[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-i-m-not-crazy-this-is-the-emperor-s-banner":3,"chapter-i-m-not-crazy-this-is-the-emperor-s-banner-i-m-not-crazy-this-is-the-emperor-s-banner-chapter-38":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","I'm Not Crazy—This Is the Emperor's Banner",{"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},2291378,4480,"Chapter 38","i-m-not-crazy-this-is-the-emperor-s-banner-chapter-38",38,"\u003Cp>Shen Siyuan stood frozen, staring at the spot where the old Daoist had vanished, only regaining his senses after a long while.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although he had only met the old Daoist twice, the old man had helped Shen Siyuan immensely, resolving many of his doubts about this world, so Shen Siyuan held a favorable impression of him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet he never expected the man would vanish so completely before his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But it was irretrievable; Shen Siyuan no longer dwelled on it and turned his attention back to the items in his hands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a pity—he hadn’t even had time to tell the old Daoist what the jade seal and jade tablet were before he dissolved away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old Daoist had spent his entire life studying these two objects without ever determining their nature, but Shen Siyuan knew: both belonged to the category of imperial edicts, with nearly identical functions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One appeared to be the seal of some mountain deity, the other a decree of a river deity—both symbols of identity and divine authority.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Siyuan understood this precisely because similar objects existed within the Great Wilderness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unfortunately, these two edicts had lost all spiritual essence and were utterly useless, reduced to mere ordinary objects.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was why the old Daoist had only sensed their extraordinary origins but could never decipher their true nature.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Siyuan set down the [Embracing Wind to Sleep] and picked up the final bundle of iron chains.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The chains were no thicker than a finger, barely two meters long; though called iron chains, they were not made of iron at all—only resembled them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For they were entirely black, cold to the touch, and nearly weightless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Siyuan examined them closely, and the more he looked, the more delighted he became, until his lips could no longer suppress a smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For this was a Soul-Grabbing Chain, a tool of the Underworld’s ghost officers, used specifically to summon and bind souls.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though to the Netherworld it was an ordinary item, to Shen Siyuan at this stage, it was immensely useful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most crucially, this object required no spiritual energy from heaven or earth—only nourishment from the qi of the netherworld to be refined, after which it could be wielded at will.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And what Shen Siyuan had in abundance was the qi of the netherworld; thinking of this, he activated his will, summoned the [Ten Thousand Souls Banner], extended a finger, formed a hand seal, and lightly tapped the Soul-Grabbing Chain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A wisp of azure flame curled around the chain, and the once entirely black chain now glowed faintly with a blue luminescence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly, the chain leapt violently from the ground, like a snake awakening from hibernation, writhing a few times before coiling around Shen Siyuan’s sealed wrist, climbing up his arm like a sentient serpent, playfully entwining itself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But this was not the end—Shen Siyuan gripped the chain’s end, and the chain shuddered, instantly straightening like a spear, then softened again, yet did not fall to the ground; instead, it hovered in the air, spiraling and circling around Shen Siyuan’s body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Siyuan pointed forward with two fingers; the Soul-Grabbing Chain, now imbued with sentience, instantly surged forward along the direction of his finger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good… good…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Siyuan was overjoyed—though ghost officers of the Underworld each carried one, this tool was truly effective.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Precisely because of this commonality, it had been easy for Shen Siyuan to refine it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, another reason was that its original owner may have long since perished, leaving no imprint behind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But regardless, this Soul-Grabbing Chain now belonged to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a thought, the chain curled up the several objects on the ground and returned to Shen Siyuan’s palm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Siyuan hefted the shovel and walked toward the broken gate of the temple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When he reached the entrance, he gazed at the bodhi tree before the gate; a gentle breeze stirred the leaves, sunlight dappling the ground like dancing fish and dragons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though the scene was beautiful, Shen Siyuan felt a faint sadness rise within him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He turned to look back at the ruined walls of the [Listening to the Wind Temple], his gaze settling on the Three Pure Ones statue inside; he set down the shovel, bowed once more, then gathered his belongings and descended the mountain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A light breeze lifted a single bodhi leaf, drifting lazily into the hall, swirling around the Three Pure Ones statue before finally settling upon the broken altar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“On such a scorching day, where did you run off to?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing the motorcycle’s noise, Huang Huijuan stepped out from inside the house.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Didn’t I say? I went to see a classmate.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Did you bury him?” Huang Huijuan glanced at the shovel lying across the back of his motorcycle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mom, what are you talking about?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m talking nonsense? I think you’re full of lies—why bring a shovel to see a classmate?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We buried a time capsule before; I remembered it today and dug it up.” Shen Siyuan’s talent for lying was no small thing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Huijuan regarded her son with suspicion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Where’s the thing now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My classmate took it back.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Which classmate?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You wouldn’t know him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Boy or girl?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mom, why ask so many questions? Where’s Dad?” Shen Siyuan was growing annoyed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Asleep in the bedroom.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s already this late, and he’s still sleeping?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Siyuan wiped sweat from his brow; his clothes were soaked through from the afternoon’s labor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There’s watermelon in the fridge—eat some. I’ll go wake your father so he can take you.” Huang Huijuan turned and went back inside to call Shen Jianjun.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Siyuan washed his hands, returned to the room, took out the jade seal and jade tablet from his pocket, and put them in the drawer; only the Soul-Grabbing Chain he tied around his waist as a belt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unfortunately, the space inside the [Ten Thousand Souls Banner] still couldn’t be opened; once it could, he could store the Soul-Grabbing Chain directly inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When he emerged from the room again, his father was already awake, pouring water into his cup from a bottle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Jianjun glanced at Shen Siyuan but did not ask where he had been that afternoon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Huijuan, however, noticing Shen Siyuan hadn’t eaten the watermelon, began complaining again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re such a spoiled brat—I tell you to eat watermelon, and you won’t unless I hand it to you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As she spoke, she took the watermelon from the fridge; meanwhile, Shen Jianjun, who had just been pouring water, had already gone to the kitchen to fetch a knife.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Eat a couple pieces, then take your son to town.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Jianjun nodded and sliced the watermelon, then handed the central portion to Huang Huijuan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Huijuan accepted it without any modesty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Anything you need me to buy on the way back?” Shen Jianjun asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Huijuan thought for a moment: “Buy some braised dishes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Jianjun nodded: “Alright, I’ll buy some lamb too—we’ll have barbecue tonight.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll chill a few bottles of beer for you,” Huang Huijuan said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Siyuan sat nearby, munching on watermelon, listening to their conversation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He felt the chilled watermelon was especially refreshing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So this is how you play it, is it? Next time I won’t come back, Shen Siyuan thought angrily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mom, I’m leaving.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Siyuan swung his leg over the motorcycle and waved to Huang Huijuan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Go, go, I’m sick of seeing you,” Huang Huijuan said with a frown.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet she stepped forward, adjusted his collar, then pulled a wad of cash from her pocket and shoved it into his.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mom~” Shen Siyuan said, deeply moved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Enough, don’t talk. I’m giving you money—spend it wisely.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s not what I meant—I’m saying, can you stop giving cash? I have to deposit it into my card, it’s such a hassle—just transfer it to me via WeChat or Alipay…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Huang Huijuan bristled and raised her hand to strike.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Siyuan quickly patted his father’s back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Dad, let’s go.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the motorcycle had already started—he still didn’t move.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only after receiving a few punches on his back did he finally twist the throttle.\u003C\u002Fp>",1345,"2026-06-20T03:53:08.657Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","d4ec1376f1c521267d44c25dc827a9cf53227988bf85c9bca505f6395937f315","i-m-not-crazy-this-is-the-emperor-s-banner-chapter-39","i-m-not-crazy-this-is-the-emperor-s-banner-chapter-37",623,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fi-m-not-crazy-this-is-the-emperor-s-banner-cover.jpg"]