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chapter 268
Jiangshi.
Not often seen in other countries, but in China, they’re fairly common monsters.
What makes a jiangshi distinctive is that, unlike ordinary undead, they’re suspected to possess a certain level of intelligence, and in some cases, even make use of martial arts.
“(Heh heh… and a jiangshi with a talisman is far stronger than one without.)”
“(Yes… but a jiangshi with a talisman also has the weakness of being neutralized the moment the talisman is removed.)”
That wasn’t good news.
Because that jiangshi’s appearance was that of the Artist.
‘(There hasn’t been a report of this before, but the fact that it has the Artist’s appearance means…)’
It meant that this jiangshi might be capable of using the Artist’s techniques.
If it were an ordinary person’s jiangshi, that would be one thing. But one that used the Artist’s skills…
“(Do you think we can win?)”
“(That doesn’t seem to be the important part.)”
The Grand Sorcerer said that, turning to look at the Heavenly Demon.
The Heavenly Demon…
“(…Fufufufufu…)”
He looked as though he had lost his reason at the very thought of fighting a jiangshi that could use the Artist’s skills.
“(We’d best keep our distance, so we don’t get caught up in it.)”
“(Yes…)”
The Oracle manipulated space, shifting her and the Grand Sorcerer away.
Catching that movement out of the corner of his eye, the Heavenly Demon rolled up his sleeves and took his stance.
Then, recalling the time he had once met the real Artist, Han Gun-woo, he muttered:
“(When I saw him last time, I may not have matched his physical ability, but in terms of technique, I was superior.)”
Would that still be true now?
With that, the Heavenly Demon shot forward like a cannonball, straight toward the jiangshi.
Boom!
In an instant, he was before the jiangshi and swung his fist straight into its face.
“(…!)”
But as soon as he landed the blow, he sensed something off and instinctively pulled his body back.
Shhhk!
A razor-sharp sword strike tore through the space where his torso had just been.
“(A sword?)”
The jiangshi had blocked his punch with a sword, then immediately slashed with it.
“(Heh… that’s right. The Artist… he wasn’t a martial artist, but a swordsman.)”
The last time they fought, the Artist had matched him barehanded.
So he had forgotten.
The Artist was, in truth, a swordsman who wielded a blade.
“(So he held back for my sake, back then!)”
No wonder it had seemed strange.
How could the techniques of the Artist—an Awakener hailed as the strongest in the world—seem beneath his own?
Though it lasted only a moment, the jiangshi’s swordplay made him realize the truth.
‘(If even a jiangshi can show this much… then how unfathomable must the real Artist’s level be?)’
The Heavenly Demon’s eyes fell to the jiangshi’s sword.
It was already sweeping toward him once more.
‘(Danger…!)’
He quickly leapt back.
Fortunately, the jiangshi’s physical prowess was still lower than his own, so he narrowly managed to evade the strike.
“(It’s the complete opposite of last time…)”
The jiangshi’s weapon was nothing more than a mass-produced blade that looked like it could snap at any moment.
And yet, in its hands—wielding the Artist’s techniques—it was utterly terrifying.
‘(But that doesn’t mean I intend to lose.)’
He braced himself again.
There was no doubt that this jiangshi was weaker than the real Artist.
If he lost to such an imitation, he felt certain he would never be able to defeat the true one.
“(Take this…!)”
So he drew up all the aura in his body and charged again.
Thoom…!
“(Ugh?!)”
“(Heh… for the shockwave alone to feel like this at this distance…)”
Meanwhile, watching the Heavenly Demon and the jiangshi clash, the Oracle felt her insides twisting.
Her cultivation was still too low.
Her power to manipulate space-time was formidable, but she herself was weak, and the shockwaves of their battle battered her body.
“(Urgh… blech…!)”
Blood spurted as she vomited, flowing also from her nose, mouth, and ears.
The Grand Sorcerer quickly cast a protective spell over her.
“(Hah… hahh…)”
Thanks to him, she managed to stabilize herself.
“(So this… is the power of the Heavenly Demon and the Artist.)”
“(Heh… to be precise, it’s only a pale imitation of the Artist.)”
The Oracle shivered at his words.
She was, after all, an enemy of the Artist.
And yet, even a fake like this had left her broken and bleeding—despite not even targeting her.
What would happen if she were to face the real Artist…?
“(You seem afraid.)”
“(!)”
The Grand Sorcerer saw straight through her.
“(It may be a little late to say this, but if you’re so afraid, you can give up even now. You’ve committed many things already, but if you truly hide, no one will be able to find you.)”
“(……)”
His words seemed to shake her.
If she chose to vanish, only someone like the Artist—who likely possessed similar space-time powers—might be able to pursue her.
And even then, it wasn’t likely he would bother.
Even if discovered, she could slip away.
But still…
“(No matter the method, my ultimate goal has always been the salvation of humanity.)”
She wasn’t going to give up.
“(There may be better ways, yes. But the most certain way to save humanity is still the one I’ve chosen.)”
For her, it was about that higher cause.
She knew her methods were wrong. But the “right” way always came with the risk of failure.
“(Heh… so you won’t give up.)”
“(Yes.)”
…Wait a second.
“(Hold on, was that a spell just now?)”
“(When have I ever done anything that wasn’t sorcery?)”
“(……)”
The Oracle gave him a look of exasperation, then sighed.
That was simply the kind of man he was.
And she had chosen him as an ally herself.
No one had forced her.
So she had no choice but to endure.
‘(…Still, cursing him in my head should be fine.)’
And so, inwardly, she cursed him.
“(Heh… anyway, this fight drags on.)”
As she did, the Grand Sorcerer commented while watching the duel.
The Oracle also turned her gaze.
“(At this rate, the Heavenly Demon will lose.)”
“(……)”
Even with little battle experience, she could see it too.
Outwardly, it looked like they were evenly matched. But only because the Heavenly Demon’s physical ability was greater.
In skill, however, the jiangshi was ahead.
So the fight was bound to drag on.
And the longer it lasted, the more the Heavenly Demon would tire—while the undead jiangshi would not.
“(The only hope… would be tearing off the talisman.)”
“(No, not even that.)”
The Grand Sorcerer shook his head.
“(That jiangshi is guarding its talisman well. If the Heavenly Demon reaches for it, he’ll only have his hand cut off… and then his head.)”
“(……)”
The Oracle looked at the Heavenly Demon.
Exhaustion was setting in, yet he still fought with a smile.
He would never want them to interfere, even if it meant his own defeat.
But she couldn’t just stand idle.
“(I’ll try what I can do.)”
“(Heh… that’s a good look in your eyes.)”
She gathered her mental energy, focusing it into her eyes.
Before twisting space-time, she needed to minimize her margin of error by tracking the two moving fighters with her own sight.
But then…
“(…Hm?)”
As her mental energy sharpened her vision, distortions in space-time became visible.
For most beings, there was nothing unusual.
But the jiangshi was different.
‘(Come to think of it…)’
The jiangshi’s face wasn’t copied from the current Han Gun-woo.
It looked older—what Han Gun-woo might look like in the future.
Which meant…
‘(Could it be… a future Artist?)’
It was possible.
This dungeon was originally made by the Black Fog, but she and the Grand Sorcerer had interfered with the flow of mana to artificially shape it.
Because of that, her power could have dragged in a being from the future.
But no—she knew better.
‘(No… that isn’t from the future.)’
She could tell, as a space-time user.
This jiangshi had come from the past.
‘(So a past Artist looks older than the current one…? What on earth…?)’
Suddenly, she remembered a past scandal that had briefly rocked Korea:
[Earlier today, a man claiming to be a regressor appeared, calling the Iron-Blood Guild’s Aura Master, Yeon Mirae, a fraud, before being arrested by police.]
That so-called regressor was only a scammer seeking attention, but…
‘(…No way?)’
What if the Artist, Han Gun-woo, was truly a regressor?
She already knew he possessed space-time related powers.
And if he wielded them better than she did, then regression wouldn’t be impossible.
In fact, though he only gained those powers because of regression, she didn’t know that.
And now, at last, the pieces seemed to fall into place for her.
‘(The Artist, Han Gun-woo, is a regressor…!)’
And this jiangshi must be him—before his regression.
Resolving that thought, the Oracle began manipulating space-time.
“(Hm? What are you…?)”
“(?! Are you interfering with my duel?!)”
The Grand Sorcerer and Heavenly Demon both reacted.
The Heavenly Demon, especially, looked enraged at the interruption of his life-risking battle.
So the Oracle spoke to him:
“(Forgive me. Why don’t you go cool your head for a bit?)”
The moment she said that…
“(What?!)”
Space opened up behind him.
The portal swallowed the Heavenly Demon whole.
Looking regretful, the Oracle whispered:
“(I’d like to have a word with the Artist from another timeline.)”
Her gaze turned to the jiangshi.
Its body, warped by her manipulation of space-time…
And then—
“…Where is this place? Who are you?”
The jiangshi’s eyes, hazy yet sharp, bore straight into her.
