Tavern of the Spear: Desire for Pleasure

As night fell, the noise in the tavern gradually subsided. Hakan sat alone in a corner, several empty bottles in front of him. His eyes were gloomy, and he occasionally let out a low growl. Snow and Witt tried to comfort him, but were both rudely chased away by the red dragon.

Evan stood at a distance, filled with guilt. He knew Hakan was still angry about the lost photos. Although Cheng Yu hadn't been gone long and would probably return in a few days, in Hakan's eyes, Cheng Yu was the partner he was destined to pursue. Everything about Cheng Yu was precious to him, and Evan had carelessly lost the photos.

As everyone else prepared to rest, Evand mustered his courage and walked toward Hakan. The red dragon tried to turn away as soon as it saw him, but Evand reached out and grabbed it.

“Hakan, can we talk?” Evand asked cautiously.

Hakan turned around, his eyes flashing with fury. "What's there to talk about? You've proven just how irresponsible you are." His voice was low and dangerous.

Evans took a deep breath and said, "I know I made a big mistake. I'm so sorry, Hakan. I should have been more careful with Cheng Yu's photos."

Hakan snorted but didn't interrupt Evand. The young adventurer continued, "I understand what that photograph means to you. Cheng Yu is the person you cherish most, and I have betrayed your trust."

Hearing this, Hakan's expression softened slightly. He stared at Evand, seemingly assessing the sincerity of his words.

“You know what, Evand?” Hakan finally spoke, “Cheng Yu isn’t just someone I want to pursue. He’s the only family I acknowledge in this world. That photo… is the only proof that we know each other.”

You know what? Sometimes I feel a little unreal about my relationship with him. It really feels unreal, like a bubble that could burst at any moment… I'm so afraid he'll suddenly leave me!

Evand looked at Hakan in surprise. He had never heard Hakan mention his past. The red dragon's voice carried a hint of sadness, which made Evand realize that things were more complicated than he had imagined.

“I…I don’t know,” Evand said softly. “I’m sorry, Hakan. I’m so sorry. If there’s anything I can do…”

Hakan shook his head, interrupting Evand. "What's done is done. But Evand, you must understand one thing. In this world, some things, once lost, can never be regained. You must learn to cherish them."

Evand lowered his head, sensing the weight in Hakan's words. He suddenly realized that he had been too rash all along, failing to truly understand the meaning of responsibility.

“I will try my best to correct it, Hakan,” Evand said firmly. “I promise I will be more careful and responsible in the future.”

Hakan looked at Evand, the anger in his eyes gradually subsiding. He reached out and gently patted the young man's shoulder. "Alright, kid. I believe you'll grow. But remember, actions speak louder than words."

Evand nodded, a warm feeling welling up inside him. He knew that this conversation had not only mended the rift between him and Hakan, but also given him a new perspective on life.

As night deepened and only the faint candlelight remained in the tavern, Evand lay in bed, reflecting on everything that had happened that day. He remembered the task Chet had given him, the magical power of the sacred pool, and the sorrow in Hakan's eyes.

Evan lay in bed, tossing and turning, unable to fall asleep. Hakan's words echoed in his mind, their profound emotion leaving him bewildered. He couldn't help but wonder, what kind of experience could have made this powerful red dragon cherish his relationship with Cheng Yu so much?

Just then, a thought flashed through Evand's mind—Snow's promise! He sat bolt upright, his heart pounding. This time, he absolutely could not disappoint Snow again. If he failed to keep his promise three times in a row, not only might Snow be completely disappointed in him, but Hakan might also lose trust in him.

Evand hurriedly dressed and tiptoed downstairs. When he reached the bottom, he was surprised to find Snow already waiting there. Despite Evand's two previous broken promises, Snow still chose to believe him. Seeing the expectant expression on Snow's face, Evand felt a surge of intense guilt. He couldn't help but imagine how disappointed and heartbroken Snow must have been by his two previous broken promises.

“Dad, you…I…” Evans was at a loss for words, unsure how to begin.

Snow smiled and shook his head. "Heh, you brat, now you know you're coming, huh? I've never seen you this eager before! You brat! Get over here now, let your 'old man' give you a good pat on the head!"

Evand followed Snow's instructions and stepped forward. Snow reached out his rough, calloused hand and gently stroked the young man's hair. At that moment, Evand felt a warmth he had never experienced before. Snow's eyes flickered with complex emotions, as if he had so much to say but didn't know where to begin.

“You brat, you know what?” Snow said softly, “from the first day you stepped into this tavern and called me Dad, I knew you were destined to be a special person in my life.” His voice choked slightly. “Although I was angry at first, I slowly found myself looking forward to hearing you call me Dad.”

Evans looked up at Snow, a warm feeling welling up inside him. He suddenly realized that this seemingly rough tavern owner actually had a soft heart.

Snow took a deep breath and pulled two keys from his pocket. "These are the keys to the tavern's cellar and the rooms on the second floor." He handed the keys to Evand. "From today onward, you're part of this family."

Evand gripped the keys tightly, feeling their weight. These were more than just two ordinary keys; they represented Snow's trust and acceptance of him. "Dad, I...I don't know what to say..." Evand murmured.

Snow patted Evand on the shoulder and said with a smile, "No need to say anything, just cherish it. By the way, I saw your conversation with Hakan today." His expression turned serious. "That red dragon has a hidden past. If you want to know more, you can go talk to him tomorrow morning. Maybe you can help him get over his inner conflicts."

Evans nodded, filled with curiosity. He began to realize that everyone in this seemingly ordinary tavern had their own secrets and stories.

Just then, a rustling sound came from the basement. Snow and Evand exchanged a glance and quietly went to the stairwell leading to the basement. They saw Witt standing outside Hakan and his door, seemingly hesitant to knock.

“Witt, what’s wrong with you…” Snow asked softly.

Witt jumped in surprise, turned around and saw Snow and Evand, then breathed a sigh of relief. “I…I heard strange noises coming from Hakan’s room,” he whispered, “like crying? But I’m not sure if I should disturb him.”

Evand's heart tightened. He recalled Hakan's expression when he mentioned Cheng Yu earlier that day—a deep loneliness and pain. He made up his mind that he must have a serious talk with Hakan tomorrow to understand the past of this mysterious red dragon.

Snow thought for a moment and said, "Let him have some time to himself. Hakan needs time to process his emotions. You'll sleep with me tonight." He turned to Evand, "Kid, you talk to him tomorrow. Maybe you can help him."

After returning to his room, Evand quickly fell asleep. However, his sleep was restless, filled with Hakan's sorrowful eyes and Snow's expectant smile. These images intertwined, causing a strange sense of responsibility to rise within Evand.

Before dawn, Evand woke up. He tiptoed downstairs, careful not to wake anyone. However, when he reached the lobby, he found Hakan already there. The Red Dragon was slumped over the table, clearly drunk and unconscious.

Evans hesitated, unsure of what to do. He remembered Snow's instructions from the previous night and knew he should speak with Hakan, but the current situation troubled him. Just then, an idea flashed into his mind.

Evand quietly went behind the bar and found Snow's treasured rum. He carefully took out a bottle and walked over to Hakan. Evand brought the bottle close to Hakan's nose, and the rich aroma quickly awakened the sleeping red dragon.

Hakan snapped his eyes open and grabbed the bottle. A complex emotion flickered in his eyes when he saw it was Evand. However, the allure of the alcohol clearly prevailed. Without a word, Hakan tilted his head back and gulped down a large mouthful of rum.

"You brat, what do you want from me so early in the morning?" Hakan put down his bottle, his voice hoarse from a hangover.

Evans took a deep breath and mustered his courage to say, "Hakan, I want to talk to you... about what happened to you before."

Upon hearing Cheng Yu's name, Hakan's expression instantly turned serious. He paused for a moment, then pointed to the chair opposite him: "Sit down."

After Evand sat down, Hakan took another swig of his drink, seemingly trying to gather his thoughts. "What do you want to know?" he asked in a low voice.

Hakan sighed deeply, a hint of nostalgia in his eyes. He took a sip of rum and began to slowly recount his story: "Kid, you know I used to be a mercenary. Back then, I traveled all over the country, going wherever there was work."

"In these experiences, I met a boy named Gecko, but he died, because of his stupidity... There's nothing to regret..."

"Really?" Evande looked at Hakan's disappointed eyes and knew that he was just saying that on purpose. In fact, she knew very well how much she cared about that gecko boy.

Hakan then began to recount how he met that guy.

Evans listened intently, never imagining that this powerful red dragon had such a complicated past.

Hakan continued, "Once, I came to a remote town and planned to rest for a while. There was a small tavern there, or rather, a hut that sold drinks to travelers."

Hakan's voice was low and hoarse, as if recalling the past: "Most of the patrons at that tavern were local farmers, and the owner was a very sociable fellow. I often shared my adventures with him, and he always listened with great interest."

Evand noticed Hakan's expression soften, as if the memory was particularly pleasant. Red Dragon continued, "The boss has a son, and at first I didn't pay much attention. The boy looked skinny and was always cleaning. But strangely, I noticed he always cleaned the same spot, and always near me."

Hakan's eyes softened, as if he were lost in fond memories. He continued, "I noticed that the gecko boy always came closer when I told stories. At first, I thought he was just diligently cleaning, but later I noticed that whenever I got to an exciting part, he would unconsciously stop what he was doing, his eyes wide with rapt attention."

Honglong chuckled softly, a hint of nostalgia flashing in his eyes: "Once, I was recounting how I outwitted and outmaneuvered my way out of an underground labyrinth when that kid, so engrossed, accidentally dropped his broom at a customer's feet. It was quite a comical scene; the customer tripped and fell flat on his face, spilling drinks everywhere. But strangely, nobody was really angry. Instead, everyone burst into laughter, as if infected by my story and that kid's enthusiasm."

Evans listened intently, imagining the joyful scene. Hakan continued, "And so, the little tavern became lively because of my arrival. People started coming specifically to hear my stories, and the gecko boy always found excuses to get close to me. I knew he longed for the outside world, but I never intended to take him away."

Hakan's expression suddenly turned serious: "Until one day, I prepared to leave that town. I packed my bags, ready to leave quietly at dawn. But when I pushed open the tavern door, I found that the gecko boy was already waiting for me outside."