Legends of Ren Zu, Chapter 5, Section 32.
Ren Zu continued on his journey, but after only a short while, an enormously colossal Predicament burst into his field of vision.
A Strong Gu dwelled upon the Predicament, and it laughed loudly: "Human, I've returned! This time I've brought reinforcements—let's see what you can do now!"
Ren Zu had no choice but to halt in his tracks. The Predicament before him was towering and immense, yet he did not panic.
Long ago, Ren Zu had been chased about by a pack of Predicaments, fleeing in every direction. But after he entrusted his true heart to Hope Gu, that pack of Predicaments dreaded Hope above all else and scattered in a panic.
"Hope Gu, I need your help."
Ren Zu summoned Hope Gu, but Hope Gu's radiance failed to drive away the Predicament standing before him.
What was going on?
"Ha ha!" Strong Gu roared with laughter. "Human, this Predicament now has my backing—it is surely the greatest Predicament you will ever face in your life! With nothing but Hope, how could you possibly repel it?"
Ren Zu found himself at a loss.
At that moment, Weak Gu, sheltered behind Ren Zu, spoke up timidly: "Human, thank you for protecting me. Don't worry too much—let me offer you an idea. We can scare this Predicament away!"
"You can scare it away?"
Weak Gu shook its head. "Human, even someone as weak as me has ways to survive. When faced with those who want to eat me, who want to bully me, I often bluster and put on a front, deceiving others into thinking I'm powerful."
"This world always gives preferential treatment to the strong. So even if we're weak, we must pretend to be strong—otherwise we'll be bullied everywhere."
"Human, you can do the same! Don't you have Fear Gu on you? And isn't Attitude Gu on your face?"
Ren Zu heard Weak Gu's suggestion and decided to give it a try.
With Attitude Gu's help, his features twisted and contorted, baring his teeth, putting on a savage and ferocious appearance. He then had Fear Gu assist as well. The Predicament was startled, then it bared its own fangs, crouched low to the ground, and stared dead at Ren Zu.
Ren Zu froze: "Why didn't it run away?"
Weak Gu encouraged him: "Didn't you at least startle it? That proves my method works—but we need to push harder. Human, why don't you put Attitude Gu on top of your own Gu? What is the most complete disguise and deception? It's deceiving even yourself. If you do that, it should be enough to fool the Predicament."
Weak Gu continued: "As long as the Predicament believes you are a true powerhouse, it will certainly make way for you. Predicaments have always yielded of their own accord to the strong."
Ren Zu then removed the mask from his face and placed Attitude Gu upon his own Gu.
But it was no use.
The Predicament still refused to flee.
Ren Zu suddenly came to a realization: "I understand now. When a person encounters a truly enormous Predicament, bluster alone cannot solve the actual problem."
Strong Gu laughed aloud: "Human, don't waste your effort. With me here guiding the Predicament, how could you possibly deceive it? You shouldn't have saved Weak Gu—weaklings are always the ones who bluster, using aggression and ferocity to mask their own weakness."
Ren Zu had no choice but to stall for time.
Then a sudden inspiration struck him. He addressed Strong Gu: "You say that the weak being prey for the strong is the natural order—I must concede that point. But how can you prove that you are the strong ones and we are the weak? If you cannot prove it, what right do you have to eat us?"
Strong Gu was briefly taken aback. "Because I am Strong Gu, and it is Weak Gu."
Ren Zu shook his head. "A mere name proves nothing. Besides, apart from the two of you, there is also me and this Predicament."
Strong Gu sneered: "Then I have a fine way to prove it! We each eat a piece of the other—whichever one eventually can't hold on and loses, that one is the weakling, and deserves to be eaten."
Ren Zu saw that he couldn't stall any longer and steeled himself: "Very well then. Don't you regret it! But—between our two sides, who eats first?"
Strong Gu, confident in its own power, smiled coldly: "Go ahead and eat first. What does it matter to me?"
Ren Zu looked the Predicament up and down. He had, in truth, never eaten a Predicament before.
After a moment's thought, a scheme formed in his mind: "Then I'll start by eating the Predicament's head."
The Predicament promptly removed its own head and handed it to Ren Zu.
Ren Zu took just one bite and his face twisted in agony—he nearly vomited: "So bitter!"
It turned out this was a great big bitter pill.
Moreover, although the Predicament had lost its head, it still stood perfectly upright. Not a single drop of blood flowed from its thick, headless neck—it didn't seem to matter in the slightest.
"Ha ha!" Strong Gu roared with laughter. "Human, you chose poorly! Biting your way through bitterness alone won't solve a Predicament. And whether you can even stomach so much bitterness—that remains to be seen! If you can't finish, that proves you're the weak one, and you deserve to be eaten by us."
Compared to the Predicament's head, Ren Zu's entire body seemed tiny.
Ren Zu knew Strong Gu spoke the truth. He could not afford to lose. If he lost, not only would he fail to protect Weak Gu—his very life would be forfeit, buried in the Predicament's belly.
Ren Zu had no choice but to furrow his brow, open his mouth wide, and keep eating the bitter head.
After dozens of bites, Ren Zu suddenly stopped, opening his mouth as though he might retch.
Hope Gu hurried to encourage him: "Human, don't spit it out. Clench your teeth—no matter how bitter, you can swallow it down. A person must not only eat food, but also eat bitterness."
Ren Zu nodded and continued eating.
After a tremendous struggle, Ren Zu had managed to eat roughly half. Fear Gu on his body cried out: "Heavens, when will this ever end?"
Ren Zu felt a flicker of despair as well.
Courage Gu spoke up quickly: "Human, you must not be afraid of eating bitterness! If you aren't afraid, enduring bitterness is only temporary; but if you are afraid, you'll be eating bitterness for the rest of your life."
With Courage Gu's help, Ren Zu finally and with great difficulty forced the entire bitter head into his stomach.
Ren Zu wiped the corners of his mouth and looked with difficulty toward Strong Gu: "You may make your choice now."
Strong Gu smiled: "Then we'll start by eating your skin."
Ren Zu had no choice but to tear the skin from his own body and toss it to the Predicament.
The Predicament, headless as it was, took Ren Zu's skin and shoved it straight down its thick neck. Every last bit of skin was devoured, yet that enormous belly of its didn't swell even the tiniest amount.
Strong Gu then asked: "Human, what will you eat next?"
Ren Zu was in a difficult spot. He had just eaten the Predicament's head—it was unbearably bitter, and he had barely managed to endure it—but his stomach was nearly full.
And the Predicament, despite having lost its head, was still standing there alive and well.