Tavern of the Spear: Desire for Pleasure

The morning light filtered through the thin paper window, falling on Evand's face and waking him from his sleep. He stretched, his body aching all over; the previous night's journey had left him exhausted. After a quick wash, Evand stepped out of the cabin, breathing in the fresh morning air, feeling much more refreshed.

He planned to visit Chief Axel first and explain his purpose. After all, when you come to someone else's place, you should at least say something if you're staying for the night. Even though he might still get a scolding and ridicule, he should still be polite. That's what he thought. He could also go and see Tarn to see how he was doing.

Meanwhile, in the "Forgotten Land," where time has no concept, Cheng Yu is experiencing a sweet dilemma. Bai Long Ao Lian is becoming increasingly infatuated with him, insisting on sleeping close to him every night.

"Aolian, could you move away from me a little? I can't breathe." Cheng Yu said helplessly, pushing Aolian away from him.

Aolian nuzzled Cheng Yu's neck, her voice aggrieved, "But you smell so good, I can't help but want to get closer to you."

Cheng Yu exuded a peculiar fragrance, mixed with his unique wolfish aura. Although he also carried the ambergris of the other two dragons, this scent of Cheng Yu was fatally attractive to Ao Lian.

Although Cheng Yu also enjoyed Ao Lian's intimacy, he couldn't let go of Hakan in his heart. He knew he should remain restrained and not indulge too much.

"Aolian, let's sleep in separate beds," Cheng Yu said earnestly. "It's better for everyone that way."

Ao Lian was somewhat reluctant, but seeing Cheng Yu's determined gaze, he finally gave in. "Alright, I'll do whatever you say." He reluctantly got off Cheng Yu, then used his paws to dig a shallow hole in the ground to use as his bed.

Cheng Yu was touched by Ao Lian's actions, but also speechless. He was touched that she understood him; but speechless because this was a place for a human to sleep. He reached out and touched Ao Lian's head, saying softly, "Thank you, Ao Lian, but this is making me feel very awkward. I'm sleeping on the bed, and you're sleeping on the floor. How can that be? Why don't you make me a stone bed?"

Ao Lian squinted comfortably, enjoying Cheng Yu's caresses. He knew that although Cheng Yu had rejected his advances, he still cared about him.

Looking at the white dragon now, Cheng Yu felt a little disoriented. How did the once aloof white dragon become like this? Just because of a name? Could this name really have such great magic?

Shaking his head, Cheng Yu stopped thinking about it. Perhaps the other person was like this only when they were sleeping. During the day—no, since there is no day or night here—the other person should be more normal when they are awake.

Having solved his sleep problem, Cheng Yu began to think about how to leave the "Forgotten Land" as soon as possible. He knew that Hakan must be anxiously waiting for him to return.

"I must find a way to get out of here." Cheng Yu clenched his fists, his heart filled with determination.

He got up and walked to the cave entrance, gazing at the distant, rolling mountains. He knew he had to get out; he absolutely couldn't stay here forever.

Sunlight streamed through the opening, casting Cheng Yu's long, slender shadow. He resembled a bird trapped in a cage, yearning for freedom and to fly.

"One day, I will leave this place," Cheng Yu said silently to himself.

Under the gray sky of the "Forgotten Lands," Cheng Yu was gently awakened by the white dragon Aolian. "Cheng Yu, do you... want to take a shower?" Aolian's voice was hesitant, as if she was unsure whether she should make the suggestion.

Cheng Yu's cheeks flushed instantly, and he subconsciously thought of certain ambiguous scenes. "There's...no water here..." he stammered, his eyes darting around.

Seeing this, Ao Lian rolled her eyes, looking helpless. "What are you thinking? I meant taking a bath! Not..." He paused, seemingly feeling embarrassed to explain such a thing, "Anyway, it's not what you think."

Cheng Yu then realized he had misunderstood and scratched his head awkwardly. "Ah...sorry, I misunderstood. But, is it really possible to take a shower here? Where does the water come from?"

“Of course, it’s divine blood,” Aolian said matter-of-factly. “About ten kilometers to the east of this cave, you’ll find a huge pool of blood, left behind by the Dream God after his fall.”

"The God of Dreams?" Cheng Yu stared wide-eyed in surprise. "Can gods... also die?" He found it hard to believe that he could bathe in divine blood, and what intrigued him even more was how a god could fall.

Aolian remained silent for a moment, a barely perceptible sadness flashing in her eyes. "...Don't ask, I don't want to talk about it."

Seeing that Aolian was unwilling to discuss the matter, Cheng Yu didn't press the issue. He nodded, indicating his understanding. "Alright then, let's go take a look." He was filled with curiosity, wanting to witness divine blood firsthand and wonder what it felt like to bathe in it. Would it be like in the novels he had read in his previous life, where bathing in divine blood awakened some new ability?

With a mix of anticipation and trepidation, Cheng Yu followed Ao Lian eastward. Along the way, he kept asking Ao Lian about the Dream God, but Ao Lian remained silent, simply leading the way in quietude.

After walking for about two hours, they finally arrived at the Blood Pool that Aolian had mentioned. It was a huge, circular pool, the water of which was bright red and emitted a faint smell of blood. Strange plants grew around the Blood Pool, shimmering with a faint light, making the pool appear even more mysterious and eerie.

Cheng Yu stared at the scene before him, his heart filled with shock. He had never seen such a peculiar sight, nor had he ever imagined that he would bathe in divine blood.

"Alright, you can go now." Aolian pointed to the blood pool and said, "This divine blood can not only cleanse the body, but also enhance physical fitness, which is very beneficial to your health."

Cheng Yu nodded, took a deep breath, and stepped into the blood pool. A warm liquid enveloped his body, making him feel incredibly comfortable. He closed his eyes, quietly sensing the power of the divine blood, his heart filled with anticipation.

Cheng Yu anticipated the miraculous experience that the divine blood would bring, but instead of comfort, he was greeted with excruciating pain. He jumped out of the blood pool, wincing and clutching his body, "Ouch! What the hell is this?! It hurts so much!"

He glared at Bai Long Aolian, who was standing to the side, and noticed a smug smile on her face. Cheng Yu was instantly enraged. "Why didn't you say it would hurt this much sooner?!"

Ao Lian shrugged innocently, "I don't know, it didn't hurt at all when I was soaking in it." As he spoke, he even demonstrated by jumping into the blood pool and lying down comfortably as if soaking in a hot spring, without showing any sign of pain.

Cheng Yu was skeptical, but tried stepping into the blood pool again. The moment he touched the blood, the excruciating pain returned, forcing him to jump out once more. "This is impossible! Why are you alright, but I'm in so much pain?!"

Aolian then slowly explained, "This is divine blood, not ordinary blood. This divine blood has its own consciousness and will enter your body through your capillaries, replacing your original blood. Of course it will hurt."

Cheng Yu suddenly realized, "So that's how it is." "So you used to do it this way too?"

Aolian shook her head. "When I first started soaking, I was no different from now. I'm not as weak as you."

Cheng Yu was speechless. It turned out this white dragon was so powerful from the start. However, this also made him even more certain that Ao Lian and the Dream God were likely on the same level. As for the exact nature of their relationship, he had no idea.

"How long will it hurt?" Cheng Yu asked, rubbing his still stinging skin.

"Well..." Aolian paused mysteriously, "It depends on your constitution. Some people may feel better in a few minutes, while others may be in pain for several days."

Upon hearing this, Cheng Yu felt his future was bleak. Was he going to be in pain here for days? He didn't want to become a "human kebab."

"Is there any way to relieve the pain?" Cheng Yu looked at Ao Lian pitifully.

Aolian thought for a moment and said, "You can try circulating your magic power to resist the erosion of the divine blood. There is a divine substance next to this blood pool, and your magic power should be able to activate it."

Cheng Yu did as instructed, mobilizing the magic power within his body to form a protective barrier. Sure enough, the pain lessened considerably; although it was still somewhat uncomfortable, it was at least bearable.

He stepped into the blood pool again, and this time, he was finally able to endure it. Divine blood slowly seeped into his body, replacing his own. He could feel his body undergoing some kind of change, becoming stronger and more full of vitality.

He didn't know how much time had passed, but the pain finally completely disappeared. Cheng Yu stepped out of the blood pool, feeling refreshed and full of energy. He clenched his fist, sensing the surging magical power within him, his heart filled with joy.

"How are you? How do you feel?" Aolian asked with a smile.

Cheng Yu grinned. "It felt amazing! Thank you, Aolian."

Ao Lian smiled but remained silent. Looking at Cheng Yu's transformed appearance, he felt a surge of satisfaction. He knew that Cheng Yu had become stronger and was closer to his envisioned goal.

Next, they stayed there for a while longer, during which Cheng Yu kept asking about the Dream God.

Bai Long had never given Cheng Yu a definite answer about the Dream God, always trying to evade the question, which made Cheng Yu very angry.

Cheng Yu was furious at Ao Lian's evasive answers. "What are you hiding? Why won't you tell me about the Dream God?"

Ao Lian sighed, knowing he couldn't continue to evade the issue. "Cheng Yu, there are some things you're better off not knowing. The matter of the Dream God is far-reaching, and once you get involved, you'll face immense danger." He paused, then continued, "Moreover, I sense a divine power protecting you. I don't know if this power is good or bad for you, but I don't want you to be in danger because of me."

Cheng Yu lay in the blood pool, feeling the nourishment of divine blood, and pondering the concept of "god." So far, he only knew his master, "Dragon," an unidentified "god"; and Ao Lian before him, who was also very likely a "god." Adding to this the fallen Dream God, Cheng Yu felt this world was becoming increasingly complex, vastly different from his initial expectations.

"Forget it, I don't want to think about it anymore." Cheng Yu shook his head, banishing those chaotic thoughts from his mind. "What exactly is that 'wolf' you mentioned before?"

Aolian's expression changed slightly. "'Wolf'... is a taboo name. You'd better not know it."

"Why?" Cheng Yu's curiosity was fully piqued. "Is he dangerous?"

“It’s more dangerous than you think.” Aolian’s tone became serious. “The ‘wolf’ is the embodiment of chaos, the symbol of destruction, and the end of desire. He possesses unparalleled power and can easily destroy the entire world.”

Cheng Yu gasped, he hadn't expected the "wolf" to be so terrifying. "Then why are you so close to him? Judging from your previous descriptions, you two probably had a relationship, right? But how did you manage to hook up with him?"

“I don’t know.” Aolian shook her head. “I only know that the appearance of the ‘wolf’ foreshadows disaster. I want to protect my race, so I can only try to make contact with it, otherwise…”

He didn't finish speaking, but Cheng Yu already understood his meaning. If the "wolves" truly descended, Aolian's race would surely perish.

"That sounds terrible, but I'm still very curious. How did you get involved with him? How did he become interested in you? Was it your strength? Or something else?" Cheng Yu asked anxiously.

"Alright, I've said enough. You'll understand in time." Aolian said, standing up from the blood pool. "Alright, we've soaked long enough. I'm fine, but you can't have all your blood replaced."

Cheng Yu also stood up. He looked around and noticed a narrow passage on the other side of the blood pool. "Let's go take a look over there."

Ao Lian nodded, and the two walked forward along the passage. The passage was pitch black, so dark you couldn't see your hand in front of your face. Cheng Yu followed closely behind Ao Lian, not daring to relax his guard for a moment.

After walking for about a kilometer, a glimmer of light appeared at the end of the passage. The two quickened their pace and headed towards the light.

As they emerged from the passage, a breathtaking view unfolded before them. They found themselves in a vast grassland, bathed in sunshine, filled with the sounds of birdsong and the fragrance of flowers.

Cheng Yu took a deep breath, feeling as if he had returned from hell to the human world. "Didn't you say we couldn't get out? Well, here we are!!"

Aolian also smiled with relief, "Yes, we're finally out."

Then, a bitter smile appeared on his face. "Think about it carefully again. This is just a 'dream,' a 'beautiful dream' that was created because of you, existing only because of you..."

Before Cheng Yu could even feel disappointed, he heard a deafening bang.

The earth began to tremble violently, and the sky turned gloomy.

Cheng Yu and Ao Lian looked up and saw a huge vortex in the distant sky, emanating a terrifying aura.

“It’s ‘Nightmare’! It seems we’ve been soaking for too long; the allotted time has passed, and now it’s ‘Nightmare’ time.” Aolian’s expression was as calm as a still pond. “We need to find a way out.”