Tavern of the Spear: Desire for Pleasure

Novel Title: Dragon's Love

The morning sunlight filtered through the sheer curtains, gently illuminating every corner of the room. Bowen felt a tickling sensation on his face, as if something was lightly touching him. He slowly opened his eyes, and the first thing he saw was an unfamiliar face.

It was a handsome yet aloof face, with sharp eyebrows, bright eyes, a high nose, and thin, tightly pursed lips, exuding an air of authority without anger. A strange sense of tension immediately welled up in Bowen's heart.

The unfamiliar surroundings and faces left Bowen feeling bewildered. He tried hard to recall what had happened, but all he remembered was being taken to an unfamiliar place, and then... and then he remembered nothing more.

"You're awake?" Kurosawa looked at Bowen and said calmly. His voice was deep and magnetic, like a warm breeze that dispelled the unease in Bowen's heart.

"Where...where am I?" Bowen's voice trembled slightly as he asked cautiously.

"This is my residence. I am Heize, the leader of the Black Dragon Tribe." Heize introduced himself briefly, then pointed to Bowen, "Your name is Bowen, right?"

"Yes...yes." Bowen nodded, his mind filled with doubt. The leader of the Black Dragon Tribe? How did he get involved with the leader of the Black Dragon Tribe?

Kurosawa seemed to see through Bowen's thoughts, and he continued, "Yesterday, you killed a wolf hostage in Longchang, and I brought you back."

"I...I killed someone?" Bowen's face turned pale instantly; he couldn't believe he had done such a thing.

“Yes.” Kurosawa nodded. “But don’t worry. I’ll handle this.”

"I..." Bowen opened his mouth, but didn't know what to say. He felt that his mind was in complete chaos and he couldn't make sense of it at all.

Kurosawa looked at Bowen, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes. He knew that Bowen must be very scared and confused at this moment.

"Take a rest first," Kurosawa said softly. "Once you've calmed down, we can have a proper talk."

"I..." Bowen wanted to say something, but was interrupted by Kurosawa.

"Don't say anything, just rest." Kurosawa's tone left no room for argument.

Bowen had no choice but to shut his mouth. He slowly lay back down on the bed and closed his eyes.

Kurosawa didn't leave. He sat quietly by the bed, looking at Bowen. He didn't know what Bowen had gone through, but he could feel the pain and struggle in Bowen's heart.

Time passed by, and the room was so quiet that only their breathing could be heard.

After an unknown amount of time, Bowen opened his eyes again. He looked at Kurosawa and asked softly, "Am I...am I really a slave?"

“You used to be,” Kurosawa replied, “but you aren’t anymore.”

"I...I don't understand." Bowen's eyes were full of confusion.

“You don’t need to understand,” Kurosawa said. “You just need to know that from now on, you are my guest. I will protect you and will not let you get hurt again.”

"A guest?" A hint of surprise flashed in Bowen's eyes. "I... how could I be your guest?"

“Because you are special,” Kurosawa said. “You are the most special white dragon I have ever seen.”

"Special?" Bowen was even more puzzled. "What... what's so special about me?"

“Your eyes,” Kurosawa said, “are filled with an indomitable light. It’s a light that never gives up hope, even in the darkest of times.”

Bowen was stunned; he had never imagined that he would be evaluated in this way.

"Thank you," Bowen said softly. "Thank you for saving me."

"You're welcome," Kurosawa said. "It's what I should do."

"I..." Bowen wanted to say something, but suddenly felt dizzy.

"What's wrong?" Kurosawa asked quickly.

“I…I’m fine.” Bowen shook his head. “I’m just…just feeling a little unwell.”

"You must be exhausted," Kurosawa said. "You should rest first, and I'll go prepare some food for you."

After saying that, Kurosawa got up and left the room.

Bowen lay in bed, his heart filled with gratitude. He had never imagined he would encounter someone like Kurosawa. Kurosawa had not only saved him but also shown him respect and care he had never experienced before.

“Kurosawa…” Bowen murmured the name, a strange light flashing in his eyes.

He suddenly remembered that he didn't seem to be from this world, but rather had arrived here after an accidental death. Although he didn't know what this world was like, he felt a strange sense of affection for Kurosawa.

Bowen thought to himself: I must repay him properly.

"But then again, it's unbelievable that I slept in the same bed as the Black Dragon Tribe leader and he wasn't angry!" Bowen became more and more nervous as he thought about it. He quickly got out of bed and knelt down beside it, hoping that Heize would forgive him when he returned.

“I am a slave, how could I sleep in the same bed as the chief? I was so audacious!” Bowen said remorsefully.

Just then, Kurosawa entered the room carrying a bowl of steaming food. He was taken aback when he saw Bowen kneeling by the bed.

"What are you doing?" Kurosawa asked.

“Chief, I…I was wrong.” Bowen lowered his head, not daring to look Kurosawa in the eye. This was a long-standing stress response from his time as a slave. “I shouldn’t have slept in the same bed with you. Please forgive me.”

"Get up." Kurosawa placed the food on the table, walked to Bowen's side, and helped him up. "I don't blame you."

“But…but I am a slave, and you are the leader…” Bowen was still somewhat uneasy.

“I told you, you are no longer a slave.” Kurosawa looked into Bowen’s eyes and said earnestly, “You are my guest, my friend Kurosawa.”

"Friend?" A hint of surprise flashed in Bowen's eyes. "Can...can I really become your friend?"

“Of course,” Kurosawa nodded. “If you’re willing.”

"I'm willing! Of course I'm willing!" Bowen said excitedly.

"That's good." Kurosawa smiled. "Come on, have something to eat first."

Bowen nodded, took the bowl from Kurosawa's hand, and began to eat slowly.

This was the first meal he had eaten since coming into this world. Although it was just some simple food, it made him feel incredibly warm.

"Thank you, Kurosawa," Bowen said to Kurosawa while eating.

"You're welcome," Kurosawa said. "I'm glad you like it."

The two ate and chatted. Bowen gradually lowered his guard and began to open up to Kurosawa.

He told Kurosawa about the memories this body possessed, that he was originally an ordinary white dragon slave, living in the dragon farm. Every day he had to do a lot of hard labor and endure the oppression and humiliation of the guards.

“I used to think that my life would go on like this,” Bowen said, “until I met you.”

"Did meeting me change your mind?" Kurosawa asked.

“Yes.” Bowen nodded. “You have given me hope and shown me that even slaves can have dignity and freedom.”

“I’m glad I could help you,” Kurosawa said. “I believe you can have a better life.”

“Thank you, Kurosawa,” Bowen said again. “You are not only my savior, but also my friend.”

“We are friends,” Kurosawa said with a smile.

A warm atmosphere flowed between the two, and Bowen felt an unprecedented sense of ease and freedom. His conversation with Kurosawa was like spring rain nourishing his parched heart. However, this peaceful moment did not last long; the gears of fate turned once more, pushing Bowen into an unknown abyss.

Suddenly, Bowen felt a sharp, intense headache, as if countless steel needles were piercing his skull. He clutched his head tightly, writhing on the ground in agony, letting out piercing screams. This sudden turn of events caught Kurosawa completely off guard. He anxiously called out Bowen's name, but to no avail, his pain was alleviated in the slightest.

"Bowen! What's wrong? Bowen!" Kurosawa's voice was filled with worry and helplessness. He tried to get closer to Bowen, but was afraid that his touch would aggravate his pain.

At this moment, Bowen felt as if his head was about to explode. A torrent of unfamiliar memories flooded his mind, violently assaulting his consciousness. These memories were both familiar and strange, both real and unreal, leaving him unable to distinguish between reality and dreams.

He saw himself locked in a dark, damp cage, his body covered in wounds, his eyes empty and numb. He saw himself being whipped, insulted, and trampled, barely clinging to life like an ant. He saw himself taken to a luxurious palace, forced to wear magnificent clothes, and manipulated like a doll.

Those memories tore at his soul like a knife, causing him unbearable pain. He felt as if his head was a ball being frantically injected with gas, ready to explode at any moment. He struggled desperately, but could not escape this endless torment.

Time seemed to freeze at that moment. Every minute and every second stretched out infinitely, becoming incredibly long. Bowen's screams echoed in the empty room, sounding especially desolate.

Kurosawa could only watch helplessly as Bowen struggled in agony. He had never witnessed such a bizarre sight and had no idea how to help Bowen. His heart was filled with anxiety and fear, terrified that Bowen would die as a result.

After an unknown amount of time, Bowen's screams gradually subsided, and his body stopped convulsing violently. He slowly raised his head, staring blankly ahead, as if he had lost his soul.

"Bowen... are you... are you alright?" Kurosawa asked cautiously, afraid that his voice would upset him again.

Bowen did not answer; he simply sat there quietly, motionless. His eyes were empty and lost, as if he had fallen into endless darkness.

Kurosawa was filled with worry. He didn't know what Bowen had gone through, but he could sense that a huge change must have taken place in Bowen's heart.

After a long while, Bowen's eyes gradually regained their clarity. He slowly turned his head to look at Kurosawa, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes.

"I...I'm alright now." Bowen's voice was hoarse and weak, as if he had experienced countless centuries of vicissitudes.

"What...what happened to you just now?" Kurosawa asked, his voice full of concern.

Bowen was silent for a moment, then slowly said, "I...I think...I remembered something."

"What is it?" Kurosawa pressed.

A flicker of pain crossed Bowen's eyes as he slowly recounted everything he had just experienced.

It turns out that Bowen was originally a slave, an extremely rare slave with self-healing consciousness. He had experienced countless hardships and torments, but he never gave up his yearning for freedom.

He had tried to rebel against his master, but was ruthlessly suppressed. He should have been executed, but he managed to escape. However, fate did not let him go; he was relentlessly pursued and eventually fell into the hands of Kurosawa.

Unlike the others, Kurosawa took him back to his residence and cared for him meticulously. Under Kurosawa's tutelage, Bowen gradually displayed astonishing wisdom and talent, becoming Kurosawa's most prized disciple.

However, fate's cruel jokes never stopped. In his memory, he and Kurosawa were supposed to complete their plan, but later both of them died unexpectedly.

Instead of being reborn, Bowen was replaced by Bowen from another world. The current Bowen, while possessing a soul from another world, also inherited the deep affection the original Bowen had for Kurosawa.

"So... you are now... both learned and not learned?" Kurosawa's eyes were filled with shock and confusion after hearing Bowen's explanation.

“You could say that,” Bowen nodded. “I have memories of two worlds, and I also have two different kinds of emotions.”

"Then... what kind of feelings do you have for me, and why are you telling me all this?" Kurosawa asked, his tone filled with anticipation.

Bowen looked at Kurosawa, a hint of tenderness flashing in his eyes: "My feelings for you are a mixture of gratitude from another world Bowen to a friend and respect from the original Bowen to a teacher. The reason I am telling you this is because in my heart you are a teacher for whom I would always be willing to risk everything."

"Teacher?" Kurosawa was stunned. He had never imagined that he would be called a teacher by Bowen.

“Yes.” Bowen nodded. “In Bowen’s original memory, you were his teacher and the person he respected most.”

"I..." Kurosawa was filled with emotion. He had never imagined that he would unintentionally become someone else's pillar of support.

“Thank you, Bowen,” Kurosawa said. “Thank you for telling me all this.”

"You're welcome." Bowen shook his head. "I should thank you. Thank you for giving me a second life, and thank you for giving me such precious memories."

The two smiled at each other, and all the misunderstandings and barriers vanished in that instant.