Tavern of the Spear: Desire for Pleasure

After leaving the Spear Tavern, Cheng Yu decided to seek some peace and quiet at the lakeside cabin. After walking for a while through the mist, he finally saw the simple cabin. A gentle breeze swept across the lake, bringing a touch of coolness, and Cheng Yu stopped to take a deep breath of the fresh air.

Just as he was about to push open the door of the cabin, an angry roar suddenly came from inside: "Get out, demon!" Immediately afterward, a killer whale-like beastman, wielding a spear, charged out. Cheng Yu was startled and quickly explained, "Wait, I'm not a demon, I'm Cheng Yu, Snow's friend!"

Although the orca-like beastman Luo heard Cheng Yu's explanation, he remained wary and slowly withdrew his spear slightly. He scrutinized Cheng Yu, a hint of doubt and distrust flashing in his eyes. Cheng Yu knew he had to dispel this misunderstanding, so he slowly raised his hands to indicate that he was harmless. "I can explain," Cheng Yu said calmly, "I just wanted to find a place to rest and, incidentally, come to help Snow find a missing friend."

Luo seemed to relax slightly, but his gaze remained wary. "If you are Snow's friend, then you should know the situation here. I apologize for offending you just now, esteemed guest, thank you Lord Snow! He really hasn't forgotten us! I knew he wouldn't abandon the young master!" Luo's voice was filled with excitement and respect, but also with exhaustion and anxiety.

“Listen to me, praying is useless, you don’t need to keep thanking me!” Cheng Yu continued to explain, “I know He was taken away by the demon, and I want to help you find him. If you’re willing, I can assist you.” Upon hearing Cheng Yu mention He, Luo’s expression clearly changed, becoming more solemn and complicated.

Luo remained silent for a moment before slowly lowering the spear. "Alright, but thank you for your help, sir. On behalf of the young master, I thank you!" He finally spoke. "If you are truly willing to help me, I can tell you some things. I think Snow has already told you these things, so I'm sorry to repeat them to you." Luo invited Cheng Yu into the wooden house, and the two sat down.

“It’s like this,” Luo began to recount her ordeal. “That night, I heard the sound of breaking glass coming from the young master’s room, so I rushed there. But I never expected that the one attacking the young master would be a demon. It attacked our cabin and took He away. I was too weak in its presence. It easily knocked me unconscious, and then I didn’t know anything. I repent for my incompetence. I failed to protect the young master. How can I explain this to the young master’s father? But thankfully, sir, you came! Great Lord Snow, I knew he would help us.”

Cheng Yu listened quietly, sensing Luo's anxiety and worry for He. "I understand how you feel," Cheng Yu said. "I will do everything I can to help you. Tell me, what does a demon look like? We can start our investigation from there."

Luo lowered his head and pondered for a moment, then looked up at Cheng Yu, his eyes filled with hope and trust. "It was a demon with black scales and wings on its back. It was very tall, twice my height." Cheng Yu frowned; this description reminded him of some legendary creatures.

“Alright,” Cheng Yu stood up and began looking around for any clues. “We can start searching from the nearby river to see if there are any traces of demons. We need to make a detailed plan.” Luo also stood up, his expression becoming more determined. “Thank you for your help, sir. If you find the young master, I am willing to dedicate myself to you!” he said. “Please, no matter what, you must help me find Young Master He!”

Cheng Yu felt a sense of helplessness. Luo's personality was truly strange; he was always so agitated, and almost every word he uttered involved gratitude. However, Cheng Yu couldn't refuse Luo's request, as it concerned the intimacy level with this kind-hearted orca butler. To be honest, Cheng Yu had never seen such a loyal butler. He shook his head and calmly said, "I don't need your sacrifices; I'm just here to help you." However, Luo misunderstood Cheng Yu's refusal, thinking that she hadn't satisfied this gentleman, and tears welled up in her eyes.

Luo's emotions suddenly collapsed. He looked down at the ground, tears streaming down his cheeks. "I'm sorry, sir. I failed to make you happy. I'm so sad. I thought that as long as I tried my best, I could satisfy you, but I didn't expect that I couldn't even do this." His voice trembled, as if he were enduring immense pain.

Seeing Luo's state, Cheng Yu felt he should explain. He sighed and slowly said, "Luo, it's not your fault. I'm injured and have other things to take care of. But don't worry, my friend Evan will come to help you."

Cheng Yu could only tell a small lie now, since he was not going to go to hell again. It was too boring there. Apart from the three-headed hellhound, there was nothing else that interested him. As for which place, he decided to forget about it.

He paused for a moment, then continued, "Evand is Snow's son, and he will do his best to help you find He."

His dejected mood seemed to stabilize upon hearing that Snow's son would come to help. He looked up, hope rekindling in his eyes. "Really? Lord Snow really sent his son?" he exclaimed excitedly. "This is wonderful! Lord Snow truly is our savior!"

“That’s right,” Cheng Yu replied, feeling a sense of relief at Luo’s excitement. “However, Evand has other tasks to complete before coming here, so he needs some time. Calm down first, and we can make some preparations in the meantime.”

Luo lowered her head again, slowly wiping away her tears, then took a deep breath. "I'm sorry, sir, I was too emotional just now. I will wait for your friend Evand; he must be a brave young man. Please tell him that I will do my best to cooperate with his actions."

Cheng Yu nodded, knowing this was at least a good start. "I will, Luo. You prepare everything first. Once Evand arrives, we can begin our operation." With that, Cheng Yu stood up to leave the cabin, but just as he was about to push open the door, he suddenly remembered something and turned back to say, "By the way, Luo, can you tell me more details about your encounter with the demon? Any information might be helpful to us."

Luo gathered her thoughts and began to describe the events of that night in detail: "It was a dark and windy night. I heard a noise coming from the young master's room. When I rushed over, I saw a terrifying black shadow with shimmering black scales and enormous wings. It easily knocked me down and then took He away." Fear and helplessness were evident in Luo's eyes. "I couldn't do anything. I was just too weak."

Cheng Yu was speechless, wondering why Luo was repeating herself again, since she had already said those words before...

But he didn't stop them; he just listened quietly.

Cheng Yu felt it was getting late and prepared to leave the cabin. He pushed open the door and had just taken a step when he heard Luo's voice behind him.

"Wait, sir!" Luo's voice revealed a hint of reluctance and urgency. "It's getting late. If you leave now, you might get lost. My place is simple, but there are still seats available. Why don't you stay here for the night?"

Cheng Yu initially wanted to decline, but he realized he was indeed quite tired, and being in the fog at night wasn't something he enjoyed. So he turned around, saw Luo's expectant eyes, and finally sighed, nodding in agreement. "Alright, I'll stay here for the night."

A look of joy appeared on Luo's face, and he quickly gave up the only room in the house. "This room is simple, but I can prepare some simple food and drinks for you," he said, making a clean bed for Cheng Yu.

As night deepened, Cheng Yu and Luo sat around a small table, sharing an oil lamp. They talked about their experiences; Cheng Yu mentioned He and the demon, while Luo repeatedly expressed her gratitude to Snow and recounted her loyalty to He. Unbeknownst to them, a subtle connection had formed between them.

As they finished their conversation and prepared to rest, Cheng Yu was slightly embarrassed to find that the cabin only had one bed. Although he felt a little uncomfortable, seeing Luo Zhen's sincere eyes, he didn't refuse. "Let's leave it like this," he said, and then the two lay down on the same bed, each lost in their own thoughts.

The night was deep, and moonlight streamed through the window, illuminating the simply furnished room. Cheng Yu lay on the bed, feeling the rhythm of Luo's breathing, a subtle feeling beginning to stir within him. Cheng Yu had expected a peaceful night, but as time passed, an indescribable emotion gradually began to sprout between the two of them.

Luo moved first, turning to face Cheng Yu, his eyes gleaming with a light Cheng Yu couldn't ignore. He gently stroked Cheng Yu's arm, touching every tiny bump on his skin, and whispered, "Thank you, sir. I'm truly grateful for everything you've done for us." Luo's touch made Cheng Yu's heart race; the intimate gesture and gentle tone made Cheng Yu feel warm all over.

Cheng Yu felt he should push Luo away, but at that moment he was completely captivated by Luo's enthusiasm and gratitude. He closed his eyes, relaxed, and accepted this unexpected intimacy. Under the moonlight, the two gradually forgot everything around them, only their breaths and touches remained. Cheng Yu realized he could no longer resist this strong attraction.

The next morning, as sunlight streamed through the curtains into the room, Cheng Yu slowly opened his eyes. Seeing Luo sleeping soundly beside him, he smiled gently, inwardly marveling at how he had become a "universal charger"—last night's experience was something he had never imagined. Luo slowly woke up, and the two locked eyes, the air thick with unspoken emotions and an awkward silence.

Hey! There's not only a "power strip" in this fog, but now there's also a "universal charger".

"Thank you for last night, Luo," Cheng Yu said softly, trying to hide his complex emotions with a smile.

Luo shook his head, a shy smile appearing on his face as well. "You're the one who's willing to stay and help me; I should thank you," he said, gently taking Cheng Yu's hand. In the peaceful morning, the two found their own peace and comfort.