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Chapter 40 - The Heart's Demon

"Daniel, what's caused you to leave your resting time so abruptly that you need to find us?" The Old Man spoke as he gazed at Daniel warmly and with a bit of concern.

Enfred looked at his Disciple, his intuition hinting at something being wrong.

Originally he had been a bit disgruntled after being pulled away from the leaders and their beautiful friends from other kingdoms, but now...

Daniel looked into the eyes of both of his teachers.

"I'm struggling with myself," Daniel spoke with suppressed emotion.

The Old Man walked slowly towards Daniel, his eyes carrying worry. "Explain Daniel, what do you mean?"

Daniel sighed with reluctance. 'Can't believe I'm actually trusting people again..'

Daniel slowly explained the rageful fits that plagued him, and of the day the village was razed to the ground. Everything that led up to it aside from the Ancient Ruins, and of course his transmigration.

By the end of it, Enfred had stood up as he wore a solemn expression. The rage inside of Daniel's eyes could no longer be hidden from the eyes of the Old Man.

The higher your cultivation realm was, the higher your sense of being and self are attuned to the world. The inner workings of sentient beings manifest into observable phenomenons at the upper levels of cultivation as long as the person you are observing has no cultivation, or is below you in terms of level.

The Old Man's eyes saw a fire that was locked behind a strong will, and they were threatening to consume everything around it. The emotions of Hate, Sorrow, and Rage were swirling within its flames in an unending cycle.

But the more this Old Man observed, the more astounded he was. This observable phenomenon was hidden so deeply inside Daniel, that only its unquenchable aspects were observed.

'Oh I see, you've been suppressing it so strongly that it now burns even brighter in retaliation... It is already so strong, can't imagine what he's actually feeling.'

The Old Man turned towards his son and spoke.

"I'll explain what's happening later, we'll be right back." The Old Man's voice echoed as he and Daniel disappeared from where they stood.

"Oh, come on! He's my Disciple too!" Enfred exclaimed as he began to pace back and forth as his eyebrows scrunched up in worry.

'Dammit, is there anything I can do? It's gotta be pretty serious if my old man isn't saying anything right away and is instead simply attempting to take care of it.'

...

Daniel looked around him in awe, as all he could see were clouds. Endless clouds covered every inch of his sight.

"Young Daniel, what you are struggling with is called a Heart's Demon."

Daniel turned to look at the Old Man.

"A Heart Demon is a trauma that is caused to the heart and the mind, it not only keeps you from cultivating but it also affects your character and your outlook on life."

Daniel remained silent as he listened, trusting for the first time in a long time.

"I've noticed how deeply suppressed it is and because of that, it burns much brighter... Normally, Heart Demons are insuppressible.." The Old Man spoke with confusion.

"How is it that you are able to suppress so strongly? I can almost barely see it due to the sheer depths it's hidden at."

Daniel shrugged as he looked into the eyes of the Old Man. "it is what it is, Old Man. Sometimes it's better to simply bunch your emotions up into a small ball and cast it somewhere deep inside you where you'll never see it again. At least that's the idea."

The Old Man wore a contemplative look. "Normally, yes. But for you? No. It's a rather bad idea, and for reasons, I'll explain to you after the opening ceremony."

The Old Man walked a few meters from Daniel and turned back to look towards him. "It seems you have some destructive habits, and without the proper knowledge you'll just hurt yourself and others."

The Old Man put one of his hands behind his back as he raised the other towards Daniel. "Come little one, tap into the rage that threatens to consume you. Learn to vent its essence away as you regain your peace."

Daniel's eyes were opened wide. "You want me to attack you Old Man?"

"Well, yes. But I want you to do so from the trauma and rage. Let your Heart Demon escape, keeping it inside only hurts you." The Old Man didn't move a muscle as he kept the same pose.

Daniel nodded. "Very well, I'll vent the rage inside my Heart."

Daniel closed his eyes, focused on the Rage he had compartmentalized.

At first, he saw nothing, felt nothing. But after a few imperceptible moments passed, it bloomed.

His blood boiled, and his heart rate spiked.

When he finally opened his eyes, they were the color of deep crimson. "Old Man, I can't hold back." His voice came out deep and guttural.

"Then don't. Let loose son."