Tavern of the Spear: Desire for Pleasure

Ao Lian smiled gently, stroking Cheng Yu's hair to comfort him. However, beneath her smile lay a barely perceptible worry. Her keen senses told her that something was wrong with Cheng Yu. His presence flickered, like a wisp of smoke about to dissipate, ethereal and unreal.

This wasn't the first time Ao Lian had seen Cheng Yu appear in different forms. She had seen him transform into various demonic creatures, and she herself had even been caught up in them. But this time, the feeling was completely different. In the past, even when his form changed, Cheng Yu's soul remained clearly discernible, like a twinkling star in the night sky, bright and unwavering. But now, he was like an oil lamp about to go out, weak and flickering.

"Cheng Yu, stand here and don't move. Let me take a good look at you," Ao Lian said softly, her tone carrying a hint of barely perceptible tension.

Cheng Yu stood obediently in place, head down, his eyes filled with anticipation and unease. He didn't know what Ao Lian had discovered, nor what would happen next. He only knew that he wanted to stay here, to be with Ao Lian, even if only for a little while.

Ao Lian carefully observed Cheng Yu, his gaze sweeping over him, trying to find something amiss. Time ticked by, and a tense atmosphere filled the air. After a long while, Ao Lian finally discovered the problem. Looking at Cheng Yu, who stood before him with his head bowed and eyes filled with expectation, he sighed helplessly.

Hearing Aolian's sigh, Cheng Yu abruptly looked up, a flicker of panic and sadness in his eyes. "Aolian, what's wrong? Why are you sighing?" he asked anxiously, his voice trembling slightly.

Ao Lian shook his head, forcing a smile: "It's nothing, just a normal sigh." However, his hands didn't stop moving. He reached out and slowly stroked Cheng Yu's face, feeling the warmth of his skin, trying to confirm whether he was really there.

Cheng Yu tried to stop Ao Lian, but he was powerless to resist. He was too weak, like a fallen leaf, at the mercy of the wind and rain. Ao Lian's fist finally landed on his face; the force wasn't great, but it was enough to break him.

After that punch, Cheng Yu's world began to crumble, like a shattered mirror, cracks spreading until it finally broke into countless pieces. He looked at Ao Lian in horror, his eyes filled with resentment and despair. He wanted to hold onto Ao Lian, wanted to be with him forever, but it was all too late.

Ao Lian watched helplessly as Cheng Yu disappeared before his eyes, turning into specks of starlight and finally vanishing without a trace. His heart shattered, and tears streamed down his face uncontrollably.

He knew he had to do it. Cheng Yu was involved in too many things, too many people loved him and tried every means to protect him and keep him away from this dangerous vortex. Yet he stepped into it time and time again, without hesitation.

"I'm sorry, Cheng Yu," Ao Lian murmured, his voice choked with emotion. "I can't let you take any more risks." He knew this was the only thing he could do for him, and the only thing he had to do.

He slowly stood up, wiped away his tears, his eyes filled with determination. He knew he had something more important to do: protect everything Cheng Yu cherished and wait for his return.

Cheng Yu's world was like shattered glass, peeling away piece by piece. The surrounding scenery twisted and deformed, eventually turning into rotating pixel fragments. He was abruptly pulled out of the game by an invisible force and fell back into cold reality.

Everything in the room felt strange and alienating. The luxurious decorations and soft bed offered no warmth. Yun's gentle voice and concerned gaze seemed veiled in a thick fog, hazy and unreal. He looked around blankly, his eyes filled with panic and fear, like a child lost in the wilderness, unable to find his way home.

"Why? Why do I have to leave again?" he murmured, his voice trembling, tinged with a sob. He clenched his fists tightly, his nails digging deep into his palms, yet he felt no pain. He couldn't accept returning to reality; he only wanted to go back to that illusory world, back to Aolian's side.

He grabbed his phone, wanting to log back into the game and escape this suffocating reality. However, no matter what he did, the screen remained black and unresponsive. He panicked, frantically tapping the screen, but to no avail. He felt a suffocating sensation, as if an invisible hand was gripping his throat, preventing him from breathing.

"No, I have to go back! I have to go back!" he roared inwardly, his eyes filled with madness. He rushed out of the room and stumbled into the living room, where he saw Yun sitting leisurely on the sofa watching TV.

"Cheng Yu, you..." Yun was about to greet him when he was startled by Cheng Yu's sudden action.

Cheng Yu rushed to Yun and knelt down with a thud, clutching Yun's clothes tightly, his eyes filled with pleading. "Please, give me my phone! Give me my phone!" he shouted hoarsely, his voice trembling with tears.

Yun was terrified by Cheng Yu's actions. She looked at him helplessly, not understanding what was wrong with him. "Cheng Yu, what's wrong? What happened?" she asked anxiously, her voice filled with worry.

Cheng Yu didn't answer, but kept repeating, "Give me my phone! Please, give me my phone!" His eyes were filled with despair, as if he had grasped at the last straw.

Yun quickly handed her phone to Cheng Yu, her heart filled with doubt and unease. She didn't understand why Cheng Yu had suddenly become like this, but she knew that he must have encountered something very important.

Cheng Yu took the phone with trembling hands, as if holding onto his entire hope for life. He skillfully entered the password and succeeded on the first try. Yun looked at him in astonishment; she had never told him her phone password, how did he know?

Cheng Yu ignored Yun's surprise. He eagerly opened his phone, logged onto the game's official website, and prepared to download the game. However, no matter how he tried, he couldn't download it successfully. He tried again and again, but failed each time. His hope gradually faded, and the light in his eyes dimmed.

"How could this be? How could this happen?" he muttered to himself, his voice filled with despair. He looked at Yun again, his eyes pleading. "Are there any other phones? Please, give me another phone!"

Although Yun didn't understand what had happened, she still took out all the other phones in the house and handed them to Cheng Yu. Cheng Yu took the phones and tried again and again, but still couldn't download the game. His heart sank completely; he knew he could never go back.

He slumped helplessly to the ground, his eyes vacant, as if his soul had vanished. He could never return to that illusory world, never see Aolian again. He clutched his phone tightly, tears streaming silently down his face, soaking his clothes. The room was silent, save for Cheng Yu's suppressed sobs echoing in the air, sounding especially desolate.

Cheng Yu curled up on the cold floor, his hands tightly clutching his head, trembling like a wounded animal. He kept muttering to himself, "Everything is gone... everything can never go back..." His voice was low and hoarse, filled with despair and helplessness.

Yun stood to the side, watching him anxiously, unsure of what to do. She tried calling his name and gently stroking his back, attempting to offer him some comfort, but he remained unresponsive, as if immersed in his own world, oblivious to everything around him.

Seeing Cheng Yu in such agony, Yun felt as if her heart was being torn apart. Although Cheng Yu remained indifferent to her, her love for him had not diminished in the slightest. How she wished she could share his pain and pull him out of the abyss of despair, but she was powerless to do so.

Deep within Yun's memory, the scene of Cheng Yu receiving treatment in a mental hospital surfaced. Back then, he often succumbed to madness and despair, just like he was now. That dark period haunted her like a nightmare, sending chills down her spine.

"No, I have to find Dr. Bo." Yun gritted her teeth and made up her mind. She knew that only Dr. Bo could help Cheng Yu and pull him back from the brink of collapse.

With trembling hands, she dialed Dr. Bo's number and incoherently described Cheng Yu's condition, her voice filled with anxiety and panic. "Dr. Bo, please, please come and save him! He... he seems to have gone mad..."

Dr. Bo listened patiently to Yun's story and gently comforted her, "Ms. Yun, please calm down. I will get there as soon as possible."

A dozen minutes later, a rapid knocking broke the silence in the room. Yun hurriedly ran to open the door and saw Dr. Bo standing outside. Her heart finally settled down.

"Dr. Bo, you've finally arrived!" Yun said excitedly, her voice trembling with emotion. "Please, please, you must save him..."

Dr. Bo gave Yun a reassuring look and said with a smile, "Ms. Yun, please rest assured, I will do my best." After saying that, he waved behind him, and several medical staff in white coats quickly walked in.

Seeing the medical staff's uniforms, Cheng Yu suddenly realized what was happening. He abruptly raised his head, his eyes filled with terror and resistance. "What are you doing? I'm not mentally ill! You can't arrest me!" he shouted, his voice hoarse and tinged with hysteria.

The medical staff ignored Cheng Yu's resistance and quickly moved in to subdue him. Cheng Yu struggled desperately, but his strength was insignificant in the face of the medical staff.

"Let me go! I'm not mentally ill! You have no right to arrest me!" Cheng Yu shouted hoarsely, his voice echoing in the empty room, filled with despair and helplessness.

Dr. Bo walked up to Cheng Yu, squatted down, and said gently, "Cheng Yu, I know you're in a lot of pain, but we're doing this for your own good. We'll help you get better."

Cheng Yu stared at Dr. Bo. He recognized him at first glance. Even if Bo Wen turned to ashes, he would never forget that look in his eyes that he would hate for the rest of his life.

Cheng Yu's eyes were filled with anger and hatred. "You despicable bastard! You ruined everything for me! Tell me, how am I supposed to go back? Yun, please believe me, he's the one who's crazy, I don't need their help! I'm not mentally ill! They're all liars!" He roared, his voice filled with resentment and despair.

Dr. Bo sighed. He knew that Cheng Yu wouldn't listen to anything he was told now. He nodded to the medical staff, signaling them to take Cheng Yu away.

Cheng Yu was forcibly taken out of the room by medical staff. He struggled and shouted, but his voice eventually disappeared at the end of the corridor.

Yun stood at the door, watching Cheng Yu's departing figure, tears streaming silently down her face. She knew this might be the best choice, but her heart ached as if it were being torn apart.

Cheng Yu was held hostage by medical staff and led step by step towards the mental hospital vehicle parked by the roadside. His eyes were fierce, and a raging fire burned in his heart. Only one thought was churning in his mind: kill Bo Wen, kill that hypocritical devil!

A strange force surged within him, and Cheng Yu suddenly broke free from his restraints, charging towards Bo Wen with lightning speed like a wild horse. Before anyone could react, a muffled thud was heard as Cheng Yu's fist slammed into Bo Wen's face.

Time seemed to stand still. Passersby and medical staff around were stunned, staring in disbelief at the scene before them. Bowen was knocked backward by the sudden punch, his glasses shattered, and the lens cut his cheek, drawing blood.

Cheng Yu was now acting like a madman, his face contorted in a rage, his eyes filled with fury and hatred. Those around him retreated, regarding him as a dangerous insane man.

Bo Wen slowly got up from the ground, trembling as he put his broken glasses back on, his eyes behind the lenses flashing with an eerie light. He walked step by step toward Cheng Yu, a cold smile appearing on his lips.

“Cheng Yu, please don’t get so agitated, okay?” Bo Wen’s voice remained refined, yet carried a subtle chill. “Look at you, you’ve scared everyone. Don’t do that again…”

Before he could finish speaking, Bo Wen suddenly made a move, swiftly throwing Cheng Yu over his shoulder to the ground. Cheng Yu felt dizzy, his vision went black, and he lost consciousness.

Yun rushed over anxiously, trying to stop Bowen, but she was too late. She watched helplessly as Cheng Yu lay motionless on the ground, her heart breaking.

“Dr. Bo, you…” Yun’s voice trembled as she wanted to question Bo Wen, but she didn’t know how to begin.

Bowen turned around, looked at Yun, and a complex emotion flashed in his eyes. "Miss Yun, please rest assured, I will take good care of him." His voice was still gentle, but it carried an undeniable air of authority.

Yun looked at Bowen, her heart filled with unease and doubt. She didn't understand why Bowen would do this, but she knew she had to trust him. After all, he was the only one who could help Chengyu.

The medical staff lifted the unconscious Cheng Yu into the car, which slowly started and disappeared into the night. Yun stood there, watching the car drive away, tears blurring her vision. She didn't know where Cheng Yu would be taken, or when he would return. She only knew that she would wait for him, wait for him to come back.

Night fell, and the city was shrouded in silence. Yun sat alone in the empty room, her heart filled with anxiety and unease. She dialed Cheng Yu's number again and again, but no one answered.

Time ticked by, and Yun grew increasingly anxious. She got up and went to the window, gazing at the flashing neon lights outside, her heart filled with confusion and helplessness. She didn't know what to do next, or how to face the future.

Suddenly, a rapid knocking broke the silence of the room. Yun rushed to open the door, her heart filled with anticipation and hope. She hoped it was Cheng Yu returning, and that it was all just a nightmare.

However, when she opened the door and saw who was standing outside, her hopes were instantly dashed. It wasn't Cheng Yu standing there, but a strange man.

The man, dressed in a black suit and wearing sunglasses, stared blankly at Yun. "Miss Yun, hello. I was sent by Dr. Bo," he said coldly, devoid of any emotion.

Yun's heart sank; she had a premonition that something bad was about to happen.

"Cheng Yu... how is he?" Yun asked in a trembling voice, her eyes filled with fear and unease.

The man removed his sunglasses, revealing a pair of cold eyes. "I'm sorry, Miss Yun, Cheng Yu... he has already..." The man paused, seemingly hesitant about how to begin.

"What's wrong with him?" Yun asked anxiously, her voice trembling even more violently.

The man took a deep breath and said slowly, "He has... passed away."

Yun felt as if struck by lightning; she couldn't believe her ears. She stood there, stunned, as if all her strength had left her. Darkness enveloped her, her ears rang, and she could hear nothing.

"No...it can't be..." Yun murmured to herself, tears streaming silently down her face. She couldn't accept this cruel reality; she couldn't believe that Cheng Yu had left her like this.

The man looked at Yun, a hint of sympathy flashing in his eyes. "Miss Yun, please accept my condolences." After saying this, he turned and left.

Yun slowly closed the door and slumped helplessly to the ground. She hugged herself tightly, tears streaming down her face like a burst dam, soaking her clothes.

The room was silent, except for Yun's suppressed sobs echoing in the air, which sounded particularly desolate.