Tavern of the Spear: Desire for Pleasure

Xingluo's voice is like a clear spring, flowing gently in the quiet night. Every note carries his unique emotion, as if telling an ancient and moving story. In his singing, there is a longing for love, a yearning for freedom, a reflection on the passing years, and an expectation for the future.

"In the ancient streets and alleys, I gently strum the strings, my wandering footsteps drifting away on the wind. In every city, by every river, my songs remain, singing of love, singing of dreams, singing of the passing years..."

Cheng Yu listened, completely absorbed. He could feel the sincere emotions in the song, the longing for a lover, and the pursuit of dreams. He secretly nudged Bai Yu with his shoulder, a mischievous smile spreading across his face.

Bai Yu was a little confused as to why Cheng Yu was looking at him like that. Although he didn't understand the full meaning of Xing Luo's song, he could feel its beauty and its innocence.

"Ah, my love, you are the poem in my song, in the vast sea of ​​people, you are my only longing. Ah, my love, you are the painting in my dream, let me spend my whole life singing the vow of love for you..."

Xingluo's singing grew more and more affectionate and moving, as if transporting the listener to a beautiful and dreamlike world. There, there are mountains and rivers, deserts and starry skies, the call of a lover, and the light of dreams.

"I've traversed mountains and crossed deserts, all to find that glittering star. Every night, I gaze at the stars and pray that you may hear the gentlest cry from the depths of my heart..."

As the last note faded, silence fell, broken only by the rustling of leaves in the breeze. Cheng Yu was the first to clap, shouting, "That was wonderful! Xing Luo, you're so talented!"

Xinglu smiled happily, scratched his head, and said shyly, "This is the first time I've sung my own song in front of others... I've been thinking about this for a long time. Before, I always sang songs that bards would sing, but this time is different because I feel that I've met someone with the same soul as me, so I sang a song I wrote myself..."

Cheng Yu opened his mouth wide and deliberately made a "Wow~" sound, as if he was afraid that others would not hear him.

Bai Yu appeared much calmer. Having traversed so many time periods, he naturally understood Cheng Yu's thoughts. But at this moment, he truly didn't feel that way; he simply genuinely liked the song. He smiled and said, "This song is beautiful; I really like it. It's an honor to hear you sing your own song. I can feel the deep emotions you poured into it."

Faced with Bai Yu's praise, Xing Luo smiled and looked at Bai Yu, saying, "To be honest, I also have a lot of curiosity about you. When we arrive at the werewolf tribe, I need to find my teacher to learn about the time travelers. Maybe we'll make some different discoveries."

Cheng Yu noticed that the two of them were completely ignoring him and continuing their normal conversation. He instantly felt neglected and a little bored. He yawned and said, "It's getting late, let's go to sleep early. We have to travel tomorrow."

“Yes, you’re right.” Xingluo nodded. “Then let’s get some rest.”

Bai Yu agreed. So, the three of them found a comfortable spot to lie down. Cheng Yu closed his eyes and quickly drifted off to sleep. Bai Yu gazed at the starry sky, lost in thought. Xing Luo also lay quietly, seemingly lost in thought as well.

As night deepened, everything around quieted down, with only the occasional chirping of insects adding a touch of life to the tranquil night.

Just then, Bai Yu suddenly spoke up and asked, "Xing Luo, why did you write this song?"

Xinglu paused for a moment, then said, "It was just a sudden inspiration. Maybe it's because... I hope that one day I can meet someone for whom I can write songs..."

“That person must be very happy…” Bai Yu said softly.

"Yes, she must be very happy..." A hint of longing flashed in Xingluo's eyes, "I hope I can meet her soon..."

"Definitely," Bai Yu said. "You're so outstanding, there will definitely be many people who like you."

"Thank you." Xinglu smiled. "However, I just want to find the right person..."

"Okay, good luck," Bai Yu said. "I should go to sleep too."

"Good night," Xingluo said.

"Goodnight," Bai Yu said, then closed his eyes.

Xingluo closed his eyes, but Bai Yu's image appeared in his mind. He didn't know why, but he always felt that Bai Yu had a very special aura that made him want to get closer.

Perhaps this is fate... Xinglu thought to herself.

The first rays of morning sunlight filtered through the leaves, dappling the Dragon Valley. Xingluo was already awake. He gently picked up his harp, found an open space, and began to practice. This was a habit he had cultivated over many years. His master—an elderly bard—had once told him, "To become a bard who sings the praises of every piece of history, you must repeat one thing over and over again: practice the harp. Only in this way can you truly tell a story well, a piece of history well."

Xingluo's fingers danced lightly across the strings, each note seeming to come alive, crisp and melodious. He closed his eyes, immersed in his musical world. His master's words echoed in his ears again: "If you can't even persevere like this, what credibility will your history and stories have? Only by persisting can history be truly passed down. History cannot be changed. If you can't even persevere in small things, then one day, history will be forever altered by their songs, forever buried in the river of time, forgotten by everyone."

Xingluo's piano music grew increasingly melodious, seemingly possessing a magical power that attracted the small animals of Dragon Valley. Birds perched on his shoulders, rabbits circled his feet, and even butterflies fluttered around him. They seemed to be captivated by the beautiful music, becoming Xingluo's most loyal listeners.

Inside the tent, Cheng Yu and Bai Yu were also awakened by the beautiful music. They rubbed their sleepy eyes and looked in the direction of the sound. They saw Xing Luo playing the harp with great concentration, surrounded by all sorts of small animals, creating a beautiful scene.

Xingluo became increasingly engrossed in the music, seemingly forgetting where he was and the two friends beside him. He began to dance gently to the rhythm of the music, and the birds and butterflies around him fluttered gracefully in the open space, creating a scene of breathtaking beauty.

Xingluo didn't snap out of his musical reverie until the music ended. He opened his eyes and saw Cheng Yu and Bai Yu standing not far away, watching him quietly. A blush immediately rose to his cheeks, and he smiled awkwardly.

Cheng Yu and Bai Yu didn't say anything, but showed their approval through their actions. They quickly stepped forward and applauded enthusiastically.

"Fantastic! Xingluo, you are so talented!" Cheng Yu exclaimed. "Your piano playing and dancing are so beautiful! It's like you stepped out of a painting!"

Bai Yu nodded and said, "Yes, your piano playing has a kind of magic that can immerse people in it and make them forget all their troubles. Moreover, you dance beautifully, creating a harmonious and beautiful scene with these little animals."

Xingluo was a little embarrassed by the praise. He scratched his head and said, "Thank you for the compliments... I was just... just playing and dancing according to my own feelings..."

“This is the best!” Cheng Yu said. “True art comes from inner feelings, not from deliberate techniques.”

“That’s right.” Bai Yu agreed. “Your music and dance are full of genuine emotions, which is why they are so moving.”

"Thank you..." Xingluo's face lit up with a bright smile. "I'm really happy to have your approval."

“We should thank you,” Cheng Yu said, “for allowing us to enjoy such wonderful music and dance.”

“Yes,” Bai Yu said, “it’s a beautiful morning.”

“Oh, right,” Cheng Yu suddenly remembered something and said, “Shouldn’t we be setting off? Aren’t we still going to the wolf tribe in the north?”

“Yes, it’s time to set off,” Xingluo said. “However, before we leave, I’d like to take you somewhere first.”

"Where are we going?" Cheng Yu asked curiously.

"You'll see when you get there." Xinglu smiled mysteriously. "I guarantee you'll like it."

“Okay,” Cheng Yu said, “We don’t have anything to do right now, so let’s go take a look together.”

Bai Yu agreed. So the three of them packed their things and followed Xing Luo, leaving the open space.

Xinglu led Chengyu and Baiyu through a dense forest to a secluded valley. In the valley, a clear stream flowed gently, its waters making a pleasant sound. The banks were covered with all sorts of wildflowers, vibrant and colorful, vying for attention.

"Wow, this place is so beautiful!" Cheng Yu exclaimed. "I never imagined that there could be an even more beautiful place in a place as beautiful as Dragon Valley."

“Yes,” Bai Yu said, “the air here is so fresh, it’s invigorating.”

“This is where I usually practice my piano since I came to Dragon Valley,” Xingluo said. “I think the environment here is very suitable for relaxing, so I often come here.”

“No wonder your piano playing is so beautiful,” Cheng Yu said. “You must have practiced in such a beautiful place.”

“Hehe,” Xinglu chuckled, “I’m glad you like it.”

“By the way, Xingluo,” Cheng Yu suddenly asked, “who was that song you sang yesterday written for?”

Xinglu was taken aback for a moment, then said, "That song... I made it up. It just expresses a longing for love..."

"Oh..." Cheng Yu nodded thoughtfully, "So what kind of person do you hope to meet?"

“I hope…” Xinglu thought for a moment and said, “I hope to meet someone who can understand me and support me, someone who can share my joy and sorrow, someone who can go on adventures and grow together with me…”

"That person must be very outstanding, right?" Cheng Yu asked somewhat jokingly.

"Ah! I was being too optimistic. How could there be such a perfect person in the world? Haha~" Xinglu lowered her head a little shyly. "But I believe that one day, I will meet such a person."

"Yes, definitely," Cheng Yu said with great certainty. "Someone as good as you deserves the best love."

"Thank you." Xinglu smiled. "And you? What kind of people do you hope to meet?"

"Me?" Cheng Yu thought for a moment and said, "I already have a partner, and I'm very satisfied with them. In my opinion, as long as two people love each other, they will never forget each other no matter where they go. That kind of partner is the best partner."

Hakan: Waaaaah~ That's great, Chengyu didn't forget me after all! But didn't we agree to wait a long time before we separated? Why did he disappear for so long right after we met?

"Haha," Xinglu laughed, "Your partner must be quite interesting, right?"

“Yes,” Cheng Yu said, “I hope my life can be full of fun.”

"What about me? Aren't you going to ask me anything?" Bai Yu asked.

"You?" Cheng Yu and Xing Luo both looked at Bai Yu.

“I hope…” Bai Yu thought for a moment and said, “I hope to meet someone who can make me feel at home, someone who can make me feel the warmth of home…”

"Home?" Cheng Yu and Xing Luo were both somewhat surprised.

“Yes,” Bai Yu nodded, “I’ve been through many time periods and seen many people and things, but I’ve never had a real home. I found two masters who were too good to me, which completely deviated from my understanding of home… I hope that there can be someone who can make me feel the warmth of home, someone who can stop me from wandering…”

“I definitely will,” Xingluo said. “I believe you will be able to find that person.”

"Thank you." Bai Yu smiled. "I hope so..."

The three of them stayed in the valley for a while, enjoying the beautiful scenery, before continuing on their way.

Along the way, Xingluo introduced the surrounding scenery and local customs to Chengyu and Baiyu, who listened with great interest.

Before they knew it, they had left the forest and arrived at a wide-open plain.

Fortunately, they did not encounter the dangers Xingluo had mentioned in the forest along the way. However, even if there were dangers, with Chengyu and the other person with them, they probably wouldn't be considered dangerous.

"Look, the vast plains are just ahead! If we continue along this road, we'll find the northern wolf tribe!" Xingluo said, pointing to the distant grasslands.