[{"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-67":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},2264667,4420,"Chapter 67: Human Hearts Are Full of Deceit","dark-and-dawn-light-years-chapter-67",67,"\u003Cp>Bai Bufan now wore an expression of utmost envy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin could imagine the pain they felt inside, but he had no desire to feel it—never would.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Huafang walked toward He Yumao, cheeks flushed, and said, “The True Lord has been enshrined; matters should be fine from here on.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Yumao instinctively stepped back half a pace and said awkwardly, “Thank you, Sir Su, for your trouble.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No need to thank me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a brief exchange, Su Huafang returned to Li Lin and the others.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching Su Huafang’s demeanor, Li Lin felt as if the elder’s reliable, steady “senior filter” had cracked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Small groups like this always exist, no matter when.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The martial artists from the escort agency sat near the entrance, responsible for guarding against outsiders and night watch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The four Spirit Hunters sat at the very back, not far from the altar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Around two hundred ordinary people huddled together in the center of the temple; some lay down openly to sleep, others leaned against each other for naps.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin ate his dried rations while observing these ordinary folk, noticing many of them dared not sleep.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the slightest sound nearby, they would open their eyes, glance left and right, then close them again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Huafang arranged for four men to take turns on watch, and the night passed quickly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next day, after a simple breakfast, everyone set off under the morning sun.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The crowd was noisy, with children crying now and then, but overall, it did not slow the procession.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin remained with Su Huafang at the rear, observing the surroundings while chatting idly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Time passed slowly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>According to plan, they were to reach their first rest point at noon—and that was precisely when the column halted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin and Su Huafang exchanged glances and immediately ran forward toward the front of the group.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There they saw a three-way fork in the road; another group had arrived from the left, and both parties had stopped, watching each other warily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Yumao stepped forward with several escort guards, bowing from a distance: “I am He Yumao of Yulin County’s Changfeng Escort Agency, known in the Jianghu as the Death-Stealing Sword. May I ask who leads the party on the other side?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, a middle-aged man stepped forward from the opposite group, looking amiable: “Long admired, long admired. I am Lin Qiyu of Jincheng’s Shunfu Escort Agency, known as the Thousand-Li Wind Chaser. Greetings, Master He.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Yumao’s tension eased; both sides drew closer and began chatting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing no danger, everyone in the group sighed in relief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin turned and asked, “Senior Su, Senior Bai, do either of you have a Jianghu title?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bai Liwei shook his head: “I mostly stay within Yulin County and rarely travel outside—I’ve never earned a title. But I’ve heard that Senior Su, in his youth, roamed far and wide and once had one.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Huafang shamefully stroked his beard: “I was young, arrogant, and foolish back then. Those are all past matters.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What was the title?” Bai Bufan asked curiously beside him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Huafang refused to answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, Bai Bufan did not press further.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, the middle-aged man across the way looked over and, upon seeing Su Huafang, froze in surprise: “Is that the ‘Fragrance Thief’ Senior Su ahead?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin and the two Bais stared in astonishment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Huafang’s cheek twitched twice, then he bowed helplessly: “It is indeed I, but I no longer roam the Jianghu. Please do not call me that title—just call me Senior Su, the Patrol Inspector.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn’t need to turn around to know how Li Lin and the Bai uncle-nephew pair were looking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were definitely stifling laughter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was right—Li Lin was struggling hard to hold back, his eyebrows twitching.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After He Yumao and Lin Qiyu exchanged information, they learned the other group was also heading to Jincheng, so the two parties decided to travel together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, more people meant stronger vital energy and less chance of being attacked by Wilderness Wraiths.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Indeed, the combined group now exceeded four hundred people, with over thirty martial artists and seven Spirit Hunters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With such a force, only a True Lord-level wraith could possibly threaten them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And indeed, by nightfall—even resting in the wilderness—Li Lin’s Bai Yu tablet never glowed red.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, five days passed quickly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The grand, towering gates of Jincheng loomed ahead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Over four hundred ordinary people wept and shouted, then lined up to enter the city; for them, those five days had been a constant brush with death.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin’s first impression upon entering the city was bustling streets and deafening noise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bai Bufan’s eyes sparkled as he looked left and right, as if searching for something specific.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing his nephew’s behavior, Bai Liwei sighed helplessly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, Su Huafang walked over and placed a money pouch in each of their hands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Here is the agreed payment. Meet at the South City Gate at noon in two days—we’ll return together as a group, safer that way.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bai Bufan asked, “What about the Changfeng Escort Agency people?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They’ll stay a few more days to gather more travelers before heading back to Yulin County—they want to earn more.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bai Bufan pressed on: “Without our Spirit Hunters, can they manage?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t worry—they have their own ways,” Su Huafang smiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bai Liwei tapped Bai Bufan on the head: “Don’t underestimate anyone in this world.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bai Bufan rubbed his head, then sidled up to Li Lin, slinging an arm around his neck with a grin: “Senior Li, I heard you’re still a virgin—want me to take you to a brothel?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before Li Lin could respond, Bai Liwei stepped forward and struck Bai Bufan hard on the head: “You’re the one running wild—don’t corrupt others!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bai Bufan instantly fell silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin smiled… though he was a virgin again now, his knowledge and experience far surpassed anyone else present.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even the two seniors who had children.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After parting briefly with the three, Li Lin immediately found a cheap inn, washed himself first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After five days without a bath, it was unbearable for someone as fastidious as him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he slept a while, rising only at dusk to head to the market for food.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jincheng was enormous—its area at least six times that of Yulin County, with far denser population.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Walking the streets, Li Lin looked up and saw faint, humanoid divine images hovering in the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Bi Fang True Lord!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He soon sensed a gaze sweeping down from above and dared not look up again, lowering his head as he walked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After wandering through the market and buying a baked pancake to eat as he walked, he planned to purchase a small alchemy furnace; after asking locals for directions, he arrived at an alley.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sound of hammering iron never ceased; the air reeked of burning charcoal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He searched for a while but found no alchemy furnace; one blacksmith told him such items could only be custom-ordered at the Artisan Bureau.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He headed toward the Artisan Bureau, but as he passed a street corner, he saw two groups clashing ahead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Passersby kept their distance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A dozen men in white martial attire blocked the entrance to a residence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin looked closer and saw the plaque above the gate bore four large characters: “Shunfu Escort Agency.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among them stood a familiar face, leading several men in confrontation with the white-clad group.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Qiyu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, he was spotted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Qiyu’s eyes lit up: “Senior Li! Thank you for coming to lend your aid! Tianyi Sect is bullying us too far—join us and drive them off!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, several white-clad men immediately surged forward, forming a semicircle to block Li Lin’s path.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1293,"2026-06-19T19:39:18.782Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","07fd5ab278f32c635bbc5741a444e9c9bcc1adfa4f6cb0fedeae71e8f02f4a75","dark-and-dawn-light-years-chapter-68","dark-and-dawn-light-years-chapter-66",221,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fdark-and-dawn-light-years-cover.jpg"]