Devoured and Resurrected
Ku Mu was still suspended in the air, and Tian Budai still sported his smile. Mu Yu’s rapid recovery was a matter of course to Tian Budai, who strolled over, and asked, “You here to die? You can’t escape this. You fear me, so you can never defeat me. All you can do is helplessly watch me torture him. Your fear is my strength.”
Tian Budai whipped Ku Mu’s blood out. Ku Mu, eyes partially open, begged, “Help… me…”
“Ah, you must be worried about Ku Mu kneeling before me, right?” With a raise of his hand, Tian Budai brought Ku Mu to the ground. “He’s consumed slave pill. You’re afraid of seeing me lead him by the nose, weakling. Now, Slave, you know what to do.”
Tian Budai kicked Ku Mu. Though it hurt, Ku Mu was helpless. Ku Mu crawled to his knees. Tian Budai added, “You’re also afraid Third Heaven Palace will take your shifu’s body.”
An individual from Third Heaven Palace appeared beside Tian Budai. Meanwhile, Feng Haochen lied lifelessly to the side.
“Hahaha, I finally have an immortal body.” Third Heaven Palace’s formation guardian smothered Feng Haochen in his white energy. Feng Haochen rose to his feet and adopted the white energy.
Recalling Feng Haochen’s lessons, Mu Yu took a calming breath and nodded. “Do what is conscientiously right?”
“You’re even more afraid of death, aren’t you? I may be an illusion you conjured, but I can kill you in the real world if I kill you here. You’re afraid you can’t avenge Ku Mu with your own hands, and your fear is justified because you know you’re no match for me no matter if it’s in your mind or in reality.” Tian Budai spawned a sword and pointed it at Mu Yu. “I shall relieve you of your fear.”
As Tian Budai’s sword closed in, Mu Yu repeated, “Illusion. Fear. Face your fear,” and then grinned. The sword cut through Mu Yu’s skull and split the ground without inflicting any harm on him. Tian Budai’s smile turned to astonishment.
“I can’t deny my fears that you mentioned, or the fact that you can kill me.” Mu Yu called forth his energy.
Tian Budai was seemingly stuck in stone.
“I’m afraid of hearing Ku Mu call for my help and seeing myself powerless to help him. I still beat myself up for his death.” Mu Yu ambled toward Tian Budai. “Nevertheless, it finally occurred to me that he would never beg anyone for help.”
Ku Mu got to his feet and watched Mu Yu the same way he appeared in Blood Jade Black Crystal. Mu Yu wanted to cherish that smile of Ku Mu’s. Mu Yu withheld his tears, reminding himself Ku Mu was gone.
“I’m afraid of everything you mentioned. I’m aware it’s all an illusion, but it’s pointless to pretend they’re not there. I need to confront my fears to solve this hexagram. I’m afraid of you. Your energy is my fear. The more I fear you, the stronger you grow.” Mu Yu snatched Tian Budai’s sword and asserted, “It was a mistake for me to be afraid of you. I shouldn’t be afraid of you. You should be afraid of me as I’m coming for you.”
Tian Budai dropped to his knees and trembled.
“I shouldn’t fear you no matter how mighty you may be for you’re not worthy of me being scared!” Mu Yu decapitated Tian Budai and added, “You’re powerless if I’m not afraid of you. You can’t hurt me if you’re powerless.”
Tian Budai’s vexed look remained on his severed head.
“You’re stronger than I am in my illusions, but that doesn’t mean I’ll let you do my head in. If you can defeat me even in my head, I’ll never be able to avenge my father.” Mu Yu kicked Tian Budai’s head to Third Heaven Palace’s formation guardian. “You’re not qualified to touch my shifu’s body.”
Something sucked the white energy out of Feng Haochen’s body.
“I don’t care how strong you are. I’ll cut you down to punish you for your selfish deeds that have cost countless lives!” Mu Yu slashed black sword qi, devouring the white energy.
Fears existed when one lacked the ability to overcome something. If one couldn’t find something to help them overcome it in reality, they wouldn’t find it in their minds. Avoidance didn’t erase it; it still festered until it devoured the mind. Fears don’t go away. You just conquer them and move on to the next.
“Good job, remembering what I taught you,” said Feng Haochen.
Mu Yu nodded, not surprised.
“You almost died. Embarrassing,” scolded Ku Mu.
“Dad, can’t you compliment me for once?”
“No.”
“Hehehe.”
The two life mentors vanished into the darkness, and the sun rose once again. The fig tree returned. Mu Yu knew that he could finally finish the hexagram once he crossed through the door across from him,
Upon walking through the door, Mu Yu found himself in the room he was previously in. Death Gate was closed, and Life Gate was open.
The man in the forbidden zone opened his eyes in astonishment. “Someone finally passed the eighth hexagram? Since he passed the eighth hexagram, he can pass the others. Solve the others, and we will open our doors to you!”
Mu Yu knew he’d be tackling a fifth hexagram if he walked through the door, yet he gave up. If he could learn formations and gather information, that’d be enough. Besides, he didn’t want the hexagrams prying into his head again. After seeing Ku Mu in misery, he really didn’t want to see his old man in that shape again.
“I don’t want to continue. How do I end this?”
Middle-aged man, Zhan Bing and Fan Wen: “Huh?!”
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