[{"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-60":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},2291400,4480,"Chapter 60: Two Strands of Merit","i-m-not-crazy-this-is-the-emperor-s-banner-chapter-60",60,"\u003Cp>Shen Siyuan had considered all of this Zhu Guangfa said—he had gained a tremendous opportunity, but he was still just an ordinary person, far from strong enough to stand against a nation; a single peanut could send him straight to the Ten Thousand Souls Banner, so there was nothing to boast or flaunt about.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So for now, he still needed to lie low, grow slowly, and carry on as before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He could show a little ability, but never too much.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for money, it was now within Shen Siyuan’s easy reach—he had countless ways to make himself immensely wealthy, but then what? Enjoy life? He was already enjoying life; why go through all that trouble just to enjoy life afterward?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, this also had to do with Shen Siyuan’s own personality and family background—his elderly parents were in good health, his parents had modest assets, and aside from pressuring him to marry, they imposed no responsibilities on him, which was precisely why he had no ambition and simply loafed around at Guanghui Animation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he had even a shred of ambition, he would have quit long ago—even raising chickens with his father would earn him more money and offer a better future than his salary at Guanghui Animation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he didn’t.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for whether he had ever thought about the future, felt lost or afraid—yes, he had, but rarely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, however, he no longer felt any of it; the Ten Thousand Souls Banner had become his greatest source of confidence and the most profound influence on him so far.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was like a wealthy man with several billion in his bank account returning to the countryside to live a quiet life—that was enjoying life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But a penniless man returning to the countryside to live quietly wasn’t enjoying life—he was merely surviving.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In plain terms, one had the right to choose, the other did not.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One could say no to life; the other was crushed by life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before the Ten Thousand Souls Banner, Shen Siyuan had already possessed the right to choose—but that right had been given to him by his parents, which was why he was happy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, with the Ten Thousand Souls Banner, that confidence had simply grown stronger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So there was no need to exhaust himself chasing, fighting, or climbing upward—that would no longer be him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Siyuan was perfectly clear: life might be bland, but that was its true nature.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he wanted to change, he could do so anytime—he possessed the right to choose.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some might say life is but a hundred years, so one must live brilliantly and brilliantly—but for Shen Siyuan, what he lacked least right now was time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps one day, when he grew tired of this, he might change and try a different kind of life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though he had drunk only one bottle of wine, the meal had been thoroughly satisfying—at least, that was how Shen Siyuan felt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Guangfa’s cooking was excellent, at least far better than anything Shen Siyuan could make himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So Shen Siyuan’s mood was pleasant, but Zhu Guangfa and his daughter’s moods were not.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because Du Xiuzhi was beginning to fade in their eyes, her body growing translucent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They knew Du Xiuzhi was about to “leave.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, their idea of “leaving” meant Du Xiuzhi had fulfilled her wish and would re-enter reincarnation—perhaps one day they would meet again, though they wouldn’t recognize each other, and that was still worth hoping for.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But for Du Xiuzhi, her departure meant she would dissolve into the universe, never to be seen again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her wish had been fulfilled; all she needed to say had been said in the afternoon; she would no longer participate in her husband and daughter’s future lives.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mom, are you leaving?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Tingting asked pitifully, tears swirling in her eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Du Xiuzhi pulled her into her arms, kissed her forehead, and comforted her: “Every farewell is for a better reunion.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You said you wanted me to be your baby in the next life, right? So we’ll meet again,” Du Xiuzhi said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But her voice trembled involuntarily, for she knew it was impossible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beside her, Zhu Guangfa was already in tears, sobbing uncontrollably—he never imagined a grown man could cry so hard, no wonder Du Xiuzhi called him a crybaby; perhaps he was simply more emotionally sensitive and had more tearful glands than others.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked at Du Xiuzhi, as if sensing something.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he turned to Shen Siyuan and asked sadly: “After death, do people really re-enter reincarnation?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In her mother’s arms, Zhu Tingting also looked at Shen Siyuan with tear-filled eyes, full of pleading.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Siyuan nodded: “Of course—your mother will definitely re-enter reincarnation and become your baby in the next life. I promise you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since Du Xiuzhi didn’t want to speak, Shen Siyuan followed her lead to comfort Zhu Tingting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the moment he finished speaking, two strands of merit descended from the air, entering his body through his third eye.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh?” Shen Siyuan exclaimed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had received only one strand of merit for helping Dou Dou fulfill her wish—why did helping Du Xiuzhi earn him two?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he quickly understood: one strand was indeed for helping Du Xiuzhi fulfill her wish.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The other was for promising Zhu Tingting that he would help her mother re-enter reincarnation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even such a promise could earn merit—and this proved the existence of the Underworld.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the Underworld had been closed for centuries; dead souls had no way to enter—how could he send Du Xiuzhi into reincarnation?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thinking of this, he instinctively reached to touch his waist, where a Soul-Grabbing Chain was coiled—perhaps this artifact held some clues.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wife.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mom~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, Du Xiuzhi vanished completely before the eyes of father and daughter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She released her daughter, stood up, and gazed deeply at her husband and child.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having fulfilled her wish, she seemed to have no more attachments, then turned to Shen Siyuan and bowed slightly: “Mr. Shen, thank you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then her body began to dissolve.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, Shen Siyuan flipped his palm—the Ten Thousand Souls Banner appeared in his hand; he formed a seal with his fingers and immediately drew her into the banner.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She couldn’t dissolve now—he had promised Zhu Tingting and received merit; he would try to send her onto the path of reincarnation. Until then, she would sleep within the banner.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Guangfa and his daughter naturally saw none of this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were now heartbroken, crying in waves, rising and falling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Siyuan stood and poured each of them a glass of water.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Guangfa seemed to snap out of it, sniffled, and rose to help Shen Siyuan clear the dishes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Shen Siyuan stopped him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll clean up myself—take your child home.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you so much. I’ll come back in a few days to thank you again,” he said, lifting his daughter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No need—you’ve already thanked me,” Shen Siyuan said, pointing at the messy table.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But that’s not enough—this…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Siyuan waved him off, silencing him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He said casually: “I helped you because it was a good deed, and good deeds bring good results. If you keep coming back to thank me, isn’t that ruining the virtue of my good deed?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Siyuan said this only because he feared being constantly disturbed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was already this burdened helping just Zhu Guangfa—what if he helped many more people in the future? Would he be driven mad by daily visits?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Zhu Guangfa clearly believed Shen Siyuan’s words; he hugged his daughter and left with endless gratitude.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Goodbye, big brother.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tearful Zhu Tingting still waved goodbye to Shen Siyuan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Goodbye~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Siyuan waved back, a faint sense of loss rising in his heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps this was life—life was nothing but a series of farewells.\u003C\u002Fp>",1291,"2026-06-20T03:53:08.657Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","4ba22c062bdee69c8e5b75d6612bac91e2c429819aade08b093851c94a6c6573","i-m-not-crazy-this-is-the-emperor-s-banner-chapter-61","i-m-not-crazy-this-is-the-emperor-s-banner-chapter-59",623,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fi-m-not-crazy-this-is-the-emperor-s-banner-cover.jpg"]