Chapter 59: Two Wisps of Merit

Don’t Talk Nonsense, This is the Human Emperor Banner

Shen Siyuan had considered what Zhu Guangfa said. Although he'd obtained a massive Opportunity, he was still just an ordinary person.

He wasn't strong enough to take on a whole country; a single bullet could send him straight into his own Ten Thousand Souls Banner. So there was nothing to show off or be arrogant about.

So for now, he needed to lay low and develop slowly. Life would go on as it always had.

He could show a little bit of skill, but not too much.

As for wealth, it was indeed within easy reach for Shen Siyuan now.

He had countless ways to make himself rich and powerful, but then what? Enjoy life? He was already enjoying life just fine. Why go through all that trouble just to come back to enjoying life?

Of course, this was also related to Shen Siyuan's own personality and family.

The elders at home were healthy, and his parents had some assets. Aside from nagging him to get married, he didn't have to bear any real responsibilities.

This was the fundamental reason why he lacked ambition and was content to just get by at Glorious Animation.

Even raising chickens at home with his father would likely earn him more and offer a better future than his salary at Glorious Animation.

But he didn't.

As for whether he had ever considered the future, or felt lost or panicked—he definitely had, but not often.

But now, those feelings were completely gone.

The Ten Thousand Souls Banner had become his greatest source of confidence and, for now, the most profound influence on him.

It was like a tycoon with a few 'small goals' in the bank who returns to the countryside to live a simple life—that's called enjoying life.

But for a penniless person to return to the countryside and live a simple life—that's not enjoying life, that's just surviving.

To put it bluntly, one had the right to choose, and the other didn't.

One could say no to life, while the other was getting steamrolled by it.

Before he had the Ten Thousand Souls Banner, Shen Siyuan actually already had the right to choose, but that right was given to him by his parents, which was why he was fortunate.

Now with the Ten Thousand Souls Banner, that confidence was simply much greater.

So there was no need to wear himself out fighting, snatching, and climbing his way up.

That wouldn't be him.

Shen Siyuan was very clear-headed.

Life might be bland, but that was its essence.

If he wanted to change, he could do so at any time, because he had the right to choose.

Some might say that with a life of only a hundred short years, one should live dazzlingly and brilliantly. But for Shen Siyuan, the one thing he didn't lack now was time.

Perhaps one day, when he grew tired of this, he might make a change and try a different kind of life.

Although they only drank one bottle of beer, the meal was very enjoyable—at least, that's what Shen Siyuan thought.

Zhu Guangfa's cooking was excellent, much better than Shen Siyuan's own, at the very least.

So Shen Siyuan was in a great mood, but Zhu Guangfa and his daughter were not.

Because in their eyes, Du Xiuzhi was starting to fade, her body becoming illusory.

They knew that Du Xiuzhi was about to "leave."

Of course, in their eyes, "leaving" meant that Du Xiuzhi had fulfilled her wish and would enter Reincarnation.

Perhaps they would meet again one day, even if they didn't recognize each other, and that was still something to look forward to.

But for Du Xiuzhi, her departure meant she was about to dissipate between heaven and earth, never to be seen again.

Her wish was fulfilled, and she had said all she needed to that afternoon. She would no longer be a part of her husband and daughter's future.

"Mom, are you leaving?"

Zhu Tingting asked pitifully, tears welling up in her eyes.

Du Xiuzhi held her in her arms, kissed her forehead, and comforted her, "Every parting is for the sake of a better reunion."

"Didn't you say you wanted Mom to be your baby in the future? So, we'll meet again," Du Xiuzhi said.

But her voice choked up involuntarily, because she knew it was impossible.

Beside them, Zhu Guangfa was already covered in tears, his body shaking with sobs.

To think a grown man could cry so hard. No wonder Du Xiuzhi called him a crybaby; perhaps he was naturally more emotional than others, with more active tear ducts.

He looked at Du Xiuzhi, seeming to sense something was wrong.

He then turned to Shen Siyuan and asked sorrowfully, "After people die, do they really enter Reincarnation?"

In her mother's arms, Zhu Tingting also looked at Shen Siyuan with teary eyes, her gaze full of pleading.

Shen Siyuan nodded.

"Of course. Your mom will definitely enter Reincarnation and become your baby in the next life. I promise you."

Since Du Xiuzhi didn't want to tell them the truth, Shen Siyuan went along with her words to comfort Zhu Tingting.

But the moment he finished speaking, two threads of Merit descended from the air, entering his body through the space between his brows.

"Huh?" Shen Siyuan let out a sound of surprise.

He had only received one thread of Merit for helping Doudou fulfill her wish. Why did he get two for helping Du Xiuzhi?

But he quickly understood.

One thread was indeed for helping Du Xiuzhi fulfill her wish.

The other thread was for promising Zhu Tingting he would help her mother enter Reincarnation.

He could get Merit for that too? Well, if so, that just proved the existence of the Netherworld.

But the Netherworld had been closed for hundreds of years.

Dead Ghosts had no way in. How was he supposed to enter the Netherworld and send Du Xiuzhi into Reincarnation?

At this thought, he subconsciously reached out and touched his waist, where a Soul Hook Chain was coiled.

Perhaps this item could give him some clues.

"Wife."

"Mom~"

At that moment, Du Xiuzhi completely vanished before the father and daughter's eyes.

Du Xiuzhi released her daughter, stood up, and took a deep look at her husband and daughter.

Her wish fulfilled, she seemed to have no more attachments.

She turned her head, bowed slightly to Shen Siyuan, and said, "Mr. Shen, thank you."

Then her body seemed about to dissipate.

Seeing this, Shen Siyuan flipped his palm, and the Ten Thousand Souls Banner appeared in it. He formed a hand seal with his fingers and directly pulled her into the Ten Thousand Souls Banner.

She couldn't dissipate now. Since Shen Siyuan had promised Zhu Tingting and received the Merit reward, he had to try and see if he could send her on the path to Reincarnation.

Before that, she could sleep in the Ten Thousand Souls Banner.

Naturally, Zhu Guangfa and his daughter could not see any of this happening.

They were now overcome with grief, their cries rising and falling in rhythmic sorrow.

Shen Siyuan got up and poured each of them a glass of water.

Zhu Guangfa seemed to snap out of it then. He stood up, choking back sobs, and tried to help Shen Siyuan clear the dishes.

But Shen Siyuan stopped him.

"I'll take care of the rest. You should take your daughter home."

"Thank you.

I'll come back in a few days to thank you again," he said, picking up his daughter.

"No need.

Haven't you already thanked me?" Shen Siyuan said, gesturing to the messy table.

"How could that be enough? This…"

Shen Siyuan waved his hand, signaling for him to say no more.

He said casually, "I helped you to do a good deed and receive a good reward. If you come to thank me over and over again, wouldn't my good deed be for nothing?"

The only reason Shen Siyuan said this was to avoid being bothered repeatedly.

Helping one Zhu Guangfa was already like this; what if he helped more people in the future? He'd be annoyed to death every day.

But Zhu Guangfa clearly believed Shen Siyuan's words.

Holding his daughter, he left, thanking him profusely.

"Goodbye, big brother."

With tears in her eyes, Zhu Tingting still remembered to wave goodbye to Shen Siyuan.

"Goodbye~"

Shen Siyuan waved back, a faint sense of loss suddenly rising in his heart.

Perhaps this was life.

Life was just one farewell after another.