Within the Gothic-style mansion nestled in Saigon’s District 2, night had fully descended, carrying the city’s breath mixed with a quiet, timeless melancholy. Golden lights spilled through the tall arched windows and moss-streaked stone walls, casting an atmosphere both luxurious and mysterious. Along the glossy black stone path, rows of cypress trees and perfectly trimmed crimson roses swayed gently in the evening breeze.

  In the distance, the old fountain still murmured under the moonlight, mirroring the mansion’s pointed roofs and stained-glass windows — a masterpiece where modern opulence bowed to eternal enigma. The damp scent of grass blended with the river wind, creating a scene suspended between dream and reality.

  Din and Yin had just returned from a tea session thick with drama at Mr. Tài’s house. Across the street, in front of D?ng’s mansion, a crowd had gathered — even larger than that morning — their noise echoing through the neighborhood, shattering the once-peaceful air.

  Din sat in the garden, stirring a steaming bowl of spicy noodles with his chopsticks. He grimaced, yet laughed:

  – “Can’t even eat a bowl of noodles in peace… It’s noisy, but kinda fun.”

  Yin calmly sipped a glass of fruit tea, letting out a relaxed sigh:

  – “Guess tonight we’re pulling an all-nighter. With this chaos, who could possibly sleep?”

  A few little demons sat nearby under the garden lights, each holding a massive bowl of red-hot noodles and an oversized cup of bubble tea. One of them slurped loudly, mumbling:

  – “Then your loyal minions are tagging along too! No way anyone’s sleeping out here tonight!”

  In the heart of District 2, the Ice Mansion gleamed like a frozen wonder in tropical air. Every wall was coated in a layer of transparent crystal ice, reflecting city lights into streaks of blue and silver. The sound of cracking frost echoed faintly — like distant shattering glass — cold yet mesmerizing.

  Above the mansion, the night sky had transformed. What was once a luxurious skyline filled with the scent of wealth from D?ng’s estate now spun into a vast astronomical vortex. Streams of violet plasma curved gracefully across the heavens, streaked with falling stars. At its center, a miniature black hole pulsed with pale blue magnetic waves, stretching the clouds into glowing auroras that blanketed the entire mansion.

  A freezing gust swept down from the void, scattering icy mist across the courtyard. Frost clung to bonsai trees, turning them into glittering constellations beneath the swirling light — the point where Earth brushed against another dimension.

  Outside D?ng’s gates, chaos reigned. Shouts, laughter, and the rapid clicks of camera shutters filled the air. Curious locals, tourists, even streamers live-broadcasting the spectacle — yet none of their cameras captured a thing. Every lens flickered with black-and-white static, overlaid with strange cosmic frequencies, like voices whispering from distant planets.

  Frustrated murmurs rippled through the crowd:

  – “What the hell? My camera shoots in 8K and still nothing!”

  – “Mine too! It’s like something’s blocking the signal!”

  Just then, a black Lexus carrying Professor Charles and his three companions arrived. The driver honked loudly, carving a path through the sea of people. When the car finally pulled into Mr. Tài’s yard, everyone stepped out — stunned by what they saw.

  Deep gaped at the crowd across the street:

  – “What the…? It’s even busier than before! Shouldn’t they have gone home by now?”

  Tu?n crossed his arms, clicking his tongue:

  – “With a phenomenon like that? Forget it — the later it gets, the crazier it’ll be.”

  Ti?n pointed toward D?ng’s gate, eyes wide in disbelief:

  – “No way… someone’s actually pitching a tent out there!”

  The chaotic scene left them speechless. None of them realized that just beyond those frozen walls — beneath the swirling lights of a cosmic storm — an entirely different world was about to awaken.

  At that moment, C?u D?ng hurriedly came out, his face trying to remain calm though his heart was pounding with anxiety — terrified that Professor Charles might expose his secret.

  – “Oh, you’ve all arrived! Come in, my wife and the kids are setting the table for dinner.”

  Once everyone stepped into the living room, C?u D?ng cautiously asked:

  – “Professor Charles, did you manage to meet Mr. Nhan?”

  Charles frowned slightly, replying with a calm tone:

  – “Didn’t Tu?n already mention it at noon? The neighbors said Mr. Nhan went back to his hometown.”

  Hearing that, C?u D?ng felt an immense wave of relief inside, though he still kept a heavy, worried look on his face as if burdened by concern.

  – “I just wanted to be sure. My niece treated Mr. Nhan like her own father. I only hope we can find him, to ask about her… I fear something might have happened.”

  Charles knew the truth all too well but played along flawlessly:

  – “I heard from Deep that the girl couldn’t pay her rent, so she got evicted. No one knows where she’s gone now… poor child.”

  Deep quickly joined in, his eyes flicking toward Tu?n and Ti?n:

  – “Seems like it’ll be hard to find her. Maybe she followed Mr. Nhan back to the countryside.”

  At those words, a thrill of relief rippled through C?u D?ng — the “thorn” that had haunted him for twenty-five years appeared to have vanished at last. Yet outwardly, he put on an expression of sorrow:

  – “Oh, that poor girl. No parents, no one to care for her except her uncle — me. I just hope she’s got enough to eat and warm clothes to wear…”

  Tu?n, Ti?n, and Deep exchanged glances, their eyes glinting with quiet meaning. Ti?n spoke first, his tone halfway between sympathy and subtle probing:

  – “That’s sad indeed. But if Ms. Trang followed Mr. Nhan back to the countryside, maybe it’s for the best. Who knows, she might even get married and live a peaceful life there.”

  From the kitchen, M? Linh overheard the conversation. She quickly wiped her hands and came out, wearing a perfectly natural expression of feigned concern:

  – “Dinner’s ready, everyone, please eat while it’s hot. And about that girl — if she’s gone back home and gotten married, that’s good news. She’s been alone for so long, it’s time she found someone to rely on.”

  Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

  The golden light in the living room reflected off the faces of C?u D?ng and M? Linh, painting them with false compassion — while behind those gentle masks, each was quietly calculating their own schemes.

  At the large dining table, C?u D?ng’s family, Mr. Tài’s family, Professor Charles, and three of his friends sat gathered together. Warm yellow light spread across the table, illuminating the Southern dishes laid out in abundance — caramelized clay pot fish, sweet braised shrimp, sour soup, and a plate of fresh greens. The atmosphere was lively, yet tinged with unease, as if everyone there was quietly hiding something.

  Ti?n looked around, set down his chopsticks, and asked:

  – “Where are ?ào and Th?? Why haven’t they come down to eat yet?”

  M? Linh smiled softly, her voice as gentle as water:

  – “Th? had a bowl of crab soup earlier, so she’s not hungry. As for ?ào, after helping set the table, she asked to go have coffee with her friends.”

  Tu?n picked up a piece of braised pork, placing it onto his bowl of fragrant white rice, and asked casually:

  – “When did Huy’s family head back?”

  C?u D?ng, moving at his usual calm pace, dropped a glossy shrimp into his bowl and replied in a deep voice:

  – “They left this afternoon. Heard they’ve got some relatives from the countryside visiting.”

  Meanwhile, not far away, in a small one-story house down an alley in District 8, Huy’s family was sitting before their modest dinner. On the table were simple dishes — a bowl of jute leaf and field crab soup, a plate of fried fish with chili salt, and a small bowl of M?m Kho Qu?t (a thick caramelized fish sauce). But no one touched their chopsticks; the air was heavy, pressing down on every breath.

  Mr. Tín sat still, his face pale and weary, his voice trembling:

  – “This afternoon, when we ran into those two high-ranking vampires, me and Huy were scared stiff… Gave me chills all over.”

  Huy, his face just as pale, held his chopsticks with trembling hands:

  – “Those two… they’re not just vampires, they’re tycoons — powerful and filthy rich. And that one with the amber eyes… he’s something else entirely…”

  Mrs. Nguy?t glanced nervously toward the window, her eyes darting as if afraid someone might overhear:

  – “Didn’t see that one this afternoon, but I’ve got a bad feeling… they’re after Huy.”

  Hearing that, Huy flinched, his chopsticks slipping from his grasp and clattering onto the table. His voice shook:

  – “I didn’t do anything to them… why would they come after me?”

  Mr. Tín lowered his tone, almost whispering:

  – “We have to be careful, son. Wherever we go now, we need to watch our backs — every step.”

  The family dinner descended into chaos — no one could eat, their hearts weighed down by dread. Each person sat lost in thought, eyes clouded with fear of a power far beyond their reach — one that was both wealthy and ruthless.

  The food grew cold on the table, while the fear burning inside them only grew hotter with every passing second.

  The noise outside C?u D?ng’s villa grew louder by the minute. A crowd had gathered, shouting and jostling at the front gate. The clicks of cameras, the revving of engines, and the chaotic chatter filled the street — turning what was once a quiet night into something resembling a festival gone wild.

  Din grimaced, still holding his cup of milk tea but clearly losing patience:

  – “I have an idea… let’s go to the headquarters! It’s quiet there, fully equipped with everything we need. If we stay here any longer, I swear I’m going to lose it!”

  Yin nodded in agreement, then turned to the group of little demons slurping spicy noodles and sipping oversized milk teas:

  – “You guys finish up and head to headquarters right after! If I have to stay here one more minute, I’m seriously gonna scream!”

  The little ones obeyed instantly, cleaning up while giggling and chatting — their laughter blending oddly with the chaos erupting outside.

  Across the street, at Mr. Tài’s villa, things weren’t any better. Curious onlookers had spilled over to the fence, crowding together and whispering excitedly about “the ice mansion and the cosmic sky.”

  C?u D?ng, his forehead beaded with sweat, peered nervously outside and stammered:

  – “Brother Tài, I… I don’t know what to do anymore. More and more people keep coming every hour. They’re filming, taking photos, insisting on posting everything online…”

  Mr. Tài could only sigh heavily, his face clouded with worry:

  – “All we can do now is pray. According to the professor, this whole mess is the work of demons. Mortals like us… there’s nothing we can do to stop it.”

  ---

  Meanwhile, a fleet of luxury cars glided silently through the illusion barrier. Beyond it stood the Headquarters — a grand English-style manor nestled in a world of modern splendor. A marble pathway curved gracefully through a garden of antique roses, flanked by perfectly sculpted pine trees twisted into spiral forms. Along the walkway, crystal chandeliers glowed with a soft violet light, reflecting off a mirror-like pond. In the misty distance, a marble angel spread its wings beside a bubbling fountain, while carriage wheels rolled over cobblestones — weaving together a scene that was both majestic and steeped in the mystic power of an ancient dominion.

  Arian and H?ng Nhung stood waiting. When the convoy came to a halt, Mr. Nhan stepped out — no longer the weary scrap collector from the daylight hours, but Satan, the Demon King himself. His aura radiated authority and icy nobility, dressed like a British aristocrat, his amber eyes blazing like the fires of hell.

  Beside him, Mr. Phúc had also returned to his true form — Master V?nh, dignified and serene, with long silver-streaked hair tied by a silver pin, and a kind face concealing the power of ancient magic.

  Arian and H?ng Nhung bowed respectfully in unison:

  – “Welcome home, Father. Greetings, Master V?nh.”

  Satan gave a slight nod, his voice deep and resonant like a bell forged from iron:

  – “Thank you, my children. Where are Lita and Trúc Di?n?”

  H?ng Nhung replied softly, her tone like a passing breeze:

  – “Father, they went out for a bit. They’re accompanied by agents for protection — you can rest assured.”

  Satan waved a hand gently, his expression softening:

  – “Good. Go inside and rest for now. Later, I’ll recount what happened today… and then, we’ll continue our little game with D?ng’s family.”

  The grand hall trembled faintly as the agents bowed deeply and responded in unison. One by one, they followed him inside — where the flickering glow of magic lights danced across the marble walls, heralding a calm before the rise of another hidden storm.

  It was evening in District 1’s shopping center, where neon lights glimmered across the polished marble floors. The crowd bustled with energy; soft background music mingled with the vibrant pulse of the city, creating a scene brimming with modern allure.

  Lita and Trúc Di?n strolled hand in hand, looking like a couple straight out of a luxury fashion magazine. Behind them, two agents quietly followed, each burdened with no fewer than ten designer shopping bags — the “spoils of war” from a lavish afternoon spree led by the ever-demanding princess who had practically conquered the entire luxury section.

  Lita’s eyes sparkled like a child’s as the aroma of fried chicken drifted from a nearby restaurant.

  – “I’m starving! Let’s eat here — I heard this place is super famous!”

  For once, Trúc Di?n’s tone was soft, warm, and indulgent:

  – “Alright, let’s go in. Order whatever you like.”

  They chose a table by the glass window. The air between them felt calm and tender — until a familiar voice suddenly broke the moment.

  – “Oh… Trúc Di?n? What a coincidence! You’re having dinner here too?”

  They turned around — it was My, holding several luxury-brand bags, her eyes flashing with calculated intent. Trúc Di?n gave her only a brief glance, saying nothing. Lita, however, looked at her with barely disguised disdain, tightening her grip on Trúc Di?n’s arm as she spoke sweetly — but her words cut like a blade:

  – “You know my fiancé, do you?”

  My froze, her face flushing with a mix of jealousy and embarrassment. The royal aura — laced with quiet menace — radiating from Lita made her instantly falter. She stammered:

  – “She’s… your fiancée? Why would you marry… her?”

  Trúc Di?n’s reply was cold, decisive, and merciless:

  – “That’s right. Lita is my fiancée. And who I marry is none of your concern. By the way… where’s Tu?n? Your own fiancé — not with you tonight?”

  The words pierced My like a dagger. The man accompanying her earlier wasn’t Tu?n at all, but her secret lover. She forced a shaky laugh and tried to recover:

  – “I… had something urgent to take care of. Anyway, when you and Sorcerer V?nh have time, come over for dinner, okay?”

  Before she could take another breath, Lita shot up from her seat, eyes blazing like fire, pointing straight at My’s face:

  – “Excuse me? You already have a fiancé, yet you’re inviting my man to your house for dinner? Trying to play both sides, huh? Have you no shame?”

  My snapped back, voice rising in protest:

  – “I only see Trúc Di?n as a friend! You’re overreacting!”

  One of the agents stood abruptly. Towering and broad-shouldered, his icy gaze alone was enough to make My instinctively back away. His low, steady voice carried the weight of command:

  – “So you’re trying to seduce another woman’s fiancé for his money? Tu?n must be blind… marrying someone like you — what a tragedy for him.”

  The other agent crossed his arms, his smirk sharp and cutting:

  – “You’d better hurry up, lady. Don’t keep your boy toy waiting.”

  The entire fried chicken restaurant fell silent. Patrons watched in stunned disbelief as My’s face turned pale, drained of all color — her secret seemingly laid bare for everyone to see. Biting her lip, she clutched her shopping bags and fled, trembling with rage and humiliation.

  Behind her, Princess Lita sat down gracefully, a victorious smile curling at her lips — the unchallenged queen of every “battlefield of love” she ever stepped into.