Chapter Nineteen: The Demon Within

The calamity divides into six paths, and for the Golden Core of Pure Dust, the trial of lightning, fire of the five elements, and the ordeal of inner demons form the tribulation one must transcend to achieve the Dao. The inner demon is formless and colorless, yet it can quietly lure one into obsession, leading ultimately to ruin and destruction.

Pure Dust fell into the world of inner demons when he least expected it. Outside, the tribulation clouds faded away, and threads of spiritual energy transformed into rain, descending. Most of it passed through the stone chamber, falling onto Pure Dust, nourishing and healing his meridians damaged by the lightning. A small portion landed outside the chamber. Thus, in the deep autumn, the mountaintop where Pure Dust resided blossomed as if it were spring, like paradise itself, known by none.

“Yang Gang, you haven’t handed in your homework again, have you? Bring your parents tomorrow.” The teacher stared at Yang Gang, her face expressionless, casting his heart into despair. Yang Gang dared not argue, pondering how he might muddle through, but finding no answer, he walked home with his head hanging low.

“Yang Gang, I heard you were called for a parent-teacher meeting again today. Didn’t do your homework, did you?” On the way, he ran into Qin Lili, who was also heading home with her schoolbag. Clearly delighted by Yang Gang’s predicament, she gloated as she asked. Yang Gang shot her a sour look but said nothing, continuing on his way.

“Yang Gang’s called for a parent meeting again!” Qin Lili seemed eager to make a scene, running and shouting all the way, ensuring everyone in the textile factory’s residential area noticed. Yang Gang, furious, shouted, “You little brat, keep shouting and I’ll give you a beating!” He rushed after her, trying to stop her from broadcasting his embarrassment.

“You dare hit me? I’ll tell Aunt Zhang, see if Uncle Yang doesn’t string you up for a beating,” Qin Lili retorted, immune to his threats. Aunt Zhang was Yang Gang’s mother, who doted on Qin Lili more than her own son. Qin Lili lived nearby and treated the Yang household as her own, with a status even higher than the legitimate son.

When Yang Gang got home, his mother was cooking. She asked, “I heard from Lili that your teacher wants me at school tomorrow?” Yang Gang fumed inwardly at the blabbermouth, unintentionally muttering out loud. His mother, hearing this from the kitchen, came out sternly, “When will you remember to finish your homework before playing? And you dare blame others for telling on you? Think about how you’ll explain yourself to your father when he gets home.” With that, she returned to her cooking.

A little after five, dinner was ready, and his father returned right on time. Seeing Yang Gang, he said, “How many times has this happened? Write a reflection after dinner. If it’s not good enough, you’ll get a beating. Your choice.” Yang Gang dared not utter a word.

His mother brought out the dishes, and it was time to eat. At that moment, there was a knock at the door, right on schedule. Yang Gang muttered under his breath, “That little brat’s here again.” But his father, overhearing, scolded quietly, “I’d trade you for the neighbor’s in a heartbeat. Look how well-behaved Lili is. Eat your food.” His mother, delighted, went to open the door, and indeed, it was Qin Lili, arriving punctually for dinner. This time she brought a big bag of autumn pears, greeting his parents politely, “Uncle Yang, Aunt Zhang, my grandma brought us lots of pears, more than we can eat, so I brought some for you. My parents are both working late, so I’ll have to trouble you again tonight.”

“No trouble at all, we’re always happy to have you,” Yang Gang’s mother replied warmly, taking the pears and bringing out Lili’s special bowl and chopsticks. Lili, skilled at winning over adults, said, “This tastes so much better than my mom’s cooking,” making his mother beam with delight. Yang Gang grumbled, “Sycophant,” but Lili, hearing with her sharp ears, retorted, “I’m telling the truth. Do you disagree?” Yang Gang dared not argue and kept his head down, spooning rice, thinking it wise to avoid conflict.

As he ate, Yang Gang felt something was amiss, though he couldn’t say what. He finished dinner in a gloomy mood and went to write his reflection. Outside, Lili chatted with his mother, and Yang Gang wondered what spell she’d cast to make his parents so fond of her.

Writing his reflection, Yang Gang glanced around his familiar room, suddenly struck by a sense of strangeness—a wave of unreality washed over him. Outside, laughter continued—now not only his mother’s, but his father’s too, their home filled with joy. “That little brat,” Yang Gang cursed inwardly.

“Dead?” The word jolted him, making him shudder. Vague memories surfaced: this seemed to be the last evening Lili spent at their home. On her way home, with her mother still at work, Lili had gone to find her, only to be struck by a car. Her parents were nearly driven mad, his own mother wept for days, and his father was sullen for a long while.

“Uncle Yang, Aunt Zhang, it’s almost eight. I’d better go home and see if my mom’s back.” Lili was saying her goodbyes.

“Why don’t you let Yang Gang walk you home? If your mother isn’t back, he can help you find her,” his mother suggested.

“No need. My mom works close by,” Lili replied—she certainly didn’t want to be alone with Yang Gang, who was probably still sulking.

Yang Gang, listening to these familiar words from his room, felt his heart tighten with unease.

Then came the sound of his mother opening the door. In a panic, unsure whether his feelings were right, Yang Gang rushed out and said, “I’ll walk you home. It’s not safe at night.”

His mother, father, and Lili were all stunned, gaping at the “abnormal” Yang Gang.

“Good, good, it’s nice for my son to see Lili home,” his mother said, evidently pleased at this show of affection between her son and goddaughter. As for any ulterior motives, who could say?

The night sky was clear—it was the 1980s, after all! Yang Gang walked Lili home. As expected, her parents weren’t there, so he accompanied her to find her mother. They walked the street quietly, the world passing by. The traffic blurred, giving Yang Gang a sense of living in another world. Suddenly, a large Liberation truck, as if drunk, sped down the street, heading straight for them. Lili froze in terror, unable to move. Yang Gang, trusting that strange sense, saw the truck veer toward them and yanked Lili aside just in time. With a bang, the truck scraped past them, crashing into a roadside barrier, spewing white smoke. Without a second thought, Yang Gang grabbed Lili’s hand, urging, “Let’s go quickly,” and led her away. Only then did Lili recover, her face flushing scarlet as she let Yang Gang hold her hand, walking down the street together.

After that accident, both families viewed Yang Gang in a new light, saying, “If not for Yang Gang, who knows if Lili would have survived that day.”

Ten years passed in a flash. Both Yang Gang and Qin Lili graduated from university, and their families prepared their wedding. On the second day of the celebration, Yang Gang sat with Lili on their balcony, gazing at the dazzling stars, and suddenly smiled, saying, “Even though I know this was all just a dream, I’m content. At least I’ve finally laid my regrets to rest.”

As his words faded, Lili, the home, and the starry sky all vanished into thin air. Pure Dust awoke to find himself still lying on the cold floor of the stone chamber. He sat up, focusing his mind, and continued with the final step of forming his Golden Core.

When the core was complete, dragons and tigers appeared. That day, the mountains echoed with dragon roars and tiger growls. A blue dragon and a white tiger manifested in the sky, weaving and dancing. Seven-colored halos shimmered in the heavens, and the nearby villagers marveled at the spectacle.

Pure Dust had achieved his Golden Core. Emerging from meditation, he found a white dove fluttering outside the stone chamber, as if urging him to return home. Pure Dust laughed heartily, “That little girl is calling me back.”