Chapter 3 The Sword Genius Returns

Tang Hui did not sleep well that night.

Not because of cultivation.

Cultivation had never affected her sleep quality before.

No, the real problem was the twenty high-grade spirit stones currently hidden beneath her pillow.

Every few moments, Tang Hui would open her eyes, reach under the pillow to touch the spirit pouch, confirm it still existed, then lie back down again with a complicated expression.

Twenty high-grade spirit stones.

That was enough money to support an outer disciple for months.

Enough to buy medicinal pills.

Enough to rent a better courtyard.

Enough to eat spirit beast meat regularly instead of suspicious dining hall soup.

Tang Hui hugged the pillow tighter.

Matchmaking truly was the greatest Dao.

The next morning, she arrived at the outer sect market earlier than usual.

Unfortunately, news traveled terrifyingly fast inside cultivation sects.

Especially embarrassing news.

Tang Hui had barely finished setting up her stall when several disciples immediately rushed toward her.

“Junior Sister Tang!”

“Is it true Senior Brother Gu came for matchmaking advice yesterday?”

“Who does he like?”

“Did he really pay twenty high-grade spirit stones?”

Tang Hui nearly choked on her tea.

How had the amount spread already?

Were cultivators cultivating or gossiping all day?

She maintained a calm expression despite the growing crowd surrounding her stall. “Customer privacy is extremely important.”

The disciples looked deeply disappointed.

One female disciple leaned forward suspiciously. “Then at least tell us if the woman is from the inner sect.”

Tang Hui sipped her tea with profound dignity.

“No comment.”

That somehow made the crowd even more excited.

By midday, the entire outer market seemed to know that Gu Beichen had personally visited the matchmaking stall.

Tang Hui’s business instantly exploded.

Disciples who previously mocked her now lined up seriously for consultations.

After all, if even the famous sword genius sought her advice, then perhaps she truly possessed some mysterious talent.

Tang Hui naturally had no intention of correcting this misunderstanding.

“Senior Sister Tang,” a nervous disciple whispered while sitting across from her stall, “what does it mean if a girl keeps hitting me every time we speak?”

Tang Hui looked at the bruise on his face.

Then at the hopeful expression in his eyes.

Then back at the bruise.

“…How hard?”

The disciple thought carefully. “Last time I coughed blood.”

Tang Hui stared at him for several long moments.

“That is not flirting.”

The surrounding disciples burst into laughter.

The young man looked devastated. “Are you certain?”

“She might genuinely be trying to kill you.”

“…Oh.”

Tang Hui extended her hand calmly. “Two spirit stones.”

The disciple looked horrified. “You still charged me?”

“Near-death emotional clarity costs extra.”

Old Chen watched the scene from beside her stall with increasing disbelief.

“You’re becoming more shameless every day.”

Tang Hui happily pocketed the spirit stones. “And yet business continues improving.”

Old Chen muttered something about moral decline before returning to polishing artifacts.

Around noon, Tang Hui finally found a brief moment of peace.

She leaned lazily against her chair while counting earnings for the day.

Thirty-two low-grade spirit stones.

Six mid-grade.

And one disciple had paid her with spirit fruit because he forgot to bring money.

Honestly, her future looked increasingly bright.

Then a familiar shadow fell across her table.

Tang Hui slowly looked up.

And immediately sat straighter.

Gu Beichen stood before the stall once again.

The noisy marketplace around them instantly quieted.

Tang Hui could practically feel nearby disciples pretending not to stare.

“…Senior Brother Gu.”

Gu Beichen nodded once.

Today, he wore the same black robes and carried the same silver sword at his waist, but something felt slightly different.

Tang Hui narrowed her eyes thoughtfully.

Then realization struck.

He looked… less terrifying.

Not by much.

But enough to notice.

Most importantly—

he was carrying a paper lantern.

A rabbit-shaped paper lantern.

Pink.

Tang Hui nearly lost control of her expression.

Gu Beichen had actually listened.

The mighty inner sect sword genius currently stood in the middle of the outer market holding a cute rabbit lantern with the same serious expression he probably used while fighting enemies.

The contrast was emotionally overwhelming.

Several nearby disciples already looked seconds away from collapse.

Tang Hui coughed lightly to regain composure. “Senior Brother… why are you carrying that?”

Gu Beichen glanced calmly at the lantern. “You said women appreciate thoughtful gestures.”

Tang Hui suddenly understood why the girl kept running into pillars.

“Did you give it to her already?”

“No.”

“…Why not?”

Gu Beichen was silent briefly before answering honestly, “I do not know how.”

Tang Hui stared at him.

For the first time since meeting him, genuine disbelief appeared on her face.

“You don’t know how to hand someone a lantern?”

The surrounding disciples also stared at Gu Beichen in shock.

The famous sword genius remained completely calm beneath everyone’s horrified gazes.

“I have never done this before,” he said.

That explanation somehow made the situation even worse.

Tang Hui rubbed her forehead.

Cultivators truly dedicated their entire lives to training while completely neglecting basic social function.

“Senior Brother,” she said carefully, “you just walk up to her and give it to her.”

Gu Beichen frowned slightly. “That simple?”

“Yes.”

“And then?”

Tang Hui blinked. “Then… she accepts it?”

“And if she refuses?”

Tang Hui paused thoughtfully.

Actually, considering Gu Beichen’s natural intimidation, refusal felt entirely possible.

“She probably won’t,” Tang Hui said eventually.

“You sound uncertain.”

“I’m choosing optimism.”

Several disciples nearby snorted with laughter.

Gu Beichen lowered his gaze slightly toward the lantern in his hand. For a moment, he actually looked troubled.

It was an unexpectedly human expression.

Tang Hui suddenly felt a strange sense of responsibility.

After all, this was now technically her client.

And rich clients deserved proper customer service.

She sighed before standing from her chair.

“Forget it,” she muttered.

Gu Beichen looked at her. “Forget what?”

“I’m helping you personally.”

The entire market instantly erupted into chaos.

“You’re helping Senior Brother Gu court someone personally?!”

“What kind of treatment is this?!”

“Can matchmaking even be done like this?!”

Tang Hui ignored all of them.

She pointed directly at Gu Beichen’s lantern. “First, stop holding it like a weapon.”

Gu Beichen looked down at the lantern thoughtfully.

“…I am holding it incorrectly?”

“Yes.”

“You’re gripping it like you’re about to interrogate someone.”

Several disciples immediately nodded.

Tang Hui stepped around the table and adjusted the way he held the lantern.

“Relax your hand slightly,” she instructed. “You’re giving a gift, not issuing a sect challenge.”

Gu Beichen silently followed her instructions.

The effect was immediate.

He still looked intimidating.

But now he looked slightly less likely to slaughter an entire bloodline.

Tang Hui nodded in satisfaction. “Better.”

The surrounding disciples watched the scene with expressions of deep spiritual confusion.

No one had ever imagined seeing the cold and untouchable Gu Beichen obediently receiving romantic instruction in the middle of the outer sect market.

Tang Hui crossed her arms professionally. “Next issue. Your expression.”

“My expression?”

“You always look like you’re preparing to ascend through murder.”

“…I see.”

“You need to appear gentler.”

Gu Beichen fell silent again.

Then, after several moments, he attempted what was presumably meant to be a softer expression.

Tang Hui nearly stepped back in fear.

“That somehow made things worse.”

Several disciples physically covered their faces.

One female disciple whispered shakily, “It feels like he’s smiling before killing someone.”

Gu Beichen’s expression instantly returned to normal.

Tang Hui sighed deeply.

This was going to be much harder than she thought.