Tavern of the Spear: Desire for Pleasure

Chapter 119 Happy New Year

Bai Yu gritted his teeth and slammed his fist into the tree trunk beside him, the thick trunk shaking so hard that several leaves fell from it. "Bowen! It's Bowen again! That bastard!" he roared furiously, his chest heaving violently.

Cheng Yu patted him on the shoulder, signaling him to calm down. "I know you're angry, but now is not the time to act impulsively. We must first figure out Bo Wen's intentions before we can find a solution."

Xingluo and Abu also came over, both with worried expressions. Xingluo asked cautiously, "Who is Bowen?... And what exactly does he want?"

Cheng Yu told the two the contents of the letter. "Bo Wen will meet with us in two days, which is the day we deliver the giant egg to Hei Yao."

"A giant egg? Obsidian?" Abu looked bewildered. "What on earth is going on?"

Cheng Yu sighed and briefly explained what had happened. Abu was also shocked after listening. "So, we were all tricked by Bowen?"

"I'm afraid so." Cheng Yu's tone was somewhat heavy. "Bo Wen's goal is very likely to gather everyone involved in this game together and then wipe them all out in one fell swoop."

"What about Obsidian? Will he help us?" Xinglu asked.

“I don’t know.” Cheng Yu shook his head. “Although Hei Yao and we don’t have a good relationship, we have a common enemy—Bo Wen. I think he will agree to cooperate with us after he understands the situation.”

"I hope so," Bai Yu sighed, his heart still filled with unease.

Two days passed in the blink of an eye. Cheng Yu and his group, carrying the giant egg, arrived at the agreed-upon location with Hei Yao—at the foot of an ancient volcano.

Regardless of when it was, they had agreed to meet here, and Cheng Yu and the others simply came here based on their intuition, but they did indeed arrive at the right place.

The volcano stood majestically, its crater billowing thick smoke, and the air filled with the pungent smell of sulfur. The surrounding area was barren and desolate.

"This place is really desolate," Xingluo couldn't help but complain, covering her nose with a look of disgust.

"Shh! Keep your voice down," Bai Yu warned. "Be careful Hei Yao doesn't hear you."

Just then, a deafening dragon's roar suddenly echoed from the sky. Everyone looked up and saw a huge black dragon descending from the sky, slowly landing in front of them.

The black dragon was enormous, its body covered in black scales, exuding an intimidating aura. Its golden eyes, like two burning flames, stared intently at the crowd.

"So you're Cheng Yu and his group?" Hei Yao's voice was deep and magnetic, carrying an undeniable air of authority.

Although this statement seems somewhat redundant, it's merely a way to verify whether Cheng Yu and his group are truly present. If they've found someone to impersonate them, then Hei Yao will have to talk things out.

“That’s right.” Cheng Yu stepped forward and answered neither humbly nor arrogantly.

"Where is the special white dragon I requested?" Obsidian's gaze fell on the giant egg behind the group.

Cheng Yu gestured for Bai Yu to lift the giant egg in front of Hei Yao. Hei Yao carefully examined the giant egg, a hint of satisfaction flashing in his eyes.

“Very good.” Obsidian nodded. “You have completed your mission.”

"Can I ask you a question?" Cheng Yu asked.

Hei Yao's gaze fell on Cheng Yu again, a complex look flashing in his eyes. "I know what you want to ask...it's about Bo Wen, isn't it? Or perhaps it's about Bai Ze..."

Hei Yao paused, seemingly organizing his thoughts, before continuing, "That's right, I'm willing to cooperate with you. Perhaps you don't yet know how powerful Bowen truly is. In fact, Bowen isn't from this world; he comes from a higher dimension, so no one in this world can truly defeat him. Even now, he's merely an avatar formed from a wisp of his projected aura."

Hei Yao's tone became solemn. "Several hundred years ago, Bowen came to this world. Back then, he almost ruled the entire world, but fortunately, a powerful magician used all his power to completely seal Bowen in another dimension and shatter all of Bowen's power and spirit. This is why Bowen has been in a state of reincarnation and searching for his spiritual fragments ever since."

After Hei Yao finished speaking, his gaze swept over Cheng Yu and the others, a hint of helplessness flashing in his eyes. "Actually, I don't have high hopes of completely eliminating Bowen. After all, hundreds of years ago, even our people combined couldn't do it, so can we do it now? However, if we can completely drive Bowen out of this world, it might not be a bad choice for us."

He paused, then explained, "Bowen's spiritual fragments possess a special power that can influence people's mental strength, turning them into Bowen's puppets. Fortunately, these spiritual fragments cannot affect others for long, since they are not complete."

“Abu was very likely influenced by Bowen’s mental fragments,” Xingluo suddenly said, his tone tinged with worry.

Cheng Yu shook his head. "That's impossible. But we've already come to this point. Hei Yao knows about his situation. You've worked closely with Kaimen Rich before, haven't you? We need to find a solution as soon as possible, otherwise Abu will be in danger. So, can you help us?"

"That depends on your situation. After all, I've never said I'm a good person, hmm~"

"Then what should we do?" Xingluo asked anxiously.

After a moment of contemplation, Hei Yao slowly said, "However, I can tell you something. As far as I know, there is a herb called 'Soul Cleansing Grass,' which can purify polluted spiritual power. If we can find Soul Cleansing Grass, we might be able to break the mental control over Abu."

"Soul-purifying grass?" Cheng Yu's eyes lit up. "Do you know where to find Soul-purifying grass?"

Hei Yao shook his head. "The Soul Cleansing Grass is extremely rare. I've only seen records of it in ancient books. It's said that the Soul Cleansing Grass grows in extremely cold places, covered in ice and snow all year round, making it very difficult to find."

“The extreme cold…” Cheng Yu frowned. “It seems we are about to go through another ordeal.”

"There's no time to lose, we must set off as soon as possible." Bai Yu's tone was firm. "Abu can't wait much longer."

“Okay, let’s set off now!” Cheng Yu nodded, his gaze resolute.

After discussing the matter, the group decided to immediately head to the Frozen Lands to find the Soul-Cleansing Grass. Obsidian also offered his assistance, promising to send a team of elite dragon knights to escort them to the Frozen Lands.

Before leaving, Obsidian handed Cheng Yu a black dragon scale. "This dragon scale can help you withstand the extreme cold of the land and can also be used to send out a distress signal in critical moments."

Cheng Yu solemnly accepted the dragon scale. "Thank you. Although I know you're not a good dragon either, thank you anyway. Oh, by the way, you'd better not take a liking to me."

"Hahaha~ You've really gotten yourself into trouble. Don't think of me as a bad guy~ After all, you're right. Okay, I was just joking with you guys. I think I can still help out. I actually have this kind of thing. I have plenty in my treasure trove."

Seeing the speechless expressions on everyone's faces, Obsidian burst into laughter, his dragon roar echoing at the foot of the volcano. "Just kidding, don't be so tense," he said, his body rapidly shrinking until he became a dragon-beastman over three meters tall, still imposing, but less intimidating. He beckoned to the crowd, "Come with me, the Soul-Cleansing Grass is in my treasure vault."

The group exchanged bewildered glances. Although they were somewhat exasperated by Hei Yao's unpredictable attitude, they had no choice but to trust him, given Abu's safety at stake. So, they followed Hei Yao towards the volcano.

The closer they got to the volcano, the higher the temperature became, and the more pungent the sulfurous smell in the air grew. Xingluo and Abu found it hard to bear and had to hold their breath and slow their pace. Chengyu and Baiyu were a little better off, but they still couldn't help but frown slightly.

Obsidian seemed to sense their discomfort and turned back to say, "Hang in there, we'll be there soon." His tone carried a hint of a smile, as if he was thoroughly enjoying the environment.

As you venture deeper into the volcano, the surrounding environment becomes increasingly bizarre. Lava pillars, like giant red swords, pierce the sky; lava waterfalls cascade down from above, roaring like fiery dragons rushing into the earth. The air is thick with scorching heat, making you feel as if you are inside a giant furnace.

Xingluo and Abu were almost at their limit; their faces were covered in sweat, and their breathing had become rapid. Chengyu and Baiyu were also feeling the strain, but they gritted their teeth and persevered, not daring to relax for a moment.

After walking for a while, the view suddenly opened up before them. A vast space appeared before them, completely different from the scorching volcanic environment around them. The temperature here was pleasant, the air was fresh, and it seemed as if it were isolated from the volcano, forming an independent world.

"This is my treasure trove," Obsidian's voice echoed in the empty space. "The Soul-Cleansing Grass is inside."

The group entered the treasure vault and were immediately stunned by the sight before them. The vault was filled with all sorts of rare and precious treasures, glittering and dazzling. Rare ores, sparkling gems, ancient magic scrolls, exquisite works of art… everything imaginable was there.

"My goodness..." Xingluo couldn't help but exclaim, "Any one item from here could easily buy a city, right?"

Hei Yao smiled. "These things are nothing but material possessions to me. The truly precious things have long been swallowed up by me." As he spoke, he walked to a huge crystal cabinet, opened the door, and took out an exquisite box from inside.

Upon opening the box, a refreshing fragrance wafted out. Inside lay a pure white herb, emitting a faint fluorescent glow.

"This is the Soul Purifying Grass." Hei Yao handed the box to Cheng Yu. "It can purify polluted spiritual energy. I hope it can help your companions. However, Black Dragon's things are not free. Although he won't take your things now, who knows, he might one day."

Cheng Yu solemnly accepted the box, his heart filled with gratitude. "Thank you, Obsidian."

“You’re welcome.” Hei Yao smiled. “It was nothing.” He paused, then added, “I hope we can cooperate well and drive Bowen out of this world as soon as possible.”

Cheng Yu nodded. "We will."

After obtaining the Soul-Cleansing Grass, the group did not dare to delay and immediately began to brew a medicinal soup on the spot. However, none of them had any experience in this area, and the resulting soup turned out to be nothing more than a lump of paste.

Cheng Yu immediately boiled the Soul-Cleansing Grass into a medicinal soup and gave it to Abu.

Abu found this disgusting stuff so repulsive that he had no desire to drink it, so he kept his mouth shut and shook his hands to indicate his refusal.

Cheng Yuqiang still managed to feed it to Abu. After swallowing the medicine, Abu's complexion gradually returned to normal, and his eyes became clear.

"What...what's wrong with me? I feel like I'm flying into the sky!?" Abu asked blankly, his face contorted in disbelief. The smell of the medicine was simply unbearable.

"Cough cough~ It can't be that disgusting, can it? Feel it, is there any problem?" Cheng Yu immediately threw the medicine basin aside and asked somewhat awkwardly.

Upon hearing this, Abu's soul, which was about to ascend to heaven, was instantly pulled back into his body. Recalling what had happened before, he couldn't help but feel a wave of fear.

"Thank you, Cheng Yu! I will be grateful to you for the rest of my life!" Abu said "gratitudely," "If it weren't for you, I'm afraid... I would be better off!"

"You're welcome." Cheng Yu patted Abu on the shoulder and smiled. "We're friends, so we should help each other."

After resolving Abu's problem, everyone could finally breathe a sigh of relief. But they knew this was only a temporary respite.

The threat posed by Bowen remains, and they must find a way to deal with him as soon as possible.

……

New Year's Greetings: As the new year begins, let us embrace the spring sunshine together.

Dear fans:

As the wheels of time roll ever onward, we stand once again on the threshold of the New Year. Looking back, we have walked hand in hand through the cycle of seasons, experiencing countless storms and rainbows together; looking to the future, a new journey has begun, and new hope is flourishing in our hearts.

The past year has been a year full of challenges and opportunities. We strived hard on the stage of life, watering our dreams with sweat and writing our own chapters with perseverance. There may have been setbacks, but we never gave up; there may have been moments of confusion, but we always held firm. Every effort brought us closer to our goals; every act of perseverance made us stronger. In this year, we witnessed the changes of the times, felt the progress of society, and reaped our own growth and achievements.

The new year is a year full of hope and anticipation. We embark on a new journey with high hopes for the future. May your career flourish and thrive in the new year. Whether you are a seasoned professional or a fresh graduate, may you shine brightly in your field. May you have clear goals and unwavering faith, undaunted by challenges, and forge ahead bravely. In your work, may you fully utilize your talents and wisdom, overcome one difficulty after another, and achieve remarkable success. May your efforts be rewarded, your contributions recognized, and your career blossom brilliantly in the new year.

May your life be as beautiful as a poem, filled with happiness and fulfillment in the new year. May you have good health, the foundation of a happy life. May you have a good mood every day, facing each day with a smile. May your family be harmonious and warm, and your loved ones healthy and happy. May your love remain as sweet as ever, and your friendships deep and loyal. In the little things of life, savor the taste of happiness and enjoy its beauty. May your heart be as still as water in the new year, tranquil and serene. May you maintain inner peace and tranquility, undisturbed by the noise of the outside world. May you have time to read a good book, enjoy a wonderful performance, and experience the beauty and wonder of nature. May you find your own quiet corner in your busy life, allowing your soul to rest and be nourished.

May your dreams shine like stars in the new year, illuminating your path. May you always cherish your dreams, undiminished by time. May you bravely pursue your dreams, undaunted by difficulties and obstacles, undaunted by the long road ahead. May you meet like-minded partners on your journey to pursue your dreams, supporting each other and moving forward together. May your dreams take root, sprout, and grow strong in the new year, ultimately blossoming into a dazzling brilliance.

In the new year, let us greet each morning with greater enthusiasm and unwavering faith, cherishing every moment. Let us join hands, writing new chapters with love and hope, and creating new glories with hard work and dedication. May our world be a better place, and may our lives be more wonderful!

Finally, I sincerely wish everyone a happy and prosperous New Year, with all your wishes fulfilled and good health!

Thank you all for your continued support!