Tavern of the Spear: Desire for Pleasure

After some initial excitement, the group finally got to know each other better. They were no longer as reserved as before, and the conversation flowed freely, creating a relaxed and pleasant atmosphere.

"Oh, right, we still don't know your name?" Cheng Yu suddenly remembered that they didn't know the bard's name, so he asked, "Where do you come from? And where are you going?"

“My name is Xingluo, and I come from a small city in the south called ‘Silver Moon City’,” the bard replied with a smile. His voice, like his name, was full of poetry and romance. “As for where I am going… I don’t really know. I’m just a wandering bard, singing wherever I go, that’s all.”

“Silvermoon City?” Cheng Yu stroked his chin, racking his brains, and realized he had never heard of this place before. “Then… why did you come here? This place… doesn’t seem like a suitable place for bards to perform.”

“Haha, you’re right.” Xinglu laughed heartily. “This is indeed not a suitable place for performance, but I came here not to perform, but to find inspiration.”

"Inspiration?" Cheng Yu was even more puzzled. "What kind of inspiration can we find here?"

“Of course,” Xingluo said. “Haven’t you heard the legend of Black Dragon Valley? It’s… a very ancient and mysterious story!”

"The legend of Black Dragon Valley?" Cheng Yu shook his head. "I...I've never heard of it..."

“It’s alright, I can tell you,” Xingluo said. “It’s… a very exciting story!”

"Then... I'll have to trouble you," Cheng Yu said.

"No trouble at all, no trouble at all." Xinglu waved his hand. "It's my honor."

As he spoke, he cleared his throat, preparing to begin recounting the legend of Black Dragon Valley.

"Ahem..." Xinglu cleared her throat, just about to begin her story, when she suddenly remembered something and turned to look at Cheng Yu and Bai Yu, "By the way, I still don't know your names? Where are you from? Why are you heading north?"

“My name is Cheng Yu, and his name is Bai Yu.” Cheng Yu pointed to himself and Bai Yu beside him, and then said, “I…I’m actually from the South, from a…a tavern. I…I’m just an ordinary adventurer, traveling with friends.”

"A tavern?" Xingluo's eyes flashed with curiosity. "What kind of tavern?"

"Well... it's a long story..." Cheng Yu scratched his head, unsure how to explain. "Anyway... it's just a very ordinary tavern..."

"Oh..." Xingluo nodded thoughtfully, but didn't press further. "And... what about you?"

He turned to look at Bai Yu, his eyes filled with anticipation.

"I..." Bai Yu hesitated for a moment, but finally decided to tell the truth, "I...I actually...come from another time and space..."

"Another dimension?" Xingluo's eyes widened instantly, as if he had heard something unbelievable. "You...you mean...you're not from this world?"

“Yes.” Bai Yu nodded. “I am a…time traveler, capable of traversing different times and spaces…”

"A time traveler?!" Xingluo's eyes gleamed with excitement. "Then...then you must have experienced a lot of interesting things, right? Tell me about them!"

He excitedly grabbed Bai Yu's hand, like a child eager to hear the story.

Bai Yu was caught off guard by his sudden enthusiasm. He smiled awkwardly and said, "Well... I... I don't really like talking about myself..."

"Why?" Xinglu asked, puzzled. "Don't you...don't you want to share your story with others?"

"I..." Bai Yu opened his mouth, but didn't know how to explain, "I...I just...am not used to it..."

"Not used to it?" Xinglu tilted her head and thought for a moment. "Is it because... you're afraid that others won't believe you?"

“No…” Bai Yu shook his head, “I just… feel… there’s nothing to say about those things…”

“How could there be nothing to say?” Xingluo said. “Your experiences… must be incredibly fascinating! I… I really want to hear them!”

“But…” Bai Yu still hesitated.

"Please!" Xingluo clasped her hands together, making a pleading expression. "Just... just tell me! I promise... I'll listen carefully!"

"I..." Bai Yu looked at his sincere expression and for a moment didn't know how to refuse.

"Just tell us, tell us!" Cheng Yu chimed in from the side, "I want to hear your story too!"

“You guys…” Bai Yu sighed helplessly, “Alright… then I’ll just… say a few things randomly…”

"Yay!" Xinglu cheered, immediately sitting up straight and adopting a posture of listening attentively.

"Which story would you like to hear?" Bai Yu asked.

"Hmm..." Xingluo thought for a moment, resting his chin on his hand, "Let's... let's talk about your... first experience of time travel!"

"My first time traveling through time..." A hint of reminiscence flashed in Bai Yu's eyes. "That... happened a long time ago..."

He began to slowly recount his first experience of time travel, an adventure full of thrills and excitement, and a journey he would never forget.

Xinglu listened with great interest, occasionally letting out exclamations of surprise and questions, completely immersed in Bai Yu's story.

Cheng Yu sat to the side, watching the two of them, a maternal smile on her face.

Xingluo and Baiyu are both tiger-beastmen; one is enthusiastic and cheerful, the other is calm and reserved, so their personalities complement each other quite well. Moreover, the two of them standing together look... quite well-matched.

Cheng Yu stroked his chin, secretly making plans in his mind.

Bai Yu has always wanted to find a partner, hasn't he? This Xing Luo seems like a pretty good candidate!

Hmm...maybe I can help them?

Cheng Yu's lips curled up slightly, revealing a sly smile.

He's made up his mind; he's going to bring these two guys together!

However, this matter requires careful consideration and should not be rushed.

After all, matters of the heart depend on their own wishes; he can't force them.

“By the way, Bai Yu,” Cheng Yu suddenly asked, “what kind of…partner do you like?”

"Partner?" Bai Yu was taken aback, not expecting Cheng Yu to suddenly ask this question. "I...I don't know..."

"You don't know?" Cheng Yu raised an eyebrow. "You...you haven't...never thought about this question before?"

"I..." Bai Yu's cheeks flushed slightly, "I...I used to be...so busy...traveling through time...I simply...had no time...to think about these things..."

"I see..." Cheng Yu nodded thoughtfully. "So... do you have someone you like right now?"

"Someone you like?" A hint of confusion flashed in Bai Yu's eyes. "I...I don't know..."

"I don't know what you mean?" Cheng Yu pressed. "You...don't you ever feel that spark with anyone?"

"The feeling of being moved?" Bai Yu frowned and thought for a moment. "Then... what does that feel like?"

"Uh..." Cheng Yu was stumped by his question. "Well... I can't really explain it, it's just... a very special feeling..."

"A very special feeling?" Bai Yu was even more puzzled. "How special?"

Xingluo, standing to the side, watched the two of them talking with some curiosity, wondering if they didn't pay attention to whether there were other people around them when they were talking.

"Oh dear, how can you be so dense!" Cheng Yu said anxiously. "It's just...it's just...when you see him, your heart races, your face turns red, you...you want to be with him forever..."

"Heart racing? Blushing? Wanting to be together forever?" Bai Yu repeated, then shook his head. "I...I don't think I've ever...felt this way before..."

"Never?!" Cheng Yu's eyes widened in surprise. "You...you wouldn't...have never...liked anyone else, would you?"

"Like?" Bai Yu tilted his head and thought for a moment. "Probably... not..."

"Oh my god..." Cheng Yu covered his forehead, looking defeated. "You...you really are...a blockhead..."

"Wood?" Bai Yu asked, puzzled. "Why... am I wood?"

"Ahem~ I'm here too. Can you guys please stop talking about this kind of thing? Although I also enjoy discussing these topics, I feel like this isn't the right time!" Xingluo's face was a little flushed. He had a feeling that Chengyu was helping him, but he didn't have any romantic feelings for him!

"Never mind, never mind, I can't explain it to you..." Cheng Yu waved his hand. "Just remember, if you encounter something that makes your heart race, that's definitely the feeling of being in love."

Cheng Yu's words instantly turned the previously relaxed and pleasant atmosphere awkward. He realized this himself, lowered his head in embarrassment, and wished he could disappear into the ground. How could he have forgotten that there was a third person present? His straightforward personality could sometimes be quite a headache. However, perhaps this was also his characteristic—saying what he thinks, which, although sometimes seeming a bit rash, is at least sincere.

Bai Yu stared blankly at the other two, completely unaware that something had been off about the atmosphere. In his world, discussions about relationships were perhaps still a blank slate. However, he keenly sensed the subtle shift in the atmosphere and took the initiative to ask, "What's wrong? The atmosphere between you two seems to have suddenly become strange."

Xinglu was incredibly embarrassed. Although he knew Cheng Yu might have meant no harm, discussing such topics in front of others was still somewhat inappropriate. He secretly glanced at Bai Yu beside him and had to admit that the other was indeed very handsome and gave him a sense of security—his type. However, Xinglu wasn't the type to fall in love easily; he needed more time to get to know him and understand him. So he quickly said, "It's nothing, Cheng Yu just said something wrong. It's nothing serious."

Bai Yu smiled slightly and said, "That's good. I thought something serious had happened. But if you have any worries, you can tell me. Maybe I can help."

"Um..." To break the awkward atmosphere, Xingluo took the initiative to speak, "Aren't you going to the Northern Wolf Tribe? Do you know how to get there?"

After listening, Cheng Yu said thoughtfully, "I remember that when Qian Tu brought me here before me, this place wasn't here. Anyway, even if I had been here before, I probably wouldn't remember clearly."

Bai Yu scratched his head and said, "He's not interested anymore, let alone me. I've never even been to that tribe, so it seems like we're lost..."

"Lost?" Xingluo was taken aback for a moment, then laughed, "What a coincidence..."

"Yes, what a coincidence..." Cheng Yu said with a wry smile, "We thought we could get there by just following this road..."

“This road does lead north, but it’s still quite far from the wolf tribe…” Xingluo said, “and we have to cross a very dangerous forest along the way…”

"A very dangerous forest?" Cheng Yu and Bai Yu asked in unison.

“Hmm…” Xingluo nodded, “There are many powerful magical beasts in that forest, as well as some unfriendly tribes…”

"What should we do then?" Cheng Yu asked. "Can we still go to the wolf tribe?"

“Of course,” Xingluo said. “If you don’t mind, I can take you there…”

"Really?" Cheng Yu and Bai Yu's eyes lit up instantly. "That's wonderful!"

"You're welcome." Xinglu smiled. "I'm going north anyway, it's just on the way..."

"Then I'll have to trouble you!" Cheng Yu said gratefully. "You're such a good person!"

"Haha, I wouldn't call myself a good person..." Xinglu waved his hand, "I'm just a bard who likes to help others..."

"Are all bards as warm-hearted as you?" Bai Yu asked.

"Well, that's not necessarily true..." Xingluo said. "Every bard has their own personality and way of doing things..."

"And what about you?" Cheng Yu asked curiously, "What kind of bard are you?"

“Me?” Xinglu thought for a moment and said, “I’m probably a bard who likes freedom, adventure, and making friends…”

“That sounds great…” Cheng Yu said. “I also enjoy adventure and making friends…”

“Then we’re friends from now on…” Xingluo said with a smile, “We can go on adventures together, sing together…”

“Great!” Cheng Yu said happily, “I can also transform into all sorts of different forms for you to see…”

"Really?" Xingluo's eyes were filled with anticipation. "Then I'll have to really enjoy it..."

"Yes!" Cheng Yu nodded vigorously.

"By the way, Bai Yu, I still want to apologize for what happened before. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have forced you to say things you didn't want to talk about," Xing Luo said to Bai Yu.

Bai Yu smiled slightly and said, "It's okay. I really don't want to tell anyone else about the story of the Time Traveler. It's enough for me to know it myself. If you really want to hear it, then I can consider it."

"Haha, that's great! You'd better think it over quickly," Cheng Yu teased. "After all, we've known each other for so long, and I haven't heard your story yet. It's always been you listening to my stories, which isn't very fair."

Xingluo narrowed his eyes, his face showing agreement. "I'm also really looking forward to your story. The story of the Time Traveler is sure to garner a lot of praise!"

……

Before they knew it, it was getting dark. Xinglu pointed to a clearing not far ahead and said, "Let's rest here tonight and continue our journey tomorrow."

"Okay." Cheng Yu and Bai Yu both nodded in agreement.

So the three of them stopped in the open space to rest. Xingluo took out some dry food and water from her bag and handed them to Chengyu and Baiyu.

"Thank you." Cheng Yu took the dry food and water and wolfed it down.

After Cheng Yu finished eating what he had in his hand, he picked up some dry rations and ate them slowly. He suddenly said, "I can use my abilities to cook a sumptuous dinner for everyone."

"Really? What special abilities do you have? You two are amazing!" Xingluo looked at Chengyu with surprise.

Cheng Yu nodded, closed his eyes, and light began to shimmer around him again. A moment later, fresh ingredients and cooking utensils appeared in his hands. He skillfully began preparing, quickly cooking a delicious dinner for everyone.

"Wow, this is so delicious!" Xinglu exclaimed, he had never eaten such delicious food before.

"Haha, these are cooking skills I learned from my grandfather when I was little. How about it, not bad, right?" Cheng Yu said with a smile. (His grandfather was also the director of the orphanage.)

"That's great! With you here, our journey is sure to be wonderful!" Xingluo said happily.

"Yes, thank you for the compliment. We will definitely enjoy this trip!" Cheng Yu said.

After dinner, Cheng Yu and Bai Yu were both full and let out a satisfied burp. Cheng Yu asked, "What should we do now?"

Xinglu thought for a moment and said, "How about I sing you a song..."

"Great! I love listening to you sing!" Cheng Yu said.

Bai Yu nodded and said, "I'd like to hear it too."