I served as Li Bai's page.

I galloped through the dense forest at full speed, and when I reached the foot of Sanhuangzhai Mountain, two monks were sitting on a large rock in front of the village gate, watching me.

"I didn't see you overtake me, how did you get ahead of me?"

"We come without a trace and go without a shadow; how could you possibly see us with your naked eyes?"

"Where are your horses?"

"We're already at the Songshan Zen Temple," the monk said, coming over to lead my horse and saying, "Get down, you'll have to walk."

I dismounted and followed the two monks toward Songshan Zen Temple.

Upon arriving at the entrance of the Zen temple, the gate was tightly closed. The monks went up and knocked on the door, which opened, and Hongyi stood in the doorway.

"Hongyi."

"Yuehua, what brings you here? Where is your young master?"

"We're on our way to Ziyun Cave, and we passed by Shaolin Temple, so we thought we'd stop by. My young master was left at Shaolin Temple by the Master Tongling, so I came to see you."

"Come in quickly." He then turned to the other two monks and said, "Go and cook."

"Yes, Master." The two monks walked into the monastery.

As I walked with Hongyi, I said, "It's been a few years since I last saw you; you've become a master now. The Shaolin Temple has grown quite rapidly in recent years."

"That's right. In recent years, the temple's incense offerings have become increasingly abundant, and more and more people are coming to Shaolin to learn martial arts. Many young lay disciples have come. I've also been promoted to master."

When did you arrive at Songshan Zen Temple?

"Last autumn, my two disciples won first place in a martial arts competition. My master thought my martial arts skills were worth promoting and preserving, so he sent me here to study."

"Your two apprentices are indeed excellent; even I, on horseback, can't outrun their legs."

Hongyi chuckled sheepishly, "That's right. Don't you know who taught them? Their lightness skill is among the best in the entire Shaolin Temple."

Hongyi and I arrived at the backyard of Songshan Zen Temple. The courtyard was very large, with four rooms in a row. Hongyi led me to his practice room. There was a desk by the window with paper and pen on it.

"Hongyi, are you taking notes while you practice?"

"When I learn a new move, I write it down so my students can learn it."

"Hongyi, you are so selfless; you truly will become a grandmaster."

"Yuehua, you overestimate me. I just want to practice my skills diligently, teach more skilled disciples, and carry forward the Shaolin martial arts."

"Hongyi, you are so great, I would like to become your disciple," I said.

"Yuehua, stop joking. You travel all over the country with your young master, living a carefree life. You would never want to live the life of an ascetic like us," Hongyi said.

"Hongyi, our lives aren't easy either. My young master is determined to become an official and serve the court, but he's always just a little unlucky. We just came from Chang'an."

"Li Bai is already famous throughout the world, why should he be so attached to officialdom?" Hongyi said.

"That's just how everyone has their own pursuits, just like you're single-mindedly dedicated to mastering your martial arts. My young master, on the other hand, is single-mindedly focused on getting into the officialdom."

As we were talking, one of the apprentices came in and said, "Master, dinner is ready."

Hongyi led me to the canteen, where only his two disciples and the two of us were eating.

"Aren't there any other monks in the monastery? Why are there only a few of us eating?" I asked.

"Two masters went on a pilgrimage last year, leaving only me and my two disciples living here. Occasionally, some guests come seeking shelter after dark."

"Don't we have to pray before meals here like at the Shaolin Temple?"

“We have omitted this step, but our devotion to Buddha is sincere,” one of the disciples said.

After dinner, it was already dark. I went out into the courtyard and listened to the wind blowing and the pines rustling. Since the mountain was high and the road was steep, I couldn't go back to Shaolin. So I had to stay at Songshan Zen Temple.

Just then, there was a knocking sound at the door. Fortunately, Hongyi and the others were all skilled in martial arts. One of the disciples went to open the door, and a person followed him in.

"Master Hongyi, I've come to ask for another night's lodging. I've gone a bit too far and missed the sunrise," the man who came in said.

Upon closer inspection, I realized it was none other than Yang Shanren, who shared a close affinity with Li Bai.

"Hello, Master Yang, do you still recognize me?" I asked.

Yang Shanren then turned to look at me and said:

"Isn't this Yuehua, Li Bai's pageboy? What are you doing here alone? Where is Li Bai?"

"Young Master was left at Shaolin Temple by the Spirit Master. Where is Master Yang going so late?" I asked.

"I visited some other peaks and was on my way back to Jade Maiden Peak when it got dark, so I came in to ask for lodging for the night."

"You haven't had dinner yet, have you? I'll have them make you some." Hongyi instructed his eldest disciple to cook a bowl of noodles for Yang Shanren.

After dinner, the five of us sat in the courtyard and chatted by the dim light of the kerosene lamp. Hongyi was full of curiosity about the outside world and kept asking questions. I told them about all the places I had been to over the years. The three monks looked at me with envy, especially when I talked about cockfighting, they all seemed eager to try it.

Yang Shanren said, "Chang'an is so prosperous; it's a place everyone dreams of visiting. I'll go there sometime. Yuehua, tomorrow I'll go to Shaolin with you to meet Brother Taibai."

The next day, after breakfast, I bid farewell to Master Hongyi and his disciples, and Yang Shanren and I rode back to Shaolin Temple. When we arrived at the guest room in the backyard, Li Bai was sitting on the flower bed in the courtyard, lost in thought.

"Young Master, what are you thinking about? Look who I brought with me!"

Upon seeing this, Li Bai dramatically hugged Yang Shanren, exclaiming, "Brother Yang, how have you been? I've missed you so much!"

"Brother Taibai, how have you been? Any new works you'd like to share with me?"

"I've written something; let's find a place to talk," Li Bai said.

"Where are we looking for? Since we're already at Mount Song, I'll do my best as a host. Come on, let's go to my Jade Maiden Peak. I'm sure you'll love it there."

"Then let's go! Yuehua, pack your bags."

After packing my luggage and bidding farewell to the spiritual master, the three of us rode our horses toward Mount Taihuang, south of Mount Song. The road was lined with dense pine forests. Sometimes we galloped at full speed, and sometimes we strolled leisurely among the pines. Li Bai and Yang Shanren were both enthusiasts of seeking immortality and the Dao. At one moment they regarded themselves as hermits, pretending to be profound, and at the next moment they felt that they had to serve their country and were eager to fight on the battlefield. They were like two madmen.

Two hours later we arrived at the foot of Jade Maiden Peak. Looking up, we saw a huge rock on the north side of the peak, shaped like a woman; perhaps that's where the name Jade Maiden Peak comes from.

The three of us dismounted and led our horses up the mountain path. Halfway up, we reached a wide platform. The Yang family's dwelling was built on this platform—just a few wooden huts constructed from bamboo and trees found in the mountains. Standing before the huts, we looked down and saw the verdant pines and cypresses stretching as far as the eye could see, with undulating ravines that created a breathtaking panorama. Looking up, the towering peaks, shrouded in mist, resembled a fairyland.

"This place is so beautiful, even more beautiful than Ziyun Cave," I exclaimed sincerely.

Looking at the beautiful scenery, Li Bai forgot what words to use to describe it, and only said: "I have found my home."