Yang Zhen was somewhat innocent. The cunning Cloud Master was indeed saying that, but she also said some other things. For instance... she knew Yang Zhen possessed many valuable items, and she found out from the Hua Family, for instance... The Flower Moon Pavilion had two great alchemists, who might be able to help Yang Zhen.
As for how the Cloud Master would thank Yang Zhen if he won the Dan Rewarding Conference, she didn't mention it. All she said was, "You'll know when the time comes."
This woman, she knew how to get a grip on people's hearts just right, always scratching at the most curious part, making them itch inside.
After hearing what Cloud Master said, the reason Yang Zhen changed color was because he understood that the whispered conversation between the Cloud Master and him had essentially tied Yang Zhen to the interests of Flower Moon Pavilion.
