Facing a Strong Predicament

A huge Predicament crosses Ren Zu’s path, carrying strong Gu inside it, who gloats that it has returned with help. Ren Zu once turned back a whole pack of Predicaments by giving his heart to hope Gu, but this time hope Gu’s light fails to scare the beast away. Shielded at Ren Zu’s side, weak Gu offers a plan. Disguise Ren Zu as strong through fear Gu and attitude Gu, since Predicaments often give way of their own accord to the strong. Ren Zu tries a fierce face first, then stacks attitude Gu onto self Gu so the deception fools even himself, but neither attempt drives the Predicament off. He concludes that a facade cannot solve a huge predicament, and strong Gu mocks him for wasting effort on weak Gu’s advice. Strong Gu adds that no disguise can work while it stands beside the Predicament reminding it. ^{ch. 2041}

Ren Zu challenges strong Gu to prove which of them is strong, since names alone settle nothing, and strong Gu answers with a contest where each side eats a portion of the other until one gives out. Ren Zu takes the risk, and strong Gu, confident in its strength, lets him go first, though he has never eaten a Predicament before. He chooses its head. Its bitterness nearly makes him vomit on the first bite, and losing it costs the Predicament nothing, since it stands headless and unhurt. Strong Gu taunts that eating bitter heads solves no predicament and doubts whether Ren Zu can even finish this one. Hope Gu and courage Gu urge him past despair and fear Gu’s complaints, and he forces down the whole bitter head. ^{ch. 2041}

Strong Gu next takes Ren Zu’s skin. The Predicament swallows it whole, and its belly does not grow at all. Ren Zu chooses to eat the part strong Gu least wants him to touch, so strong Gu draws every loss out of the Predicament’s body for him, a small helping that leaves the once huge Predicament much smaller. Rules and regulation Gu explains that predicaments vary with the person, and that the huge bitter head he already ate is why so few losses remain for him. Eating them still burns, drawing sweat and tears and kindling flames of resentment in his chest that his other hearts cannot bear, until a newly grown heart of nobleness endures the burden in their place. With the losses gone, strong Gu declares it is their turn to eat, and takes Ren Zu’s flesh next, leaving him only bones, organs and hair. ^{ch. 2041}