The biggest difference between a scumbag and an honest man is using the most suitable method at the most opportune moment!
It is precisely because of this that they can easily capture a woman's heart.
Honest men don't know this, nor have they studied such things. With half the effort and twice the results, the probability of success is naturally very low.
A special upbringing created a special Ye Qingyi.
Ye Qingyi's situation is completely different from that of ordinary women because her upbringing was quite peculiar.
Her parents died when she was young, and she lived a life of poverty with her brother. After meeting Wu Tao, she went from being helpless to becoming the disciple of a renowned Alchemy Grandmaster.
The leap in social class was too rapid, with no buffer in between, which can easily lead to psychological problems.
Furthermore, because of Ye Qingyi's childhood experiences, both Wu Tao and her brother Ye Yu doted on her immensely.
Ordinary men who wish to climb the social ladder would not even have the opportunity to approach her.
At this stage, the men who interacted with Ye Qingyi were, besides Wu Tao, her brother Ye Yu.
Under these circumstances, Ye Qingyi naturally developed a special affection for Wu Tao, an affection that was certainly not that of a master and disciple.
By the time Ye Qingyi had sufficient self-protection abilities and her mind had matured, she naturally encountered more men.
However, at this point, Ye Qingyi was already a cultivator in the Core Formation stage.
Given the absolute disparity in identity, status, and power, lesser individuals naturally wouldn't dare to bother her.
Moreover, at this stage, Ye Qingyi certainly wouldn't look down on men she could crush with a single finger.
But among her peers, the male cultivators who were even more outstanding than Ye Qingyi naturally had no shortage of women. They wouldn't go out of their way to curry favor with someone who wasn't interested.
So-called older single women are mostly too proud and have unrealistic expectations.
Ordinary men, let alone attempt to pursue them, would retreat upon simply hearing them speak.
Ye Qingyi, however, was a woman who was both proud and capable, and quite stubborn.
Such women are usually headstrong and difficult to change!
...
Seeing Wu Tao like this, You Meng pouted and said, "Why are you sighing? What the hell are you sighing about?"
"You're not planning to just drag this out and do nothing, are you...?"
...
Hearing this, Wu Tao let out a bitter laugh and replied, "Then what do you suggest I do...?"
"What should I do to guide my little disciple back onto the right path."
"If you can think of a solution, I'll do whatever you say."
...
Upon hearing Wu Tao's words, You Meng scratched her head and mumbled, "If I had a solution, I would have already done it. Why would I be here talking to you about it?"
Blinking her eyes, You Meng said in a teasing tone, "Wu Tao, why don't you just take your little disciple as your own? Your disciple is quite good-looking and has a good figure too?"
"If you're too embarrassed, I can help you arrange things."
...
"Get lost!"
"Go wherever you want to go, just get out of here."
"I thought you might have a good idea, but it turns out to be such a terrible suggestion!"
"I wouldn't need you to tell me this..."
Wu Tao became instantly annoyed.
The situation was already messy and embarrassing enough, and You Meng, instead of sympathizing, was adding fuel to the fire.
...
"Wu Tao, you're being unreasonable. I'm doing this for your own good!"
"You've trained your disciple well, haven't you? What, not even a little bit tempted?"
"Don't be a dog biting its benefactor, ungrateful for kindness."
For some reason, You Meng was particularly interested in this matter. Even though Wu Tao spoke this way, she wasn't angry and continued to chat with Wu Tao patiently.
Normally, You Meng would have already lost her temper with Wu Tao and disappeared. How could she possibly sit here peacefully?
"I've already thought it all out. I'll help you with your disciple. Women understand women best. Leave it to me."
"If you feel it's awkward to be together as master and disciple, and the influence is bad, I have another method."
"You can first cancel the master-disciple relationship, announce it to the world, and then you can be together. Wouldn't that resolve everything?"
...
Wu Tao knew he couldn't win an argument with this annoying cat, but he hadn't expected You Meng to be so relentless. Her teasing made him tremble with anger.
So, Wu Tao stopped talking, crossed his arms, and completely ignored You Meng.
...
"Tsk, so old, and still throwing a childish tantrum."
"Regardless, I still advise you to resolve this matter sooner rather than later. The longer you drag it out, the more complicated it will become."
"Your approach of cold treatment might work for ordinary women, but your little disciple is no ordinary woman. I advise you to be careful."
Seeing that Wu Tao was truly angry, You Meng stroked her chin, a smile still on her face.
Looking at Wu Tao, who remained silent, You Meng's expression gradually turned serious.
After a long silence, You Meng said in a low, drawn-out voice, "Relationships are inherently difficult to clarify, let alone a situation as unique as yours and Ye Qingyi's."
"You are thinking from a man's perspective, not a woman's."
"What you understand is wrong in my opinion, and your methods are outrageously wrong."
"If you had sternly taught your little disciple from the beginning, establishing a proper master-disciple relationship, this problem wouldn't have arisen."
"Your cold treatment will make her feel that this relationship is possible, and she will still hold onto hope."
"This thread of affection will not only not disappear with time but will instead grow deeper and more suppressed."
"It's like the sand in a riverbed. If it's not managed, the sand will pile higher and higher, the riverbed will rise, until it finally collapses."
These words, spoken in a calm tone, struck Wu Tao like a thunderbolt, stirring up a tempest in his heart.
All along, besides cultivating, he had to handle many, many things. He hadn't actually spent much effort contemplating his little disciple's situation.
After being pointed out by You Meng, Wu Tao finally realized his mistake.
He had made a huge error.
...
As expected, You Meng continued, "You've protected your little disciple too well, and that brat Ye Yu is also unreliable."
"You think that after years of interaction, you've cultivated a master-disciple relationship, but it's not that. It's more akin to a one-sided love."
"During Ye Qingyi's transition from girl to woman, she only encountered Ye Yu and you. Ye Yu is her brother, so where else would her affections be placed if not on you?"
"If there's anyone to blame for all this, neither you nor Ye Yu can escape responsibility."
...
Hearing this, Wu Tao could no longer hold back. He gritted his teeth and retorted, "Everything you've said is just speculation. You're not Ye Qingyi, You Meng, so how can you speak for her?"
You Meng looked at Wu Tao, who was still stubbornly denying, and sighed. She said in a resentful tone, "Men's and women's dreams are actually different. You have your grand dreams, but women have their small dreams too."
"The reason you went to such lengths to build a powerful faction, besides revenge, do you truly have no other ambitions?"
"Your ambition is no less than anyone else's. Pursuing the Great Dao, standing at the pinnacle of the world, looking down upon everything below. This is what you men dream of..."
"But most women's dreams aren't that grand, nor that noble."
"From my perspective, if I can't be with the one I love, what does it matter if the world is destroyed?"
"If one can't even face their own feelings, what's the difference between them and the dead?"
...
Wu Tao let out a long sigh, his face grim, and said, "I originally thought this was a minor issue that didn't need to be bothered with, but I never expected this little girl Ye Qingyi to care so much."
"This truly speaks to the old saying: nothing is predictable, and things rarely go as planned."
After You Meng's words, Wu Tao finally understood the severity of his mistake.
Excessive indulgence and excessive control were the root causes of the current situation.
If love were a subject, it should be called metaphysics.
Metaphysics, born of fate, moved by people!
No one can truly predict love!
...
Wu Tao didn't know how deep his little disciple Ye Qingyi's affection for him was, but he knew in his heart that he felt nothing special for his little disciple Ye Qingyi!
If anything, Wu Tao wasn't exactly a saint who would push away beautiful women sent his way.
However, Wu Tao didn't desire every woman. He might be lustful, but he still had his boundaries.
How could he develop the special feelings between a man and a woman for Ye Qingyi, whom he had raised like a daughter since childhood?
His own little disciple, Ye Qingyi, had perhaps truly been spoiled by him.
She didn't understand that true love is a reciprocal thing, while liking someone is one-sided.
At this moment, Wu Tao deeply felt the malice of the world. Even at his current status, there were things beyond his control.
Now, even mending the fence would be too late.