[{"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-182":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},2264782,4420,"Chapter 182: I Think You","dark-and-dawn-light-years-chapter-182",182,"\u003Cp>“Which village are you from?” Li Lin asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Minle Village.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin knew this village well—it fell under Beiliu County’s jurisdiction, but it was actually closer to Yulin County.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In moments of crisis, people’s instinct is to flee toward the nearest place of safety.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So it was understandable that the villagers of Minle Village came to Yulin County.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the problem was… Yulin County had no copy of Minle Village’s household registry and had no idea how many people were in that village. If spies had slipped in among them, the ones who would suffer would be the people of Yulin County.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin’s gaze swept over the crowd below; every villager wore a look of deep sorrow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their eyes held fear, yet also a trace of resentment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was natural—they feared the soldiers, but after enduring so much to reach a place with walls, only to be denied entry and forced away, it was as if they were being told to die.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin walked over to Jiang Jili and asked, “What do you plan to do?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jili spoke calmly: “Send them away. Even if they refuse, we won’t let them in. They’re from another county—if we let them in and something goes wrong, we’re the ones who’ll suffer.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin pointed down and said, “But I counted—there are at least thirty or forty children under ten, and some infants. Can you really watch them…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“County Wei ,” Jiang Jili said, looking Li Lin in the eye. “You told me yourself—don’t overstep your duties.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin frowned. “This is different. We’re their parents in office.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Same thing,” Jiang Jili sighed. “If something truly goes wrong, how many of the hundred thousand people in this county will die?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin smiled. “No—you’re not worried about how many will die. You’re only worried that trouble will ruin your career.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jili froze, then snapped, as if insulted: “You look down on me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No,” Li Lin said, gazing up at the phantom peach tree high in the sky. “I’m just speaking plainly. You’re not that kind of man—I can tell.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jili forced his expression into one of anger and wounded pride, even letting sorrowful despair flicker in his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Li Lin simply watched him—watched his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a long silence, Jiang Jili’s expression softened. He asked, “So… you plan to save them?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What if there really are spies among them?” Jiang Jili asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Find them and kill them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jili finally smiled. “Then go ahead. But I’ll record this in the official documents and submit it later. Don’t regret it later.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do as you like.” Li Lin turned and looked down at the crowd below the wall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Four hundred people—if he truly abandoned them to die… Li Lin couldn’t do it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An incense stick later, the city gate opened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin emerged with forty government office runners, accompanied by Bai Zhiwei and several other Spirit Hunters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The villagers stared at the open gate, their eyes lighting with hope—some even moved to rush in—but the archers on the wall, bows aimed at them, held them back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin stepped forward and said, “I am the county Wei  of this county. I understand you wish to enter Yulin City for safety—but you’re from Beiliu County. We have no household records for you, so we don’t know your backgrounds. If even one spy is among you… you understand.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dressed in red official robes, standing in the dark, lit only by the fading glow of torches, he radiated overwhelming authority.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An elder stepped forward, bowing low, humbly saying, “Your Excellency, everyone here is from our village—no outsiders. I swear on my life—let us in. If we go back to Beiliu City now, it’s too late.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The villagers began clamoring, pleading with Li Lin to let them in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But if even one of you is a spy, then the hundred thousand people of Yulin County are in danger. Who among you can bear that responsibility?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At these words, all fell silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The village elder scanned the crowd and said, “Your Excellency, I swear—every single person here is from Minle Village. No outsiders.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I repeat: who will vouch for your word?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No one answered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only silence remained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a pause, Li Lin smiled. “I want to save you. So I’ll say this plainly: I’ll let you in—but you must stay in the area I designate. No one leaves. If anyone steps outside, I’ll treat them as a spy. Agreed?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The villagers erupted in joy, shouting and clamoring.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The village elder suddenly raised his head—and four hundred people fell silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The elder bowed again. “Your Excellency, we’ll obey every order. We’ll do anything. We won’t cause you trouble. If anyone dares to disobey, you don’t need to lift a finger—I’ll beat him to death with my own walking stick.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin nodded. “Good.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He turned to the entire crowd. “Anyone unwilling?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No one spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The night grew darker, and with enemies approaching, they desperately needed to enter the city for safety.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Since no one objects, I take that as your consent.” Li Lin turned to the government office runners. “Take them to the Temple of the Tree Immortal Lady. There’s a quiet area there—let them rest there.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing Li Lin’s approval, the villagers exhaled in relief—some women even wept with joy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They bowed repeatedly to Li Lin in thanks, then obediently followed the government office runners into the city.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once all had entered, the gate closed again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin returned to the wall. Jiang Jili looked at him and said, “Men like you don’t live long.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How so?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My family has several books recording strange tales,” Jiang Jili said with a smile. “Many of them feature men like you—gentlemen. But their fates were always grim.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I think I’m quite lucky.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Walk by the river long enough, you’ll get your shoes wet,” Jiang Jili said, gazing into the distance. “I’m starting to regret this. Had I known you were this kind of man, I wouldn’t have wanted to work with you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the distance… the last streaks of crimson clouds were fading.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin smiled and shook his head. “I feel you’re actually quite envious of me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jili said nothing. “I’ll keep an eye on those villagers. But understand this—I value stability. If they show the slightest sign of trouble, I’ll kill them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fine.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He deserved that much respect—he was the county’s second-in-command.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jili nodded, then turned his gaze to the road ahead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another group was approaching—many carried torches, forming a long, winding dragon of fire along the road.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jili saw them and drew a deep breath. “The enemy has truly come.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If those villagers had entered the city even a moment later… it might have been too late.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1129,"2026-06-19T19:39:18.782Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","9b16ac55534c8678ec07f54a1bb50d38acb2e435d068ee023dee9c893ababac6","dark-and-dawn-light-years-chapter-183","dark-and-dawn-light-years-chapter-181",221,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fdark-and-dawn-light-years-cover.jpg"]