Part 44: Finding self

After falling into the water of the River of Time, Ren Zu and the other two woke up in shock. The three immediately climbed up to a nearby floating ice; although it was only a short time, they had already grown old. “Time Gu is hidden within the River of Time; our lifespan will be washed away by the river water.” Great Strength True Martial sighed. Ren Zu felt regretful: “Constantly encountering good situations is actually a bad thing; it will create a huge problem! It is not good to be too happy or constantly happy; it can make people indulge in the present and forget about time as they get immersed entirely.” But Carefree Wisdom Heart said with a tone of joy: “Quick, look at your heart.” The three of them inspected their inner hearts; they saw that many accumulated emotions had been washed away earlier when they fell into the river. This discovery made Ren Zu and the other two feel very happy. Next, they continued to travel on the floating ice. Whenever they encountered a bad situation and felt negative emotions, they would put their heart into the river water to wash it: “These bad situations will pass eventually.” Their negative emotions faded away with time. Whenever they encountered a good situation and felt immersed in joy, they

would put their heart into the river water to wash it: “These good situations will pass eventually.” Their positive emotions also weakened over time, preventing them from feeling indulgent. Cognition Gu saw that the three of them were constantly washing their hearts; it could not help but remind them: “Time has never healed the wounds of the heart, except that your hearts have grown old. The worst thing is not your body growing old but your hearts aging. Stop washing them.” Ren Zu and the other two heard these words and quickly stopped their actions. But without washing the hearts, their speed fell again. “Let me help you.” At this time, a Gu worm flew over and landed on Ren Zu. Ren Zu and the other two saw this Gu worm and became very happy. It was Familial Emotion Gu. With the help of Familial Emotion Gu, Ren Zu and the other two spread their emotions around; the joy of one person was split among three, the sorrow of one person was also split into three. Using familial emotion, Ren Zu and the other two consoled each other and carried each other's burden; they moved quickly and firmly. But good times did not last. More and more emotions accumulated in their hearts; their hearts became tired and gradually got hurt after being unable to sustain it any longer. Deep emotions hurt the heart. The situation soon aggravated because their hearts were severely injured; they could not take in more emotions. At this time, Carefree Wisdom Heart took out a cage and held it in her hand: “This is the Mental Domain that I created; place all your emotions in here.” Ren Zu and Great Strength True Martial did as she said. They put their emotions into the Mental Domain. Immediately, the truthful floating ice revealed its original appearance in front of the three. They were simply pieces of floating ice; the three felt a different sensation towards it now. The emotions of people did not concern others; only their mental state mattered. “What is this?” Carefree Wisdom Heart soon found a Gu worm in the floating ice. The Gu worm answered: “I am Calm Gu.”

The truth was icy cold; this was the attitude that one should have when facing situations. Ren Zu and the other two finally reached the center of the truthful floating ice. But they did not find Self Gu. “So Self Gu is not here.” Ren Zu was very disappointed. Initially, people would often think that they were the center of all situations, but that was not true. At the center of the truthful floating ice, there was no Self Gu, but three other Gu instead. They were Rules Gu, Regulation Gu, and Practice Gu. Rules and Regulation Gu had been with Ren Zu for a long time; after Ren Zu's heart was eaten by the Predicament, they thought that he died and left him. They came here to create truthful floating ice along with Practice Gu. All sorts of situations were bound by the rules and regulation of heaven and earth. The three Gu continued to create truthful floating ice like this; afterwards, under the effect of Time Gu, these floating ice flowed away and sank. Rules and Regulation Gu saw Ren Zu and felt surprised: “Oh human, so you did not die.” Ren Zu quickly asked them on how he could find Self Gu. Rules and Regulation Gu pointed at Practice Gu and said in unison: “It can help you.” Practice Gu replied: “Oh human, you have gone through too many situations. After such a long time, you have changed a lot. Self Gu is the same; even if it is right before you, it will feel very foreign now, you cannot recognize it.” “What can I do?” Ren Zu was troubled. “This is simple.” Practice Gu laughed. “Can't you just undergo the ‘situation of recognizing yourself’?” “That's right!” Ren Zu and the other two realized at once. Practice Gu continued: “For a human, recognizing yourself is the most important and also the most difficult thing in the world. Great Strength True Martial, you are strong and have ability; if we work together, the chance of success is very high.” Ability Gu laughed and said: “Undergoing situations can make me stronger.” Carefree Wisdom Heart supported this; she gave Serious Gu to Great Strength True Martial. Great Strength True Martial started to undergo situations alongside Practice Gu.

They first created a piece of floating ice that was as small as a ball. It surrounded Great Strength True Martial and Practice Gu as a light membrane appeared around the ice ball. Ren Zu and Carefree Wisdom Heart stood on top of the ice ball as they flowed away, eventually encountering Year Gu. “Is this Self Gu?” Ren Zu asked. Great Strength True Martial replied: “No, Self Gu is smaller than it.” They continued to undergo situations within the ice ball as Ability Gu got stronger; the floating ice also became larger as a water membrane appeared around the periphery. While floating, Ren Zu saw Month Gu. “Is this Self Gu?” Ren Zu asked. Great Strength True Martial replied: “No, Self Gu is smaller than it.” Great Strength True Martial and Practice Gu continued working hard; Ability Gu got stronger and made this floating ice even bigger; the periphery of the ice ball was covered in a stone membrane. Ren Zu saw Day Gu. “Is this Self Gu?” Ren Zu asked. Great Strength True Martial replied: “No, Self Gu is smaller than it.” The stronger the ability, the more one would find that they were small and insignificant. Eventually, the floating ice reached its biggest size; the periphery was covered by a crystal membrane. Ren Zu and the other two floated on the ice ball and eventually found Self Gu. “Self Gu is actually so small.” Ren Zu was internally shaken.

Cognition Gu sighed: “In the eyes of heaven and earth, in the eyes of mankind, a single Self Gu is very small and insignificant.”