The Master Stopped Saving You

At the groundbreaking ceremony after the New Year, I lit three sticks of ritual incense. To everyone's shock, the falling ash miraculously coiled into the shape of a golden dragon.

That very day, every single unit in the luxury development sold out.

My soon-to-be father-in-law, the Chairman, was so ecstatic that he promised me a penthouse as a reward. He even asked me to become the group's permanent spiritual advisor.

But his daughter, my fiance who had just returned from her studies in Europe, looked at me with pure disgust. In front of the entire staff, she kicked over my ritual table.

"What century is this? Why are we still doing this voodoo crap? Having a fraud like you in the company is an embarrassment. Take your stupid compass and get the hell out!"

The Vice President stood beside her, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

"Exactly. We run a business based on data and science. Leave this project to me, and I'll make sure it's a real gold mine."

I looked at the dark, bloody omen swirling between their brows, then glanced at the Chairman's office. The door remained tightly shut. I let out a cold laugh.

"Fine. Just don't come crawling back when it all goes south."

"Regret?"

Lydia Lockwood looked at me as if she were looking at a piece of trash.

"Silas, this company will only thrive once you're gone."

"From this moment on, our engagement is officially over."

"I'd rather stay single for the rest of my life than marry a pathetic charlatan like you!"

With that, she ground her high heel into the scattered ashes.

The golden dragon I had spent all morning manifesting was crushed into gray dust.

The surrounding employees let out a wave of suppressed snickers.

I looked down at the wreckage.

The ritual table was splintered.

The incense burner was overturned.

The ancient protection coins were rolling across the marble floor.

This was the final service I would ever perform for the Lockwood Group.

I had spent five years of my life and a massive amount of my spiritual energy to keep this cursed site safe.

And this kick was my thanks.

I lifted my eyes and looked past Lydia toward the Chairman's office.

Arthur Lockwood was sitting right in there.

With all this noise, there was no way he didn't hear what was happening.

Only a few hours ago, he was smiling, holding my hand, and offering me a penthouse.

Now, as his daughter humiliated me in public, he didn't even have the balls to step out.

I withdrew my gaze, my voice flat.

"The engagement is off. Fine."

"But pay me the five years of salary and commissions I'm owed."

"Also, I'm taking my personal belongings with me."

Lydia laughed as if I'd just told the funniest joke in the world.

"Salary? Commissions?"

"Silas, have you no shame?"

"Other than drawing weird symbols on paper and burning sticks, what have you actually done for this company?"

"Our success is entirely thanks to Garrett and his team working their asses off!"

Garrett Sterling, the Vice President, straightened his expensive silk tie and smirked.

"Silas, watch your mouth."

"Trying to steal credit for my hard work with a few pieces of yellow paper? That's low, even for you."

I didn't even look at Garrett.

He was a bottom-feeder who had lied and cheated his way into his position. He wasn't worth my time.

I looked directly at Lydia.

"I only stayed because your family helped me when I was at my lowest."

"In the last five years, this company was on the brink of bankruptcy several times. You know exactly who redirected the energy to save your father's skin."

Lydia's expression turned even more venomous.

"Don't you dare try to guilt-trip me!"

"We didn't survive because of your 'energy.' We survived because my father is a brilliant businessman!"

"You've stayed here because you're a gold-digger obsessed with our money and my face!"

"Watching you play with your superstitious toys every day has been revolting."

I smiled.

I was smiling at my own blindness.

Five years ago, my mentor told me to come down from the mountains to gain experience and repay Arthur Lockwood's supposed kindness.

I hid my true power and acted as a ghost for the Lockwood Group.

I drew protective wards, aligned their buildings, and warded off disasters.

I turned a failing small business into a multi-billion dollar empire.

And yet, in their eyes, I was just a leach.

"Fine. If that's how it is, let's stop wasting time."

"Give me back the Storm-Struck Relic in my desk. I'm leaving."

The Storm-Struck Relic was a century-old artifact from my sect.

It was also the anchor for the entire building's protection.

Without it, the Lockwood Tower wouldn't last three days.

Lydia sneered and pulled a blackened piece of wood from her designer bag.

"You mean this piece of junk?"

"You're really committed to the act, aren't you? Treating this trash like it's a treasure?"

She tossed the relic in the air twice, with no intention of giving it back.

"You want it?"

"Keep dreaming."

Then, she pulled out a piece of paper with a red thumbprint on it and slapped it against my chest.

"This is the total of the salary you scammed from us, plus the damages you've caused to our reputation."

"It's ten million dollars."

"If you don't pay up today, don't expect to walk out of here in one piece."

I looked down at the paper.

It was the Loyalty Agreement Arthur Lockwood had forced me to sign when I needed money for my sisters surgery.

Back then, he told me it was just a formality.

Now, it was being used as a weapon to blackmail me.

I turned toward the Chairmans office door.

Chairman Lockwood, is this your decision too?

Silence.

Then, Garrett gave a signal. Several massive security guards stepped forward.

They grabbed my arms and slammed me face-first onto the cold marble floor.

My cheek was pressed against the stone. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the crowd.

The same colleagues who used to call me Master Silas and beg for protective charms were all backing away.

Some were whispering and laughing.

Others were filming with their phones.

Finally, that weirdo is gone. I couldn't stand the smell of his incense.

Seriously, he made this place feel like a cult. It was so bad for our image.

I heard he was even creeping on Lydia. What a loser.

A chill ran through my heart.

Last month, I gave a protection charm to the accountant, Leo, which saved him from a falling crate.

Six months ago, I traveled overnight to help a manager whose family was being haunted after disturbing an old grave.

Now, they were all just spectators to my humiliation.

Finally, the office door opened.

Arthur Lockwood stepped out slowly.

He adjusted his cufflinks, wearing a look of fake disappointment.

Silas, its not that I dont care about our history.

But this is the modern age. Young people need to believe in science and data-driven management.

Your superstitions are a cancer on this companys reputation.

Lydia is right. To grow, we have to cut out the rot.

He didn't even look at me on the floor.

He turned to Lydia with a doting smile.

Lydia, dear, wrap this up quickly.

Seraphina Vance from the Vance Group is almost here. This is our biggest partnership of the year.

Dont let this trash ruin the mood for Ms. Vance.

Lydia lifted her chin, looking like a proud peacock.

Dont worry, Dad. Ive handled everything.

If it weren't for my international connections, someone as powerful as Seraphina Vance wouldn't even look at a company like ours.

You think shed come here for a loser who burns sticks for a living?

I froze for a second.

Seraphina Vance?

The same Seraphina Vance who stood outside my apartment for three days and nights last month, begging me to help her, only to be rejected?

Lydia saw my silence and thought I was intimidated.

She walked over and ground the sharp heel of her shoe into the back of my hand.

Pain shot through my nerves.

I grit my teeth, refusing to make a sound.

Whats the matter? Terrified by Seraphinas name?

Let me warn you, a woman of her status is way out of your league. You're just a maggot in the dirt.

Stop looking at us with those disgusting eyes.

Lydia moved her foot and wiped her sole on the red carpet as if shed stepped on something foul.

Security, confiscate all his tools.

Well count them as interest toward the ten million he owes us.

Garrett immediately ordered the guards to rip my old canvas bag off my shoulder.

It was the only thing my mentor had left me.

The zipper was ripped open brutally.

Garrett dumped the contents onto the floor like they were garbage.

Red cinnabar, yellow paper, calligraphy brushes, and a few copper coins.

And then, there was the Soul-Searing Bell my mentor gave me on his deathbed.

Garrett kicked a pile of half-finished protection charms.

The yellow papers flew everywhere.

He took out his phone, snapped a photo, and pretended to look something up.

Oh, wow, look at this!

This artifact sells for five dollars on Temu with free shipping!

Our great Master Silas has been scamming the company for five years with literal trash from the dollar store!

The crowd erupted into even more ruthless laughter.

Lydia walked forward and looked at a small porcelain box used for holding cinnabar.

It was a priceless antique from my sect, passed down for generations.

She stepped on it.

A sharp crack echoed through the hall.

The porcelain shattered into pieces, and the bright red powder stained the carpet.

What a pathetic piece of junk. Its staining the floor!

My eyes turned blood-red.

That was my mentors favorite possession!

Lydia Lockwood!

Youre going to pay for that!

I surged with sudden strength, throwing off the two guards holding me.

But as I stood up, Garrett was faster. He snatched the Soul-Searing Bell from the floor.

He weighed it in his hand, making it chime softly.

Oh? You want to get violent?

You want this?

Garrett held the bell high, dangling it mockingly.

I stared at the bronze bell.

It could suppress evil and manipulate the luck of an entire region.

It was my lifeblood.

Give it back.

My voice was ice cold.

That is an ancient relic. You cant afford the price if it breaks.

Garrett looked at Lydia and laughed.

Lydia, he says this is an antique! Im so scared!

Lydia sneered.

Toss it to the guard.

Garretts lips curled into a toxic smile. He wound up and threw the bell toward a guard at the far end of the hall.

It was like a sick game of catch.

The guard was a big guy, but just as his fingers touched the bell, he flinched as if hed been electrocuted.

The heavy bronze bell plummeted toward the marble floor.

CLANG!

A dull thud followed.

A long crack appeared on the surface of the bell.

The once-clear chime turned into a muffled, dying moan.

No!

I lost my mind.

Only one thought remained.

I was going to kill them all.

I lunged toward the guard.

But Garrett was ready.

Several guards with batons rushed out from my blind spot, striking my back and legs.

I didn't even try to dodge.

I let the clubs hit me as I crawled toward the shattered bell.

Blood trickled down my forehead, blurring my vision.

The laughter and insults of the crowd became a dull hum.

I pulled the broken bell to my chest, protecting it.

You will all pay for this.

I swear, every single Lockwood is going to hell!

My voice wasn't loud, but it carried a bone-chilling coldness.

The temperature in the hallway plummeted.

The bright sunny sky outside suddenly turned pitch black as heavy clouds rolled in.

A gust of wind blew open the windows at the end of the hall, screaming as it rushed in.

The yellow ritual papers swirled in the air like ghosts.

Lydias face paled, and she instinctively stepped back.

But she quickly regained her composure.

Still playing your little tricks!

She shoved her phone in front of my face.

On the screen was a live video of my sister, Lily. She was lying in a hospital bed with an oxygen mask.

Two men in black suits stood menacingly beside her.

Sign this confession and admit you scammed us.

Otherwise, Ill tell them to cut her oxygen right now.

Seeing my sister like that made my heart feel like it was being ripped out.

Lily was the only family I had left in this world.

I struggled to move, but a punch to my stomach sent me back down.

Stubborn till the end.

Lydia turned to the phone. Do it. Cut it.

Stop! I roared, my body shaking.

Ill sign! I spat the words out, my voice raspy and cold.

But Lydia, remember this.

Once I sign this, every tie between me and the Lockwoods is severed.

The universe demands balance. You are using my sisters life for your greed. This karma will hit you so hard, your entire family wont survive it!

The debt will be collected. I just hope you don't beg for mercy on your knees.

Lydia froze for a second, then burst into the most obnoxious laugh Id ever heard.

Karma? Balance?

Silas, youre delusional! Youre face-down in the dirt, and youre still trying to act like a holy man!

Her eyes were full of contempt.

You think your little spiritual quotes scare me?

I think its this stupid piece of wood thats making you crazy!

She stood up and shouted at a janitor nearby.

Go to the tool room and get a sledgehammer!

Im going to smash this piece of junk in front of everyone and end this superstition once and for all!

The janitor, a middle-aged woman, was trembling as she ran to get a heavy hammer.

My head felt like it was going to explode.

That Storm-Struck Relic was a sacred treasure passed down from the highest masters.

It was soaked in the spiritual essence of my ancestors.

And it was the only thing keeping the Lockwood Groups luck from turning into a nightmare.

If it broke, the protective shield over this company would vanish, and the dark energy would flood in!

Dont do it!

I fought with everything I had to get up.

Garrett saw me moving and slammed a baton into my back again.

I lunged forward, taking the hit to get closer.

Cough!

A mouthful of warm blood sprayed out of my mouth.

It landed directly on the Storm-Struck Relic in Lydias hand.

The moment the dark wood touched my blood, it pulsed with a faint, dark red light.

Then, a low rumble vibrated from within the wood.

It sounded like a dragon growling deep underground.

A massive bolt of lightning cracked across the sky outside.

Lydia jumped, nearly dropping the relic.

But her fear quickly turned into rage.

You and your cheap magic tricks! Im done!

She snatched the sledgehammer from the janitor.

She raised it high above her head and brought it down on the relic with all her might!

CRACK!

The Storm-Struck Relic split in two.

The moment it broke, I felt a sharp pain in my chest. The spiritual link between me and this building was severed.

The next second.

Every light in the Lockwood Tower went out at once.

The massive floor-to-ceiling windows, which showed a bright afternoon a moment ago, were now shrouded in an unnatural, ink-black darkness.

The entire building fell into a terrifying silence.

What happened? Is the power out?

Why hasn't the backup generator kicked in?

The crowd began to panic.

Lydia stood in the dark, and suddenly, her foot slipped on something.

Ah!

She screamed as she fell hard.

Her head slammed against the edge of a marble step, and blood began to pour down her face.

My head! My face!

It hurts! Help me!

Just then, a thunderous crash echoed from the first floor.

The heavy reinforced glass doors of the lobby were shattered from the outside.

A group of elite security guards in black suits flooded in, taking control of every exit.

Powerful flashlights cut through the darkness of the hallway.

A tall, elegant figure walked through the crowd of guards.

Everyone froze.

Seraphina Vance was wearing a black designer coat.

Her eyes were cold as she surveyed the chaos in the hallway.

Finally, her gaze landed on me, lying in a pool of my own blood.

Her eyes, usually so calm and calculating, were now filled with a terrifying, icy fury.