1
Yuan Tingxiu accidentally glimpsed the secrets of fate.
It turned out he was in a novel called Everyone Cultivates Immortality, and his chance to advance lay among the mortals without spiritual roots.
Yuan Tingxiu took them in as disciples and carefully taught them.
He had always been the center of everyone's attention.
He was used to his little disciples praising and adoring him.
But one day...
When one particular little disciple didn't show him any affection, his heart suddenly felt empty.
Yuan Tingxiu tried to respond, but his efforts sank like a stone into the sea.
Only after putting on the [Fellow Disciple] secret identity did he see what was going on:
The little disciple, who he'd imagined to be calm and aloof, was excitedly running all over the room.
"Master noticed me! He really noticed me!"
"All that work making sure he couldn't ignore me, then pulling away at the perfect moment, paid off! Keeping him guessing is driving him crazy! Aah!"
Yuan Tingxiu: ? I've been played.
The triumphant little disciple patted his secret identity. "Hey, buddy, you want to get Master's attention too, right? Want me to teach you?"
2
Even after learning the tricks, Yuan Tingxiu still wasn't sure what to think.
Secret identity: "Master invited you to the back mountain to practice. Aren't you going?"
Little disciple: "Master wants to help me practice? That means he wants to seduce me! If I don't turn him down at least once, how will he know how precious I am? How will he value me?"
Secret identity: "Master kept the fellow disciple who's best at cultivation behind until nightfall. What do you think?"
The little disciple slowly drew his sword and said solemnly, "Looks like all those fancy schemes can't compare to strength after all..."
3
The little disciple who was making rapid progress uncovered Yuan Tingxiu's secret identity, and naturally shed his own as well.
It turned out he was a major figure in the cultivation world, here to undergo tribulation.
Yuan Tingxiu rubbed the tip of his nose, embarrassed, and retreated to his room to cultivate.
Later, when he was accused of stealing someone's spiritual roots, the powerful figure appeared again.
After dealing with the trouble in grand style, the powerful figure wore a frosty expression and asked, anxious yet haughty:
"Why didn't you come when I invited you last time?"
Yuan Tingxiu: Maybe I graduated... or something?
Moral: Less scheming, more sincerity.