I served as Li Bai's page.

After dinner, I found the young Taoist priest and said to him:

"Master, I need to trouble you with something. Two of our companions will be returning late tonight. Could you please inform the gatekeeper?"

"Where have you been? Tonight is the last time, don't let it happen again," the young Taoist priest said.

"Okay, tonight is the last time I'll be back late. Thank you, Daoist Master." I bowed and scraped as I finished up the business and returned to my room. Yuan Danqiu had gone to set up the main hall for the lecture, leaving me alone in my room again. With nothing to do, I took out a collection of Li Bai's poems and began to read them carefully.

When Yuan Danqiu returned, I was reading "The Road to Shu is Hard." After listening to the entire poem, Yuan Danqiu said, "No wonder he wanted to live in seclusion on Jade Maiden Peak. He encountered setbacks everywhere in his attempts to enter officialdom; it would be difficult for anyone to withstand such blows."

"Master Yuan, I'd like to ask, are you and Princess Yuzhen on good terms?" I said.

"Of course, that's wonderful. We practiced Taoism together on Mount Qingcheng in Sichuan, often discussing profound philosophical concepts. We all called her Master Chiying or Taoist Xuanxuan."

"We also stayed at Qingcheng Mountain. When we arrived there, you had already left, because the young master only mentioned that you were at Emei Mountain."

"I didn't stay at Qingcheng Mountain for more than two years before I returned to Songshan Mountain, and Master Chiying returned to Zhongnan Mountain. Over the years, we've had fewer and fewer opportunities to meet, as we're always scattered across the country. There have been several years since we last saw each other," Yuan Danqiu sighed.

"If you have the chance to meet her, you must recommend my young master to her. He even wrote a poem for her and inscribed it on the door of a guest room at the Yuzhen Villa in Zhongnan Mountain. I wonder if she has seen it."

I took out the poem written by Li Bai and showed it to Yuan Danqiu. Yuan Danqiu said, "Your young master is the best at flattery. If Daoist Xuanxuan saw it, he would be very pleased."

"We need Master Yuan to put in a good word for my young master before he has a chance."

"Although Brother Taibai and I are not of the same surname, we are like brothers. Brother Taibai's affairs are my affairs, and I will do my best," Yuan Danqiu said.

"Thank you very much, Daoist Yuan."

"Yuehua, actually my master thinks highly of you and has mentioned you to me many times. Don't you have any thoughts about seeking immortality and cultivating the Dao?"

I really couldn't tell Yuan Danqiu that I came from another world and was a complete materialist, so I could only say ambiguously:

"Cultivation is not about form, nor is it confined by environment; as long as the heart is set on it, it can be done anywhere."

"I never expected that a mere pageboy like you could grasp such a profound understanding. No wonder my master always wanted to guide you into the path," Yuan Danqiu said.

"That's because Master Hu thinks too highly of me. Please thank him on my behalf."

As I was talking to Yuan Danqiu, it was already past midnight when Li Bai and Yuan Yan walked in, supporting each other.

I stood up and helped Li Bai and Yuan Yan to sit down on the bed, saying:

"Would you, in your drunken state, be allowed to enter by the Taoist priests guarding the gate?"

"It was the young Taoist priest who opened the door, warning us that we won't drink anymore starting tomorrow." Li Bai looked at Yuan Yan, and the two smiled at each other.

Yuan Yan continued, "I'm not drinking anymore, let's go to sleep."

Seeing that Li Bai and Yuan Yan were drunk, I had no choice but to bring them two basins of water, let them wash up, and then help them to bed.

The next day, Li Bai got up early as usual. After his morning exercise and reading, he returned to his room. Yuan Danqiu and I had just gotten up, while Yuan Yan was still fast asleep under the covers.

"Young master, the renowned Taoist priest Wu Yun is coming to the temple to preach today. Would you like to get to know him?" I said.

Li Bai turned to Yuan Danqiu and asked, "Danqiu, is what he said true?"

"It's true. Don't go out today. Come with me, we'll go and meet Master Hu."

"Thank you, Danqiu Sheng. I'll be your little follower today. Just tell me what you need me to do," Li Bai said.

"You can't say you can't recite the Tao Te Ching, can you? Master Wu is giving a lecture on the Tao Te Ching today, and he'll call on you when he does. I hope you won't be unable to answer," Yuan Danqiu said.

"Don't worry, reciting texts and quoting classical texts are my strengths. I will satisfy Master Wu," Li Bai said excitedly.

Yuan Yan sat up in bed, rubbing his eyes, and said, "Brother Taibai, there's one more thing you haven't mentioned, and that's drinking. You can really drink; I concede defeat."

Li Bai casually tapped him on the head and said, "Stop talking nonsense."

After breakfast, Yuan Danqiu led Li Bai and Yuan Yan toward the main hall of the temple, reminding them to follow the rules as they walked. When they arrived at the main hall, many people were already seated inside. They found a seat in the front row by the window. Daoist Wu Yun had not yet arrived, and the entire hall was quiet, with the Daoists resting with their eyes closed.

After a while, with the sound of footsteps, the palace master accompanied Taoist Wu into the main hall.

The Palace Master said, "Esteemed Taoist priests, let me introduce you to Master Wu Yun, the renowned Taoist priest whom His Majesty has invited for us. Today, he will be preaching to us. Please welcome him."

A round of enthusiastic applause immediately filled the hall.

Master Wu raised his hands to signal everyone to be quiet and said, "I am honored by His Majesty's favor and have come here to learn from you all. Today we will be studying the *Tao Te Ching* by Emperor Xuanyuan. I hope that through today's study, everyone will gain a deeper and more thorough understanding of Taoist cultivation."

Li Bai listened attentively to Master Wu's explanation and actively participated in the discussion, leaving a deep impression on Master Wu during the class.

After the lecture, Master Wu walked to Yuan Danqiu and Li Bai's table and said to Li Bai, "Our patriarch, Master Sima, said he could travel with you beyond the eight extremes of the universe. From my observation, you indeed possess the bearing of an immortal, making you excellent material for cultivation. Let's go to the Hall of Scripture Discussions to chat."

Li Bai stood up and said, "I am deeply honored by your kindness, Daoist Master. I will now follow you." After saying this, he took Yuan Danqiu and Yuan Yan and followed Wu Yun to the Hall of Scripture Discussion.

Master Wu truly admired Li Bai. During the three days he lectured at Shangqing Palace, he would meet with Li Bai every day to discuss scriptures and doctrines. When he left, he even invited Li Bai to Ziji Palace in Qizhou (Shandong) to receive a Taoist ordination certificate.

Li Bai immediately agreed, promising to settle his worldly affairs and then go to Qizhou to become a Taoist priest.

After Master Wu left, Li Bai's heart remained unsettled for a long time. After Wu Yun preached, Yuan Danqiu wanted to return to Mount Song and Yuan Yan wanted to return to Qiao County. However, they had not yet fulfilled their promise to help Li Bai present the "Mingtang Fu" to the emperor. I cannot let them leave like this.

After Yuan Danqiu and Yuan Yan finished their studies, they could no longer stay at Shangqing Palace, so the four of them moved to an inn in the imperial city. The imperial city of Dongdu was once the location of various government offices of the Tang Dynasty. Now, only a very small part of it remains, and most of it has been sold as shops.

Without constraints, Li Bai and Yuan Yan spent their days in taverns, while Yuan Danqiu ran around the government offices, striving to present his "Ode to the Mingtang".

That day, Yuan Danqiu led me to the outside of Shangyang Palace, attempting to approach a person in official robes who was walking out of the palace. We wandered around outside Shangyang Palace all morning without finding a suitable candidate. Just as we were about to return, we saw someone emerge from the palace. The Imperial Guard on duty called out, "Lord Cui, hurry back! The Emperor will be going to Hanyuan Hall soon."

Lord Cui quickened his pace towards Ziwei City, and Yuan Danqiu caught up with him in a few strides, saying, "This humble Taoist priest, Yuan Danqiu, requests that Lord Cui wait."