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(Afterword attached to *Zhiyan*)

The Layman Jingguan, whose surname was Cheng and given name Lin, courtesy name Yunlai, was the son of Cheng Yuankai from Huaitang in Shexian. Descended from a renowned medical family, he possessed an elegant temperament and cherished leisure and tranquility. While his conduct remained within the human realm, his aspirations transcended worldly affairs. After burying his parents, he sighed with emotion and resolved to undertake a long journey.

My father hosted a banquet to see him off, asking, "Where do you intend to go? You begin your travels only after fulfilling the rites of filial piety and completing the mourning period for your parents; this is far more virtuous than those who travel to the Five Great Mountains only after their marriages are concluded. But where exactly do you plan to go? Will you visit the famous mountains of the eastern central commanderies and drift upon the vast sea? Or will you wander between the Tiao River and the Xue River? Will you explore Mount Jiuyi, float down the Yuan and Xiang rivers, wade through the Wen and Si rivers, and proceed to the capitals of Zou and Lu to lecture on learning? Will you pass Mount Lu and dwell in Qixian Valley? Or will you ascend Mount Hua and climb the Fallen Goose Peak? Will you perhaps tour eight of the nine provinces? If not, will you visit the mysterious passes and the peaks of Meng Mountain, wandering beyond the nine heavens with Han Wen? These are matters I cannot know.

What I do know is that Yunlai possesses ingenious ideas and extraordinary skills. He often crafts ruyi scepters from bamboo roots, hats made from bamboo husks, and caps of deer skin. He imitates the cups of Ji Kang (courtesy name Shuye) and replicates the spears of Jing Shan, displaying them as unique garments and implements. Yunlai regularly consumes 'Shangchi water' (water collected before touching the ground, traditionally believed to have health benefits), enabling him to perceive illnesses within a specific area. He will surely support himself by selling medicine, much like Zhongchangzi Guang. Yunlai does not regret the absence of calligraphic models by Wang Xizhi and Wang Xianzhi; rather, he regrets that they lacked his style. When asked about the Dao, he will certainly write passages from the *Laozi* and *Yijing* (Book of Changes) in the air with his sword to demonstrate them. Yunlai is skilled in painting; he will surely depict Xiang Ping (Xiang Chang) on walls and illustrate the encounter between Ruan Ji and Sun Deng (the Master of Su Men) on screens, viewing them while sitting or lying down. Furthermore, he will map all the places he visits. Yunlai is proficient in seal carving; he will leave inscriptions at Mount Xiang'er and cast his brush onto the steep courtyards of Junji, personally engraving cliff faces with diligence. Yunlai excels in literature and will surely produce records of his roaming landscapes.

In the future, if I were to meet him south of a mountain or in the middle of a river, I would hope to cut lotus leaves to serve as mats for meat, use gourd ladles filled with wine, read his travelogues together, and unfold his paintings. This would constitute the dialogue of looking up and down. If the sun rises again, playing the qin evokes responses from the surrounding mountains; could the ancients be deceiving us? We might further request Bixia pills and measure them out with a dao gui spoon to consume, transforming our frail bodies into vessels capable of enjoying scenic beauty. Thus, we would discuss the ruins of Kunlun, inscribing pillars with the words: 'Yixian and Yunlai visited here.'

On the second day after the first day of the twelfth lunar month in the winter of the Jihai year of the Shunzhi reign, your younger brother Guangwen respectfully inscribed."