[{"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-162":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},2264762,4420,"Chapter 162","dark-and-dawn-light-years-chapter-162",162,"\u003Cp>In recent times, he had indeed not seen Ding Yingqiu or Zhao Xiaohu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He never expected the two of them had come here to Jinmen for a rendezvous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin saw them, and they saw Li Lin too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ding Yingqiu immediately grew shy, while Zhao Xiaohu ran over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother Lin, what are you doing here?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin was surprised: “Why are you still here? Haven’t you gone back since last time?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since becoming County Constable, Li Lin had seen the Spirit Hunters less often.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, he was now an official, and many Spirit Hunter duties were no longer suitable for him to join.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Xiaohu waved his hand: “No, this is our third time coming here. We came to buy her some jewelry.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oh, that’s fine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the two of them had been staying here since two months ago, they’d likely be preparing for an unwed pregnancy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin looked at the woman beside him: “Ding Patrol Chief, I’ve already had someone change Xiaohu’s age to twenty-two. You can rest easy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Ding Yingqiu’s face turned even redder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin actually understood why Ding Yingqiu had suddenly decided to be with Xiaohu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had previously been quite wary of Xiaohu’s age.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thirteen was indeed too young.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now she was willing—the reason was simple: she wanted her descendants to have a superior bloodline.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin’s remark about her narrow meridians had truly stung her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ding Yingqiu’s meridian width was already among the best in her family, yet Li Lin had criticized it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ding Yingqiu stepped forward, forcing down her embarrassment, and bowed: “Thank you, Brother Li.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Xiaohu is my younger brother; you’re my friend. No need for formalities.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Xiaohu chuckled beside him, clearly delighted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“When are you getting married?” Li Lin asked. “Should I go to your family to propose?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Xiaohu’s family was modest, with no powerful patrons; Li Lin felt that as County Constable, he had enough status to help Xiaohu with the proposal without issue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ding Yingqiu shook her head: “No need. My family doesn’t care much about family background.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was true—after all, they had risen through dual-cultivation arts; as long as the son-in-law’s talent met the standard, it was fine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They never bothered with such trivial matters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then I won’t disturb you,” Li Lin smiled. “I’ve traveled five days’ distance—I’m tired. I’ll go rest upstairs. If you need me, come find me at this inn. I’ll be staying another two days.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, Brother Lin!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ding Yingqiu also bowed in thanks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin then went upstairs, rented a room, and lay down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He slept until the next morning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wasn’t fully asleep—he was in a half-awake, half-asleep state.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next morning, he washed his face, ate something to fill his stomach, and went to Tianyi Gate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After stating his name, he was quickly ushered in to meet Tianyi Gate’s senior disciple, An Xin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother Li, I never expected you to come to me voluntarily—I’m truly honored.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin smiled: “I’ve got a troublesome matter and need your help.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Go ahead,” An Xin smiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Have you heard the rumors about the Zhuxian Society?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An Xin nodded: “I’ve heard of it. Any sect with some depth knows about the Zhuxian Society.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Can you tell me about it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An Xin chuckled: “I don’t know much myself—just read about it in our sect’s local chronicles. I’ve never encountered it personally. Take it as a story, Brother Li—I can’t vouch for its truth.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Please, go on.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>According to our Tianyi Gate’s local chronicles, the Zhuxian Society first appeared sixty years ago.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin frowned instinctively: “Sixty years ago—the incident where the Empress stripped naked on the city wall?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Indeed, it’s related to that,” An Xin nodded. “After the Three Wangs and Five Surnames vanished, the Zhuxian Society emerged. Do you know the Three Wangs and Five Surnames?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin nodded, then shook his head: “I’ve heard of them, but I don’t know the details.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An Xin looked at Li Lin with a strange expression for a few breaths, then laughed heartily: “The Three Wàng are the Kong and Bing clans of Lu Commandery, the Fang and Huang clans of Shu Commandery, and the Li clan of Jinmen. The Five Surnames are simply the collective name for these five families.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Kong and Bing clans, and the Fang and Huang clans, were all intermarried and could be counted as one Wàng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin nodded slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“After the Five Surnames vanished, the Zhuxian Society emerged—some say it was founded by the remnants of the Five Surnames,” An Xin took a sip of wine and continued. “After all, the Empress’s childhood name was Kou Xian’er! The Zhuxian Society means ‘Execution of the Immortal’—it targets the Empress. Had it not been for her association, the Five Surnames would never have been driven to extinction.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin frowned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin thought this seemed far-fetched.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An Xin watched Li Lin’s facial expression carefully; seeing his skepticism, he formed his own thoughts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he still said: “This is merely popular legend. Yet our Tianyi Gate’s local chronicles also record another little-known fact.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What fact?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Outer Realm Demons.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh?” Li Lin paused.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Demons came from beyond the realm, rampaging brutally and devouring countless people. The Zhuxian Society arose to confront the calamity; three years later, the demons perished, and the Zhuxian Society vanished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Li Lin asked curiously: “What did these Outer Realm Demons look like?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The local records describe them as having two grotesque horns on their heads, standing one zhang tall, human-shaped yet monstrous, appearing as if they were immortals.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin couldn’t help saying: “This sounds exactly like a Gui.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An Xin chuckled: “I thought the same.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you, Brother An, for clearing this up,” Li Lin bowed and smiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No need for thanks,” An Xin waved his hand. “Actually, I should be thanking you. The Thunder-Calling Spell you gave us has been incredibly useful. Your instructions on Qi circulation and meridian flow are extremely clear—almost as if you were teaching us hand over hand. My little sister has already successfully summoned lightning, though her aim is still poor. Three other junior brothers are about to master it too. Our Tianyi Gate now has a new ultimate technique—I’m deeply grateful.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin waved his hand: “Mutual benefit—I didn’t lose out either.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I was actually planning to go to Yulin County to find you, but you came to me first,” An Xin looked at Li Lin expectantly. “How about another exchange of techniques?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sure,” Li Lin said with interest. “What do you want to learn?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin greatly enjoyed exchanging information and sharing knowledge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He possessed a unique learning method—he wasn’t afraid of not learning, nor of learning slowly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In any case, he was always the one who gained the most.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And trading meant no fighting—much safer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An Xin instinctively licked his lips and said: “I heard you have a Paper Man technique—you create many paper figures that can move around even in daylight, quite extraordinary.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Guiding Paper Men?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin frowned: “But this Paper Man technique requires a Yin-based inner method to learn. Your Tianyi Gate specializes in Yuan Qi and martial arts—this skill would be of little use to you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An Xin knew: “Our Tianyi Gate now has new ideas—we no longer accept only martial cultivators; we’re willing to take in several disciples with Spirit Hunter potential.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin looked at him and asked slowly: “What are you preparing for?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An Xin raised an eyebrow, his expression startled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1251,"2026-06-19T19:39:18.782Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","4e389ed3955ccf656de7cb8d581a92ee1f0a1f97c26f1bd0c5a8c1d21bec9842","dark-and-dawn-light-years-chapter-163","dark-and-dawn-light-years-chapter-161",221,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fdark-and-dawn-light-years-cover.jpg"]