Pursuit of Freedom

Fate Gu’s manipulation has separated Ren Zu from his children and cost him wealth Gu, driving him mad. He wanders the land unable to say who or where he is. Three times an animal group passing by makes him believe he belongs to it: six-legged flightless birds, toothless blue leopards, then gill-less fish, each turning him away as human rather than kin. Each group says it once held freedom Gu without knowing it, and only losing it cost the birds flight, the leopards their bite, and the fish their breath. Regaining freedom would return what nature gave them. Ren Zu concludes humans need freedom too, and each encounter escalates his want: to go where he likes and keep loved ones with him forever, then endless wealth and comfort, then eternal life. ^{ch. 1954}

Every group calls his wishes preposterous: their own pursuit only restores a given nature, but a human is born to lose companionship, own nothing at death, and die of age or illness. Each warns him to accept his nature rather than chase fantasy. All three leave him the same parting advice, to hold onto freedom if he ever gains it, since losing it, as they did, brings only regret. After the birds and after the leopards he forgets his identity and goals, and after the fish he forgets the animals’ advice. Ren Zu then declares himself determined to pursue freedom regardless: to escape fate’s shackles, keep his loved ones forever, live in wealth, and never die. Passersby who hear him recognize him as Ren Zu and steer clear, calling his claims further proof that he has gone entirely mad. One of them asks how he dares to have such thoughts. ^{ch. 1954}