The King of Curses

Chapter 20 An Zhizhen

"You, did you hear clearly what I just said?"

Sister Zhizhen’s words were earth-shattering. Cen Dongsheng widened his eyes, thinking that he had just heard it wrong.

"Listen carefully, Dongsheng means that as long as you use that, we can be more closely connected..."

Sister Zhizhen blinked her big innocent eyes.

"What connection? It's a master-servant relationship. You will be my slave. Do you understand?"

"I see. I've already said it. If it's voluntary, then I have no problem with it at all."

She looked as serious as a primary school student answering the teacher's questions in class.

"..."

Cen Dongsheng didn't know how to react at this time. He raised his hands to cover his face and began to sigh painfully. He felt that all the entanglement and worries in his mind just now had become a joke.

……

He liked Sister Zhizhen's current personality, and the time they spent together was quite pleasant. But in his opinion, if he really used deception, once she realized it, this relationship would definitely not be able to continue.

However, even emotional issues can be put aside, before that -

He had personally experienced that the highest level of special curse, even in its incomplete form like his own, was not something that “A, B, C, and D” could break.

In the future, An Zhizhen will not be an ordinary special-class spell master, but a "grandmaster" above that. Even a "third-class" level can break the contract and kill the master. Even if a person like this pays a certain price, he will not be willing to give his weakness to others.

If he really did something bad... he didn't dare to think about what his fate would be. He was afraid it wouldn't be as easy as death.

Even if he could survive by chance, he didn't want to dig a big hole for his future for a little benefit, fleeing everywhere, and living in fear every day under the shadow of a terrible enemy.

He has thought a lot, a lot, but...

It never occurred to him that there was someone who didn't care about it at all, as if he didn't care at all about his personal dignity or freedom being taken away.

"……Ugh."

He made this judgment after careful consideration and decision-making, but An Zhizhen's reaction was so pure that he was deeply shocked.

Even a fool wouldn't say such a thing easily. Sister Zhizhen is not a fool, she just trusts herself wholeheartedly.

only……

Was this feeling a bit too heavy? From the moment they agreed to become partners, when she said "there will only be one in a lifetime", he felt a bit strange.

It doesn’t matter for a lifetime, but “only one” is not necessarily the case. It’s not a bad thing to hug a few thighs.

Cen Dongsheng collected his thoughts and shook his head.

"No."

"Don't want to? I think this is a good opportunity..."

Sister Zhizhen seemed to be feeling regret from the bottom of her heart. Cen Dongsheng resisted the urge to complain and explained in a serious tone:

"We are partners, right? It's not a casual relationship. How could I possibly use that on you?"

The other party hesitated and said:

"Okay, we can discuss this later..."

Why haven't you finished yet?

"There is no future."

Cen Dongsheng emphasized his tone.

"I believe that the foundation of a partnership is equality. If one party can completely control the other party, it is not an equal relationship."

"—"

An Zhizhen blinked. She did not answer immediately, but fell into some long thought.

"Equality... equality..."

"Is it your turn to be in a daze now?"

Cen Dongsheng waited for a while, and seeing that she didn't speak, he asked.

"Well, I was thinking about something..."

An Zhizhen looked thoughtful, but she quickly recovered and asked with a smile.

"So what are you going to do with this thing?"

"I'll just take it."

Cen Dongsheng used his true Qi to refine it without hesitation and took it for his own use.

Refining it does not mean you will use it. Using it may affect the "Three Talents". Before breaking through your own destiny, it is equivalent to occupying a position in advance.

But after all, it has miraculous effects and is a rare item that only exists in the world. Maybe it will be useful someday.

"Hey, you didn't plan to use it on me, but you put it away... Are you planning to keep it for someone else?"

Sister Zhizhen’s tone is strange.

"I don't have that kind of person."

Cen Dongsheng answered casually.

At this moment, a subtle thought suddenly arose in his mind.

——Speaking of which, the Blood Matchmaker Contract does have similarities with "Tian Kui Quan Shou".

However, judging from the effect, it is many times more powerful and overbearing than the Blood Contract, and the number of people it can control and influence is incomparable...

Although he didn't know exactly what kind of ability the so-called "Tiankui Quanshou" was, at least the name alone gave him no clue as to what it was, which made him curious.

However, since the two of them are so close now, maybe we can get to see their true appearance one day...?
He shook his head and temporarily put the idea out of his mind. Now was not the time to do this.

Cen Dongsheng began to talk with Sister Zhizhen about the preparations for the future, which were roughly about how to refine the true Qi and how to lay a solid foundation for becoming a spell-binding master, which would help her awaken her destiny.

After chatting for a while, An Zhizhen saw that he looked a little tired, so he said:

"You just woke up, your body hasn't adjusted yet, just lie down and rest for a while... Oh, by the way, I also made you some soup, bring it over later."

"Wait, I have another question. Where did the curse master Kong Yinlian go?"

"Eh, I don't know? I don't think I've seen her. Maybe she's already left here."

"left?"

Cen Dongsheng frowned.

"Where have you gone?"

He subconsciously tried to get up, but all his strength left him and he fell back onto the bed.

"Okay, okay, look at you, you worry too much."

An Zhizhen comforted him in a gentle tone.

"You should take a rest first, and leave the rest to me."

Leave it to you? Now is not the time to leave it to you... Having said that, under the comfort of Sister Zhizhen, he still lay down obediently.

*
Half an hour later, An Zhizhen watched Cen Dongsheng fall asleep on the bed.

She supported her chin with her hand, admiring the young man's sleeping face from close up, and the corners of her mouth couldn't help but rise.

For her, this was a wonderful experience that she had never experienced before in her life. Just by looking at someone's face, she felt happy. Even if she did nothing, she felt that this time was meaningful.

She discovers new things in life every day, experiences emotions she has never experienced in her past life, and the subtleties of the human heart are revealed... This is also the change that this man brings to her.

"Well, I have things to do too. I can't indulge in this kind of leisure time."

An Zhizhen stood up reluctantly and took the soup bowl away before leaving the room.

In the middle, she even fed him soup spoonful by spoonful. Cen Dongsheng was of course not very willing, but he couldn't persuade her and could only sit on the bed and wait for her to feed him. This back and forth took another half an hour.

Fortunately, the work to be done was not troublesome, just a trivial matter.

She hummed a cheerful tune as she washed dishes at the sink, watching the cool water run down the sink.

An Zhizhen raised her wet hands to block the sunlight coming in from the window. Her hands covered with water droplets were as smooth as jade. She couldn't help but recall the conversation she had just had with Cen Dongsheng.

"The foundation of partnership is equality... Haha, this is a really good saying."

It seemed that the answer to a question that had puzzled her for a long time had been answered, and she felt satisfied.

"I almost forgot about it. Although, true equality is not easy."

An Zhizhen was in high spirits. People greeted her along the way and she politely nodded and smiled in response.

——Until those two people appeared in front of her.

The smile on her face slowly faded.

Kong Yinlian pushed a wheelchair covered with white cloth and walked up to her.

*
"An... Doctor An... We meet again."

After the white cloth was lifted, a man was seen curled up in a wheelchair like a dwarf, his body "shrunk" by nearly half, and his appearance was horrible. His voice was hoarse.

His legs were gone, his upper body was wrapped in bandages, and his entire jaw was torn, so his gums were exposed and moved in the air when he spoke, which looked quite creepy.

"You're actually still alive."

"Yes, I am still alive... although I paid a heavy price... and ended up like this..."

Kong Yinlian next to her looked pale, obviously she had not yet recovered from her injuries.

Both of them were in extremely weak conditions, but despite this, they still came, which shows how obsessed they were with that thing.

An Zhizhen frowned and was about to say something when Deng Rong interrupted her.

"Your man was also seriously injured in that battle... He was unconscious for a whole day and two nights, wasn't he? Yinlian is too cautious. If she had known the guy's true condition at that time, she wouldn't have let us leave in disgrace and come back." As Deng Rong spoke, blood kept flowing from his lower body and face. The bandages that had been repeatedly stained were dirty and emitted a strange smell.

"Your man, Cen Dongsheng, I know his name. That bastard... I will never let him go..."

At first he was still able to speak in his old, joking tone, but soon his voice became full of venom and gave people a hysterical feeling.

"You're getting too excited. This is in the hallway, and there are other people. You're going to expose all our intelligence."

Kong Yinlian spoke in a cold tone and frowned unhappily.

When a few people were standing in the corridor and talking, occasionally a neighbor passing by would cast a curious look over here.

If there was a conflict, someone would definitely call the police, and then it would be impossible to conceal it. Deng Yinlian still didn't want to attract too much attention.

“What’s the big deal…!” Deng Rong tightly grasped the wheelchair armrests and roared, “Do you think I’ll still care about others after I become this… a ghost?! I wish I could kill everyone…”

"Doctor An, you don't have to pay attention to him. He has lost all his abilities. If he does anything rude, I will stop him."

Kong Yinlian said.

"The important thing is, I'm here to negotiate with Mr. Cen. For that thing, we are willing to exchange, whether it's money, intelligence, items or resources related to the curse, or anything else, we can discuss it..."

"——No need."

A perfect smile appeared on An Zhizhen's face again.

"Dongsheng is resting, and I don't want anyone to disturb him."

"Don't you understand the situation? Do you have the final say here?"

Deng Rong interrupted her again, looking frantic.

"Assholes... I will definitely take revenge on you..."

He suddenly raised his head, staring at An Zhizhen with his blood-red eyes.

"You damn woman, this is all your fault, it's you who caused it all... I'm going to torture you until you're living a life worse than death..."

Kong Yinlian regretted bringing Deng Rong here a little.

Before leaving, she took a walk around the building to avoid any subsequent trouble, but she didn't expect to meet him.

It is not known whether to say that it is lucky or unfortunate. Deng Rong's lower body was smashed and he was affected by the fierce battle. His whole body was burnt, but he was still able to linger on. His will to survive was really stubborn... However, he did not have any powerful curse or forbidden item to reverse the situation. The injuries on his body could not be recovered and it was hard to say how long he could live.

Although it is not difficult to understand his emotions, after all, even if this guy can really survive, he will be a useless person for the rest of his life, and his hope for the future is slim.

But in the final analysis, all the tragedies were his own fault.

However, this man has now turned into a mad dog, biting anyone he sees. In order to avoid him causing trouble, and because he kept pestering her, Kong Yinlian, who was too lazy to argue with him, picked him up and brought him with her so that she could manage him under her nose.

As for whether to dispose of it or find someone to throw it away afterwards, it depends on the situation.

Had I known this——

Kong Yinlian's face turned cold.

Although they had been companions for a while, it was hard to say that there was any affection between them. Since Deng Rong was determined to cause trouble for her, then it was no wonder that she was... merciless... sympathetic?
qing...mian...?
Her thoughts suddenly froze.

……Eh?

What’s the matter?
She found that her state of mind suddenly became strange, like a radio with poor reception, with noisy background noise, and thoughts in her mind jumping out one after another uncontrollably, but unable to be connected together logically.

Then, something happened that Kong Yinlian couldn't understand:

Deng Rong, who was about to threaten the other party further, suddenly shut his mouth.

He lowered his head, sobbing sound came from his throat, and then he began to cry loudly, attracting the attention of people passing by.

When he raised his head, his expression was dazed, the anger and malice in his pupils disappeared, his face was covered with blood and tears mixed together, and he was crying like a child.

Then, Kong Yinlian heard the girl talking to her in a clear voice.

"Really...his trial is over. You are just extras, but you still insist on staying on the stage and refusing to leave. Don't you feel ashamed?"

"What are you talking about...what...what 'trial'?"

Kong Yinlian's brain logic still couldn't function normally, and she could only barely repeat the other person's words, and even...

She realized with horror that her language instinct was also rapidly degenerating. If she continued like this, she would soon lose all her knowledge, wisdom, and all the intellectual qualities that made her human.

An Zhizhen did not answer the question, but just looked at the man and woman in front of him with a smile, his eyes moving back and forth on their faces as if he was picking out items.

"However, like Dongsheng, I had no intention of letting you go. It's just right that you came to me on your own initiative. I'm in a good mood now. Although it's a bit annoying to be disturbed by a bunch of light bulbs, I don't need three test subjects... Well, two will be fine?"

Three…? …What…three…?

Kong Yinlian thought blankly.

There was a muffled sound from the side and the wheelchair was knocked over.

Deng Rong's broken body was exposed and he slid to the ground like a ball of mud. Then, he struggled to kneel down.

Kong Yinlian saw the brand of the cross star in the man's eyes, shining brightly;
And in the reflection of that pupil, she saw her own eyes——

There, an identical cross star appeared.

Something huge and terrifying was eating away at her consciousness, her soul, her heart.

"That thing" gradually emerged from her spiritual world, but due to its huge size and mass, her entire appearance could not be seen clearly.

She only knew that she could not resist or think, and could only sweat profusely, gasp for breath, and wait desperately for everything that belonged to her - the human personality called "Kong Yinlian" was crushed to nothing and disappeared from this world.

The world view, outlook on life and values ​​are completely shattered under the gravitational force of the behemoth in the spiritual world, leaving only a blank.

Blank, blank, blank.

Blank…blank.

Only blankness.

“Ah…ah…ah…ah…”

Kong Yinlian started crying.

All the life experiences, experiences, memories, and everything that Kong Yinlian had accumulated disappeared; at this moment, she became a state purer and more ignorant than a baby.

This kind of terror is far more terrifying than death, more terrifying than being in hell, and more terrifying than being imprisoned in a dark and lonely dungeon for a lifetime.

Kong Yinlian knelt on the ground, curling up her limbs unconsciously, like a fetus returning to her mother's cradle.

Nothing... Nothing...

Her soul became an endless wilderness,

Then, she saw—

A huge star rises slowly from one end of the wilderness.

He radiates infinite light and casts a huge shadow, so every corner of the soul is completely painted over, leaving no room for anything else.

My vision, my heart, everything about me - is filled with stars.

……

Kong Yinlian and Deng Rong, the two were like devout believers, kneeling down and prostrating themselves before the revered gods.

At the same time, the entire corridor - including the entire Xiaokang building - became silent, as quiet as a grave.

Except for the man who was sleeping soundly in a room, all the others, regardless of gender, age or status, stopped what they were doing, stopped talking, stopped walking, and even their expressions were frozen on their faces.

The wife chopped off her finger while cutting vegetables on the chopping board;
The husband, who was carrying dishes to the living room, dropped the bowl in his hand and broke it all over the floor;
The person riding a bicycle fell to the ground and the person walking up the stairs tumbled down.

A cross appeared in their pupils at the same time.

At this moment, everyone's consciousness is connected to one person and controlled by her.

A light also appeared in An Zhizhen's pupils.

But that is not a cross star. The mark in people's eyes is just the reflection of a huge star in the spiritual world.

As the master of this power, what is reflected in her eyes is another world, the sun that comes from the spiritual abyss of all mankind.

It shines brightly, and its light is brighter than the sun in the sky.

"Forget everything about me and Cen Dongsheng for a week; then from now on, ignore my actions and their existence."

An Zhizhen raised his hand and snapped his fingers.

The next moment, people returned to normal and carried out their original actions.

“It… it hurts so much…”

"It's all good, it's all good..."

"The tire's flat?"

"Who, who tripped me?"

……

No one realizes that their lives have been tampered with and manipulated at a certain moment. This subtle abnormality lurks in everyone's daily life like a rusty and squeaking gear.

Like now.

No matter who they were, when people in the corridor passed by An Zhizhen, they would walk around her without even looking at her, as if they had encountered a wall of air.

However, no one would notice this abnormality.

"So, I said..."

The woman looked down at the man and woman who were kneeling on the ground, curled up like dogs.

There was emotion in her tone, and it seemed like pity.

"——True equality is not easy to achieve."

(End of this chapter)