After his bizarre adventure in the Maya ruins, Xiaohuo returned home with the mysterious black box and a body still aching from exhaustion. The day he landed, the city was in the grip of summer heat. The airport buzzed with crowds and the hum of traffic—so different from the chilly, silent depths of the underground cave. Watching the flow of people, Xiaohuo felt as if he had just woken from a long, surreal dream.
He dragged his luggage home, where his parents were waiting for him at their small family restaurant. His mother fussed over him, checking for injuries, while his father clapped him on the shoulder, saying, "A man needs to experience the world." But even behind those words, Xiaohuo sensed his father's relief. He smiled and tried to act normal, but his mind kept replaying the scene in the cave: the hundred or more spirits of light, and those lingering whispers that still seemed to echo in his head. He knew, deep down, that things would never return to what they were.
He tucked the box into the deepest corner of his closet, almost as if hiding it from himself. Every time he passed by, he'd unconsciously reach out and touch it, feeling a strange warmth and pulse beneath his fingertips. Life quickly settled back into its old rhythm—helping at the restaurant, hunting for jobs, going to interviews, hanging out with friends, gaming late into the night. But Xiaohuo started to notice subtle changes around him.
The first sign of something odd happened with one of the restaurant's regulars—Mrs. Lin. She was a well-known socialite in the neighborhood, married to a real estate mogul and famous for her charity work and refined manners. Usually, she carried herself with a calm authority that made Xiaohuo keep a respectful distance.
One evening, Mrs. Lin came to dine alone, as she often did. Xiaohuo brought her meal to the table and greeted her, but something about her seemed different. Her eyes were a little unfocused, and the usual cool dignity on her face had been replaced by a subtle, almost inexplicable shyness and longing. Xiaohuo's heart skipped a beat. Was it just the summer heat, or…?
"Xiaohuo, could you pour me a glass of water?" Mrs. Lin's voice was softer than usual, laced with an unfamiliar sweetness—almost coquettish.
Caught off guard, Xiaohuo did as she asked. When he handed her the water, her fingers lightly brushed against his palm—warm, slender, and lingering just a second too long. A jolt of electric tingling shot up his arm, and he quickly withdrew his hand.
"Thank you." Her tone was gentle, her eyes flashed with something he couldn't quite name. The way she looked at him sent a chill down his spine.
"N-No problem…" Xiaohuo stammered, backing away, but he could feel her gaze following him. In her eyes, he saw something like devotion or even worship—a level of attention she had never given anyone before.
Throughout the evening, Mrs. Lin was uncharacteristically quiet. When she finished her meal, she lingered by the counter, waiting for Xiaohuo. He approached, uneasy, and she leaned in, her voice barely above a whisper: "If you have the time, could you… come to my house and help me with something?"
Heads turned. Mrs. Lin had never asked a young man like him for anything personal before. Xiaohuo's mind raced. Could this be… did it have something to do with the spirits from the box?
He didn't dare dwell on it, so he just mumbled, "If I'm free… sure."
A look of genuine satisfaction softened Mrs. Lin's face. She smiled—gratefully, almost blissfully—and left the restaurant with a graceful sway, her usual queenly composure replaced by a gentle, feminine air.
As he finished up work, Xiaohuo's unease grew. Back in his room, behind a locked door, he pulled out the black box and studied it by the dim light of his desk lamp. The carvings seemed even more lustrous than before, and he couldn't resist whispering, "Did you… really go out? Where are you now?"
Of course, there was no answer. Xiaohuo gave a self-deprecating laugh and shoved the box back into the closet. That night, he dreamed he was sitting on a throne, a crowd of men and women kneeling before him. Mrs. Lin knelt at his feet, offering him a cup of water, her eyes shining with awe and longing…
The dream was so vivid that Xiaohuo woke drenched in sweat, the faint light of dawn filtering through his curtains, his mother already bustling in the kitchen outside.
"It's just a dream… right?" Xiaohuo muttered, shaking his head. But he couldn't shake the restless feeling.
During breakfast, Mrs. Lin returned—once again polite, gentle, and strangely attentive. As soon as she entered, her eyes sought out Xiaohuo, as if searching for her master. She greeted him softly, and even offered to help clean up the tables. Watching her, Xiaohuo felt a chill. Her every gesture and expression matched the obedient servant in his dream.
"Could this really not be a dream?" His heart pounded.
Then he noticed something new: a faint blue line around Mrs. Lin's neck, like some kind of mysterious mark. Xiaohuo couldn't help but stare. In a flash, he remembered the blue-hued spirits he'd seen in the cave—the color was exactly the same!
"She… is really possessed by a spirit?" Xiaohuo's mind spun with confusion and disbelief.
Just then, Mrs. Lin leaned closer, her voice so low only he could hear: "Master, please command me. I will do anything for you."
For a moment, Xiaohuo's mind went completely blank, the world around him coming to a halt.
Xiaohuo froze in place, Mrs. Lin's words—"Master, please command me. I will do anything for you."—striking him like a bolt of lightning. For a moment, he wanted to believe he was still dreaming. But the soft, submissive look in Mrs. Lin's eyes, the faint blue line around her neck, and her unwavering tone forced him to confront the truth: The spirits were real, and their power was starting to change his reality.
He swallowed, his voice trembling as he tried to steady himself. "Mrs. Lin, what… what did you just say?"
She bowed her head, her voice reverent, almost worshipful. "Master, whatever you ask, I will obey you completely."
A shiver ran down Xiaohuo's spine. He struggled to compose himself, deciding to test the situation. "Then… could you go wipe down the windows for me?"
She responded instantly, gliding towards the cleaning supplies and beginning to wipe the windows with graceful, practiced movements. Her actions were even more diligent than usual, and she smiled softly while working, as if it was a great honor to serve him.
Xiaohuo watched in stunned silence. He gave a few more instructions—taking out the trash, massaging his shoulders, even helping out in the kitchen. Every command was met with immediate, cheerful compliance, and she even asked if there was anything else she could do for him, her tone eager and expectant.
This sense of power was intoxicating, yet also deeply unsettling. It wasn't normal obedience—it was a kind of loyalty that seemed to come from deep within her soul. Xiaohuo could sense Mrs. Lin's desire to please him, the intense devotion and longing shining in her eyes, and it filled him with a strange mix of exhilaration and anxiety.
After lunch, when the restaurant quieted down, Mrs. Lin approached him in a secluded corner. Her voice was a gentle murmur: "Master, if you have any private needs, please let me know. It would be my greatest honor to serve you."
Her words made Xiaohuo's heart race. He tried to keep his composure and asked quietly, "Why are you… acting like this?"
She looked up at him, her gaze sincere and unwavering. "Ever since I had that strange dream the other night—a light entered my heart—I've felt a burning desire to serve you, to make you happy. Nothing else matters to me. I am happiest when I can give you everything."
Xiaohuo was speechless. He realized that Mrs. Lin must have become one of the spirit-possessed, and her obedience was a result of the box's mysterious power—absolute loyalty to the "Master."
He couldn't resist probing further. "If I asked you to do something… embarrassing, would you still say yes?"
A faint blush colored Mrs. Lin's cheeks, but she nodded. "If it's your command, I will fulfill it. No matter what it is."
That answer shattered the last of Xiaohuo's doubts. The sense of control was overwhelming, and he felt both thrilled and terrified by the reality of it.
Just then, a commotion erupted at the restaurant entrance. A young man was shouting, "Where's my phone? Who took my phone?" Some customers joined in the fuss. Mrs. Lin, however, sat serenely by Xiaohuo's side, her attention only for him, completely unfazed by the noise.
Almost reflexively, Xiaohuo said, "Mrs. Lin, could you please see what's going on?"
She rose immediately, her presence calming the room as she walked over. With a few gentle words, she quickly quieted the crowd. It was as if she radiated an aura of peace and authority, making people instinctively trust and obey her. Watching this, Xiaohuo was awestruck—was this the spirit's power at work?
When Mrs. Lin returned, Xiaohuo's mind was made up. He had to learn more about what was happening and how to control this sudden, dangerous gift. If anyone ever discovered the truth, he might face consequences he couldn't even imagine.
After closing up that night, Mrs. Lin volunteered to stay and help clean. When everyone else had gone, she quietly asked, "Master, may I accompany you home tonight?"
Xiaohuo was taken aback. He'd never expected such a request. His rational mind told him to refuse, but desire stirred deep inside. In the end, he just said softly, "It's up to you."
Mrs. Lin smiled, radiant with satisfaction, and nodded.
That night, Xiaohuo lay awake, replaying the day's events in his mind—Mrs. Lin's warmth, devotion, and the mysterious blue mark. Power's sweetness and the shadow of its consequences wrestled within him. The gears of fate had begun to turn.