The Legends of Ren Zu, Chapter Six, Section Two
Upon learning from the Eggman Emperor that there was no other path forward, Boundless Forest Samsara and the miniman made their way towards the volcano where the Fire Dragon Emperor resided.
As they went closer, the heat got more and more intense. To Boundless Forest Samsara, who had been born from wood itself, and to the miniman, who was also used to forests and trees, it was already difficult to venture into Red Heaven. It was like a fish trying to walk on water. Even with the miniman's perseverance, there was little that they could do. "Even if I continue persevering, we will end up just burning," the miniman said. To persevere against all odds would not protect one from danger, nor could perseverance by itself cheat death.
"Oh, Boundless Forest Samsara, we need to find some other way to approach the Fire Dragon Emperor."
"But who can we approach?" Boundless Forest Samsara asked. "What could possibly give us the strength to move through these flames?"
"The enemy of fire is water," the miniman said. "If we can get our hands upon Water Gu, we will be able to counteract Fire Gu's effect."
"And where can we find Water Gu?" Boundless Forest Samsara asked.
"It is said that the mermaids have Water Gu," the Miniman answered. The mermaids were said to reside within a castle known as the Mermaid Palace at the depths of the ocean, much like the minimen did within Miniscule Mountain.
As Boundless Forest Samsara and the Miniman went towards the ocean, they were left with the issue of what they could do in order to dive down below to reach the Mermaid Palace. "Oh, Miniman, what will we do now?" Boundless Forest Samsara asked. They had tied together a raft in order to venture out into the ocean recklessly, but had now reached a point beyond which they could progress no further.
To reach the Mermaid Palace, they would have to dive down deep below the surface of the water.
"Oh, Human," the miniman said. "If we cannot go to the mermaids, then we just need to make the mermaids come to us."
"And how will we do that?" Boundless Force Samsara asked.
"We just need something that the mermaids will like," the miniman said. The two of them thought about it for a moment. The raft continued to drift along the ocean when they heard singing coming from down below. It was then that Boundless Forest Samsara had an idea. "I know what we can do. The mermaids love singing, don't they? If we sing very well, won't they be attracted towards the surface?"
"That's a good idea," the miniman said.
Both of them began singing. However, there was no response from the mermaids. "Oh why, have we failed now?" the miniman pondered.
"I think I realize what it is," Boundless Forest Samsara said. "Songs must come from the heart. If neither of us has a proper heart, then we will be unable to create a song which can greatly move the mermaids."
In order to create a heart, Boundless Force Samsara began pondering her current situation. She was with the miniman, away at sea, alone in an isolated ocean. She had already grown old and greatly missed her father, Ren Zu. She also knew that Ren Zu had other children, meaning she was missing her brothers and sisters as well. And from this, Boundless Forest Samsara awoke a Heart of Longing, which was born from Longing Gu.
"Alright now. I have a heart now. I can start singing," Boundless Forest Samsara said, and began singing deep from within her Heart of Longing. She sang of how much she wanted to be reunited with her father and her other relatives. How much even beyond that she wished to become strong. How she wished to become young again. How she wished to find happiness, even if Fate Gu denied it from her.
Her song of longing echoed all over the ocean, and within minutes, several mermaids began approaching her. Their eyes were wet with tears, mixing into the water below.
"Oh, Human," one of them said. "We request that you stop singing. Your song is so painful and yet so beautiful at the same time. If we continue crying, then the sea will end up salty."
"I apologize," Boundless Forest Samsara said. "However, this was a song directly from my heart."
"Oh, Human. You do not need to apologize for your feelings," the mermaids said. "Everyone has feelings, however, one cannot express them all the time."
"I see," Boundless Forest Samsara said. No one can truly be free of emotions completely. However, how we choose to react to them and how we express them is entirely upon us. It was a mistake to constantly wear one's heart upon one's sleeve - to let it be known to the entire world.
"Oh, Mermaids," the miniman said, remembering why they had come there in the first place. "Can you please tell us the location of Water Gu so that we may go to the Fire Dragon Emperor?"
"Oh, Miniman," the mermaids said. "Water Gu indeed here, but it's within the ocean. It is everywhere all at once, and we cannot catch it. Attempting to catch it is like trying to catch the entire ocean within one's hands."
Boundless Forest Samsara sighed. "Oh, does that mean that we came here for no reason then?"
"Water Gu cannot be obtained so easily. But, oh, human, why do you want Water Gu?" the mermaids asked her.
"Because without Water Gu," Boundless Force Samsara said, "we won't be able to go towards the volcano and take Wealth Gu."
"Human, remember one thing," the mermaids said. "Wealth begets wealth. If you want to attract Wealth Gu, the easiest way is if you are already wealthy."
The rich tended to accumulate wealth, making earning further wealth easier. The poor had no wealth, making accumulating such a journey fraught with difficulties.
Boundless Forest Samsara pondered this for a moment. "Alright, then I'll listen to you." Both she and the miniman then began searching the sea for riches. There were many things to find there: gold and other precious minerals; pearls and other such jewels. Even things like seaweed could be sold for a high price. However, no matter how much they gathered, they found that they would soon lose it rather than being able to attract Wealth Gu.
"Oh no, what's going on?" the Miniman said.
At that point, someone laughed out from the water, "Oh, Human. Although wealth begets wealth, don't you know that the larger amount of wealth always attracts a smaller amount and never the other way around? The pitiful amounts of wealth that you have gathered are nothing compared to the majesty of Wealth Gu. So, instead of Wealth Gu coming here, whatever you have gathered has gone to Wealth Gu instead! All your efforts have indeed been in vain!" Big fish ate small fish, and large businesses swallowed the small ones!
"Who is that who spoke to us?" Boundless Forest Samsara asked, peering out into the water.