Chapter 46 Tang Hui Receives an Invitation She Cannot Refuse

The problem with emotional realization was that life continued afterward anyway.

Tang Hui discovered this the next morning when she woke up fully aware that she liked Gu Beichen—

and still had to mediate three separate relationship disputes before breakfast.

Cultivation life remained cruelly practical.

By midmorning, the pavilion had already descended into familiar chaos.

One disciple accidentally sent poetry intended for his crush to his martial uncle instead.

Another believed sharing spiritual beast treats carried romantic implications.

And two music cultivators spent twenty minutes arguing over whether eye contact during ensemble practice counted as flirting.

Tang Hui sat behind the consultation desk listening calmly while internally reconsidering humanity as a concept.

“No,” she said firmly for the third time that morning, “prolonged eye contact alone does not automatically indicate love.”

The music cultivators looked unconvinced.

Tang Hui pointed at them.

“You both play instruments professionally. Looking at each other during coordination is normal.”

“…What if the eye contact felt meaningful?”

Tang Hui opened her mouth—

then paused.

Because unfortunately, she recently became painfully aware that meaningful eye contact absolutely existed.

Ah.

Terrible timing.

Across the pavilion, Gu Beichen looked up from repairing another lantern hook at the exact wrong moment.

Their eyes met briefly.

And yes—

meaningful.

Very meaningful.

Tang Hui immediately looked back toward the consultation table.

“…Additional context matters,” she amended calmly.

The surrounding disciples noticed everything.

Traitors.

Lin Qingyue outright hid a smile behind the consultation records now.

Tang Hui narrowed her eyes suspiciously.

“You’ve become far too entertained lately.”

Lin Qingyue laughed softly.

“A little.”

Betrayal increasing daily.

Before Tang Hui could recover professional dignity properly, movement outside the pavilion entrance interrupted the consultations again.

Several inner sect disciples approached carrying formal silver-edged scroll cases.

Ah.

Administrative energy.

Immediate danger.

The pavilion quieted instinctively as the disciples entered respectfully.

The leading disciple bowed slightly.

“Senior Sister Tang.”

Tang Hui already distrusted the situation.

“…Yes?”

“We’ve brought an official invitation from the sect elders.”

Dead silence.

Luo Ming—who had arrived moments earlier with Qin Yue—looked immediately interested.

Gu Beichen straightened subtly near the window.

Tang Hui herself felt spiritually threatened.

The disciple carefully presented the scroll case.

“The Qingyun Sect wishes to formally host its first Inter-Sect Harmony Gathering next month.”

Tang Hui blinked once.

“…That sounds fake.”

“It is real.”

Even worse.

The disciple continued professionally:

“Several neighboring sects will attend. The elders wish the Matchmaking Pavilion to oversee social coordination during the event.”

Silence.

Absolute devastating silence.

Tang Hui slowly pointed toward herself.

“You want me to manage diplomatic social interactions between cultivation sects.”

“Yes.”

“That sounds like the beginning of a historical disaster.”

Luo Ming burst into laughter immediately.

Even Qin Yue’s expression shifted faintly toward amusement.

The messenger remained painfully serious.

“The elders believe your mediation abilities improved internal sect relations significantly.”

Tang Hui physically leaned back in her chair.

This escalated far beyond emotionally unstable outer disciples.

Other sects?

Entirely new categories of problems.

Different cultivation traditions.
Different social customs.
Potential political tensions.

And worst of all—

more emotionally repressed cultivators.

The pavilion disciples, however, looked openly excited now.

“An inter-sect gathering?”

“Will there be competitions?”

“Maybe famous cultivators will attend!”

Tang Hui pointed sharply toward the room.

“No one romanticizes this situation. This is administrative suffering.”

The messenger carefully opened the invitation scroll anyway.

Elegant golden script unfurled across the parchment beneath the pavilion lantern light.

Tang Hui’s eyes skimmed several horrifying phrases:

* Sect Relations Coordination
* Guest Reception Leadership
* Official Pavilion Representation

Ah.

The sect truly promoted her from matchmaking stall owner to emotional diplomat somehow.

Completely unreasonable career progression.

Lin Qingyue accepted the scroll gently to continue reading while Tang Hui processed her spiritual misfortune.

Then—

Lin Qingyue paused slightly.

“…Senior Brother Su from the Northern Sword Sect will attend.”

The pavilion atmosphere shifted subtly.

Tang Hui noticed immediately.

Several disciples exchanged looks.
Luo Ming’s amusement sharpened.
Even Qin Yue glanced briefly toward Gu Beichen.

Interesting.

Tang Hui narrowed her eyes suspiciously.

“…Who is Senior Brother Su?”

No one answered immediately.

Which meant danger.

Finally Luo Ming smiled slowly.

“An old acquaintance of Gu Beichen.”

Ah.

Danger confirmed.

“And?”

Luo Ming folded his arms lazily.

“He’s irritating.”

“Very informative.”

“He enjoys provoking people.”

Tang Hui looked toward Gu Beichen next.

The man’s expression remained calm—

too calm.

Another dangerous sign.

Lin Qingyue sighed softly beside the records shelf.

“Senior Brother Su competed against Senior Brother Gu frequently during previous sect exchanges.”

“Competitively?”

“Yes.”

Tang Hui waited.

No additional explanation arrived.

Which meant there was absolutely additional explanation.

Professional instincts awakened immediately.

“…That isn’t the entire story.”

Luo Ming looked delighted now.

“No.”

Qin Yue spoke calmly before anyone else could worsen the situation dramatically.

“Su Yan enjoys testing reactions.”

Tang Hui blinked.

“…Emotionally?”

“Yes.”

Ah.

Tang Hui understood instantly.

One of those people.

Socially dangerous.
Observant.
Probably attractive enough to create unnecessary problems naturally.

Essentially Luo Ming with less restraint.

Terrible.

Before Tang Hui could investigate further, the messenger continued:

“The elders request preliminary planning meetings beginning tomorrow.”

Tang Hui looked spiritually exhausted for exactly one second before correcting herself immediately.

Adapt.

No repetitive habits.

She straightened professionally.

“Fine,” she declared. “If the sect insists on assigning me international emotional management responsibilities, then I’ll survive somehow.”

Several disciples applauded immediately.

Traitors.

The messenger finally departed after leaving additional preparation materials behind.

The moment he disappeared, however, Luo Ming leaned thoughtfully against the consultation table.

“This should be entertaining.”

Tang Hui distrusted that tone immediately.

“Why?”

“Because Su Yan enjoys provoking Gu Beichen specifically.”

Gu Beichen looked entirely unbothered.

“…Not particularly.”

Luo Ming smiled wider.

“He once challenged you to seventeen sword duels in one month.”

“That was years ago.”

“And he lost every time.”

Tang Hui glanced between them slowly.

Then realization clicked.

“…Oh.”

Lin Qingyue visibly prepared for disaster already.

Tang Hui leaned forward slightly.

“He’s competitive.”

“Yes,” Qin Yue answered calmly.

Tang Hui’s gaze drifted instinctively toward Gu Beichen afterward.

And suddenly—

a horrifying possibility emerged.

If this Su Yan person enjoyed provoking Gu Beichen emotionally…

and arrived during the exact period Tang Hui and Gu Beichen were quietly realizing mutual feelings…

Ah.

No.

Absolutely not.

This gathering suddenly possessed romance arc energy.

Dangerous romance arc energy.