Because of the same philosophy and political thought, the seven sages of bamboo forest came together. They all despise Ming religion and advocate returning to the true face of human nature, so they always stay away from the court and behave strangely.

Dan Tao later chose to join Sima Group because of his marriage with Sima Jia. He had little contact with Ji Kang, but he did not break off diplomatic relations. Ji Kang later wrote "Breaking Up with Mountain Juyuan" because Dan Tao recommended Ji Kang to Si Mazhao to replace him as Cao Lang of the shogunate, so Ji Kang wrote an article accusing Dan Tao. However, Ji Kang's article seems to accuse Dan Tao of not understanding his ambition. He also said that he would break up with Dan Tao. In fact, this is addressed to Si Mazhao, which shows Si Mazhao's firm attitude of refusing to be an official.

So after writing this letter, although they have less contact, they have not really broken up. In Ji Kang's mind, Dan Tao has always been a trustworthy brother. He knew that Dan Tao recommended him to be an official out of kindness and for his future. He was not the kind of person who didn't know how to be good. However, in the political environment at that time, Ji Kang was originally the in-laws of Cao Wei's family and was suspected by Sima's family. If he tells Si Mazhao directly, he disdains to cooperate with Sima Jia, which is tantamount to directly challenging the authority of Si Mazhao. Not only will he be killed, but even his friend Dan Tao, who kindly recommended him, will be implicated, so he expressed his attitude to Si Mazhao in this euphemistic way, stuck to his position, saved his friends and did not contact them directly.

Later, Ji Kang failed to escape Si Mazhao's butcher's knife and was killed on trumped-up charges. Before he died, he entrusted his son to Dan Tao, which shows that their friendship has been maintained.