I served as Li Bai's page.

When I arrived at the foot of Baizhao Mountain on horseback, Li Bai was waiting for me there. I reined in my horse and asked:

"Young Master, what brings you here?"

"It's still about moving. So many days have passed, and we still haven't found a suitable carriage? I do have an idea."

"Young Master, what are your thoughts now? Tell me first," I said.

"You take your wife and children and go with the group. I'll go ahead and get the house ready. I'm feeling restless staying at home."

"It's just that you haven't traveled for a few months, is it really that bad? I didn't tell you not to drink."

"It's really painful. There are so few friends here who can drink and sing with me. If only Yuan Danqiu and Cen Xun were here."

"Don't be sad. I've found six carriages that will take you directly to Rencheng in Donglu. They'll be loaded and ready to depart tomorrow."

"Really? Yuehua is the most capable," Li Bai said.

"Young master, will you walk back, or ride my horse back?" I asked.

"You go back first, you're leaving tomorrow. I'm going to look around."

I rode my horse back home and told Xu Ziyan that I was leaving the next day. The house immediately bustled with activity. Zhang Ma opened the flour sack again, preparing to make some more pastries for us to eat on the road. Wu Ma took out several newly made clothes and stuffed them into Xu Ziyan's hands, saying:

"I've made up my mind. I won't go to Rencheng with you. I'll stay here with Wu Chao and Xiaoqian and help them take care of the kids."

"Aunt Wu, come with me. I'll treat you well," Xu Ziyan said.

"I'm not going. As the saying goes, fallen leaves return to their roots. At my age, I won't live for many more years, so it's better to stay in my hometown."

Xu Ziyan found Wu Chao and Xiaoqian and told them what Wu's mother meant. Wu Chao said:

"Madam, please rest assured. My aunt is safe and sound; we will take good care of her."

"Butler Wu, with your words of reassurance, I feel relieved to entrust Aunt Wu to you and Xiaoqian. Please write to me frequently."

After preparing at home, I went to Bai Zhaoshan Residence. Xuan Meng was meditating in the Drinking Dew and Eating Clouds Pavilion. When she saw me come up, she tried to stand up. I said:

"No need to get up, just sit there. Let's sit and talk."

I took a futon and sat down next to Xuanmeng, continuing, "Xuanmeng, we're moving to Rencheng in Donglu. We're leaving tomorrow, so we won't have many chances to meet again."

Upon hearing this, Xuanmeng suddenly stood up and said, "Isn't this place good enough? Why go to Donglu?"

"It's not that this place is bad, but my young master is going to Donglu to learn swordsmanship, and most of his family members live in Rencheng, so he wants to settle there. Come visit us in Donglu when you travel around in the future," I said.

"But I can't bear to see you leave," Xuanmeng said.

"Xuanmeng, all good things must come to an end. When you attain enlightenment and ascend to higher realms, you will understand that our separation today is for a better reunion tomorrow. On the path of cultivation, you must work even harder, like your master, to become a renowned master with profound cultivation."

"I will work hard and never let you down. What are your plans after you go to Donglu? Will you continue to be Li Bai's page? But my master often mentions you, saying that you have the potential to cultivate the Tao, and he really wants to take you as his disciple. Have you considered it?"

"Forget it, seeking immortality isn't for me. I can't become an immortal. But I sincerely hope that your master, your senior brothers Yuan Danqiu, Yuan Yan, Xuanzhen, and you, including my young master, can become immortals and live forever," I said.

"We will strive to find the path to immortality. But I also hope that you will live forever," Xuanmeng said, looking at me with unwavering sincerity in her eyes.

"Xuanmeng, let's not discuss this anymore. Come with me to the Li residence for dinner."

Xuanmeng and I returned home, but Li Bai hadn't come back yet. Xu Ziyan said to me, "Yuehua, it's getting dark. Go and go look for your young master."

Xuanmeng and I climbed the stone steps from the back garden towards the summit of Baizhao Peak. I figured Li Bai was likely near the ginkgo tree at the top. Sure enough, when we reached the summit, we saw Li Bai standing under the ginkgo tree, his hands behind his back, gazing into the distance. I called out loudly, "Young Master, it's getting dark, aren't you going home?"

"Yuehua, come and see how beautiful Baizhao Peak is! The afterglow of the sunset shines on the surrounding rolling mountains, and the clouds and mist swirl around, changing shapes with the evening breeze, giving people endless imagination. Such a beautiful landscape, and we have to leave. Will it look different when we come back?" Li Bai said sadly.

"Young master, even the most beautiful scenery is just an embellishment in life. If you don't want to stop your journey, you will encounter countless beautiful scenes like this. Stop looking and go home. Don't make Madam worry," I said.

"Taibai Jutu, let's go home. I will protect this sky for you," Xuanmeng said.

"Thank you, Daoist Xuanmeng. Cultivating in this beautiful, fairyland-like place will greatly enhance your cultivation," Li Bai said.

"Master Taibai, I appreciate your kind words; I will work even harder."

"Let's not stand here and talk, let's walk and talk, it's getting dark soon," I urged.

When we got home, everyone was standing in the yard waiting for us. Seeing us, Xu Ziyan said:

"Finally back! Let's go eat."

We sat down in the dining room, and Zhang Ma brought out two jars of wine. Li Bai said:

"Except for Xiaoqian, everyone has a cup. Boqin, have a cup too. We're leaving tomorrow, and who knows when we'll be back. Let's drink to our hearts' content today." After saying this, everyone raised their cups and drank them down in one gulp.

Although everyone was encouraged to drink freely, no one except Li Bai got drunk. After finishing their meal, Xuan Meng took a lantern and returned to Bai Zhao Mountain Residence. Xu Ziyan helped the drunk Li Bai back to his room, and we all went to bed early.

The next day, I arrived at the official road outside Anlu at the appointed time. The caravan had not yet arrived, so I jumped off my horse and sat on a large rock by the roadside, waiting anxiously.

When I heard the sound of horses' hooves in the distance and saw Uncle Liu cracking his whip on the carriage, my heart finally settled down.

"Uncle Liu, you've finally arrived!" I called out.

"The delivery at Gangneung Wharf took a little longer than expected, which is why I'm late."

"It's not too late, let's go to Baizhao Mountain to load the carts." After I finished speaking, I mounted my horse and led the caravan towards Baizhao Mountain.

The convoy arrived at the front door, where Wu Chao and the others had already moved the items to be loaded onto the truck. Li Bai and Xu Ziyan stood outside the door, holding their child's hand.

I introduced Uncle Liu to Li Bai, and Uncle Liu instructed his men to load everything onto the carriage. The five of us bid farewell to Wu Chao and the others, and Xiaoqian hugged Xu Ziyan, crying her eyes out.

Urged on by Uncle Liu, Li Bai, Xu Ziyan, and the child boarded Uncle Liu's carriage, and I rode my horse behind the carriage.

As the caravan left Baizhao Mountain, I saw Xuanmeng chasing after the carriage. He really couldn't bear to part with us, and tears welled up in my eyes.

The caravan entered the official road, and their speed noticeably increased. As dusk approached, Uncle Liu stopped the carriage and asked me, "Yuehua, there's a post station not far ahead. Are we staying there tonight? The next post station is still quite a distance away."

"Uncle Liu, you make the arrangements. You drive around a lot, so you know the area well, but I don't. You decide where we eat and where we stay along the way," I said.

"Alright, then I'll take care of it and get you there," Uncle Liu said.

When we found lodging at the inn after dark, we were already quite far from home.