Chapter 10: Test(4)

The old woman was evidently surprised with the appearance of a stranger with a fatigued face. She said, "Oh, young sir, If you don't mind, Can you help me carry this basket? As it's too heavy for these old bones. My small tea shop is just a little ways down the path here."

"Oh sure!" Liang Chen walked toward her and easily lifted the basket and followed the woman toward her tea shop.

The woman shuffled slowly down the path, And as they walked she started a conversation, her voice raspy but warm.

"Young sir, Are you a cultivator?"

Liang Chen nodded in response, "Aunty, You can just call me Liang Chen. No need to be so formal."

A warm smile appeared on the old woman's face as she said, "Okay, I'll call you Little Chen. Little Chen, You lifted that basket with such ease. I haven't seen someone with such strength in a long time.."

Liang Chen simply smiled as he didn't know how to respond to this question. 

The woman then started to cough violently, Which startled Liang Chen. Alarmed, he asked, "Aunty, Are you alright?"

"It's okay.. It's nothing. When people are old they tend to get ill." The Old woman waved her hand and assured him that she was fine with a smile.

"You are not old, You appear young to me." Liang Chen said with a cheeky expression. In his mind, The woman, although an illusion , was a task giver for him.

So he was giving his all to get the task. And it was to leave a good impression on the examiner who must be watching him.

"Now, Come on! You have got such a sweet tongue." The Old woman laughed in response to Liang Chen's comment, "And here we are. This is the tea shop I operate."

"Every month, Many cultivators like you pass by here. So I opened up a tea shop for them to rest and make a living myself." The Old woman pointed at the tiny, ramshackle tea shop that stood before them.

When they neared the shop, The Old woman said, "Please place the basket outside. And sit on the table for a while."

Liang Chen followed her instruction and placed the basket outside the door and sat on a table outside.

Soon the old woman emerged from within with a steaming pot of fragrant tea, its scent bright and floral. Along with some rice cakes, she placed them before Liang Chen, "Little Chen, Eat this. This is my thanks for your aid."

"Then I'll gladly take it. Now that you mention it, I am hungry." Liang Chen rubbed his belly and picked up some rice cake.

'Hmm, It tastes better than I expected.'

"Eat to your heart content. This Old woman lacks anything but food." A warm smile appeared on the old woman's face as she watched him munching on rice cake.

While eating, Liang Chen noticed a tea cup in Old woman's hand and saw that it was dark in colour and emitted a sharp, peculiar odour.

The old woman chuckled, and took a sip from her cup. "Don't mind this muck. Just some herbs to keep my old lungs wheezing."

"What Illness do you have exactly? And do you live alone?" Liang Chen looked at her pale face and asked with a tinge of concern on his face.

Looking at Liang Chen's concerned face, The Old woman hesitated for a second then started telling her back story.

It turns out she is infected with some lung illness.

And she lives here alone, Her husband died decades ago. He was a soldier under a empire and died in a war at border.

Since then she had been living alone with her son. Although the death of her husband made her sad, there was a son for her to raise.

When she described her blissful days with her young son, a faint smile touched her lips.

"He was such a sweet child - always laughing and helping me in the tea shop." Her smile faltered. "But he grew up too fast. Before I knew it, he joined the army like his father."

She stared down at her medicinal brew, blinking back tears. "They said he fought bravely when the war broke out between the two empires. But cultivators became involved and..."

Her voice broke. A single tear traced down her wrinkled cheek. She took a shuddering breath, clutching the cup tightly.

"My only son...gone. Just like that."

She roughly wiped the tears away, but they kept falling. "After it happened, I lost my will. I wanted it all to end." A conflicted expression crossed her face. "But I knew he would have wanted me to live on - for his sake, and my husband's."

"So I left the empire after and came here to live alone," she whispered. Then she started coughing lightly.

Liang Chen listened quietly, his chest tight. Though he knew she was likely an illusion, seeing real grief etched on her face stirred his heart.

He wished to offer comfort but didn't know what to say. Finally he opened his mouth, "I am sorry…I made you remember this. But I am sure, your husband and son must be happy.. Knowing that you lived on for them."

The old woman blinked through her tears and listened to his earnest voice. She gave him a grateful smile in response.

"You have a kind heart, Little Chen." She wiped out her tears and said, "Thank you for listening to an old woman's rambling."

Liang Chen simply bowed his head in acknowledgement. 

"Ah! The tea is finished. Let me refill it for you." The Old woman noticed his empty cup and stood up in a hurry. the old woman suddenly erupted into a violent fit of coughing. Her entire body spasmed with the force as she gasped desperately for breath in between wracking coughs.

Alarmed, Liang Chen asked "Aunty! Are you alright? It seems your medicine is not working."

The coughing spell finally passed and she waved a dismissing hand, still working to catch her breath. "Yes, I'm fine, Little Chen, do not worry."

But Liang Chen frowned, not convinced. "That cough sounds much worse though. Is something wrong with your treatment?"

The old woman hesitated before responding with a sigh. "Well, I have not been taking the medicine regularly as prescribed. My supply has run quite low."

Surprised, Liang Chen questioned further. "Why don't you take it as needed? Do you not have enough herbs left?"

The woman nodded gravely. "The herbs only grow deep in the forest where a very powerful demon dwells. I can only sneak in during the evenings when it slumbers to collect them."

She dropped her gaze down, looking ashamed. "But this past week I felt too ill and weak to traverse the woods. With my limited strength, I tried rationing the remaining medicine. But without the full dosage, the cough has worsened."

Seeing her misery, Liang Chen immediately offered "Aunty, just tell me where to find these herbs. I will collect more for you this evening when the demon lies dormant. Please, allow me to help."