[{"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-97":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},2264697,4420,"Chapter 97: I Have My Own Way","dark-and-dawn-light-years-chapter-97",97,"\u003Cp>Looking at the two of them, Ding Yingqiu’s expression was peculiar—somewhat familiar, yet also… wary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Huafang waved his hand: “What family background? I’m just a commoner with a bit of luck. In my youth, I traveled far and wide, made many friends, and heard the term, but I don’t know the details.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ding Yingqiu smiled lightly: “I’ve heard of the Great Lover’s name, young master.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Huafang immediately grew embarrassed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The others chuckled softly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then Ding Yingqiu turned to Li Lin and asked: “How does Inspector Li view cultivation?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Swallow a golden elixir, and my fate is mine alone—not heaven’s?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At these words, everyone stared at him in surprise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ding Yingqiu spoke with a look full of unspoken meaning: “Inspector Li’s family truly… exudes boldness.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin smiled and asked: “And what about your family’s view?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Cultivating both life and spirit, achieving immortality.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After hearing this, everyone still felt Li Lin’s description stirred the spirit more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ding Yingqiu continued: “According to my family’s records, over two hundred years ago, during the reign of our dynasty’s founding emperor, an immortal once appeared, but for reasons unknown, vanished without a trace.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Here, Ding Yingqiu glanced at Li Lin; seeing no objection, he went on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yet the immortal left behind legacies across the land—many immortal arts, many magical artifacts. To obtain even one would grant great power, even if immortality remains out of reach.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Huafang and the others felt their blood boil, eager to seize these things at once.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Li Lin remained calm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bai Liwei couldn’t help asking: “What can we get?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ding Yingqiu said: “From what I know, the immortal’s legacy holds nothing overly powerful. If you retrieve it, I can pay large sums of silver—or even some of our Ding family’s secret manuals—as reward.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bai Liwei blurted out: “I’m willing to lend Inspector Ding a hand.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m willing too,” said Zhao Hao.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Huafang said nothing, but looked at Li Lin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The others also turned their gazes to Li Lin, waiting for his answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll pass,” Li Lin said with a light smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was cautious. Whether immortals truly existed or not, these so-called “immortal arts” and “magical artifacts” were objects everyone fought over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Spirit Hunters weren’t ordinary folk, but he was only a ninth-rank beginner. What right did he have to “take” such things?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Better to first solidify his foundation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides, if only he knew this secret, he could explore it slowly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now the Ding family knows… and others helping Ding Yingqiu will know too. With too many mouths, the news will spread.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then other experts will come to fight for it—and he couldn’t handle that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What a pity,” Ding Yingqiu smiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll take my leave. You all chat.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Saying this, Li Lin rose and left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Huafang wanted to follow Li Lin, but then abandoned the thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was no longer young—over fifty, already in the stage of fearing death.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Life was so beautiful; he wanted to live longer, ideally forever.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin put the matter out of his mind and returned home.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The following days were uneventful—nothing but cultivation, cultivation, and more cultivation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Six more days passed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The County Magistrate Huang Yan sent someone to summon him to the county office.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were also Yan Han, Bai Yunfei, and Bai Bufen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Yan, in official robes, sighed helplessly: “Something has happened in Beiliu County. Normally, local Spirit Hunters would handle it, but strangely, all of Beiliu’s Spirit Hunters have vanished. So their County Magistrate has appealed to me for aid.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone listened in silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I have some friendship with Magistrate Ma of Beiliu and couldn’t refuse. Besides, if disaster strikes Beiliu and the people rise in anger, our Yulin County won’t escape unscathed. So I planned to send someone to investigate. But Su Xunshou, Zhao Xunshou, and Ding Xunshou are all away.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this, Bai Bufen stepped forward: “My uncle, along with Su Xunshou, Zhao Xunshou, and Ding Xunshou, has left on urgent business. He said if anything arises, I should handle it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You?” Huang Yan looked at Bai Bufen and sighed: “You’ve only been in the field half a year. How can you handle this?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ve assisted my uncle with many cases. I should be fine.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Yan fell silent for a moment, then turned to Li Lin: “Inspector Li, this task falls to you. Take Inspector Bai and Inspector Zhao to Beiliu County and investigate. Remember: only observe. Help if you can, but retreat immediately if you can’t. I’ll find another solution.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, my lord,” Li Lin bowed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Yan paused, then said: “Be careful.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I will.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After leaving the county office, Zhao Xiaohu jumped up excitedly: “Brother Lin, I finally get to go on a mission!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin sighed: “How’s your Nourishing Yin Technique coming along?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fine,” Zhao Xiaohu grinned. “Feels easy enough.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is that so? Let me check.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin took Zhao Xiaohu’s pulse again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he murmured in surprise: “You actually mastered it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Indeed, a wisp of yin energy now flowed in Zhao Xiaohu’s body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He remembered teaching Zhao Xiaohu the Nourishing Yin Technique barely half a month ago. To achieve this speed was already impressive—better than most.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But compared to Li Lin, it was still far behind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“When you return from this mission, I’ll teach you the Thunderfall Spell.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Xiaohu nodded eagerly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Have you been visiting brothels lately?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Xiaohu shook his head vigorously: “No, no. Too expensive.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then get ready,” Li Lin said, glancing at the sky. “We leave at noon. By horse, we’ll reach Beiliu County before dusk.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two immediately left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin also returned home, packing his usual travel items… then paused, and added his mask to the bundle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Half an hour later, the three met at the county office’s stable, borrowed warhorses, and departed the city.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They rode hard the whole way, speaking little, and arrived at Beiliu County’s city wall by dusk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They showed their Bai Yu tokens, instantly drawing complaints from the city guards: “Finally, you’ve arrived! Our County Magistrate is frantic—hurry to the office and see him!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin and the others hurried to the office. As soon as they identified themselves, a government office runner led them into the courtroom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There stood a man in county magistrate robes, pacing back and forth with his hands behind his back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Catching sight of Li Lin and the others, he rushed over, delighted: “You’re the Spirit Hunters sent from Yulin City?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes,” Li Lin nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Magistrate Ma hurriedly said: “Thank heaven you’ve come! Find our county’s Spirit Hunters—they’ve vanished for three days.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hm?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Didn’t you organize search parties?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We dare not,” Magistrate Ma sighed. “A month ago, a heretical Daoist came, killed seven of our Spirit Hunters and over twenty government office runners, then walked away. Now all our government office runners are terrified—they won’t leave the city.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the mention of the heretical Daoist, Li Lin recalled: that man had indeed claimed he’d caused trouble in Beiliu County.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He hadn’t been bluffing—it was true.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Magistrate Ma, it’s night now. Outside the walls is dangerous. We’ll search tomorrow.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Magistrate Ma nodded: “That’s wise. Tonight, please rest at the county inn.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The government office runners led them to the inn near the office, where they were served a lavish dinner.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Xiaohu wolfed down his food yet still spoke: “Brother Lin, how will we find them tomorrow?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I have my own way.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1235,"2026-06-19T19:39:18.782Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","c57e32a49c279724ad36e5019655624ae1ae6c8c5be9a214bc720411fb400338","dark-and-dawn-light-years-chapter-98","dark-and-dawn-light-years-chapter-96",221,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fdark-and-dawn-light-years-cover.jpg"]