152: Chapter 152 The Demon of Fear

Within the Chaos, Lu Mingyuan walked.

Toward that light.

His own light.

But as he walked, that light suddenly dimmed.

It didn't go out.

It just dimmed.

Dimmed like twilight.

Dimmed like the sky before a storm.

Dimmed like... The Rift.

He stopped and looked around.

The Chaos had changed.

It had become The Rift.

Not The Rift where he had stood for two years.

A much larger Rift.

So large its boundaries were invisible.

Large as if the sky had split open.

Large as if the earth had collapsed.

Large as if the entire world was about to shatter.

Something was surging out from within The Rift.

It wasn't Devilish Qi.

It was... fear.

---

That fear didn't come from The Rift.

It came from his heart.

He knew.

Because that fear bore his face.

A person identical to him walked out from The Rift.

But that person wasn't him.

That person was shorter than him.

Thinner than him.

Older than him.

More... afraid than him.

That person looked at him, eyes filled with fear.

"Are you not afraid?"

Lu Mingyuan looked at him.

"I am."

The person asked, "Afraid of what?"

Lu Mingyuan said, "Afraid of many things. Afraid of walking the wrong path, standing in the wrong place, doing the wrong thing, failing those who died, and walking in vain."

The person smiled.

That smile was very bitter.

"Those things you fear are all trivial matters."

Lu Mingyuan asked, "Then what is the significant matter?"

The person said, "The significant matter is that all those things you fear will come true."

---

Lu Mingyuan stood there, looking at the person.

The person said, "You are afraid of walking the wrong path. But are the paths you've taken truly right? You came out from Heyin City, walked to the Three Mountains of Daoism, to the Three Temples of Buddhism, to the Three Academies of Confucianism, and to the Three Sects of Martial Arts. You walked to The Rift, to Zixiao Palace, and into the Chaos. You think you walked correctly. But have you ever considered—every step you took was wrong."

Lu Mingyuan asked, "Why was it wrong?"

The person said, "Because the path you walk is not your own. It is a path pointed out to you by others. Xuanweizi told you to go east, so you went east. The Queen Mother of the West told you to mend the gap, so you mended the gap. Hongjun said you were the one that escaped, so you thought you truly were the one that escaped. The Seven Saints passed their Dao to you, and you accepted it. But have you ever considered—where do you yourself want to go?"

Lu Mingyuan was stunned.

Where did he himself want to go?

He didn't know.

He had never thought about it.

The person looked at him, something in his gaze.

There was sympathy, and there was also fear.

"You see, you don't know. You have walked for so long, stood for so long, and done so many things, yet you don't even know where you want to go. You aren't walking a path. You are being pushed forward by others."

He paused.

"You are afraid of walking the wrong path. But every step you took was one someone else made you take. You haven't even had the chance to be wrong."

---

Lu Mingyuan stood there, listening.

As he listened, his heart began to panic.

Was what that person said true?

Was every step he took something others had made him do?

He remembered the words of his Master, Xuanweizi.

"Cultivation is walking. Walk the path beneath your feet well, and you will naturally know how to proceed."

Xuanweizi had not told him where to go.

He had only told him how to walk.

He remembered the words of the Queen Mother of the West.

"Keep walking, until the day the gap is mended."

The Queen Mother of the West had not made him mend the gap.

She had only told him to keep walking.

He remembered Hongjun's words.

"You are the one that escaped."

Hongjun had not said what the one that escaped should do.

He had only said that he was that one.

He remembered the Dao passed to him by the Seven Saints.

Laozi had not made him learn One Qi Transforming into Three Pure Ones.

He had simply passed it to him.

Tongtian had not made him take up the Dao of the Jiejiao Sect.

He had simply handed it over to him.

Jieyin and Zhunti had not made him use Emptiness and Existence are Not Two.

They had simply taught it to him.

Nuwa had not made him perform the work of Creation.

She had only told him what Creation was.

Houtu had not made him become the earth.

She had only told him what Bearing was.

Yuanshi had not made him maintain order.

He had only told him what the rules were.

No one pushed him to walk.

No one forced him to walk.

He had walked it himself.

He looked at the person.

"You are wrong. No one pushed me. I walked this path myself."

---

The person looked at him, his gaze changing.

It became deeper, colder.

"You walked it yourself? Then tell me—why did you walk?"

Lu Mingyuan said, "Because I wanted to walk."

The person asked, "Why did you want to walk?"

Lu Mingyuan said, "Because only by walking can one know what lies ahead."

The person asked, "Then what have you learned?"

Lu Mingyuan thought for a moment.

"I have learned... much."

The person asked, "What have you learned?"

Lu Mingyuan said, "I have learned the Talismans of the Three Mountains of Daoism, the Emptiness of the Three Temples of Buddhism, the Heart of the Three Academies of Confucianism, and the Sword of the Three Sects of Martial Arts. I have learned of the suffering at The Rift, the pain of those who died, and the hardships of those who live. I have learned of the discourse in Zixiao Palace, the Dao passed by the Seven Saints, and the fear of the Heart Demon."

He paused.

"I have learned these things."

The person smiled.

The smile was cold.

"What use is there in knowing these things?"

Lu Mingyuan was stunned.

What use?

He had never thought about that question.

The person said, "Knowing those things couldn't save Tie Niu. It couldn't save those Loose Cultivators. It couldn't save those who died in The Rift. Knowing those things cannot stop the Demonic Soldiers, cannot seal The Rift, and cannot mend the Heavenly Dao. Knowing those things cannot even save yourself."

He took a step forward.

"You are afraid. You are afraid that these things you know are useless. You are afraid that the paths you've walked were all in vain. You are afraid that the places you stood were all for nothing. You are afraid that the things you've done were all pointless."

He paused.

"You are afraid—that you can change nothing."

---

Lu Mingyuan stood there, listening.

As he listened, his heart began to ache.

It wasn't the kind of pain from being poked in a sore spot.

It was the pain of having the deepest, most dreaded thought in one's heart spoken aloud.

He was afraid.

He was indeed afraid.

He was afraid that the paths he had walked were all in vain.

He was afraid that the places he had stood were all for nothing.

He was afraid that the things he had done were all pointless.

He was afraid that he could change nothing.

Tie Niu still died.

Those Loose Cultivators still died.

The Rift was still there.

The Dark Heavenly Emperor was still there.

The Heavenly Dao was still collapsing.

He had walked so many paths, stood for so long, and done so many things—

But nothing had changed.

The person looked at him, something in his gaze.

It was the certainty of 'See, I was right.'

"You are afraid. You are afraid that you can change nothing. You are afraid that the paths you've walked were all in vain. You are afraid that the places you stood were all for nothing. You are afraid that the things you've done were all pointless."

He paused.

"You are afraid—that you are not worth it."

---

Lu Mingyuan stood there, his legs going weak.

He wanted to sit down.

He wanted to rest.

He wanted to stop thinking about anything.

But then he saw the footprints on the ground.

Tie Niu's, the Loose Cultivators', Zhang Lingyun's, Fa Ming's, Li Haoran's, Yue Wushuang's, Sun Wukong's, Yang Jian's, and Nezha's.

Those footprints were still there.

From the front of The Rift, they stretched far into the distance.

Stretching into the Chaos.

Stretching into places unseen.

He looked at those footprints.

As he looked, he suddenly remembered something.

He remembered a time at The Rift when a Demon Tide came.

He had stood at the front, watching those Demonic Soldiers rush toward him.

At that time, he was also afraid.

Afraid he couldn't hold them back.

Afraid the Loose Cultivators would die.

Afraid Tie Niu would die.

Afraid he himself would die.

But he stood his ground.

He stood there and blocked them.

The Demonic Soldiers rushed forward, and he blocked them.

The Loose Cultivators were injured, and he saved them.

Tie Niu died, and he buried him.

He hadn't changed anything.

Tie Niu still died.

But when Tie Niu died, there was light in his eyes.

That light wasn't because he had changed anything.

It was because he had stood.

It was because he had blocked the way.

It was because he had stood there in Tie Niu's stead.

He looked at the person.

"You are right. I am afraid. I am afraid that I can change nothing. But if nothing can be changed, does that mean one should no longer stand?"

He took a step forward.

"Tie Niu died. I couldn't change that. But when Tie Niu died, I was by his side. When he died, he didn't die alone. When he died, someone was there. Someone was blocking for him. Someone collected his body. Someone buried him. Someone said 'Rest in peace' for him."

He took another step forward.

"I couldn't change the fact of his death. But I changed the fact that he wasn't alone when he died."

He looked at the person.

"Does that count as change?"

---

The person was stunned.

He looked at Lu Mingyuan, something appearing in his gaze.

It was the surprise of not expecting him to say such a thing.

Lu Mingyuan continued, "I cannot change The Rift. But in front of The Rift, someone is standing. Someone is blocking the Demonic Soldiers, preventing them from rushing through. Someone is protecting the Loose Cultivators, preventing them from dying. Someone is sealing The Rift, preventing it from expanding. I cannot change The Rift. But The Rift has not expanded. Does that count as change?"

He took another step forward.

"I cannot change the Heavenly Dao. But while the Heavenly Dao is collapsing, someone is mending it. Someone is debating in Zixiao Palace, walking in the Chaos, and comprehending within the legacies of the Saints. Someone is thinking for the Heavenly Dao, trying for the Heavenly Dao, and walking a path for the Heavenly Dao. I cannot change the Heavenly Dao. But while the Heavenly Dao is collapsing, someone is doing what must be done. Does that count as change?"

He looked at the person.

"You ask me what I have changed. But I want to ask you—what have you done?"

---

The person stood there, his mouth hanging open.

He was speechless.

Lu Mingyuan looked at him.

"You have done nothing. You have only stood there, watching. Watching The Rift expand, watching the Demonic Soldiers rush forward, watching the Loose Cultivators die, and watching the Heavenly Dao collapse. You have done nothing. You are only afraid."

He paused.

"You are afraid because you have done nothing. Because you have done nothing, you are afraid. You are afraid because you know you should do something. But you don't dare. And because you don't dare, you are even more afraid."

He took a step forward.

"I am different. I have acted. Because I have acted, I am no longer afraid. Because I know I have done what I should do. I have stood where I should stand. I have walked the path I should walk. Tie Niu is dead, but he does not resent me. The Loose Cultivators are dead, but they do not blame me. The Rift is still there, but it has not expanded. The Heavenly Dao is still collapsing, but while it collapses, someone is mending it."

He looked at the person.

"You ask me what I fear. I am no longer afraid. Because I am walking. As I walk, the fear fades."

---

The person stood there, looking at him.

He looked for a long, long time.

Then, the person changed.

He no longer looked like Lu Mingyuan.

He became a very blurry shadow.

A shadow composed entirely of fear.

The shadow looked at him, something in its gaze.

There was fear, there was unwillingness, and there was also... a hint of relief.

"You are stronger than me."

Lu Mingyuan shook his head.

"It is not about being strong. It is about walking. I walked, while you stood still. Because I walked, I learned not to be afraid. Because you stood still, you remained afraid."

He looked at the shadow.

"You should walk too. Take one step, and you won't be as afraid. Take two steps, and you'll be even less afraid. As you keep walking, the fear will vanish."

The shadow looked at him for a long, long time.

Then, it smiled.

The smile was very bitter.

But within that bitterness, there was something.

There was the regret of 'I want to walk too, but I cannot.'

"I am your fear. Now that you have walked on, I am no more."

Its form began to fade.

Fading more and more.

Fading into nothingness.

Finally, it gave a small smile.

"Go on. Walk a little for me too."

Then, it vanished.

Vanished into that Rift.

Vanished into that fear.

Vanished into that emptiness that was nothing at all.

---

Lu Mingyuan stood there, looking at the place where the shadow had vanished.

He knew it wasn't real.

It was his fear.

It was the fear in his heart taking the form of a person to question him.

But the things that shadow had said were true.

He was afraid.

He was afraid he couldn't change anything.

He was afraid he was walking in vain.

He was afraid it wasn't worth it.

But the last thing that shadow said was also true.

"Now that you have walked on, I am no more."

He had walked on.

So the fear was gone.

It wasn't truly gone.

It was that by walking, he was no longer afraid.

He stood there, looking at that Rift.

The Rift was still there.

But within The Rift, there was no more fear.

There was only a shadow.

A shadow that was fading away.

That was his fear.

It was disappearing.

It was leaving.

It was... becoming a part of his journey.

---

He turned around and continued walking forward.

As he walked, he suddenly remembered something.

He remembered that at The Rift, when Tie Niu died, he was also very afraid.

Afraid that he would also die.

Afraid that he would be like Tie Niu, lying on the ground, the light in his eyes slowly fading out.

But he didn't die.

He lived.

He lived and continued to walk.

As he walked, he was no longer afraid.

Now, he understood.

Fear is not the enemy.

Fear is a reminder.

It reminds you that it is time to walk.

If you walk, you won't be afraid.

If you don't walk, you will always be afraid.

He smiled.

The smile was very light.

Light as the wind.

But within that wind, there was something.

The lightness of 'finally, I am not afraid.'

He walked.

Step by step.

Not fast.

Not slow.

He just walked.

---

As he walked, something else appeared in the Chaos ahead.

It wasn't light.

It was mist.

A very thick mist.

So thick that nothing could be seen.

He stood in the mist, unable to see ahead, behind, or even beneath his feet.

He could see nothing at all.

But he knew that within that mist, there was something.

There was the next Heart Demon.

There were doubts.

There were obsessions.

There was the self.

He stood there, waiting.

Waiting for the mist to clear.

Waiting for the next Heart Demon.

Waiting for what was meant to come.

He knew that what he feared wasn't just fear itself.

He feared other things too.

He feared not knowing where to go.

He feared not knowing if he should walk.

He feared not knowing who he was.

those fears were still there.

Those fears had not yet left.

But he was no longer afraid.

Because he was walking.

By walking, he would know.

By walking, he would understand.

By walking, he would no longer be afraid.

He stood in the mist.

Waiting.

---

In Zixiao Palace, the Seven Saints looked into the depths of the Chaos.

Laozi spoke.

"He has passed the Heart Demon of Fear."

Tongtian nodded.

"He has passed it."

Jieyin said, "He passed it very cleanly."

Zhunti asked, "How so, cleanly?"

Jieyin said, "He didn't dodge, he didn't flee, and he didn't suppress it. He simply walked through it. As he walked, he passed it."

Nuwa nodded.

"Yes. If you walk, you won't be afraid. If you don't walk, you will always be afraid. He understands now."

Houtu looked into the depths of the Chaos.

"But there are still three more. Doubt, Obsession, and Self. Each one is more difficult than Fear."

Yuanshi Tianzun nodded.

"Yes. Fear is the easiest, for it is the most superficial. Doubt is the root, Obsession is the branch, and the Self is the trunk. The root, the branch, and the trunk are all more difficult than the surface."

He looked into the depths of the Chaos.

"But he can pass them. Because he is walking."

---

Within the Chaos, Lu Mingyuan stood in the mist.

Waiting.

Waiting for the mist to clear.

Waiting for the next Heart Demon.

Waiting for what was meant to come.

He stood there.

As he stood, he suddenly remembered a phrase.

It was something his Master, Xuanweizi, had said.

"Cultivation is walking. Walk the path beneath your feet well, and you will naturally know how to proceed."

He was walking now.

He had walked through Fear.

He had walked into the mist.

He didn't know what was behind the mist.

But he knew he had to walk.

By walking, he would know.

By walking, he would understand.

By walking, he would arrive.

He took a step.

Into the mist.

Into the place where nothing could be seen.

Into the next Heart Demon.

Into the path that must be walked.