Part 35: Joy and Weight of Freedom

One day, Freedom Gu flew towards Ren Zu on its own accord. Ren Zu was joyous as he grabbed it. “Oh, freedom, I finally obtained freedom.” Ren Zu was extremely happy but also felt puzzled as he asked Freedom Gu, “This is really strange. The wingless birds are pursuing you, the toothless beasts are pursuing you, the gill-less fish are pursuing you, but you flew to me. What is going on here?” Freedom Gu replied, “I didn't fly to you, human. You once used Attitude Gu to bully me, used Love to bind me, and used Wealth to bribe me. I loathe and hate you! I flew over because I was attracted by the Cognition Gu on you.” Cognition Gu floated out of Ren Zu's body and explained with a smile, “Ren Zu, because you have gone mad, you are thinking deliriously all the time. A human that desires companionship forever, a human who has an extravagant hope of living a life with no worries, a human who pursues eternal life; what else can this be other than a lunatic?” Freedom Gu sighed, “Freedom of cognition is the greatest freedom. These delirious thoughts can strengthen me. Ren Zu, although you captured me, I will never work for you. Release me now.” Ren Zu shook his head and grasped even tighter, “Freedom Gu, I will not let you go.” Freedom Gu sneered, “Then prepare yourself; don't collapse from the pressure.” The moment it finished speaking, Responsibility Gu flew over, pressing on Ren Zu's shoulder. “Heavy, so heavy!” Ren Zu almost bent over from the pressure. Cognition Gu sighed, “Freedom and responsibility coexist, oh Ren Zu, you want to obtain freedom, so you need to shoulder the responsibility. At least, you need to be responsible for yourself.” Ren Zu clenched his teeth and persevered; sweat flowed down his body like a river. Soon, he knelt down on the ground. He saw spider webs again. Fate Gu's spider silk wrapped around his whole body. Ren Zu was barely shouldering the heavy responsibility and had no strength to break free from the spider

silk's bindings. Fate Gu's spider silk constricted tightly, forming blood wounds everywhere on Ren Zu's body. Ren Zu shouted, “What is going on?” Cognition Gu explained, “Oh human, the more freedom you experience, the more you will feel the restriction around you.” Freedom Gu laughed, “Just let me go; the longer you hold on to me, the more spider silk will bind you, the binding will become tighter and will even constrict you to death.” Ren Zu shook his head, “No, I won't let go. Oh Freedom Gu, I must have you.” Countless spider silk pierced into Ren Zu's flesh; Ren Zu howled in pain and rolled on the ground but did not let go. “Hahaha!” Ren Zu began laughing foolishly again, “I can sense a Gu far away. Just this feeling alone makes me happy and satisfied.” Cognition Gu admitted frankly, “That is natural. Whoever obtains Freedom Gu will also be able to sense the location of Happiness Gu.” Ren Zu continued to persevere; he cried in pain at times and laughed happily at other times. The spider silk constricted tightly, tearing into his bones, and leaving deep marks on them, but Ren Zu still did not loosen his hands. In the end, he fainted from the pain. After a long time, he slowly woke up. Fate Gu's spider silk was no longer constricting him, Responsibility Gu also did not exert heavy pressure, while Cognition Gu had disappeared. “Wait, what about Freedom Gu?” Ren Zu did not sense Freedom Gu's existence, and in his moment of panic, he opened his hands. The moment a gap appeared, Freedom Gu flew away and left Ren Zu behind. Humans often did not understand freedom when they possessed it; only after losing it would they come to a sudden realization. Ren Zu was stunned when he saw Freedom Gu flying away. He remembered the advice of the birds, leopards, and fish; he felt extremely regretful. He tore out his hair painfully and rolled on the ground. “I am better off dead.” Ren Zu was overwhelmed with grief. “I would rather lose love; I would rather lose my life. I don't want to lose freedom.”