Yu Tong to the government office barracks for detention…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Assistant Magistrate, shouldn’t they go to the Xingfang ?” Head Constable Yan asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin shook his head: “I fear they’ll kill themselves…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huh?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Head Constable Yan didn’t get the joke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he understood the general meaning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bai Bu Fan said: “Brother Li, I’ll watch them for you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No problem—I’m idle anyway.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, another group arrived.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Assistant Prefect, accompanied by several retainers in plain clothes, hurried over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Assistant Prefect himself was gray-haired, over fifty; he glanced at the captured blue-clothed thugs and Yu Tong and said: “Assistant Magistrate Li, I hear you uncovered a brothel?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Assistant Prefect is here too?” Li Lin smiled. “Rare sight.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Assistant Prefect narrowed his eyes: “Why do you say that, Assistant Magistrate?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Because you rarely involve yourself in affairs—your sudden appearance startled me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is a major matter—I must come, lest anyone accuse me of holding office without duty.” He paused. “Shall I assist in escorting these prisoners back to the county jail?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No need. These blue-clothed thugs are violent—I worry your retainers can’t hold them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In truth, those retainers were martial artists; though not strong, holding a few thugs was more than enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then let me take Yu Tong,” the Assistant Prefect said slowly, fixing Li Lin with his gaze. “It’s on my way.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Assistant Prefect, you handle records and tax households—I’ll manage law enforcement and public order.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Here, Li Lin smiled: “Don’t overstep your bounds!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1149,"2026-06-19T19:39:18.782Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","5befc2222295cb7f203ddd9ecfd256011f7de5c3251834ceaf5c7277a309a5f6","dark-and-dawn-light-years-chapter-122","dark-and-dawn-light-years-chapter-120",221,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fdark-and-dawn-light-years-cover.jpg"]