Chapter 48 Su Yan Arrives and Immediately Becomes a Problem

Tang Hui should have stayed in bed.

Unfortunately, sect diplomacy waited for no one.

By sunrise, the entire outer sect already buzzed with preparation energy. Disciples hurried across the mountain paths carrying guest registration slips, ceremonial lanterns, and enough flower arrangements to spiritually overwhelm ordinary people.

The Matchmaking Pavilion itself had transformed into temporary chaos headquarters.

Tang Hui sat behind the consultation desk surrounded by stacked inter-sect schedules while disciples rushed in and out carrying updated assignments.

“This timeline conflicts with the eastern reception banquet.”

“Why are there three welcoming ceremonies?”

“Who approved symbolic crane performances?”

Tang Hui stared at the paperwork like it personally betrayed her.

“…Why do cultivators need this much ceremony just to say hello?”

“Prestige,” Qin Yue answered calmly from the opposite table.

She currently reviewed reception formations with terrifying efficiency while Luo Ming leaned beside her offering increasingly unhelpful commentary.

“You forgot emotional prestige,” he added.

“That is not a real category.”

“It absolutely is.”

Tang Hui pointed between them.

“You two are becoming more synchronized lately.”

Silence.

Qin Yue continued reading without reacting visibly.

Too quickly.

Suspicious.

Luo Ming smiled immediately.

“You notice everything.”

“Professional hazard.”

Correct answer.

Before the conversation could become more dangerous, a younger disciple rushed into the pavilion looking breathless.

“The Northern Sword Sect delegation entered the eastern mountain gates!”

Instant chaos.

Half the pavilion disciples sat upright immediately.

Tang Hui herself felt sudden ominous energy pressing toward the sect.

Like approaching weather.

Very smug weather.

Outside, sect bells rang softly across Qingyun Sect’s mountain paths while welcoming formations illuminated gradually along the eastern terraces.

The inter-sect gathering officially began.

Tang Hui sighed quietly before standing.

“Fine,” she declared. “Everyone remember: we are representing Qingyun Sect professionally.”

Several disciples nodded solemnly.

“…No unnecessary emotional disasters.”

The disciples looked slightly less confident.

Troubling.

Lin Qingyue approached carrying finalized reception records while glancing toward Tang Hui with gentle concern.

“You seem nervous.”

“I’m anticipating suffering proactively.”

Reasonable response.

Tang Hui adjusted her outer robes before heading toward the eastern reception terraces alongside the others.

The mountain pathways overflowed with movement now. Inner sect disciples coordinated welcoming arrangements while instructors supervised ceremonial formations beneath drifting morning mist.

Far below the terraces, banners from neighboring sects fluttered among arriving spirit carriages.

Tang Hui stared at the scene.

“…This really is a diplomatic event.”

Luo Ming walked beside her lazily.

“You sound surprised.”

“I thought the sect elders exaggerated for dramatic effect.”

“They rarely exaggerate bureaucracy.”

Terrifying sentence.

As they reached the eastern reception platform, the first delegation had already arrived.

Northern Sword Sect disciples stepped from elegant silver spirit carriages beneath the watchful eyes of Qingyun Sect instructors. Their uniforms differed sharply from Qingyun’s softer mountain robes—clean dark lines, silver edging, colder colors.

More intimidating overall.

Tang Hui immediately categorized them professionally:
emotionally restrained sword cultivators.

Danger level high.

Several disciples from both sects exchanged formal greetings while the elders handled ceremonial introductions.

Tang Hui intended to remain unnoticed quietly.

This failed instantly.

One Northern Sword Sect disciple glanced toward the gathered Qingyun representatives before pausing visibly.

“…Wait.”

Tang Hui distrusted that tone immediately.

The disciple looked genuinely shocked.

“The famous Matchmaking Pavilion owner is real?”

Dead silence.

Tang Hui physically closed her eyes.

No.

Absolutely not.

Nearby Qingyun disciples immediately looked smug.

Traitors.

The Northern Sword Sect group began whispering rapidly among themselves.

“I heard she resolved seven sect disputes during a single festival.”

“Someone said she predicts romantic compatibility perfectly.”

“I thought those were exaggerated rumors.”

Tang Hui wanted to throw herself off Moonheart Peak voluntarily.

Luo Ming looked one breath away from laughter already.

Meanwhile Qin Yue maintained complete composure beside him, though Tang Hui noticed the faintest twitch near her sleeve.

Holding back amusement.

Traitor number two.

Before the rumors could worsen further, movement near the central spirit carriage shifted the atmosphere suddenly.

The surrounding Northern Sword Sect disciples straightened automatically.

Ah.

Important person approaching.

Tang Hui looked up—

and immediately understood the problem.

The man stepping down from the carriage carried himself with the effortless confidence of someone fully aware he caused trouble naturally.

Tall.
Dark-haired.
Sharp-eyed.

And smiling already.

Dangerous sign.

His gaze swept casually across the reception terrace before landing directly on Gu Beichen.

The smile widened instantly.

“Beichen.”

Ah.

Definitely a problem.

Gu Beichen’s expression flattened immediately beside Tang Hui.

“Su Yan.”

No warmth whatsoever.

Interesting.

Su Yan stepped forward lazily, silver-edged robes shifting beneath the mountain wind while surrounding disciples instinctively made room around him.

His eyes moved between Gu Beichen and the gathered Qingyun disciples thoughtfully.

Then—

stopped on Tang Hui.

Tang Hui felt the exact moment interest appeared.

Professional instincts screamed immediately.

Danger.

Su Yan studied her for approximately two seconds before smiling slowly.

“…Ah.”

Luo Ming physically looked away.

Because apparently even he knew exactly what that tone meant.

Tang Hui herself already regretted existing publicly.

Su Yan stepped closer toward the Qingyun group while speaking casually to Gu Beichen.

“You didn’t mention she was interesting.”

Dead silence.

Absolute devastating silence.

Gu Beichen’s expression cooled instantly.

Meanwhile Tang Hui realized three horrifying things simultaneously:

* Su Yan noticed immediately,
* he absolutely enjoyed provoking reactions,
* and this man possessed the emotional instincts of a natural menace.

Wonderful.

Absolutely wonderful.

Tang Hui folded her arms calmly despite internal suffering.

“Senior Brother Su,” she greeted politely, “welcome to Qingyun Sect.”

Su Yan looked delighted immediately.

Polite response instead of flustered retreat.

Apparently entertaining.

“I’ve heard quite a lot about you,” he said smoothly.

Tang Hui smiled professionally.

“I’m deeply concerned by that statement.”

Several nearby disciples choked on laughter.

Su Yan’s eyes sharpened slightly with genuine amusement now.

Ah.

He liked verbal sparring too.

Danger level increasing rapidly.

Before the conversation could continue further, Gu Beichen stepped slightly closer beside Tang Hui.

Subtle movement.

But unmistakable.

Su Yan noticed instantly.

Of course he did.

The smile on his face became outright dangerous afterward.

Interesting.

No.

Not interesting.

Catastrophic.

Tang Hui suddenly understood with horrifying clarity:

This man was going to spend the entire inter-sect gathering testing boundaries intentionally.

And worse—

he already looked entertained by the situation between her and Gu Beichen.