Maybe
After confirming that his earlier realizations were correct, Ryu had a decision to make.
Would he go to the other worlds and take the easy path?
Or would he end it where it should be ended?
Truthfully, he already knew the answer. He didn't even need to ask himself because he knew the reality he was facing.
His pride would never allow him to take the easy way out even if he knew it was foolish.
But at least this time… he wasn't being completely willful.
Ryu had never really had to deal with a Heart Demon in his lifetime. Or rather, the times he would have were either triggered by someone or something else, or he wasn't able to feel the full effects of it.
For example, his first life could be certainly said to have birthed a Heart Demon in him. But he hadn't even been able to cultivate, so it was minimal. And at the same time, his Dao Heart wasn't even with him, so there was nothing for it to latch onto.