Tavern of the Spear: Desire for Pleasure

"Dear Evand, what brings you back in such a hurry? You don't happen to want to take a good look at me, do you?"

As soon as Evand descended into the cellar, Moko flew right in front of him. Although he had no facial features, Evand felt as if the other was mocking him.

"Mo Ke, how did you know? Did you already know when the ghosts would appear? Why didn't you tell me last time?"

Moko's slightly teasing tone suddenly turned serious. It slowly spun in the air, emitting a low hum, as if contemplating how to answer Evand's question.

“My dear Evand,” Moko finally spoke, “it wasn’t that I intentionally concealed anything, but you didn’t ask clearly enough. Besides, you’re always so careless. Seeing your excitement, I didn’t want to stop you directly. However, you living beings are always full of curiosity about our world, yet often unable to bear the weight of the truth.”

Evan's ears twitched slightly as he listened intently to every word Moko said.

“Witt does appear near the cellar around three in the morning every day,” Moko continued, “usually right next to me. But…” He paused, “I can’t understand what he’s saying. His words are like a blurry fog to me, impossible to grasp.”

Evand's eyes lit up, but then a hint of worry flickered across them. "What should I do?"

“If you really want to see Witt, come here at three in the morning tonight,” Moko suggested. “Perhaps you can see him, or even understand what he’s saying. But…” its voice suddenly turned serious, “remember, dealing with ghosts is no child’s play. Some things, once known, can never be forgotten.”

A chill ran down Evans' spine, but he nodded firmly. "I understand, Moko. Thank you for telling me."

As Evand turned to leave the cellar, Moko added, "Oh, by the way, Evand. If you really decide to come, you'd better bring something for self-defense. You never know what might happen at night."

Evand turned around and looked at Moko with a puzzled expression, but the horn was no longer speaking. It lay quietly on the barrel, as if the conversation had never happened.

Filled with questions and a hint of unease, Evand left the cellar. It was still early, a long time before three in the morning. He decided to return to the tavern first, perhaps to discuss his next move with Cheng Yu or Hakan.

Evan leaped up, almost charging into the tavern's main hall. His gaze quickly locked onto Cheng Yu, who was talking to Hakan, his excitement evident.

"Cheng Yu! I have good news!" Evans strode over to the two, his eyes gleaming with anticipation. "Mo Ke told me that Witt's ghost will appear near the cellar at three in the morning. How about we go catch it together?"

However, before Cheng Yu could speak, Hakan frowned. His gaze darted back and forth between Evand and Cheng Yu, finally settling on Cheng Yu. "No," Hakan said firmly, "Cheng Yu has to sleep with me tonight. Ghosts and all that stuff, nothing is more important than me!"

Cheng Yu remained silent, only nodding slightly. This subtle gesture brought a smile to Hakan's face, as if he had won some silent victory.

Evand's excitement was instantly dampened. He asked disappointedly, "Why didn't you come along? This is a rare opportunity!"

Cheng Yu sighed, his eyes filled with a mixture of helplessness and understanding. "Evind, some things you have to solve yourself. If someone's always helping you, what's the point of your adventures?" He paused, then continued, "Think about it, when you return to Spear Village, how will you explain your adventures to your people?"

Evans froze; he'd never considered this question before. Cheng Yu seized the opportunity, pointing to Snow bustling behind the bar, "Look at your old man. Do you want to disappoint him?"

These words were like a bucket of cold water poured over Evand's head, instantly sobering him up. He scratched his head sheepishly and whispered an apology to Cheng Yu, "I'm sorry, I was too impulsive. You're right, this is my own task, and I should complete it independently."

Cheng Yu smiled approvingly and patted Evand on the shoulder. "Go, young adventurer. Remember, true courage is not just about being brave in the face of the unknown, but also about having the perseverance to endure loneliness."

Evan took a deep breath, his eyes rekindling with determination. He nodded to Cheng Yu and Hakan, then turned and walked toward the inconspicuous general store in the tavern, intending to discuss with Chet whether he could borrow a few bottles of potions.

Evand tiptoed into Chet's little general store, which was filled with all sorts of bottles and jars, and the air was thick with the scent of herbs and spices. Chet was arranging the goods on the shelves when he heard footsteps and turned around.

“Oh, it’s you, Evand. What’s up so late?” Chet asked excitedly.

Evans rubbed his hands nervously. "Chett, I'd like to borrow a few bottles of potion. I...I have an important mission to complete."

Chet raised an eyebrow, but quickly smiled knowingly. "It's about that ghost, isn't it? I've heard some rumors." He turned and rummaged through the shelves. "Here, this should be enough. There's a potion of life, an antidote, and a stimulant."

Evans accepted the medicine with delight. "Thank you so much! I'll definitely make good use of them."

Chet waved his hand. "No need to be polite. But..." he winked, "I do have a small request. You need to speed up the collection of holy water, okay?"

Evans nodded repeatedly, "No problem! I promise I'll get it done as soon as possible."

After leaving the grocery store, Evand looked at the bottles of medicine in his hand, his heart filled with joy and anticipation. He greeted his friends in the tavern and hurried upstairs to wait for three in the morning.

With Evand's departure, the atmosphere in the tavern subtly shifted. Hakan and Snow simultaneously gathered around Cheng Yu, all three of them looking thoughtful.

“You say…” Snow hesitated, “Are we really not going to help Evand?” He frowned. “I’ve checked several times, and I’ve never seen any talking horns. Could it be that Evand has been bewitched and fallen into a trap?”

Hakan nodded, though he hadn't seemed particularly concerned before, a hint of worry flashed in his eyes now.

Cheng Yu sat on Hakan's lap, gently swirling the ale in his glass, his expression remaining calm. "Don't worry," he said, "I trust Evand can handle it."

Seeing Snow's still worried expression, Cheng Yu added, "If you're really concerned, you can wait until 3 a.m. to check on things again. But remember, this is Evand's own adventure, and we shouldn't interfere too much."

Snow nodded thoughtfully, while Hakan wrapped his arm around Cheng Yu's waist, as if silently expressing his agreement and support.

The lights in the tavern were still warm, but there seemed to be a subtle tension in the air.

As three o'clock approached, Evand's heart pounded faster with each tick of his pocket watch. He stared intently at the watch he'd bought from Chet, afraid to miss even a second. A minute before three, the young werewolf adventurer quietly left the room and hurried to the basement.

Meanwhile, Snow paced anxiously back and forth in his room. He wanted to go out and check on Evand, but found he couldn't open the door. Growing increasingly worried, Snow began banging on the door, trying to get his attention. However, strangely, the loud noise seemed to be swallowed up by something, and Evand didn't notice a thing.

The young werewolf quickly spotted Witt crouching next to Moko. He rushed to Witt's side, a movement that startled the crocodile from his reverie. Upon seeing it was Evand, the wariness in Witt's eyes vanished instantly, replaced by an indescribable relaxation.

Witt began to confide his inner turmoil and distress to Evand. Looking at the injured crocodile, Evand gently embraced him, tenderly comforting him, "Don't worry, Witt. I will definitely help you get rid of this ghost, I promise."

With Evan's help, Witt slowly stood up. The two walked towards Witt's room, but stopped at the door. Through the half-open door, they saw that Hakan and Cheng Yu had already occupied the entire bed and seemed to be fast asleep.

Evans coughed awkwardly and turned to Witt, saying, "Uh...why don't you go to my room and rest first? I'll go back after I've dealt with the ghost." Witt nodded wearily and obediently followed Evans away.

Inside the room, Hakan seemed to sense something and slightly opened his eyes. He glanced at Cheng Yu, who was fast asleep beside him, then at the tightly closed door, before finally choosing to close his eyes again, putting the little incident out of his mind.

After settling Witt in, Evans took a deep breath and gripped the potion he'd received from Chet. He knew the next step was to deal with the ghost.

Evand returned to the cellar, where Moko was hovering, as if he had been waiting for him. Upon seeing Evand, Moko let out a soft chuckle.

"Oh dear, my little wolf cub is finally back," Mo Ke teased. "You were so gentle with Victor just now; I've never received such treatment before."

Evans scratched his head sheepishly, but quickly refocused on the matter at hand. "Morco, about the ghosts..."

“Don’t rush,” Mo Ke interrupted him, “I’ve already sensed the ghost. It’s outside the tavern; you can find it as soon as you leave.”

Evand frowned. "But won't it run away when it sees me?"

Moko emitted a low hum, as if in thought. "That's simple," it said, "I can cast a little spell on you. That ghost will feel disgust upon seeing you, and it will definitely come looking for you."

Evans nodded and took a deep breath. "Okay, I understand. I'll be off then."

Watching Evand's departing figure, Moko sighed silently. It vibrated gently, releasing the restrictions on Snow's room, and then returned to the barrel as usual.

Snow sensed the door suddenly open and rushed out of the room. He first checked the area where the wine barrels were stored, but still found no talking horn. Filled with doubt and worry, he hurried up the stairs to check on Evand.

Meanwhile, Evand had already arrived outside the tavern. The night was deep, and all was silent. He cautiously looked around, clutching the potion Chet had given him, waiting for the mysterious ghost to appear.

The night was as dark as ink, and a cold wind howled. Evand had barely stepped out of the tavern when the eerie green ghost charged at him like a bolt of lightning. The young werewolf reacted swiftly, drawing his short sword and slashing at the ghost. However, the blade passed right through the ghost's body, as if striking thin air.

The ghost let out a piercing laugh, its voice filled with mockery. "Foolish wolf cub, do you think mortal weapons can harm me?" It circled Evand. "Your body disgusts me. But soon, it will be mine."

Before he could finish speaking, the ghost suddenly transformed into a beam of green light and burrowed directly into Evand's body. Evand felt a dizzying sensation, as if a million ants were gnawing at his brain. He gritted his teeth, desperately trying to stay conscious.

At this critical moment, Evand remembered the secret technique that Moko had taught him—the Holy Fist. He concentrated all his strength and swung his right fist out. A beam of light imbued with purifying power burst forth from his fist, instantly dispelling the evil energy within him.

The ghost screamed and fled from Evand's body, scattering in all directions. Seeing this, Evand immediately gave chase. He unleashed his Holy Fist once more, this time striking the ghost's ethereal form squarely. The ghost, like ice meeting the blazing sun, instantly began to melt and dissipate.

Evand breathed a sigh of relief and relaxed his guard. But just then, the ghost that seemed to have dissipated suddenly reformed and darted back into Evand's body like lightning.

"Fool!" the ghost's voice echoed in Evand's mind. "How could you believe a ghost? That was just a trick they put on for you. Now, your body is mine!"

Evans felt his consciousness fading and his body becoming increasingly uncontrollable. He tried to call for help, but found he didn't even have the strength to open his mouth.

Evand felt an unprecedented surge of power coursing through his body. His right hand suddenly burst into a divine flame, blazing and bright. Ignoring the potential harm it might cause him, Evand unhesitatingly slammed his burning fist into his chest.

The ghost was terrified by this mad act and fled in panic from Evand's body. It stared incredulously at the young werewolf who was willing to harm himself to exorcise the evil spirit.

Freed, Evand immediately pulled a magic potion from his pocket and drank it down. The potion's effects were immediate; he felt his magic rapidly returning. Seizing this fleeting opportunity, Evand once again gathered his power and unleashed a fatal blow upon the terrified ghost.

"Holy Fist!"

Evand moved with lightning speed, leaving the ghost no time to react. A holy light enveloped the ghost, which let out a mournful wail before dissipating into starlight into the night sky.

An ordinary stone fell to the ground with a "thud." Evand bent down, picked it up, and examined it closely. This seemingly ordinary stone was actually the dwelling place of a ghost.

Evans let out a long sigh, the adrenaline rush gradually subsiding, and fatigue set in. He slowly sat down against the tavern wall, gazing at the stone in his hand, his heart filled with relief and a sense of peace.

“Finally…it’s over.” Evand murmured to himself, a tired but relieved smile playing on his lips.

Just then, the tavern door creaked open. Snow rushed out, looking around. When he saw Evand sitting on the floor, he finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"Evand! Are you alright?" Snow quickly walked to Evand's side and asked with concern.

Evans looked up at Snow and gave a weak smile: "I'm alright, Dad. The ghost... I've taken care of it."

Snow crouched down and carefully examined Evand. Seeing that the young man had no obvious external injuries, he finally felt relieved.

“You did a great job, Evand.” Snow patted Evand on the shoulder. “Come on, let’s go inside. You need to get some rest.”

With Snow's help, Evans slowly stood up. The two walked together into the warm tavern, leaving the starlight to gaze silently at the dark little stone.