I served as Li Bai's page.

After breakfast, the spiritual master sent Hongyi to invite Li Bai and the others to the Sutra Repository for a chat. Li Bai told me to follow him and not to wander off.

The five of us arrived at the library, which was actually just two ordinary study rooms filled with all sorts of scrolls and books.

As soon as they reached the door, the psychic master came out to greet them: "Please come in and have a seat, everyone."

We entered the library and went to the area facing the window, where a long table and several wooden chairs were set out. The spiritual master gestured for us to sit down and said to Hongyi, "Go and brew a pot of tea."

"Yes, Master." Hongyi walked out. I followed behind Hongyi and said, "Master Hongyi, I'll go with you."

We went to the kitchen, where the cook was filling the kettle with boiling water. Hongyi took some tea leaves and poured them into the kettle. Then, he picked up the kettle and said to me, "Let's go."

"Aren't you going to bring a few cups? I don't see any cups on the table in the library," I said.

"Yes, I wouldn't have remembered if you hadn't mentioned it." Hongyi said, walking to the cupboard and taking out six cups. He held the kettle handle in his mouth and carried three teacups in each hand. He walked forward with ease.

"Let me help you, don't burn your mouth." I said, trying to take the teacup from his hand, but when I looked up, he had already run away and disappeared.

When I returned to the Sutra Repository, Li Bai and the others were already drinking tea and discussing the origins of Shaolin martial arts with the Master Tongling.

I wandered among the bookshelves in the library, unsure of what to look at. Besides the works of various philosophers, there were also many martial arts manuals, mostly presented in illustrated form with very little text. I couldn't understand them, and they weren't my type.

I quietly walked up behind Hongyi, tugged at his clothes, and whispered, "Master Hongyi, would you like to come outside with me?"

"Go ahead and show the benefactor around our Shaolin Temple," said Master Tongling.

"Master, are you clairaudient? There's no wind here. You were talking so softly, and you still heard me," I asked.

"Yuehua, do not be rude. The master is a highly accomplished monk; how can you presume to know him?" Li Bai said to me seriously.

The spiritual master smiled and said, "It's alright, my disciples are far more mischievous than yours. Come with Hongyi, see our Shaolin martial arts, and experience our Shaolin spirit."

"Master, as you command." I pulled Hongyi out of the Sutra Repository.

"Master Hongyi, I would like to see the Shaolin staff techniques. The thirteen Shaolin monks saved the Tang Emperor, which made Shaolin Temple famous throughout the world. I would like to observe them," I said.

Hongyi smiled shyly and led me toward the hillside behind Shaolin Temple.

Passing through the dense forest, before even climbing the hillside, one could already hear the monks practicing their exercises.

When we reached the top of the mountain, all the monks looked at us.

"Hongyi, is this Master's new disciple? Is he his last disciple?" someone asked.

"No, he's a pageboy of Li Bai, the talented scholar from Western Shu, who's visiting our temple," Hongyi said.

As soon as they heard Li Bai's name, everyone gathered around.

"Master, were you by Li Bai's side when he wrote 'To Li Yong'?"

"Yes, we were in Yuzhou back then. Lord Li barely acknowledged my young master. Before leaving, my young master gave him this poem; it wasn't exactly a bribe, was it?"

"Even Lord Li can make mistakes. Li Bai's line, 'Even Confucius feared the young, so a man should not underestimate the young,' is so satisfying. It applies universally."

Everyone chimed in, expressing their deep admiration for Li Bai's talent.

"My young master greatly admires your martial arts. Your staff techniques saved the Tang Dynasty. May I take a look?"

"Of course, watch carefully."

The monks, divided into groups of thirteen, took their positions and began sparring. Just as their staffs were about to strike their opponents, one would slip away. It was so fast and agile that I was completely mesmerized.

After looking around on this hillside for a while, Hongyi led me to another small hill. I was panting heavily, but Hongyi walked as if it were flat ground.

There are Shaolin Kung Fu practitioners on this small hill, but their numbers are fewer than those of the Shaolin monks.

"Master Hongyi, here, can those who learn martial arts only learn one style, or can they learn any style?"

"You can learn anything, but in principle you should master one skill. If you make a new invention, go to the Songshan Zen Temple to study it diligently and write your own martial arts manual for future disciples to learn."

"Master Hongyi, how long have you been at Shaolin? I saw you easily pick up a scalding hot water bottle with your mouth; your martial arts skills are no less than those of these monks."

"My home is in a village at the foot of Mount Song. My parents sent me to the temple when I was very young. If we count from the order in which we entered, I should be the senior or junior brother of most of the people here."

"Oh, Master Hongyi, you will surely have your own martial arts manual in the future."

"I'm figuring it out myself. Don't tell my master; I don't want him to know too soon."

"This is our secret, isn't it? I'll definitely keep it a secret for you."

Hong and I talked as we walked down the hill toward the Sutra Repository.

When we arrived at the Sutra Repository, Li Bai and the Tongling Master were discussing the Classic of Mountains and Seas. Hongyi and I stood aside and listened quietly.

Upon seeing us return, the spiritual master spoke of martial arts techniques from the *Classic of Mountains and Seas* and instructed Hongyi to demonstrate them. It was clear that the spiritual master and Li Bai and the others were getting along very well, as if they were kindred spirits.

We stayed in the library until lunchtime. Only when the lunch bell rang did Li Bai and the spiritual master end their long-winded conversation.

This time, it was Master Tongling who led us to the dining hall. When Master Tongling entered the dining hall, all the monks stood up, some calling him "Senior Brother" and others "Master." It can be seen that the Master holds a very high position in Shaolin.

The master invited us to sit down and then began his pre-meal prayers with the monks. This is probably what it means to be strict with oneself.

After we finished eating, we left the dining hall. The spiritual master followed us out and said, "Esteemed guests, please feel free to do as you please. This old monk will not keep you company any longer. I hope you have a good time. Farewell."

"Please feel free, Master. We can chat sometime. A single conversation with you is worth more than ten years of reading," Li Bai said modestly.

After bidding farewell to the spiritual master, we returned to our guest room. Li Bai and his three companions were still engaged in their discussion, which could be broadly divided into two factions: Li Bai and Yang Shanren's group, and Yuan Danqiu and Cen Xun's group. In the end, however, they all came to nothing.

I couldn't understand much of their classical Chinese phrases, so after returning to my room, I lay down on the bed and fell asleep.

Cen Xun picked up a straw from somewhere and flicked it against my nose, causing me to suddenly sneeze and instantly wake up from my drowsiness.

"Master Cen, you're so annoying! Can't you let me rest for a while? You've been sitting and drinking tea all morning, while I've walked up and down several mountains."

"Tell me quickly, what have you seen? I wanted to go with you, but I didn't dare to leave," Cen Xun said.