I served as Li Bai's page.

Back at the inn, I carefully examined Li Bai's wounds again, and only after confirming that he was alright did I feel relieved and ask:

"Why did you get into a conflict with them? Just let them do whatever they want. Besides, your swordsmanship is superb, why don't you use a sword?"

"I don't want to escalate things. There are too many onlookers, and if I use a sword, I'm afraid innocent people might get hurt. Those desperate thugs won't care about that. I only have some minor injuries; it's nothing serious."

"If something were to happen to you, how would I explain it to the young mistress? Let's go home." I looked at Li Bai with pleading eyes, hoping he would agree to return to Anlu.

Li Bai stood up and paced back and forth in the room. After careful consideration, he said, "Let's leave Chang'an and go to Mount Song to find Yuan Danqiu."

"Aren't you going home? Your second child should be several months old by now. You should go back!"

"I didn't say we wouldn't go back. We'll go see Yuan Danqiu first; it's been a long time since we've seen him. Let's go right away. Go and get ready."

"You have injuries on your face and hands, rest for two days before you leave," I said.

"It's alright. I'll go to the pharmacy later and buy some herbal plasters. It'll be fine in a couple of days."

"It's already afternoon, and it'll be hard to find a place to stay outside the city. We'll leave tomorrow."

"Alright, as you wish, we'll set off tomorrow." After saying that, Li Bai stood up, lay down on the bed, closed his eyes, and prepared to rest.

I quietly left the room, closed the door, and went out onto the street. Thinking about leaving Chang'an tomorrow, I couldn't help but glance around at the city's streets and alleys a few more times. I found a pharmacy, bought some herbs to treat my wounds, and returned to the inn. Li Bai was sitting by the window writing.

I quietly entered the room, but I didn't expect to disturb Li Bai.

Li Bai asked me, "Yuehua, did you go to buy medicine?"

"Yes, young master, I bought some herbs. I'll crush them and apply them to you right away."

"No rush, I've written two poems. You can put them in the poetry collection."

"Alright." I walked over, picked up Li Bai's poem "The Road to Shu is Hard" and began to read: "A golden goblet of fine wine costs ten thousand coins, a jade plate of delicacies is worth ten thousand more. I stop drinking and eating, I draw my sword and look around, my heart filled with confusion. I want to cross the Yellow River, but the ice blocks the way; I want to climb Mount Taihang, but the snow covers the mountain. In my leisure, I fish on the green stream, then suddenly I dream of sailing to the edge of the sun. The road to Shu is hard, the road to Shu is hard, so many are the forks in the road, where am I now? There will be a time when the long wind breaks the waves, and I will hoist my sails and cross the vast sea!"

After reading this poem, I was amazed by its imagination and magnificent momentum.

"Young master, this poem is exceptionally well-written; it will surely become another masterpiece that will be passed down through the ages."

"Whether it will be praised by others, I don't know, but it's just my personal feeling," Li Bai said.

After carefully collecting the two poems written by Li Bai, I crushed some herbs and applied them to Li Bai's body before starting to pack my luggage. Then I went to the stables to check on the horses, made thorough preparations, and returned to my room to rest.

Because of the herbal poultice, Li Bai's wound was much better the next day. I crushed some more and changed his dressing. Li Bai, however, said:

"No need, it looks terrible to go out with it plastered on your face."

"I've prepared a hat with a mask for you," I said, taking the hat out of my bag and putting it on Li Bai's head. Li Bai looked around and said:

"That's more like it; I don't recognize anyone anymore."

After we finished breakfast and settled the bill, we led our horses out of Chang'an city.

Upon arriving at Zhuque Avenue, Li Bai kept turning back to look around, his lingering affection evident in his words.

I stepped forward and said, "Young Master, don't look anymore, we'll be back."

Li Bai sighed, "Why is there no place for me in the capital of this great nation? I'm beginning to doubt the use of all my learning. Truly, I have no way to serve my country!"

Li Bai and I left Chang'an and rode swiftly towards Mount Song. We traveled by day and lodged at night, and after several days we entered Yingyang. When we reached the foot of Mount Song, I asked Li Bai:

"Young Master, shall we go directly to Ziyun Cave, or visit Shaolin Temple?"

Li Bai turned to look at me and said, "Let's go to Shaolin Temple to see Master Tongling first."

Li Bai rode his horse towards Shaolin Temple, and I followed behind, shouting loudly, "Young Master, wait for me!"

We dismounted before the gates of Shaolin Temple. Years had passed, and the temple was now even more popular; the once quiet gates were bustling with people. As we entered the temple, a monk approached and asked, "Esteemed guests, have you come to burn incense or seek lodging?"

Li Bai said, "Please trouble Master to inform the Spirit Master that an old friend, Li Taibai, has come to visit."

Upon hearing the name Li Bai, the monks immediately called out, "Master, Li Bai has arrived!"

The spiritual master and a group of monks, along with many people who came to burn incense, came out.

The spiritual master strode up to Li Bai, grasped his hand, and said, "The arrival of the Qinglian Hermit has brought honor to our humble temple. My disciples greatly admire your poetry and take great pride in reciting it during their practice."

"Master, you flatter me. I, Li Bai, am unworthy of such praise."

The two walked towards the back hall of the temple under the watchful eyes of the crowd. A monk came over and took the horse's reins from my hand. I seized the opportunity to ask, "Excuse me, is Master Hongyi in the temple?"

"Brother Hongyi went to the Songshan Zen Temple to study martial arts secrets; he's not at the temple."

"I understand, thank you!"

I handed the horse over to the monks and followed Li Bai and Master Tongling to the Sutra Repository. The Sutra Repository had been renovated and the original two single-story buildings had been transformed into a two-story building. The number of books inside had increased many times over, and a master was specifically in charge of guarding it. Master Tongling introduced Li Bai to the master in charge before we were allowed to enter.

Li Bai and the spiritual master chatted in the library. I flipped through the books on the shelf, found it uninteresting, and said to Li Bai:

"Young Master, I'd like to go to the Songshan Zen Temple to find Master Hongyi. Shall we stay here tonight, or go down the mountain?"

The spiritual master said, "Of course you should stay here. Go to the Songshan Zen Temple. It's getting late; you can stay there. I want to have a proper discussion with Young Master Li about Buddhist scriptures and doctrines."

Li Bai said, "Let's do as the spiritual master says."

"Then I'm off!"

After I came out of the library, I found the monk who was leading the horse and said to him:

"Master, where's my horse? I need to get to Songshan Zen Temple; I need to ride a horse to get there faster."

"We happen to have two monks going to the Songshan Zen Temple, also on horseback. You can go with them to avoid getting lost."

"Thank you, Master."

The monks led out a horse for me, and at the same time led out two other horses and handed them to two other monks, saying to them:

"This benefactor is also going to the Songshan Zen Temple; please take him with you."

I followed the two monks out of Shaolin Temple, mounted my horse, and galloped down the mountain. How could a mere mortal like me compare to these skilled Shaolin monks? Before long, they had left me far behind. I was thinking, "These monks don't keep their word; they promised to take me with them, but now they've vanished." Just then, two monks jumped out of the bushes by the roadside and said to me:

"Sir, please hurry! We can walk faster than you can ride a horse."

I glanced at them; their horses were nowhere to be seen. I whipped my horse hard, thinking to myself, "Let's see if my horse is faster than yours."