[{"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-184":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},2264784,4420,"Chapter 184: First Victory","dark-and-dawn-light-years-chapter-184",184,"\u003Cp>Beside Li Lin stood a dozen government office runners, holding torches to “protect” him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, the place where Li Lin stood was the “brightest” in illumination.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This created a Tyndall effect, casting him in radiant glory, utterly distinct from the village troops hiding in “darkness,” and from Assistant County Magistrate Jiang Jili.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone else became his backdrop.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin looked down at the man before the formation and bowed with a smile: “I am Li Lin, the county constable of Yulin. Who are you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The night was now silent, save for the crackling of torches.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Under Emperor Qin’s command, General Qin Donglai,” the man said, eyes filled with hatred: “I’ve seen you. Half a year ago, you nearly took an arrow from me; four months ago, you burned our grain stores! Never thought we’d meet again.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The surrounding soldiers looked at Li Lin with admiration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jili had not yet descended the wall; he too stared at Li Lin in astonishment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had not expected Li Lin to have exchanged words with the enemy’s general.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But upon further thought, it made perfect sense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, Li Lin was a Spirit Hunter—capable of handling any situation, and this was the frontier, where clashes with enemy forces were normal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin bowed again and smiled: “General Qin, since we know each other, why not save face and withdraw? You won’t breach this wall anyway!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qin Donglai snorted: “Just a county town. By dawn, I’ll take it with ease.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that, he turned and left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin turned to the several company commanders beside him: “He’ll almost certainly attack tonight. Stay alert. Double the night patrols.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, sir!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The company commanders replied in unison.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the darkness, Jiang Jili whispered: “I’ll go down then.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fine.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jili stared at Li Lin standing in the light, his eyes filled with envy; after a moment, he turned and walked away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin remained on the wall awhile, then entered the gatehouse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This small structure built atop the wall served as a resting place for the village troops.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Convenient for shift changes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin stepped inside, found a corner deep within, and sat down to rest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A soldier offered him his wool blanket and mat, but Li Lin refused.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He hadn’t slept long when he felt a chill beside him; when he opened his eyes, Li Yanjing stood before him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She stood gracefully, smiling sweetly: “A county constable sleeping on the floor? How pitiful.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin shot her a disgruntled glance: “Why are you here?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your two wives couldn’t sleep, worried about you, insisted I come check on you and report back that you’re safe.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Tell them it’s fine. Just wait at home for me to return.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yanjing smiled lightly: “Need any help?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin shook his head: “Stay at home and protect them both.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yanjing nodded, about to leave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wait!” Li Lin suddenly called out: “Take a breath.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yanjing blinked at him, surprised and puzzled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If any intruders get into the city, only you can protect them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But your body…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Just one breath—it won’t hurt me. But it matters greatly to you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yanjing cupped Li Lin’s hand as if holding something sacred, then gently licked it—a small white, transparent bead slipped between her lips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Immediately, she trembled all over, as usual.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a long while, she stopped, her face flushed, then vanished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After Li Yanjing left, the surrounding soldiers finally dared to breathe loudly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no choice—possessed apparitions could be seen, and their chilling aura was unbearable to ordinary people.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, Li Yanjing could suppress her coldness, but she no longer wished to.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, she was no longer a courtesan—she was a household True Lord.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No longer needed to please others just to absorb low-quality blood qi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These soldiers were village troops—they all knew Li Lin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They feared apparitions, yet revered this county constable all the more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, Li Lin could command an “apparition” to serve him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The company commanders were directing their men to patrol the wall; around midnight, many soldiers lay down to rest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Continuous full-strength patrols were impossible; someone had to rest to maintain combat readiness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But all remembered Li Lin’s order: night patrol strength was more than doubled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were repeatedly ordered to remain alert even while sleeping.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Time passed; the county grew quieter, and by the late night, it was eerily silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone knew an enemy army waited outside, ready to attack.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even infants seemed afraid to cry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And at that moment, Li Lin suddenly opened his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He shouted: “Ring the bell!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The soldier beside him snapped awake—he didn’t know what had happened, but his superior spoke, so he obeyed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, a rapid, clanging sound echoed across the entire county, swelling into a continuous roar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin stepped out of the gatehouse; soldiers poured from other gatehouses, torches reignited, bonfires atop the wall flared to life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One after another, they linked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, the wall’s firelight banished the darkness for dozens of zhang around.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before the wall, several squads of enemy troops clad in dark garb emerged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin stood beside the wall’s battlements, watching the enemies below, and smiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Around the wall, numerous small pink-purple paper figures hid in shadows, peering out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Archers, ready!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin raised his right hand high.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One hundred archers… nocked arrows, drew bows.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fire!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A volley of arrows rained down; dozens of enemies screamed and fell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But they did not retreat; instead, they charged forward with crooked ladders.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their gaunt bodies seemed filled with boundless energy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Free fire!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin roared, then looked afar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He saw Qin Donglai—standing motionless before a ritual altar, like a silent statue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin stared at him; after a moment, he smiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shouts reached the base of the wall; ladders were propped against it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Boiling oil poured down; some ladders were knocked away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Roars and screams continued without end.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The enemy numbers were many; some still climbed up the ladders.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The village defenders began to suffer casualties.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But as one fell, another stepped forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The village troops’ fighting spirit was fierce; under normal circumstances, when these southern barbarians scaled the wall, the defenders’ morale would have already collapsed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, these were village troops, not frontier troops.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Village troops and frontier troops were nearly two different species, with vast differences in combat power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most importantly, the difference in morale.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ordinary village troops would break when enemies reached the wall; frontier troops would not.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, even the Yulin county frontier troops would not.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because Li Lin stood atop the wall, occasionally spearing one or two enemies who drew near.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was why the village troops held firm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A commander who fought on the front line inspired far more than any banner or reward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The slaughter continued; soon, the southern barbarian numbers dwindled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After another incense stick’s time, all enemies who had scaled the wall were dead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The village troops immediately began tending to their comrades.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Beibei walked over, wiped the blood from his face, and said: “Report, County Constable—the enemy has been repelled. Our casualties are about ten percent.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Five hundred village troops, ten percent casualties—that meant roughly fifty lost combat capability.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But enemy losses were greater—around six hundred.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Storming a city is always like this—you pay several times the cost to gain even a small advantage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The enemy outside the city should number no more than two thousand; having lost about a third at once, their morale ought to have plummeted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But… things did not unfold as expected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The southern barbarian soldiers, watching their comrades die from afar, showed little expression on their faces.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, Qin Donglai smiled, looking at Li Lin with clear triumph.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, the Lizard-Headed True Lord hovering above the altar moved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1291,"2026-06-19T19:39:18.782Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","a4650d18607aa01e5e15d472eeb8fe23a50a15254660bd05a031b3e177802c69","dark-and-dawn-light-years-chapter-185","dark-and-dawn-light-years-chapter-183",221,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fdark-and-dawn-light-years-cover.jpg"]