The King of Curses
Chapter 57 - 57 23 The 'True' in An Zhizhen

57: Chapter 23: The ‘True’ in An Zhizhen 57: Chapter 23: The ‘True’ in An Zhizhen The city was enveloped in twilight.

A few scattered stars dotted the night sky, with a crescent moon hanging high, cool and clear.

From the roadside not far away came the sound of a car horn, which quickly receded and vanished into the silent summer night.

The dense night seeped through the courtyard, and dim lights flickered on, like lighthouses on a dark sea.

At this hour, every household was at rest.

On the silent corridor, only a few people remained in confrontation.

Cen Dongsheng’s probing gaze contained complex emotions that were hard to decipher, yet he didn’t speak but waited for the other to speak first.

“You go first.”

An Zhizhen said.

“Yes.”

Kong Yulin nodded respectfully, turned, and left.

Cen Dongsheng noticed her demeanor, which was a stark contrast to her previous apathy; it didn’t quite describe her as a subordinate of Sister Zhi Zhen, more like a servant and master relationship.

If the two of them hadn’t known each other before and were acting this out from the beginning—then the only remaining possibility was “that.”

To be honest, from a certain perspective, Cen Dongsheng would rather believe that Sister Zhi Zhen had been deceiving him all this time.

The former might make him feel sad and angry, but the latter…

candidly speaking, should make him feel fear.

Now, just standing in front of Sister Zhi Zhen, with nothing having happened, and her face still wearing the usual smile, he felt tense, his muscles tight.

—”Heavenly Leader.”

He was not yet clear on the specifics of this Special Grade Life Prohibition’s operation, only knowing that An Zhizhen could manipulate others with it; and gather all the controlled individuals’ strength, alone achieving a scale far exceeding normal large-scale Cursing Prohibition.

Yet he knew that those brought under “Heavenly Leader’s” control could have even their thoughts and ideas grasped by An Zhizhen, losing all freedom, and until he was reborn, there had been no instance of someone breaking free or betraying.

Cen Dongsheng did not understand how those people viewed themselves, but he would never allow himself to be manipulated for life.

He didn’t want to give up his life, nor lose his freedom, if he were to live life over and become someone else’s puppet, he might as well not be reborn.

Even if that person was Sister Zhi Zhen…

it still wouldn’t do.

However, he didn’t turn and flee; he still wanted to hear what Sister Zhi Zhen had to say because he felt that if he truly panicked and chose to escape, worse things would surely happen.

Cen Dongsheng worried, yet it wasn’t without any ability to resist.

Before, it had been mentioned that there was a strict grade gap between Cursing Prohibitions; lower-grade ones would have significantly diminished effects on holders of higher-grade ones, and within the same grade, there might be a phenomenon of “neutralization.”

The effect of “Heavenly Leader” was indeed terrifying, but if An Zhizhen could easily manipulate other “Ancestors” and Special Grade Curse Forbidden Masters, she would have unified the world in her previous life.

The Director of the Governance Bureau, known to the world as the “Philosopher King,” could be considered one of those few closest to the throne of the king of the world—but ultimately could not eliminate other contenders.

In other words, those holding the highest-grade Cursing Prohibition might resist the control effect of “Heavenly Leader.”

But the issue with Cen Dongsheng was that the Special Grade Cursing Prohibition he held was not complete; whether he could counteract the already awakened Special Grade Life Prohibition, honestly, he had no confidence at all.

If he were his past self, knowing that An Zhizhen had long awakened Life Prohibition, he would absolutely not have come to contact her on his own initiative.

He feared death, and even more feared losing his freedom.

But now, the situation was ultimately different.

Cen Dongsheng had found the courage to face the strongest; at the same time, he wanted more to confirm the relationship and feelings between him and Sister Zhi Zhen.

The time over the past two months had changed him significantly.

…

Standing aside, An Zhizhen noticed the young man’s complex expression, his gaze continuously on Kong Yulin’s retreating figure, so she spoke.

“Sorry, I didn’t have time to inform you beforehand, but Kong Yulin can be considered my subordinate now…

Of course, if you want to take revenge, you can do whatever you want to her, even if it means killing her, it doesn’t matter.”

Kong Yulin, who had reached the stairway entrance, stumbled, almost tumbling down entirely.

“I don’t care.”

Cen Dongsheng snapped back to reality, shook his head, and said.

“Oh, you don’t care?”

An Zhizhen looked at him in surprise, eyes wide.

“Then why were you staring at her…

Oh, could it be that you fancy that type?

But the age difference between you two is too large, right?

Though Miss Kong doesn’t look bad, she’s over thirty, if you like older women, someone six or seven years older would be more suitable, I think…”

With her interruption, the previously oppressive atmosphere nearly dissipated, and he replied irritably,

“No, other people’s matters, whatever.”

“That’s true.”

Sister Zhen clapped her hands, repeated his words, and seemed to blossom into laughter.

“For the two of us, ‘other people’s’ matters don’t really matter at all.”

“…”

Cen Dongsheng finally shifted his gaze and met An Zhizhen’s eyes, asking earnestly,

“The body Kong Yulin dragged out of the room just now, was that the missing Curse Forbidden Master Yu Wentao?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

Sister Zhen nodded without the slightest intent of concealment.

“…This room was rented by Sister Zhi Zhen, right?”

“Yes, used to store some old experimental materials and instruments,” she answered candidly, “I stored Yu Wentao’s body there.”