Attitude

Ren Zu’s use of Rules and Regulation Gu leaves three Gu over, and of those he catches attitude Gu, a mask that will not stay on his face no matter how it is tied down. Attitude Gu explains that the mask answers only to a heart, and Ren Zu realizes he already gave his own heart to hope Gu. Having no heart, he cannot wear a mask that belongs to intention. ^{ch. 87}

Still troubled, Ren Zu asks attitude Gu how he might get a heart. Attitude Gu answers that a heart called loneliness can be won by sitting alone through a starry night in silence until daylight, warning that it brings endless pain, loneliness and fear. Ren Zu presses ahead anyway, and alone on a mountain peak he dwells on how solitary he is even with his Gu for company, until at daybreak the loneliness itself becomes a new heart inside him. The heart brings him no joy, only despair and fear, and unable to bear it he cries out and digs both eyes from his own face. His left eye becomes his eldest son Verdant Great Sun and his right eye his second daughter Desolate Ancient Moon. Ren Zu rejoices that having children now lets him endure the heart’s pain and ensures he will be remembered after he dies, and tells the two that since he has lost his sight they must watch the world for him. ^{ch. 131}