Chapter 5 Tang Hui Takes the Case Personally

Tang Hui spent a very long time staring silently at Gu Beichen.

Not because she was shocked anymore.

That phase had already passed.

No, she was now calmly reconsidering whether matchmaking cultivators should actually require life insurance.

“You criticized her bandaging technique,” Tang Hui repeated slowly, as though confirming a deeply tragic reality.

Gu Beichen nodded once. “Correct.”

“And then?”

“I left.”

Tang Hui closed her eyes.

Around them, the entire outer market had fallen into a strange silence filled with collective disappointment.

Even Old Chen looked emotionally exhausted.

One disciple muttered under his breath, “No wonder she avoids him.”

Another sighed heavily. “Senior Brother Gu really cultivated the sword instead of social skills.”

Tang Hui rubbed her forehead again.

Honestly, she was beginning to feel a little angry on behalf of the poor medicine hall girl.

Someone treats your injuries, probably spends hours healing you, and your response is:

Your bandages lack technique.

Amazing.

Absolutely incredible.

Tang Hui slowly opened her eyes and looked at Gu Beichen with newfound seriousness.

“Senior Brother.”

“Yes?”

“Do you actually want this woman to like you?”

Gu Beichen frowned slightly at the question. “Of course.”

“Then from this moment onward, you are forbidden from speaking without supervision.”

The surrounding disciples exploded with laughter.

Even Old Chen coughed violently while trying not to laugh too loudly.

Gu Beichen himself looked faintly puzzled. “I do not believe my communication is problematic.”

Tang Hui stared at him.

Then stared harder.

“Senior Brother,” she said carefully, “you emotionally wounded the woman you liked immediately after recovering from life-threatening injuries.”

“That was not my intention.”

“I know,” Tang Hui replied. “Which somehow makes it worse.”

The sword cultivator finally fell silent.

For the first time since meeting him, he actually looked uncertain.

Tang Hui sighed internally.

This man was genuinely hopeless.

Unfortunately, he was also currently her wealthiest customer.

Professionalism mattered.

“Alright,” she said at last, crossing her arms. “First, we need to fix the misunderstanding.”

“How?”

“You apologize.”

Gu Beichen frowned immediately. “For speaking honestly?”

Tang Hui nearly lost control of her expression.

“No, for acting like an emotionally constipated sword manual wearing human skin.”

The nearby disciples physically recoiled.

Someone whispered, “Junior Sister Tang truly fears nothing.”

Gu Beichen remained strangely calm despite being insulted directly to his face.

Instead, he seemed to be considering her words seriously.

“…Women dislike honesty?”

Tang Hui almost laughed from disbelief.

“No. Women dislike being criticized immediately after helping someone.”

“I was offering constructive feedback.”

Tang Hui pointed directly at him. “That sentence alone explains why you’re suffering.”

Several female disciples nearby nodded so aggressively that Tang Hui briefly worried for their necks.

Gu Beichen finally sighed softly.

It was a small sound.

But considering his personality, it practically counted as emotional collapse.

“…What should I do?”

Tang Hui leaned back in satisfaction.

Finally.

Progress.

“First,” she said professionally, “you apologize properly.”

“I understand.”

“Second, you stop talking about bandaging techniques forever.”

Gu Beichen nodded once.

“Third…” Tang Hui paused thoughtfully before narrowing her eyes. “Actually, there’s something important we still don’t know.”

Gu Beichen looked at her calmly.

Tang Hui tapped the table lightly. “What’s her name?”

The entire crowd instantly leaned closer.

Finally.

The important information.

Gu Beichen was silent briefly before answering.

“Lin Qingyue.”

The moment the name left his mouth, several disciples gasped.

Tang Hui blinked.

Wait.

Lin Qingyue?

The medicine hall’s most popular disciple?

Beautiful.

Gentle.

Talented.

Famous for her calm temperament.

Tang Hui slowly looked back at Gu Beichen with deep suspicion.

“…Senior Brother.”

“Yes?”

“Half the sect likes Lin Qingyue.”

“I am aware.”

“You still managed to offend her within a single conversation.”

Gu Beichen remained silent.

Honestly impressive.

Tang Hui had underestimated him.

Old Chen suddenly clicked his tongue. “That girl really is kind-hearted.”

Tang Hui looked over curiously. “You know her?”

“Of course.” Old Chen nodded while organizing spirit artifacts. “She helped treat my grandson last winter without charging anything.”

Several nearby disciples immediately agreed.

“Senior Sister Lin is famous for helping outer disciples.”

“She always explains medicine clearly.”

“I heard she once stayed awake for three days treating injured disciples after a beast tide.”

Tang Hui listened quietly.

The more she heard, the more confused she became.

Someone like that avoiding Gu Beichen entirely…

The misunderstanding must be far worse than expected.

Tang Hui narrowed her eyes thoughtfully.

Actually…

there was another possibility.

A dangerous possibility.

She slowly turned toward Gu Beichen again.

“Senior Brother.”

“Yes?”

“When she avoids you now…”

Gu Beichen waited calmly.

“…Does she look frightened?”

He thought for a moment before answering. “No.”

Tang Hui immediately sat straighter.

Interesting.

“Embarrassed?”

Another pause.

“…Perhaps.”

Tang Hui’s eyes slowly widened.

Oh.

OH.

Now this was different.

Very different.

A girl like Lin Qingyue would not avoid someone purely because of one rude comment.

Not unless—

Tang Hui suddenly looked at Gu Beichen differently.

“Senior Brother,” she said carefully, “are you certain she dislikes you?”

Gu Beichen frowned slightly. “She avoids eye contact and leaves quickly whenever I approach.”

“That does not necessarily mean dislike.”

The surrounding disciples immediately became excited again.

Tang Hui leaned forward slightly.

“Think carefully. Before the bandaging incident, how did she treat you?”

Gu Beichen fell silent for several moments.

Then, unexpectedly, he answered in a quieter voice.

“She smiled often.”

The market became strangely still.

Tang Hui rested her chin against her hand thoughtfully.

“And afterward?”

“She stopped.”

Ah.

Tang Hui finally understood the situation clearly.

This was not hatred.

This was embarrassment.

Possibly emotional confusion.

Possibly mutual suffering caused by two people with terrible communication skills.

Honestly, Gu Beichen was lucky Lin Qingyue had a good personality.

Another woman might have stabbed him already.

Tang Hui suddenly stood up.

Gu Beichen looked at her. “Where are you going?”

Tang Hui dusted off her sleeves calmly. “To the medicine hall.”

The surrounding crowd immediately exploded.

“You’re going to see Senior Sister Lin personally?!”

“Can matchmaking really involve this much effort?”

“This is becoming more exciting than sect tournaments!”

Tang Hui ignored them all.

Professional matchmakers adapted to customer needs.

And this particular customer clearly required emergency intervention.

She looked directly at Gu Beichen.

“Senior Brother.”

“Yes?”

“Do not speak to Lin Qingyue again until I return.”

Gu Beichen frowned slightly. “Why?”

Tang Hui answered honestly.

“Because I’m afraid you’ll somehow make the situation worse.”

For the first time since meeting him, Gu Beichen actually looked mildly offended.