43- Rules and Regulation.

Three days later.

"Lowering your body to dodge, that is the usual technique of restraining against a flying fist. When your enemy comes and attacks you, quickly squat down and at the same time do a counterattack, striking his crotch and abdomen. Do not be afraid of a swinging fist. Usually those who come up and start swinging their fists at the first moment are people who have no brains and are impulsive and rash."

On the martial arts field, the academy's martial arts instructor spoke while he performed actions to demonstrate. A wooden puppet's right first swept over, and the martial arts instructor quickly squatted down, dodging the incoming attack. Then he threw a punch at the puppet's abdomen, knocking it down with a few punches.

The students were looking at the demonstration in a circle, but most of them were lacking in spirit, showing very little interest.

The academy taught a variety of courses and this lesson was the one that taught foundation of martial arts. Using fists and legs to exert oneself was too inferior to the cool attack style of the Gu Worms, making almost all the students absent-minded.

"The next class will be the Qi-blade Gu's usage assessment. How have you been practicing so far lately?"

"I'm still doing good. I can do three Qi blade, but only a few of them actually hit. Usually I get two blades on the grass puppet."

"Mmm, that's the same like me. I specially bought a grass puppet just to practice for this in these few days."

***

The young teens whispered to one another, their minds long gone from the lesson. They were all worried about the assessment in the next class. Just for this assessment, they had practiced hard for a long time after class, and now they were flexing their hands and feet, looking forward to the assessment.

Even Liu Yin didn't pay attention to the instructor and looked at her brother, "It's rare for you yourself to come here instead of sending a human path Gu worm."

"The body and soul need rest as well, if I continue cultivating, making recipes, and refining Gu without stopping, it will cause stress and lower my efficiency." Liu Yang smiled sweetly while patting his sister's head.

"If I were you, I would go to more interesting places to rest, not come to the academy." Liu Yin sneered. She hates the academy because there is nothing useful in it and she also knows more information than the academy provides.

"Do you hate the academy that much?" Liu Yang asked with a chuckle.

"Yes, I hate it." Liu Yin sighed and then looked at Liu Yang with pleading eyes as if tears would flow from her eyes at any moment, "Please don't make me come to the academy, make a human path Gu worm in order to make it replace my place."

If anyone heard her words and saw her current facial expressions, they would think she was being bullied at the academy.

"As you wish." Liu Yang gave her a bee-like Gu worm. It's a human path Gu worm. After using it, a human form with the same attributes as the user will appear.

This Gu worm can act exactly the same as the user, and after it is finished using it, it will return to the user and transfer to him all the memories that the Gu worm experienced.

Liu Yin grabbed the Gu worm and looked at her brother in shock and asked, "Didn't you want me to study the rules of the righteous path? Didn't you want me to learn politics and how to deal wisely in various situations?"

Although the Gu worm could transfer to the user all the memories that the Gu worm experienced, it was only memories, not experience.

"I made a better way to do it." Since Liu Sang is dead, Liu Yin does not have a strong political rival in the academy, so there is really no point in her being here.

"Anyway, why are you so obsessed with teaching me the rules of the righteous path?" Liu Yin folded her hands under her chest.

"You remember the legends of Ren Zu that mentioned Rules and Regulation Gu." With a chuckle, Liu Yang looked up at the sky. (1)

"Aren't they just children's stories?" Ren Zu's story was the most popular and widespread tale in this world, as well as the most ancient legend.

"You are wrong that it is not just children's stories, most of what is found in these legends is true and is the true inheritance of the human path." Ren Zu's legend was widespread throughout this world and there were almost no people who did not know of him.

But no matter if it was a legend or a story, it was dependant on the knowledge of the reader. Liu Yin earlier merely treated it as a story, but Liu Yang could understand the deeper meaning.

"Before he knew the rules and regulations, Ren Zu was in darkness." he explored in the dark. Sometimes he bumped into things, knocking into others, causing himself to get injured and look like a mess. And at times within a wider area, he got lost and confused, moving without a sense of direction or purpose.

This darkness was not purely black or the absence of light. Strength, wisdom and hope could not oppose it.

Only when Ren Zu knew of the rules and regulations and said their names did the darkness dissipate and invite light into Ren Zu's life.

The darkness was the darkness of the rules and regulations and the light was also the light of the rules and regulations.

Liu Yang raised his head to the sky, he concluded, "This world's heaven and earth is like a huge chess board. All lifeforms are chess pieces, acting in accordance with their rules and regulations. The four seasons have their own rules and regulations, rotating between spring, summer, autumn, and winter. The flow of water has its own rules and regulations, flowing from high ground to low ground. Hot air has its own rules and regulations, floating upwards. Humans naturally also have their own rules and regulations."

"Everybody has their own standpoints, desires, and principles. For example, in the Liu village, the servants lives are cheap while their master's lives are noble. This is a part of rules and regulations. Because of this, Some beautiful server who wants to get close to the rich and affluent is doing her best to try and escape her servant status."

"For example, do you remember that servant who tried to seduce me with her beauty, she thought that if she could seduce me she would come out of being a servant."

"Yes, thanks to that, she became fertilizer for some trees," Liu Yin said coldly.

Liu Yang smiled and continued to speak "As for Liu Sang, he gave in to greed, He found an inheritance but didn't tell the clan and hoard it for himself because he wanted to rise to be the clan leader and take revenge on you."

"The Academy Elder wants to nurture Gu masters to maintain his position in the Academy."

"Everyone has their own rules and regulations, every profession has its own rules and regulations, and every society and group also have their own rules and regulations. Only by understanding the rules and regulations can we see the situation clearly from the side. Gone with the darkness and embrace the light, moving around the rules with much to spare."

But even before Liu Yang could finish explaining, he was interrupted.

The sounds of the students' discussion had reached the instructor's ear, and the martial arts coach jerked his gaze back at them, shouting, "No talking allowed in class, all of you keep your mouths shut and watch closely!"

He was a Rank two Gu master, his body rather muscular. His upper body was naked and robust, the bronzed skin littered with countless scars on it. With a loud shout he showed a threatening manner, pressing down on all the students in the field.

Silence fell in the martial arts field.

"The foundation of martial arts is the most important among important things. Especially in the early stages of a Gu Master's cultivation, it is more important than anything else. All of you better focus your attention on me!"

The corner of Liu Yang's mouth rose into a mocking smile and said to his sister in a low voice, "Do you want a vivid example of Rules and Regulation?"

Liu Yin looked at the coach and then at her brother's smile, then her eyes twinkled, "I want to see that."

****

"The Legends of Ren Zu"

●Note: You can skip this, it's just a rewrite of The Legends of Ren Zu.

The story mentioned that Ren Zu was able to escape his predicament because of hope. But eventually he grew old and without Strength and Wisdom, he could no longer continue to hunt. Even his teeth fell off, making him unable to chew many wild fruits and vegetables.

Ren Zu felt death slowly approaching.

At this time, the Hope Gu said to him, "Human, you must not die. If you die, your heart will be lost and I will lose my only place of residence."

Ren Zu was helpless. "Who wishes to die? But if the heavens and earth want me dead, I have no choice."

The Hope Gu said, "There's always hope in everything. As long as you can catch a Longevity Gu, you will be able to increase your lifespan."

Ren Zu had heard of the existence of the Longevity Gu long ago but he waved his hand helplessly. "When the Longevity Gu stays still, nobody can detect it and when it flies, it is faster than light. How can I possibly catch it? It's too hard!"

The Hope Gu then told Ren Zu a secret, "Human, don't give up hope no matter what. Let me tell you, on the northwest corner of this continent, there is a huge mountain. On the mountain, there is a cave and in that cave, there is a pair of round and square Gu worms. As long as you can subdue them, there is no Gu in this world that you cannot catch, including the Longevity Gu!"

Ren Zu had no choice, this was his last remaining hope.

He braved all difficulties and finally found the mountain. He then risked his life and ventured through countless dangers to ascend the mountain. On the mountain top, near the cave entrance, he used his last remaining strength to slowly make his way in.

The inside of the cave was completely dark and one would not be able to even see their own fingers. Ren Zu walked in the darkness. Sometimes, he would bump into things not knowing what they were. This caused himself to get injured and wounded all over. At times, he felt that this dark cave was huge beyond words as if this was a world of its own. He felt as if he was the only person in the area.

He spent a lot of time but he could not walk out of the darkness. Not to mention subduing the two Gu worms.

Just when he was at a loss about what to do, two voices spoke to him from the darkness.

One voice said, "Human, you're here to catch us? Go back, for even if you had the Strength Gu, it would be impossible."

The other said, "Human, go back, we will not take your life. Even if you had the Wisdom Gu to help you, you may not be able to find us.

Ren Zu laid exhausted on the ground, panting. "The Strength and Wisdom Gu had left me long ago and I do not have much lifespan left so I'm at my wits end. But as long as there's hope in my heart, I will not give up!"

Hearing Ren Zu's words, the two voices went silent.

After a while, one of the Gu said, "I understand, human, you have already given your heart to the Hope Gu. You will not give up no matter what."

The other continued, "In that case, we shall give you a chance. As long as you can say our name, we will allow you to use us."

Ren Zu was stunned. To find their names among all the words in the world, it was akin to finding a needle in a haystack.

Furthermore, he did not even know how many words were in their names.

Ren Zu quickly asked the Hope Gu, but it did not know either.

Ren Zu had no alternatives and had no choice but to randomly guess their names. He said many many names and wasted a lot of time but the darkness did not respond to him so evidently he was wrong.

Eventually, Ren Zu's breath got weaker as he turned from an old man into a dying man. It was like the scene of the evening's setting sun. The sun that would slowly descending had already been lowered halfway across the horizon, becoming a sunset.

The food he had brought was gradually reduced, his brain becoming slower and he barely had any energy to speak anymore.

The voice in the darkness urged, "Human, you are almost dead, so we will let you go. Using your remaining time, you can climb out of the cave and take a final look at the world. But you have offended us, and as punishment, the Hope Gu shall stay here as our companion."

Ren Zu clenched his heart and rejected, "Even if I die, I will not give up hope!"

The Hope Gu was very touched and answered Ren Zu's call enthusiastically, emitting a bright light. At Ren Zu's chest area, a light began to shine. But this light was too weak, it could not illuminate the darkness. In fact, it could not even cover Ren Zu's entire body, but only engulfed his chest area.

Yet Ren Zu could feel a renewed surge of energy gushing into his body from the Hope Gu.

He continued to speak, shouting out names. But he was already muddled. A lot of names had already been said but he could not remember that and repeated them, wasting a lot of effort in the process.

As time continued to flow, Ren Zu's lifespan was almost over.

Finally, when he was on his final day, he said out the word 'Regulation'.

A sigh came from the darkness as a voice spoke, "Human, I admire your perseverance. You have said my name, so from today onwards, I will obey your commands. But only with my brother can I aid you in capturing all the Gu in the world. Otherwise, with my ability alone, it is impossible. Thus, you should give up. You're almost dead, you might as well use this chance to take a final look at the world."

Ren Zu was determined and shook his head, he made use of all his time to continue saying out names as he tried to guess the other Gu worm's name.

Seconds and minutes went by and soon he only had one hour left.

But at this time, he unknowingly said the word 'Rule'.

Immediately, the darkness dissipated.

The two Gus appeared before him. As the Hope Gu had said, one was cubic, called 'Regulations'. The other was spherical, called 'Rules'. Together, they made up 'Rules and Regulations'.

The two Gu said together, "No matter who it is, as long as they know our names, we will listen to them. Human, since you know our names already, we will be at your service. But you must remember, it is important to not let others know of our names. The more people that know our names, the more people we have to obey them. Now that you are the first to subdue us, tell us your request."

Ren Zu was overjoyed. "Then I order you both, go and catch me a Longevity Gu."

The Rules and Regulations Gu worked together and captured an eighty-year Longevity Gu.

Ren Zu was already a hundred years old but after consuming this Gu, the wrinkles on his face vanished and his frail limbs became muscular again. A vibrant aura of youth oozed from him.

With a belly flop, he jumped up onto his feet.

He ecstatically looked at his body, knowing that he had regained the body of a twenty year old!