Spread a splendid feast to sit among flowers; send feathered cups flying and grow drunk beneath the moon.
- Anonymous
I vaguely remember True Person Ling Ting stopping short of what he wanted to say last time, as though something was happening on the mountain. I wonder whether this summons to Flying Cloud Summit is to discuss it.
On the mountain path to Flying Cloud Summit, the master of Four Seas Hall was guessing why he had been summoned.
With nothing else to occupy him as he walked, the youth began recalling the events of the past year. Whenever he found time to think them over, his present life really did seem like a dream.
Once, he had hurried through Raozhou's streets and markets, thinking all day of how to earn his daily bread. Even while listening to the old teacher's lessons at the Ji Family School, his head had been filled with the restaurant kitchen's pots, bowls, ladles, and spoons, and the arrangement of its tables and chairs. A poor mountain lad like him had truly stood a head lower before everyone he met. Back when he was running about amid smoke, dust, and filthy mire, how could he ever have imagined his life today?
"Before the bamboo, enjoy the blessing of idle hours; among the flowers, turn the pages of an unfinished book." His days on Mount Luofu really were like those of an immortal.
That steadfast determination of mine to pursue the Dao certainly wasn't wasted!
The youth teased himself. Though he had persistently asked the old Daoist Qinghe to admit him, he had never imagined things would turn out this way. Back then, all he had wanted was food and clothing.
*I wonder what they've summoned me for today. Still, there's no need to overthink it.