diff --git a/httprunner/api.py b/httprunner/api.py
index 8bd47703..b506d9f1 100644
--- a/httprunner/api.py
+++ b/httprunner/api.py
@@ -151,13 +151,11 @@ class HttpRunner(object):
                             "name": "desc1",
                             "path": "testcase1_path",
                             "variables": [],        # optional
-                            "request": {}           # optional
-                            "refs": {
-                                "functions": {},
-                                "env": {},
-                                "def-api": {},
-                                "def-testcase": {}
-                            }
+                            "request": {},          # optional
+                            "functions": {},
+                            "env": {},
+                            "def-api": {},
+                            "def-testcase": {}
                         },
                         "teststeps": [
                             # teststep data structure
diff --git a/httprunner/loader.py b/httprunner/loader.py
index 2c4d4515..a1535640 100644
--- a/httprunner/loader.py
+++ b/httprunner/loader.py
@@ -867,7 +867,7 @@ def load_debugtalk_py(start_path):
 
 
 def load_project_tests(test_path, dot_env_path=None):
-    """ load api, testcases, .env, builtin module and debugtalk.py.
+    """ load api, testcases, .env, debugtalk.py functions.
         api/testcases folder is relative to project_working_directory
 
     Args:
@@ -915,13 +915,11 @@ def load_tests(path, dot_env_path=None):
                     "name": "desc1",
                     "path": "testcase1_path",
                     "variables": [],                    # optional
-                    "request": {}                       # optional
-                    "refs": {
-                        "functions": {},
-                        "env": {},
-                        "def-api": {},
-                        "def-testcase": {}
-                    }
+                    "request": {},                      # optional
+                    "functions": {},
+                    "env": {},
+                    "def-api": {},
+                    "def-testcase": {}
                 },
                 "teststeps": [
                     # teststep data structure
@@ -969,7 +967,7 @@ def load_tests(path, dot_env_path=None):
             project_mapping = load_project_tests(path, dot_env_path)
             testcase = _load_testcase(raw_testcase, project_mapping)
             testcase["config"]["path"] = path
-            testcase["config"]["refs"] = project_mapping
+            testcase["config"].update(project_mapping)
             testcases_list = [testcase]
         except exceptions.FileFormatError:
             testcases_list = []
diff --git a/httprunner/parser.py b/httprunner/parser.py
index d1ab3312..ff68352a 100644
--- a/httprunner/parser.py
+++ b/httprunner/parser.py
@@ -547,15 +547,10 @@ def parse_tests(testcases, variables_mapping=None):
                         "path": "testcase1_path",
                         "variables": {},         # optional
                         "request": {}            # optional
-                        "refs": {
-                            "debugtalk": {
-                                "variables": {},
-                                "functions": {}
-                            },
-                            "env": {},
-                            "def-api": {},
-                            "def-testcase": {}
-                        }
+                        "functions": {},
+                        "env": {},
+                        "def-api": {},
+                        "def-testcase": {}
                     },
                     "teststeps": [
                         # teststep data structure
@@ -583,17 +578,9 @@ def parse_tests(testcases, variables_mapping=None):
 
     for testcase in testcases:
         testcase_config = testcase.setdefault("config", {})
-        project_mapping = testcase_config.pop(
-            "refs",
-            {
-                "functions": {},
-                "env": {},
-                "def-api": {},
-                "def-testcase": {}
-            }
-        )
+        functions = testcase_config.get("functions", {})
 
-        env_mapping = project_mapping["env"]
+        env_mapping = testcase_config.get("env", {})
         # set OS environment variables
         utils.set_os_environ(env_mapping)
 
@@ -602,7 +589,7 @@ def parse_tests(testcases, variables_mapping=None):
         cartesian_product_parameters_list = parse_parameters(
             config_parameters,
             testcase_config.get("variables", {}),
-            project_mapping["functions"]
+            functions
         ) or [{}]
 
         for parameter_mapping in cartesian_product_parameters_list:
@@ -627,7 +614,7 @@ def parse_tests(testcases, variables_mapping=None):
                     parsed_value = parse_data(
                         value,
                         config_variables,
-                        project_mapping["functions"]
+                        functions
                     )
                     config_variables[key] = parsed_value
 
@@ -637,18 +624,18 @@ def parse_tests(testcases, variables_mapping=None):
             testcase_dict["config"]["name"] = parse_data(
                 testcase_dict["config"].get("name", ""),
                 config_variables,
-                project_mapping["functions"]
+                functions
             )
 
             # parse config request
             testcase_dict["config"]["request"] = parse_data(
                 testcase_dict["config"].get("request", {}),
                 config_variables,
-                project_mapping["functions"]
+                functions
             )
 
             # put loaded project functions to config
-            testcase_dict["config"]["functions"] = project_mapping["functions"]
+            testcase_dict["config"]["functions"] = functions
             parsed_testcases_list.append(testcase_dict)
 
         # unset OS environment variables
diff --git a/tests/test_api.py b/tests/test_api.py
index f4f780b1..85a3d86a 100644
--- a/tests/test_api.py
+++ b/tests/test_api.py
@@ -165,12 +165,11 @@ class TestHttpRunner(ApiServerUnittest):
         self.assertLess(end_time - start_time, 60)
 
     def test_run_httprunner_with_teardown_hooks_alter_response(self):
+        config = {"name": "test teardown hooks"}
+        config.update(loader.load_project_tests("tests"))
         testcases = [
             {
-                "config": {
-                    "name": "test teardown hooks",
-                    "refs": loader.load_project_tests("tests")
-                },
+                "config": config,
                 "teststeps": [
                     {
                         "name": "test teardown hooks",
diff --git a/tests/test_loader.py b/tests/test_loader.py
index 91f7850e..2c6dcc49 100644
--- a/tests/test_loader.py
+++ b/tests/test_loader.py
@@ -240,7 +240,7 @@ class TestModuleLoader(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertEqual(testcases[0]["config"]["name"], '123$var_a')
         self.assertIn(
             "sum_two",
-            testcases[0]["config"]["refs"]["functions"]
+            testcases[0]["config"]["functions"]
         )
 
 
@@ -394,14 +394,14 @@ class TestSuiteLoader(unittest.TestCase):
         testcases_list = loader.load_tests(path)
         self.assertEqual(len(testcases_list), 1)
         self.assertEqual(len(testcases_list[0]["teststeps"]), 3)
-        self.assertIn("get_sign", testcases_list[0]["config"]["refs"]["functions"])
+        self.assertIn("get_sign", testcases_list[0]["config"]["functions"])
 
         # relative file path
         path = 'tests/data/demo_testcase_hardcode.yml'
         testcases_list = loader.load_tests(path)
         self.assertEqual(len(testcases_list), 1)
         self.assertEqual(len(testcases_list[0]["teststeps"]), 3)
-        self.assertIn("get_sign", testcases_list[0]["config"]["refs"]["functions"])
+        self.assertIn("get_sign", testcases_list[0]["config"]["functions"])
 
         # list/set container with file(s)
         path = [