[{"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-20":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},2264620,4420,"Chapter 20: Decisive Killing Intent","dark-and-dawn-light-years-chapter-20",20,"\u003Cp>When Li Lin arrived at the Han family’s residence, it was bustling with activity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They had set up several banquet tables inside, inviting the laborers who helped them move to feast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But not a single villager from Shangtikou Village had come.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At least, Li Lin saw none.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He walked up to the fence, and many noticed him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But they were all outsiders, assuming Li Lin had come for the housewarming banquet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One particularly simple, dark-skinned man stood up: “Sir, are you here to eat?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin smiled gently and said: “I’m not eating. I’m a Spirit Hunter. I suspect the Han family is colluding with a wraith and practicing witchcraft—I’m here to investigate. Unrelated parties, leave immediately, or you’ll be treated as accomplices.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At these words, everyone at the banquet froze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing they didn’t react, Li Lin swung his spear horizontally, tearing a wide gap in the fence and low wall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Splinters and wood chips flew to the right, scattering across the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you don’t leave now, it’ll be too late. Understood?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time they understood. The laborers and stable hands leapt up and bolted for the exit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few bolder ones grabbed one or two plates of meat before running.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In no time, nearly everyone was gone, leaving only two Han family members in the courtyard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One middle-aged man, one young man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The middle-aged man was furious, stepping forward and pointing at Li Lin’s nose: “You’re just a lowly Spirit Hunter… ah.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin swung his spear again, knocking the man aside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn’t use much force, yet the man was flung to the side, clutching his chest and gasping.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lately, Li Lin had been training relentlessly, and with his considerable talent, he had long since outpaced ordinary people.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This seemingly weak strike was already terrifying to a common man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Li Lin had applied even slightly more force, the man’s ribs would have shattered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Father!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The young man rushed over, cradling the gasping man, then glared at Li Lin: “In broad daylight, how dare you attack someone!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s stranger still that wraiths still roam in broad daylight.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin replied, advancing with his red-tasseled spear, kicking aside tables and benches blocking his path, then lunging forward—his spear thrust out, leaving a blurred red afterimage in the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ahh!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A scream erupted from inside the room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin remained unmoved, pressing forward with his spear, step by deliberate step, then halting at the doorway.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For inside the room… it was impossibly dark. From outside, nothing could be seen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As if it were a light-swallowing black hole.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, the white jade tablet on his belt glowed brighter with red light, yet still failed to illuminate the room’s interior.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin didn’t know what lay inside, nor did he intend to enter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stepped back coldly, withdrawing his spear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blood dripped from the spear tip… but it was black.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When exposed to sunlight, it boiled and evaporated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin glanced at the father and son in the courtyard: “What’s going on inside?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The father and son stared at Li Lin with hatred.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The middle-aged man spat venomously: “Why should we tell you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then you’ve lost your last chance.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin snorted, flicking his wrist—the spear flew from his hand, piercing the young man’s chest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The young man’s expression froze. He never expected Li Lin to act so decisively.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Feng…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The father stared at the spear protruding from his son’s chest, eyes wide with disbelief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin leapt forward, bringing both palms down hard onto the man’s head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man’s neck vanished—his head now grew directly from his shoulders.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He coughed twice, then fell silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin spun smoothly, yanking the spear free from the young man’s chest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blood gushed out; the young man collapsed, eyes wide open, unblinking in death.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Spirit Hunter code: those who conspire with wraiths are to be killed without mercy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin twirled his spear, speaking calmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he turned toward the room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A piercing shriek erupted from within—shrill, grating, stirring unease in the mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin instinctively stepped back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the scream abruptly cut off, as if silenced by something.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon after, a woman slowly stepped out of the room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She appeared around twenty-five, her features decent, but her eyes were terrifying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pure black—no whites, no pupils.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So it’s a possession wraith.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin sighed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though new to the profession, he knew basic knowledge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only a possession wraith could move in daylight and deceive the local “guardian,” such as the Tree Immortal Lady.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Guardian” usually refers to geckos, which have the property of warding off evil; thus, wraiths bound to altars and bound by “deals” with humans are collectively called guardians.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The wraith slowly approached the dead father and son, smirking: “Good riddance. If you hadn’t died, I couldn’t have fully taken control of this body.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then she turned her gaze to Li Lin and smiled: “Spirit Hunter, let’s make a deal.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin sneered: “I don’t make deals with wraiths…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He sensed something off—this wraith didn’t seem aligned with the Han family.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lies!” the female wraith laughed, covering her mouth: “The one behind you is drenched in your scent—you’ve already made a deal with her. What’s one more?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin turned—behind him floated the Tree Immortal Lady.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She hovered above, as if guarding him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin looked again at the possession wraith: “What deal do you propose?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Half the living people in this village. How about it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whizz!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The spear shot forward, aimed straight for the woman’s forehead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She didn’t dodge—black mist blocked the spear tip.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If words fail, force must follow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unsuccessful, Li Lin didn’t rush—he shook his spear, the iron head angling sharply toward her heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blood aura clung to the spear, its tip glowing bright red.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The possession wraith’s earlier calm vanished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She retreated three steps, out of the spear’s range.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then a massive shadow descended from above.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The possession wraith looked up—a long serpent tail.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She barely dodged; the tail smashed down, cratering the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because the tail was so long, its end struck the Han family’s house, collapsing it entirely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dust erupted in a cloud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin hissed—he hadn’t expected the Tree Immortal Lady to be this strong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The possession wraith’s expression turned grim.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Possessing a human had advantages, but also drawbacks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Advantages: freedom of movement, immunity to sunlight. Disadvantage: inability to fully unleash one’s power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She stepped back two paces, sneering: “Liu Zhe, how many men’s essence have you drained to reach this level?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In response came an even more violent lash of the tail.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1090,"2026-06-19T19:39:18.782Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","41ee0fb3d88e2b099af0ecc3a6e8895becc37631c2440df026b5185bf06283ac","dark-and-dawn-light-years-chapter-21","dark-and-dawn-light-years-chapter-19",221,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fdark-and-dawn-light-years-cover.jpg"]