Alchemy of Souls (환혼) is a 2022 Korean fantasy drama which is set in the imaginary world of Daeho. The story revolves around young magicians who are to carry the burden of the past. Starring Lee Jae-wook, Jung So-min and Hwang Min-hyun, the show premiered on tvN on Jun 18, 2022. The show will have 20 episodes and it takes over tvN’s Saturday-Sunday 9 PM KST timeslot previously occupied by Our Blues. Alchemy of Souls episode 13 has a runtime of 73 minutes.
Netflix describes the series as:
A POWERFUL SORCERESS IN A BLIND WOMAN’S BODY ENCOUNTERS A MAN FROM A PRESTIGIOUS FAMILY, WHO WANTS HER HELP TO CHANGE HIS DESTINY.
-Alchemy of Souls Episode 13 Recap contains spoilers-
Alchemy of Souls episode 13 begins with Heo Yeom trying to bring the soul shifter’s body to life while Seo Yul questions about it to Park Jin. However, he gets to know that this is only temporary and is being done to get some answers. Seo Yul is not ready to give up and brings up the ice stone which Park Jin agrees can control soul shifters from going wild, but it a power that shouldn’t exist.
In Cheonbugwan, Jin Mu looks at the energy from the soul ejector that is flowing out of a cauldron and tells his subordinate that this energy will go back to the sky so there is no need to worry about it. Suddenly, he remembers Jin Bu-yeon and wonders if she had tried to destroy the ice stone when the incident happened. He recalls her as a genius who could have had complete control of the ice stone.
Elsewhere, Jang Uk notices the cloudy sky and moves away from Mu-deok, telling her that she is fine because she didn’t try to absorb his energy. Mu-deok also looks at the ceiling and tells him that the windows where not open. She then notices her hand that is in the water and concludes that her powers seem to come back each time there is water.
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Suddenly, the lighting stikes the constellation basin and releases some dark energy particles which blind Mu-deok just like when she had entered the Mirror of Longing. But they don’t have the time to think about it as Jin Mu would be on his way to check on the lighting strike.
With no time and way to escape he devises a plan with the blue jade in his possession. Jin Mu is on his way and soon reaches the room but finds it empty with the body of the soul shifter left near the constellation basin. He soon gives the order to find and kill Jang Uk and his maid and goes on to look for him.
He succeeds in finding Jang Uk but cannot kill him when the latter tells him about the yin-and-yang jade which he has hidden in the soul shifter’s body. The crown prince has reached Cheonbugwan and head towards the blue jade while Jin Mu goes to search the sould shifter’s body. However, he soon realises Jang Uk’s trick but is too late as the crown prince has already met him and told him everything.
The two question Jin Mu. Elsewhere, master Lee asks Kim Do-ju about Naksu’s father and gets to know that Jang Kang had left the house in search of the little girl. While she is sadenned by the events of the year, master Lee tells her that the little girl is already dead but might be lingering around Jang Uk. He then asks the whereabouts of Mu-deok.
Back in Cheonbugwan, Park Jin has come and gets to know of the events. The crown prince finds it unbelievable and Jin Mu refuses all the accusations, when the later asks which eunuch it was that turned into a soul shifter. The crown prince then orders to check if that eunuch is in the palace but stops when the queen herself comes to Cheonbugwan. They tell her about the eunuch but she laughs and says that he is with her.
The eunuch enters and we get to know that the queen resurrected him with the ice stone. Jang Uk also realises that the ice stone must be with them and tells everyone that he lied. Everyone rebukes him and Park Jin tells them that Songrim will fix the constellation basin. Jin Mu tries to hold back Jang Uk in Cheonbugwan with the excuse of punishing him but Mu-deok cleverly helps him leave.
Jang Uk later tells Park Jin that he did not lie and that Cheonbugwan must have the ice stone. Park Jin believes him. Elsewhere, the queen and Jin Mu question the eunuch about what happened who tells them that his energy left his body when he tried to harm Mu-deok. They ask him if there was a powerful mage there but he denies. The eunuch then tries to run away with the ice stone inside him but is stopped by the queen who takes the ice stone back.
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On the way back, Jang Uk tells Mu-deok that they should go to Danhyanggok but Mu-deok rejects the suggestion telling him that it is cold there. If they go there and it snows then they could get stuck there and starve to death. Jang Uk tells her that this is different from what she told Seo Yul, but she says that it was necessary then.
In Songrim, Park Jin tells Park Dang-gu and Seo Yul to go with the workers he will be sending to Cheonbugwan and keep an eye on Jin Mu. Later, Seo Yul follows Sang Ho and asks about the events that took place and Jang Uk’s attitude towards it. Upon hearing Sang Ho’s evaluation of Jang Uk, he is sure that Jang Uk is trying to get his hands on the ice stone for Mu-deok.
Back on the bridge, Mu-deok tells Jang Uk that the two should never make a trip to Danhyanggok alone because she is scared that she will devour his energy. She tells him that it would more scary than anything else for her which makes Jang Uk’s heart flutter because this holds a deeper meaning than “I miss you” for him. He assures her that he will get the ice stone for her even if he has to fight Jin Mu so that she will never have to worry again.
Mu-deok then asks him how he was able to call the crown prince with the jade but he is reluctant to answer this question. Upon reaching home, he finds master Lee with Kim Do-ju who ask him why was he not at Songrim. He lies to Kim Do-ju saying that it was a vacation but reveals to master Lee that he was on probation because he destroyed the constellation basin. Mu-deok then tells master Lee that he can ask Park Jin to know more.
As Jang Uk leaves to fetch some fishing rod for master Lee, the latter tells Mu-deok that he was planning on teaching Jang Uk to fish a Golden Fish which intrigues her. She then pushes Jang Uk to go fishing with master Lee. The next day they go fishing but Jang Uk finds it stupid, however, Mu-deok tells him that this is training to master Chisu which gets him to put his attention on fishing.
Park Jin goes to Jinyowon to ask for a relic to find soul shifters, however, Jin Ho-kyung refuses his request indicating that she is siding with Jin Mu. Elsewhere, Jin Mu makies sure that So Yi has every scare and mole Jin Bu-yeon had so that nothing goes wrong when they take her to Jinyowon. In Jang family house, Kim Do-ju is preparing a memorial service for Naksu and her father which makes Mu-deok grateful to her.
Alchemy of Soul Episode 13 Ending
At the lake, Jang Uk is unable to catch a Golden Fish but master Lee tells him to be patient. Jang Uk asks master Lee the reason why he is helping him and if it has anything to do with his family which shocks master Lee until Jang Uk brings Kim Do-ju in the conversation. Elsewhere, Mu-deok is mourning for her father when Seo Yul sees her and feels guilty.
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Upon Jang Uk’s return, he tells him that he will need to go back to his father but will be taking someone with him. He doesn’t reveal a name but Jang Uk understands that he is talking about Mu-deok. Jang Uk tells Mu-deok that he will be returning to Songrim the next day.
The next day is Jang Uk’s final duel when the crown prince announces that the winner of the duel will not get the gold toad but Mu-deok as their maidservant. Jang Uk is shocked by this, but what surprises him even more is when Seo Yul steps up as his last contender which leaves everyone speechless.
Alchemy of Souls Episode 13 Review
The episode had a lot going on and while we want to get into the details of every little thing, we can’t. However, let us focus on a few things starting with how Jin Mu is making connections between Mu-deok and Jin Bu-yeon. This guy is smart and he knows things, but I guess the only reason he can’t complete the connection is because Mu-deok is not blind. But I am sure that he will find out something real soon.
This was also a very emotional episode for Naksu because she is able to properly mourn for her father, maybe this is why master Lee pointed the way to Kim Do-ju.
Let’s now talk about Jang Uk and how this guy is an actual genius. He is able to handle pressurising situations, train faster than anyone and is able to understand the person in front of him. He has definitely captured something from master Lee’s expression when he asked him if was being kind because of his family but chose to divert the topic.
And, our second male lead who is giving us major Second Lead Syndrome, I want to cry seeing him feeling so guilty about the past and his incapability of providing the woman he loves a shoulder to cry on. But taking part in this duel is his way of giving himself another shot at making things right. But we all know how things are going to end up.
What do you think about today’s episode? Let us know in the comments below!
Alchemy Of Souls is streaming on Netflix.
Check out all of the other Alchemy of Souls reviews here.