"I—I swear I didn't press my boot!"

"Han Shun, you're a cultivator! You've obtained your golden core! You're no longer a normal human!" Bai Yunyu continued yelling at Han Shun. He was angry because Han Shun was so careless and mean to Han Min. 

"This is your first day after reaching your golden core, and you're already bullying a kid 4 years younger than you?" Bai Shijue continued scolding Han Shun, reprimanding him for what he did to Han Min. 

Han Shun was already scared to his wits, not because he was scared of accidentally killing Han Min, but because he was scared that Bai Gege would hate him.

"Han Shun, I am disappointed," Bai Shijue said. It was the nail in the coffin for Han Shun because Bai Gege never said that he was disappointed with Han Shun. He always told Han Shun how proud he was of Han Shun's progression. 

So the moment Bai Gege said that he was disappointed, Han Shun felt his blood had been drained out of his body. 

"B—Bai Gege, I… I didn't mean it… I really didn't expect him to get hurt. Please don't be disappointed with me…." 

Bai Shijue took a deep breath after realizing Han Shun's pale face. He also felt a tad guilty for scolding Han Shun, but this kid needed to be taught a lesson because he always thought he could get away with everything.

Maybe it was also his fault for spoiling Han Shun too much, never reprimanding him if he did wrong. 

"Han Shun, go to my courtyard. Wait and sit under the Plum Blossom tree. I will heal Han Min first."

Bai Shijue walked out while carrying Han Min in his hand, leaving Han Shun devastated alone in his room.

Han Shun slumped on the chair. He didn't expect that his first day after leaving the cave would turn out like this. 

Was it his fault that he got too emotional and paranoid about that kid? He was just trying to protect something rightfully his, Bai Gege. 

Bai Gege was his right. He wouldn't share Bai Gege with anyone else.

'It's not your fault.'

Han Shun heard a familiar voice inside his head. That was the voice of the black-golden robe man. 

'It's not your fault that you're way too strong for the regular humans in this human realm, and you'll get even stronger as you progress.'

"But I hurt that kid, and Bai Gege is so mad at me…."

'Be honest, do you even feel remorse when you stomped on that kid's chest?' 

…

Han Shun shook his head. He didn't have any remorse when he stomped that kid. He felt desensitized to the pain that normal humans suffered for some reason. He never actually had any remorse or feeling for anything other than with Bai Gege.

'Just admit it, you feel remorse right now because you're getting scolded by Bai Shijue, correct?'

"Yes…"

'And it's normal.'

"Normal?"

'Because they are all nothing but dust, everything in this world is nothing but dust. You can freely turn them into anything you want because it's like a playground for you, for us,' the mysterious man said. 'Except for Bai Shijue, everything else doesn't matter in this world.'

Han Shun thought the same thing. He might not be as grandeur as the mysterious man in his mind described. But he did feel everything was meaningless in this world. He still tolerated everything, even being separated from Bai Gege for 4 years because Bai Gege told him to do so.

If he had the power to destroy this world, and Bai Gege told him to do so, he would snap his finger, and everything would disappear.

'But of course, you cannot show that you feel no remorse after accidentally stomping that kid.'

"But I seriously feel no remorse for him…."

'Kid, I will teach you to steal Bai Shijue's heart. Do you want to steal his heart again?'

"I… I want to claim Bai Gege all for myself. I will do anything for that!"

'Then you must fake your remorse. Remember, Bai Shijue is a sensitive person. He might look cold from outside, but he actually has complicated emotions in his mind.'

'If you want to steal his heart, try to act like you're just like him.'

"Just like him…."

'Yes, act like you feel remorse to that Han Min kid. Act like you want to be a pacifist that cares so much about everything and everyone around you.'

'Even if you don't feel anything to them, make sure you look convincing enough. You will be able to fool Bai Shijue until he falls in love with you.'

"But I… I don't want to lie to Bai Gege. Bai Gege also told me that an immortal like him is forbidden to lie…."

'What he said is true, but you're not a natural-born immortal like him. You still have your human blood. Trust me, you're allowed to lie as much as you want. Just make sure that Bai Shijue can't see through your lies.'

'That is the only way to make yourself look pleasant in Bai Shijue's eyes. He will never love you for the way you are. He just wants to love you in a shape that he likes, something he prefers rather than seeing the true you.'

The mysterious man stated the last sentence before leaving Han Shun's mind, 'This is the only way to get into his heart. Fool him into thinking that you're a perfect person for him to fall in love with.'

…

Han Shun was alone yet again. He was considering whether he should believe that mysterious man or not. 

Bai Gege always told him that he would accept Han Shun no matter what. Yet, when Han Shun showed his displeasure, his protest, and how he got jealous and such, Bai Gege reprimanded him instead.

Bai Gege reprimanded him, scolded him, and never asked for his opinion upon something. It felt like Han Shun had no free will in the first place…

"So I should fool him until he loves me…."