Artifact Reading Inspector - Chapter 143 - People who are after the Masterpiece (3)

“In the depths of eternity, where darkness and light entwined, the universe was born from the dreams of the gods. From the celestial harmonies of creation to the discordant melodies of destruction, the cosmic symphony echoed across the expanse.Within this grand tapestry, a world emerged, forged from the essence of duality. Earth, a terrestrial haven, became the stage for an epic drama, as forces of creation and destruction converged. The fate of the universe hung in the balance, as two goddesses, Stella and Khaos, wove a narrative of light and darkness, life and death.Their story, a testament to the eternal dance between opposites, would give rise to a new era, one where humanity would inherit the earth, and the delicate balance of the cosmos. Join us on a journey through the ages, as we explore the celestial ballet, the birth of life, and the eternal struggle between creation and destruction.”

The summer I was 17. A painting I created was sold. For 1.4 billion won.

You’d think seeing the future would give me a head start on surviving the apocalypse. I had it all planned—until everything I knew shattered when my husband sacrificed himself to save me and our son. Now it’s just me, my three-year-old son Leo, and my cursed gift of foresight that only seems to kick in when it’s nearly too late.I’m doing my best to keep us safe, to find food, to make some kind of plan—“Mommy?”I glance down, trying to ignore the tug on my pant leg as I focus on our supplies. “Not now, Leo. Mommy’s thinking.”“Mommy!”I sigh and finally look down. My three-year-old is standing there, clutching… I blink. “Leo, where did you get a knife?”He shrugs, grinning like it’s the most natural thing in the world.My heart stutters. “No, really. Where did you find that?”I try not to laugh. I mean, he’s three. Maybe he just—found it somewhere? But the next day, it’s a water bottle. Then, a tiny flashlight, somehow with batteries still inside.I don’t even know what else; he’s pulling things out one by one with the pleased grin of a kid who’s just figured out his favorite game.Well, we may just survive this mess after all.Now, if only the universe could have spared me from him. I don’t even know his name, but I know his type: tall, broad, and annoyingly handsome, with an air of calm control that’s out of place in this chaos. Ex-military, if I had to guess, with a voice that’s just as infuriating as his smirk. The man has a habit of showing up at the worst—or best—possible times, with a gun at the ready and secrets buried as deep as those bright green eyes.I mean, he’s probably useful, but I’m trying to keep my eyes on the prize here: survival.For Leo and me.Because, foresight or no foresight, nothing is guaranteed in this new world—except the fact that people like him are trouble.

Sixty Years ago, one middle aged man brought a Qilin that looked like a pug and a mandarin duck that looked exactly like a duck, walking into the Imperial City of the Central Plains for the first time.