Another person came to visit them before the day of the battle: it was Shang Xin Ci herself.
"Oh, I didn't know we had a lesson scheduled for today, Shang Xin Ci," Fang Yuan said to her.
"We don't," she replied. It was clear from her face that she was extraordinarily distressed. She had bags under her eyes because she hadn't slept well last night. Her hands were trembling, and sweat coated her brow. If anyone had a strong auditory-type gu worm, they might have even been able to hear her heart racing in her chest.
"Teacher, there's something I want to ask you - no request of you..."
"What's going on, Shang Xin Ci?" Fang Yuan asked.
"Please cancel tomorrow's fight," Shang Xin Ci said, bowing her head.
"Shang Xin Ci, how can I possibly do that?" Fang Yuan asked. "You have spent so much time, money, and effort into this. Your father himself has said that he will be coming to observe this match. If you were to withdraw right now, forget about the Young Master competition - your reputation would also be shattered-"
"Don't worry about my reputation!" Shang Xin Ci said, bowing her head even lower. "Teacher, I do not wish to see you hurt on my behalf. Who cares if we lose money? Who cares if my reputation is tattered? If you were to die tomorrow, how could I possibly live with myself?"
"Raise your head. For a future Young Master of the Shang Clan, it is not meet that you bow so lowly to someone like me," Fang Yuan said.
"Teacher, how can you say that? You are the one who has been teaching me and a Rank 5 Gu Master-"
Fang Yuan placed a hand on her shoulder. "Don't worry. Like I've said before, there's nothing in this world that can be achieved without risks, Shang Xin Ci. One cannot obtain a dragon's egg without walking into the dragon's lair, can they?" Fang Yuan spoke a metaphor that simply meant great gains cannot be made without great risk.
When Boundless Forest Samsara had gone to seek Wealth Gu, hadn't she also risked her life?
The Legends of Ren Zu, Chapter Six, Section Three
Boundless Forest Samsara and the miniman were looking for Wealth Gu, and had taken the mermaid's advice, only to fail when a voice called out to them from the water.
"Who is that speaks to us?" Boundless Forest Samsara said, peering out into the water.
"Oh, Human. My name is Water Gu," Water Gu answered.
"Oh, Water Gu. To think that we found you right now, back when it was after we had almost given up hope on finding you."
"It's okay, Human," Water Gu replied. "I'm tired of being confined here and also want to go somewhere new. You're going up to the Fire Dragon Emperor? Let's go. I will help you so long as you take me with you."
"Water Gu. How will I take you?" Boundless Forest Samsara asked. "You are so massive and seem to be present everywhere in the ocean."
"There's no need to worry," Water Gu said. "Wherever I'm placed, I will fit in that place completely." And so Boundless Forest Samsara placed Water Gu in her pocket, finding that it completely filled up her pocket.
"Alright, this is good, Mr. Miniman. Let's go towards the Fire Dragon Emperor."
"Yes, yes," the miniman answered.
And so Boundless Forest Samsara and the Miniman went towards the vault, the hideout of the Fire Dragon Emperor. At first, both of them began sweating profusely.
However, Water Gu emerged at that point, protecting them from the flames. The two of them approached the fire dragon, who was sitting upon a massive hoard of gold and diamonds. Within that, they found the things that they had been painstakingly gathering in the sea, where they had sought out the mermaids. It was true, wealth- a larger pile of wealth- attracted smaller piles. It could not be the other way around.
"Oh, Humans!" came a voice from inside the Fire Dragon Emperor.
"Who is it?" the Miniman asked.
"My name is Fire Gu," Fire Gu responded. After having escaped from Black Heaven with the help of Northern Dark Ice Soul, it had chosen to take up residence here along with the Fire Dragon Emperor. "I'm just like Water Gu. I want to go everywhere. I want to go ahead and eat everything." The Fire Dragon Emperor then turned towards the two of them.
"Oh, Human and Miniman. You seem so delicious," came Fire Gu's musings.
"No, no, I don't taste good at all!" Boundless Forest Samsara said.
"Wait," the miniman said. "I'm sorry, we're not here to try and attack you."
"But Boundless Forest Samsara," Fire Gu said. "I can see that you're made of wood and that the miniman also loves being near wood. When wood and trees are my favorite food, how could I possibly resist? Come into my belly."
Fire Gu then launched itself at the two of them, only to be blocked by Water Gu. "Oh, Fire Gu, stop bothering these two," Water Gu said.
"Don't be ridiculous," Fire Gu answered. "Wherever I want to go, I'll go. Who are you to stop me?"
Was it so easy to tame fire? Of course not!
Water Gu and Fire Gu clashed within the floor of Red Heaven. Water Gu, true to its nature, spread throughout all of Red Heaven. Fire Gu, true to its own nature, continued consuming all of Red Heaven. Wherever the two clashed, massive amounts of steam burst out.
It was a clash of opposites - of Yin and Yang, hot and cold, where they both countered each other but neither was willing to surrender. When two people of opposite personalities met, it also had an explosive effect.
"Oh no," the miniman yelled out. "Wherever fire and water meet, the result is explosive! Quickly, we need to go, Boundless Force Samsara!" The Fire Dragon Emperor, once mighty, howled in agony as the steam tore it apart.
She turned her eyes towards Wealth Gu, which was within reach.
"Wait, didn't we come to get Wealth Gu?"
"When one is in imminent danger, one cannot ponder about wealth," the miniman said. "The biggest wealth, of course, is one's own life."
Boundless Force Samsara and the Miniman quickly moved away as a resultant explosion between Water Gu and Fire Gu shattered Red Heaven into numerous pieces!
***
"I understand, teacher," Shang Xin Ci said, realizing that no matter what she said, she could not change Fang Yuan's mind. "Just be careful tomorrow, then. For my sake, alright?"
"Certainly, I will be careful," Fang Yuan said.
Behind them, Bai Ning Bing struggled to keep her eyes from rolling so hard she thought they might pop out of her head from the effort. If it were possible to die from sheer cringe, she might have just by watching the two of them. The melodrama nearly caused her to vomit.
"All right, the two of us have several preparations to make for tomorrow," Fang Yuan said once Shang Xin Ci left, gesturing toward Bai Ning Bing.
"More dual cultivation? Just how much dual cultivation do you need, Fang Yuan?" Bai Ning Bing asked.
"What can I say? The fight is tomorrow," Fang Yuan said. The last few days, Bai Ning Bing had stopped fighting in the arena and instead had been helping Fang Yuan with various tasks, as per their agreement. Of course, he had paid her appropriately for such services. And with the fight tomorrow, Fang Yuan would need the help of Equality Gu more than ever.