Chapter 173: How about, you guys fight it out?

Chapter 173: Why Don’t You Just Fight?

Despite his grumbling, Sheng Qingquan immediately opened the book.

"It’s almost *National Day*?!"

"I’ve been too swamped to even notice."

Sheng Qingquan zoned out for a moment.

"I used to remember holidays like this so clearly. Especially National Day—impossible to forget, whether it marks the country’s founding or just means a long vacation."

Sheng Qingquan had always been a freelancer. Back in his student days, apart from winter and summer breaks, National Day was the longest holiday of the year.

"Every year, over a month before National Day, I’d be looking forward to it already."

"Now? If not for this book, I wouldn’t even remember it’s coming up in a few days."

"Oh right, that’s why the streets are decked out already!" The equally busy staff members also belatedly realized.

Realizing National Day was approaching, they weren’t exactly thrilled.

"If Sheng Qingquan hadn’t taken out that Broad-Ear alien earlier, wouldn’t we have ended up at war with aliens right during National Day?"

"And the result of that war would’ve been the destruction of Tianlanxing."

Ugh, even the thought pisses me off.

Talk about irony—while everyone celebrates the 200th anniversary of the nation’s founding, the war that destroys it begins.

"We stopped it, thank god!"

"But," a voice chimed in darkly, "a new crisis is here!"

"No holiday? Whatever—" Losing the holiday was minor—they mostly worked shifts anyway. The reminder made everyone realize the real danger: "If things go wrong, this year’s National Day might still mark the nation’s downfall."

That was the last thing they wanted!

"Destroying the nation on its founding day? Now *that’s* a sick joke."

Sheng Qingquan shuddered and dug deeper into the book.

"National Day is coming, and everyone’s excited for the holiday. Many plan to travel. Xi Changgeng was no exception. Who doesn’t love time off?"

No kidding!

Everyone nodded in agreement. Even they couldn’t honestly claim they didn’t want time off.

"Xi Changgeng—Xi Zhengtian’s brother?"

"Is he the protagonist this time?"

Xi Zhengtian quietly dialed his brother. They didn’t live together, especially not right after going undercover. Though he’d changed his identity and his former employers were all imprisoned, he’d kept his distance from family, in case any stragglers came after him.

But after everything settled, they were family, after all. His brother sometimes crashed at his place.

Who knew the Doomsday would follow?

Though when it happened, realizing the residents of Unit 2 in Baojing Community were high-risk, Xi Zhengtian clung to hope and warned his brother not to come.

Yet, they still couldn’t avoid it.

Inevitably, it happened. Xi Changgeng didn’t mind much. In fact, he always thought his brother’s plan wouldn’t work. But since it was family concern, he went along with it—meeting outside worked just as well.

His brother visiting him sometimes wasn’t a bad deal either.

After receiving the call, Xi Changgeng rushed over as fast as possible while canceling his holiday plans.

National Day tickets were a nightmare to book—total waste.

"During holidays, people naturally love traveling. Plus, after the Spiritual Resurgence, everyone swears remote mountains and forests are brimming with spiritual energy. So they flock to big-name destinations."

"Work’s got them tied up normally, so holidays are the only chance."

"But popular spots are jam-packed—scoring tickets is next to impossible."

"Yet, more secluded places might be dangerous."

"Xi Changgeng was cautious, avoiding undeveloped areas and opting for lesser-known attractions."

"Since it was National Day, even small spots were crowded. Stalls crowded the paths, and festive flags sprouted like weeds."

"Xi Changgeng didn’t buy anything, but a stall owner’s kid sat there, battling homework—brow furrowed, scratching their head."

"Too shy to ask for a phone to look it up, the kid kept glancing at their parent but stayed silent. Just then, a customer arrived, and the busy parent didn’t notice."

"Xi Changgeng, ever the do-gooder, stepped in to throw in his two cents."

No one was surprised. The Xis raised him right—this was just another good deed in his book.

"After the child solved the problem following his guidance, the parent noticed and insisted Xi Changgeng pick something from the stall as thanks."

"He couldn’t say no but wouldn’t take anything pricey, so he took a little national-flag-style pennant from the display."

"The parent tried offering more, but Xi Changgeng had already bolted before things got awkward."

"Seemed harmless at the time. But they didn’t know—that little flag might’ve been the holy grail of that stall."

"So I scammed them?" Xi Changgeng grew restless, even though it hadn’t happened yet.

Helping with a problem and taking a dinky plastic flag was fine—those things were practically free.

But if it was actually precious...

"Flag in hand, Xi Changgeng crested the summit, already crowded with people."

"It wasn’t a grand mountain, but the view was lovely. A makeshift reservoir capped the peak—dug by locals before plumbing arrived."

"Though plumbing existed now, the reservoir remained, repurposed for picnics, fishing, and lazy sightseeing."

"Wait—isn’t this Yunying Reservoir, next city over?"

Sheng Qingquan remembered this place; he'd been there before.

"The reservoir, situated at the mountaintop, has a calm surface like a small lake, mirroring the sky and drifting clouds. The scenery is truly stunning."

"And it easily brings to mind Zhu Xi's poem: 'A small square pond, an uncovered mirror, where sunlight and clouds linger and leave. I ask, how can it be so clear? Because fresh water flows in from its source.' This connection only boosted its reputation."

"Whether it's a stretch or not, locals eat it up."

"It is indeed Yunying Reservoir," Xi Changgeng said, whipping out his phone to show his brother and the arriving staff his train ticket.

He wasn’t planning to go far, intending only to visit the neighboring city. The high-speed rail ticket he booked was for that very destination.

Since he was going there, he couldn’t pass up Yunying Reservoir.

Yunying Reservoir was only a minor spot, but it still had some clout within the province. It was the kind of place locals would recommend when outsiders asked about nearby scenic spots.

It was well-regarded.

The scenery was beautiful, there was no entrance fee, vendors didn’t rip people off, the people were warm, and the selection was varied. Besides unique handmade crafts, fresh reservoir fish were also available to eat.

For the fish, you could either catch them yourself for a picnic, order at a local restaurant, or even buy a live fish and knock on a local farmer’s door—most would happily cook it up for a few bucks.

"By the reservoir, there are picnic areas, fishing gear shops, and vendors selling live fish. While Xi Changgeng was buying fish, a voice whispered in his ear."

[‘“Do you have regrets? Do you want to grow stronger?”’]

"Who wouldn’t?!"

"But there were many people around, and Xi Changgeng was traveling alone. So, he figured it wasn’t meant for him."

"Probably just other tourists chatting nearby."

"Xi Changgeng brushed it off and continued eyeing the fish in the tank."

[‘“Others travel with family or loved ones, or at least in groups of friends. You’re all alone—don’t you feel lonely? Where are your family and friends?”’]

[‘“Are they even alive?”’]

[‘“Who the hell’s running their mouth like that? How’s that mouth still intact?” Xi Changgeng looked around but saw no one.’]

"Seeing that Xi Changgeng still hadn’t noticed it, the speaker lost patience. It flew right in front of him and fluttered."

"That little flag?" Xi Changgeng reacted quickly. This was clearly no ordinary flag.

By now, he wasn’t sweating whether he’d scored a deal anymore.

Not because he thought the gain was too big to pass up—after all, he hadn’t stolen or forced it.

Some people might resist petty temptations, holding firm to their principles and refusing to take even the slightest advantage.

But that only applies when the advantage is slight, not astronomical.

Once the stakes cross a certain line, morals and integrity are often tossed aside.

Xi Changgeng wasn’t that kind of person.

He just got a bad vibe from Sheng Qingquan’s mind.

"That flag… screams trouble!"

In reality, Xi Changgeng thought so, and so did his character in the story.

“The flag can talk—has it become a spirit?” the staff speculated.

“Xi Changgeng was alert and immediately asked if it had registered with the Supernatural Affairs Bureau since it had become a spirit.”

“But the flag didn’t answer the question. Instead, it asked if he had ever thought about his deceased loved ones.”

[‘“Do you want them to come back to life?!”’]

“Who wouldn’t want that?”

Sheng Qingquan asked himself—he did too. But common sense told him otherwise, knowing it was impossible.

“Xi Changgeng was tempted for a moment, but he quickly regained control and continued badgering the flag about paperwork.”

“Seeing Xi Changgeng stubbornly fixated on this question, the flag grew impatient.”

Xi Zhengtian couldn’t help but smack his younger brother: “You really didn’t learn any of my quick thinking and silver tongue!”

“At a time like this, you shouldn’t keep asking. Just find a way to lure it back and hand it over!”

Pushing further would only make things worse.

Perhaps it was easier to see clearly from the sidelines. By now, Xi Changgeng also sensed something was wrong, but he couldn’t jump into the book to stop himself. He slouched against his brother, defeated: “I shouldn’t have learned martial arts from you—I should’ve picked up your acting chops and gift of gab instead.”

His brother had even succeeded in undercover missions. If Xi Changgeng had those skills, coaxing the flag back would’ve been child’s play.

“The flag repeated the questions it had asked Xi Changgeng earlier.”

“But unlike before, when only Xi Changgeng could hear it, this time, everyone around heard its voice.”

“It was the height of vacation season. Yunying Reservoir wasn’t a famous attraction, but it had a bit of a following. Plus, with the whole spiritual energy craze, even more people had come.”

“With so many hearing those words, you can bet chaos followed.”

This is bad. Really bad. Xi Changgeng sank into his seat, hopeless—his earlier premonition had come true, and it was even worse than he’d feared.

Xi Zhengtian could only pat his shoulder in consolation: “At least it’s not real—yet. Just take it as a lesson.”

“Learn from it and don’t repeat the same mistake.”

That was true, but Xi Changgeng still seemed down in the dumps.

“Some might not believe the flag’s words, but others would still bite.”

“After all, if cultivating immortality is real, who’s to say resurrection is impossible?”

“Actually, the authorities have shut down dozens of cults with similar goals lately—all claiming they could see ghosts or revive the dead. There are also private research institutes conducting shady experiments in secret, trying to bring people back to life,” a staff member sighed.

The authorities shut down several such institutes every month. At the peak, they even dismantled nine illegal labs in a single month.

Yet they just keep coming back.

This was like weeds—you can’t burn ’em all out, and next thing you know, they’re back.

The authorities had clarified multiple times, repeatedly stating that there was no proof of ghosts or afterlife. But plenty weren’t buying it.

Some figured if it’s not real now, doesn’t mean it won’t happen someday.

Keep studying it, and it'll happen. Everything starts from nothing.

Or just wait—maybe the world will change and make it happen?

After all, the Spiritual Resurgence—something that would have been dismissed as fantasy in the past—has now become reality.

So don’t be so quick to dismiss things.

Who doesn’t carry some regret?

Maybe it’s the early loss of parents;

maybe grandparents didn’t live long enough, passing away before they could be taken care of;

maybe childhood playmates—siblings who grew up safely while the other passed away, forever stuck in that one year;

maybe a lover’s death, torn apart by death even though they loved each other...

"The dead are gone. In the past, people mourned, but most got over it in time."

"They’d wonder—what if they were still here? What would they be doing together now? But deep down, they knew it was impossible, so it remained just a thought."

"But after the Spiritual Resurgence, hope crept back in."

"Especially if they could come back—if everyone could cultivate together, they wouldn’t just have a year or two together—not even just a hundred."

"As their cultivation grew stronger, they could be together for thousands, even tens of thousands of years!"

"Who wouldn’t dream of a future like that?"

"The more they wanted it, the worse the pain of losing them."

"And that’s exactly the scam those frauds run to make a fortune."

Sheng Qingquan also recalled past news reports.

"But this banner—it genuinely has that ability."

"What ability?!" Everyone was startled, rubbing their ears in disbelief.

Did they hear that right? Was Sheng Qingquan saying this thing could truly bring the dead back to life?

"That’s impossible!" someone blurted out, unable to believe it.

Yet even as they doubted, a spark of hope flared up inside them.

They had married and had children—two, in fact. But the first had passed too soon. Even with the second child around, at night, they still missed the first.

When they moved houses, they’d saved a room for that kid.

So… could that empty room finally have its owner back?

"The banner calls itself a Soul-Anchoring Banner, capable of protecting its master’s soul from any attack. It can also gather a person’s three souls and seven spirits."

"A spiritual treasure looking for a master—training together speeds things up. It levels up with its master."

"The more you cultivate, the stronger it gets. Once you hit a certain level in cultivation, it can gather the soul of a specific person—even if they’ve been dead for a long time."

"In short, coming back to life is no big deal. Pull the soul together, slap on a body, and boom—they’re back."

"To prove his point and dispel doubts, he..."

"Coincidentally, on a nearby stall, there was a freshly slaughtered reservoir fish. Its guts and eggs had been scooped out and placed on a cutting board beside it, and its tail no longer twitched. Clearly stone-cold dead."

"The sentient Dinghun Banner then borrowed a small decorative plush toy from a young girl among the onlookers, which was hanging on her backpack. With a flick of its fabric, the long-eared rabbit plush jerked to life."

"The sentient banner tossed the plush into the water, and the rabbit plush actually swam like a fish."

"Is this girl in on it?" someone couldn't help but question.

"Someone fished the plush out, and the rabbit's hind legs still flapped like a fish's tail, splashing him right in the face."

"If not for its rabbit appearance, it was practically a fish!"

"Like someone stuck a fish soul in that rabbit."

"Moreover, he had checked—the rabbit plush was indeed just an ordinary toy. It was soft to the touch, with no wires or batteries—just stuffing."

"The crowd passed it around, poking and prodding, confirming it was just a regular plush keychain."

"But some still doubted, reasoning that since the plush was fluffy and full of stuffing, you couldn’t spot tricks without tearing it open."

"Someone wanted to dismantle the plush, but the girl, already upset that her beloved toy had been soaked and manhandled by so many, wasn’t about to let them ruin her toy."

"So the sentient banner plucked a blade of grass on the spot and threw it into the water."

"The grass floated quietly on the surface, only drifting when the wind nudged it."

"But after the sentient banner wrapped itself around the rabbit plush and then hovered over the grass, then, in full view, the blade of grass suddenly zipped through the water like a motorboat."

"The two leaves thrashed like a fish’s tail."

"This grass is acting downright fishy!"

"The grass had been plucked from a patch of weeds beside the water tank. Everyone saw it clearly."

"And the grass was so thin—no room for any hidden mechanisms."

"The sentient banner then had someone retrieve the grass. Once it stopped moving, they snapped it in half on the spot. The cross-section of the broken stem proved it was just ordinary grass."

"Even after breaking it, when held close, it even smelled like fresh-cut grass."

"No way... this was legit?"

"The crowd went wild!"

"Only then did the sentient Dinghun Banner float mid-air and nod toward Xi Changgeng, indicating: 'Originally, I wanted to choose him as my master because his cultivation is decent and his talent passable. He barely made the cut.'"

"But he waffles too much. I can’t stand such a temperament. So I changed my mind. I’ll pick a new master from among you instead.'"

"You’re all here—must be meant to be."

"Talk about destiny!"

"At this, everyone’s gaze toward Xi Changgeng shifted, like he’d just fumbled a winning lottery ticket."

"A golden opportunity handed to him on a platter, yet he managed to push it away. Now it’s their lucky day."

"He must be full of regrets now!"

"They can't afford to miss this heaven-sent opportunity like he did—they must seize it."

"So everyone present started competing for the position."

["'My talent is exceptional, and I’ve never slacked in my cultivation. I’m almost at Qi Refining Stage Two!'"]

["'Though I’m only at Stage One, I’m diligent. My family’s wealthy, so I don’t need to work. I cultivate over ten hours daily, and my progress is rapid. With you, I could push it to fifteen hours.'"]

["'Actually, no!' he hastily added to boost his appeal. 'Apart from essential sleep and meals, I’ll give up all leisure and cultivate around the clock!'"]

["'Wealthy? Richer than me? My assets exceed a hundred million. Since you’re sentient, you’re no different from a human. You must want to transform into human form, right? Swear loyalty to me, and once you transform, I’ll gift you a substantial fortune.'"]

["'In fact, if you want a wife, I can arrange that too. If none suit your taste, I’ll even build custom-made flags tailored to your preferences for you to choose from.'"]

["'I’ve got ties to museums—if you fancy an antique flag, I can pull strings for you!'"]

"Inspired by this, everyone began pitching their best offers to win it over."

"One even promised to build it a golden nest lined with spirit-infused beast fur, ensuring supreme comfort."

"But the flag remained unmoved."

["'These are worldly things. I don’t care about them.'"]

"True—a sentient flag isn’t human. Human tactics wouldn’t sway it."

["'My path to transforming into human form is long. I follow only the strong.'"]

["'Why not settle this with a fight? The winner forms a pact with me.'"]

"A fight wasn’t unreasonable. With clear rules and restraint, a match seemed fair. No one objected."

"Normally, such contests would involve meticulous planning, official judges, scheduled dates, and safety measures."

"At the very least, medics on standby should be arranged, right?"

"But delays risked attracting more competitors."

"If word spread, who knew how many experts might show up? Their chances would be gone."

"Here, the pool was small. The strong relied on skill; the less adept but wealthy relied on superior gear, ample elixirs, talismans, and arrays—they still had a shot."

"So the competition began."

Sheng Qingquan was shocked.

"Seriously—they’re actually fighting? Just like that?"

He questioned reality itself.

"Is no one seeing how absurd this is? With so many people here, can’t they pool together a single functioning brain?"