I was a mineral prospector in Chengdu, who transmigrated into the body of a mortal sword immortal.

He Zhizhang's hand still gripped Li Bai's wrist tightly, his knuckles turning white. Tears still lingered in his cloudy eyes, but more than anything, there was a desperate, almost fearful urgency. The cheers around them gradually subsided; everyone watched the reunited old friends with curiosity, but no one dared to disturb them. The autumn wind swirled the fallen yellow leaves past the pavilion. He Zhizhang took a deep breath, as if using all his strength, to lower his voice to a whisper: "The carriage is outside… let's go now." Without waiting for Li Bai's reply, he pulled him towards the pavilion's exit. His steps were unsteady yet resolute, as if a raging beast were chasing them.

Li Bai did not struggle.

He let He Zhizhang pull him through the crowd and down the stone steps by Qujiang Pool. He Zhizhang's carriage was parked by the roadside; it was an inconspicuous blue-canopied carriage, and the driver was a taciturn old servant who immediately lifted the curtain when he saw his master come out.

The carriage was narrow, and the two sat facing each other with their knees almost touching.

The carriage curtain was drawn, and the light immediately dimmed. The carriage was filled with the smell of old wood, mixed with a faint scent of ink and herbs—He Zhizhang suffered from a cough and took medication regularly. The carriage began to move, the wheels making a rhythmic clattering sound as they rolled over the stone pavement, causing the carriage to sway slightly.

He Zhizhang leaned against the carriage wall, his eyes closed, his chest heaving.

Li Bai looked at him.

Ten years had left deep marks on this old friend. His wrinkles were deeper, his hair was whiter, and his once straight back was now slightly hunched. But at this moment, besides the excitement of the reunion, there was a solemnity on his aged face that Li Bai had never seen before.

"Congratulations, Supervisor," Li Bai said softly.

He Zhizhang opened his eyes.

In the dim light, his eyes shone brightly, like two burning flames.

"Taibai." He Zhizhang's voice was still hoarse, but much calmer now. "Where...where have you been all these years?"

Li Bai remained silent for a moment.

"Shushan," he said.

Two words, light as a feather, yet weighing a ton in the carriage.

He Zhizhang's pupils contracted slightly.

"Shushan..." he murmured repeatedly, a complex light flashing in his eyes, "No wonder...no wonder your appearance hasn't changed, no wonder you..."

He didn't continue speaking, but simply gave Li Bai a deep look.

There was shock and doubt in his eyes, but more than anything, there was understanding—as if all the incredible things that had happened to Li Bai had a reasonable explanation in the face of those two words.

The carriage drove out of Chang'an City.

The roads outside the city became bumpy, and the carriage swayed even more violently. Through the gaps in the curtains, one could see the autumn fields—the rice had been harvested, leaving neat rows of stubble, gleaming golden in the sunlight. In the distance, farmers were burning straw, wisps of smoke rising, carrying a faint smell of burning. Further still, the rolling mountains appeared and disappeared in the autumn mist.

About half an hour later, the carriage stopped in front of a secluded manor.

The manor was small, with white walls and black tiles, nestled behind a bamboo grove. There were no stone lions or plaques at the entrance, only two simple wooden doors. The coachman knocked on the door, and footsteps came from inside. An old servant opened the door, bowed to He Zhizhang, and greeted him.

"All of you, step back," He Zhizhang said, his voice regaining its usual authority. "Without my order, no one is to approach the study."

"Yes."

The old servant withdrew, his footsteps disappearing into the depths of the corridor.

He Zhizhang led Li Bai through the front yard. Several osmanthus trees grew in the yard; their blooming season was over, but a faint, sweet fragrance still lingered in the air. Neatly trimmed dwarf pines lined both sides of the flagstone path, their needles trembling slightly in the autumn breeze. Several strings of dried chilies and corn hung under the eaves, their red and yellow hues exuding a rustic charm.

The study is located at the deepest part of the manor.

As I pushed open the door, a strong scent of ink wafted out.

The study was small, with bookshelves lining three walls, densely packed with books. Beside the window was a large desk, upon which lay the Four Treasures of the Study (writing brush, ink stick, inkstone, and paper), and an unlit oil lamp. The shadows of bamboo cast by the outside dappled light across the desk.

He Zhizhang closed the door and bolted it.

Then, he turned around and faced Li Bai.

All the excitement and warmth on his face vanished at that moment, leaving only an almost cold seriousness.

"Sit down," he said.

Li Bai sat down in the chair in front of his desk. The chair was made of hardwood and was cold to the touch. He Zhizhang did not sit down, but stood by the window, his back to Li Bai, looking at the bamboo forest outside.

silence.

The study was so quiet that you could hear your own heartbeat.

The bamboo leaves rustled in the wind, like countless whispers.

After a long silence, He Zhizhang finally spoke.

"Zimei has come looking for you." He was referring to Du Fu, whose courtesy name was Zimei.

Li Bai nodded: "Yes."

"Did he tell you?"

He said that the Yang family's daughter had already entered the Prince Shou's residence.

He Zhizhang turned around, his gaze sharp as a knife, and stared at Li Bai.

"More than that," he said. "More than just entering the Prince Shou's residence. She is already the Princess Consort of Prince Shou."

Li Bai's fingers tightened slightly inside his sleeve.

Although I had expected it, hearing the words "Princess Consort of Shou" still made my heart clench as if something had squeezed it tightly.

"When did this happen?" he asked, his voice so calm it surprised even himself.

"Three months ago," He Zhizhang said, "Consort Wu Hui personally arranged the marriage, and His Majesty bestowed the decree upon them. The wedding was held in a low-key manner, but all the proper etiquette was observed. Now, Yang Yuhuan—that is her name—is the principal wife of Prince Shou, Li Mao, and a legitimate royal daughter-in-law."

Li Bai closed his eyes.

The image of Yang Yuhuan at fifteen years old came to mind—exquisitely beautiful, with a sparkle in her eyes, and the curve of her lips when she smiled was exactly the same as Yang Xiaohuan's.

Then, that smile gradually blurred, covered by the bright red wedding dress, and obscured by the phoenix coronet and embroidered robe.

Princess Shou.

The three words, like three nails, were driven into his heart.

"The process was very strange," He Zhizhang continued, his voice low, as if recounting a conspiracy. "When Consort Wu Hui was alive, she doted on Prince Shou and wanted him to replace the Crown Prince. Lady Yang came from the Hongnong Yang clan. Although her family had fallen on hard times, she was still of noble birth and possessed unparalleled beauty. Consort Wu Hui chose her for two reasons: first, to find a good marriage for Prince Shou, and second, to consolidate Prince Shou's position by winning over the old Yang clan through marriage."

Li Bai opened his eyes.

"Consort Wu Hui has passed away," he said.

"Yes." He Zhizhang nodded. "She passed away three months ago. Shortly after Yang Yuhuan married into the Prince of Shou's household."

He paused, walked to the desk, placed his hands on the desk, leaned forward, and stared into Li Bai's eyes.

"Taibai, do you understand what this means?"

Li Bai looked at him.

"This means that Prince Shou has lost his biggest backer," he said. "It also means that Yang Yuhuan, this pawn, has lost its original value to some people."

A look of approval flashed in He Zhizhang's eyes.

"You really are still the same Li Bai," he said, "You understand things instantly."

He straightened up and paced around the study. His footsteps were light, but each step made a dull thud on the wooden floor.

"After Consort Wu Hui passed away, His Majesty's attitude towards Prince Shou became very subtle," He Zhizhang said. "Originally, Prince Shou was His Majesty's most beloved son. When Consort Wu Hui was alive, His Majesty even considered changing the heir apparent. But now... His Majesty rarely summons Prince Shou and rarely mentions him. The ministers in the court who originally supported Prince Shou have also begun to observe."

He stopped and looked at Li Bai.

"And Yang Yuhuan, the newlywed princess of Shou, who had just married into the royal family and had not yet had time to establish herself, was in an even more awkward situation."

Li Bai's fingers clenched into a fist inside his sleeve.

The nail dug into the palm, causing a sharp pain.

"And then?" he asked, his voice still calm.

He Zhizhang took a deep breath.

"And then, here's the most dangerous part I'm going to tell you about."

He walked back to his desk, took a roll of paper from the drawer, and spread it out on the desk. It was a map of Chang'an, with several places circled on it in vermilion ink.

"These are the most famous Taoist temples inside and outside Chang'an City," He Zhizhang said, pointing to the red circles. "Qingyang Palace, Xuandu Temple, Baiyun Temple... and Zhongnan Mountain outside the city, where there are dozens of Taoist temples, a gathering place for Taoist practitioners."

Li Bai looked at those red circles.

"Gao Lishi," He Zhizhang said, "For the past three months, Gao Lishi has been frequently visiting these Taoist temples on His Majesty's secret orders. Sometimes he visits openly, and sometimes he goes on incognito visits. Each time he goes, he has a private talk with the abbot, sometimes for several hours."

"What is he looking for?" Li Bai asked.

"Find two things." He Zhizhang held up two fingers. "First, a virtuous person—not those charlatans who pretend to be gods, but a truly accomplished and virtuous Taoist. Second, a suitable place for quiet cultivation—it should be quiet, elegant, and far from the hustle and bustle of the world, but not too far from Chang'an, preferably near a royal garden or imperial palace."

Li Bai's heart sank little by little.

"Your Majesty...why are you looking for these?"

He Zhizhang looked at him, a hint of pity flashing in his eyes.

"Taibai, you've been away from Chang'an for ten years. There are some things you may not know," he said. "After Consort Wu Hui passed away, His Majesty was devastated. They had a very deep relationship. Consort Wu Hui had been with His Majesty for nearly thirty years and was the person His Majesty trusted and relied on the most. With her passing, His Majesty felt as if he had lost half his life."

He paused, then lowered his voice.

"In these three months, His Majesty has rarely attended court and has spent most of his time in his palace. Sometimes he is alone, staring blankly at the portrait of Consort Wu Hui. Sometimes he summons musicians to play music, but as he listens, he will burst into tears. The palace servants say in private that His Majesty is looking for a 'confidante'—someone who can understand his heart and comfort his sorrow."

Li Bai's hands trembled inside his sleeves.

"So..." he heard his own voice, dry and rough like sandpaper, "Someone wants to present His Majesty with a new 'compassionate confidante'?"

He Zhizhang nodded.

"Moreover, this flower must be legitimate, must not attract criticism, and must... conform to etiquette."

He walked to the window, looked at the bamboo forest outside, and his figure appeared particularly desolate in the autumn sunlight.

"Taibai, you've read history books," he said. "Lady Xuanhua of the Sui Dynasty was originally a concubine of Emperor Chen Houzhu. After the fall of the Chen Dynasty, she was taken into the Sui palace. Consort Xu Hui of the Sui Dynasty was originally the daughter of a disgraced official. After being selected into the palace, she gained favor through her talent and learning. In this dynasty... Empress Wu of the current Gaozong Emperor was originally a concubine of Emperor Taizong. After Emperor Taizong's death, she became a nun. Then, Emperor Gaozong brought her back to the palace and made her empress."

He turned around, his eyes blazing.

History always repeats itself.

Li Bai stood up.

He walked to the desk and looked at the map. The red circles were like blood-red brands, branded onto the map of Chang'an.

"So," he said, each word seemingly squeezed out from between his teeth, "the next step is that someone suggests having Princess Shou 'voluntarily' become a Taoist nun to pray for His Majesty and the late Consort Wu Hui. Then, once the storm has passed and time has faded the memory, it will be a natural progression... to bring her into the palace?"

He Zhizhang remained silent.

But his silence was the best answer.

The study was deathly silent.

The bamboo leaves rustled, and the wind howled.

Li Bai stood there, looking at the map, at the red circles, at Chang'an—this prosperous, magnificent, cannibalistic city.

His heart was pounding wildly in his chest.

Blood surged through the veins like boiling magma.

The golden elixir spun within the dantian, unleashing a violent power.

The sword intent roared through his meridians, wanting to break free of his body, to shatter everything, and to stain Chang'an with blood.

But he didn't move.

He just stood there, like a stone statue.

After a long while, he slowly raised his head and looked at He Zhizhang.

"Who is behind this?" he asked, his voice eerily calm.

He Zhizhang sighed.

“Li Linfu,” he said. “Although he didn’t say it outright, all the signs point to him. Gao Lishi is his ally, and those eunuchs in the palace who suggested that Princess Shou should ‘voluntarily’ pray for blessings are also his men. And then there’s Yang Guozhong—Yang Yuhuan’s cousin, who is now eager to climb the social ladder. If Yang Yuhuan can enter the palace and gain favor, he can rise to the top in one step.”

He walked up to Li Bai and grabbed Li Bai's shoulders with both hands.

"Taibai, listen to me." He Zhizhang's voice was more earnest than ever before. "I know you have a past relationship with that Yang woman. Ten years ago, when you were traveling in Sichuan, you met her once and even wrote a poem for her. I remember all of that."

Li Bai looked at him.

"But this matter concerns the face of the imperial family and the stability of the court." He Zhizhang's hands trembled. "Although His Majesty is grieving and may have had these thoughts, he is, after all, a wise ruler and would not easily do anything to damage the imperial reputation. But if... if someone were to fuel the flames, if someone were to create an 'accident,' if someone were to make His Majesty 'unable to control himself'..."

He paused, a flicker of fear in his eyes.

"Then it will be too late."

Li Bai remained silent.

He Zhizhang gripped his shoulders with such force that he almost crushed his bones.

"Taibai, I'm telling you this not so you can save her," he said. "I'm telling you to stay away from this. The further away the better."

"Why?" Li Bai asked softly.

"Because Li Linfu has already noticed you," He Zhizhang said. "Your actions at Qujiang Pool, your high-profile behavior in Chang'an, your interactions with Du Fu... all of these have been reported to him. He doesn't know about your relationship with Yang Yuhuan yet, but if he does, if he senses that you have special feelings for her..."

He Zhizhang released his grip, took a step back, and his face was full of worry.

"Then you will become a thorn in his side, a thorn in his flesh. He will use every means to get rid of you. And you, a commoner, without official position, without anyone to rely on, what can you use to fight him? What can you use to fight the entire court?"

He took a deep breath.

"Taibai, you are my best friend in this life," He Zhizhang said, tears welling up in his eyes again. "Ten years ago, when you left Chang'an, I didn't stop you because I knew that Chang'an, this cage, couldn't contain a true dragon like you. But now, you've returned, and in such an... unbelievable way. I don't want to see you ruin yourself because of a woman, because of an old relationship."

He reached out and grasped Li Bai's hand tightly.

"Don't act impulsively," He Zhizhang said, each word seeming to come from the depths of his heart. "A wrong step could lead to utter ruin!"

Li Bai looked down at He Zhizhang's hand.

The hand was old, rough, and wrinkled, but warm and strong. Holding his hand felt like holding a fragile treasure.

He could sense He Zhizhang's worry, his fear, and his pain at wanting to protect his friend yet being powerless to do so.

He also knew that everything He Zhizhang said was true.

Li Linfu wielded immense power and was ruthless.

Gao Lishi controlled the palace and was all-pervasive.

Yang Guozhong was ambitious and unscrupulous.

Although Emperor Xuanzong of Tang was old and grieving, he was still the emperor who created the Kaiyuan era of prosperity, and his will was the will of Heaven.

Li Bai, a commoner who had just returned to Chang'an and had nothing but his poetry and swordsmanship, what could he use to fight against all of this?

What could be used to save Yang Yuhuan?

What can we use to change history?

He closed his eyes.

Two images flashed through my mind.

One was Yang Xiaohuan, who, on the streets of Chengdu in 2003, was surrounded by two tattooed men, tears welling in her eyes, yet she gritted her teeth and said, "Li Bai, stop bothering me!"

One is Yang Yuhuan, who, in the prosperous Chang'an of the Tang Dynasty, wore a bright red wedding dress, a phoenix coronet and embroidered robe, and was carried into the Prince of Shou's mansion in a bridal sedan chair.

The two images overlapped.

Two faces, exactly the same.

Two pairs of eyes, both filled with the same sorrow and helplessness.

Two lifetimes, two love stories.

The same helplessness, the same helpless watching as loved ones fall into the abyss.

No.

This time, it's different.

Li Bai opened his eyes.

In his eyes, a storm was brewing.

The golden core spun wildly in his dantian, the sword intent surged and roared through his meridians, and memories of his past and present lives surged and boiled in his mind.

The rationality of a geological engineer, the romance of a poet, and the sharpness of a swordsman all merge into one at this moment.

He slowly withdrew his hand.

He Zhizhang's hand was still suspended in mid-air, trembling slightly.

Li Bai looked at him, at this aged, worried friend who genuinely cared for him.

Then he spoke.

The voice was deep and steady, like a stone at the bottom of a deep pool.

"Thank you for informing me, Supervisor He."

He paused.

"I... know what I'm doing."

The four words, placed in the study, were like four nails.

He Zhizhang stared at him for a long time.

Finally, he sighed and shook his head.

"I knew I couldn't dissuade you," he said, his voice filled with helplessness. "You, Li Bai, have never been one to listen to advice."

Li Bai smiled.

That smile contained three parts wildness, three parts unruliness, and four parts cold sharpness.

"He Jian," he said, "ten years ago, when you saw me off from Chang'an, you said something to me."

He Zhizhang looked at him.

"What did you say?"

"You said," Li Bai said slowly, "'I don't know when we'll meet again after this journey. Take care.'"

A glint of memory flashed in He Zhizhang's eyes.

"Yes, I did say that."

"Now, I'm back," Li Bai said. "And I won't leave again."

He turned and walked toward the study door.

He placed his hand on the door latch and paused for a moment.

"Supervisor He," he said without turning around, "thank you for telling me all this. And thank you... for still considering me a friend."

Then he unlatched the door and pushed it open.

The autumn sunlight streamed in, so bright it was hard to open one's eyes.

Bamboo shadows sway, and the wind howls.

Li Bai strode out of the study.

The sound of footsteps echoed in the corridor, gradually fading into the distance.

He Zhizhang stood in the study, watching his figure disappear into the light and shadow.

After a long while, he slowly walked to the desk and sat down.

My hand is on that map.

Press it onto those blood-red circles.

"I always knew my limits..." he murmured to himself, shaking his head with a bitter smile. "Li Bai, Li Bai, in your entire life, when have you ever known any sense of propriety?"

Outside the window, the bamboo leaves rustled.

Like a sigh.