"Step aside, Han Shun. I will have to cleanse and destroy this statue first," Bai Shijue said.

Han Shun swallowed his saliva when he saw Bai Gege with his hostile eyes looking at the statue of the God of Nothingness. He asked, "Bai Gege, do you really hate this god they worshipped?"

"What kind of question is that?" Bai Shijue frowned. He didn't expect Han Shun to doubt such an obvious thing. "This is the statue of the evil God, whose sole goal is to destroy everything. Do you think I will let that kind of vile creature live in this world?"

…

"No, Bai Gege… sorry for asking…." Han Shun lowered his head, unable to say the real thing to Bai Gege. He didn't know how Bai Gege would react if he told him about his fate as the incarnation of the evil God.

Bai Shijue frowned when he saw Han Shun's reaction, "What's wrong? Did that demonic sect disciple tell you something?"

"No, Bai Gege. I was just a bit overwhelmed…."

[Pupa, why do I feel like Han Shun is being so dodgy right now? Did something happen while we're on the search for him?]

[Pupa: Who knows, maybe he is just tired.]

[I don't know… I feel like he sounds so sad when I say that the evil God should be exterminated. I'm teaching the right thing, correct?]

[I know that Han Shun has the tendency to be violent. That's why I want to teach him to be a good cultivator. He will take the mantle to be the next sect leader of Plum Blossom Immortal Sect. He would also ascend to heaven later as well. He should know that he needs to destroy this thing!]

[Pupa, I'm teaching the right thing for him, right?]

[Pupa:…]

[Pupa?]

[Pupa:…]

[Pupa, hey! Don't ignore me like that!]

[Pupa: Yes, you're teaching the righteous thing.] 

"It's fine then. Let me destroy this thing first before we return," Bai Shijue focused himself on the statue and opened his palm. He sucked all the dark energy from the statue until there was a dark sphere in his palm. He then tapped the ground with the same palm and returned the dark energy to the earth, "Everything returns to Mother Nature in the end," he chanted. 

CRACK! 

The headless statue cracked and split in half in the process. Bai Shijue took a deep breath because purifying one statue was already a chore for him. He turned towards Han Shun and smiled, "Let's return home, Han Shun."

"Yes, Bai Gege…" Han Shun took the last look at the destroyed statue before following Bai Gege to leave the cave. He still felt the pain in his heart, knowing that he would have to hide his true self so Bai Gege wouldn't hate him.

He existed because of Bai Gege. He continued living because he wanted to be with Bai Gege forever.

Even if he had to suppress his identity, he had to do it for himself.

**

Han Shun, Bai Shijue, and Chinchin finally returned to the residence in the morning. They were greeted by Han Min, who had already cooked breakfast.

"Master Bai! Young Master Han! I've cooked breakfast for everyone. Please wait in your room so I can deliver it!" Han Min said energetically. 

"Don't overwork yourself, Han Min. You've just recovered," Bai Shijue suggested, but Han Min shook his head.

"No, Master Bai! Han Min is very happy to serve you and Young Master! I've been healed thanks to your healing technique!" 

"That's really good, then Han Shun and I will wait in my room. You can also eat with us," Bai Shijue suggested.

"But that's—"

"Han Shun," Bai Shijue gave him a side-eye, and Han Shun's gut shrank instantly. He just lowered his gaze and nodded slowly.

Bai Shijue and Han Shun went to his room, and Han Min served everything on a long table. 

Han Shun was a great cook. At least he had the talent for that. He also liked to serve Master Bai with various things he learned and craved encouragement, just like what a teenage boy should be.

They ate together as three + Chinhin, and after they were done with their breakfast, Han Min wanted to address the elephant in the room. 

He glanced at Young Master Han Shun and took a deep breath, "Master Bai, I… I don't think I can stay in this residence. I will leave to be on my own."

"Huh? Why would you say that?" Bai Shijue asked as he was surprised.

"I— I… um… I just think that I can live somewhere close here, and come every morning to clean and cook, then leave again…" Han Min said.

"No chance. You're still perfecting your martial arts. You won't survive outside," Bai Shijue insisted. He glanced at Han Shun, who glared at Han Min and clucked his tongue in annoyance, "Did Han Shun intimidate you again?"

"N—No, Master Bai! I just want to be free since I've been here for 4 years…." Han Min replied, but his voice got smaller at the end of the sentence because he feared for his life. 

"Han Shun, stop glaring at him, or I will have to punish you again."

"Bai Gege, I don't—"

"Silence!"

…

…

Bai Shijue took a deep breath, "Han Min, you don't need to leave because you will be the owner of this residence soon."

"Huh?" Han Min blinked as he got confused. "Master Bai, I don't understand…."

"Didn't I tell you once that I'm an immortal cultivator?"

"Yes, you said you're here to teach Young Master Han…." Han Min glanced at Han Shun again, and he lowered his head even more. The more he looked at Young Master, the more he realized the deadly aura around him.

"Yes, and now Han Shun is ready to ascend to the immortal realm after obtaining his golden core. It will take us probably 4 months or so, but after that, we will leave. And I will give this residence to you."