[{"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-79":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},2264679,4420,"Chapter 79: The Daoist Opens His Eye","dark-and-dawn-light-years-chapter-79",79,"\u003Cp>Li Lin watched as the Daoist and the woman parted ways; after a moment’s thought, he decided to deal with the woman first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, he had seen the Daoist’s face—he could find him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But if the woman used the placenta, the consequences would be unthinkable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Following the woman for a short distance, Li Lin called out: “Madam ahead, please stop.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The woman turned around, uncertain if he was calling her; when she saw Li Lin, she instinctively blushed and felt her heart quicken.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Young Master… why have you called me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin held up his Bai Yu token, then said: “I am a Spirit Hunter. Have you encountered a Daoist?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The woman nodded lightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin continued: “The county office has posted notices: recently, thieves have disguised themselves as Daoists, distributing evil objects… like the one in your hand.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The woman’s face turned pale: “I… I knew nothing of this.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Give it to me,” Li Lin extended his hand. “Then forget this ever happened.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The woman looked at the brown leather in her hand: “But he said…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He told you drinking it in water would make you as beautiful as a celestial fairy?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The woman nodded frantically: “How did you know!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Because you’re not the first woman he’s tricked,” Li Lin smiled. “Think: if this were truly so miraculous, why would he give it to you instead of offering it to nobles and officials?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The woman struggled to speak: “Perhaps… I truly have a Daoist affinity?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hah.” Li Lin sneered—he’d expected this. “Fine, keep it. But I’m going straight to the county office to report that you conspired with the thief, took this evil object, and intended to harm others. You’ll be thrown in jail.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Terrified, the woman dropped the placenta on the ground and ran off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In these times, ordinary people still feared the government—and feared imprisonment even more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin picked up the placenta and went to the county office.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Yan was just handling affairs in the courtroom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Li Lin enter, he asked gently: “Li Xunshou, what brings you to the county office?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Spirit Hunters weren’t required to report to the office; most stayed on their own territories, occasionally taking on odd jobs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The government took a neutral stance on Spirit Hunters taking outside jobs—neither supporting nor opposing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, if Spirit Hunters weren’t allowed to earn, the office would have to cover those expenses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And that wasn’t a small sum.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I saw that Daoist,” Li Lin showed Huang Yan the placenta. “He gave this to a woman—I intercepted it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Yan’s expression turned serious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin shook his head: “I prioritized saving the woman’s life, so I dealt with the placenta first. But I can find him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You did well,” Huang Yan nodded with a smile. “Should I assign men to secretly protect the woman?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No need. The Daoist doesn’t know her—he’s tracking the placenta’s evil aura.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Yan nodded: “Then handle it as you see fit. If you need support from the village militia, just ask.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you, my lord.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Yan stroked his beard and smiled. “Come by the house more often. And if you have time, bring a few more Strong-Body Pills.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes!” Li Lin bowed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then Li Lin went to the county office’s “Military Office.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shi Dudou was on duty; seeing Li Lin, he bowed and asked: “Li Xunshou, what a rare visit—what business do you have?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’d like you to send a few government office runners to notify Su Huafang, Bai Liwei, and Zhao Hao.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Simple enough,” Shi Dudou smiled agreeably.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had no desire—and no courage—to make trouble for Li Lin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not only was Li Lin a Xunshou, but everyone in the office knew the county magistrate held him in high regard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rumor even had it that the magistrate’s eldest daughter had emerged from Li Xunshou’s new home one morning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hmm. If that rumor were true, the implications would be entirely different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Who didn’t know that in two or three years, the magistrate would be promoted to Prefect of Jincheng?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin waited over an hour in the Military Office, until Su Huafang, Zhao Hao, and Bai Liwei arrived one after another.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once all were present, Li Lin led them out of the Military Office to the back courtyard of the county office.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s happened that you’ve summoned all three of us?” Zhao Hao asked curiously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Huafang and Bai Liwei also stared at Li Lin, curious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin said: “I saw that Daoist.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All three froze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They knew exactly who Li Lin meant by “Daoist.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do you know where he’s hiding?” Su Huafang asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No. But I saw his face.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin pulled a stack of paper figures from his robe and scattered them on the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The paper figures hopped, skipped, or moved in bizarre ways, leaving the courtyard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Hao couldn’t help laughing: “Li Xunshou, you’re still a child at heart.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The other two stifled their laughter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin sighed helplessly—he considered himself calm and composed, yet why did his paper figures turn out so strange?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It must be the technique’s fault, not his.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The three chatted for about two incense sticks’ time, then Li Lin’s expression turned serious—he stood up: “Found him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The four set off together in one direction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After half an hour, they reached the edge of a small grove—beyond the city’s perimeter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still within the territory guarded by the Four Marvelous True Lord.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin glanced at the sky—it was evening.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He took a few steps forward and heard an angry voice from within the trees: “Ugh, this is driving me mad—why so many?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The four exchanged glances and spread out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then they saw the Daoist chasing the little paper figures.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The paper figures were clever, always keeping just enough distance; when the Daoist approached, they raised their hands and fled backward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Other paper figures hid behind trees or bushes, then poked out a pair of bright, watery “big eyes,” staring at the Daoist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The four moved closer. Suddenly, the Daoist sensed them and turned his gaze: “Who dares spy on this Daoist?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since he was discovered, Su Huafang, Bai Liwei, and Zhao Hao stepped forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin activated his stealth technique.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But his previously flawless stealth failed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Daoist suddenly stared at his position: “Someone else is hiding… invisibility technique? Do you think I can’t sense Daoist secrets? Foolish arrogance!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Daoist sneered, swiftly forming hand seals.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“North Dipper reversed, boiling human flesh; Hell lends me sight to pierce heaven’s scab—OPEN!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he chanted, he swept his left hand across his forehead—the skin split open, revealing a vertical eye.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Its pupil glowed crimson, radiating a peculiar evil aura, fixed unblinkingly on Li Lin’s direction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Being watched by it, Li Lin felt a deep, crawling discomfort.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So you’re a pretty boy!” the Daoist snarled. “These paper figures—yours, I assume?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1141,"2026-06-19T19:39:18.782Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","93902f5115a3758d1ab0480f2406c0ef49db437c7073543ea75f696f68cf52fb","dark-and-dawn-light-years-chapter-80","dark-and-dawn-light-years-chapter-78",221,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fdark-and-dawn-light-years-cover.jpg"]