Tavern of the Spear: Desire for Pleasure

Evand and Tarn continued their ascent, the scenery changing with the increasing altitude. Dense forests were gradually replaced by sparse bushes, and the air became increasingly fresh. As they went on, the sound of the surrounding streams grew clearer, as if guiding them closer to the source of the water.

A gentle mountain breeze caressed their sweaty bodies, bringing a touch of coolness. Despite their exhaustion, a determined light still shone in Evand and Tarn's eyes. However, they were still some distance from the summit, so they decided to find a place to rest.

Soon, they found a flat, open area. After sitting down, Evand asked curiously, "Tann, how much longer do you think it will take us to reach the summit?"

Tarn looked around, estimated the distance, and replied, "At this speed, it will probably take another hour or so." He turned to Evand and asked with concern, "Can you keep going?"

Evans took a deep breath, a tired but determined smile appearing on his face. "It's alright. Although I'm sweating profusely, the mountain breeze brings a bit of coolness, making me feel much better."

Just then, a sudden commotion broke the silence. Tarn abruptly jumped up from the boulder he was sitting on, letting out a cry of surprise: "Whoa!" Evand was startled, and then saw Tarn frantically patting his back and buttocks.

It turned out that Tarn had accidentally sat on a nest of volcanic ants. The little creatures immediately swarmed over his lower body and began to sting him frantically. Evand, seeing this, couldn't help but burst into laughter.

Tarn struggled to swat away all the ants, his cheeks flushed red with embarrassment and annoyance. He turned to Evand, who was still laughing uncontrollably, and said irritably, "Hey, this isn't funny at all!"

Evand struggled to suppress a laugh and said, "Sorry, Tarn. It's just... I think I finally understand you completely." He paused, connecting the dots between his previous encounter with Tarn and everything that had happened since then, "From the sticky slime to the chieftain's punishment, and now having your butt crawling with volcanic ants... I have to say, you really are the unluckiest guy I've ever met."

Tarn sighed deeply after hearing this. He picked up the stone spear that lay to the side, looked at Evand with a sorrowful gaze, then lowered his head, his eyes fixed on the ground. "You're right," he said softly, "I've really had a lot of bad luck. From childhood to adulthood, I've always encountered all sorts of terrible things. Sometimes I think, maybe I shouldn't have become a warrior at all."

Tarn sighed, tracing the surface of the stone spear with his fingers. His gaze lingered on the distant mountains, as if recalling the past. "You're right, Evand. I've been unlucky. From the day I was born, I've been called 'the bull that's been targeted.'"

Evand frowned, puzzled, and asked, "A cow being targeted? What does that mean?"

Tarn explained with a wry smile, "That's what the tribe calls me. No one's ever said it to my face, but I know everyone calls me that." He paused, his voice lowering, "You know what? I killed my mother when I was born."

Evans gasped, a wave of guilt washing over him. He quickly said, "Tahn, I didn't mean it that way. I was just joking, I didn't expect..."

Tarn shook his head, interrupting Evand: "Don't worry, I don't blame you. It's just the way it is. Things always get messed up whenever I'm around."

Evand couldn't take it anymore. He stood up and exclaimed, "This is utter nonsense! Tarn, how can you believe such absurdity? It's as ridiculous as saying it gets dark because a chicken died!"

Tarn was taken aback by Evand's reaction, then gave a wry smile: "I don't believe in these superstitions either. But when too many things happen to you, you start to have doubts too."

Evand crouched down, looking directly into Tarn's eyes. "Listen, Tarn. You're not some 'targeted bull,' you're one of the bravest and strongest people I've ever met. Look where we are now? We're climbing this dangerous mountain, and you've been leading the way."

A flicker of emotion crossed Tarn's eyes, but it quickly faded. "But, Evand, you don't understand. From childhood to adulthood, I've always been ostracized and ridiculed. Even now, I often feel out of place."

Tarn was silent for a moment, deep pain in his eyes. He slowly said, "Actually, none of these are the most important things. What I find hardest to accept is... even my father sees me this way."

Evand's eyes widened in surprise, unsure how to respond. Tarn continued, "I can tolerate people laughing at me behind my back, but my father's attitude... that's something I simply cannot bear."

Seeing Tarn's pained expression, Evand wanted to comfort him, but Tarn stopped him. "No, Evand, I don't need pity," his voice suddenly hardened. "I swear, one day I will become the leader of the tribe and prove my abilities to everyone. I will never succumb to so-called 'fate.'"

Evans looked at Tarn in surprise, sensing the determination in his tone. Tarn continued, "You know what? This confidence actually comes from you. From the first day I met you, I firmly believed that. Meeting you is the luckiest thing that has ever happened to me."

They smiled at each other, their eyes filled with deep understanding and friendship. Evan said softly, "Tann, I believe you can do it. You're much stronger than you think."

Tarn nodded and stood up. "Let's continue, the summit isn't far off." He reached out to help Evand up.

However, just as Evand stood up, he stumbled and accidentally bumped into Tarn's solid chest. "Ouch!" Evand cried out in pain, clutching his sore nose.

Tarn quickly helped Evand up, saying apologetically, "I'm so sorry, Evand! Are you alright?"

Evans rubbed his nose and forced a smile. "It's nothing, just a little painful from the bump. Looks like we're both a bit clumsy."

Tarn laughed too: "Looks like that. But I don't mind this kind of 'bad luck.' At least it proves we're still together, right?"

They smiled at each other and continued their ascent to the summit. Sunlight bathed them, casting a golden glow on their figures. Although the road ahead remained treacherous, they knew that with each other by their side, no difficulty was insurmountable.

As the altitude increased, the surrounding scenery changed dramatically. The dense forests gradually disappeared, replaced by jagged rocks and sparse shrubs. The air became increasingly thin, and breathing became somewhat difficult.

Evand and Tarn supported each other as they slowly but steadily climbed towards the summit. Although their breathing became increasingly difficult and their legs ached from the long climb, their eyes still shone with determination.

On a gentle hillside, they suddenly discovered a huge depression, surrounded by rocks of various sizes. Evand asked curiously, "Tann, what is this place?"

Tarn looked around and explained, "This is an ancient iron mine. Our tribe's ancestors mined iron here to make weapons and tools."

"That's fantastic! Can we collect some iron ore and take it back?" Evan exclaimed excitedly.

Tarn shook his head and said with a wry smile, "It's not that simple. Now, to mine iron ore, you need a mining license from the Minotaur Tribe's general store. But I'm not sure if the general store is still issuing licenses in the near future."

Evand asked in surprise, "Even a chief like your father has to follow this rule?"

Tarn nodded and explained, “That’s right. The general store owner is a very skilled blacksmith; he makes all the weapons for our tribe. If we displease him, the tribe could lose its best source of weapons. So even my father had to follow his rules.”

Evan said thoughtfully, "I see. It seems this blacksmith holds a high position in your tribe. If I ever need iron ore in the future, I'll definitely remember to check the general store first."

The two continued their climb, their strength nearing its limit, but mutual encouragement and support kept them going. Finally, after a difficult ascent, Evand shouted excitedly, "Tann! I see the top!"

Upon hearing this, Tarn's face suddenly turned bright red. He frantically looked down at his lower body, stammering, "W-what? I...I didn't expose myself..."

Evand paused for a moment, then realized what he meant and burst into laughter: "Tann, what are you thinking? I was talking about the very tip of the temple! How could you think I was talking about your...second brother?"

Tarn was even more ashamed and indignant, and angrily said, "You, you bad guy! How dare you play tricks on me!"

Evand laughed even harder: "Haha, I wasn't teasing you. You just misunderstood. But I'm curious, why did you react that way?"

Tarn turned his face away and muttered under his breath, "It's all because you kept staring at me..."

Evans blinked, teasing him deliberately, "Oh? So you noticed? I thought you didn't."

Tarn was speechless, his face turning even redder. He turned and strode quickly toward the temple: "Stop, stop talking nonsense! Let's go take a look quickly."

Evans followed with a smile, thinking to himself, "Tahn, you're quite an interesting fellow."

"Alright, there's a stone bridge ahead! Let's hurry up and move on."

Seeing Tarn's state, Evand lost interest and followed Tarn toward the bridge.

Evand and Tarn stood before the stone bridge, deeply awestruck by the sight before them. A magnificent stone bridge spanned the rushing river, leading directly to the temple gates. The turbulent water roared beneath the bridge, splashing white sprays that added to the ancient structure's mystique and majesty.

"Tann," Evand exclaimed, "look at this bridge! Its construction is unlike anything we've ever seen." He examined the stone bridge closely; each brick fit perfectly together, the joints so smooth and seamless. "This technology is incredible! How did your ancestors build this bridge?"

Tarn shook his head, a hint of awe in his voice: "In fact, Evand, this bridge wasn't built by our ancestors. The temple and stone bridge existed long before our ancestors settled at the foot of the mountain."

Evand's eyes widened, and he asked incredulously, "Really? Do you know who...or what built this bridge?"

Tarn took a deep breath, his gaze sweeping over the mysterious stones. "To be honest, none of us know. Among my people, there are many speculations about the origins of this bridge and temple, but no one can be certain of their true origin. Some say they were built by ancient gods, while others believe they are relics left behind by some mysterious civilization."

Evand nodded thoughtfully, his eyes gleaming with excitement: "This is fascinating! A wondrous civilization built this temple and this stone bridge. I've decided to investigate this mysterious structure thoroughly. Perhaps we can uncover some astonishing secrets!"

The two cautiously stepped onto the stone bridge. Each step was nerve-wracking, with the rushing river beneath their feet. Although the bridge was wide, the erosion of time had left its mark. In some places, even small cracks had appeared, making one worry about its stability. Evand gripped Tarn's hand tightly, trying to avoid looking at the surging water below. Tarn sensed Evand's tension and softly comforted him, "Don't be afraid, I'll always be by your side."

Evand and Tarn crossed the stone bridge, and the sight before them left them speechless. Lush green grass stretched to the horizon, surrounding a vast, clear lake. The lake's surface shimmered like diamonds in the sunlight, a breathtaking sight. In the center of the lake stood a marble temple, its faded white walls blending harmoniously with the surrounding landscape.