"No, that's not what I meant," Han Shun denied. "I'm just asking you, what is the requirement until I can live with my Bai Gege again?"

"Ah, that one is simple, kid," Baishe smiled mysteriously. "You will be stuck here with me indefinitely until you obtain your golden core."

"Golden… core?" Han Shun asked. It was the first time he had heard that term. After he swallowed the marble from that mysterious black-golden robe man, he thought he would be very strong.

But it seemed that he was far from that.

"Yes, I know that Master Bai is trying to bring you to the immortal realm, right?"

Han Shun nodded as an answer.

"Well, to do that safely, a human must finish the core formation to obtain their golden core. Or else, there will be a 50% chance that the Forest of Lost Mist will eat you up. That happens many times, and Master Bai probably doesn't want to risk it."

"H—How am I supposed to reach that quickly? I can't stay here for too long!" Han Shun asked. 

"Calm down. I know that you're impatient. But to reach the Golden core, it will take a while… a very long while. So it will take years until you can reach your golden core, if you're lucky enough, of course."

"So suit yourself and start cultivating with me."

'A while?'

Like lightning in a clear sky, Han Shun was shocked when he heard that he would stay here for a long time. He thought this would be a short course, maybe a week or two, but he couldn't handle more than that!

He had been separated from Bai Gege for many years when he was in the military barrack!

"I—I can't wait that long! Do you know how long I have been separated from Bai Gege? I have to fight a War General to return with Bai Gege!" Han Shun yelled, his voice echoed in this huge cave, resonating with his desperation, but Baishe didn't budge. She knew that Han Shun had this strong urge to stay with Master Bai. He would even bind himself with Master Bai if it was possible because he was part of Master Han's soul.

Master Han had a strong fascination and clingy— to the point of obsessive love with Master Bai.

But that was the root of the problem. Han Shun needed to learn self restrain at such early age.

"Tell me a way out! I will train with Bai Gege myself!" Han Shun yelled as he got up from his sitting position. He ran towards the dark tunnel, attempting to escape by breaking the stone door.

"There is no way out, and if you try to threaten me, I will drown you underwater until you can calm down and continue the cultivation," Baishe said.

Baishe grabbed Han Shun's leg using a water tentacle and dragged the teenage boy back to the lake, "This proposal has been accepted by Master Bai. He wants you to train here because it's so dangerous outside."

"But—"

"Master Bai told me that he is being targeted by demonic cultivators. It has always been like that since centuries ago, so I suggest you not be a burden for him and train yourself first."

…

Han Shun stopped struggling when Baishe mentioned the demonic cultivators. 

True, he would rather die than see Bai Gege getting hurt while protecting him. They even had to move out because the previous residence was too dangerous. 

He was basically the burden right now, and Bai Gege was patient enough to train and protect him.

"That's good, now. Return to your previous spot and start cultivating with me. For every progress that I saw, I will give you a chance to ask something about Master Bai, understand?" Baishe said, giving a further incentive for Han Shun to keep cultivating. 

Han Shun nodded obediently. He returned to the previous spot and sat cross-legged. Honestly, it was a lot more effective for him to cultivate with open eyes while staring at Bai Gege unblinkingly.

But since Bai Gege wasn't here, he had to use his imagination by closing his eyes and imagining Bai Gege sitting beside him or hugging him from behind, telling him that everything would be alright, and Bai Gege was very proud of him.

—

'Bai Gege, are you proud of me?' Han Shun asked in his imagination. Bai Gege was hugging him from behind.

'Do I ever say that I'm not proud of you? You're always the best disciple that I have, Han Shun,' Bai Gege in his imagination said. Of course, Han Shun based his imagination on how Bai Gege usually spoke.

This thing wasn't good for his sanity, but it was definitely enough to make him survive without frantically searching for his Bai Gege everywhere. 

—

Baishe watched how the core inside Han Shun's body started regulating when he closed his eyes, she didn't know what was in Han Shun's mind right now, but it seemed to be working for him.

'I just wish that he can be more restrained of himself. Master Han is a terrifying God. I don't want him to go insane again.'

**

Meanwhile, Bai Yunyu was searching for ingredients to help Han Shun cultivate. Since he was in the process of obtaining his golden core, that meant he needed more supplements. 

He was currently walking in the deep forest, searching for a special fruit that would boost Han Shun's stamina and allow him to cultivate faster.

Pupa materialized beside Yunyu to accompany him, and Yunyu asked, "Pupa, do you think my choice is correct? I feel like it's a bit cruel to lock Han Shun with Baishe to cultivate again after I left him in the military barrack before."

"I think it's only fair," Pupa replied. "Baishe's cave is the safest place in this world. There is no demonic cultivator who can enter the cave. Han Shun is still very weak compared to them right now. He needs a lot of training."