[{"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-24":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},2264624,4420,"Chapter 24: What","dark-and-dawn-light-years-chapter-24",24,"\u003Cp>Huang Yan hurried to the Temple of the Four Marvelous True Lord, saw Li Lin, gave a slight nod, then turned to the thin old man inside the temple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was not a Spirit Hunter and could not see the “weird” on the altar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Eunuch Qi!” Huang Yan, dressed in official robes, upright and solemn, bowed and asked: “Can we now confirm that Bo Bai Town has fallen?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the Great Qi Kingdom, a “town” refers to a military garrison, one with soldiers stationed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under these circumstances, if the True Lords there have all gone silent, the situation is indeed grave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old Qi shook his head: “The Land God of Bo Bai Town has not appeared even now, while all the other True Lords remain present.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Yan exhaled: “Then we must send someone to investigate. Eunuch Qi, any suggestions?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old Qi forced a grim smile, his voice shrill: “My lord, handling matters outside is your concern. I, a broken man, am only fit to remain in this temple, serving the True Lords.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Yan smiled slightly—he seemed satisfied with Old Qi’s attitude.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He then turned and said: “All three of you, prepare yourselves and wait at the county office. I’ll return immediately to order the government office runners to notify the others.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that, Huang Yan left first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What a time of troubles, Bai Liwei sighed, looking at his nephew: “Have you chosen your favored True Lord yet?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Newly initiated Spirit Hunters must perform a pact ritual with a “True Lord,” offering blood qi in exchange for the Immortal Lord’s protection.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For example… if you encounter trouble, you can seek help from the True Lord.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as Li Lin occasionally bothers the Tree Immortal Lady.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bai Bofan stole glances at the Tree Immortal Lady.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bai Liwei’s expression turned subtle: “That Lady dislikes human contact—better forget it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bai Bofan looked disappointed and pointed to another “weird” beside her—the one with a dog’s head and human body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, Bai Liwei’s expression turned grim.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For the next instant, that dog-headed, human-bodied “weird” cast a strange glance at Bai Bofan—and vanished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The other “weird” on the altars vanished as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only the Tree Immortal Lady remained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why did they leave?” Bai Bofan asked, confused.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bai Liwei took a deep breath: “Do you think these True Lords have no tempers?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His disappointed expression was too obvious—it angered that dog-headed True Lord.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Worse still, these True Lords are fundamentally “weird.” Though they’ve now made agreements with the government and are half-forced to aid the living, your nephew has clearly displeased it—whether it might develop other intentions is hard to say.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I clearly explained the rules and dangers to you before we came, yet when you saw a beautiful “weird,” you lost your composure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But no matter what, he’s my nephew; I must handle his mess. In a few days, I’ll find an excuse to apologize to the True Lord and smooth things over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he thought this, he felt his nephew gently tugging his sleeve.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bai Liwei frowned in confusion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bai Bofan pointed in a certain direction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bai Liwei looked over and saw the Tree Immortal Lady leaning close to Li Lin—the two seemed intimately close.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, Bai Bofan’s expression was one of envy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why can he?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bai Liwei sighed—he first felt it was a bad thing that his nephew had become a Spirit Hunter so young.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was too easily distracted by matters of men and women.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“People cannot be compared,” Bai Liwei said, pulling his nephew away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They waited outside for a while, then saw Li Lin walk out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Done already?” Bai Liwei asked: “So fast?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I only offered some blood qi to the Tree Immortal Lady.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin rolled his eyes in exasperation—he always felt Bai Liwei’s tone carried a strange teasing edge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Who’s fast…?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bai Bofan, meanwhile, stared at Li Lin, as if deep in thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin glanced at the civilians still burning incense and bowing to the “gods,” then whispered: “Your nephew didn’t secure a ‘fate’—what now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you get one, fine; if not, it’s no great loss,” Bai Liwei chuckled. “It’s his destiny—let’s see how it unfolds.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re remarkably detached, Elder Bai,” Li Lin said with genuine admiration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For those without background, the pact with a “True Lord” is about securing a protector.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You offer blood qi regularly in exchange for a place to stand and some protection.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Others thinking of harming you must first consider the True Lord behind you.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Li Lin hadn’t been chosen by the Tree Immortal Lady, even as a Spirit Hunter, his path would’ve been fraught with hardship.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wouldn’t be as carefree as he is now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Bai Bofan has his uncle to protect him—whether or not he secured a “fate” isn’t a major issue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let’s part here and each make our preparations,” Bai Liwei’s expression turned serious: “A military garrison lost? This is a major matter—we’ll all likely be mobilized.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin nodded, understanding.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He went to the marketplace, bought some dried rations, purchased a gourd to hold water, and ate a full meal at a stall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only as dusk approached did he arrive at the county office.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Entering the main hall, he found himself the first to arrive, so he asked a government office runner to bring him a chair and closed his eyes to rest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon after, the Bai uncle and nephew, along with others, arrived one by one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Within moments, over a dozen people filled the hall, each with a small gourd at their waist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then Huang Yan entered, dressed in official robes, taking the main seat and gazing sternly at the assembly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The situation is urgent—I won’t waste time,” Huang Yan said gravely. “All of you depart immediately for Bo Bai Town to investigate.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Someone spoke up: “But my lord, it’s night now—wild weird abound.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Precisely why you must travel together,” Huang Yan snorted. “You’re all Spirit Hunters—your blood qi is strong. Traveling in groups, even wild weird won’t dare approach. The emergency cannot wait.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, Bai Liwei said: “My lord, my nephew Bai Bofan only became a Spirit Hunter today—he’s unfit for this mission. Could he be allowed to stay…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He’s on the Spirit Hunter roster—he must follow the rules,” Huang Yan cut him off coldly. “A military garrison is silent, the situation unknown—we’re operating under martial law now. Do you understand?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bai Liwei’s face hardened, and he immediately stepped back into the crowd.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Anyone else have doubts?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No one spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Yan pointed to the oldest Spirit Hunter: “Xu Saifeng, you lead this mission. The rest obey your orders.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, my lord!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A Spirit Hunter with white whiskers bowed deeply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ve had fine horses prepared—collect them from the side courtyard,” Huang Yan slammed the wooden gavel hard on the table—CRASH!—“Depart now!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moments later, the dozen or so Spirit Hunters left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Qi stepped out from behind the screen, arms folded, speaking calmly: “Father, Bai Bofan truly only joined the roster today—you should have shown some leniency to Elder Bai.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Official business is official business—why show him leniency?” Huang Yan grumbled, displeased. “I’ve even sent my future son-in-law out there. What do I care if his nephew lives or dies? If Li Xun runs into trouble, how will I explain to Qing?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Qi smiled: “I think Kun Ge is a man of fortune—and so is my elder sister.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I hope so too.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Yan let out a long sigh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s hard being a parent—and even harder being a magistrate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1254,"2026-06-19T19:39:18.782Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","588c45bda3e7b5d6b2c8b2a97e726db026dbba065dca44e50a4927e30ea61b1b","dark-and-dawn-light-years-chapter-25","dark-and-dawn-light-years-chapter-23",221,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fdark-and-dawn-light-years-cover.jpg"]