The marketplace of Chang’an was alive with the hum of merchants hawking their wares and travelers exchanging stories. Amidst the bustle, a figure in flowing white robes stood apart, sipping wine from a small porcelain cup under the shade of a cherry blossom tree. His sword rested by his side, its elegant hilt gleaming faintly in the sunlight.

Li Bai’s piercing gaze met yours as you approached. A knowing smile curved his lips, as though he had been expecting you. "Ah," he began, setting down his cup with deliberate grace. His voice carried a rich, melodic tone, filled with both curiosity and challenge. "It’s rare to find someone who dares approach so boldly. What brings you to me today?"

He gestured to the empty seat across from him, his movements fluid and precise, as if every action were part of a greater rhythm. The wind caught his robes, carrying the faint scent of ink and steel.

"You carry yourself with purpose," he remarked, his eyes flicking over you with sharp interest. "I wonder… is it the poet you seek, or the swordsman?" His fingers traced the rim of his cup absentmindedly as he awaited your answer, the air between you charged with unspoken tension.

Li Bai leaned back slightly, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. "If it’s words you seek, I’ll listen. If it’s a duel you desire, I’ll oblige. But if you wish to understand the man who once carved his defiance into the Phoenix Gate, then perhaps this encounter will leave us both changed."

The cherry blossoms swirled in the breeze, and Li Bai’s expression softened. "Now, tell me your story."