[{"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-168":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},2264768,4420,"Chapter 168: This Humble Monk Concedes","dark-and-dawn-light-years-chapter-168",168,"\u003Cp>Xiao Chunzhu stood high above, observing every movement of the county town.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A full day had passed, yet he still had not caught even a shadow of the killer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he knew it was only a matter of time—by tomorrow at the latest, he would force the other out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a man of the Jianghu, he knew better than anyone where his “kind” would hide and how they avoided official sweeps.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His mood was now extremely excited.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When he was dispatched from Lingxiao, he had been deeply unhappy—he hated traveling, the world was too dangerous, wasn’t it better to stay within the sect?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seventh younger brother… Lingxiao Sect’s inner-disciple junior.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In just half a year since joining the sect, he had already won the Master’s approval.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And he could see the Sect Master intended to train the seventh younger brother as the next Sect Master.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for this matter… he had no thoughts on it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, the one truly wounded by this was the eldest disciple, Lingyunzi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elder Lingyunzi had always regarded himself as the future Sect Master and conducted himself accordingly—until the seventh younger brother appeared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had watched with amusement as the two clashed in secret and open rivalry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then… the seventh younger brother decided to bring his family to Lingxiao and arrange them jobs below the mountain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That wasn’t unusual—the sect feared for his safety on the journey, so they sent him and several other juniors to escort him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was why he was displeased.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everything went smoothly until they reached Jincheng, where someone came forward and told them about Fuxincun.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The seventh younger brother panicked and rushed back in a frenzy, then encountered Li Lin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What followed was the seventh younger brother’s death.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Chunzhu did not regret killing his own junior—because if the seventh younger brother had lived, all of them would have died.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One dead, several alive—no matter how you calculated it, it was a profit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The other juniors said nothing to him, which clearly showed how perilous the situation had been.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Later, he parted ways with the other juniors in Jincheng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He knew well: if he returned to the sect after killing the seventh younger brother, he would surely be executed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He could only find a way to survive outside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But how hard it was for a stranger to settle down in a foreign land!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No money, no connections—only decent martial skill—what could he do?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perform on the streets? Crush stones with his chest?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d still be driven off—every spot on the street had its “owner.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Try joining a escort agency? Without local ties or a sponsor, they wouldn’t take him—what if they brought back a villain?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After wandering for over ten days, with his money nearly gone, he was considering desperate measures when he saw the township militia outside the city—and Li Lin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He could tell the militia’s gazes toward Li Lin were filled with approval and respect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If only one or two looked at him that way, it might mean Li Lin was decent—but if nearly all his subordinates did, then Li Lin was unquestionably an excellent superior.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So he decided to take a gamble.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, it seemed he had won.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After watching from the rooftop for a long while, a government office runner below bowed and said: “Brother Xiao, we’ve finished scouting the North District—what now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Check the southern market area. Ask if any strangers have been lingering—then question them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Understood.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Chunzhu paused, then said: “Be cautious. If you spot anything unusual, don’t act—return immediately and report. We’ll gather forces before moving.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Got it!” the runner replied again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He resumed his post on high, watching all around—if any disturbance arose, he would rush there first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Time passed slowly, and evening soon arrived.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, a runner below called up: “Brother Xiao, come down and eat something.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Chunzhu rubbed his stomach—he hadn’t eaten all day and was truly hungry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He leapt down, and the runner handed him a small bamboo basket.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside sat a ceramic vessel, lid upside-down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When he lifted the lid, it was filled with steaming white rice, topped with a handful of green vegetables and two thin slices of fatty pork.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It looked delicious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This… you’ve gone too far,” Xiao Chunzhu said gratefully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For an ordinary person, this dinner was already lavish.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Not me—it was the County Magistrate who sent it,” the runner laughed. “Everyone involved in the case gets this.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Chunzhu blinked. “Do you often get such good food?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes,” the young runner nodded vigorously. “As long as we work, we eat well. And after each case, if we get silver rewards, the Magistrate shares a portion with us.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Chunzhu’s heart burned hot: “The Magistrate is truly a good man.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The runner nodded eagerly: “Yes, yes!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Chunzhu ate heartily, quickly finishing every bite.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He placed the ceramic bowl back in the basket: “Thank you…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother Xiao, you’re too polite,” the runner smiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, Xiao Chunzhu’s ears twitched—he leapt up instantly, staring toward the northeast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then his face lit up with joy; using Lingxiao Sect’s lightness technique, he shot toward that direction at speed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His speed was swift—Lingxiao’s lightness technique prioritized velocity, excelling in pursuit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In less than twenty breaths, he had crossed three streets.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, a green firework burst into the sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Something had happened!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Chunzhu rushed toward it even faster.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, the other runners sprang into action.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Several captains saw the flare and led the township militia down from the city walls.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They headed straight for the flare’s location.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instantly, lines of torch-bearing men converged from all four directions toward one spot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Chunzhu arrived first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He landed on the rooftop and looked down—over a dozen runners formed a semicircle, facing a disheveled man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Several runners lay nearby, lifeless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Chunzhu leapt down, stepping before the runners, and bowed: “Sir, have you been the one draining people’s life essence these past days?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man was filthy and unkempt, his face obscured—only his eyes were pale gray, lifeless as dead stone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So what if I didn’t? So what if I did?” The man clasped his hands. “The Buddha said all is empty—what difference does killing make? What difference between death and life?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Madman!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No need to waste words with such a man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Chunzhu drew his longsword, stepped lightly, and began circling the man slowly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lingxiao Sect’s footwork,” the man turned toward him. “When did Jianghu men become the government’s lapdogs?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I choose to,” Xiao Chunzhu snorted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, you willingly—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the man spoke, Xiao Chunzhu surged forward—two steps, and he was before the man, his sword flashing silver toward the man’s face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ding!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man raised his right palm, palm facing the blade—and stopped the tip with a metallic clang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Diamond Palm!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Chunzhu grunted, pulled his sword halfway back, then thrust forward again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man raised his palm again, trying the same move.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Xiao Chunzhu’s sword suddenly split into two slender blades, stabbing from either side of the palm toward the man’s eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man didn’t dodge or retreat—he simply closed his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The twin blades struck his eyelids—and again, metallic clangs rang out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man smiled with closed eyes: “Mother-and-Child Splitting Light Twin Swords—well done. But your internal energy is weak, your qi insufficient.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Chunzhu retracted his blades, stepped back two paces, his face grim.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This man was strong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man opened his eyes and grinned: “Step aside. I don’t wish to fight Lingxiao Sect.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You won’t leave,” Xiao Chunzhu said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No sooner had he spoken than a flood of runners and township militia arrived.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crowds surged in, soon blocking every escape route.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even archers climbed onto rooftops.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man glanced around, then crouched, clasping his head: “This humble monk concedes. I surrender!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1294,"2026-06-19T19:39:18.782Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","c4ede07b3fb76542c34b7b0d97414e273c723aaa12078a067f70eaefa79bd4ae","dark-and-dawn-light-years-chapter-169","dark-and-dawn-light-years-chapter-167",221,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fdark-and-dawn-light-years-cover.jpg"]