Tavern of the Spear: Desire for Pleasure

Chapter 122 Godhood Slaughter

The two engaged in a primal chase atop the towering ancient tree. Bowen could have easily used his power to catch up with Cheng Yu, but he chose this method instead, seemingly intentionally making Cheng Yu experience the all-encompassing gap between them, not just in strength, but also in their control of the situation.

Cheng Yu used both hands and feet to struggle upwards, the rough bark scratching his skin and leaving bloody marks. Sweat mixed with the scent of resin filled the air. He looked up at the impossibly high canopy, his heart filled with despair. He knew he couldn't escape Bo Wen's control.

Finally, exhausted, Cheng Yu was caught by Bo Wen. He collapsed onto a thick tree branch, panting heavily, his clothes soaked with sweat. He turned his head with difficulty, looking at Bo Wen closing in, a deep sense of powerlessness welling up inside him. In this chase, he had exhausted all his strength, while Bo Wen remained calm and composed, as if nothing had happened.

Bowen walked up behind Chengyu, and a dragon claw suddenly grabbed Chengyu's head, slamming him hard against the hard tree trunk. The intense pain made Chengyu's vision go black, and he almost lost consciousness. He felt his cheeks being smashed and bloodied, the bones of his nose and mouth shattered and deformed, and waves of intense pain assaulting his nerves.

But Bowen didn't stop there. He continued to smash Cheng Yu's head repeatedly, while constantly injecting restorative power, causing Cheng Yu to suffer in a painful cycle of restoration and destruction, experiencing torment worse than death. One blow, two blows, three blows... each impact caused Cheng Yu excruciating pain, yet he was powerless to resist.

Finally, Bowen threw the barely alive Cheng Yu to the ground. Cheng Yu rolled several times on the ground before stopping, his bones feeling as if they were all shattered, the intense pain making it almost impossible for him to breathe.

Bo Wen walked up to Cheng Yu, looking down at him with a cruel smile. He grabbed Cheng Yu by the neck and lifted him up. Cheng Yu's face was a bloody mess, unrecognizable from his original features.

"This is your fate." Bowen's voice was cold and ruthless, like a judgment from hell. He looked at Cheng Yu, who was like a rag doll in his hands, and let out a hearty laugh, full of smugness and mockery.

"You think you can escape my grasp? Cheng Yu, you're too naive." Bo Wen's voice, like a venomous snake, coiled around Cheng Yu's ear, sending chills down his spine.

Cheng Yu's consciousness gradually faded, and the world before him grew darker and darker. He knew that he had reached the end.

"Give up, Cheng Yu, submit to me, and I can spare you from suffering." Bo Wen's voice was full of temptation, like the whisper of a demon.

With his last ounce of strength, Cheng Yu managed to utter a single word: "No..."

Bo Wen's face instantly darkened, and a murderous glint flashed in his eyes. "Since you are so stubborn, then don't blame me for being ruthless."

He increased the pressure in his hand, and Cheng Yu's neck made a "crackling" sound.

Just then, a dazzling white light suddenly appeared, illuminating the entire dream.

The dazzling white light suddenly dissipated, and Bowen was forced back several steps by the unexpected light. When the light faded, Chengyu and Bowen finally saw the person who had come—it was Chengyu's master, Black Dragon—Long.

Upon seeing his master, Cheng Yu could no longer contain his excitement and grievances. Without hesitation, he rushed to Long's side, his tears mingling with the blood on his face, dripping onto the ground and splashing up tiny specks of dust.

With a tender heart, the dragon embraced Cheng Yu, its massive claws gently stroking Cheng Yu's head, soothing his nearly collapsing emotions. Its eyes were filled with love and pity, as if silently expressing its concern for its disciple.

Bo Wen watched this scene, a nameless hatred welling up inside him. He couldn't bear to see Cheng Yu and Long so intimate in front of him; it filled him with immense anger and jealousy.

"Hmph," Bowen sneered, his tone full of mockery, "Even if you come, what can you do? You're just an avatar, an avatar containing only a trace of power. You can block it for him this time, but can you block it next time?" His gaze was cold and sharp, as if he wanted to devour Long and Cheng Yu together.

"I will find more ways to kill him sooner or later, unless he is willing to cooperate with me." Bowen's voice was deep and threatening, like the whisper of a demon from hell.

The dragon ignored Bowen's provocation; it simply held Chengyu quietly, warming Chengyu's cold body with its own heat. Its gaze was deep and calm, as if containing boundless power.

"Well-informed," the dragon's voice was deep and powerful, echoing in the dream like a resounding bell, "why are you so stubbornly persistent?"

"Stubborn to the end?" Bowen sneered. "I just want what I deserve."

"What you deserve?" The dragon's tone held a hint of doubt. "Are you referring to the 'Heart of God'?"

“That’s right,” Bowen made no attempt to hide his ambition, “The Heart of God is mine, and no one can take it away from me.”

“The Heart of God does not belong to anyone,” the dragon said calmly and firmly. “It belongs to this world.”

“This world?” Bowen’s eyes were filled with disdain. “This world is already rotten and needs a new master.”

“You’re wrong,” the dragon shook its head. “This world is full of hope; it doesn’t need a master like you.”

"Hope?" Bowen sneered again. "Your so-called hope is nothing but a vague and unrealistic fantasy."

“You are wrong,” the dragon said with a tone full of love. “Hope resides in our hearts, and as long as we do not give up, hope will always exist.”

Bowen wanted to say something more, but was interrupted by Long: "Bowen, turn back before it's too late, let go of your obsession."

"Turning back is the right path?" Bowen's eyes were filled with mockery. "I have no way back now."

“You still have a chance,” the dragon said sincerely. “If you are willing to give up your obsession, I can help you.”

"Help me?" A cruel glint flashed in Bowen's eyes. "What can you do to help me?! I just want to do something for my teacher! Why won't he acknowledge me? Why won't he join me in breaking down this fake world?"

“I think your teacher just wants you to be more like a normal person. Look at yourself now, do you even remember who you are?” The dragon’s tone was calm and gentle. “I want to help you find the meaning of your existence.”

Bowen fell silent, lost in thought. The dragon's words were like a ray of dawn, illuminating his darkened heart. He began to ponder the meaning of his existence, and what he had been pursuing all along.

Cheng Yu lay quietly in Long's arms, listening to Long and Bo Wen's conversation.

The world in the dream seemed to sense this power of hope and began to brighten.

Darkness surged in like a tide, instantly engulfing everything in the dream. Light and hope vanished completely in this endless darkness.

Bowen suddenly raised his head, his eyes filled with madness and despair. "No," he said in a hoarse voice, "I've always been lucid! All these mistakes were caused by Cheng Yu!"

Cheng Yu lifted his head from Long's embrace, staring at Bo Wen in disbelief. He couldn't understand why Bo Wen would say such a thing; his eyes were filled with confusion and bewilderment.

Bowen suddenly burst into laughter, a sharp, piercing laugh that echoed in the darkness like the cry of an owl. "Chengyu," he said, still laughing, "have you forgotten someone very important?"

Cheng Yu was stunned. He began to try hard to recall, attempting to find the person Bo Wen had mentioned from the fragments of his memory. His brows were furrowed, his thoughts a jumbled mess of complicated emotions.

"Qian Tu..." After a long while, Cheng Yu finally managed to utter a name with difficulty. He had never seen Qian Tu since he and Bai Yu arrived in this time and space.

Bowen's laughter grew even more maniacal; he laughed so hard he almost rolled on the ground. "Hahahaha..." he said between laughs, "Qian Tu is a god, I can't copy him! I can't copy him!"

Bowen's laughter was filled with self-deprecation and helplessness. He had always longed to obtain the "Heart of God," to become the master of this world. However, his inability to replicate Qiantu's godhood became his greatest obstacle.

He laughed because he realized his powerlessness, that no matter how hard he tried, he could not achieve his goal. His laughter was a mockery of his fate and a helpless response to reality.

“Cheng Yu,” Bo Wen’s laughter gradually turned distorted, his tone becoming low and hoarse, “Why do you deserve such a good master? You have never thought about integrating into this world, you have even forgotten Qian Tu.”

Bowen's tone was filled with resentment and jealousy. He envied Cheng Yu for having a master like Long, and for everything Cheng Yu possessed. He, on the other hand, had nothing.

"Do you want to go back to your original world?" Bowen suddenly asked.

Cheng Yu was stunned; he hadn't expected Bo Wen to ask that question. He was silent for a moment, then nodded firmly. "I think so."

A strange smile crept across Bowen's lips. "I can help you," he said, releasing a powerful force as he spoke.

The dream began to collapse, and everything around it became distorted.

"Cheng Yu," Bo Wen said meaningfully before the dream completely disappeared, "Remember my words, you... do not belong to this world."

A flash of white light, and Cheng Yu abruptly opened his eyes. He found himself lying in bed, covered with a thick blanket. He looked around and realized he was in an unfamiliar room.

"You're awake?" a gentle voice asked.

Cheng Yu turned his head and saw a beautiful woman standing by the bed, looking at him with concern.

"You are..." Cheng Yu asked in confusion.

“I am the cloud,” the woman said with a smile, “your…companion.”

Cheng Yu was stunned; he had no recollection of ever having a partner. He looked at Yun, his eyes filled with confusion and bewilderment.

Yun gently stroked Cheng Yu's cheek and whispered, "Don't think about anything, just rest well."

Cheng Yu felt drowsy, closed his eyes, and drifted off to sleep again.

……

The following is not part of the official plot; it is content from one volume of "Tales of the Beast World".

The Demon King's Perspective

My name is Adrian, the Demon King who rules the Shadow Forest. My castle is hidden in a mist, and only the bravest warriors can find it. I never imagined that there would be someone I cared about so much.

That day, I was atop the castle tower, overlooking my territory, when suddenly a brilliant light pierced the mist. I knew it was the hero. I expected him to rush in like other heroes, shouting and trying to rescue the so-called "princess." But when I saw him, my heart inexplicably raced.

His name was Leon. His golden hair shimmered in the sunlight, and his eyes were firm and clear. He didn't rush towards me immediately, but instead looked around, as if searching for something. I couldn't help but observe him from the shadows. He seemed to sense something, looked up, and our eyes met. In that instant, I saw surprise in his eyes, and... a hint of curiosity.

"Are you the Demon King?" His voice was gentle, with a hint of uncertainty.

“That’s right,” I replied, a hint of mockery in my voice. “Didn’t you come here to defeat me?”

He was silent for a moment, then slowly shook his head: "I just want to see what kind of person the Demon King really is."

I was stunned. No one had ever acted like him, without hatred or fear, simply wanting to understand me. From that moment on, I began to develop different feelings for him.

For the next few days, he didn't leave but stayed in my castle. We began to talk, and he asked me many questions about my life, my thoughts, and even my loneliness. I found myself willing to answer him and show him my inner world. He didn't laugh at my darkness, nor was he afraid of my power; he just listened quietly, occasionally revealing a gentle smile.

I began to look forward to spending each day with him, to his warm gaze. I knew I had fallen in love with him.

However, I know this love is forbidden. I am the Demon King, he is the Hero; our worlds should never intersect. But my heart is beyond my control, and I can only bury this love deep within.

Until one day, he suddenly asked me, "Why do you want to be the Demon King?"

I fell silent. I had never considered this question. I had simply inherited this identity, this territory, and this loneliness. But his gaze made it impossible for me to avoid it, and I finally spoke: "I don't know. I'm just... used to it."

He gently took my hand: "You can change, Adrian. We can create a new world together."

His words were like a ray of light, illuminating my dark heart. I finally understood that I didn't want to be a demon king; I was just afraid of loneliness and loss. And he gave me new hope.

The Hero's Perspective

My name is Leon, and I am the chosen hero. My mission is to defeat the Demon King and save the world. But when I actually arrived at the Demon King's castle, I found myself unable to begin.

His name was Adrian, and he was the Demon King, but I saw something different in his eyes. He wasn't the evil I had imagined; instead, he exuded a sense of loneliness and longing. I began to wonder, was the Demon King really that terrifying?

I decided to stay, to talk to him, to get to know him. He told me his story, his loneliness, his helplessness. I saw into his heart, a soul yearning to be understood. My heart began to waver; I found myself developing feelings for him.

He was very good to me, though he always tried to hide his tenderness. He would prepare food for me and show concern when I accidentally got hurt. I knew he had fallen in love with me too.

But I know this love is forbidden. I am the hero, he is the demon king; our worlds are inherently separated. I can only bury this love in my heart and continue my mission.

Until one day, I asked him, "Why did you want to be the Demon King?"

He was silent for a moment, then slowly said, "I don't know. I'm just... used to it."

I took his hand and whispered, "You can change, Adrian. We can create a new world together."

A flicker of surprise crossed his eyes, mixed with a hint of confusion. I knew he was struggling too. But my heart told me I wanted to be with him, whether he was a demon king or a hero.