Tavern of the Spear: Desire for Pleasure

Evand is currently overwhelmed by the escalating tensions between the Minotaur and Lizardman tribes. The two tribes are embroiled in a growing conflict over a missing child, with friction escalating to the point of several small-scale clashes. As a mediator in the mist, having friends on both sides, Evand is forced to intervene repeatedly, leaving him exhausted. He longs for a moment of peace, even if it's just a brief escape.

So, on a sunny afternoon, Evand picked up his fishing rod and went to the riverbank. He hoped to catch a few fish and relax his tense nerves. However, the spot he chose seemed less than ideal; he cast his line for a long time but didn't see even a small fish. Evand sighed and decided to try his luck in another spot.

He walked along the riverbank for a long time until he finally came to a simple riverside hut. The hut was built of wood and thatch, and it looked quite old; some weeds had even grown on the roof. Just as Evand was about to walk around the hut and continue on, suddenly a strong arm reached out from inside the hut and grabbed his arm.

Evand was startled and instinctively tried to break free, but found that the arm was incredibly strong, and he couldn't move at all. He looked up and saw a tall orca-like beastman standing at the door of the hut, staring intently at him.

"Who...who are you?" Evan asked nervously.

The orca-man sized Evand up and down, then slowly said, "Sorry, sorry, I startled you! I didn't mean to! You...you're Snow's son, Evand, right?"

Evand was taken aback, his mind filled with confusion. He never expected that this strange orca-like beastman would know his name and his father. He nodded and cautiously asked, "How did you know me?"

The orca beastman did not answer Evand's question, but continued, "Cheng Yu... he told me to wait for you here."

Upon hearing the name "Cheng Yu," the image of the mysterious, yellow-haired wolf-beastman immediately flashed into Evand's mind. A thought stirred within him; he vaguely sensed a special connection between himself and this orca-beastman.

"You...you know Cheng Yu?" Evan asked tentatively.

The orca-man nodded, his tone tinged with anxiety: "My name is Luo. Cheng Yu told me to wait for him here. He said only you can help me find my young master, He."

"What?" Evans was even more puzzled. He had no idea who this "He" was, nor how he could help Luo find him.

“He is my young master. About a week ago, he was taken away by the devil! I’m really worried about him. Snow is a good man, and I believe his son is too. Please, you must help me,” Luo explained. “Also, Cheng Yu promised me that someone would help me find my young master, and he was talking about you. Because I’m so worried about him, I’ve been waiting here every day. The moment you appeared, I recognized you. You really look so much like Mr. Snow. Oh, praise to Mr. Snow for having such a wonderful son!”

Evan finally understood what had happened. It turned out that after Cheng Yu left that day, he came here and told Luo, who lived here, that he could help him. But how did Cheng Yu know that he could help Luo?

I don't seem to have any special characteristics, and my strength is so weak. Asking me to defeat a demon and save people? Isn't that a bit too difficult?

“I understand,” Evand took a deep breath and finally agreed, saying firmly, “I will help you.”

A glimmer of hope flashed in Luo's eyes, and he nodded gratefully: "Thank you, Mr. Evand! You are as kind as your father!"

Evans reluctantly put away his fishing rod; it seemed his fishing plans for the day were doomed. Tribal conflicts, the sacred spring, the missing young master… each event weighed heavily on his mind, making it hard to breathe. He comforted himself, promising to go fishing with Snow another time, perhaps even catching a bigger fish.

“Luo, do you have anything that Young Master He used, or anything that has his scent?” Evans turned to Luo and said, “Canines have a very keen sense of smell. Once I’ve smelled it once, I can track his scent.”

Luo immediately understood what Evand meant. He strode into the small house, rummaged through the drawers and cabinets for a while, and took out a neatly folded shirt. "This is the young master's favorite shirt; he wears it often."

Evans took the shirt and sniffed it carefully. A faint scent, a mixture of the salty smell of the sea and the fresh fragrance of some kind of plant, entered his nostrils. He memorized the scent and then said to Luo, "Alright, let's go find Young Master He now."

“No, Mr. Evand, I can’t go with you.” Luo shook his head, his tone tinged with apology.

Evans was puzzled: "Why? Aren't you also worried about Young Master He?"

Luo sighed and explained, “My duty is to take care of the young master and his home. The young master is very clean. If he comes back and finds the house in a mess, I will feel guilty even if I don’t say anything. So, I have to stay here and wait for him to come back. I know I’m very anxious, more anxious than anyone else, but I’m sorry, Mr. Evand, I really can’t leave here.”

Evans nodded understandingly; he knew Luo's concerns. "Alright then, I'll do my best to find Young Master He, don't worry."

“Thank you, Mr. Evand.” Luo bowed gratefully to Evand. “I’m counting on you.”

After bidding farewell to Luo, Evand followed the scent of Young Master He along the riverbank. The scent was sometimes strong, sometimes weak, and sometimes even disappeared completely, forcing Evand to slow down and carefully discern its origin. A mist shrouded the land, making everything around him appear hazy and indistinct, except for Young Master He's scent, which, like a thin thread, guided Evand's direction.

As darkness fell, the fog thickened, reducing visibility to less than five meters. A sense of unease crept into Evans' heart. He didn't know how much longer he had to walk, or what awaited him ahead. He could only rely on the faint scent and unwavering faith to continue groping his way forward through the fog.

Suddenly, Evand smelled a pungent, bloody odor mixed with the stench of some wild beast. This smell reminded him of the blood shed by the soldiers of the Liangfeng tribe during the war, and his heart sank, a sense of foreboding washing over him.

He quickened his pace, running towards the direction the scent was coming from. Passing through a dense thicket of bushes, he arrived at a pitch-black cave. The cave was incredibly dark, like a black hole relentlessly swallowing light, but the smell of blood and the scent emanating from He's body both came from there.

Evand cautiously approached, and in the dim light, he finally made out his surroundings. The cave entrance was overgrown with weeds, and a small stream meandered into the cave, disappearing into the darkness. Evand gazed at the deep cave entrance, a sense of unease rising within him. He felt like that stream; once he stepped into the cave, there was no turning back. It was completely dark, pitch black, and he had carried no lighting equipment or supplies. Entering the cave rashly was far too risky.

"Let's prepare first before going in," Evand thought. "At least we should get a torch and bring plenty of food and water, just in case."

He looked around and realized he was too far from the Spear Tavern; going back now was clearly impractical. Seeking lodging at the riverside hut in Lost City wasn't a good idea either; he wasn't sure if there were any beds available. After much deliberation, he decided to head to the nearest minotaur tribe.

By the time Evand arrived at the Tauren tribe, night had completely fallen. The guards at the tribe's entrance were on high alert due to the recent tense situation, and upon seeing a werewolf approaching, they immediately raised their weapons.

"Halt! Who are you?" the guard shouted sternly.

“I am Evand, an ally of Chief Axel. I just want to stay here for one night,” Evand quickly replied.

The guards sized Evand up and down, confirming his identity before letting him into the tribe. Thanks to Chief Axel's connection, or rather, to Tarn's, Evand moved freely through the tribe without encountering any obstacles.

The atmosphere inside the tribe was completely different from the tense one outside; it was filled with peace and tranquility, as if it were isolated from the world. Although Chief Axel was always stern with Evand, he was indeed a good chief who protected his people very well.

Evand walked along the tribal path, his destination the lodgings Chief Axel had arranged for him. Halfway there, he suddenly saw a minotaur passed out drunk by the roadside, muttering something incoherently.

“Looks like he’s had too much to drink,” Evand thought. “I should help him out.” He went over, helped the drunken minotaur to his feet, and laboriously assisted him to a large tree by the roadside, where he sat down against the trunk.

"Are you alright?" Evan asked with concern.

The drunken minotaur opened his eyes groggily, glanced at Evand, and mumbled, "Th...thank you..." before closing his eyes again and falling into a deep sleep.

Evans smiled helplessly. He took the gourd of wine from the minotaur's body, smelled it, and a strong aroma of wine wafted out.

"This liquor is really strong," Evand thought. "No wonder he's so drunk." He carefully put away the gourd, intending to return it to the minotaur after he woke up. (I didn't get the plot you wanted, hehe, so I won't give it to you.)

Having done all this, Evand continued walking towards his dwelling. Night deepened, and the tribe gradually quieted down, broken only by the occasional chirping of insects.

Evand arrived at the lodgings arranged for him by Chief Axel, a simple wooden hut located on the edge of the tribe, in a quiet and secluded environment. He pushed open the door and went inside. The room contained only a simple wooden bed and a table; the furnishings were simple, but it was clean and tidy.

Evan closed the door, then walked to the bed and lay down. He closed his eyes, but his mind was racing. Tribal conflicts, the sacred spring, the missing young master… a series of events intertwined, keeping him awake.

"Sigh, let's talk about tomorrow's problems tomorrow," Evans sighed, forcing himself not to think about those troubling things. He turned over, buried his face in the soft pillow, and gradually drifted off to sleep.