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The explosion in the alchemy room left a profound lesson for Su Mu. Although his physical injuries healed quickly under his master's careful care, the shadow in his heart lingered. He began to grow timid, reluctant to attempt alchemy again, and even when drawing talismans, he often found himself restless.
Daoist Xuanji noticed the change in Su Mu and understood what was happening. He knew that Su Mu's inner demons had taken root.
"Mu Er," one evening, Daoist Xuanji called Su Mu over. "Your recent state is not good. Is it because of the incident in the alchemy room?"
Su Mu hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Master, I'm afraid... I'm afraid of making the same mistake again."
Daoist Xuanji gently patted his shoulder. "Mu Er, the path of cultivation is fraught with difficulties, and failure is inevitable. What’s important is that you learn from your failures rather than let them defeat you. The fear in your heart is your inner demon. Only by overcoming it can you continue to move forward."
"But Master, how can I defeat my inner demon?" Su Mu asked, bewildered.
Daoist Xuanji smiled slightly. "The inner demon originates from within and must be confronted from within as well. Tonight, you will go alone to the forbidden area on the back mountain. There, sit quietly and meditate, facing your inner self."
The forbidden area on the back mountain was a place of restriction for the Tianji Sect, said to be filled with dark energy and lurking evils, accessible only to past sect leaders. Su Mu felt anxious but resolute; he would go to confront his inner demons.
As night fell, the forbidden area was shrouded in mist, with chilling winds that produced eerie wails. Su Mu sat cross-legged and closed his eyes, striving to calm himself.
However, tranquility did not last long. Various illusions began to appear in his mind: a blazing alchemy furnace, shards flying everywhere, searing pain... It felt as if he were back at the moment of the explosion.
Then the illusions morphed into Ye Qiu's anguished face; he seemed to be calling out Su Mu's name, his voice filled with despair and helplessness.
Su Mu's heart swelled with fear and guilt; he wanted to flee but found himself unable to move.
"Do not be afraid, Mu Er," a familiar voice echoed in his ear. "These are merely your inner demons; they are illusions and not real."
Su Mu opened his eyes to see Daoist Xuanji standing before him, his figure hazy like a phantom.
"Master..." Su Mu murmured.
"Mu Er," Daoist Xuanji said, "remember that true strength does not come from external sources but from within. Only with a steadfast heart can you overcome all difficulties." His voice resonated like a bell tolling at dusk and dawn, striking at Su Mu's soul.
Taking a deep breath, Su Mu closed his eyes again and began to confront his fears. He repeatedly told himself that these were just illusions; he could not let them control him.
Gradually, the illusions began to dissipate, and his heart grew calmer. He felt an unprecedented surge of strength rising from deep within, filled with courage and hope.
Overcoming one's inner demons is not an overnight achievement. On that fateful night in the forbidden area of the back mountain, although Su Mu had briefly suppressed his inner demons, the seeds of those demons had already been deeply buried in his heart.
The origin of his inner demons stemmed from the explosion in the alchemy room. The sudden blast, the searing pain, and the regret over his own mistakes, along with the guilt towards his master, left a profound shadow in Su Mu's heart. This shadow gradually fermented and ultimately evolved into his inner demons.
At first, these demons would occasionally surface when Su Mu was refining pills or drawing talismans, causing him a sense of unease and fear. He would involuntarily recall the scene of the explosion, his palms would sweat, his heart would race, and he found it impossible to concentrate. This led to repeated failures in his subsequent alchemy and talisman practices, further deepening his sense of frustration and allowing his inner demons to grow stronger.
As time passed, the influence of these demons began to seep into Su Mu's daily life. He became taciturn, often sitting alone lost in thought. He started to doubt his abilities and even questioned whether he was suited for cultivation. Various terrifying illusions frequently surfaced in his mind, such as:
Being engulfed in flames: He felt as if he were surrounded by raging fire, experiencing the searing pain while the deafening sound of explosions echoed in his ears.
Ye Qiu in danger: He saw Ye Qiu captured by members of the Xuanming Sect, tortured and sending out desperate cries for help.
Disappointment from his master: He envisioned Daoist Xuanji's disappointed gaze and heard his master sighing, saying, "Mu Er, you have disappointed me greatly."
These illusions clung to Su Mu like nightmares, leaving him restless and mentally drained. He became increasingly sensitive, easily startled, and even developed a sense of wariness towards those around him.
The most severe incident occurred when Su Mu was controlled by his inner demons during sleep; he dreamt that he had transformed into a bloodthirsty demon who harmed those around him. Awakening from this nightmare drenched in cold sweat, he was filled with fear and self-reproach. He dreaded becoming what he saw in the dream and feared that he might hurt those he cared about.
Realizing that if he did not control these inner demons soon, he would completely lose himself, Su Mu knew he had to find a way to rid himself of their torment and regain his inner peace and confidence.
Understanding the severity of his situation, Su Mu actively sought ways to overcome it. He confided in Daoist Xuanji about his troubles. After listening, his master did not provide a direct answer but instead encouraged him to reflect on the past and consider the roots of his inner demons.
"Mu Er," Daoist Xuanji guided him, "inner demons do not arise out of thin air; they stem from your obsessions and fears. The explosion was merely a trigger; what truly frightens you?"
After much contemplation, Su Mu finally understood that it was not the danger of alchemy itself that terrified him but rather the fear of failure—of disappointing his master and being unable to protect those dear to him. Especially Ye Qiu; he always remembered her hopeful gaze and the promise he once made.
"Master, I understand now; I fear failure and my inability to protect those I care about," Su Mu admitted sincerely.
Daoist Xuanji nodded. "Good. Mu Er, you have identified the root of your inner demons. What you need to do next is confront it and accept it rather than evade it."
In the days that followed, Su Mu began to explore new methods of cultivation. He no longer pursued success blindly; instead, he focused more on the process and the insights within his heart. He started practicing another secret technique from the Heavenly Mechanism Sect—"Heart Observation Technique."
As the name suggests, the Heart Observation Technique involves observing one's inner self to understand one's emotions and thoughts. Through this practice, Su Mu could see his inner demons more clearly, recognizing their forms and changes.
During his practice of the Heart Observation Technique, Su Mu's inner demons still manifested, but he no longer felt the same fear and desire to escape as before. He would quietly observe these illusions, analyze their causes, and attempt to engage in dialogue with them.
"Why are you afraid of failure?" Su Mu asked the version of himself that appeared in his nightmares.
"Because failure will make you lose everything—your master's trust, Ye Qiu's love," replied the nightmare version of Su Mu.
"If I fail, will I really lose everything?" Su Mu pressed on.
"Yes! You will have nothing!" The voice of the nightmare was filled with fear and despair.
"No, that won't happen," Su Mu firmly countered. "Even if I fail, I still have my master and friends who will support me. Besides, failure is not terrifying; what’s truly frightening is not daring to face it."
As Su Mu continued to converse with his inner demons, their power gradually weakened, and the illusions became increasingly blurred. Finally, on a night when the moon hung high and stars twinkled faintly, Su Mu's Heart Observation Technique broke through its limitations, revealing a brand new self.
He saw a brave, resolute, and hopeful version of himself. He no longer feared failure because he understood that even if he stumbled, he could rise again and keep moving forward.
He had finally broken free from his inner demons and was reborn anew.
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