[{"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-200":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},2264800,4420,"Chapter 200: Zhou Ji Yi Er","dark-and-dawn-light-years-chapter-200",200,"\u003Cp>Over five days, Li Lin squatted outside the Tree Immortal Goddess Temple, in a small grove, watching his familiarity slowly increase.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under these circumstances, the Tree Immortal Goddess seemed unable to detect him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, whether she deliberately chose not to notice him… only the Tree Immortal Goddess knew.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the success came, Li Lin intuitively understood that his Stealth Technique had received a comprehensive minor enhancement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It sounded like no major change, but Li Lin knew this was, in fact, a significant boost.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Comprehensive, balanced.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Any ability becomes harder to improve the deeper one goes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And balance is precisely the most effective way to enhance it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Harder to detect, faster movement speed while using Stealth Technique, and more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This indirectly increases the ability’s “feel,” making it more comfortable to use.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He tested it: now, under Stealth Technique, he could use Light Body Art, as long as his movement speed wasn’t excessive, he wouldn’t “reveal” himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He felt more confident then.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With his small bundle in hand, Huang Qing and Hong Luan watched him leave the house with worried eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin first went to the county government office.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jili saw him and tossed over a document.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Read it yourself.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After reading it, Li Lin smiled: “Good. Now I have a legitimate reason.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Remember, you owe me a favor,” Jiang Jili said with a grin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin nodded: “Noted.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then Li Lin went to the Military Office, briefed Xiao Chunzhu on official matters, and collected a fine steed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yulin County is still quite far from Yue Commandery; even on horseback, it would take four or five days.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mounted on the steed, Xiao Chunzhu said beside him: “County Wei , perhaps I should accompany you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No. Do your own duties.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Saying this, Li Lin left the county government office.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not letting Xiao Chunzhu come along had its reasons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>First, Qin Donglai was a Qin Army officer; Li Lin going to see his concubine carried the suspicion of improper conduct.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Second… the Southern Barbarian Divine Bone sounded important, and he didn’t want more people to know.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Along the way, Li Lin faced little hardship; he had a map and made sure to reach villages or towns before nightfall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a mount, his travel speed was fast, and his schedule was comfortably flexible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Five days later, he arrived at Yuecheng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although the Qin Prince had rebelled, military outposts along the way imposed no restrictions on civilians or goods entering.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rebellion didn’t mean total isolation from the outside world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One simply had to undergo inspection of carried goods and the number of merchants in the caravan before entry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, they also checked household registration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before leaving, Li Lin used a false identity: a Li-family scholar from Guixun.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He himself was a County Wei , Jiang Jili was Assistant County Magistrate—both were “inside the system”; forging a convincing household registration document was trivial.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, Li Lin looked exactly like a refined scholar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Yuecheng guards held the household document, scrutinizing Li Lin, while several other guards had already checked his luggage three or four times, thoroughly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The soldiers also repeatedly asked: “You’re definitely not a spy?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the soldier asked for the third time, Li Lin finally “understood.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He suddenly realized and quietly slipped a fragment of silver into the soldier’s hand: “Sir, I truly came to join the Qin Prince as a student.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The soldier swiftly pocketed the silver and smiled: “Of course you’re a scholar. Go in.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At these words, the other soldiers checking the baggage on the horse moved aside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you, sir,” Li Lin said with a smile, then led his steed into the city.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These soldiers had been quite restrained—they hadn’t even confiscated his steed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin led his steed into the city.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuecheng was large, with a population similar to Jincheng; the population size and customs of the three southern commanderies differed little.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Streets teemed with pedestrians, brimming with prosperity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clearly, the Qin Prince was not a brutal rebel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin found a nearby inn and checked in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The servant took his steed to the stable in the back courtyard to feed it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He asked the servant to bring warm water, bathed, then went to the inn’s main hall to sit and prepare to eat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But as soon as Li Lin sat down, he felt someone “watching” him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He turned his head, following his instinct, and saw a girl in green martial attire staring at him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When she noticed him looking, she immediately averted her gaze, a faint blush rising on her ears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin then paid no more attention—this happened nearly every day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He ordered a dish of lamb and a pot of yellow wine, and ate slowly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After eating a while, several more people entered—all dressed as martial artists.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, Li Lin scanned the entire hall and realized almost everyone inside was a martial artist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why so many martial artists in Yuecheng?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin was puzzled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He called over the servant, gave him two copper coins, and asked: “Why are so many heroes coming to Yuecheng?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The servant pocketed the coins and smiled: “The Qin Prince issued a call for talented men—surely you didn’t come for anything else?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I hadn’t heard of it. I’m here to find family.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Judging by your appearance, you’re clearly learned. Try your luck at the Qin Prince’s mansion.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin bowed: “Thank you for the insight.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re too courteous, sir.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The servant left. Li Lin ate a few more bites, then prepared to go out for a walk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he stood up, someone suddenly shouted: “That scholar… come here!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin turned and saw a man in black martial attire staring at him, his expression hostile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m talking to you. Come here,” the man pointed at Li Lin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At his table sat several other men in martial attire, all armed with swords, dressed identically—clearly fellow disciples of the same sect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Li Lin was about to respond, the girl in green martial attire slammed her table and rose to stand—but halfway up, a middle-aged man beside her grabbed her and forcibly pushed her back into her chair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t interfere!” the middle-aged man said coldly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The girl bit her lip, her face full of Weiqu , glanced at Li Lin, then lowered her head, looking deeply distressed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The black-clad man glanced at the green-clad girl’s table, chuckled, then bowed: “Thank you, brother, for your courtesy. Next time we meet on the Jianghu, I’ll show you the same respect.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he turned back to Li Lin: “I’m talking to you, boy. Come here.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin walked over, smiling: “What do you want?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes!” The black-clad man had an ordinary, almost ugly face—his triangular eyes were particularly unpleasant: “You came here alone?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, I’m short on silver,” the black-clad man grinned happily: “You’re eating well, dressed nicely—you must be wealthy. Could you spare a little?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course,” Li Lin replied with a bright smile: “But I have a question—what sect are you from?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The black-clad man’s expression darkened: “What do you mean?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you’re not from a major sect, borrowing silver from me will bring you bad luck.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Li Lin spoke, his right hand gripped one corner of the table and applied gentle pressure—the “Tiger Claw” technique snapped off the thick wooden corner.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instantly, everyone in the hall fell silent, watching quietly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The black-clad man stared at the broken table corner, then stood and bowed: “Young hero, I was blind to your greatness. Forgive me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin ignored the man and left the inn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had no time for the petty grudges and vendettas of the Jianghu—he needed to find Qin Donglai’s concubine, obtain the Southern Barbarian Divine Bone, and return immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was an eighth-rank official, a Horse Supervisor; these martial artists belonged to an entirely different world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After he left, the black-clad man broke into cold sweat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The middle-aged man said to the green-clad girl: “See? The Jianghu is dangerous. Never underestimate anyone.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether the green-clad girl heard him or not, she kept staring at the direction Li Lin had left, unable to look away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1351,"2026-06-19T19:39:18.782Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","a0a0606f42516da2a24282173cd56d09965e3ca108f85381d8680a7eb7928f38","dark-and-dawn-light-years-chapter-201","dark-and-dawn-light-years-chapter-199",221,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fdark-and-dawn-light-years-cover.jpg"]