Tavern of the Spear: Desire for Pleasure

Warm sunlight streamed through the window, bathing Kurosawa and Bowen in its glow. Kurosawa reached out and pulled Bowen into a tight embrace. His arms were broad and warm, like a harbor that could embrace everything.

"Bowen, don't be afraid." Kurosawa's voice was deep and gentle, as if it carried a calming power. "I will protect you from now on and will not let you get hurt again. I will find out why you suddenly had a headache and remembered what happened before."

Bowen's body trembled slightly as he hugged Kurosawa tightly, burying his head in his chest. The faint scent of ambergris emanating from Kurosawa brought him immense peace. This was a feeling he had never experienced before—a feeling of being protected and cherished.

"Hmm..." Bowen's voice had a strong nasal tone, and he could feel the sincerity and determination in Kurosawa's words.

In Kurosawa's warm embrace, Bowen could no longer suppress his emotions, and tears streamed down his face. These tears contained the pain and fear of the past, the confusion and anxiety about the future, and even more so, gratitude and dependence on Kurosawa.

Like a lost child who has finally found a safe harbor, he cried his heart out, releasing all his grievances and anxieties.

Kurosawa didn't speak, but simply held Bowen quietly, gently patting his back, offering him silent comfort. He knew that what Bowen needed at that moment was a shoulder to lean on, someone to confide in.

After an unknown amount of time, Bowen's crying gradually stopped. He raised his head and looked at Kurosawa with red eyes. Tears still lingered on his cheeks, but a shy smile appeared on his face.

"Thank you, Kurosawa..." Bowen's voice was a little hoarse, but full of gratitude.

Kurosawa gently wiped away Bowen's tears and said tenderly, "Silly boy, there's no need for thanks between us."

Bowen's cheeks flushed slightly. He suddenly realized that his feelings for Kurosawa were more than just gratitude and respect. After crying, he developed a different kind of affection for Kurosawa, an emotion that felt both unfamiliar and captivating.

He didn't know what this feeling was, but he knew he wanted to get closer to Kurosawa and learn more about him.

Kurosawa didn't notice Bowen's change; he simply asked with concern, "How are you feeling now? Does your head still hurt?"

"Much better," Bowen said softly, shaking his head.

"That's good." Kurosawa breathed a sigh of relief. "I've had some medicine prepared to help relieve your headache."

Soon, a servant brought over a bowl of black medicine. The medicine had a faint herbal smell, which wasn't unpleasant.

"Drink this." Kurosawa handed the medicine to Bowen.

Bowen nodded, took the medicine, and drank it down in one gulp. As soon as the medicine went down his throat, a cool sensation spread throughout his body, and his head, which had been throbbing slightly, felt much better.

"This medicine works really well," Bowen said in surprise. "I feel my headache has lessened a lot, and my body feels much lighter."

"That's good." Kurosawa smiled. "This is a special medicine made by our Black Dragon Tribe, which is very effective in relieving headaches."

“Thank you, Kurosawa,” Bowen said again.

“I’ve already said, we don’t need to say thank you to each other.” Kurosawa gently ruffled Bowen’s hair. “Are you feeling better now? If you are, let’s go for a walk in the garden together.”

“Okay,” Bowen readily agreed. He also really wanted to go out for a walk and get some fresh air.

So the two walked out of the room side by side.

Kurosawa's mansion was very large, and the garden was even more expansive. The garden was planted with all sorts of exotic flowers and plants, vying for attention and creating a breathtakingly beautiful scene.

The two walked slowly along the winding path. The sunlight shone on them, warm and pleasant.

"The scenery here is truly beautiful," Bowen exclaimed, looking at the view before him.

“Yes,” Kurosawa nodded. “This is my favorite place.”

"Do you come here often?" Bowen asked.

“Yeah,” Kurosawa said. “When I’m in a bad mood, I come here for a walk.”

"Does this place make you feel better?" Bowen asked curiously.

“Of course.” Kurosawa smiled. “The flowers, plants and trees here make me feel calm and relaxed.”

Bowen nodded thoughtfully, seemingly understanding why Kurosawa liked this place.

The two continued walking, and before they knew it, they came to a wide-open meadow. The meadow was covered with colorful wildflowers, like a giant floral carpet spread across the sky and earth.

“Let’s sit here for a while,” Kurosawa suggested.

"Okay." Bowen nodded.

The two sat down on the grass, quietly admiring the scenery before them. A gentle breeze blew by, carrying the fragrance of flowers, a truly delightful experience.

"Well-informed," Kurosawa suddenly said.

"Hmm?" Bowen turned his head and looked at Kurosawa.

"You... really don't remember anything from before?" Kurosawa asked, his tone tinged with a hint of probing. He seemed to know a great deal about whether or not he had lost his memory.

After all, Obsidian said that Bowen had always been imitating his teacher Kurosawa. Since Bowen could break through the barriers of time and space and appear in various dimensional walls, why couldn't Kurosawa do the same?

Bowen was silent for a moment, then slowly shook his head: "I only remember some fragments, but not the whole thing."

"It's alright," Kurosawa comforted him. "Don't think about it if you can't remember. I'll help you slowly regain your memories." Perhaps Kurosawa had always recognized his student, Bowen, but every matter needs a simple and gentle beginning.

"Hmm." Bowen nodded, trusting that Kurosawa would keep his word.

The two of them sat quietly on the grass, enjoying this rare moment of peace and tranquility.

In the tranquil garden, a gentle breeze carried the fragrance of flowers. Bowen and Kurosawa sat side by side on the soft grass, enjoying this moment of peace and tranquility. However, a longing surged within Bowen's heart, a longing to see another side of himself.

He suddenly stood up and looked intently at Kurosawa: "Kurosawa, I want to see my dragon form."

Kurosawa was slightly taken aback, clearly not expecting Bowen to make such a request. In the world of dragons, revealing one's dragon form usually requires the other party's permission; it is a sign of respect and trust.

"Is it alright?" Bowen's tone was tinged with trepidation; he was eager to know if Kurosawa would agree to his request.

Looking into Bowen's expectant eyes, Kurosawa felt a surge of warmth in his heart. He smiled slightly and nodded: "Of course."

With Kurosawa's consent, Bowen's face broke into a bright smile. He took a deep breath, and his body began to radiate a dazzling light. The light grew stronger and stronger, eventually enveloping Bowen entirely.

Kurosawa squinted, shielding his eyes from the blinding light. When the light faded, a colossal white dragon appeared before him. Its scales shimmered with a silvery light, sparkling like stars in the night sky under the sunlight. Its horns were as clear as crystal, emanating a faint chill. Its enormous wings spread wide, blotting out the sky, as if to obscure the entire heavens.

Although Kurosawa had seen Bowen in this form once before, he was still stunned. He was deeply attracted by Bowen's dragon form and for a moment forgot to breathe. He felt as if he were in a dream, feeling the desire and mystery from ancient times.

Bowen circled once in the air, his massive body tracing a graceful arc. Then, he slowly landed in front of Kurosawa, gently nuzzling Kurosawa with his enormous dragon head, expressing his affection and dependence.

Kurosawa reached out and gently stroked Bowen's scales. The scales were cool and smooth, feeling like the finest jade. He felt Bowen's body temperature, and a strange flutter welled up in his heart.

Bowen enjoyed Kurosawa's caresses, his enormous dragon eyes slightly narrowed, revealing an expression of satisfaction and joy. He suddenly recalled a dream from another part of his memory: to become a powerful dragon, powerful enough to help his teacher, to help his teacher fulfill a dream that seemed almost impossible.

Now, Bowen feels he has a chance to start over. This time, he might be able to be more decisive, more ruthless, and more reckless.

Bowen transformed back into his dragon-human form, looking at Kurosawa with unwavering determination in his eyes. He knew he had a long road ahead, but he wouldn't give up. He would strive relentlessly, for his dream and for Kurosawa, to become stronger.

Kurosawa looked at Bowen with eyes full of satisfaction and encouragement. He reached out and gently patted Bowen's head, as if encouraging him to keep going.

The two remained silent for a long time, the atmosphere somewhat awkward. Finally, Kurosawa asked the same question from both his past and present lives: "What do you want to learn?"

This question had appeared in Bowen's past life memories, and now that Kurosawa had asked it again, Bowen felt a strange sense of destiny. He took a deep breath and looked at Kurosawa with a determined gaze: "I want to learn all your skills. I want to become the last 'Bai Ze' in your heart!"

Upon hearing Bowen's reply, Kurosawa's eyes flickered slightly, as if some emotion was churning deep within him. His hand, hidden behind his back, clenched into a tight fist in a corner unnoticed by Bowen. The gesture was subtle, but enough to reveal the turmoil within him.

“You want to learn all the skills and become the last Bai Ze in my heart…” Kurosawa repeated Bowen’s words, his voice trembling slightly. He recalled his many experiences over the years, the students who had fought alongside him, and those unforgettable memories.

The power within Bowen had always been both a source of hope and a curse for him, a question he couldn't answer. This response made him hesitate. He didn't know if he should pass on all his skills to Bowen, fearing it might lead Bowen down a path of no return.

After a fierce internal struggle, Kurosawa finally made his decision. He gently patted Bowen's head, his eyes filled with doting affection, and whispered, "Okay."

This simple answer contained Kurosawa's expectations for Bowen, as well as his hopes for the future. He hoped that Bowen could become a powerful and kind dragon, capable of protecting everything he wanted to protect.

From then on, Kurosawa began to teach Bowen various combat techniques and knowledge on his own. He imparted all his knowledge without reservation. Bowen also showed amazing talent and perseverance, learning voraciously and constantly improving and becoming stronger.

As for his other ten apprentices, Kurosawa would only dedicate some time to teaching them the remaining knowledge. He focused more of his energy and time on Bowen, because he knew that Bowen was his last hope.

Time flies like an arrow. In the eyes of the dragons, time is but a drop in the ocean, insignificant. In the blink of an eye, a hundred years have passed.

A century later, on a peaceful afternoon, Kurosawa and Hirofumi returned to the garden where they had once spent time together. The garden remained as beautiful as ever, with blooming flowers, lush green grass, and a gentle breeze carrying the fragrance of blossoms.

The two stood side by side at the edge of the garden, gazing at the distant snow-capped mountains. The mountains stood majestically, their peaks covered in pristine white snow, shimmering brilliantly in the sunlight.

They all remained silent, quietly savoring this moment of peace and tranquility. Their hearts were filled with emotion; a hundred years is enough time to change many things, but some things will never change.

As darkness fell and night descended, the stars twinkled in the sky. The two remained standing there, neither speaking nor showing any intention of leaving.

Bowen looked at Kurosawa beside him, a complex emotion welling up inside him. He knew it was time for him to leave. He couldn't stay by Kurosawa's side forever; he needed to venture out, to gain experience, and to find his own path.

He took a deep breath, suppressed his reluctance, gritted his teeth, and turned to leave. He didn't look back; he was afraid he wouldn't be able to resist staying.

Kurosawa watched Bowen's departing figure, his eyes filled with complex emotions. He knew this day would come sooner or later, but he hadn't expected it to arrive so soon.

He stood there silently until Bowen's figure completely disappeared into the night before slowly turning around and walking in the opposite direction. His back looked somewhat lonely and forlorn.

This night is destined to be a sleepless night.

On the Go board in Kurosawa's room, dozens of Go pieces were steadily placed on the board. The white pieces, controlled by the professor, had completely trapped the black pieces. The black pieces had nowhere to retreat, and there was no way to salvage this inevitable defeat.

After traveling countless miles, Bowen couldn't help but turn back and look in the direction that could only be called home.

"Teacher! Why! Haven't you always been fighting for freedom? Didn't you rescue us eleven white dragons precisely to transcend our shackles and escape your brother's control?"

Now you know, this sky is fake, I, you, and everything in this world are fake! Why won't you eat me! Let me become the last part of Bai Ze, break through this false sky, and escape!

This was the last thing Bowen said to Kurosawa. Perhaps they both knew that this parting might be their last, and that when they met again, they would no longer be teacher and student.