[{"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-16":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},2264616,4420,"Chapter 16: The Sage","dark-and-dawn-light-years-chapter-16",16,"\u003Cp>At this moment, Li Lin frowned slightly, puzzled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Generally speaking, only “family” may enter one’s own backyard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, the backyard houses female relatives.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You might say the county office’s backyard is a public space—once granted permission, entering is no issue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But entering another family’s private backyard is improper; what if you disturb the womenfolk?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin was about to confirm again when he saw Huang Qi had already walked far away; he had no choice but to follow the stone path toward the backyard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Along the way, he passed several Huang family servants, whose glances at him were strange.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not long after, Li Lin reached the backyard and immediately spotted Huang Qi, who sat before a round green stone table, sipping tea contentedly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Across from him sat a young girl in a green robed skirt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment Li Lin appeared, Huang Qi caught sight of him with the corner of his eye, rose, and bowed with a smile: “Brother Kun Ge, we’ve been waiting for you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin returned the bow: “Brother Zi Jing, my sudden visit came without a gift—I apologize.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t say that—it was I who invited you unexpectedly; the fault is mine.” Huang Qi smiled, then pointed to the girl in the green robed skirt: “This is my younger sister; I cannot yet tell you her given name. Call her ‘Second Sister,’ just as I do.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His words sounded intimate; the girl stared at Li Lin in surprise, for she knew well how proud her elder brother was—and yet he treated this Spirit Hunter with such regard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rare indeed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though surprised, the girl in the green robed skirt remained composed, offering a graceful curtsey: “Brother Li.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her tone was neither warm nor cold, perfectly balanced.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Madam Huang,” Li Lin bowed in return, matching her demeanor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though Huang Qi told him to call her “Second Sister,” he kept his distance in his heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing their behavior, Huang Qi sighed faintly and said: “Brother Kun Ge, please sit.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin sat as instructed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The girl gently moved her slender hands and poured him a cup of clear tea.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The tea was fragrant, the cup exquisite—translucent porcelain, unadorned, yet when filled, faint floral and avian patterns emerged on its surface.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin’s family had once owned a set of such cups; they were expensive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After thanking her, he took a small sip and asked: “Brother Zi Jing, why did you invite me here?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s not a major matter,” Huang Qi said slowly. “Your father recently informed your Spirit Hunters: Jincheng will host a gathering of Spirit Hunters. All participants will gain something, and the top performers will receive great fortune.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin smiled: “I’ve heard.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Not tempted?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Tempted.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Won’t you strive for it?” Huang Qi laughed. “I can help you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No need,” Li Lin shook his head. “Fairness matters. Among the dozen or so Spirit Hunters in the county, no matter how you rank them, I wouldn’t be chosen.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Huang Qi sneered: “Fairness? If fairness truly existed, Zhao Hao wouldn’t even be attending.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Hao was the one whose uncle was Jincheng’s Assistant Prefect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The girl beside them whispered: “Brother, please be careful.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No harm. We’re family—no one will hear.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin’s expression remained calm: “That too is fairness. I can’t expect to match generations of other families’ progress with merely half a year of winter training in the coldest months and summer training in the hottest.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The girl raised an eyebrow, visibly surprised.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Qi paused, then said: “Brother Kun Ge, your view is truly unusual.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin smiled again: “I know you mean to help me, but often, lacking virtue to match one’s position is a serious problem.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lacking virtue to match one’s position?” Huang Qi’s expression twisted. “Brother Kun Ge, in my eyes, you are a man of noble bearing—if even you lack virtue to match your station, then Zhao Hao…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin gently waved his hand, cutting him off: “Brother Zi Jing, what, in your heart, is ‘virtue’?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Qi answered without hesitation: “The sages said: filial piety as foundation, benevolence as supplement, propriety as manifestation—that is virtue.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was indeed the belief most scholars accepted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin smiled: “But my elders once warned me: the sword at the sage’s waist—that is ‘virtue’!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Huang girl blinked, as if suppressing a laugh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Qi, however, first looked stunned, then fell into deep thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin sipped his tea in silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a long while, Huang Qi sighed softly, bowed deeply, and said: “Thank you, Brother Kun Ge, for your insight.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re too formal,” Li Lin stood. “It’s growing late—I must go buy supplies at the market. I won’t trouble you further.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother Kun Ge may stay the night—we can share a bed and talk by candlelight.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin instinctively shuddered—who wants to share a bed with you? You’re mad!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He quickly refused: “Lately, the wandering ghosts at Shangtikou Village have been particularly active—I must return to guard it. I’m uneasy staying away.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Qi was disappointed, but Li Lin’s reason was noble and valid; he could only say: “Then when we meet again, let us speak at length of life and the moon.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Agreed.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin smiled and turned to leave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before leaving the backyard, he glanced unconsciously toward the small bamboo grove to the west.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There, a red-clad shadow was hidden among the bamboo—clearly a woman.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hmm… it was that Hu Ji he’d seen before—she’d been eavesdropping.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was this girl so disfavored that she couldn’t even appear openly?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But that didn’t make sense—just now, the County Magistrate clearly doted on her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, none of this concerned Li Lin—he walked quickly away, for he truly needed to buy essentials for the village.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not long after Li Lin left, Huang Yan emerged from a wooden door at the rear of the backyard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He too had been eavesdropping.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked toward the bamboo grove: “Come out. A girl hiding like that—what sort of behavior is that? If you wish to listen, sit properly. You’re my eldest daughter—what are you afraid of?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The golden-haired, blue-eyed girl stepped out, looking embarrassed, then found a round stool beside the stone table and sat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Yan naturally took the seat of honor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ling’er, what do you think of this Li Xunshou?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What do you mean?” Huang Ling blinked, then pouted unhappily: “Are you setting me up for a match?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Huang father and son both burst into laughter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They indeed had that intention.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing both father and brother so, Huang Ling frowned: “Next time, tell me first.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah, that’s trivial,” Huang Yan asked. “What do you think of this Li Xunshou? He’s one of the few suitable matches in Yulin County.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1115,"2026-06-19T19:39:18.782Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","60f131630e00c75475bd1d999132092eaba7af6b0b8f83ff7ac844775a444b11","dark-and-dawn-light-years-chapter-17","dark-and-dawn-light-years-chapter-15",221,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fdark-and-dawn-light-years-cover.jpg"]