The King of Curses

Chapter 343 The Night My Sister Kidnapped
That morning, Cen Dongsheng did not wake up early as usual to meditate and cultivate.

Perhaps it was because the battle was too intense, and the actions and considerations required for the return were more complex than usual...

He fell into a semi-conscious state.

More likely, it's a side effect, a consequence of overusing forbidden curses, or a consequence of being possessed by an evil god.

A week had passed since the end of the Feast of Bliss. After Cen Dongsheng was urged by An Zhizhen to wake up from his slumber, he quickly mobilized the power of "Hehua Zizai" to stabilize his injuries.

Afterwards, they returned to Tianhai City to deal with the impact and aftermath of that day's battle.

Although he has become a prominent and world-renowned figure, Cen Dongsheng's main work remains recuperation and self-cultivation.

As for the outcome, in short, his wound never fully healed, and the pain continued to torment him.

The trauma caused by simultaneously invoking "Otherworldly Freedom" and "Six Paths of Reincarnation" does not simply remain at the physical level; it is a stubborn residual energy that even interferes with spacetime.

The evil god Ruja possessed his body, granting him a level of power surpassing even a top-tier curse master for a fleeting moment; and in that state, according to Jiang Yunmei, he could truly "freeze time and space"—

"You're amazing, Teacher Cen. This is the first time I've ever truly respected your abilities."

"...So it wasn't like this before."

"Haha, actually, yes. When I first met you, I thought you were amazing. But you introduced me to some big shots so quickly, it broadened my horizons a bit... However, back then, Teacher Cen did surpass the two people beside you, even if it was only for a fleeting moment like a shooting star."

If she hadn't been there at the time, no one might have realized the truth afterward. Song Yutang, who was also an observer, noticed something was wrong, but she couldn't accurately describe the underlying reason.

The light that froze time and space allowed him to severely injure Zhang Shidao with a single blow, while Cen Dongsheng himself also collapsed. The aftereffects were also affected by that moment, frozen at the point in the past, and could not be recovered.

Cen Dongsheng realized that this wound would probably never heal until he truly mastered the power to interfere with spacetime.

Of course, there were other solutions. With several of the world's top spellcasters around, they quickly devised a strategy.

One of the superpowers in "He-Transformation Freedom" is "Ruyi," which allows him to freely manipulate every muscle fiber in his body. The main function of this superpower is to enable Cen Dongsheng to unleash 100% coordinated power at any time, and it can also modify his body.

Over the past six months, the young man's physique has visibly improved as he acquired his superpowers, but this change has stalled after he mastered the "Ruyi" (a magical artifact), because Cen Dongsheng can now control his own body shape.

Thus, although he could not break through the shackles of time and space, by making subtle adjustments to his body parts and concentrating the injuries in one place, Cen Dongsheng forcibly restored his normal mobility and most of his combat abilities.

This was probably the longest and slowest healing he had ever done since he mastered the spell...

After completing this task, Cen Dongsheng had a good night's sleep in his room.

In this brief, hazy dream, he recalled his past, including his experiences before and after his rebirth.

The specific details will not be repeated here. In the last month or two, when this dream had progressed to the point where Cen Dongsheng felt someone approaching in his hazy consciousness.

Someone entered his room, but failed to raise his guard. It was probably either An Zhizhen or Yi Qingyan.

The person walked up to him and then quietly climbed onto the bed.

Touch with fingers.

Touch, touch.

A slight chill came over my chest.

"Huh...huh..."

For some reason, he could hear the whistling wind in his ears, as if the bed he was lying on had turned into a sailboat, tossed and turned by the flowing night wind and the gathering starry sea.

What a wonderful dream, it felt so real, like it was actually happening...

But Cen Dongsheng was still too lazy to get up.

That room, that home, made him feel warm and cozy. Who could get close to him under their noses? That was the safest place in the world.

"Heh, still don't want to wake up?"

Cen Dongsheng heard a familiar soft laugh.

It really was Yi Qingyan.

It wasn't the cold, menacing tone she used when speaking to strangers, nor was it the coquettish tone she used as a younger sister. Perhaps it was because it was late at night that her voice became more charming and melodious.

This made him realize in a daze that his sister had indeed grown up, both physically and spiritually, and had become an adult.

But he still didn't wake up because he was too tired during that time.

"Qingyan... I'm so tired... Let's talk about it tomorrow, okay?"

Cen Dongsheng mumbled something in a daze, without even opening his eyes, and rolled over in bed.

Now that he was certain he was with Yi Qingyan and safe, there was no need to think about it anymore; he could wait until tomorrow to do so.

"You're such a sleepyhead. If you don't get up soon, I'm going to... play a prank on you!"

……

The dream continues, and time has moved to the last week.

First, let's talk about what I gained from this long trip.

He arranged to meet Jiang Yunmei and Song Yutang at a dessert shop near the university. It had become, without anyone noticing, a regular meeting place for Cen Dongsheng's team.

"Congratulations, Teacher Cen!"

Jiang Yunmei clapped her hands.

"Congratulations."

Song Yutang smiled and clapped along.

As for the content of the congratulations, it's not just them; probably in the next few days, all the curse masters in the world will know.

The number one gigolo in the Heavenly Rank has finally managed to shed his reputation as a womanizer and become one of the world's top powerhouses, even rising to power by stepping on the head of the leader of the Ten Thousand Immortals' Assembly in his first battle.

But for Cen Dongsheng, this development was not satisfactory. After all, he had always had the idea of ​​keeping a low profile and hoping to conceal his own strength. He considered empty fame as nothing more than fleeting clouds.

"Actually, I'm not yet a true top-tier curse master."

The young man sighed.

Although the power of the three demons has been fully collected and it seems only a matter of time before it is fully mastered, it also means that it will be difficult to cross the threshold before the time is right. There is no shortcut; one can only adapt little by little.

Even those who hold the power of life restriction, such as An Zhizhen and Yi Qingyan, need time to familiarize themselves with their power at first, and Cen Dongsheng will be no exception.

"But doesn't Teacher Cen possess the key to that realm?"

"...That's true."

The mark left by Loujia when he manipulated his body made him remember the method of using the "Six Paths of Reincarnation" as a catalyst in a simple and brutal way.

"It can only last for a very short time, and given my current physical condition, I cannot use it frequently."

"At least you've taken a step forward, right?"

Jiang Yunmei picked up her coffee and said with a smile.

"Becoming stronger is definitely a good thing, Teacher Cen."

That's true. The reason Cen Dongsheng is frowning right now is mainly because he feels the pressure; but the greater the risk, the greater the reward.

Besides his own growth, Chen Jiu, who, according to him, inherited a portion of Meng Huafan's power, is currently a guest at the Super Workers' Committee headquarters and, barring any unforeseen circumstances, will become one of their own.

Furthermore, the aftermath of the war meant that Cen Dongsheng and his group, already renowned in the world of curse masters, were now considered the most powerful, and no one dared to provoke them easily.

What exactly are you worried about?

"That's a lot."

Cen Dongsheng sighed and downed the juice in his glass in one gulp. The image of the girl in the white dress inevitably surfaced in the young man's mind.

The evil god Ruojia...

Judging from her actions of deceiving herself and manipulating his body to inflict severe damage, she was an enemy, not a friend; but on the other hand, she fulfilled the promise between them and taught him her most precious knowledge.

If the two sides are truly enemies, this action is tantamount to "aiding the enemy." He doesn't believe that the evil god would be foolish enough not to notice this.

It's really hard to figure out.

Just thinking about that person's face makes me feel like I can smell that faint camellia scent again...

Cen Dongsheng shook his head, pulling his consciousness back.

"If we're talking about things that can bother Teacher Cen, then it's only women."

Jiang Yunmei's tone was somewhere between mocking and teasing.

"And she has to be the kind of woman who is both strong and twisted, the kind that my junior and I are still a long way from."

"..."

Cen Dongsheng was speechless.

"Ah, is it another conflict between Miss An and Miss Yi?"

"……Correct."

The cause was a good thing.

Loujia not only allowed him to experience the realm of a top-tier spellcaster, but also, for a brief period of time, lasting only a breath, enabled him to reach an even more transcendent realm.

According to later standards, it would be classified as "Special Grade Two," just one step away from being a true "ancestor."

At the moment he defeated Zhang Shidao, Cen Dongsheng truly stood at the pinnacle of humanity.

However, compared to the special realm of "Otherworldly Freedom" achieved through "Six Paths of Reincarnation," "Special Second" was something he was incapable of replicating, and he didn't even have the idea of ​​trying it. He had a premonition that if he dared to touch the taboo again, even his "immortality" ability might not be able to save him.

His foundation was still too shallow. Cen Dongsheng felt that he should wait until he had a certain grasp of "Six Paths of Reincarnation" before he could try to master both at the same time.

But An Zhizhen and Yi Qingyan are different; they are both complete top-tier curse masters. After listening to Cen Dongsheng's personal experiences, they both showed great eagerness to try.

What they lack is a second key besides the innate restrictions of their lives.

"Those two are now ready to 'reach the next level'."

"...Finding top-grade cursed spells or forbidden items isn't an easy task, is it...?"

Song Yutang asked tentatively.

If she and Cen Dongsheng hadn't had such a close relationship, she might not have even been able to keep the Kunwu Sword in her hand, after all, it was the legacy of the Dragon Slayer.

“That’s not the problem.”

For others, it requires opportunity and tireless searching; for him, a reborn being who knows the future, it is a preordained schedule.

The Precept Knife - Killing, the weapon of King Pingdeng - a top-grade forbidden item that Cen Dongsheng has been coveting ever since he met Yi Qingyan, and it was unearthed this month.

He certainly wouldn't forget such an important event, so he made an appointment with Yi Qingyan to retrieve it together.

The problem is, on the very day she made the promise to Qingyan, her older sister happily came to visit.
"I've discovered traces of a new top-tier curse!"

she says.

"I have a feeling that this might be the power I've been searching for..."

She asked Cen Dongsheng to leave with her.

"..."

Jiang Yunmei looked him up and down with a strange expression.

"Heh, just because of that?"

She asked with a forced smile.

Song Yutang's reaction... was only a sigh.

"Since we have to solve it anyway, why can't we do it together?"

"You don't understand, the key is the order of things, that's the most crucial thing."

“I understand. But Professor Cen, you seem to have forgotten that you are different now than you were in the past. If the two of them were to fight, what would you do?”

"Of course, we should stop it immediately."

Have they ever fought before? Have you ever successfully stopped them?

"...I would say it was a success, although the price was that I almost died several times."

“But if it’s you now, you’re fully qualified to join the battle with dignity,” Jiang Yunmei said. “You can’t be afraid of them anymore, Teacher Cen. You need to pull yourself together and find an opportunity to assert your authority as a husband, understand?”

"Uphold...uphold the husband's authority..."

Cen Dongsheng's expression turned serious as he pondered and stroked his chin.

"You have a point."

For various reasons, the man wasn't particularly excited about becoming a top-tier curse master, as it was a natural progression. Loujia's intervention disrupted his plans.

But in that instant, he suddenly realized that there was another value in it.

Under the watchful eyes of his teammates, filled with subtle emotions, Cen Dongsheng fell into deep thought…

*
Whether he truly intended to use this opportunity to "assert his authority as a husband" or carefully planned the order of events, Cen Dongsheng gave himself a few days.

But King Edo, who was so eager to play the role of a docile younger sister in front of him, could not simply wait obediently forever.

When she can't wait any longer, she makes the choice for her brother.

"Brother, are you planning to wake up?"

"Ok?"

As the dream drew to a close, the man reluctantly opened his eyes.

But what came into view was a completely unfamiliar, even unbelievable, scene.

"Where is...where?"

He blinked blankly.

"It doesn't matter where it is."

The girl, who had been lying prone by the bed, propped herself up on her hands and feet and climbed onto his body like a cat. She gazed at the man's face, her tone and eyes full of laughter.

"The important thing is that my brother is with me... It's just the two of us, and no one will bother us."

That unusually sweet voice made Cen Dongsheng forget the scenery around him, and an ominous premonition rose in his heart.
"...Qingyan, what are you doing?"

"I'm kidnapping you, brother~"

Without the obstruction of a ceiling, above lies a vast expanse of darkness and a desolate sky.

Looking down into his eyes, they shone brightly in the dark night.

(End of this chapter)