I served as Li Bai's page.

Master Ziyang helped Meng Haoran up and said, "The poet finds solace in nature, transcending worldly concerns; his roots in Taoism are deeply planted. Let us learn from each other from now on."

After exchanging pleasantries, Master Ziyang asked me to accompany him to the front courtyard to meditate. I had no choice but to follow, and I sat on the futon for half a day.

Because so many people came to the Taoist temple, Xuanmeng was not ready by dinnertime.

Master Ziyang said, "Yuehua, go and help him. He was just a child when he joined my Daoist sect, and he's only sixteen or seventeen now. I let him cultivate alone in this temple because I see his Daoist heart is steadfast and his Daoist roots are pure; I want to nurture him."

"Master, you have put in a lot of effort. He will thank you when he attains enlightenment and rises to a higher realm," I said.

I went to the kitchen, where Xuanmeng was picking vegetables.

I said, "Master Xuanmeng, I'll do it. You go and start the fire."

"Okay, with so many people, I don't know how to cook. I'm sorry."

"Does your place usually not get any customers?"

"Besides my master and senior brother who come occasionally, nobody else usually comes. But Benefactor Meng has been staying here for half a year, saying he's waiting for someone."

"Do many people burn incense regularly?"

"There are still many people burning incense, but no one has been provided with meals."

"We've brought so many of us; we're sorry to have troubled you," I said.

"It's no trouble at all. Actually, I quite like having a lot of people; it's so much better when it's lively and bustling."

I thought to myself: Is Master Ziyang just being wishful? What child doesn't like excitement?

I helped Xuanmeng prepare the meal, and as I brought it to the table, I asked her, "Is there any wine? They want to drink."

"Yes, I'll go get it. Master and my senior brother both like to have a couple of drinks when they come, and Benefactor Meng wants some too, so I bought a few jars and have them ready."

I thought to myself: What a sensible child.

Once everything was ready, I called out, "Dinner's ready!"

I arrived at the place where Master Ziyang was meditating and softly said, "Master, it's time to eat."

"You all eat, I'm already full. The spiritual energy of Bai Zhao Mountain is growing stronger."

"You're not even going to drink the wine?"

"Don't tempt me, I'm not drinking today, you guys eat."

I didn't know what else to say, so I went to the table and said, "Master Ziyang is absorbing immortal energy and won't be eating. Let's eat."

Li Bai and the other three chatted and drank, while Xuanmeng and I ate some rice and sat down beside them.

Meng Haoran suddenly grabbed my hand and said, "Yuehua, I have good news for you. The Xu family of Da'an Mountain is holding a marriage contest for their eldest daughter. Your young master's marriage is in sight!"

I sat down next to Meng Haoran with great interest and said, "Mr. Meng, tell me about it."

"Miss Xu is well-educated and knowledgeable. She wants to find a husband who understands her, which is why she has been waiting until now. I think your young master is a perfect match for her. I have already asked Uncle Wu to pass on the message. You can meet him as soon as you arrive," Meng Haoran said.

"Mr. Meng, I've made several preparations for this matter." I introduced Meng Shaofu, Hu Ziyang, and Lord Ma as matchmakers to Meng Haoran.

"Good lad, this time it's truly foolproof." Meng Haoran looked at me with admiration.

Cen Xun and Yuan Danqiu burst into laughter, but Li Bai looked worried.

Xuanmeng said, "Are you talking about Miss Xu Ziyan? She often comes here to burn incense."

I stood up, slammed my hand on the table, and said, "This is even more like pulling a turtle out of a jar. Thank you, Xuanmeng. Do you think she'll come tomorrow?"

"Based on past patterns, she should come tomorrow."

"Great, young master, you can sneak a peek first," I said to Li Bai, whose face immediately turned red.

Because they had something on their minds, Li Bai and his companions didn't get drunk that night. They only drank one jar of wine before leaving the table.

After dinner, Yuan Danqiu and Xuanmeng went to meditate. Cen Xun, feeling bored, insisted on dragging me to sit quietly in front of the Taoist temple. Meng Haoran and Li Bai also came out with us and sat on the cliff in front of the temple, watching the pine trees rustling and listening to the autumn wind.

Cen Xun said, "No wonder the old Taoist priest sent his last disciple here; this is truly an excellent place for cultivating the Tao."

"The old Taoist priest may not know what the young man is thinking, and Xuanmeng also likes excitement," I said.

"Yuehua, you can't dampen the old Taoist's spirits. He became a monk at the age of eight and is completely detached from worldly desires. No wonder he would speculate about others based on his own thoughts," Li Bai said.

Meng Haoran said, "Cultivation requires innate wisdom, but even more so, an unwavering will. Those of us who have just stepped into the mortal world and then seek immortality halfway through are unlikely to achieve this."

After Meng Haoran finished speaking, everyone fell silent.

After a while, Li Bai suddenly said to Meng Haoran, "Master Meng, I have a poem to give you."

"Tell me about it," Meng Haoran said.

Li Bai stood up and, facing the verdant pines and cypresses of Baizhao Mountain, recited: "I admire Master Meng, whose elegance is renowned throughout the land. He abandoned high office in his youth, and in his old age rests among the pines and clouds. Often drunk under the moon, he was intoxicated by flowers, serving no lord. How can one reach such lofty heights? I can only admire his pure fragrance."

Cen Xun and Meng Haoran applauded.

Meng Haoran said, "I want your original calligraphy; you must write it for me in a little while."

"Young Master has already written it all down. I'll bring it to you in a bit," I said.

Cen Xun, shameless as ever, said, "Brother Li, I want one too."

"How could you be missing? We have everyone." Li Bai glanced at Cen Xun and said.

After we returned to our room, I found the poem "To Meng Haoran" and gave it to him.

Meng Haoran was overjoyed.

The next morning, after I finished practicing with Master Ziyang, I went to Li Bai's room and called out, "Young Master, are you awake?"

Cen Xun stretched and replied from inside, "Your young master got up early; he's probably gone to scout the terrain."

I couldn't help but laugh and said, "My young master has finally become more enthusiastic."

I came to the platform outside the Taoist temple, but I didn't see Li Bai. I wondered if he had gone down the mountain. I looked at the uneven stone path and wondered how Miss Xu's small feet could have walked up here.

After breakfast, Li Bai still hadn't returned, so I followed the stone path down the mountain to look for him, but I didn't find him even after reaching the foot of the mountain.

I returned to the Taoist temple and sat on the platform in front, wondering where Li Bai had gone. Cen Xun came over and whispered in my ear, "Your young master is crying in the pine forest behind; he's quite heartbroken."

I stood up, intending to walk into the pine forest behind, when Master Ziyang came out and stopped me, saying, "Yuehua, there's no need to worry too much. I've already noticed that Li Bai is troubled. Since he's chosen to grieve alone, you don't need to know. In time, the wound will heal naturally."

Master Ziyang took my hand and led me into the Taoist temple, bringing me to a prayer mat. He said, "Sit down. Let everything take its course; Heaven has its own arrangements."

I sat on the futon, my eyes tightly closed. The lonely grave on Qingcheng Mountain and Zhao Feng's big, bright eyes kept flashing before my eyes.

Master Ziyang patted my shoulder, which startled me and brought me back to my senses. There was nothing in front of me, and my mind was blank.