April 2, 2007, Armored Cavalry
Across the bleak river and sky, nowhere to rest my heart; only a few lonely notes from a Qiang flute lingered.
Once, alone, with a cup of tea, I could pass the long night at ease, with stars for my lamps, clouds for my robes, and wind for my song.
Back then, between the pitch-black heavens and earth, my arrogant ignorance and almost prideful shallowness coldly faced the tides rising and falling, the flowers blooming and fading.
Lost in melancholy between heaven and earth, with whom could I speak?
My cramped dwelling had weathered frost and wind; at last, flying rain came to my mist-veiled straw cape.
One scroll of Immortal Road, half a lifetime of smoke and dust. I asked travelers along the road where the worthy were to be found. Fingers had pointed everywhere, north and south of the great river.
Perhaps it was fate's unseen design: a click made in utter boredom, a lingering intoxication that left me wanting more, led me into a land where spring returned.
From then on, fragrant grass at the ends of the earth stretched vividly before my eyes, joining the sky; in the azure heavens, someone beyond the mortal world sang softly, and down at the Yellow Springs, an unrepentant heart cried out. Seeing that the cloud road stretching ninety thousand miles was not lonely, with eight thousand bright moons spilling their light, I wept for joy.
Among the friends of Immortal Road were those whose gifts dazzled, whose prose soared, whose hearts brimmed with sorrow and joy, whose sincerity and true nature shone-as numerous as stars, as vast as the blue sea. Standing among them, I was filled with admiration.
When ignorant, I could ask friends to teach me and come to understand; when