“Firefly Spirit Stone!” the woman explains. “I cultivated my body, aren’t you happy?”
Firefly Spirit Stone?
Reflexively, he reaches for his belt, where the Firefly Spirit Stone always hangs. Sure enough, he feels the familiar tassel, the knotted rope, the stone itself. The stone is still there, smooth to the touch, teardrop-shaped. It feels the way it always does between his fingers, but something is changed. It feels… empty. Hurriedly, he unties the stone.
The stone is still there, but it doesn’t have the same sparkle as before. It’s just a plain blue stone now, pale and patterned and lifeless. The firefly is gone.
His eyes drift up to the woman, still kneeling on the bed, beaming down at him. Her eyes are big, alert. Her mouth is quirked into an eager smile. He has never seen this face before, but something about her does seem familiar. Despite the situation, he feels strangely at ease. He does not feel as he should, having woken with a strange person in bed with him.
He untangles himself from the sheets and stands up to get a better look at her. The spirit takes this as a cue to launch herself into his arms. Changheng catches her easily, though he does take a step backwards in surprise. The woman clings to him, burying her face in his neck with a squeal of excitement. At his belt, he feels the stone reawaken with recognition. Perhaps it really is as she says.
“Firefly Spirit Stone,” he repeats.
“I knew you’d recognize me, zhuren!” she exclaims, snuggling even closer. “Now, you won’t ever be alone again—I’ll accompany you forever!”
