Chapter 36 Tang Hui Accidentally Starts Observing the Wrong People

Tang Hui firmly believed other people’s emotional problems were safer than her own.

This belief had protected her spiritually for months.

Unfortunately, Moonheart Peak was actively testing that principle.

“You’re doing it again.”

Tang Hui blinked and looked away from Luo Ming immediately.

“…Doing what?”

Qin Yue stood beside her beneath the moonlit terrace railings, expression composed as always.

“Observing people.”

Tang Hui straightened defensively. “That is literally my profession now.”

“Mm.”

“That tone contains criticism.”

“A little.”

Tang Hui narrowed her eyes suspiciously.

Because Qin Yue’s expression remained calm, but there was the faintest trace of amusement hidden beneath it now.

A terrifying discovery.

Qin Yue becoming expressive ranked among the sect’s more dangerous recent developments.

Below the terrace gardens, festival lights shimmered across Moonheart Peak in drifting rivers of gold and silver. Music floated softly through the night air while disciples gathered beneath flowering spirit trees and lantern pavilions, conversations blending into warm background noise.

The atmosphere felt distant from ordinary sect life.

Softer.

Less guarded.

Tang Hui understood now why the elders valued gatherings like this.

People revealed themselves more easily during peaceful moments.

Including apparently—

Qin Yue and Luo Ming.

Tang Hui glanced toward the opposite terrace again before stopping herself halfway.

No.

Professional restraint.

Essential for survival.

Unfortunately, Luo Ming noticed anyway.

Of course he did.

The man stood several paces away speaking casually with two instructors, posture relaxed beneath drifting lantern light. Yet despite the conversation, his attention shifted back toward Qin Yue’s direction almost unconsciously every few moments.

And Qin Yue—

who supposedly found him troublesome—

never actually moved far away.

Ah.

Dangerous.

Very dangerous.

Tang Hui folded her arms thoughtfully.

“What are you thinking about?” Qin Yue asked suddenly.

Tang Hui answered automatically.

“You and Luo Ming.”

Silence.

Complete silence.

Tang Hui froze.

Qin Yue also froze very slightly.

Several seconds passed while Tang Hui reconsidered every decision leading to this moment.

Excellent.

Wonderful.

Professional self-destruction achieved.

Qin Yue spoke first.

“…Excuse me?”

Tang Hui immediately pointed at the distant mountain scenery.

“I meant theoretically. In a broad observational sense.”

“That explanation worsened the situation.”

Correct.

Tang Hui rubbed her forehead briefly before catching herself.

No repetitive exhaustion habits.

Better.

Growth.

Qin Yue studied her for several moments beneath the drifting lantern glow.

“…What exactly are you observing?”

Tang Hui faced a critical decision.

Retreat dishonestly—

or commit fully.

Unfortunately, curiosity won.

“You tolerate him too much.”

The words settled into the night air between them.

Qin Yue’s expression shifted almost imperceptibly.

Not shock.

More like… surprise.

As though nobody had said the thought aloud before.

Tang Hui continued carefully now that she had already spiritually doomed herself.

“You dislike noisy people,” she said. “You dislike unnecessary social interaction. You dislike interruptions during serious conversations.”

“All true.”

“Yet Luo Ming constantly does all three.”

Qin Yue glanced toward the distant terrace unconsciously.

Tiny movement.

But Tang Hui noticed.

Of course she noticed.

“…He’s different,” Qin Yue admitted after a pause.

Ah.

There it was.

Not confession.

Not realization even.

Just honesty.

Which somehow felt more significant.

Tang Hui suddenly understood something else too:

Qin Yue probably had not fully examined these feelings herself yet.

Interesting— no.

Subtle.

That was the word.

Across the terrace, Luo Ming finally disengaged from the instructors and started walking toward them.

Danger approached casually.

Tang Hui watched Qin Yue from the corner of her eye instinctively.

And yes—

there.

That tiny unconscious softening around her shoulders again.

Not dramatic.

But real.

Tang Hui almost felt proud professionally.

Before she could spiral further into matchmaking analysis, Luo Ming reached the railing beside them.

“What conspiracy is occurring here?”

Tang Hui answered instantly.

“You.”

Luo Ming blinked once.

“…Concerning.”

Qin Yue looked away toward the lantern gardens below.

Too calm.

Suspiciously calm.

Tang Hui narrowed her eyes harder.

Luo Ming noticed immediately.

“That expression usually means you’ve discovered something.”

“Incorrect.”

“You’re terrible at lying.”

“Also incorrect.”

“Very terrible.”

Tang Hui clicked her tongue softly.

Infuriating man.

Before the conversation could continue, movement near the central pavilion drew attention across the terraces.

Several sect attendants approached carrying silver wine trays while musicians shifted toward the upper garden stage.

The final Moonheart ceremony apparently approached.

Nearby disciples began gathering gradually toward the central terrace overlooking the mountain cliffs.

Tang Hui exhaled quietly.

Good.

Public ceremony.

Safe topic change.

As the three of them moved toward the larger gathering, Tang Hui noticed something else strange tonight:

people greeted her naturally now.

Not mockingly.

Not with pity.

Not as “that outer disciple with terrible cultivation.”

Inner sect disciples nodded respectfully while passing.

Several instructors even acknowledged her presence openly.

The matchmaking pavilion owner.

Tang Hui still had not fully adjusted to that title existing sincerely.

She spent so many years feeling forgettable inside Qingyun Sect that moments like this still struck unexpectedly.

Not painful anymore.

Just… unfamiliar.

The central terrace gradually filled beneath drifting lantern light while disciples gathered near carved stone railings overlooking endless clouds below the mountain peak.

Beautiful.

Dangerously beautiful.

Tang Hui understood immediately why cultivators developed superiority complexes after standing in places like this regularly.

The mountain winds carried soft music through the terraces while spirit lanterns floated upward into the night sky one by one.

For several peaceful moments, nobody spoke.

Then quietly beside her, Luo Ming said:

“You look happier lately.”

Tang Hui paused.

The statement caught her off guard enough that she answered honestly before thinking.

“…Maybe.”

Luo Ming smiled slightly.

And unexpectedly—

Qin Yue glanced toward her too.

Not analyzing.

Not judging.

Just watching quietly.

The attention made something warm settle strangely beneath Tang Hui’s ribs.

Because lately—

without realizing when it happened—

Qingyun Sect had started feeling less like a place she failed in…

and more like a place she belonged.