Chapter 59: Two Wisps of Merit

What Zhu Guangfa said was not something Shen Siyuan had never considered. Although he had obtained a heaven-defying opportunity, he was still just an ordinary person, not yet powerful enough to go against an entire nation by himself. A single stray bullet could still send him straight to the Myriad Soul Banner, so there was nothing to boast about or act arrogant over.

Therefore, for the time being, he still needed to keep a low profile, develop slowly, and live life as it was.

He could show a bit of capability, but never too much of it.

As for wealth, it was indeed within easy reach for Shen Siyuan now. He had countless ways to make himself obscenely rich, but then what? Enjoy life? He was already enjoying life right now; why take a huge detour just to come back to enjoying life?

Of course, this also had to do with Shen Siyuan's own personality and family background. The elders at home were in good health, and his parents had a modest amount of assets. Aside from the nagging pressure to get married, he didn't need to shoulder any heavy responsibilities. This was the fundamental reason why he lacked ambition and was content to just coast along at Glory Animation.

If he had even the slightest shred of drive, he probably would have resigned long ago. Going back home to raise chickens with his father would likely earn him more money and offer a better future than drawing a salary at Glory Animation.

Yet, he didn't.

As for whether he had ever considered the future, or felt lost and panicked, he certainly had, but not very much.

Now, however, those feelings were entirely gone. The Myriad Soul Banner had become his greatest source of confidence and currently exerted the most profound influence on him.

It was much like a wealthy tycoon with hundreds of millions tucked away in the bank, returning to the countryside to live a quiet, ordinary life—that was called enjoying life.

Meanwhile, a penniless person returning to the countryside to live a quiet, ordinary life could not be called enjoying life; it was purely about mere survival.

To put it bluntly, one possessed the power of choice, while the other did not.

One could say no to life, while the other was ridden roughshod over by it.

Before having the Myriad Soul Banner, Shen Siyuan already possessed the power of choice, but that power had been given to him by his parents, which made him fortunate.

And with the Myriad Soul Banner, that sense of security simply grew even stronger.

Therefore, there was no need to make himself so exhausted by fighting, scrambling, and climbing to the top; if he did that, he would no longer be himself.

Shen Siyuan was perfectly clear-headed. Although life was plain and uneventful, this was the very essence of life.

If he wanted to change, he could do so at any moment, because he held the power of choice.

Some might say that a human life spans a mere hundred years and should naturally be lived brilliantly and resplendently. But for Shen Siyuan, the one thing he currently lacked least was time.

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

Even though they only drank a single bottle of alcohol, the meal was thoroughly enjoyable—at least, Shen Siyuan thought so.

Zhu Guangfa's culinary skills were quite decent, vastly superior to Shen Siyuan's own cooking at the very least.

Thus, Shen Siyuan was in a wonderful mood, but the father and daughter were not.

In their eyes, Du Xiuzhi was beginning to fade, her form turning illusory.

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

Of course, leaving in their eyes meant that Du Xiuzhi had fulfilled her final wish and would re-enter the cycle of reincarnation. Perhaps there would be a day of reunion, even if they didn't recognize each other, but it was still something worth looking forward to.

For Du Xiuzhi, however, her departure meant she would dissipate into the heavens and earth, never to be seen again.

Her wish had been fulfilled, and everything that needed to be explained had been said that afternoon; she would no longer partake in the future lives of her father and daughter.

"Mom, are you leaving?"

Zhu Tingting asked pitifully, tears swirling in her eyes.

Du Xiuzhi pulled her into her embrace, kissed her forehead, and comforted her, saying, "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 will meet again," Du Xiuzhi said.

Her voice unconsciously choked with sobs, because she knew that was impossible.

Beside them, Zhu Guangfa was already weeping profusely, convulsing and sobbing. He hadn't expected a grown man like him to cry so bitterly; no wonder Du Xiuzhi called him a crybaby—perhaps he was simply born with richer emotions and a more sensitive tear duct than others.

As he looked at Du Xiuzhi, he seemed to sense something.

He turned his gaze to Shen Siyuan and asked with sorrow, "After a person dies, do they really re-enter the cycle of reincarnation?"

Zhu Tingting, still in her mother's arms, also looked at Shen Siyuan with tear-filled eyes, brimming with pleading.

Shen Siyuan nodded and said, "Of course. Your mother will definitely re-enter the cycle of reincarnation and become your baby in her next life. I promise you."

Since Du Xiuzhi didn't want to say anything, Shen Siyuan went along with her words to comfort Zhu Tingting.

Yet the moment his words fell, two wisps of merit descended from the void, entering his body through the space between his brows.

"Oh?" Shen Siyuan uttered in surprise.

When he helped Doudou fulfill her wish, he had only gained a single wisp of merit. Why did helping Du Xiuzhi yield two?

He quickly understood, however. One wisp was indeed for helping Du Xiuzhi fulfill her wish.

The other wisp was for promising Zhu Tingting that he would help her mother re-enter reincarnation.

Even this could earn merit, but if that was the case, it precisely proved the existence of the Underworld.

Yet the Underworld had been sealed for centuries, and deceased souls had no way to enter at all. How was he supposed to enter the Underworld and send Du Xiuzhi into reincarnation?

At this thought, he instinctively reached out and touched his waist, where a soul-captivating chain was coiled. Perhaps this item could provide him with some clues.

"Wife."

"Mom~"

At that very moment, Du Xiuzhi vanished completely from before the eyes of the father and daughter.

Du Xiuzhi released her daughter from her embrace, stood up, and cast a deep look at her husband and child.

Having fulfilled her wish, she seemed to have no remaining attachments. She turned slightly, bowed to Shen Siyuan, and said, "Mr. Shen, thank you."

Then, her form appeared ready to dissolve.

Seeing this, Shen Siyuan flicked his palm, and the Myriad Soul Banner appeared in his hand. With a hand seal, he directly drew her into the Myriad Soul Banner.

She could not be allowed to dissipate just yet. Since he had promised Zhu Tingting and received the merit reward, he would try to see if he could send her onto the path of reincarnation. Before that, she would simply sleep within the Myriad Soul Banner.

Naturally, the father and daughter could not see anything of what had just transpired.

Overwhelmed by grief, they wept in alternating, rhythmic sobs.

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

Zhu Guangfa seemed to snap back to reality. Choking back a sob, he stood up, intending to help Shen Siyuan clear the dishes.

Shen Siyuan stopped him.

"I'll take care of the rest. Take the child home."

"Thank you. In a few days, I will come back to thank you properly," he said, picking up his daughter.

"No need. Haven't you already thanked me?" Shen Siyuan pointed at the mess scattered across the table.

"How can that be? This..."

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

Casually, he remarked, "I helped you out of kindness, and kindness bears good fruit. If you come back to thank me time and time again, wouldn't my good deed have been done in vain?"

Shen Siyuan said this simply to avoid being repeatedly disturbed.

If he was going through all this just for helping one Zhu Guangfa, what would happen when he helped more people in the future? He would be annoyed to death every single day.

Clearly, Zhu Guangfa believed Shen Siyuan's words. Clutching his daughter, he offered profuse expressions of gratitude before leaving.

"Goodbye, big brother."

Tear-eyed, Zhu Tingting still did not forget to wave goodbye to Shen Siyuan.

"Goodbye~"

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

Perhaps this was what life was—a series of continuous partings.