Tavern of the Spear: Desire for Pleasure

Cheng Yu bid farewell to Kaimen Richie and the others, saying he needed some time alone to sort out his thoughts and hoped they wouldn't disturb him. Although Kaimen Richie was worried about Cheng Yu's state, considering that too much interference might backfire, he ultimately agreed to his request. He instructed Qian Tu and Obsidian to return to the Northern Wolf Clan tribe first, while he himself followed Cheng Yu at a distance to ensure his safety.

Of course, Cheng Yu wasn't stupid. He decided to observe first. If someone followed him, he would be in trouble if he tried to take out the white scales later.

Upon realizing Cheng Yu was observing him, Kaimen Richie knew he couldn't keep following him. It was clear Cheng Yu was very discerning; he couldn't use this identity to approach Cheng Yu, even though the guy wasn't willing to share information with him.

Watching Kaimen Richie's figure disappear into the night, Cheng Yu finally relaxed. He took out the small white scale from his sleeve and examined it carefully in the dim moonlight. The scale was cool to the touch, smooth as jade, and emitted a faint silvery sheen. He turned the scale over and over for a long time, but still couldn't find any clues. What was the purpose of this scale? Why did that white dragon slave risk his life to deliver it to him?

Cheng Yu was filled with doubt. He felt like a traveler lost in a vast labyrinth, unable to find the exit or any direction. The surrounding trees swayed in the night wind, rustling softly as if whispering secrets. Moonlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled shadows on the ground that danced like ghosts, adding to the mysterious and eerie atmosphere.

He wandered aimlessly, letting his thoughts churn in his mind. He remembered the desperate look in the white dragon slave's eyes before he died, and the name he had uttered—"Dream Builder." What did this name represent? And what did it have to do with him?

Cheng Yu felt a headache coming on. He felt as if his memories were shrouded in a fog, impossible to see clearly. He tried hard to dispel the fog, but found that the harder he tried, the thicker the fog became, making him even more lost.

He stopped, took a deep breath, and tried to calm himself. He told himself he couldn't panic; he had to stay clear-headed to find the answer. He looked up at the night sky, where countless stars twinkled like diamonds scattered on a black curtain. He seemed to see a glimmer of hope, a guiding light, in that starlight, leading him through his confusion.

He clutched the scales tightly in his hand, silently vowing to unravel all the mysteries, find the truth, and help the White Dragon clan regain their freedom. Even if the road ahead was fraught with thorns, he would never give up.

Before he knew it, he had come to a stream. The water was crystal clear, shimmering in the moonlight like a silver ribbon winding through the forest. He knelt down, scooped up a handful of water, and washed his face to clear his head.

Just then, he suddenly heard a soft footstep coming from behind him. He turned around abruptly, looking warily in the direction of the sound.

"Dream Builder..." This word lingered in Cheng Yu's mind like a curse. He chewed on these three words over and over, trying to decipher some meaning from them, but he could never figure it out. Dream Builder? With what can he build dreams? And what ability does he have to build dreams? The very concept of dream Builder was vague and ethereal, and the more he thought about it, the more his head ached.

Just as he was deep in thought, a figure silently appeared beside him. It was an old man cloaked over which his face was obscured. The cloak covered most of his face, revealing only a pointed chin and a pair of deep-set eyes. Cheng Yu recognized him; it was this old man who had sent him back to the Forgotten Land.

The old man sat down on a rock by the stream, dipping his feet into the clear water and gently splashing the surface. Through the reflection in the water, Cheng Yu could clearly see the old man's claws—clearly the claws of a dragon-beastman, and possibly even a white dragon. Why didn't he have a tail?

“Child,” the old man suddenly spoke, his voice low and hoarse, “what is the most vivid dream you’ve ever had?”

Cheng Yu was taken aback; the question caught him off guard. He tried hard to recall, but found that he couldn't remember any of his dreams. He had rarely dreamed since childhood, and even when he did, he would quickly forget them upon waking.

“I don’t know,” he shook his head and answered truthfully.

The old man didn't press further or offer any explanation. He simply sat there quietly, gazing at the flowing stream, as if deep in thought. The babbling brook added a pleasant sound, as if bringing a touch of life to the still night.

Moonlight spilled across the water, creating shimmering, sparkling waves like scattered silver fragments on a black curtain, shimmering with a mesmerizing light. Cheng Yu sat there quietly, watching the old man, his heart filled with doubt. He didn't know why the old man had suddenly appeared, nor did he understand the purpose of his question.

Time ticked by, the air around them seemed to freeze, the silence suffocating. Cheng Yu felt his heart pounding faster and faster, as if something was about to happen. He stole a glance at the old man and found him still sitting there motionless, like a statue.

Suddenly, the old man raised his head, looked at Cheng Yu, and a strange light flashed in his eyes. "Child," he said slowly, "do you believe in fate?"

Cheng Yu was stunned again; he didn't know how to answer the question. Fate? He had never thought about that question. He had always believed that his fate was in his own hands, not controlled by some mysterious force.

“I don’t know,” he hesitated for a moment, then finally shook his head.

The old man smiled but said nothing. He stood up, dusted himself off, and turned to leave, his figure gradually disappearing into the night.

Cheng Yu gazed in the direction the old man had left, his heart filled with doubt. He didn't know who the old man was, nor why he was there. He only knew that this mysterious old man must know something.

He looked at the scale in his hand again, and a bold guess suddenly came to his mind. This guess might seem far-fetched, but without trying it, no one could be sure. Perhaps he should go find that old man.

P.S.: This chapter is a bit short, mainly because I need to supplement character information. The next chapter will be a side story, which will be quite long. It will mainly supplement the character information I designed. After all, when writing the plot, these characters who suddenly appear sometimes need some background information to explain why they do what they do.