Tavern of the Spear: Desire for Pleasure

Chapter 140 Fear from the Dark

Kurosawa's tears fell like beads from a broken string, dripping onto the ground and splashing up tiny droplets.

He looked at Bowen, his eyes filled with a mixture of gratitude, guilt, confusion, and determination.

Bowen's words were like a ray of light, shining into his dark heart, giving him hope and courage.

He knew that Bowen genuinely believed in him and truly wanted to help him.

All of this seemed so abnormal, and the one who seemed the most normal was Bowen.

"Bowen..." Kurosawa's voice trembled slightly, "What...what should I do?"

He has been lost for too long; he needs guidance, he needs direction.

“Come with me.” Bowen reached out and grasped Kurosawa’s hand. “I will lead you to the truth and to your own path.”

Kurosawa looked at Bowen and nodded.

He placed his hand in Bowen's.

He actually believed that Bowen would lead him out of this fog and into the light. This was simply defying the natural order.

Just then, the scene suddenly shifted, and the camera instantly moved to a dark space.

Here, there is not a single ray of light, only endless darkness and cold.

All around are hard stone walls, exuding an ancient and mysterious aura.

A suffocating atmosphere permeated the air, making it hard to breathe.

This is the stone gate where Cheng Yu and Bai Yu are trapped.

"..."

Cheng Yu stood quietly inside the stone gate, his brows furrowed, without uttering a word.

He felt like he had been there for a very long time, so long that he had forgotten the concept of time.

He tried various methods to break down the stone door, but all of them failed.

This stone gate seems to possess some kind of mysterious power, capable of blocking all attacks.

“Cheng Yu…”

Bai Yu's voice rang out in the darkness, breaking the silence.

"Can we... still get out?"

Bai Yu's voice was filled with unease and fear.

He was on the verge of collapse; he couldn't bear the endless darkness and loneliness.

"..."

Cheng Yu didn't answer. He didn't know how to answer Bai Yu's question. More importantly, he didn't know why Bai Yu had become like this. The darkness inside the stone door was constantly affecting their senses, but it affected Bai Yu the most. Cheng Yu was normal except for his distorted perception of time. But Bai Yu was different; he was like a completely different person.

Cheng Yu closed his eyes helplessly, feeling lost and helpless himself.

He didn't know if he would ever be able to get out of there, or ever see the outside world again.

"Cheng Yu, I'm so scared..." Bai Yu's voice was trembling with tears, "I don't want to die here..."

He hugged Cheng Yu tightly, his body trembling.

"Don't be afraid, Bai Yu." Cheng Yu gently patted Bai Yu's back and comforted him, "I will protect you."

Although it might seem strange to hug a grown man like this and comfort him in this tone, Cheng Yu had no choice but to suffer a little since they were the only two people there.

"We can definitely get out."

Cheng Yu's voice, though calm, was filled with helplessness.

However, he would not give up; he would not let himself and Bai Yu die here.

"But... how are we supposed to get out?" Bai Yu asked. "This stone door is impossible to open."

"..."

Cheng Yu fell silent.

He knew that Bai Yu was telling the truth.

This stone door is indeed very difficult to open.

However, he cannot give up.

He had to find a way out.

"Bai Yu, do you remember how we got in?" Cheng Yu asked.

“I…I don’t remember.” Bai Yu shook his head. “I only remember that we followed Hei Yao, and then…and then we came here.”

"..."

Cheng Yu frowned.

Did he remember that they were brought in by Hei Yao? Perhaps it was Hei Yao? Cheng Yu thought uncertainly, only to realize at this moment that his memory was also beginning to blur.

Cheng Yu closed his eyes and shook his head, but the moment he opened his eyes, a strange red light suddenly flashed in his pupils.

After Cheng Yu opened his eyes, the memories he had just been pondering were completely altered.

But why would Obsidian do that?

What exactly is Obsidian's purpose?

"Bai Yu, do you believe me?" Cheng Yu suddenly asked.

"I believe you," Bai Yu said without hesitation. "I will always believe you."

“Okay.” Cheng Yu nodded. “Since you trust me, then listen to me.”

"I will take you out."

Cheng Yu's voice was full of confidence.

He already had a plan, and he believed he would succeed.

"Yes." Bai Yu nodded. "I believe you."

He looked at Cheng Yu, his eyes filled with trust and expectation.

Cheng Yu took a deep breath and began to take action.

He concentrated his power in his hands and then struck the stone door fiercely.

Cheng Yu's consciousness was probably teetering on the brink of collapse at this moment, otherwise he would not have thought of such a violent way to break down the door. Even Hei Yao could not open the stone door, so how could they open it with just ordinary violent methods?

"boom!"

A loud bang echoed inside the stone gate.

However, the stone gate remained completely still.

"..."

Cheng Yu was not discouraged and continued to attack the stone gate.

Once, twice, three times...

He kept attacking, tirelessly.

His strength grew stronger and stronger, and his attacks became more and more ferocious.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

The deafening roar echoed continuously within the stone gate, as if trying to shatter the darkness.

Bai Yu stood to the side, watching Cheng Yu nervously.

He didn't know if Cheng Yu would succeed, but he believed that Cheng Yu would do his best.

Time passed by minute by minute.

Cheng Yu's attacks became faster and fiercer.

Sweat was beading on his forehead, and his body began to tremble slightly.

However, he did not stop; he persisted.

"boom!"

There was another loud noise.

This time, a crack finally appeared in the stone gate.

All of this seemed so illogical, but at this moment, in the minds of the two people who were constantly being corrupted by darkness, it was all normal.

"There is hope!"

A hint of excitement flashed in Cheng Yu's eyes.

He knew he was close to success.

He continued to attack the stone door, and the cracks grew wider and wider.

"Crack!"

Finally, the stone door shattered completely with a crisp sound.

A ray of light shone in from outside, illuminating the dark space.

"We...we're out!"

Bai Yu shouted excitedly, his eyes filled with joy.

"Ah."

Cheng Yu nodded, a smile appearing on his face.

He succeeded; he led Bai Yu out of this darkness.

Looking at the outside world, feeling the long-lost faint light, their hearts were filled with excitement and joy.

"Cheng Yu, thank you." Bai Yu looked at Cheng Yu and said sincerely, "If it weren't for you, I might... I would be dead here."

"Don't say that, Bai Yu," Cheng Yu said with a smile. "We're partners, it's only right that we help each other."

"Moreover, I also believe that even without me, you will definitely be able to find a way out."

"No, I can't." Bai Yu shook his head. "I'm not as strong as you, nor as smart as you."

"I……"

"Alright, Bai Yu," Cheng Yu interrupted Bai Yu, "We're out now, so let's not think about those unhappy things anymore."

"Now, we should think about what to do next."

"Yes." Bai Yu nodded. "You're right."

They looked around and found themselves in an environment that was both familiar and unfamiliar.

This place appears to be a huge palace, surrounded by tall stone pillars and exquisite murals.

"Where...is this place?" Bai Yu asked.

"I don't know either," Cheng Yu shook his head. "However, we should be careful."

"There may be other dangers here."

"Mm." Bai Yu nodded and followed closely behind Cheng Yu.

They began to explore the palace, searching for a way out.

Inside the palace, the light was soft, yet it exuded an indescribable eeriness.

The exquisite murals depict a variety of strange creatures and scenes, so lifelike they seem to leap off the walls. The tall stone pillars, carved with intricate patterns, exude an ancient and mysterious aura.

Everything seemed so normal, so...unreal.

Cheng Yu walked through the palace, his steps heavy. He felt a throbbing pain in his head again.

The pain seemed to come from the depths of his soul, making him feel dizzy.

"Perhaps... it's just my imagination."

Cheng Yu shook his head, trying to shake the discomfort out of his mind.

He carefully felt the changes in his body, but the pain disappeared as if it had never happened.

However, when he looked around again, he found that everything had become even more unfamiliar.

Originally, he felt that this palace seemed somewhat familiar, as if he had seen it somewhere before.

But now, that sense of familiarity has vanished, replaced by a complete sense of alienation, an indescribable sense of estrangement.

"..."

A strong sense of unease rose in Cheng Yu's heart.

He knew things were definitely not that simple.

This palace must be hiding some secret.

He turned his head and looked at Bai Yu beside him.

Bai Yu's condition worsened.

His eyes were almost lifeless, empty and blank, as if he had lost his soul.

He mechanically followed Cheng Yu, passively taking the hand that Cheng Yu offered.

His body trembled slightly, as if he might collapse at any moment.

"Bai Yu..."

Cheng Yu called Bai Yu's name softly, but Bai Yu did not respond.

He was like a lifeless puppet, completely at Cheng Yu's mercy.

"..."

Cheng Yu's heart sank to the bottom.

He knew that their condition would only get worse.

Perhaps, from the very beginning, they never left that stone gate.

Everything before was just an illusion, a carefully designed trap.

"hateful……"

Cheng Yu clenched his fists tightly, his heart filled with anger and resentment.

He couldn't just give up like this; he had to find the truth and a way to break free from this illusion.

He continued to explore the surroundings of the palace, though he didn't know why he was doing so.

He just felt that he needed to find something, needed to find a breakthrough.

However, as time passed, he found nothing.

Everything in the palace seemed so normal, so... flawless.

"..."

Cheng Yu's head was throbbing more and more, and his consciousness was beginning to blur.

He had even forgotten his original purpose for exploring the palace.

He forgot that he and Bai Yu were trying to escape from here and return to the real world.

He just walked aimlessly, like a lost soul in a maze.

"This...what the hell is going on?"

Cheng Yu's heart was filled with doubt and fear.

He couldn't understand why this was happening.

He couldn't understand what secrets this palace held.

He began to become anxious and his emotions started to spiral out of control.

He angrily clawed at the top of his head with his wolf claws.

Sharp fingernails pierced his scalp, and blood flowed down his cheek.

But he felt nothing, as if it wasn't his body.

"..."

A hint of madness flashed in Cheng Yu's eyes.

He was on the verge of collapse; he couldn't bear the endless torment.

"This...this is all too bizarre!"

Cheng Yu roared, his voice echoing in the empty palace.

He didn't know who he was yelling at; he just wanted to vent, to release the pain and fear in his heart.

"..."

However, all that answered him was endless silence and darkness.

"calm down……"

Cheng Yu forced himself to calm down.

He knew he couldn't just collapse like this; he had to find a way out.

He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down.

He began to recall everything that had happened after he entered the palace.

He remembered that he and Bai Yu were brought in by Hei Yao. But he couldn't recall it at the moment.

He remembered trying to break down the stone door, but failing each time. This memory also faded into fragments of his past.

He recalled feeling headaches, a sense of familiarity, and a sense of estrangement.

"..."

A flash of inspiration crossed Cheng Yu's mind, but it quickly vanished, making him even more agitated.

By clenching his teeth, piercing his tongue with his sharp teeth, and using the taste of blood and headache to stimulate his brain to clear his mind, this was the only method Cheng Yu could think of.

While suffering from a headache, he suddenly realized that he might have overlooked some important clues.

"Headache...familiar...unfamiliar..."

Cheng Yu muttered to himself, repeating these words over and over again.

He felt that there must be some connection between these words.

"correct!"

Cheng Yu suddenly remembered something.

He remembered that every time he had a headache, he would have different feelings about the palace.

For the first time, the palace felt familiar to him.

The second time, the palace felt unfamiliar to him.

Now, he has forgotten his original purpose in exploring the palace.

"Could it be that……"

Cheng Yu had a bold guess in his mind.

He felt that his headache might not be accidental, but rather the result of some kind of force.

That power was constantly altering his memories and his perception of the palace.

"if it is like this……"

A glimmer of hope flashed in Cheng Yu's eyes.

He felt that he had found the key to breaking the illusion.

He must find a way to stop that force from affecting him and to regain his memories.

"But... what should we do?"

Cheng Yu frowned.

He didn't know what that power was, nor how to fight it.

"..."

Cheng Yu fell into deep thought.

He kept thinking and searching for ways to solve the problem.

Time passed by minute by minute.

Cheng Yu's head began to throb again.

He knew that power was starting to affect him again.

He must come up with a solution as soon as possible, otherwise he may be lost in this illusion forever.

"Oh, right, Bai Yu!"

Cheng Yu suddenly remembered Bai Yu.

He remembered that Bai Yu's condition was even worse than his own.

Bai Yu's eyes were almost lifeless, as if he had lost his soul.