I served as Li Bai's page.

"Young master, is this the place?" I asked.

Li Bai stepped forward and softly called out into the cave: "Danqiu Sheng."

As the light moved, a young Taoist priest emerged from the cave entrance. He was of medium height, with his hair tied in a high bun adorned with a black hairpin, and wore a light gray robe. He carried a lantern in his right hand. As he stepped out of the cave, he raised his right hand high. When he saw Li Bai and Cen Xun in front of him, he jumped up with joy.

"What wind blew you here today, my good brothers?" Yuan Danqiu said, and went to hug Li Bai.

I tactfully took the lantern from Yuan Danqiu's hand and held it high as well.

"And who is this?" Yuan Danqiu asked, looking at me.

"This is my pageboy, Yuehua," Li Bai introduced.

"You're quite capable; I like that." Yuan Danqiu said, then embraced Li Bai and Cen Xun. After their warm greeting, Yuan Danqiu led us into the Purple Cloud Cave.

This is a super large natural cave. On the north side of the cave, next to the rock wall, there is a clear spring covering several tens of square meters. Stone tables and chairs are arranged around the spring. On the cave ceiling, there are naturally formed characters such as "An Gong", each character covering about 4 square meters. The four walls inside the cave are smooth, colorful gravel.

Cen Xun picked up a damp towel and walked over. After wiping the stone wall, lines of characters, each an inch square, became faintly discernible.

"Young Master, what does it say? I can't understand it," I asked.

"I don't understand it either. I've only heard that there's a celestial book in the Purple Cloud Cave, but no one knows its meaning," Li Bai said.

"I've been cultivating in the cave for several years, but I still can't decipher these characters," Yuan Danqiu said.

Cen Xun walked to the spring, scooped up a handful of water, and said, "Legend has it that this spring is where the Dragon King bathed. Danqiu Sheng, have you ever bathed in this spring?"

"How dare we blaspheme the gods? We bathe in the pool behind this spring," Yuan Danqiu replied.

Li Bai asked, "I've heard that the spring water in the cave changes with the seasons; it's crystal clear in spring, sparkling green in summer, golden yellow for three days after the autumn equinox, and pure as jade nectar in winter. Is this true, Danqiu Sheng?"

Yuan Danqiu replied, "The spring water does change with the seasons, but it's not as magical as the legends say."

After satisfying our curiosity, Yuan Danqiu asked, "Aren't you hungry?"

After he said that, the three of us suddenly felt very hungry.

"Brother Yuan, hurry, bring us some food," Cen Xun said anxiously.

Yuan Danqiu led us to the back of the stone cave. There were several other small stone caves there, some for practicing martial arts, some for kitchens and dining rooms, some for bedrooms and studies, and one cave contained a furnace resembling the alchemy furnace of Laozi.

"Master Yuan, are you refining an elixir of immortality?" I asked curiously.

"There's no such thing as immortality. We just refine some pills to prolong life or some pills to cure diseases," Yuan Danqiu replied.

"Is anyone still living here? I don't see anyone." Hearing Yuan Danqiu mention "us," I guessed there must be other Taoists, so I dared not be presumptuous any further.

"There are no other fellow Daoists, just me and my master. My master has gone on a journey," Yuan Danqiu explained.

I breathed a long sigh of relief.

Li Bai said disappointedly, "Master Hu has gone on a journey, and we will not be able to meet him this time. It's a pity."

Yuan Danqiu comforted him, saying, "There will be opportunities in the future. My master also wants to get to know you."

"You're not hungry, but I am! Brother Yuan, bring out the food!" Cen Xun shouted.

"Look, I forgot about it again. I'll be right there." Yuan Danqiu said as he walked towards the kitchen.

I followed behind Yuan Danqiu and said, "Daoist Yuan, let me help you."

"Okay, you knead the dough, I'll go boil the water." Yuan Danqiu took a bag of flour out of the cupboard.

I found a bowl, kneaded the dough according to my method, and said to Yuan Danqiu, "Master Yuan, the dough is ready. I'll make you some knife-cut noodles."

"I didn't realize you could cook at such a young age. Is there anything I can do for you?" Yuan Danqiu asked.

"Go ahead and start the fire. Is the water boiling yet?"

"It's open."

"Do you have a sharper knife?" I asked.

"No, can I use a sword? My sword is very sharp," Yuan Danqiu said.

I couldn't help but laugh; it was the first time I'd ever made knife-cut noodles with a sword.

Yuan Danqiu asked curiously, "Isn't a sword better than a saber?"

When Li Bai and Cen Xun heard us discussing the issue of swords versus knives, they both agreed that swords were better than knives.

I kneaded the dough, took the sword from Yuan Danqiu, washed it with boiling water, and started shaving noodles in the pot.

Li Bai and the other two stared at me in disbelief, exclaiming, "There's such a way to eat noodles? It's amazing!"

After I finished cutting the noodles, I washed the sword and returned it to Yuan Danqiu. Yuan Danqiu looked it over from left to right and said, "I've finally discovered that a sword can be used for this purpose."

When I served the cooked knife-cut noodles to the three of them, Cen Xun smelled the aroma of the chili peppers and kept saying, "It smells delicious! I can't wait for you anymore."

Yuan Danqiu walked in carrying a jar of wine. Li Bai's eyes lit up as he looked at the jar. He said, "Yuehua, quickly bring me some wine cups. This young master is going to have a good drink tonight. I've been cooped up on the ship for over twenty days. Brothers, let's drink until we're completely drunk tonight!"

I stood up and took three wine glasses from the cupboard, filling them for the three of them.

Yuan Danqiu said, "Yuehua, you should drink too. There are no ranks at the dinner table, only brothers."

"I won't drink, what if I get drunk?" I said.

"It's alright, go get the wine cups. Are we afraid of thieves in this Purple Cloud Cave? We can't leave the table until we're drunk," Cen Xun said.

I glanced at Li Bai, then turned to the cupboard, took out a wine cup, and poured myself half a cup.

"Yuehua, pour yourself a drink, drink as much as you like, don't compare yourself to us. Wine can relieve fatigue, a little is fine too," Li Bai said.

"Yes, young master, as you wish. Let's start drinking." The four of us raised our glasses and clinked them together. This was a toast that transcended a thousand years. I picked up my wine and drank it all in one gulp.

I stood up and refilled everyone's glasses, this time filling mine to the brim.

Li Bai, seeing this, said, "Yuehua, you can drink slowly. How about playing some music for us while you drink?"

Yuan Danqiu and Cen Xun both said at the same time, "That's a good suggestion."

Yuan Danqiu stood up, took a xiao (a type of vertical bamboo flute) from his bedroom, handed it to me, and said, "These are all the pieces I have; there are no others."

I took the bamboo flute and tried to play it. A tune of "High Mountains and Flowing Water" lingered in the Purple Cloud Cave. The three of us raised our cups frequently to the sound of the flute, and a jar of wine vanished in an instant.

Yuan Danqiu then brought out another jar of wine. The three of them, seemingly drunk but not quite, repeatedly shouted, "One more song!"

I picked up my wine cup, drank half of it in one gulp, raised my flute to my lips, and began to play "Moon over the Mountain Pass." Li Bai gazed at me, completely mesmerized, and called out, "Master Cen, bring me my paper, brush, and ink!"

Cen Xun rose at the call and laid out paper, brush, and ink for Li Bai. Li Bai looked at me and began composing lyrics for "Guan Shan Yue": "The bright moon rises over the Tianshan Mountains, amidst the vast sea of ​​clouds. The long wind blows for tens of thousands of miles, passing through the Jade Gate Pass. The Han army descends the Baideng Road, while the barbarians spy on the Qinghai Bay. This has always been a battlefield, where no one returns. The soldiers on guard gaze at the border scenery, their faces etched with longing for home. In the high tower this night, their sighs will not cease."

After Li Bai finished writing the lyrics, he instructed me: "Moonlight, play this tune again."

I parted my lips slightly, and the sound of my flute filled the air. Li Bai stood up, drew his sword, and began to dance and sing, expressing the desolation and tragedy of the desert.