Chapter 52 Tang Hui Learns That Permanence Is Terrifying

The cheering lasted far too long.

Tang Hui stood in the center of the pavilion while disciples from multiple sects celebrated the announcement as though they personally owned shares in the Matchmaking Pavilion.

Which, honestly, some of them behaved as if they did.

“The pavilion is permanent!”

“We should host annual gatherings!”

“Expand the consultation gardens!”

“Add a second building!”

Tang Hui listened to the increasingly ambitious proposals with growing alarm.

“A second building?” she repeated.

One disciple nodded enthusiastically.

“We’re thinking ahead.”

“You absolutely should not be.”

The disciple looked unconvinced.

The atmosphere inside the pavilion remained bright long after Elder Shen’s announcement. Disciples from various sects lingered around the tables discussing future plans while several visiting cultivators openly asked about establishing similar programs in their own sects.

Tang Hui felt increasingly like she’d accidentally started a movement.

A deeply unfortunate movement.

Elder Shen, meanwhile, seemed entirely pleased with the situation.

The elder observed the bustling pavilion quietly before looking toward Tang Hui again.

“You don’t appear happy.”

Tang Hui immediately pointed at the crowd.

“They’re planning infrastructure.”

“A natural consequence of success.”

“I preferred when success meant paying for lunch.”

Several disciples laughed.

Elder Shen merely smiled.

Which somehow felt more dangerous.

The elder’s gaze drifted across the pavilion slowly.

“The younger generation needs places like this.”

The words settled into the room more quietly than the earlier celebration.

Several disciples stopped talking.

Even Tang Hui herself looked toward the surrounding tables instinctively.

People were smiling.

Talking.

Relaxing.

A Northern Sword Sect disciple currently played chess with a Qingyun Sect disciple near the window.

Two rival sword cultivators discussed training techniques without threatening violence.

A group of younger disciples laughed around one of the tea tables.

Comfortable.

Natural.

The sort of atmosphere Tang Hui never remembered existing during her first years inside Qingyun Sect.

Ah.

Dangerous realization.

Again.

Before Tang Hui could become emotional accidentally, Elder Shen spoke once more.

“The pavilion helped people belong.”

Then he left.

Just like that.

Leaving behind devastating statements and administrative consequences.

Cruel.

Very cruel.

The pavilion slowly returned to normal afterward.

Or at least as normal as possible with visiting sects everywhere.

Tang Hui spent the next hour handling consultations and social coordination requests while actively avoiding deeper thoughts.

This strategy worked beautifully.

Until it didn’t.

Specifically—

until she found herself alone briefly in the rear courtyard.

The small garden area behind the pavilion remained quieter than the main consultation hall. Afternoon sunlight filtered through flowering spirit trees while a gentle breeze carried distant laughter from the front courtyard.

Peaceful.

Too peaceful.

Tang Hui sat beneath one of the trees while reviewing event schedules.

Or pretending to review them.

Because her thoughts kept returning to the same thing.

Permanent.

The Matchmaking Pavilion had become permanent.

Not a temporary business.

Not a survival strategy.

Not a distraction from failed cultivation.

Permanent.

The realization should have felt reassuring.

Instead, it felt strangely overwhelming.

Because if the pavilion truly belonged here…

Then maybe Tang Hui belonged here too.

The thought remained difficult to accept fully.

Five years of feeling temporary created stubborn habits.

“You look troubled.”

Tang Hui didn’t need to look up.

“Why does everyone keep saying that?”

Gu Beichen sat beside her beneath the flowering tree.

Comfortable distance.

Familiar presence.

The sort she no longer questioned automatically.

Dangerous.

Very dangerous.

Tang Hui sighed softly.

“I’m thinking.”

“A dangerous activity.”

She laughed despite herself.

“You’re spending too much time around me.”

“Probably.”

The easy agreement startled another smile out of her.

Ah.

This was becoming a problem.

For a few moments, neither spoke.

The courtyard remained quiet around them.

Then Tang Hui looked toward the pavilion roof visible above the trees.

“Did you know,” she said slowly, “when I opened that stall, I expected it to fail within a month?”

Gu Beichen glanced toward her.

“I know.”

“I was already planning backup jobs.”

“Also know.”

Tang Hui narrowed her eyes.

“How?”

“You told everyone.”

Fair.

Unfortunately fair.

Tang Hui leaned back against the tree trunk.

“I never expected any of this.”

The words came more honestly than intended.

“The pavilion. The recognition. People actually caring whether it succeeds.”

She paused briefly.

Then added more quietly:

“I didn’t expect to care this much either.”

The courtyard grew still.

Not awkward.

Just attentive.

Gu Beichen listened the way he always did.

Fully.

Without interruption.

Without rushing.

Tang Hui suddenly understood why people felt comfortable talking to him now.

Months ago she never would have imagined that.

Funny.

The thought lingered briefly before fading again.

Then Gu Beichen spoke.

“You built it.”

Simple words.

Simple truth.

Tang Hui looked down at the event schedules resting in her lap.

Maybe.

But it never felt like hers alone anymore.

Not completely.

The disciples.
The consultations.
The friendships.

The people who kept returning.

They built something too.

The realization warmed her chest unexpectedly.

Before she could respond, footsteps approached the courtyard.

Several footsteps.

Ah.

Trouble.

Tang Hui recognized the energy immediately.

Sure enough, Luo Ming appeared moments later accompanied by Qin Yue and—

unfortunately—

Su Yan.

The menace himself.

Tang Hui immediately distrusted the smile on his face.

“You found them,” Luo Ming said.

“Found who?” Tang Hui asked cautiously.

“You.”

Bad beginning.

Very bad beginning.

Qin Yue looked faintly apologetic.

Which never happened without reason.

Tang Hui became increasingly concerned.

Su Yan folded his arms.

“The visiting elders made a request.”

Ah.

Administrative suffering again.

Naturally.

Tang Hui closed her eyes briefly.

“What request?”

The three visitors exchanged glances.

Never a good sign.

Then Luo Ming answered.

“They want a public matchmaking demonstration.”

Dead silence.

Tang Hui opened her eyes slowly.

“…A what?”

“A demonstration.”

“No.”

“A live one.”

“Absolutely not.”

Su Yan looked entertained.

“The elders believe it would be educational.”

Tang Hui stood immediately.

“It would be humiliating.”

“Also true,” Luo Ming admitted.

Betrayal.

Everywhere betrayal.

Qin Yue finally stepped forward.

“It’s only a proposal.”

Tang Hui pointed at her.

“The fact that you’re defending it means the situation is already serious.”

Qin Yue did not deny this.

Which was worse.

Much worse.

Tang Hui looked between all of them slowly.

Then toward the pavilion visible beyond the courtyard trees.

Then back again.

A horrible feeling settled in her stomach.

Because if visiting elders wanted a matchmaking demonstration…

And if Su Yan looked this entertained…

And if Luo Ming couldn’t stop smiling…

Then there was only one possible outcome.

Somehow.

Some way.

The universe was preparing to turn Tang Hui’s own profession against her.

And judging by Su Yan’s expression—

he had already figured that out too.