Part 25: Fear is scarier than death

Ren Zu fell into deep perplexity. He could not find a better way to save his children. The same situation applied to his eldest son, Verdant Great Sun, and also his daughter, Boundless Forest Samsara. At this time, Self Gu spoke in Ren Zu’s heart: “Oh human, you want to save your son, Verdant Great Sun, I have a method.” Ren Zu thought that he had to save at least one of them; he quickly asked: “Oh? What method?” Self Gu laughed: “All living beings in this world will die; this is because Fate Gu entered the Door of Life and Death and left a trace behind when searching for Fairness Gu. Oh human, you can enter the Door of Life and Death and walk on the Road of Life and Road of Death; as long as you do not walk on the traces of fate, you will step on a road that belongs to you solely. When you walk into the Door of Life and Death and leave again, you will form a brand new road; that would be partway to success. Next, as long as you bring Verdant Great Sun onto the path that you walked on and leave the Door of Life and Death, you will be able to return to the human world where the sun shines. Your son, Verdant Great Sun, will be able to escape death and revive.” Ren Zu heard the method of Self Gu and was very hesitant, but there was no better solution available. Thus, he decided to let Boundless Forest Samsara stay inside Ordinary Abyss for a while longer, while he used the method taught by Self Gu to save his eldest son, Verdant Great Sun. Ren Zu set off towards the Door of Life and Death; as he walked, one day, he met with a Beastman.

This Beastman was very muscular; his muscles were like rocks, the fangs in his mouth were sharper than blades. He took huge steps, sprinting in the wilderness as he shouted: “Don’t get any closer, don’t come here! I am afraid.” Ren Zu was very curious; he asked: “Oh Beastman, what are you afraid of?” The Beastman said: “I am afraid of my own shadow; it keeps following me, I cannot get rid of it. I am so afraid that I can only run around in all directions; I am tired, hungry, and thirsty, I am going to die.” Ren Zu felt that this was funny: “Oh Beastman, you have such a powerful body, yet you are afraid of a harmless shadow, do you have a cowardly heart? What is there to be afraid of?” At this time, a Gu Worm came out of the Beastman’s heart; it laughed at Ren Zu: “Oh human, do not speak so shamelessly. You do not feel afraid because you have not encountered me, Fear Gu. Hehehehehe.” “Fear Gu?” Ren Zu took a step back; his expression changed. Once Fear Gu appeared, fear started to well up in Ren Zu’s heart. He was afraid. Fear Gu laughed even more arrogantly now; it said to the Beastman: “I will let you off now, little Beastman, you pitiful worm.” The Beastman was free now; it fell to the ground, weeping in extreme joy. Fear Gu turned around, facing Ren Zu: “Oh human, you dared to look down on me, Fear Gu; now I will torture you with endless fear.” Saying this, Fear Gu flew into Ren Zu’s heart with a whooshing sound. Ren Zu felt immense fear. He was afraid of this, and afraid of that. Fear Gu made him scared of the wind; every time the wind blew, Ren Zu screamed in horror. Fear Gu made him afraid of sunlight; Ren Zu could only travel at night and often lost his way. During the daytime, he would enter caves or hide inside thick bushes. Fear Gu also made Ren Zu afraid of tree leaves; thus Ren Zu ran away from the forests; every tree he saw made him shriek. Fear Gu made Ren Zu afraid of snakes; in the end, Ren Zu even stopped using the grass ropes that he made himself. After that, Fear Gu made Ren Zu scared of rain. Whenever it rained, Ren Zu would shrivel up and look at the sky that was raining continuously, feeling extreme fear. Ren Zu wanted to go to the Door of Life and Death, but after being struck by

Fear Gu, he could not move much; he could not make any progress. When Fear Gu understood Ren Zu’s motive, it made Ren Zu scared of death. Ren Zu no longer dared to walk towards the Door of Life and Death because once he entered the Door of Life and Death, he would be walking from life towards death. Ren Zu was afraid that he would die; he could only stay in place. Self Gu sighed: “Oh human, actually death is not scary; the real scary thing is the fear in your heart.” “That is right!” Fear Gu heard this and said proudly: “The only thing worth being afraid of is fear.”