[{"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-38":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},2264638,4420,"Chapter 38: The Mask Earned Its Worth","dark-and-dawn-light-years-chapter-38",38,"\u003Cp>The members of the Demon Extermination Bureau searched the fortress but found nothing noteworthy or any leads.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, everyone gathered again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The altar has been set up. Since there are no other leads, we’ll return tomorrow,” Zhang Minsheng said calmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Demon Extermination Bureau members all sighed in relief and laughed—they all found this place eerie and didn’t want to stay long.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the hunters from Yulin County weren’t as cheerful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After thinking for a moment, Bai Liwei walked over and said, “Chief Zhang, since you’ve read our report, you should know that at night, a black mist of resentment gathers here.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course I know,” Zhang Minsheng smiled. “Don’t worry—we’re prepared.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He called out to the side: “Zhang Zuoqing, come here!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then a gloomy man radiating yin energy walked over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He gave off an unpleasant feeling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s almost dark. It’s your turn to show your skill.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man named Zhang Zuoqing smiled, walked to the four corners of the fortress, and stuck a yellow talisman on each wall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The talismans instantly formed a square array, and the surrounding resentment vanished at once.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Huafang whispered to Li Lin: “The Four Holy Warriors Array… those four talismans must depict the Four Auspicious Beasts.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You know this too?” Li Lin asked curiously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“When you’ve lived long enough and seen enough, nothing seems extraordinary anymore.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As they spoke, Zhang Minsheng walked over, stroking his beard and smiling: “Now, my four friends can rest easy, yes?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bai Liwei immediately bowed: “We’re reassured, reassured. The Demon Extermination Bureau’s members all possess extraordinary skills—I deeply admire you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Minsheng laughed heartily: “Rest assured, with the Demon Extermination Bureau here, this mission will proceed without a single mishap.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bai Liwei and the others naturally offered lavish praise; Zhang Minsheng modestly accepted it with a smug expression, and the two sides appeared harmonious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Afterwards, Zhang Minsheng returned to his own group, and the hunters sat nearby, eating dried rations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A silence fell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a while, Bai Liwei said: “Though the Demon Extermination Bureau’s response was excellent, and the True Lord is guarding us, I still feel uneasy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Huafang chuckled: “You’ve been bitten by a snake and now fear even grass ropes. Everyone here is a master—no problem.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We had sixteen people before, and none of them were weak.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This left Su Huafang without a reply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Hao slapped his chest: “Rest easy, friends—if anything happens, I’ll hold the rear.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Li Lin suddenly remembered something—he reached into his pocket and pulled out a mask.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The mask was silvery-white, very beautiful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This thing would have to be seen by others eventually; revealing it now was fine—it had a legitimate origin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unlike the Shengxi Pills, which were far more valuable than this mask.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The other three stared blankly at the mask in his hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A Guiqi !” Zhao Hao exclaimed in surprise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The other two also stared fixedly at the mask—something about it felt familiar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then Su Huafang asked: “Is this the Mask of the Tree Immortal Lady?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin nodded: “Yes. She gave it to me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“She gave it to you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All three gasped in unison, then exchanged glances.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin looked at them: “What’s wrong?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Huafang looked at Li Lin with admiration: “I’ve never heard the True Lord show such human warmth.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bai Liwei nodded vigorously beside him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t you all become friends with your patron True Lords?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their expressions made Li Lin seem like a freak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Forget it!” Su Huafang sighed helplessly. “Everyone has their own fate—can’t be forced. What’s special about this mask?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It lets me see the Huanggui …” Li Lin said, slipping the mask over his face: “Whether it has other uses—I’m still testing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That cool sensation flooded his eyes again. Li Lin looked around—due to the protective barrier and the True Lord’s presence, there were no Huanggui  nearby; everything was clean.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But then Li Lin’s brows narrowed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What is it?” Su Huafang asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The other two also stared at him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin removed the mask, tucked it back into his clothes, and pointed to the vegetable patch nearby: “Something’s wrong there—something’s buried beneath.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In his vision, a faint black mist rose from that spot, starkly different from the surroundings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The three turned to look—it was a vegetable patch, planted with green vegetables. Though untended, the crops grew exceptionally well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Vegetable patch?” Zhao Hao laughed. “I trust Li Xunshou—let’s dig together.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Good!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The hunters from Yulin County were fairly united, despite having turncoats like Xu Saifeng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The four walked over; beside the patch stood iron shovels and spades.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The people of Daqi naturally loved farming. In a fortress where they were confined for long periods and forbidden to leave, farming became a good pastime—and helped solve part of their food needs. A win-win.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So tools were always kept nearby.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Quickly, the four grabbed the tools and began digging rapidly at the spot Li Lin indicated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The commotion naturally drew the attention of the Demon Extermination Bureau—they ate their food while watching the hunters work.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, Zhao Hao’s hoe struck the ground with a sharp metallic clang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The four exchanged glances and dug faster.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before long, a metal hatch appeared before them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Minsheng arrived with his men.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There’s a secret passage here?” Zhang Minsheng looked at the four. “How did you suddenly find this?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The other three stared at Li Lin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin remained calm: “I’m naturally sensitive to resentment. I’ve felt something off here for a while, so I brought my comrades to dig—and turns out, we actually found something.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Minsheng stared at the passage and smiled: “Real hunters are more alert. Step back, all of you. Someone, open it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His meaning was clear—he intended to claim all the credit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, discovering a strange secret passage inside a fortress usually meant valuable gains.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Hao frowned, about to argue—but Li Lin held him back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Hao instantly understood and laughed: “Chief Zhang, need any help?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No. Just watch.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin and the others stepped back as instructed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They watched the Demon Extermination Bureau members pull open the iron hatch—then immediately scattered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Stink… unbearable stink.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even from afar, Li Lin and the others smelled it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Something’s wrong in there,” Li Lin whispered to his three comrades. “Stay alert—be ready if anything happens.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The other three nodded slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a while, one member of the Demon Extermination Bureau descended with a lantern, then scrambled back up in haste: “Disgusting! It’s revolting down there!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1076,"2026-06-19T19:39:18.782Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","68a3c47e4e21029b38029358314b9b3dbd5f68ddfbd91e3c9e9af1b7489ce36a","dark-and-dawn-light-years-chapter-39","dark-and-dawn-light-years-chapter-37",221,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fdark-and-dawn-light-years-cover.jpg"]