Chapter 7: Breaking His Heart

Falling through the air, there was none of the expected pain. When the Phantom Thief Old Man hit the bottom, he only felt a softness against his back, without a single trace of discomfort.

Startled, he looked up and saw a faint glow emanating from both sides, with a complex maze map placed right in the center. Written upon the wall were the words: *If you cannot exit the maze within fifteen minutes, the mechanism will be triggered.*

Damn it!

The man, completely placed in a passive position, cursed lowly a few times. After glancing at the map, he walked toward the right side with reluctance. If not for his photographic memory, there would have been no way to avoid these twists and turns; this was clearly designed to trap someone inside to death.

As he walked rapidly, he cursed: "Which bastard came up with this idea? Even with a photographic memory, if you can't control your speed, you can't get out that fast. Acting like a gentleman while performing the deeds of a villain—is that appropriate?"

In the massive maze, his curses echoed with reverberations.

Just as he was about to step out of the exit, a pale pink figure stood at the exit with her back turned.

"Does a Phantom Thief Old Man who uses force also have the right to say that our Spirit Control Sect's methods of capturing you are acting like a gentleman while performing the deeds of a villain?" A soft, gentle voice drifted from ahead.

This voice!

The Phantom Thief Old Man's eyes widened, and excitement surged into his eyes instantly: "Little Liu'er!"

Hearing the extremely excited voice behind her, Jun Liuyi trembled violently and turned around hurriedly.

Her beautiful eyes met the Phantom Thief Old Man's gaze, and they widened instantly: "Master!"

"Why are you here!" The two spoke simultaneously.

Looking at each other and smiling, the Phantom Thief Old Man stepped closer and said, "Haha, Little Liu'er, your Master has been looking for you for a long time."

"Where did Master look for me? Wasn't this just a case of 'each enjoying their own joy' through stealing?" Jun Liuyi pouted and muttered.

"You were the one behind all these schemes, weren't you?" Raising an eyebrow, the Phantom Thief Old Man wore a look of approval.

"At first, I only suspected it was someone similar." Jun Liuyi shrugged. She naturally understood what her Master's approving look was so proud of; given his eccentric way of thinking, he was likely feeling nothing but triumph and pride at this moment.

To him, his disciple being outstanding was simply a way to bring him face. This face-saving old man.

Giving him a look that was both exasperated and amused, Jun Liuyi pouted and acted spoiled: "Master, you didn't even look for me even though I was gone for so long. And then you come to steal the Cold Jade Pillow—do you think that's appropriate? Besides, why didn't I even know you were the Phantom Thief Old Man?"

Affectionately clinging to her Master's arm, Jun Liuyi wore a face of grievance.

"Hehe, having a disciple who is a Ghost Doctor is much better than having one who is a Phantom Thief. Just think, the enemies of a Phantom Thief are as numerous as carp crossing a river." He patted the back of Liuyi's head, intending to ask something more, but then he heard someone approaching. His original relaxation instantly transformed into vigilance.

"Who goes there!"

"Hehe, to think the Ghost Doctor would actually be the Phantom Thief Old Man. No wonder." A lazy voice drifted out from the darkness, and dark red robes swayed with the movement of their owner.

"Young Master." Jun Liuyi frowned. "Why are you here?"

"I wasn't at ease. You've been acting strange all day, so I was afraid something might happen to you," Shangguan Jun said, walking a few steps closer.

"Young Master?" The Phantom Thief Old Man frowned and looked at Liuyi.

Shangguan Jun raised an eyebrow and said, "It seems this is a long story. Shall we change locations to talk?"

However, the only response he received was Jun Liuyi's hesitant and defensive gaze.

"Young Master, what are your intentions regarding the newcomer, who is my Master?" In the silence, Jun Liuyi asked.

Meeting the defensiveness in her eyes, a trace of dangerous light erupted from Shangguan Jun's half-lidded eyes. He suppressed the smile at the corners of his mouth and asked, "You don't trust me?"

Though asked as a question, it carried a definitive answer.

"Since it concerns my Master's safety, I cannot help but be cautious." Jun Liuyi naturally understood that her wariness would hurt Shangguan Jun's feelings, but he was the most important person in her life; she would not allow even a single possibility of danger to occur.

"The Ghost Doctor's fame is known throughout the world, but being a Phantom Thief is dangerous. Once the matter is leaked, my Master will face too many unnecessary troubles. And at this moment, if we go out with the Young Master, do you think it is safe?"

Watching the interaction between the two quietly, the Ghost Doctor's face was full of smiles.

The saying "the onlooker sees more clearly than the participant" applied perfectly to someone like Little Liu'er. Shangguan Jun's intentions were actually quite clear. In the martial world, this man, who walked the line between good and evil, could attract many followers due to his martial arts cultivation, talent, and appearance.

Yet, Shangguan Jun always kept people at a distance of a thousand miles; one never knew how many hearts he had broken in the martial world. One would not have expected him to show such a serious expression toward Liuyi.

Seeing the Ghost Doctor smiling continuously as if watching a play, Shangguan Jun acted as if he were oblivious. He only stared at Jun Liuyi's face and asked word by word: "Yesterday you asked what would happen if it was related to your memories. I answered you then, and I answer you the same today."

Having spoken, he turned and walked out.

Looking at his back, a trace of guilt passed over Jun Liuyi's face.

She sighed silently in her heart, her beautiful eyes lowered in thought.

She had hurt him after all.

"Little Liu'er, let's go. It's fine!"

Hearing her Master's words, Jun Liuyi finally nodded and followed closely in his footsteps out of the underground maze.

Sure enough, as soon as they stepped out of the maze, they saw blazing fires outside.

"Young Master!" The synchronized voices carried urgency and anticipation, as everyone stared at the person walking out from behind Shangguan Jun.

"He escaped." Shangguan Jun tossed out the words indifferently, his expression also somewhat grim.

The uninformed crowd only saw his grim face and assumed he was displeased because the Phantom Thief Old Man had escaped, so they all lowered their heads, not daring to speak much.

"These next few days are a critical period. I, the Young Master, have specifically invited the Ghost Doctor to assist. What you all must do is maintain a strict defense and allow no mistakes," Shangguan Jun said, his face turning cold.

"Yes!" With a wave of Shangguan Jun's hand, everyone dispersed.

Aside from those guarding the perimeter of the maze, only the three of them remained.

"Xiao Die."

"Xiao Die is here." Shangguan Jun's personal maid stepped forward respectfully.

"Clean up the courtyard next to the Saintess's for the Ghost Doctor to reside in."

"Yes!" Xiao Die left quickly following the order.

"Saintess?" The Ghost Doctor frowned.

Suppressing the displeasure in his heart, Shangguan Jun swept a cold glance at Jun Liuyi and said, "Go to your own courtyard. That way, it will be more convenient for your Master to rest."

He paused and added, "It also happens to be a good chance to see if that part of the memory you lost can be recovered."

Lost memories?

The Ghost Doctor's brow furrowed upon hearing this, but he immediately regained his calm expression. He followed him toward Jun Liuyi's courtyard. The two walked slowly behind Shangguan Jun. The Ghost Doctor turned his head to wink and gesture at Liuyi, then motioned with his chin toward Shangguan Jun's back, asking with his lips: *Amnesia?*

His response was a cunning wink from Jun Liuyi.