Chapter 19 Public Relationships Cause Public Problems

Tang Hui immediately realized two things the moment Gu Beichen and Lin Qingyue entered the market together.

First—

they looked painfully attractive standing side by side.

Second—

the surrounding disciples were about to become unbearable.

The outer sect market descended into chaos almost instantly.

“THEY CAME TOGETHER?”

“Senior Brother Gu actually left Frost Sword Peak willingly?!”

“Senior Sister Lin is smiling!”

Tang Hui closed her eyes briefly.

Exactly.

Unbearable.

Meanwhile, at the center of the commotion, Lin Qingyue already looked slightly overwhelmed by the attention gathering around them. Though calmer than before, she still carried that naturally gentle temperament that made public scrutiny uncomfortable.

Gu Beichen noticed immediately.

Without speaking, he shifted half a step closer beside her.

Subtle.

Protective.

The surrounding female disciples nearly ascended on the spot.

Tang Hui stared in disbelief.

Impossible.

Absolutely impossible.

Had this man truly evolved emotionally within a few chapters?

Lin Qingyue herself seemed startled by the movement too. She glanced sideways toward Gu Beichen briefly before lowering her gaze again, though the corners of her lips softened faintly.

Troubling.

Very troubling.

Tang Hui suddenly felt like she was witnessing the successful completion of a dangerous experiment.

Around the marketplace, disciples continued openly staring at the pair while pretending not to stare at the pair.

Old Chen clicked his tongue nearby. “Young love truly destroys public order.”

Tang Hui almost agreed.

At this point, nobody was shopping anymore.

Half the market had become dedicated entirely to romantic observation.

Gu Beichen and Lin Qingyue finally stopped in front of Tang Hui’s matchmaking stall.

Tang Hui leaned back slowly in her chair.

“Well,” she drawled, “you two certainly caused enough noise this morning.”

Lin Qingyue immediately looked embarrassed.

“We didn’t mean to…”

“You absolutely did not,” Tang Hui assured her. “Unfortunately, Qingyun Sect disciples survive entirely on gossip.”

Several nearby disciples looked offended by the accuracy.

Gu Beichen remained calm despite the crowd’s attention.

Though unlike before, Tang Hui noticed he no longer radiated that sharp, isolating pressure constantly. The coldness remained—he was still unmistakably Gu Beichen—but now there were moments where his expression eased naturally around Lin Qingyue.

Small moments.

Brief moments.

But noticeable.

Tang Hui watched the interaction carefully.

Interesting.

Very interesting.

The apology truly shifted something between them.

More importantly—

they were beginning to act naturally around each other now.

That mattered far more than dramatic confessions.

Lin Qingyue held a small wooden box carefully in her hands. After hesitating briefly, she stepped forward toward Tang Hui’s stall.

“…Junior Sister Tang,” she said softly, “we came to thank you.”

Tang Hui blinked.

Thank her?

Before she could react, Lin Qingyue placed the wooden box gently onto the table.

The moment it opened slightly, rich spiritual fragrance drifted outward.

Nearby disciples inhaled sharply.

Tang Hui looked down—

then almost stopped breathing.

Inside rested several high-grade spirit herbs carefully preserved within jade lining.

Expensive ones.

Very expensive ones.

The type outer disciples normally only saw during sect auctions.

Tang Hui immediately pushed the box backward. “No.”

Lin Qingyue looked startled. “No?”

“This is worth too much.”

Gu Beichen spoke calmly beside her. “It is appropriate.”

Tang Hui looked deeply suspicious.

“…Senior Brother, your understanding of appropriate financial compensation concerns me.”

Several disciples immediately nodded.

Seriously.

This man handed out spirit stones like flower petals.

Gu Beichen himself seemed unsurprised by her reaction now.

Interesting.

He was growing accustomed to conversation.

Tang Hui almost felt emotional.

Like a teacher watching a spiritually dangerous student integrate into society.

Lin Qingyue smiled faintly despite herself before speaking again.

“Please accept it,” she said gently. “Senior Brother Gu and I… resolved many misunderstandings because of you.”

The surrounding disciples immediately became excited again.

Tang Hui resisted the urge to throw everyone out of the market.

Still—

seeing Lin Qingyue smiling this openly compared to before made something loosen faintly in Tang Hui’s chest.

When they first met, Lin Qingyue had seemed constantly cautious around Gu Beichen, trapped inside uncertainty.

Now the tension was gone.

In its place remained something softer.

Something steadily growing.

Ah.

Tang Hui leaned back slightly.

This was the satisfying part of matchmaking.

Not the chaos.

Not the screaming.

Not the emotionally cursed sword cultivators.

This.

Watching people become happier after finally understanding each other.

Troublesome feeling.

Very troublesome.

Tang Hui accepted the gift box at last with a defeated sigh. “Fine. But next time bring normal thank-you gifts.”

Gu Beichen nodded once. “Understood.”

Tang Hui suddenly felt immediate concern for whoever received his next “normal” gift.

Before she could continue speaking, another voice suddenly interrupted from nearby.

“So this is the famous Matchmaking Pavilion.”

The atmosphere shifted subtly.

Not violently.

But enough that Tang Hui noticed immediately.

The surrounding disciples quieted slightly as several figures approached through the market street.

Inner sect disciples again.

Three of them.

At the center stood a woman wearing crimson robes embroidered with silver cloud patterns. Beautiful in a sharp, elegant way, with narrow eyes and a composed expression that somehow carried faint amusement even while standing still.

Tang Hui narrowed her eyes slightly.

Dangerous type.

The woman’s gaze swept calmly across the crowded marketplace before settling on Tang Hui.

“So many rumors lately,” she mused. “I wanted to see whether they were exaggerated.”

Tang Hui sat straighter instinctively.

Nearby disciples exchanged uneasy looks.

Even Luo Ming, still standing beside the stall, lost some of his earlier relaxed expression.

Interesting.

He knew her.

The woman finally smiled slightly.

Not warm.

Not hostile either.

Just evaluating.

“I am Qin Yue.”

Tang Hui’s thoughts sharpened immediately.

She recognized that name too.

Inner sect elite disciple.

Direct disciple under one of the sect elders.

Formation and illusion specialist.

More importantly—

famous for disliking unnecessary nonsense.

Ah.

Wonderful.

Exactly the kind of person who would hate her business.

Tang Hui smiled professionally anyway. “Senior Sister Qin.”

Qin Yue’s gaze drifted briefly toward Gu Beichen and Lin Qingyue standing nearby before returning to Tang Hui again.

“I’ve heard,” she said calmly, “that Junior Sister Tang possesses remarkable insight into relationships.”

The surrounding market became very quiet.

Tang Hui suddenly understood something important.

This conversation was no longer simple curiosity.

This was evaluation.