[{"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-42":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},2264642,4420,"Chapter 42: Four Share the Loot","dark-and-dawn-light-years-chapter-42",42,"\u003Cp>Because the Tree Immortal Lady had obscured his vision, Li Lin could not see what was happening outside; when his sight returned, the massive Four Marvels True Lord above the county had vanished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the same time, Li Lin knew that the “Hundred Faces True Lord” of Bóbái Town had also disappeared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Tree Immortal Lady floated beside him, utterly silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If county-level True Lords are this strong, what about city-level ones?” Li Lin asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Tree Immortal Lady thought for a moment, then said: “Stronger.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin burst out laughing; the Tree Immortal Lady was truly humorous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Can you become as strong as they are?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes,” the Tree Immortal Lady nodded. “Time!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So, given enough time, she could become just as powerful?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seemed the growth ceiling of apparitions was remarkably high.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet one thing puzzled Li Lin: if these great apparitions were so powerful, capable of severing heads from dozens of kilometers away, why… did they willingly submit to human control?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That altar or temple was the object binding them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Four days passed in a flash; Li Lin practiced his fist techniques at home as usual, and then… three unexpected yet expected guests arrived.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Huafang, Bai Liwei, Zhao Hao.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The three sat inside the house, while Xiao Hu bustled about, brewing tea to entertain them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This boy’s blood qi looks quite dense—did you discover him as a potential?” Su Huafang asked with a smile. “When will you register him?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The entire Yulin County now had only eight Spirit Hunters left, desperately needing fresh blood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Otherwise, many areas would be left unguarded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“In another half-month,” Li Lin replied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Xiaohu had barely entered the Spring Revival Nourishing Art; his rate of metabolizing blood rice had increased. In another half-month, he would be able to shield himself with yang energy—then he would go to the county office to register as a Spirit Hunter and receive state rations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To the villagers, those who received state rations were all capable people.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Hu would soon be one of them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As they spoke, Zhao Xiaohu finished brewing the tea and brought it over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright, Xiao Hu, go home first—I need to discuss matters with these seniors.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Xiaohu obediently left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After confirming no one was outside, Li Lin closed the door and sat down. “You three came to retrieve the treasure from there, right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All three nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But it’s hard to take,” Li Lin smiled. “There’s too much, and we’re too few.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The gold and silver ingots piled like a small mountain—he couldn’t imagine how the garrison troops had gathered so much.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seemed the county treasury didn’t hold this much wealth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ants moving soil,” Zhao Hao said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bai Liwei shook his head: “Impossible. A round trip takes at least four days. The county magistrate directly summoned troops from the border garrison to defend Bóbái Town—longest a month, shortest half a month… We can’t all vanish for too long, or someone will suspect something.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone agreed—it made sense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then each of us takes some back first,” Zhao Hao grinned. “Leave the rest hidden here—we’ll come back later and retrieve another portion together.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Huafang sighed. “That’s the only option.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“When do we leave?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Now,” Li Lin stood up. “Quick in, quick out.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin took his spear and mask, added some Life-Sustaining Pills, and set off with the three.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time, Su Huafang had prepared thoroughly—he somehow acquired Spirit-Blocking Powder!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For two nights, they used it to create safe zones and took turns keeping watch; their rest quality remained good.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the third morning, they arrived before the fortress.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From afar, half the fortress had collapsed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin examined it—the collapsed section faced directly toward the county.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He couldn’t help but admire: “The Four Marvels True Lord’s technique is truly powerful—knocked down a wall from so far away. In battle, who could stop him?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this, the three beside him stared at him strangely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t you know True Lords can’t strike freely? Each attack drains massive blood qi,” Bai Liwei asked in surprise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Huafang chuckled bitterly: “My fault—I never explained this to Li Xunshou.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was understandable. Powerful Spirit Hunters were always busy, running from place to place, with little free time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everywhere needed them to hunt apparitions and exorcise evils.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin could afford to be so relaxed because he was still new and unknown.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In a few years, Li Lin would be just as busy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Go in now?” Zhao Hao asked with a smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Not yet!” Li Lin pulled out his mask and put it on. “Let me first check for anything unusual!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A cold sensation entered his eyes; he scanned the surroundings, then looked up at the wall, and nodded: “No anomalies detected for now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The other three exhaled in relief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bai Liwei said: “Li Xunshou, keep wearing the mask and watch our surroundings. We’ll handle the heavy lifting.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin understood the importance of a scout and didn’t refuse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The four entered the fortress through the collapsed wall and saw scorch marks everywhere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>More white bones lay on the ground; from the tattered or charred clothing, they could identify the victims.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Zhang Minsheng is here.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bai Liwei stood before a skeleton—the clothing matched what Zhang Minsheng had worn that night.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They searched the fortress further and soon found another shattered altar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two shattered altars side by side—this place, Bóbái Town, seemed to have some geomantic flaw.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin kept observing his surroundings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a while, Bai Liwei came over and asked: “Any issues?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No strange signs detected.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then the three of us go down first. Li Xunshou, you keep watch above,” Su Huafang smiled. “We’ll bring up your share too.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin nodded in agreement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stood at the entrance to the secret tunnel, alertly scanning the surroundings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The area was quiet, occasionally broken by bird calls.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, the three emerged from the tunnel, carrying four sacks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Each sack holds thirty gold ingots,” Bai Liwei sighed. “More would be too heavy to carry.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin nodded. Everyone wanted to take more, but too much gold was too obvious—it would draw suspicion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Re-hide this place!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The three immediately picked up the hoes and shovels nearby and buried the tunnel, then replanted green vegetables over it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Keep this to ourselves—don’t tell anyone,” Bai Liwei whispered. “Let’s make a gentleman’s pact: if we ever return to retrieve more gold, we must all come together. If one of us dies first, he must tell his direct descendants. What do you all think?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The other three nodded gently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin felt these three were trustworthy—after all, with so much gold beneath them, none had shown hostility or murderous intent, clearly honest men.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the other three thought the same of him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The four shouldered their sacks, ready to leave, when suddenly voices and the clinking of chains came from beyond the wall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They exchanged glances and immediately hid behind nearby obstacles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin quietly set down his sack and put his mask back on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, several swaying figures appeared at the collapsed wall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then six people slowly approached.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Through a narrow gap in the obstacle, Li Lin saw a young man walking ahead, followed by a woman bound in chains.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From their attire, they were all southern barbarian women.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man looked around, then spoke to the women: “Alright, it’s safe here. I’ll unlock your shackles.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1229,"2026-06-19T19:39:18.782Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","75ae4501333d392c32ec3da38ea47b82185f3d795931d6b9beddae67b68bd3de","dark-and-dawn-light-years-chapter-43","dark-and-dawn-light-years-chapter-41",221,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fdark-and-dawn-light-years-cover.jpg"]