[{"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-152":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},2264752,4420,"Chapter 152: Cultivating Loyal Followers","dark-and-dawn-light-years-chapter-152",152,"\u003Cp>It was all because of childish blunders.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin shook his head helplessly; such things, though they shouldn’t happen, did occur.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He asked: “Were the other gold ingots not discovered by him?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I hid them all, buried them in…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin waved him off: “Don’t tell me—I don’t want to know.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Huafang nodded, understanding, his eyes seeming to ease with relief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin smiled: “You thought I grabbed you because I wanted your gold ingots? You came to confess to avoid disaster?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Huafang shook his head rapidly, beads of sweat forming on his forehead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin chuckled: “It’s good you’re cautious, but don’t assume we three seniors are that vile. If we truly wanted your gold, we wouldn’t have brought you into our circle.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Huafang immediately knelt down, his face pale and ashen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Get up. A man’s knees hold gold,” Li Lin said calmly. “If Old Su knew his grandson… no, according to our expectations, you’re now the legitimate eldest grandson. If he knew his own eldest grandson knelt before me, he’d probably burst out of his coffin to curse me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing Li Lin invoke the deceased elder, Su Huafang dared not kneel any longer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He rose, his expression filled with emotion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We won’t take your three gold ingots. We’ll store them in the penal chamber for now and return them once things settle.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Huafang nodded eagerly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Stay here for a few days. Since you can’t explain the origin of the gold, we’ll release you once the heat dies down.” Li Lin said slowly. “After you’re out, borrow a few taels of silver from Bai Xunshou to get by—don’t ever show your gold again.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Huafang whispered: “So the gold must stay hidden forever?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“In six months, one of the deputy commanders in the village militia will retire,” Li Lin smiled. “I can arrange for you to take his position—but you must reach at least Ninth Rank as a martial cultivator, or you won’t command respect.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Huafang froze, then burst into joy, bowing deeply with clasped fists: “I will never Gufu  your cultivation, County Wei .”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“With the title of deputy commander, you can slowly use your gold without fearing pressure from the Su family’s main branch!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes!” Su Huafang’s eyes glistened with tears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin turned and walked away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Huafang remained bowed, fists clasped, long after Li Lin had left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin exited the county government office and met an acquaintance outside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Yumao.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Yumao wore black robes, his face pale from prolonged absence of sunlight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet his gaze was sharp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“County Wei  Li,” He Yumao bowed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin walked over, returning the bow with a smile: “Long time no see, Brother He. You must have come specially for me—let’s find a place to talk.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fine.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two entered a small tavern in the marketplace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was both bustling and desolate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The marketplace itself teemed with life, but the tavern held no other patrons besides them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After they sat, the waiter brought wine and dishes—mediocre in appearance and taste.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But neither had come for the food.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“County Wei  Li, I’ve entered the ranks.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So soon!” Li Lin was surprised.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clearly, the will of vengeance could ignite tremendous drive and determination.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ve cultivated before—I still have experience. Breaking and restarting isn’t too hard.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was true, Li Lin nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So what are your plans now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A Ninth Rank Spirit Hunter can’t defeat my enemy. I must keep training hard—and that requires resources.” He Yumao looked at Li Lin: “I wish to become a Spirit Hunter. Please recommend me, County Wei .”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No problem,” Li Lin nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Spirit Hunters were always in short supply; anyone with talent and willingness was accepted, unless they had serious moral flaws.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you,” He Yumao raised his cup and drained it first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After some idle chatter, He Yumao suddenly said: “I heard you have aspirations toward immortality?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin smiled helplessly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How had everyone found out about his quest for immortality?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do you think it’s ridiculous?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How dare I!” He Yumao waved his hand. “Even His Majesty cultivates. It’s natural for mortals to have such desires.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was the truth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because this world had anomalies, and historical records clearly documented celestial immortals descending.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, cultivating immortality was not something shameful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Yumao paused, then said: “When I escorted caravans, I traveled far and wide. I once heard of a secret society called the Zhuxian Society.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin blinked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A group daring to call itself the Zhuxian Society? Didn’t they fear annihilation?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do they really kill immortals?” Li Lin asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They can’t even find immortals—how could they kill them?” He Yumao laughed. “But I heard they sometimes target cultivators.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Has the Ding family been harassed by the Zhuxian Society?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ve never heard of it,” He Yumao shook his head. “Maybe they were, but I didn’t know. Years ago, while escorting a caravan through a village in Yu Commandery, I saw an entire village slaughtered, its walls painted in blood: ‘The killers are the Zhuxian Society.’”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin frowned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Zhuxian Society is real, though extremely secretive,” He Yumao smiled. “But they rarely appear, and now that His Majesty cultivates, they likely dare not act recklessly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though the Zhuxian Society sounded fearsome, Li Lin wasn’t afraid at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The reason was simple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Tree Immortal Lady was here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A true deity sustained by the worship of countless people—Li Lin knew firsthand the power she wielded, from the last display by the Four Marvels Immortal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not an immortal, yet nearly one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the Zhuxian Society were truly that powerful, they’d have killed the true deities stationed in major commanderies first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Li Lin had never heard of any temple-enshrined true deity being slain by mortals.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The last Tao Wu Zhenjun was only killed by two true deities working together. The legendary Songzi True Lord was only slain after his altar was destroyed, then overwhelmed by three Ninth Rank Spirit Hunters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After more idle talk and finishing most of the food and wine, they went together to the county government office to register He Yumao as a Spirit Hunter with the Registrar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Registrar had changed—Huang Ying had followed his father Huang Yan to Jincheng as an assistant general, a promotion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This new Registrar was brought by the newly appointed Prefect. Seeing Li Lin, he smiled: “County Wei  Li, it’s past noon and you’re still at work? How diligent.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man smiled warmly, spoke gently, yet his tone felt odd—Li Lin couldn’t tell if it was praise or sarcasm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m here to register this man, He, as a Spirit Hunter.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course,” the Registrar smiled. “You don’t know my name yet, do you? I’m Chen Keyu.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Registrar Chen, good day,” Li Lin bowed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Keyu handed He Yumao a gray jade tablet, then turned to Li Lin: “County Wei , the Prefect wishes to speak with you. He planned to notify you tomorrow, but since you came today—how fortuitous. Could you see him?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin gave a slight nod.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He parted from He Yumao and went to the public hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Guangqi sat at the main seat, reviewing county administrative documents. Seeing Li Lin enter, he rose and smiled: “Younger brother, what brings you here?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Registrar said you wanted to see me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Guangqi chuckled: “Yes, yes—I have something to discuss with you. Let’s go to the back courtyard.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1234,"2026-06-19T19:39:18.782Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","35b7153fb780f4aac9c7840d225b582c2e528128b5a3b60d2c70af4a69b6c32c","dark-and-dawn-light-years-chapter-153","dark-and-dawn-light-years-chapter-151",221,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fdark-and-dawn-light-years-cover.jpg"]