Chapter 20
"You know this boy?" The old woman's eyebrows rose up curiously.
"He's not a boy. He's the immortal I was telling you about earlier!"
"Oh, I see. Well then, he's been injured. And if he isn't treated soon, he'll probably die." The old woman nonchalantly gave her diagnosis, shrugging.
"What?! How?" Evelynn panicked.
Sure, Wuji's skin was paler than before, but she had assumed it to be simply side effects of the Spirit Sealing Valley. Other than that, Wuji didn't have a single scratch on him, much less a fatal wound.
"… You are such a stupid girl! It's a soul injury."
Hearing the words soul injury made Evelynn's face as pale as a white sheet.
An injury to one's soul was almost fatal, and unlike physical injuries, would affect one even after death! Not even an immortal, known for being blessed by the gods with undying vitality, could escape such a fate.
"How . . . do we help him?" Evelynn asked, her voice a quiet whisper.
The old woman ignored her, seemingly mesmerized with her nails.
After a long silence, Evelynn looked at Wuji's paling face once more, taking a deep breath.
"M-mother. Please." She immediately had a bitter taste in her mouth.
Evelynn had refused to say that word in the past fifteen years. . . . But she was the one who had invited Wuji here, and he was her responsibility. It was her fault that she had left. And now Wuji was on the verge of death. She felt an indescribable pain in her heart.
The old woman smiled, a strange glint in her eyes.
"Oh, I see that you really do care for this boy, now do you?"
Evelynn's face turned a shade of pink.
"Just, just hurry up and help him!" Evelynn frowned.
"Now, don't worry, I would never let someone as fascinating as this boy die before I could study him!" The old woman's eyes cackled, her eyes twinkling mischievously.
Turning to Wuji's unconscious body, the woman began to mutter quietly as she stared at Wuji.
"Indeed, an overexertion of spirit force . . ."
"Hmm."
The old woman began to chant in a low voice, space shaking as incredible power began to whirl around her.
Suddenly, out of nowhere materialized a large cauldron, floating in the air, humming with intense energy. The cauldron had cryptic markings embellished on its worn-down exterior. Its signs of wear and dilapidation made it appear to be an extremely ancient artifact.
"Old hag, what are you calling me out for?"
Two eyes suddenly appeared on the cauldron, sending an irritated stare at the old woman.
A line on its body expanded as it bellowed like a whale; it was yawning.
AAAUHHH!
The cauldron's breath bombarded the old woman, her face crinkling in disgust.
When the cauldron finished yawning, it looked down at the old woman, her eyes twitching.
"So, what did you ruin my absolutely amazing nap for? It better be important."
The old woman's face ballooned like a red welt after being bitten by a mosquito and she began to shake uncontrollably. She swore that she would kill this cauldron!
"... You shitty piece of metal! I let you sleep for five years and now you try and kill me with your disgusting breath? You little . . ." The old woman spat, glaring murderously at the cauldron.
The cauldron's eyes bulged in horror. Oh crap-
BANG!
The cauldron howled as a foot-sized mark was imprinted onto its bottom.
"You're lucky I'm only giving you an ass whooping!"
The cauldron whimpered, nodding its now teary-eyed face, retaining none of its previous majestic aura.
"Yes- yes, ma'am."
"Humph, now you had better not struggle." The old woman began walking towards the cauldron, holding a small vial filled with a red substance.
The cauldron's confused look turned into one of horror as it recognized what she was holding in her hand.
"Not- not, spirit burning powder. What- what do you need that for?" The cauldron chuckled nervously.
The old woman smiled evilly.
"No, please, no!" screamed the cauldron. Spirit-burning powder was not lethal but a sentient magic tool would rather have its spirit erased than make contact with it. There was no way in hell it was letting her put that-that in it.
Sadly, the cauldron could do little as the old woman snapped her fingers. Purple chains appeared and latched onto it. The cauldron struggled to break free but the chains had no sign of breaking.
The old woman's hands crept towards the cauldron as it continued to shriek.
"Now stop moving, this won't take long. I promise."
. . .
A few minutes later, the cauldron was silent as it shook uncontrollably. The old woman smiled in delight as she triumphantly held out a vial of purplish liquid.
"Hehe, that was one of my most fun alchemy sessions," cackled the woman.
Evelynn looked at the traumatized cauldron, her lips forming a small gape. Only for Wuji would she witness such a terrible thing.
"Can- can I leave now, master?" The cauldron asked, its voice feeble and timid.
"Hmm? Oh yes, you can go." The old woman waved her hand nonchalantly.
The cauldron wobbled as its form became illusory. It swore it would never answer this evil witch's summon again.
"Right, Evelynn here you go." The old woman casually threw the vial in her direction.
"Ah?" Evelynn's eyes bulged as she frantically reached out to catch it.
Fumbling with her hands, Evelynn panted as she barely managed to secure the vial. After confirming that it was safe, she wiped away the sweat from her forehead.
"M-mother!" Evelynn sent the old woman an outraged look.
"What?!"
". . ." Evelynn's eyes twitched.
"Anyway, stop yer yapping. That soul solution needs one more ingredient for your immortal boy to be saved."
"Fine. . . Where is it?" Evelynn's pursed her lips in discontent.
"Hmm... It should be here somewhere." The old woman began to look around.
A perplexed look arose on Evelynn's face. There was only one ingredient that grew in the Spirit Sealing Valley-
"You mean. . . that?" Evelynn gasped.
The old woman nodded her head.
A suspicious look arose on Evelynn's face. Her mother was usually reluctant to use rare alchemy ingredients for others, much less that priceless herb. She couldn't be helping Wuji just because of her. . .
Hunching, the old woman continued to search around, her eyes darting throughout the area. After a little while, she reached the patch that had been filled with Soul-Refining Grass.
A loud screech could be heard as both the slimes' and Evelynn's blood turned cold.
"AHH! How could this be?!"
Evelynn ran to the old woman, a crazed look on her face.
"My, my Soul-Refining Grass! Who has taken all of them?!"