Chapter 9 Tang Hui Plans a Romantic Strategy

Tang Hui quickly realized something important.

If left unsupervised, Gu Beichen would absolutely destroy all progress they had made.

Possibly within minutes.

The surrounding disciples clearly understood this as well.

One girl from the crowd immediately raised her hand seriously. “Senior Brother Gu cannot choose the gift himself.”

Everyone nodded in agreement.

Another disciple looked deeply traumatized. “The rabbit lantern was already emotionally shocking enough.”

Tang Hui rubbed her forehead tiredly.

Honestly, she had started this business to avoid cultivation-related stress.

Yet somehow she now spent her days preventing sword geniuses from accidentally sabotaging their own love lives.

Life was unfair.

Gu Beichen himself looked faintly puzzled by everyone’s reaction. “The lantern choice was inappropriate?”

Tang Hui stared at him.

“No,” she said honestly. “That was actually one of your better decisions.”

The surrounding crowd fell silent.

Several disciples looked horrified.

One whispered, “That means his usual decisions are even worse…”

Tang Hui did not deny it.

Gu Beichen remained thoughtfully silent for a moment before asking again, “Then what should I give her?”

Tang Hui leaned back in her chair and studied him carefully.

This required strategy.

Lin Qingyue clearly already liked him.

Gu Beichen also genuinely cared for her.

The core issue was not emotion.

The core issue was that these two people communicated like spiritually injured pigeons.

One became nervous and fled whenever emotionally overwhelmed.

The other accidentally insulted people while attempting sincerity.

A disastrous combination.

Tang Hui suddenly felt very tired.

Old Chen glanced over from beside the artifact stall. “You look like you’re planning a sect war.”

“This is harder,” Tang Hui muttered.

Several nearby disciples immediately agreed.

After thinking for a while, Tang Hui finally spoke.

“Senior Brother.”

“Yes?”

“Before choosing a gift, we need to understand something important.”

Gu Beichen waited calmly.

Tang Hui pointed directly at him. “What exactly are your intentions?”

The surrounding disciples instantly became quiet again.

Even Gu Beichen seemed slightly surprised by the question.

Tang Hui continued seriously, “Do you simply admire Senior Sister Lin? Or are you genuinely pursuing a long-term relationship?”

Several disciples nearly choked.

One whispered frantically, “Junior Sister Tang really dares to ask anything.”

Tang Hui ignored them.

This was important.

Professional matchmaking required understanding emotional commitment.

Gu Beichen remained silent for several moments.

Then he answered simply:

“I wish to marry her.”

The marketplace exploded.

Someone dropped an entire basket of spirit peaches.

A talisman disciple inhaled tea again.

Even Old Chen looked momentarily stunned.

Tang Hui herself blinked several times.

Wait.

Marriage?

Not courtship?

Not “seeing where things go”?

This man skipped directly to lifelong commitment?

Tang Hui stared at Gu Beichen with new suspicion.

“…Senior Brother.”

“Yes?”

“How long have you liked her?”

“Three months.”

“And you already decided on marriage?”

Gu Beichen frowned slightly as though confused by her confusion. “Is that unusual?”

The entire crowd collectively looked emotionally damaged.

Tang Hui slowly realized something horrifying.

Gu Beichen was not emotionally distant because he lacked feelings.

He was emotionally distant because he experienced feelings with the intensity of a collapsing mountain and simply never spoke about them.

This was somehow more dangerous.

Very dangerous.

One nearby female disciple covered her face. “Why is this unexpectedly sincere?”

Another looked deeply emotional already. “Senior Brother Gu is terrifyingly serious.”

Tang Hui rubbed her forehead again.

Honestly, she was beginning to understand why Lin Qingyue became flustered around him.

A face like that combined with complete emotional sincerity was genuinely difficult to survive.

Still—

business first.

Tang Hui straightened slightly. “Alright. Since your intentions are serious, the apology gift also needs sincerity.”

Gu Beichen nodded once.

“No expensive treasures.”

Another nod.

“No giant spirit beasts.”

“…I was not considering spirit beasts.”

Tang Hui looked deeply unconvinced.

“Most importantly,” she continued, “the gift must show thoughtfulness.”

The surrounding disciples listened carefully as though attending an important lecture.

Tang Hui suddenly felt strangely professional.

After several moments of thought, she snapped her fingers lightly.

“I know.”

Gu Beichen looked at her immediately.

Tang Hui smiled slowly.

“Cook for her.”

Silence.

Complete silence.

Gu Beichen stared at her.

The surrounding disciples also stared at her.

Then chaos erupted.

“COOK?”

“Senior Brother Gu cooking sounds more dangerous than sword combat!”

“Can he even enter a kitchen safely?!”

Tang Hui ignored them all calmly.

Actually, the idea was excellent.

Lin Qingyue spent most of her time caring for others.

Someone sincerely preparing food for her would feel meaningful.

Also—

cultivators almost never cooked personally.

Which made the gesture feel more genuine.

Gu Beichen frowned slightly. “I have never cooked before.”

Tang Hui waved dismissively. “That’s fine.”

Several disciples immediately protested.

“That is absolutely not fine!”

“People could die!”

Old Chen coughed loudly into his sleeve.

Tang Hui pointed firmly at Gu Beichen. “You’re learning.”

The sword cultivator fell silent again.

Then, surprisingly—

“…Alright.”

The surrounding disciples looked spiritually shaken.

Apparently nobody expected the famous Gu Beichen to obediently accept romantic instruction from Tang Hui this seriously.

Tang Hui herself felt slightly surprised.

Honestly, Gu Beichen was a remarkably good client.

Hopeless.

Emotionally catastrophic.

But cooperative.

That alone already placed him above most cultivators.

Tang Hui leaned forward slightly. “Good. Tomorrow morning, meet me before the market opens.”

Gu Beichen nodded once. “Understood.”

Tang Hui relaxed slightly.

Excellent.

Everything was proceeding smoothly.

Then Gu Beichen suddenly asked:

“…What exactly does cooking involve?”

Tang Hui froze.

The surrounding crowd froze.

A horrifying silence spread through the marketplace.

Slowly—

very slowly—

Tang Hui turned toward him.

“…Senior Brother.”

“Yes?”

“You’ve never cooked anything before?”

Gu Beichen calmly answered, “Sword cultivators do not typically prepare meals.”

Tang Hui stared at him in disbelief.

No.

Actually unbelievable.

Even Old Chen looked emotionally exhausted now.

One disciple whispered weakly, “How did he survive this long?”

Another answered immediately, “Inner sect dining halls.”

Fair.

Tang Hui covered her face briefly.

Right.

Of course.

Naturally the frighteningly talented sword genius lacked basic life skills.

Why wouldn’t he?

The heavens clearly believed suffering built character.