Chapter 60 The Pavilion Becomes Home

Tang Hui discovered Luo Ming had been correct.

A deeply unfortunate experience.

By sunrise, the entire sect knew.

Not most of the sect.

Not the outer sect.

The entire sect.

Tang Hui realized this approximately three minutes after leaving her residence.

The first disciple she encountered bowed respectfully.

Then smiled.

Then said:

“Congratulations, Senior Sister Tang.”

Tang Hui froze.

“…For what?”

The disciple looked confused.

Then even more amused.

“Everything.”

And ran away.

Coward.

Absolute coward.

The second disciple handed her a small gift box before fleeing.

The third simply gave her a thumbs-up.

Tang Hui did not know what a thumbs-up was supposed to mean in cultivation culture, but she disliked it immediately.

By the time she reached the Matchmaking Pavilion, she had received:

* six congratulations,
* three baskets of pastries,
* two flower arrangements,
* and one extremely suspicious letter titled *”Relationship Success Statistics.”*

The culprit was obviously Luo Ming.

Tang Hui planned revenge.

The pavilion itself looked lively already.

Disciples moved in and out carrying supplies while several elders stood in the courtyard speaking with sect craftsmen.

Tang Hui slowed.

Something felt different.

The front courtyard had been cleaned.

Fresh lanterns hung from the beams.

The damaged stone path near the entrance had been repaired.

Even the crooked wooden sign she’d originally painted years ago had been carefully restored.

The sight stopped her unexpectedly.

For a moment, she simply stood there.

Looking.

Remembering.

The crooked stall.

The first consultation.

Wu Liang.

Five spirit stones.

The days when nobody took her seriously.

Funny.

It felt both distant and very close.

“You’re staring.”

Tang Hui turned.

Gu Beichen stood beside her.

The fact that seeing him now made her smile automatically remained deeply embarrassing.

She blamed him entirely.

“I’m remembering.”

His gaze followed hers toward the pavilion.

“The first day?”

“The first disaster.”

A faint smile appeared.

“Accurate.”

Together they walked into the courtyard.

Immediately regrettable.

Because everyone inside noticed.

Instantly.

The silence lasted approximately one second.

Then chaos erupted.

Lin Qingyue looked delighted.

Qin Yue looked unsurprised.

Luo Ming looked as though he had achieved enlightenment.

Tang Hui pointed at him immediately.

“This is your fault.”

“Most things are.”

The shameless agreement made retaliation difficult.

Before Tang Hui could continue the argument, a familiar voice interrupted.

“Good. Everyone is here.”

Elder Shen entered the courtyard.

Several disciples straightened immediately.

The atmosphere shifted.

Not tense.

Important.

Tang Hui became suspicious instantly.

The elder’s gaze swept across the pavilion.

The courtyard.

The gathered disciples.

Then finally settled on Tang Hui.

“The sect council completed its review last night.”

Ah.

Administration.

Dangerous.

Tang Hui folded her arms.

“…And?”

“The Matchmaking Pavilion has been formally approved as a permanent institution of Qingyun Sect.”

Silence.

For a heartbeat, nobody reacted.

Then the courtyard exploded.

Cheers.

Applause.

Celebration.

Someone actually cried.

Tang Hui wasn’t entirely sure who.

The noise washed around her.

Yet somehow it felt distant.

Permanent.

The words echoed quietly inside her chest.

Permanent.

Not temporary.

Not borrowed.

Not waiting to disappear.

Permanent.

The failed outer disciple who couldn’t advance her cultivation had built something that would remain even after she was gone.

The realization hit harder than expected.

Elder Shen wasn’t finished.

The elder raised a hand.

The courtyard gradually quieted.

“There is one additional matter.”

Tang Hui immediately distrusted that sentence.

The elder smiled faintly.

Dangerous.

“Effective immediately, Tang Hui will serve as the official Pavilion Master of Qingyun Sect’s Matchmaking Pavilion.”

The courtyard erupted again.

Even louder.

Tang Hui simply stared.

Pavilion Master?

Pavilion Master?

She opened her mouth.

Closed it.

Opened it again.

“…Me?”

Luo Ming looked delighted.

“Who else?”

“Someone qualified!”

The courtyard laughed.

Elder Shen shook his head.

“There is no one more qualified.”

The answer arrived so simply that Tang Hui couldn’t argue.

Not immediately.

Which was unfortunate.

For a long moment, she stood there surrounded by people.

Friends.

Disciples.

Visitors.

The family she’d accidentally built.

Then she looked toward the pavilion.

The old sign hung above the entrance.

The same ridiculous sign.

The same absurd dream.

The same place that changed everything.

Suddenly, Tang Hui laughed.

Softly at first.

Then genuinely.

Because the entire situation remained ridiculous.

She had failed at cultivation.

Completely.

Spectacularly.

Yet somehow—

that failure led her here.

To this courtyard.

To these people.

To this life.

Funny.

Very funny.

The laughter faded gradually.

Warmth remained.

Then Elder Shen stepped aside.

“Go on.”

Tang Hui blinked.

“Go where?”

The elder pointed toward the pavilion entrance.

Toward the sign.

Toward the building.

Toward her future.

For a moment, nobody spoke.

Then the disciples began clapping again.

Not loudly.

Not dramatically.

Just enough.

Tang Hui felt her throat tighten unexpectedly.

Dangerous.

Very dangerous.

So instead of speaking, she simply walked forward.

Past the courtyard.

Past the lanterns.

Past the people.

Until she stood beneath the sign she’d painted with her own hands.

The wood was old now.

Weathered.

Loved.

Home.

Behind her, the pavilion buzzed with life.

Ahead of her, the future waited.

And for the first time in a very long while—

Tang Hui wasn’t worried about what came next.

Because whatever happened…

She knew where she belonged.

And sometimes—

that was enough.