??70: Chapter 30: The Prelude to a New Era
70: Chapter 30: The Prelude to a New Era
At the sa ti, in another city hundreds of kiloters away, Tianhai City,
As the nation’s most important economic center and a port city, an internationally renowned tropolis, Tianhai City was undoubtedly a city that never slept.
Under the veil of night, artificial lights flourished brilliantly, embellishing the cold steel forest into a massive bonfire.
The reflection of the city standing by the sea spread across the pitch-black water surface.
Accompanied by the surge of dark tides, the waves shimred, and the sound of ship horns could be heard from not far off the dock, resounding lodiously into the night.
Cen Dongsheng took the high-speed train from Jinjiang City to Tianhai City; he didn’t head directly to his destination by taxi but leisurely explored along the way using the subway and bus while gathering online information.
His hotown was Jinjiang City, while the place he spent the most ti in as an adult was Tianhai City, where he felt the deepest emotions for these two cities.
Cen Dongsheng studied at Tianhai University.
Later, towards the end of the “First Wave,” it encountered “Yin Soldiers Crossing,” one of the “Eight Great Disasters,” forcing him to flee this city.
After wandering elsewhere for a year, struggling to survive until the “Second Wave” was about to end—which was around the ti “The First Ancestor” erged—at that ti, An Zhizhen had already officially stepped onto the historical stage.
Under her leadership, the Governance Bureau settled the entire order of the Tiannan District, making it one of the safest places in the world, only then did he finally manage to return to Tianhai City.
Afterward, he went through selection, becoming one of the Curse Forbidden Masters, joining the Exorcism Departnt, working on the front line, leading a busy and tiring yet sowhat stable life until his rebirth.
…
Cen Dongsheng stood at the noisy crossroads, gazing at the neon lights woven into a sea, recalling everything he experienced before his rebirth, unavoidably feeling a sense of nostalgia as if in a different lifeti.
He didn’t feel much about the prosperity of a city.
Coastal cities’ economies were generally more developed; for him back then, Tianhai City might have been a larger-sized Jinjiang City.
But from today’s perspective, this city, no matter in the past or the future, carried too much, bore too much.
“Really, there’re people everywhere…”
While he was reflecting heartfeltly, he suddenly received a call from An Zhizhen.
“…It’s ti to visit my new ho.”
Cen Dongsheng thought as he opened his phone, greeted by a barrage of questions.
“Have you arrived?
Why didn’t you call
when you arrived?”
“Just got here, didn’t want to disturb you.
Is Sister Zhi Zhen busy with work?”
“As long as it’s your call, I’m always free… I an it!”
Sister Zhi Zhen emphasized from the other side of the phone.
“You must rember to call , okay?
If I don’t hear from you for so ti, I’ll worry, although we agreed before…”
“We just agreed to keep in touch regularly, not necessarily to call every day, right?
Sister Zhi Zhen, you worry too much, do you really see
as a child?”
“To , you are a child.”
“That’s not okay.” Cen Dongsheng replied, “We are companions, not a mother-and-son duo.”
“I don’t care!… What’s decided is decided, I just want to hear your voice every day, we made a deal, there’s no backing out.”
Rarely did Sister Zhi Zhen start being stubborn.
Rather, she seed more like a child now.
“Alright, alright, I understand.” Cen Dongsheng replied, sowhat helplessly, “I promise you, okay?”
After hanging up the phone, he couldn’t help but sigh.
…What a troubleso woman.
Though he admitted he lacked in so aspects, growing up in a welfare ho wasn’t without benefits.
Even in the future, he was still struggling alone, surviving with no friends, no lover, a lone wolf—this sounded sowhat pitiful, yet he was never wanting in the ability to live independently.
He believed he could take care of himself, but there was a kind of concern in this world, called “An Zhizhen thinks you can’t live without her…”
Fortunately, his acceptance capacity was strong, and his ntal expectations were low.
This level of “quirkiness” on the future Philosopher King seed harmless, even sowhat cute.
Only after making another promise of “speaking with her every day” did Sister Zhi Zhen finally let him go, bidding each other goodnight.
Hanging up, Cen Dongsheng did not feel like continuing his sightseeing, he took a ride to find his new ho following the address given by Sister Zhi Zhen.
“This is the place…”
Cen Dongsheng stood under the streetlight, gazing at the iron fence in front of him.
Behind the fence was a three-story villa, with a pointed roof arching upward, the second floor featured a ribbon balcony, the third floor had several semi-circular arches; the exterior was in red brick, with a fairly spacious lawn and fountain, and pebble-paved paths leading to the main entrance.
The whole building had a minimalist yet elegant art deco style.
Even though it was late at night, one could still see that it was a beautiful house; in the daylight, it must look even more splendid.
Alongside the villa, there was a row of tall and robust sycamore trees that seed to have been planted for so years.
In the height of sumr, the trees were lush and verdant, forming a continuous stretch of shade, like a series of giant umbrellas.
The dim streetlight filtered through the gaps, casting scatterings of light on the asphalt road.
“I’m going to live here for the foreseeable future.
This is my new ho?
Not bad at all.”
The space appeared not small at all, sowhat extravagant for one person, enough to accommodate four or five more people at least.
Considering its proximity to Tianhai University, the location near the city center, the price of this detached villa was indeed beyond the imagination of the average small-town resident…
Luckily, he was well taken care of by a wealthy patron.
Cen Dongsheng had already accepted this fact in his heart, thanks to his strong acceptance ability as a Curse Forbidden Master, not needing any psychological work.
He used the key to open the gate and walked along the pebble path inside.
Pushing open the door, the wind chis hanging from the eaves rang with a crisp and pleasant sound, welcoming the arrival of the new owner.
Entering the interior, the redwood floor beneath his feet was clean and shiny, reflecting his face; carpets stretched inside, a crystal chandelier hung in the living room, the furniture setup was classic and luxurious, a spiral staircase rose upward, the corner walls adorned with staggered classic fras, featuring landscapes, portraits, and a mirror reflecting the chandelier—as if a beauty in a cheongsam from a Republic-era film might descend from the stairs at any mont.
“Very good, very good…”
Seeing good things naturally put one in a good mood.
It appeared that before his arrival, Sister Zhi Zhen had already arranged for soone to clean and organize.
Cen Dongsheng stretched lazily, surveying the surrounding furnishings, nodding with satisfaction.
“My new life is about to begin.”
*
Simultaneously, elsewhere in Jinjiang City.
A car slowly arrived at the location.
Kong Yulin opened the car door, quietly following behind as the boss, An Zhizhen, got off.
“Have you reviewed the list?”
An Zhizhen asked.
“Mm, as per your instructions, I’ve gathered those selected people in a hall.”
She replied in a low voice.
“Very well.”
Under the concierge’s guidance, the two headed towards the banquet hall.
Tonight, this place was exclusively reserved for the first gathering of the You Mountain Strange Tales forum mbers.
Judging by “offline gathering” standards, it seed sowhat extravagant.
But both the hosts and the invited guests were well aware that their identities were anything but ordinary.
…
Before the arrival of An Zhizhen, who was the host, most guests were already present, divided into several halls, each seated.
Just as Cen Dongsheng thought, in this era, becoming a Curse Forbidden Master and having this awareness was rare.
They often had their own secrets, each having gone through uncommon pasts, truly outstanding among the rest.
The number of people in Hall One was the smallest, only a dozen or so.
These individuals sat in small groups by the tables, harboring vigilant thoughts, cautiously watching and observing the others.
So acquaintances ca together, whispering and conversing softly.
They were awaiting the individual responsible for initiating this offline gathering to appear.
He (or she) was very likely the person behind the World Forum, naturally sparking curiosity among everyone for soone who could actively summon such a group of diverse Curse Forbidden Masters to assemble.
The World Forum had only sent invitations to a selected group of users who shared “common traits”—anyone with a bit of wit would have gathered this information.
No one knew if this would be a feast of treachery, so those willing to attend were skilled and daring, confident in their abilities.
Judging by the staff arrangent onsite, they were all sharp and proficient, hardly resembling re service workers, more like those in the security field, making it evident that the organizers were no ordinary ones either…
Then, when the clock hands pointed to nine, the banquet hall’s door was pushed open—
In a gathering of people, An Zhizhen slowly walked into the hall.
She did not speak; her expression was a gentle smile, her gaze sweeping around.
This silent deanor already captured everyone’s attention.
This woman naturally possessed an overwhelming aura, beauty, charisma… they ford a part but seed not the entirety.
It was an allure emanating from the depths of the soul, compelling people to gravitate toward her, bewitching their hearts.
The Curse Forbidden Masters’ gazes all landed on her, and the hushed whispers within the hall suddenly ceased, leaving only silence.
“Good evening, everyone.”
Upon confirming the identities and capabilities of those present, facing the attention from the crowd, the corners of An Zhizhen’s mouth slightly curved upwards.
In her pupils, a radiant brightness akin to stars rose gradually.
“Nice to et you, I am An Zhizhen.”
That light reflected in each person’s eyes, leaving deep cross-shaped imprints.
“I won’t introduce myself any further.
Because, in the coming days, you’ll rember this na for a lifeti…”
Thus, the curtain of the new era was drawn.
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