[{"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-146":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},2264746,4420,"Chapter 146: Different Talents","dark-and-dawn-light-years-chapter-146",146,"\u003Cp>Ding Yingqiu fell silent for a long while before saying, “Among my clan, my meridians are relatively wide.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin blinked in surprise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That doesn’t make sense,” Li Lin frowned. “I’ve checked Xiaohu’s meridians—they’re only slightly smaller than mine.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Could it be that both of you are just… unusual?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin withdrew his hand and said, “I know why your cultivation has been so unsuccessful. Your meridians are too narrow.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ding Yingqiu looked pained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The qi cultivated by the Yangxing Scripture differs from normal yuanqi and yinqi—it’s… larger.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Qi can be large or small?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin nodded. “You should feel it yourself: yinqi is a trickle, yuanqi feels like tiny beads, like raindrops. But the qi from the Yangxing Scripture… is a sphere, a hailstone. You must draw this ‘sphere’ through your meridians into your dantian, condense it, crush it, break it down into a trickle—only then can it become yours.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ding Yingqiu rested her right hand on her forehead. “No wonder the Ding family has never crossed the threshold of cultivation in centuries—is it because our family lacks talent?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin said nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He could sense the suppressed despair and helplessness in Ding Yingqiu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a long while, Ding Yingqiu spoke in a low voice: “Thank you, County Commandant, for clarifying this.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin nodded and stood up. “I’ll head back then.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ding Yingqiu said nothing; she seemed lost in thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After leaving the Ding residence, Li Lin sighed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sometimes, talent really is just unfair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps that’s why Zhao Xiaohu, despite his mediocre aptitude, still cultivates so steadily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin set the Ding family’s matter aside—for his three-day leave had ended, and now he had work ahead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had to lead the Yulin County militia to escort Huang Yan to Jincheng for his new post, and also deliver over a hundred renowned southern barbarian women to the Jincheng Laundry Bureau.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was Huang Yan’s achievement, and Li Lin could claim a share of the credit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next morning, Li Lin did not go to the county office; instead, he donned his official robes and went directly to the northern city gate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Five hundred militia were already assembled, and all the hunting spirits had arrived.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Over a hundred southern barbarian women stood clustered nearby.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their complexion had improved greatly since a few days ago.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, having enough to eat and a place to sleep was already a good life for them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin’s arrival immediately drew attention.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Several militia captains came over to greet him, and the hunting spirits naturally gathered to chat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon after, another convoy emerged from within the city gate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was the Huang family’s convoy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Four two-horse carriages, eight donkey carts, over forty retainers, and thirty to forty laborers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What truly interested Li Lin were the dozen or so martial experts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin had never seen these martial experts before—each one brimmed with vital energy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>None of the hunting spirits could match them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not even Li Lin himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Is this the depth of a noble family’s strength?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin felt a touch of admiration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Qing also stepped out with the convoy, walking to Li Lin’s side, her eyes red. “My lord, you must ensure Father reaches Jincheng safely—and you must be extremely careful yourself. I’ll be waiting for you at home.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In truth, the militia escort was unnecessary—those dozen martial experts alone could safely deliver the Huang family to Jincheng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin even suspected the bearded old man among them was at least third or fourth rank.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was still only the Huang family’s public strength—how much more they held in secret remained unknown.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No wonder Jiang’s two fifth-rank experts vanished the moment they left Jingcheng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Qing and Hongluan stepped aside to bid farewell to Huang’s matriarch, sister, and younger brother.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Yan walked over and smiled: “Son-in-law, the new County Magistrate arrives tomorrow. For now, Assistant Prefect Jiang Jili is handling county affairs—I’ve already warned him. You needn’t worry about home. I’ve brought the Four Marvels True Lord’s altar with me, and I’ve arranged for the Tree Immortal Lady’s altar to be dealt with—rest easy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin bowed and smiled: “Thank you, Father-in-law.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That sounds too formal,” Huang Yan smiled, eyes half-lidded. “I hope you reach fourth-rank hunting spirit soon—then travel between county and prefecture will be much easier.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I will cultivate diligently.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Yan glanced around and smiled: “Then let’s depart—the hour grows late.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin nodded and shouted to the nearby captains: “March!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The captains immediately dispersed, barking orders.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The army set out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Protecting the Huang family in the center, they headed toward Jincheng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Qing and Hongluan stood at the city gate, waving continuously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Until the army vanished from sight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only then did they slowly walk home.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As they reached their front gate, they saw several martial experts standing outside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Huang Qing, they all bowed and said: “Miss Huang, our master ordered us to serve you—please direct us to move the Tree Immortal Lady’s altar to the True Lord Temple.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Qing already knew of this. She bowed slightly. “Thank you, brothers—but I’m no longer Miss Huang.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Our master ordered us to address you this way. He said you will always be the Huang family’s Miss Huang.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Qing nearly wept. She knocked on the door; Zhang Afu opened it and stepped aside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Come in.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The men followed Huang Qing to the back courtyard, where they saw two altars.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The larger one stood in the center of the main hall; the smaller one was hidden in a corner.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the main hall stood a beautiful peach tree.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The martial experts’ eyes twitched at the sight of the peach tree.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A servant brought two incense sticks; Huang Qing lit them and placed them in the incense burner.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Tree Immortal Lady, your divine carriage is to be moved—please accept the incense of countless worshippers in the True Lord Temple. Forgive this intrusion.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She inserted the incense into the burner.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At once, Li Yanjing appeared and said: “The Lady has agreed.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Lady!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Qing paused, then understood, smiling sweetly: “Then please go to the True Lord Temple—it’s also my lord’s wish.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Qing didn’t care whether she was called Lady—but if the Tree Immortal Lady was willing to take that title, then the Li family’s safety was assured.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yanjing said: “The Lady says to hurry.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Qing nodded and turned to the martial experts: “Thank you, brothers.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The martial experts bowed: “It’s nothing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They tied the altars with ropes, then lifted them together with a unified effort.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The group set off in a grand procession toward the True Lord Temple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The spectacle drew many passersby to stop and watch; some even followed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jili stood on the balcony of Fugui Restaurant, watching the Li family carry the altars past, his eyes filled with envy and resentment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Great spirit, True Lord!” Jiang Jili sighed. “The Li family’s power is now established—it will be hard to target them from now on.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beside him, a middle-aged man said: “The Huang family has high hopes for Li Lin. Once they add another pawn, it’ll be even more troublesome.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jili sighed softly: “It always feels like our Jiang family is one step behind the Huang family.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The middle-aged man smiled bitterly: “That’s just fate.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1217,"2026-06-19T19:39:18.782Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","6445909ec4a776910742995ed00d9122d50b6015b3b43ad5b5889faf6e78e5fe","dark-and-dawn-light-years-chapter-147","dark-and-dawn-light-years-chapter-145",221,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fdark-and-dawn-light-years-cover.jpg"]