[{"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-126":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},2264726,4420,"Chapter 126: Promoting Talent Without Avoiding Kin","dark-and-dawn-light-years-chapter-126",126,"\u003Cp>“You’re quite capable, County Commandant,” Jiang Jili rose to his feet. “I won’t argue semantics with you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He then turned to Huang Yan: “Magistrate, Li Lin is unsuitable to be County Commandant; a Captaincy is more than enough for him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do you mean I lack the discernment to judge talent?” Huang Yan asked calmly, showing no sign of anger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jili bowed his fists. “That is not what I meant.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then why can’t Li Lin continue serving as County Commandant?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He is your son-in-law.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I, Huang, promote talent without avoiding kinship.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What if others object?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, Zhao Hao led the cry: “All Spirit Hunters here recognize County Commandant Li!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Captain Yan also shouted: “All Constables and government office Runners recognize County Commandant Li!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Several other Captains and Commandants nodded in unison.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Ying smiled: “I, the Registrar, recognize County Commandant Li.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing everyone standing behind Li Lin, Jiang Jili’s expression darkened; he clenched his teeth and said: “Magistrate, I was wrong. Before coming to Yulin County, I heard rumors that the new County Commandant here was incompetent, so I formed a prejudiced view. Please forgive me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Who told you that?” Huang Yan asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A passerby.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Yan smiled faintly. “Oh, I understand. County Assistant, please be more careful in future—not to believe idle gossip from outsiders.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, yes!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jili nodded rapidly in agreement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Enough. Everyone, return to your duties. Li Lin, stay behind—I have matters regarding the case to discuss.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jili rose and left, casting one last glance at Li Lin—his eyes filled with wariness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When everyone had gone, Huang Yan said: “Son-in-law, this County Assistant Jiang has some powerful connections.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin listened in silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Any prominent family has two or three rivals,” Huang Yan said with a smile. “When I took up my post in Jincheng, there were those who secretly opposed me—but it was no major issue. This Jiang Jili was sent by a family that has long been at odds with my Huang clan.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin asked: “Can’t you just remove him?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You need a legitimate reason,” Huang Yan patted Li Lin’s shoulder. “He’ll likely target you—so be careful.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Understood.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After giving Li Lin this warning, Huang Yan departed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin continued leading patrols.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin had now served as County Commandant for three months, and had used his monthly salary to pay the government office Runners their wages for three months.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though each share amounted to only about fifty copper coins—meager—it did help the Runners, or their families, eat a little better.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, the Runners’ attitude toward Li Lin had grown largely approving.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, the one who approved of Li Lin most was He Shangjin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, Li Lin had saved his life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin had been waiting for County Assistant Jiang to cause trouble—but the one who came first wasn’t Jiang. It was Wang Tianyou.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Third floor of the tavern.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A large table laden with fine wine and delicacies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Congratulations, Brother Li, on your appointment as County Commandant—and on winning the heart of a beauty,” Wang Tianyou bowed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he presented a red envelope.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you, thank you,” Li Lin accepted the envelope. “How come you have time to come down?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do you remember the female spirit we encountered at the Tudimiao last time?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That female spirit had indeed been beautiful—perhaps half as alluring as the Tree Immortal Lady.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And about two-thirds the figure of my wife, Huang Qing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, Li Lin had dispersed her himself, so his memory of her was especially vivid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That female spirit has come back to life.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Tianyou was equally puzzled. “Normally, a spirit dispersed by force cannot return—but somehow… it truly has.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin understood his meaning: “You want… to recapture her and bring her back?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes,” Wang Tianyou nodded. “A beautiful female spirit is very useful.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin understood: “So you’re asking me to help again?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No,” Wang Tianyou shook his head. “I’m asking for your permission.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Tudimiao lies outside Yulin City. Now that you’re County Commandant, it falls under your jurisdiction,” Wang Tianyou said helplessly. “Without your order, we dare not go after her.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Didn’t you get permission from the previous County Commandant?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That was different. The former County Commandant was Young Master Huang—he wasn’t a Spirit Hunter and had no interest in such things, so his consent wasn’t needed.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin understood: “Go ahead. I have no interest in that spirit.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The reason was simple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Filthy!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Who knew how many hands had touched her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin still remembered vividly the image of her kneeling before men.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides, she was far less beautiful than the Tree Immortal Lady.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d only just managed to get the Lady to accept that he now had a wife—if he brought back another female spirit, she’d surely explode.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the Tree Immortal Lady grew disappointed in him, where would he go to plead his case?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wouldn’t trade a great tree for a mere blade of grass.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you. I’ll remember this favor—I’ll repay you when the chance comes,” Wang Tianyou rose. “Shall I begin preparations?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Need my help?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No. I’ve brought experts from my family.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that, Wang Tianyou left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin stared at the lavish spread before him, troubled—there was no way he could finish all this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Throwing it away felt wasteful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just then, a familiar face appeared at the stairway.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A thick beard, two red cloth knots tied atop his head—he looked every inch a legendary warrior.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He glanced around, spotted Li Lin, and immediately called out cheerfully: “Brother Lin! Found you!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin frowned: “How did you know I was here?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I just felt you’d be here,” Zhao Xiao walked over. “These are bananas from Longsheng Village—delicious. I brought you a whole bunch.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He placed a large bundle of bananas beside Li Lin, then sat down across from him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother Lin, you’re rich—eating all this by yourself.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Eat, too. Wang the Young Master paid—don’t let it go to waste.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Got it!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Xiao didn’t hesitate—he dug in eagerly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he devoured a chicken leg, he said: “Brother Lin, teach me how to win a girl’s heart. Autumn won’t even talk to me anymore.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Autumn?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oh—Ding Yingqiu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why come to me about this?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother Lin, you married the Magistrate’s daughter—so beautiful. You must know how. Teach me!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin hissed: “She’s nineteen. You’re thirteen. Six years apart.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Can’t I just offer two gold ingots?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin rubbed his head. “Your logic… isn’t entirely wrong—but I’m really not good at this.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t believe you,” Zhao Xiao gave him a look that said, You’re lying again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin thought a moment. “I think she does have some feeling for you—but your age is too young. She probably feels hesitant. Try being persistent.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Will that work?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin shook his head. “I don’t know. But from my experience, talking to women often increases their affection… their fondness for you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll try,” Zhao Xiao trusted Li Lin completely—he noted down the advice. Then he remembered something, pulled a hand-copied book from his robe: “A few days ago, someone left this outside my door. I glanced at it and felt dizzy, nauseous. Do you recognize it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin took it and saw three characters on the cover.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hui Zi Jue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1215,"2026-06-19T19:39:18.782Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","0276e82683f2c6390a995a9d437b6dbe388314455c46213ed6a27dbbe9585ccc","dark-and-dawn-light-years-chapter-127","dark-and-dawn-light-years-chapter-125",221,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fdark-and-dawn-light-years-cover.jpg"]