Chapter 13 Tang Hui’s Reputation Begins to Spread

Tang Hui eventually discovered something unfortunate about successful matchmaking.

Once people realized you were effective, they became impossible to escape.

The morning after Gu Beichen publicly declared he would “never dislike” Lin Qingyue in the middle of the outer sect market, Tang Hui’s stall gained a line before sunrise.

An actual line.

A horrifyingly long line.

Tang Hui stood at the entrance of the market street holding breakfast buns while staring blankly at the crowd gathered outside her matchmaking pavilion stall.

“…What happened?”

Old Chen did not even look surprised anymore.

“What do you mean, what happened?” he said while organizing spirit artifacts beside her. “Half the sect watched you repair an impossible relationship yesterday.”

Tang Hui looked deeply offended.

“They repaired it themselves.”

Old Chen snorted. “After you dragged them through emotional suffering for ten chapters.”

Tang Hui ignored him.

Unfortunately, he was slightly correct.

The previous day’s apology scene had spread across Qingyun Sect at terrifying speed.

By nightfall, at least seven different versions of the story already existed.

One rumor claimed Tang Hui used mysterious fate-reading techniques to understand romantic karma.

Another claimed she forced Gu Beichen into emotional enlightenment through secret cultivation arts.

The worst version insisted Tang Hui herself was actually an ancient love tribulation expert disguised as an outer disciple.

Cultivators truly lacked hobbies.

Tang Hui pushed through the crowd toward her stall while disciples immediately began speaking over each other.

“Junior Sister Tang, please help me!”

“I need relationship advice!”

“My martial brother challenged three people to duels because of me!”

“That’s not romance,” Tang Hui muttered automatically. “That’s criminal behavior.”

Several disciples nodded seriously while taking mental notes.

Tang Hui sat behind her stall and slowly looked across the crowd gathered around her.

Outer disciples.

Inner disciples.

Even two medicine hall disciples pretending not to be here officially.

Her tiny crooked matchmaking sign suddenly looked significantly more respectable than before.

Tang Hui felt strangely emotional.

Five years inside Qingyun Sect.

Five years of failed cultivation.

Five years of being overlooked.

And now—

people were voluntarily lining up to speak with her.

Not because of talent.

Not because of cultivation.

Because she was useful.

The thought felt unexpectedly warm.

Tang Hui quickly crushed the emotion before it became embarrassing.

Business first.

Sentiment later.

“Alright,” she announced while sitting straighter behind the table. “One at a time.”

The crowd instantly surged forward anyway.

Tang Hui nearly developed spiritual deviation immediately.

By the time the morning sun fully rose above the sect mountains, Tang Hui had already mediated:

* one relationship dispute,
* two secret crushes,
* a rivalry caused by shared affection toward the same sword cultivator,
* and one horrifying situation involving love poetry and spirit chickens.

The spirit chicken situation especially disturbed her.

“…Why,” Tang Hui asked slowly, “would you tie poetry to spirit chickens?”

The nervous disciple across from her looked embarrassed. “I thought it appeared romantic.”

“Did the chickens attack her?”

“…Yes.”

Tang Hui sighed deeply.

Cultivators genuinely found creative ways to fail socially.

Nearby disciples listened with solemn attention while Tang Hui continued her consultation.

“You cannot use aggressive poultry for courtship.”

“I understand.”

“Good. Five spirit stones.”

The disciple reluctantly paid.

Tang Hui pocketed the stones with growing satisfaction.

Excellent.

At this rate, she could finally replace the leaking roof in her courtyard.

Maybe even buy better tea.

Her mood improved immediately.

Unfortunately, peace never lasted long around her anymore.

Around midday, the crowd near the market suddenly shifted again.

Tang Hui looked up instinctively.

Several disciples moved aside as a familiar black-robed figure approached through the street.

Gu Beichen.

The surrounding disciples instantly became excited.

“Senior Brother Gu came back!”

“Is this another consultation?”

“Did he and Senior Sister Lin become Dao companions already?”

Tang Hui nearly choked on tea.

These people progressed relationships faster than spiritual lightning.

Gu Beichen stopped in front of her stall calmly.

Today, unlike before, the surrounding disciples no longer looked terrified of him.

Nervous, yes.

Respectful, definitely.

But now there was also curiosity.

Tang Hui noticed several female disciples openly observing him with emotional expressions.

Ah.

The apology incident changed his image.

Before, Gu Beichen had been an untouchable sword genius.

Cold.

Distant.

Almost inhuman.

Now everyone knew:
the frightening sword cultivator secretly learned cooking and carried flowers because he liked someone.

Humanity truly transformed public perception quickly.

Tang Hui rested her chin against her hand lazily. “Senior Brother.”

Gu Beichen nodded once.

Then—

he placed a storage pouch onto her table.

Clink.

Tang Hui’s eyes sharpened immediately.

That sound contained wealth.

Serious wealth.

“…What’s this?”

“Consultation payment.”

Tang Hui opened the pouch slightly.

Then almost inhaled tea directly into her lungs.

High-grade spirit stones.

Again.

Many of them.

The surrounding disciples gasped immediately after noticing Tang Hui’s expression.

Tang Hui quickly closed the pouch before nearby criminals developed ideas.

“…Senior Brother,” she said carefully, “this amount is excessive.”

Gu Beichen remained calm. “Your advice proved useful.”

Tang Hui stared at him suspiciously.

“You’re paying this much just because the apology succeeded?”

“No.”

Another brief silence followed.

Then, for the first time since arriving, the corners of Gu Beichen’s mouth lifted very slightly.

“…She agreed to have dinner with me tonight.”

The marketplace exploded.

Completely exploded.

Several disciples screamed.

Someone dropped spirit fruit again.

A nearby female disciple clutched another person violently while whispering, “IT HAPPENED.”

Tang Hui herself blinked twice.

Wait.

Already?

Actually, no.

That was reasonable.

Lin Qingyue already liked him.

The misunderstanding was the only barrier.

Still—

seeing progress this quickly felt strangely satisfying.

Tang Hui leaned back slowly with profound pride.

Excellent work.

Premium matchmaking.

Maybe she truly possessed talent after all.

Old Chen clicked his tongue nearby. “Young people fall in love quickly nowadays.”

Tang Hui ignored him.

Instead, she looked directly at Gu Beichen again.

“…Senior Brother.”

“Yes?”

“You are now banned from discussing bandage quality during dinner.”

Several disciples nearly collapsed laughing.

Gu Beichen looked mildly offended again.

“…I understand.”

Tang Hui nodded approvingly.

Good.

Some lessons finally remained in his brain.

As Gu Beichen turned to leave, the surrounding disciples immediately swarmed Tang Hui’s stall again.

“Junior Sister Tang, please help me too!”

“How do I make my senior brother notice me?”

“What if someone keeps sending me sword manuals instead of speaking normally?”

Tang Hui froze briefly.

“…That last one,” she said slowly. “Who’s sending sword manuals?”

A female disciple near the back raised her hand weakly.

Tang Hui suddenly narrowed her eyes.

Interesting.

Very interesting.

Another disaster had arrived.