Xiaohuo passed a sleepless night, his mind swirling with confusion and apprehension as the first rays of morning sunlight crept into his room. The events of the previous day haunted him: Mrs. Lin's unconditional obedience, the mysterious blue mark around her neck, and her whispered "Good night, Master," echoing endlessly in his memory.
"Is this magic, or a curse?" Xiaohuo muttered as he stared at the ceiling. He felt a strange blend of excitement and dread—excited by the prospect of possessing a power beyond the ordinary, but fearful of its origins and possible consequences.
He went downstairs to find his mother busy in the kitchen, his father checking supplies for the restaurant's breakfast crowd. Xiaohuo forced himself to act normal and helped around the shop, all the while keeping a nervous eye out for Mrs. Lin. Would she appear again today, or would she return to her usual, elegant life? He wasn't sure, and the uncertainty gnawed at him.
As the morning rush began, the restaurant filled with regulars. Xiaohuo delivered dishes and, almost subconsciously, started observing the women around him more closely—afraid that someone else might suddenly display the same "abnormality." This constant vigilance left him on edge and unable to relax.
It was then that his phone rang. It was Liu Wei, a college friend, sounding agitated. "Xiaohuo, do you remember Su Wan'er, the campus belle from our department? Check out her Weibo—she's been acting weird lately!"
A sense of unease gripped Xiaohuo as he quickly searched for Su Wan'er's latest posts. One of the hottest topics on the platform was a livestream she had done at dawn: "Su Wan'er describes her dream, pledges loyalty to a mysterious 'master'." In the video clip, Su Wan'er's usual cool, aloof demeanor was gone. She looked dazed, speaking softly: "Last night I dreamed of a ball of light. From now on, all I want is to serve my master. It is my greatest honor…"
The comments exploded with shock and ridicule. Some accused her of staging a publicity stunt, others wondered if she was having a breakdown or a bad breakup. But Xiaohuo felt his heart pounding. This was exactly like Mrs. Lin!
"Don't tell me… are the spirits really starting to influence more people?" Xiaohuo's hands trembled as he recalled the hundred or so motes of light that had flown from the box in the cave. Had each one found a new host?
Just then, another familiar face appeared at the restaurant door—Li Qing, the younger neighbor girl who used to call him "brother" and follow him around as a child. Today, though, she looked shy and hesitant. The moment she entered, her eyes locked onto Xiaohuo, her cheeks flushing, gaze filled with longing and respect.
"Good morning, Xiaohuo-ge," Li Qing said softly, her tone unusually gentle and bashful.
Xiaohuo was startled. The way she spoke was eerily similar to both Mrs. Lin and Su Wan'er in the video. He tried to keep his voice steady. "You're here early today. Is everything alright?"
Li Qing lowered her head, fidgeting nervously. "I… I had a strange dream last night. I saw you sitting on a tall throne, like a king. I just… I just feel so happy if I can do anything for you…"
Xiaohuo's pulse raced. Forcing himself to stay calm, he handed her a glass of water. "So, what do you want to help me with?"
Li Qing took the glass, her eyes sparkling with hope and happiness. "As long as you ask, I'll do anything."
In that instant, Xiaohuo was all but certain—Li Qing, too, had been taken over by a spirit! The influence was spreading around him like an invisible virus.
He felt panic welling up alongside a strange sense of exhilaration. The feeling of being a "master" was intoxicating, but the pressure was mounting. If more and more people became enslaved, could he still keep control? What if the secret was discovered by outsiders, or the media? The consequences could be disastrous.
Xiaohuo made up his mind. Tonight, he would check the black box again, searching for a way to "retrieve" or "undo" the spirits' control. He could not let himself become a slave to this power.
Meanwhile, on the internet, reports of odd behaviors and declarations of loyalty to a "master" were beginning to surface—socialites acting strangely, live streamers expressing inexplicable devotion. It all pointed back to a hidden, unknown force: the Master of the Hundred Spirits.
As evening settled over the city and the bustle of the day faded, Xiaohuo found himself more restless than ever. The strange events of the day replayed in his mind: Su Wan'er's confession spreading like wildfire online, Li Qing's open devotion, and Mrs. Lin's silent, obedient presence. The magnitude of the situation was dawning on him—this was no longer just his secret; the spirits' influence was beginning to ripple outward.
After closing the restaurant that night, Xiaohuo hurried to his room, locked the door, and retrieved the black box from the depths of his closet. He sat on his bed, running his fingers over its ancient carvings, hoping for some kind of answer. The box felt warm to the touch, humming faintly, as if alive with unseen energy.
"What are you?" Xiaohuo whispered to the box. "Can I undo what's been done? How far will this go?"
He jotted down questions in a notebook, his handwriting shaky:
Is there a way to recall or release the spirits from their hosts?Will the number of spirit-enslaved keep growing? What if things spiral out of control?Are the spirit-enslaved in danger, or is their will simply altered?
He thought back to every detail he could remember about Mrs. Lin, Li Qing, and Su Wan'er. They all seemed changed—gentler, more emotionally attached to him, and obedient to his wishes. Yet their basic personalities and memories remained. It was as if their core desires had been reprogrammed, their loyalty absolute.
"Is this what it means to be a master in those fantasy novels?" Xiaohuo wondered, a mix of pride and unease churning inside him.
A message popped up on his phone. It was from Li Qing:
"Xiaohuo-ge, can you come over for tea tonight? I made cake and would love to serve you myself."
His heart skipped a beat. The invitation felt loaded with implications, but he realized he needed to see these changes for himself—to test the limits of the spirits' control and, perhaps, to look for a way to reverse it.
That night, Xiaohuo made his way to Li Qing's house. She greeted him with a bright, affectionate smile, her demeanor even more docile and eager than usual. The living room was spotless, and a pot of tea and a carefully decorated cake sat waiting on the table.
"Would you like to try it? I can feed you," Li Qing offered, her voice sweet and shy.
Xiaohuo felt the weight of responsibility settle on his shoulders. He allowed her to offer him a forkful of cake, and then, with a serious expression, asked, "Li Qing, would you really do anything I asked you to?"
She nodded, blushing but unwavering. "As long as it's from you, I'll obey."
He paused, searching her eyes for any flicker of doubt or hesitation—but all he saw was happiness and fulfillment. "Do you feel happy?" he asked softly.
Li Qing's whole face lit up. "Serving you is the best thing in my life."
A pang of guilt struck Xiaohuo. He had the power to command her to do anything, and yet, seeing her genuine smile, he felt a growing sense of unease. This power was real—and it was changing lives in ways he hadn't anticipated.
After leaving Li Qing's home, Xiaohuo wandered the quiet nighttime streets, his mind spinning. The heady feeling of control warred with a deep, gnawing anxiety. If this power continued to spread unchecked, would he become nothing more than a tyrant—a puppet master ruling over lives against their will? That was never what he'd wanted.
Back in his room, Xiaohuo opened the black box again, determination burning in his heart. "I have to find a way to control this power, to protect those under its influence—and to make sure I don't lose myself to it."
That night, he dreamed of a hundred spirits swirling over the city, their light brushing across the fates of countless people. Somewhere, far above, the wheels of destiny turned, and Xiaohuo stood at their center, both master and prisoner of the power he had unleashed.