Chapter 18 The Matchmaking Pavilion Expands Its Business

By the following morning, the outer sect market gained a second sign.

The original crooked wooden board still hung proudly above Tang Hui’s stall.

[MYSTICAL MATCHMAKING]

But directly beneath it now stood a newer, significantly larger sign written in dramatic red ink.

[LANTERN FESTIVAL ROMANTIC CONSULTATIONS]
[COUPLE STRATEGY • CONFESSION PLANNING • DESTINY ANALYSIS]

And below that, in slightly smaller writing:

[DISCOUNTS AVAILABLE FOR GROUP DISASTERS]

Old Chen stared at the sign for a very long time.

“…You truly abandoned cultivation completely.”

Tang Hui adjusted the banner proudly. “Cultivation never earned me this many spirit stones.”

“That is because most cultivators contribute to society.”

Tang Hui ignored his slander.

Honestly, she considered herself extremely helpful.

Without her intervention, Qingyun Sect’s younger generation would probably continue expressing affection through sword injuries and emotionally traumatic eye contact.

The heavens should thank her.

Morning sunlight spilled warmly through the market street while disciples gradually gathered around the new sign with growing excitement.

The annual Lantern Reflection Festival was only six days away now.

Unlike ordinary mortal festivals, Qingyun Sect’s celebration lasted throughout the night with floating spirit lanterns drifting across the mountain valleys.

Disciples exchanged gifts.

Confessions happened constantly.

And every year, at least several cultivators experienced emotional devastation before sunrise.

Tang Hui had discovered this yesterday after questioning Xu Yelan further.

Apparently the festival carried a long-standing romantic reputation within the sect.

Which meant—

business opportunity.

Pure, beautiful business opportunity.

By midday, her stall had become completely surrounded again.

Tang Hui sat behind the consultation table while trying to maintain professional dignity despite the increasingly absurd requests.

“No,” she said firmly to the nervous male disciple across from her, “you cannot confess by releasing thirty spirit cranes carrying your portrait.”

“…Why not?”

Tang Hui stared at him.

“Because that sounds like a threat.”

The surrounding disciples burst into laughter.

The male disciple looked unconvinced. “I already commissioned the paintings.”

“Then cancel them.”

“But they were expensive.”

Tang Hui sighed deeply.

Cultivators truly created their own suffering.

“Listen carefully,” she said while leaning forward. “Women enjoy sincerity. Not psychological warfare.”

The disciple slowly nodded while nearby disciples took mental notes with alarming seriousness.

Tang Hui extended her hand calmly. “Five spirit stones.”

Business remained excellent.

Actually—

better than excellent.

Tang Hui discreetly glanced toward the small storage pouch hidden beneath her sleeves.

Heavy.

Wonderfully heavy.

Her spirit stone savings had already doubled compared to the previous week.

At this rate, she genuinely might afford a proper storefront someday.

The thought sent a strange thrill through her chest.

Five years.

For five entire years, Tang Hui had felt invisible inside Qingyun Sect.

Average cultivation.

Average talent.

No future.

Yet now disciples greeted her by name whenever she crossed the sect grounds.

Even inner disciples recognized her.

Not because she became powerful—

but because she mattered to people.

The realization felt unexpectedly dangerous.

Tang Hui quickly pushed the thought aside before she became emotional in public.

Terrible habit.

Before she could continue organizing consultation slips, a familiar voice drifted through the crowd.

“Junior Sister Tang’s business becomes more frightening every day.”

Tang Hui looked up immediately.

Luo Ming approached through the market street carrying his usual relaxed smile while several disciples moved aside instinctively to let him pass.

Unlike Gu Beichen, who intimidated people into silence—

Luo Ming attracted attention naturally.

Effortlessly social.

Effortlessly charming.

Tang Hui distrusted him profoundly.

“Senior Brother Luo,” she greeted cautiously.

Luo Ming stopped beside her stall and glanced at the enormous festival banner overhead.

Then he laughed softly.

“…Group disaster discounts?”

Tang Hui nodded seriously. “Some cultivators create emotional damage collectively.”

“Reasonable.”

Nearby disciples immediately began whispering again.

Tang Hui noticed several female disciples openly staring at Luo Ming with complicated expressions.

Ah.

Another dangerous man.

At least this one knew he was attractive.

That made him more troublesome than Gu Beichen somehow.

Luo Ming rested casually against the side of the stall.

“I came to inform you of something.”

Tang Hui narrowed her eyes slightly.

That sentence rarely brought peace.

“What happened?”

“Your reputation spread beyond the outer sect.”

Tang Hui blinked once.

“…Beyond?”

Luo Ming nodded.

“Several elders discussed you yesterday.”

The surrounding market instantly fell silent.

Tang Hui stared at him blankly.

Wait.

Elders?

Actual sect elders?

Her matchmaking pavilion somehow reached elder-level gossip already?

Tang Hui suddenly felt faint spiritual danger.

“What exactly,” she asked slowly, “did they say?”

Luo Ming’s smile widened slightly.

“Mostly confusion.”

Fair.

“However,” he continued, “some are becoming curious about your… methods.”

Tang Hui’s eyelid twitched.

Methods?

She had no methods.

Her entire business strategy consisted mostly of:

* observing obvious emotional tension,
* forcing cultivators to communicate,
* and preventing sword-related confessions.

Very advanced techniques.

Still—

Tang Hui quickly realized the actual problem.

Rumors.

Too many rumors already surrounded her.

Some disciples genuinely believed she possessed mystical insight into relationships.

Others believed she manipulated romantic fate itself.

One horrifying version even claimed she cultivated a secret love-related Dao.

Ridiculous.

Completely ridiculous.

Tang Hui absolutely did not possess supernatural matchmaking powers.

She was simply surrounded by emotionally transparent idiots.

Unfortunately, explaining that to cultivators proved difficult.

Luo Ming studied her expression thoughtfully.

“You seem worried.”

Tang Hui lowered her voice immediately. “Should I be?”

“Not currently.”

Not currently was an extremely terrible answer.

Luo Ming continued more calmly, “Most elders simply find the situation entertaining.”

That sounded slightly safer.

Slightly.

Tang Hui relaxed a little before asking, “And the others?”

Luo Ming’s smile faded just enough for Tang Hui to notice.

“…Some dislike unpredictable influence inside the sect.”

Ah.

There it was.

Tang Hui suddenly understood the hidden danger clearly.

Her pavilion had started affecting social dynamics now.

Inner sect disciples.

Peak relationships.

Sect gossip.

Influence spread faster than expected.

And cultivation sects—

despite all their spiritual elegance—

loved politics almost as much as romance.

Troublesome.

Very troublesome.

Before Tang Hui could think further, sudden commotion erupted near the entrance of the market street.

Several disciples gasped.

Others immediately stepped aside.

Tang Hui looked up automatically—

and nearly developed a headache.

Gu Beichen and Lin Qingyue had arrived together.

Together.

Walking side by side openly through the sect market.

The surrounding disciples exploded instantly.