Chapter 12 An Apology in the Outer Sect Market

The silence spreading through the outer sect market felt profoundly dangerous.

Tang Hui sat motionless behind her matchmaking stall while dozens of disciples simultaneously pretended they were not staring at the entrance of the street.

Unfortunately, nobody in Qingyun Sect possessed acting talent.

Every single person was obviously watching.

Including Old Chen.

Especially Old Chen.

Lin Qingyue stood near the market entrance holding a basket of spirit herbs against her chest, her expression frozen somewhere between surprise and complete emotional disaster.

Beside her, several medicine hall disciples had already gone pale with excitement.

Meanwhile, directly in front of Tang Hui’s stall—

Gu Beichen still held the practice flower.

Tang Hui slowly covered her face.

Of course.

Naturally this would happen.

She had spent the entire morning carefully preparing conversation exercises, only for fate to immediately throw the actual target directly into the situation.

Honestly, the heavens were enjoying themselves too much.

For several unbearable moments, nobody moved.

Then one outer disciple whispered too loudly:

“…Should we leave?”

Another immediately answered, “Are you insane? This is historic.”

Tang Hui resisted the urge to throw spirit stones at both of them.

Across the marketplace, Lin Qingyue finally regained enough awareness to move slightly.

Her gaze landed first on Gu Beichen.

Then the flower in his hand.

Then Tang Hui sitting nearby with the exhausted expression of someone suffering through self-created problems.

Very faintly, the tips of Lin Qingyue’s ears turned red.

Tang Hui noticed instantly.

So did every other disciple present.

The atmosphere became even more chaotic.

Tang Hui immediately realized something important.

If she allowed the surrounding crowd to remain here, these two would never survive the conversation.

Especially Lin Qingyue.

The poor woman already looked moments away from fleeing.

Tang Hui stood abruptly and clapped her hands loudly.

“Everyone leave.”

The disciples collectively looked shocked.

“What?”

“Why?”

“We’re emotionally invested now!”

Tang Hui pointed toward the street with absolute authority. “All of you are breathing too loudly.”

“That’s not even—”

“Leave.”

Her tone this time carried enough force that even the surrounding disciples reluctantly began retreating.

Slowly.

Very slowly.

Like people being dragged away from the greatest entertainment of their lives.

Old Chen sighed dramatically while carrying his artifacts farther down the street. “Young people nowadays truly experience romance publicly.”

Tang Hui ignored him.

The medicine hall disciples were equally reluctant.

One girl whispered frantically to Lin Qingyue before leaving, causing the latter’s face to grow even redder.

Finally, after several painful minutes, the market quieted slightly.

Not empty.

Absolutely not empty.

Tang Hui could still see at least twenty disciples pretending to browse nearby stalls.

But it was less catastrophic now.

Probably survivable.

Tang Hui looked between the two emotionally compromised cultivators standing several steps apart.

Neither spoke.

Neither moved.

Amazing.

Absolutely amazing.

These people could battle spirit beasts but could not survive eye contact.

Tang Hui suddenly felt deeply tired again.

At this rate, she deserved additional consultation fees.

Finally, Gu Beichen stepped forward.

Lin Qingyue visibly stiffened.

Tang Hui immediately prepared herself for disaster.

However—

this time, Gu Beichen stopped at a respectful distance instead of approaching directly.

Good.

Progress.

His voice, when he finally spoke, sounded calmer than usual.

“…Lin Qingyue.”

Tang Hui blinked slightly.

Nearby disciples also looked shocked.

No interrogation aura.

No terrifying pressure.

Just her name.

Simple and sincere.

Lin Qingyue herself looked visibly startled by the softer tone.

“…Senior Brother Gu,” she answered quietly.

Another dangerous silence followed.

Tang Hui resisted the urge to scream.

Speak.

Please speak.

Gu Beichen remained still for several moments before holding out the flower in his hand.

“…This is for you.”

The surrounding disciples nearly stopped breathing.

Lin Qingyue stared at the flower blankly.

It was only a simple white spirit blossom Tang Hui had grabbed earlier for practice purposes.

Nothing rare.

Nothing expensive.

Yet somehow the atmosphere felt strangely serious.

Lin Qingyue slowly accepted the flower.

Very carefully.

Like touching something precious.

Tang Hui narrowed her eyes thoughtfully.

Interesting.

Very interesting.

Gu Beichen watched Lin Qingyue quietly before speaking again.

“…I came to apologize.”

The market became completely silent again.

Tang Hui noticed several disciples physically leaning closer from nearby stalls.

Honestly shameless.

Lin Qingyue lowered her gaze slightly toward the flower in her hands.

“…You do not need to apologize, Senior Brother.”

“I do.”

His answer came immediately.

No hesitation.

No awkwardness.

Just certainty.

Tang Hui sat up straighter.

Ah.

Good.

Very good.

Gu Beichen continued calmly, though Tang Hui noticed the faint tension beneath his voice now.

“When I left the medicine hall previously, I spoke carelessly.”

Lin Qingyue’s fingers tightened slightly around the flower stem.

“I never intended to belittle your efforts,” he said quietly. “You cared for my injuries for several days. I was grateful.”

Tang Hui almost smiled.

There.

That was the correct thing to say.

Not difficult.

Not impossible.

Entirely survivable.

Gu Beichen lowered his gaze briefly before continuing.

“…At the time, I thought I was speaking honestly.”

Tang Hui’s smile vanished instantly.

Danger.

Immediate danger.

Lin Qingyue also froze slightly.

Tang Hui prepared herself spiritually.

Please.

Please do not ruin this now.

Gu Beichen remained silent for a moment longer.

Then, unexpectedly, he frowned faintly.

“…Tang Hui informed me that my honesty is emotionally problematic.”

The surrounding disciples exploded.

Tang Hui nearly fell backward off her chair.

WHAT KIND OF APOLOGY LINE WAS THAT?

Several outer disciples physically collapsed against nearby stalls trying not to laugh.

Lin Qingyue stared blankly at Gu Beichen.

Then—

very suddenly—

she laughed.

Softly at first.

Quiet enough that Tang Hui almost thought she imagined it.

But then the laughter grew clearer, warm and helpless and genuine.

The entire market froze.

Because apparently nobody had ever seen Lin Qingyue laugh like that before.

Even Gu Beichen looked slightly stunned.

Lin Qingyue quickly covered part of her face with her sleeve, though the smile remained visible in her eyes now.

“…Senior Brother,” she said softly, “Junior Sister Tang is correct.”

Tang Hui instantly felt vindicated.

Exactly.

Finally someone appreciated her suffering.

Gu Beichen looked at Lin Qingyue silently for several moments.

And for the first time since meeting him—

his expression softened visibly.

Not much.

Most people might not even notice.

But Tang Hui noticed.

The overwhelming sharpness surrounding him eased slightly, like cold snow melting beneath sunlight.

Troublesome.

Very troublesome.

The surrounding female disciples nearby looked seconds away from emotional collapse again.

Tang Hui decided immediately that attractive people truly caused endless problems.

Lin Qingyue lowered her sleeve slowly before speaking again.

“…I also misunderstood Senior Brother previously.”

Gu Beichen’s gaze sharpened slightly.

“I thought…” She hesitated, visibly embarrassed. “I thought perhaps you disliked me.”

The surrounding disciples collectively inhaled.

Tang Hui watched Gu Beichen carefully.

He looked genuinely startled.

“…Disliked you?”

Lin Qingyue nodded weakly.

Gu Beichen fell silent again.

Then, after several moments:

“…Impossible.”

The answer came so quickly and so firmly that the nearby disciples instantly descended into chaos.

One girl grabbed another disciple violently. “Did you hear that?!”

Another whispered shakily, “Senior Brother Gu is terrifying today…”

Lin Qingyue herself looked completely frozen now.

Tang Hui stared at Gu Beichen with growing disbelief.

Wait.

Had this man actually learned romance?

Impossible.

Absolutely impossible.

Gu Beichen seemed unaware of the emotional destruction he was causing.

His attention remained entirely focused on Lin Qingyue.

“…I would never dislike you,” he said quietly.

The market exploded.