Chapter 16 Tang Hui Receives Her First Private Client

Tang Hui spent the entire night thinking about Luo Ming’s words.

A private consultation.

The phrase sounded far more serious than the noisy matchmaking chaos she normally handled in the outer market.

Until now, most of her clients had been:

* awkward disciples,
* emotionally doomed sword cultivators,
* or curious spectators seeking entertainment.

But private consultations were different.

Private meant secrecy.

Secrecy meant reputation mattered now.

And reputation—

in the cultivation world—

was both valuable and dangerous.

By the following afternoon, Tang Hui found herself standing outside one of the inner sect’s guest courtyards while questioning every life decision that led her here.

“This feels expensive,” she muttered.

The stone pathways beneath her feet curved elegantly through bamboo gardens and spirit ponds. Thin mist drifted across the distant mountain terraces while cranes circled high above the inner sect peaks.

Everything looked refined.

Elegant.

Wealthy.

Tang Hui suddenly became deeply aware of how poor she was.

Even the fish in the pond probably possessed more spirit stones than her.

Luo Ming walked beside her with visible amusement.

“You’ve been staring at the buildings for half the journey.”

Tang Hui answered honestly, “I’m calculating how many years of matchmaking it would take to afford one roof tile.”

Luo Ming laughed softly.

Unfortunately, the sound was unfairly pleasant.

Tang Hui immediately became more cautious.

Dangerous man.

Men who looked handsome and laughed easily usually created emotional catastrophes without effort.

Unlike Gu Beichen and Shen Ruijin, who at least visibly struggled while causing problems.

Luo Ming seemed naturally capable of it.

“Relax,” he said casually. “You’re not here as a servant.”

Tang Hui glanced sideways at him. “That depends how much this consultation pays.”

Luo Ming nearly laughed again.

Good-looking people truly had easier lives.

As they entered the courtyard gates, Tang Hui’s expression gradually shifted from casual curiosity to surprise.

The courtyard was beautiful.

Not in the flashy way many wealthy cultivators preferred.

Instead, everything felt strangely calm.

White stone pathways.

Flowing water.

Blooming spirit flowers climbing wooden trellises.

Even the spiritual energy here moved more gently.

Tang Hui slowed slightly.

“…Who lives here?”

Luo Ming’s smile faded into something more thoughtful.

“A friend.”

That answer immediately sounded suspicious.

Tang Hui narrowed her eyes.

Before she could question further, movement stirred near the pavilion ahead.

A woman stepped into view.

And for the first time since entering the inner sect—

Tang Hui understood why Luo Ming personally came to fetch her.

The woman standing beneath the flowering vines was beautiful enough to make the entire courtyard seem quieter around her.

Not the sharp, overwhelming beauty of many cultivation geniuses.

No.

This woman carried the kind of elegance that settled slowly into people’s hearts.

Soft blue robes.

Long dark hair partially pinned with jade ornaments.

Calm eyes that nevertheless looked faintly tired beneath the surface.

Tang Hui instantly recognized one important detail.

This was not someone suffering from a simple crush.

This woman looked emotionally exhausted.

Interesting.

Very interesting.

The woman studied Tang Hui quietly before inclining her head politely.

“You are Junior Sister Tang?”

Tang Hui returned the greeting immediately. “Yes.”

“I am Su Wan.”

Tang Hui blinked once.

Then twice.

Wait.

Su Wan?

Even outer sect disciples knew that name.

Core disciple of Moon Reflection Peak.

One of Qingyun Sect’s most respected formation cultivators.

Talented.

Gentle.

Famous for rarely involving herself in sect conflicts.

Tang Hui suddenly felt pressure.

Not cultivation pressure.

Social pressure.

Very terrible.

Why was someone like this seeking matchmaking advice?

Su Wan gestured toward the pavilion calmly. “Please sit.”

Tang Hui obeyed automatically.

Luo Ming casually settled nearby with the expression of someone fully intending to watch the conversation unfold.

Tang Hui immediately pointed at him.

“Why are you staying?”

Luo Ming looked innocent. “I introduced the client.”

“That is not a valid reason.”

Su Wan unexpectedly smiled faintly.

“He already knows the situation.”

Tang Hui hesitated briefly before sitting properly across from Su Wan.

The tea set between them released soft spiritual fragrance into the air.

For several moments, nobody spoke.

Tang Hui waited patiently.

She had learned something important recently.

People seeking relationship advice often spent more time deciding whether to speak honestly than solving the actual problem.

Finally, Su Wan lowered her gaze slightly.

“…Junior Sister Tang,” she said quietly, “have you ever cared deeply for someone for many years without knowing whether they noticed?”

Tang Hui’s expression shifted subtly.

Ah.

This type of case.

Not misunderstanding.

Not awkward courtship.

Long-term emotional suffering.

More dangerous.

Luo Ming’s expression also lost some of its casual humor now.

Interesting.

So even he treated this seriously.

Tang Hui leaned forward slightly. “How many years?”

Su Wan was silent briefly.

“…Seven.”

Tang Hui nearly inhaled tea incorrectly.

Seven years?

That was not a crush anymore.

That was emotional cultivation deviation.

The courtyard grew quieter.

Even the wind moving through the flowering vines seemed softer now.

Su Wan smiled faintly, though sadness lingered beneath it.

“We entered the sect around the same time,” she explained. “At first, we cultivated together often. Later… our responsibilities became heavier.”

Tang Hui listened carefully.

“He is not cruel,” Su Wan continued softly. “Nor careless. He remembers everything important to me. He protects me whenever danger appears.”

Tang Hui’s eyes narrowed slightly.

Ah.

Dangerous category.

The “kind but oblivious” type.

Potentially catastrophic.

“But?” Tang Hui asked gently.

Su Wan’s fingers tightened slightly around her teacup.

“…But he treats everyone kindly.”

There it was.

The real wound.

Tang Hui suddenly understood the exhaustion hidden beneath Su Wan’s calm expression.

Seven years of uncertainty.

Seven years of trying to determine whether kindness meant affection.

That kind of emotional limbo could quietly wear someone down.

For the first time since opening her matchmaking pavilion, Tang Hui felt the atmosphere becoming genuinely complicated.

Not comedic misunderstanding.

Not awkward flirting.

Something deeper.

More fragile.

Tang Hui slowly leaned back.

Interesting.

Very interesting.

And for the first time in a long while—

she was no longer completely certain how to solve the situation.