[{"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-149":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},2264749,4420,"Chapter 149: Framing","dark-and-dawn-light-years-chapter-149",149,"\u003Cp>Seeing Li Lin, Zhang Guangqi immediately rose from the main seat in the courtroom and hurried down to meet him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He did not bow with a fist salute, but extended both hands to support Li Lin: “Brother Lin, no need for formalities, no need for formalities—we’re family.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin was momentarily stunned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Guangqi then smiled: “I’m also a son-in-law of the Huang family, a few years older than you—just call me Brother Qi.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin understood: Zhang Guangqi must be the son-in-law of one of Huang Yan’s younger brothers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He smiled: “Of course I’ll call you Brother Qi—but this is a courtroom; it’s better to use your official title.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Exactly, exactly.” Zhang Guangqi looked at Li Lin and praised: “Truly a distinguished man—your father-in-law was right in his letter.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin repeatedly demurred; after some casual chat, this meeting was simply for mutual acquaintance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since we’re family, matters will be easier to handle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Li Lin returned home from the county government office, he saw the Tree Immortal Lady seated in the main hall, while Huang Qing sat beside her, embroidering and chatting with Li Yanjing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon his arrival, Huang Qing happily set down her embroidery, ran up to Li Lin, curtsied lightly, and said: “Master has returned—you’ve worked hard; shall you first wash and refresh yourself, rid yourself of the dust?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good.” Li Lin nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he looked into the interior of the main hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Tree Immortal Lady had already known he had returned—entire county lay beneath the peach tree’s spiritual manifestation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With over a hundred thousand permanent residents, she might not know every secret, but Li Lin’s movements, she knew with absolute clarity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She regarded Li Lin for a moment, then vanished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She must have returned to the altar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her coming here seemed only to meet him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having met him, she left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After returning home, Li Lin rested for two days and practiced dual-cultivation for nearly two days.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only then did he begin writing annotations for the Thunderfall Spell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as he neared completion of the annotation booklet, he received an invitation from Jiang Jili.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Again at Fugui Pavilion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin arrived as agreed; it was noon, sunlight streamed through the open window—autumn light neither hot nor cold, the floor tiles glowing with a crisp freshness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jili had prepared wine and dishes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin sat across from him: “You summoned me because the item you promised has arrived?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jili sighed: “Only you could guess this.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He took a long silk box from beside him and placed it before Li Lin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin opened the box and found inside a long jade sword, unsharpened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Its color was green as water.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin picked it up and instinctively shook it slightly; the jade sword emitted a clear, melodious “ling.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fine sword!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin’s words were not idle praise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sword clearly carried the aura of spiritual energy, faint but undeniably present.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And… its touch was warm, soft, and deeply pleasant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin returned the jade sword to the box and sighed: “A fine sword, Kexi  I don’t practice sword arts.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jili sighed: “It was sent by my family—I had no say in the matter.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin suspected Jiang Jili had deliberately sent the sword.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Knowing he had no sword skills, he sent a celestial sword.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin said: “Then I’ll accept the sword—thank you, Assistant Prefect Jiang.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“All past matters are erased; from now on, we coexist in peace.” Jiang Jili suppressed his anticipation and said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin smiled, reaching to take the silk box toward himself—when suddenly, a figure leapt through the window.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Swift as lightning, murderous intent surging.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin reacted instantly; before he could make out the attacker’s face, he kicked over the table, sending wine, dishes, and all crashing toward the enemy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Simultaneously, Li Lin retreated rapidly, rolled aside, rose swiftly, and put distance between himself and the attacker.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The table shattered instantly; amid spilled food and wine, the figure charged forward, sword drawn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The attacker’s sword technique was brutal—in an instant, he reduced the heavy table to splinters; no ordinary man could do this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin was now prepared; his bone sword slid from his right sleeve into his palm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He advanced to meet the attack.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two swift hisses—Li Lin stepped back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The attacker stood frozen, sword raised, then collapsed to his knees.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So fast a sword.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two black holes appeared on his abdomen and two inches below his heart, oozing blood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sleeve Dagger Art.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though using the artifact dagger Shaguo Zhou, its piercing power was still formidable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The attacker coughed twice, spitting a pool of blood—he knew he hadn’t struck a vital point, but movement was now impossible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin wiped the dagger clean and returned it to his sleeve.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked at the attacker: “Who are you? I’ve never seen you before.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The attacker glared fiercely at Li Lin, then turned to the stunned Jiang Jili: “Master, forgive your servant—I failed to slay your enemy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that, the attacker collapsed, black blood oozing from mouth and nose, his body twitching.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Again, poison hidden in the teeth—no hope of rescue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin looked at Jiang Jili beside him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only now did Jiang Jili react—he leapt up, shouting: “Not me! Not me!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin smiled: “I know it wasn’t you—no need to panic.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jili pressed his pounding chest, walked over, and stomped hard on the attacker.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Who sent this assassin?” Jiang Jili asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin did not answer; instead, he knelt and searched the attacker’s clothing, pulling out some silver taels.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, he found a token—front engraved with cloud patterns, back inscribed with the character “Jiang.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the token, Jiang Jili’s face darkened: “Assistant County Magistrate Li, whether you believe me or not, I had nothing to do with this. My family would never do such a thing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin nodded: “I know it wasn’t you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jili exhaled in relief: “Thank you for trusting me, Assistant County Magistrate Li.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Not because I trust you,” Li Lin shook his head. “I simply think your family wouldn’t be so foolish—fail to kill, then expose your master. This is clearly a frame-up.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jili bowed deeply: “Thank you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin glanced around; many diners had fled, only a few bold ones remained watching.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“As Assistant Prefect, you bear responsibility for interrogation,” Li Lin smiled. “This case is yours—I’m sure you’ll uncover the enemy’s trail.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jili nodded firmly: “Leave it to me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was seething with rage, determined to find the mastermind behind this and kill him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How dare someone plot against him? Foolish.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin returned home with the jade sword in its silk box.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yanjing was laughing with Hongluan; seeing Li Lin return, she opened her mouth to speak—but her brows furrowed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master, what is that you’re holding?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1134,"2026-06-19T19:39:18.782Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","f84dc63a819538deb5980f5670f5c0f0d63336b38437348194cfd013e32c59e9","dark-and-dawn-light-years-chapter-150","dark-and-dawn-light-years-chapter-148",221,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fdark-and-dawn-light-years-cover.jpg"]