Evan Yang smiled and said, "I'm not looking to die—I'm completely serious."
After whispering among themselves, one of the guards said, "You can go in, but first you have to pass through a certain place. Only if you make it through can you see the miracle doctor you want to meet."
"Oh? Is that so?" Evan asked, curious.
The guards nodded, making it clear that without doing so, he wouldn't be allowed to pass. Evan smiled, "Alright, what kind of place is it?"
"Come on, follow us," one guard said, and led Evan and Simo inside. They walked until they reached the entrance of a tunnel. The guard said, "To go further, you have to pass through this tunnel."
"What's so special about this tunnel?" Evan asked, curious.
"You'll know once you go in," the guard laughed. The others watched like they were waiting for a show. Evan smiled, "Alright, let's go in."
So, with Simo in tow, Evan slowly walked through the tunnel. Once inside, a quiet, eerie atmosphere settled in—they couldn't hear the guards anymore, only see their grinning faces.
"Simo, don't leave my side. This place seems dangerous," Evan said. Simo nodded, "Okay."
With Evan protecting her, Simo walked carefully, and Evan kept moving forward. He didn't know how deep the tunnel was, but continued onward. After a while, flames suddenly erupted all around—intense fire that would burn anyone without strong cultivation, leaving only ashes behind.
Outside, the guards exchanged glances. One of them chuckled, "What do you think they'll look like after getting burned?"
"I'm guessing at least sixty percent chance they'll come out injured. Then they'll have to get treatment again," another said with a laugh. The third nodded, "Exactly."
The group made their way to the other end of the tunnel. When they saw Evan and Simo emerge, one of them pointed at Evan and laughed, "They're out."
"How come they don't look injured at all?" one asked suspiciously. Another muttered, "Something's not right."
Evan grinned, "That was actually pretty fun—just flames everywhere. Good thing I love playing with fire."
The onlookers were baffled that Evan was completely unharmed. Seeing their expressions, Evan smiled, "Shall we get started?"
The group exchanged looks and reluctantly led the way, but they were clearly unwilling to let Evan pass so easily.
"Are we really just going to let them through like this?" one of them asked, suspicious.
"What else can we do? But if we send him to the best miracle doctor, just imagine what kind of trouble he'll get into. Maybe a life-for-life exchange?" another snickered.
"I've got it—let's send him to Dr. Soulbreaker, the one famous for severing people's lives!" one of them said with a sly grin.
The others all nodded. Dr. Soulbreaker was indeed a top healer here, but also the most eccentric. To this day, no one who sought his help and was fully cured ever left alive.
So the group led Evan and Simo to a small hall. They saw that this place had many similar halls, each with a wooden plaque outside.
Each plaque had a name written on it. Evan and Simo were brought to a door with a plaque that read 'Soulbreaker.'
"Soulbreaker? That's quite a name," Evan muttered under his breath.
"Alright, we've brought you here. From this point on, you're on your own," a guard said, then stepped aside to watch the show as Evan and Simo entered.
Evan and Simo slowly approached the door. Evan knocked. "Is anyone inside?" he called.
"Those sent to die, come in," a gruff man's voice called from within.
Hearing that, both Evan and Simo felt like they really were walking to their deaths. Evan, however, was unafraid. He pushed open the door and saw a middle-aged man inside, absentmindedly tapping several wooden sticks together, doing who knows what.
"Senior Soulbreaker?" Evan asked politely.
The man looked up at them. At his very first glance at Simo, he said, "You're here for her, right?"
"How did you know?" Evan was genuinely curious—most people didn't notice at all, but this man saw it instantly. Soulbreaker chuckled, "She's at least tens of thousands of years old, but some bizarre illness has frozen her growth and kept her from being a normal person."
"Is there any way to cure her?" Evan asked.
"There is a way, but do you know why I'm called Soulbreaker? It's because I trade soul for life. If you want her fully healed, you have to offer up your soul," Soulbreaker replied with a dark smile.
Evan froze at that. Simo was shocked, and quickly urged Evan, "Let's just leave."
"Don't be hasty," Evan quickly regained his composure and smiled at Soulbreaker. "Senior, I know this place is special, but is there really no exception?"
"None at all," Soulbreaker answered flatly.
Evan gave a bitter laugh. "You guys really are ruthless."
"Of course. Otherwise, why do you think people call us death doctors?" Soulbreaker sneered.
Evan smiled, "Then let me think about it. I'll step out for now and not disturb you further, Senior."
Evan led Simo out of the hall. From inside, Soulbreaker's voice called out, "If you want her cured, I have a way—but your soul is the price. There is no other way. Think it over."
Evan smiled as he stepped outside the hall. "This guy really is something else."
"Let's just go back," Simo said. Though she looked like a child, she was mature enough to know she couldn't let Evan risk himself for her.
Evan smiled at Simo's words. "I promised your grandfather. If I just walk away, how could I face him?"
"Isn't there a one-third chance outside? That's still something—at least a third," Simo said.
"One-third? That's not good enough for me. Unless it's a hundred percent, I won't try. If something goes wrong, it'll be a disaster," Evan replied.
Simo fell silent. Evan wandered around with her, smiling, "Let's walk around here. Maybe we'll find something Soulbreaker needs. If we do, maybe he'll change his mind."
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Simo, half skeptical, followed Evan as he tried to ask around about Soulbreaker, but found nothing useful. He'd have to think of another way.
"Let's just wait here," Evan said, and he and Simo waited outside Soulbreaker's door. They chatted idly, while Soulbreaker saw different patients come and go.
When Soulbreaker came out for some business and saw Evan and Simo still waiting, he laughed, "You think you can move me just by waiting? Dream on. I never change my mind." With that, he walked away, grinning.
"Let's go, Senior," Simo urged, unable to bear it any longer. Evan comforted her, "It's fine. Just wait."
Afterward, Evan and Simo kept waiting. When Soulbreaker returned, he just smiled at them. This time, he had an assistant with him. The assistant said anxiously, "Master Duan, those herbs still need over a thousand years to mature. We probably won't make it in time."
"Doesn't matter—just make it happen. If we can't, we'll lose for sure," Soulbreaker snapped, then walked into the hall. The assistant, looking helpless, was about to leave, but Evan stopped him, smiling, "What's the trouble you're facing?"
"Who are you?" the assistant asked suspiciously.
"Doesn't matter who I am. Just tell me—maybe I can help," Evan said with a smile. The assistant explained: Soulbreaker urgently needed a batch of special herbs, but they needed over a thousand years to mature, and Soulbreaker couldn't wait that long.
After hearing the explanation, Evan smiled, "I have a way, but I need your master to help me with something in return."
The assistant was overjoyed. "Alright, I'll take you in right now!"
He led Evan inside. When Soulbreaker saw them come in, he frowned, "Xiao Kang, why aren't you out looking for a solution? Why bring him in here?"
"Master Duan, he says he has a way," the assistant said with a wry smile.
"Him? Just him? Impossible. Don't joke with me," Soulbreaker scoffed.
"I'm serious. Not just a thousand years—even several thousand, I can handle it!" Evan replied confidently.
Soulbreaker eyed Evan skeptically, then sneered, "Kid, don't get ahead of yourself."
"If I can make the herbs grow just as you want, will you help me?" Evan asked with a smile.
Soulbreaker realized Evan had been waiting for this opportunity and laughed. "So that's why you stuck around, huh?"
"Just give me a straight answer, Senior," Evan said with a grin.
Soulbreaker grinned back. "Alright, if you really can help me, I'll help you in return."
"Great! Take me to see those herbs," Evan said. Soulbreaker led him to the medicine garden, still skeptical. "Kid, if you mess up my herbs instead of helping them grow, you're dead," he warned.
"Don't worry, Senior. I wouldn't joke with my own life," Evan replied with a smile.
"Good. If you fail, she'll die with you," Soulbreaker said coldly.
Evan just laughed. "Senior, don't say that. I'll definitely succeed." Soon, everyone arrived at a lush garden filled with all kinds of precious medicinal plants.
Soulbreaker led Evan to a patch of herbs, each only about heel-high. "Show me what you can do," he said.
"Watch closely," Evan said with a smile.
Evan placed his hand on the herbs. Miraculously, the herbs began to change color and slowly mature, as if time sped up for them.
Soulbreaker hurried to pick one, examining it carefully. After a long moment, he exclaimed, "How did you do that?"
"That's my secret. I won't tell anyone," Evan replied with a grin.
"Good kid, alright, I promise you—I’ll help her!" Soulbreaker said to Evan.