The King of Curses

Chapter 344 The Emergence of Morbidity

"..."

Cen Dongsheng raised his eyes and took another look at the night sky.

Yes, it was indeed crystal clear, without any obstruction. The starry sky and the pitch-black night were all clearly visible.

In other words, he was forcibly taken out of his home.

The gentle breeze and drifting clouds I felt in my dream were not an illusion.

"Kidnapping"...

He couldn't help but sigh.

I was struggling with this even in my dreams, but I never expected that my little sister Qingyan would take the initiative to make the choice for me.

"You could at least have dragged me out of bed."

He reached out and vigorously ruffled the high school girl's hair.

"What's this now? They've dumped people and their beds in the wilderness?"

They were currently in a desolate place, far from any village or shop, while the brother and sister remained in bed.

Upon closer reflection, this scene evokes the atmosphere of a fairy tale: the sky is clear and the earth is covered with stars, a large bed suddenly appears, with swaying grass at the foot of the bed, and bushes shrouded in night in the distance, with the chirping of insects filling the air.

"Because my brother was sleeping more soundly, I couldn't bear to wake him up."

The girl cupped her cheek, a hint of smugness in her smile.

"Besides, my brother looks so cute when he's asleep. I want to... watch him a little longer."

It's a rare experience to be told you're cute.

"...Alright, anyway, it's time to get up now."

Cen Dongsheng scratched his head, relieved that he had fallen asleep fully clothed and didn't need to change. He remembered that the wound transfer had just been completed, consuming most of his energy, and, exhausted, he collapsed onto the bed next to him and fell asleep immediately…

Thinking of this, the man pressed his hand to his chest to make sure his condition was stable before turning his gaze back to his sister.

The girl changed into her usual school uniform, which accentuated her slender figure. Her smooth, unrestrained hair fell over her shoulders, giving her a smart and capable look.

This was a premeditated "night raid".

Yi Qingyan also noticed his movements and gaze, but her attention was elsewhere—

The girl lowered her head, revealing a worried expression. The starlight fell on her bright hair and pupils, like dewdrops on flower petals in the morning.

She grabbed the man's collar and asked softly.

"Brother, is your wound feeling better?"

“It was just sorted out last night.” Cen Dongsheng grinned. “Under normal circumstances, it won’t affect my operations or battles anymore.”

"..."

It was good news, but Yi Qingyan couldn't feel happy at all.

During the time Cen Dongsheng was tormented by his injuries, she could only remain an observer. The young girl lacked the ability to heal, and while An Zhizhen could borrow other people's spells, it would be better for Cen Dongsheng to use his own spells to accelerate the healing of his wounds.

Perhaps because I witnessed him being killed by himself and then perfectly resurrected more than once, I unintentionally overlooked this point—

My brother can get hurt.

As long as he remains on the front lines and continues to choose to fight, this situation is unavoidable.

She has an obligation to protect him.

Whether from the perspective of family or lover, she must protect the person who is most important to her.

At this moment, Yi Qingyan heard Cen Dongsheng ask:
"Why did you kidnap me? There has to be a reason."

The girl, who had already thought of her answer, gave it without hesitation:
"Because you're always doing dangerous things, aren't you? Of course, it's not your fault, it's because that woman only knows how to use you and make you run around everywhere... But I'm different. From now on, I won't let you get your hands dirty again."

"..."

To be honest, this was the first time Cen Dongsheng had heard such a thing.

The Curse Master is a warrior; he was in his past life and he is in this life as well.

A life aimed at the pinnacle is bound to be dangerous. Cen Dongsheng was self-aware enough not to take unnecessary risks or fight battles he wasn't sure of winning... Even so, he couldn't avoid encountering accidents and facing formidable adversaries like evil gods.

He wouldn't blame anyone, and he certainly wouldn't think it was his lover's fault.

But the younger sister seems to have her own ideas—

"So what are you going to do...?"

He asked tentatively.

"The first thing is to take my brother away from that woman."

This was the first step. Yi Qingyan did it without asking Cen Dongsheng's opinion, teleporting him, bed and all, out of that house.

"Then, we'll find a quiet, safe new place, tidy it up, and prepare the necessary furniture and items gradually, making it beautiful and cozy, and decorating it as a new home for my brother and me."

"And then……"

"—Your brother will never have to leave the house again, and I will take care of you."

Cen Dongsheng was speechless, watching his sister say something very strange with a bright smile.

"There are only the two of us in the house. I take care of everything, from eating and sleeping to bathing and resting... My brother doesn't have to worry about anything."

A sickly blush gradually rose on her delicate face. Yi Qingyan easily became immersed in her own fantasy, imagining the two of them living under the same roof, brother and sister relying on each other for survival.

“I will always take care of my brother… I don’t need to leave that house at all… no, maybe I won’t even need to leave my room…?”

Her once clear pupils were now shrouded in a hazy, watery light, like a lake veiled in mist, losing its focus.

...We can't let her continue talking.

If Yi Qingyan continues to act freely, his fate might be to be locked in a basement, living a life of darkness forever.

Cen Dongsheng reached out and grabbed his sister's frail shoulders tightly.

"No."

"Huh?!" Yi Qingyan was startled, the tears in her eyes subsiding as they regained focus. "Why...why not..."

"Because I need freedom."

Cen Dongsheng sighed.

"Freedom...does that mean going out for some fresh air occasionally? Indeed, it's necessary to go out for walks and get some fresh air regularly. I've heard that sunbathing is good for your health, and you also need to breathe fresh air..."

Yi Qingyan laughed.

"But don't worry, as long as I'm here, no matter where you are... to the ends of the earth, to scenic spots, wherever you want to go, I can get there with just a thought."

The power to manipulate space is really convenient.

"So, where does brother want to go?"

The girl grabbed the young man's hand.

The ten slender fingers intertwined with the man's thick fingers, like twin flowers blooming together.

Yi Qingyan raised the two hands that were overlapping and placed them on the side of her face.

"I can take you there right now."

She tilted her head and said with a smile.

"How about we go to the beach like last time? Find a deserted island, walk on the sand, and swim in the sea..."

"Let's put the travel plans aside for now." Cen Dongsheng shook his head again.

"So-called freedom means that a person has the ability to realize their own desires and does it themselves. If you are just being dragged along, this state obviously cannot be called freedom."

The brother and sister's eyes met.

Yi Qingyan hesitated for a moment, her delicate eyebrows furrowing slightly.

"What my brother just said... in short... meant he was unwilling?"

"Ah."

Cen Dongsheng nodded.

He noticed that his heart was pounding.

It wasn't because of joy or excitement, but neither was it because of fear or tension.

But the other person's feelings were too heavy, causing his own heart to sink as well.

In the boundless night, only the sound of the wind lingers in my ears, like the gentle chimes hanging from the eaves.

The silence lasted for several minutes. Yi Qingyan did not get angry as he had feared. She just snorted and turned her head away.

"I feel...it's so unfair. Why is it that you always agree with whatever that woman says, but I can't?"

A long-time rival, a love rival I can never stand.

For Yi Qingyan, An Zhizhen was like a fishbone stuck in her heart that she could never get rid of.

"Because Sister Zhizhen is always right. This is not superstition, but the truth"—as these words flashed through Cen Dongsheng's mind, he swallowed them down.

Saying this is like taking the position of a judge and telling your sister that someone else is right and you are wrong.

Putting aside whether Qingyan would feel sad or angry... was everything she did necessarily wrong? Even though he was recognized as her brother, Cen Dongsheng was still unwilling to make a judgment for her.

The egalitarian king is the antithesis of the philosopher-king's ideal social model, a secluded path outside the grand order. Although it is a possibility that most people would not accept, it is still necessary for it to exist—it would be a great pity if it were abandoned one day.

Cen Dongsheng could find a subtle resonance with this in his past life, so it goes without saying that he can in this one as well.

"It was just a coincidence."

"……accidental?"

The man turned around and squeezed the girl's soft, boneless hand.

"You and Zhizhen are equally important to me, and the decisions you make will naturally carry equal weight. I will choose one side according to my own thoughts. So far, if there is any situation where one side is more important than the other, it is just a matter of probability."

Yi Qingyan quietly bit her teeth.

She was still unsure whether she could accept the answer, but she knew herself very well that it was difficult for her to be truly angry with her brother.

If things continue like this, they're practically doomed.

All she could do was occasionally indulge in a little bit of capriciousness, throwing a tantrum and enjoying the pampering...

"Proof is required!"

"Eh?"

Yi Qingyan pounced on Cen Dongsheng and pushed him back onto the bed.

The young man instinctively opened his arms and hugged his sister.

"What proof..."

"Of course, it's proof of our close relationship!"

The younger sister quickly began to work, first unbuttoning her skirt, then the man's belt.

Cen Dongsheng was now considered an expert and could naturally sense her intentions, so his expression became subtle.

"Um, is it really going to be here...?" He couldn't help but sigh again. "Isn't it a bit too difficult?"

Although his body still reacted honestly, it didn't mean he would lose his mind.

Yi Qingyan froze, her entire body stiffening on the spot. A blush crept onto her pretty face, and the reckless aura she had just exuded vanished without a trace.

"Qingyan, did you not even have time to think it through before dragging me out of the house on a whim?"

"Woo..."

"At least we should find a hotel or something in the area."

"Brother, you're so annoying!"

*
"It's alright, we can just find another place to stay."

Under the cover of night, Cen Dongsheng took his sister to the nearest densely populated area.

As for the bed that was left behind, it had already been decomposed into dregs.

……

Before arriving at their destination, Yi Qingyan still had her cheeks puffed out, looking quite dissatisfied.

But after a series of gentle actions such as patting her head, hugging, kissing her cheeks, and so on, the little sister's puffed-up cheeks finally deflated.

"Thinking about it carefully, at least this time we got rid of that woman, and it was a trip just for my brother and me..."

The girl seemed to have convinced herself and began to happily hug Cen Dongsheng's arm.

"Yes, it's a rare opportunity for us to get together and have some fun."

Besides his older sister, Cen Dongsheng also thought of his two teammates. In fact, he had probably gone out with his teammates more often than with Zhizhen recently...

But Yi Qingyan clearly didn't take those two seriously, and Cen Dongsheng wouldn't want to make a fool of himself.

"Speaking of which, this place is..."

Cen Dongsheng determined the approximate location by observing the stars in the sky and confirmed the specific location by checking the road signs.

This place is located in Xihai Province, Moxi Region, the future territory of the King of Kurong.

"Majiazui in Lexian County, this place..."

A glimmer of light flashed through Cen Dongsheng's mind.

"Hehe, I didn't just pick any random place."

Yi Qingyan pressed her soft face against it.

"I'm going to find a top-tier forbidden item that might be perfect for me... My brother and I already made a promise, right?"

"You've already received the news?"

"Well, I do manage a curse master organization, after all. I heard things haven't been peaceful here lately, and there are rumors of treasures appearing in the area, so I thought I'd come along and take a look, brother. Maybe we'll get lucky and find something?"

Also.

That's no ordinary organization. With Zhang Shidao's prestige being thwarted, Yi Qingyan, who had personally killed a dragon slayer, has made her Yama Society the most influential folk curse master group in the country.

Judging from her sister's expression, she didn't take it to heart. After all, no one could be sure that this so-called "treasure" was a top-grade forbidden item, except for Cen Dongsheng, a reborn person.

He recalled that the information was quite accurate this time, and the place where the knife was used to kill should be near this town. He just didn't know how the locals found the signs.

Cen Dongsheng gazed into the distance, and the outline of the town gradually emerged in the night. The power lines standing under the moonlight resembled the masts of ships rising from the sea.

Lingjue noticed something unusual; there were signs of curse masters in more than one place in the town.

The news spread to a wider audience than Cen Dongsheng had imagined.

(End of this chapter)