Chapter 17: Master's Strange Request

“In other words, this guess might not necessarily be the case,” Shangguan Jun said.

“Yes!” Jun Liuyi nodded in response. “Suspicion and trust are both fifty-fifty, but one must make guesses and deductions in this manner. Does Young Master feel that this is incorrect?”

Shangguan Jun’s gaze darkened slightly as he heard Jun Liuyi murmur, “People are inherently strange. Three years ago, Young Master wished nothing more than to kill me, yet now you treat me like a soulmate. If the words Master spoke today were directed at me as the object of suspicion, I wonder what kind of decision Young Master would make?”

If it were her, what would he do?

Seeing Jun Liuyi staring at him unblinkingly, a smile playing constantly at the corners of her mouth, her face full of confidence and persistence, he smiled bitterly. “Or perhaps I would think that someone is waiting to reap the benefits of the situation, so...”

Looking at her smiling face, Shangguan Jun’s heart trembled slightly.

“You would rather believe that someone is being used?” Shangguan Jun asked, pulling his thoughts back.

“Yes!” Jun Liuyi nodded affirmatively. “Don't you think it's a bit too routine and habitual that the Fifth Elder and Sixth Elder visit the Sect Leader every single day? The Fifth Elder is upright and lacks a sense of humor, while the Sixth Elder is vain; it is precisely because of such contradictions that it would be even more impossible for them to work together to administer poison, wouldn't it?”

“Of course, this is merely my personal opinion,” Jun Liuyi added.

Shangguan Jun found a seat to lean against and waved his hand, shaking his head. “Sometimes, what is seen with the eyes is not necessarily the truth. Are our temperaments not entirely different as well?”

Seeing Liuyi frown as if to urge him to calm down, he continued, “But what you say is not without reason. Since this person is hiding so deeply, if the two Elders truly were being schemed against, our Spirit Control Sect would suffer significant losses.”

Leaning lazily against the couch, he gave a wicked smile.

“There are plenty of ways to root out who the traitor is.” The ruthlessness hidden within Shangguan Jun’s smiling eyes flickered faintly. “It’s just that to avoid detection and minimize the damage, it will require some time and planning.”

Seeing that he had reached the correct judgment and choice, Jun Liuyi finally breathed a sigh of relief. To her, the life-saving grace of the Spirit Control Sect was something she could hardly repay; she did not wish to see the hard work of the Sect Leader and Shangguan Jun go to waste.

She smiled faintly, gave a slight nod to Shangguan Jun, and said, “Since Young Master thinks this way, you must have already made a decision. Liuyi can rest easy now.”

Shangguan Jun knew of her worries and her thoughts.

Seeing her look relieved, Shangguan Jun’s sword-like brows furrowed, and his phoenix eyes narrowed halfway to hide the displeasure that almost leaked out. “Liuyi, when Father saved you, he absolutely did not wish to give you a burden, much less seek repayment. You should understand this.”

With a sigh escaping his breath, Shangguan Jun continued, “The things I said three years ago—you truly do not need to take them to heart.”

However, his response was only Jun Liuyi’s soft voice: “What is Young Master saying? My worry for the Spirit Control Sect is not to repay a debt, but because I truly consider myself a part of it.”

With a clever blink of her eyes, her tone became lighter. “Besides, I am the Saintess of the Spirit Control Sect; isn't this exactly what I should care about?”

Despite Jun Liuyi’s light tone, Shangguan Jun’s heart grew increasingly agitated.

Three years ago, seeing his father disregard everything to save her, he had indeed hated her with a madness, even using it to threaten that she would have to serve the Spirit Control Sect for the rest of her life. Yet, through their day-to-day interactions, he had to admit that she had occupied his heart bit by bit. If it were him, he would also absolutely act recklessly for her, because she was worth it!

Over these years, although she showed him care and was extremely considerate, she never merely addressed him with the respectful and distant title of "Young Master"; she never would truly call him by his name as a friend would.

Even though he had said it several times, she always used that "four ounces to move a thousand pounds" approach, insisting on etiquette in the name of the Saintess.

Just like right now—clearly, she cared so much about his father and the Spirit Control Sect because of her desire to repay a debt, carrying these heavy burdens on her shoulders, yet she made excuses to stop his interference just to soothe his emotions and guilt.

Pressing his lips together, Shangguan Jun felt regret, irritation, anxiety, and frustration. But when meeting those watery eyes before him, he could only turn it into a helpless, silent sigh.

Just as they were standing in mutual silence, the Ghost Doctor returned to the room. His brow was furrowed into a deep line, and his expression was even more solemn.

“Master?” Jun Liuyi looked at his face, feeling somewhat worried and confused.

Yao Ze turned toward Shangguan Jun, his tone heavy. “Young Master Shangguan, this old man has some words to discuss with Liuyi.”

“Please, Elder Yao,” Shangguan Jun spread his hands and nodded to Yao Ze.

Yao Ze glanced at Liuyi. Jun Liuyi nodded and followed his footsteps out of the inner chamber, turning toward the side room on the right.

Even though Master had said nothing, his silence and solemnity were unlike anything she had ever seen him exhibit.

As Yao Ze stepped into the side room, he casually scattered some medicinal powder. Jun Liuyi was only momentarily stunned before stepping inside, her suspicion growing even heavier.

If it weren't for a matter of great importance, Master would not casually scatter daze-inducing powder. It seemed as though he only scattered it at the doorway, but in reality, the powder would diffuse through the air within a five-meter radius. Aside from those like them who frequently refined such powder, anyone who approached would become dazed and lethargic for a long time.

Master was being so cautious; had something major happened at the Divine Medicine Workshop?

The more uncertain she became, the tighter Jun Liuyi’s brow furrowed.

“Little Liu’er, sit down and let us talk,” Yao Ze said to Jun Liuyi as he sat down.

Obeying him, Jun Liuyi sat down and asked urgently, “Master, has something happened at the Divine Medicine Workshop?”

Perhaps because of the previous traitor incident at the workshop, her nerves were currently wound tight.

However, Yao Ze only shook his head.

Her hanging heart settled slightly, and Jun Liuyi’s complexion improved a bit. With her willow-like brows knit, her eyes were full of confusion as she looked at her Master.

“Do you still remember that pale yellow jade pendant I showed you?” Yao Ze asked.

Hearing this, Jun Liuyi nodded solemnly.

“The owner of the jade pendant has come to seek help,” Yao Ze’s fingers tapped the armrest of the chair one by one. “But I do not wish to see him.”

His words caused a flash of astonishment in Jun Liuyi. Master had once said that meeting the owner of the jade pendant required even more respect than honoring him, yet now he said he was unwilling to see him; it was quite strange.

“I want you to go in my stead,” Yao Ze spoke again. “Remember to dress up to look a bit ugly.”

Dress up to look ugly? Jun Liuyi’s eyebrows arched. Was he asking her to go and scare people?

“The kind of ugly that looks natural,” Yao Ze added.