The grand hall of the Bình Chánh headquarters radiated an air of mystery and regality.

  The first impression was its soaring Renaissance-style dome ceiling, adorned with hand-painted frescoes in soft golden hues, depicting laurels and drifting clouds. From the very center hung a massive Bohemian crystal chandelier, scattering dazzling beams of light through every delicate facet.

  The walls were paneled in dark walnut wood with gilded trim, interspersed with mother-of-pearl inlays depicting the four seasons — pine, chrysanthemum, bamboo, and plum blossoms — hallmarks of Eastern artistry. Along the central carpeted aisle stretched a deep crimson Persian rug, its patterns interwoven with swirling clouds and lotus blossoms, creating the sensation of walking between two converging worlds.

  Marble Corinthian columns lined the space, yet their capitals were carved into golden dragons coiling upward, their scales gleaming beneath the chandelier’s glow. The tall Gothic windows, instead of traditional stained glass, bore painted landscapes in the style of East Asian scrolls. When morning light streamed through, the entire hall transformed into a living canvas of mountain peaks, rivers, and drifting mists.

  At the center sat a round table of ebony, its surface inlaid with Italian marble, its legs carved into the shapes of guardian lion-dogs. Plush French armchairs in sapphire velvet flanked the table, each embroidered with golden peonies — the ancient emblem of prosperity.

  The faint fragrance of agarwood rose from an antique bronze censer resting on a carved altar of the Four Sacred Beasts. Soft orchestral music drifted from a corner, blending with the scent of incense, filling the hall with an atmosphere both majestic and warm — like a palace poised at the meeting point of East and West.

  The heavy rosewood doors opened with a low groan, footsteps echoing across polished black marble.

  Trang walked in, her hands nervously clasped, beside Erion, whose every step carried unshakable poise. Instantly, all eyes in the hall turned toward them.

  The Demon King Satan, glanced sidelong, his tone languid yet still charged with authority:

  – “Erion, what kept you? Once breakfast is done, everyone must return to the Gothic Villa to prepare for Anh Tú’s family. Do not delay.”

  Then his gaze softened as he turned to his daughter, his voice warm and paternal:

  – “My daughter, did you sleep well? Come, sit and eat with me.”

  The little imps covered their mouths, eyes sparkling as if about to burst into laughter.

  – “Looks like our general’s future won’t be easy…”

  Din leaned close to Erion, raising an eyebrow.

  – “So, the son-in-law of the Lord of Hell, hmm? I wonder how Trúc Di?n feels about this.”

  Trúc Di?n’s eyes fixed on Trang, his voice unwavering:

  – “I’ll fight for my own happiness.”

  Erion’s brows knitted, his ruby eyes flaring with fire:

  – “Snake, I’m the one who belongs at her side. You don’t stand a chance.”

  Trúc Di?n chuckled coldly.

  – “We’ll see. With that temper of yours, no woman would ever truly want you.”

  Sitting beside her father, Trang deliberately fanned the flames, smirking:

  – “I’m just watching… to see if you can ever outgrow that hotheadedness of yours. It’s been a thousand years, and you still haven’t changed.”

  The imps and agents pressed their lips tightly, struggling not to laugh.

  – “Princess, from what we see… that might take a few more centuries.”

  Master V?nh, sipping refined tea from a Bát Tràng porcelain cup, sighed like a weary referee, his brows furrowed.

  – “Enough. Eat your breakfast. Then we still need to head to the Gothic Villa.”

  ---

  Meanwhile, at the District 2 mansion, sunlight filtered through the leaves of manicured bonsai trees, scattering silver ripples across the koi pond. The garden shimmered with life, yet inside the house the air was heavy, suffocating—like the threshold of a ghost gate.

  On the ground floor, in the master bedroom, Madam Linh had fallen into restless sleep from sheer exhaustion. Beside her, C?u D?ng sat hollow-eyed, staring blankly, his spirit seemingly drained.

  Upstairs, in the pink princess-themed room filled with a faint floral fragrance, Anh ?ào stirred awake, her voice groggy as she whispered:

  – “Anh Tú…?”

  No reply came.

  From the stairwell, Dì T?’s voice drifted gently:

  – “Mr. Tú said he had business at home. He left early this morning, young lady.”

  Anh ?ào let out a weary sigh.

  – “Perhaps my in-laws aren’t feeling well. Tell my younger sister to get ready — later I’ll take her to the hospital for a check-up.”

  Dì T? nodded.

  – “Yes, I’ll prepare breakfast for you. As for young mistress Th?, her morning sickness has been severe — she hasn’t eaten a thing today.”

  A faint hiss of wind brushed past the window, carrying with it the omen of an approaching storm…

  At the Bình Chánh headquarters, breakfast had ended. Everyone lingered at the table, savoring lotus seed and longan sweet soup, the faint aroma of agarwood drifting through the air.

  The Grand Dowager Chancellor gently stirred her lotus tea, her voice low and hollow, as though echoing up from the underworld:

  – “And what about the two girls, Anh ?ào and My? What do we intend to do with them?”

  The Demon King Satan lounged with one leg crossed, lazily sliding his finger across the surface of the Velkhanis Mirror as though scrolling through a phone. He smirked.

  – “Leave them be, for now. We deal with the main matter first — keep pressing the sins of that wretched couple, C?u D?ng and M? Linh. But if those two girls step out of line… show no mercy.”

  Master V?nh, rosary of sandalwood beads slipping through his fingers, his eyes glinting with something eerie, turned toward Trúc Di?n.

  – “The couple is stubborn. They still refuse to confess.”

  The Dowager took a sip of the sweet soup, her expression unreadable.

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  – “They even mentioned hiring a sorcerer. Let’s see if that does them any good.”

  Trúc Di?n’s lips curved into a half-smile. His eyes, cold as glass, slid over the surface of the Pure Moon Mirror.

  – “The younger daughter — Anh Th?. She seems to be pregnant, doesn’t she?”

  Yin tilted back his head and laughed mockingly, fingers toying with the T? Nham pearl rosary. His voice stretched with derision:

  – “Well, well… the story gets more exciting. Promises to be quite the spectacle.”

  Erion narrowed his gaze into the Black Crystal Mirror, his features tightening. His tone dropped, sharp and serious:

  – “Look closer. That pregnancy… it doesn’t look normal.”

  The table fell silent.

  Immediately, Satan pinched his fingers against the Velkhanis Mirror, zooming in on Anh Th?’s abdomen. Ghostly light spilled from the mirror, illuminating her womb.

  His breath hissed.

  – “What is this…? That fetus is not human.”

  Crown Prince Arian, seated beside H?ng Nhung, furrowed his brows, his voice cold as frost.

  – “It looks like… the spawn of a centipede demon.”

  H?ng Nhung leaned closer to her father’s mirror, her eyes narrowing.

  – “Yes. The aura around Anh Th? reeks of demonic energy.”

  Trúc Di?n — the ancient beast, Serpent King, heir of the Serpent Clan — narrowed his eyes, his gaze sharp as a blade.

  – “So her boyfriend is a centipede demon… a lowborn, deceitful creature.”

  ---

  At the District 2 mansion, Anh ?ào had finished preparing everything. She hailed a taxi to take her younger sister to the hospital for a prenatal check-up.

  In the backseat, Anh Th? was pale, her face drained, nausea wracking her body. From the outside, nothing looked dire. But within her womb… something far darker stirred.

  Outside, the sun blazed harshly. The taxi swerved into the courtyard of the international hospital and screeched to a halt in front of the main lobby.

  Anh ?ào and Anh Th? stepped out at once. A nurse was already waiting with a wheelchair. Without wasting a moment, she helped Anh Th? into it and pushed her briskly inside.

  After the registration was complete, they were directed to the obstetrics ward. Anh ?ào followed closely behind, her face taut with worry.

  In the ultrasound room, Dr. Hoa spread the cool gel across Anh Th?’s belly and began scanning the monitor.

  Suddenly, her brows furrowed.

  – “This… what is going on? Why does this fetus not resemble a normal child at all…?”

  Anh ?ào jolted upright, her eyes wide.

  – “Don’t tell me… my sister’s baby has a congenital defect, doctor?”

  Dr. Hoa exchanged a grave look with the nurse.

  – “Call Dr. H?i here, now!”

  Within two minutes, Dr. H?i — the deputy head of obstetrics — hurried into the room. He leaned toward the ultrasound screen, his eyes narrowing as he studied the image.

  – “I’ve been an obstetrician for over thirty years… but this is the first time I’ve ever seen a fetus like this. It looks deformed… yet at the same time, not exactly.”

  Anh Th?’s face turned pale, her breath quickened.

  – “Then… my baby… it really is deformed?”

  Dr. H?i shook his head slowly.

  – “I’ll need to run a few more tests before I can give a precise diagnosis. Nurse, prepare bloodwork and a urine test for the patient.”

  An hour later, the results returned. Everything appeared perfectly normal — no anomalies in her blood or urine.

  Closing the file with a somber air, Dr. H?i spoke firmly:

  – “I’ll prescribe you some supplements. You must eat properly, rest well. Most importantly, attend your prenatal check-ups without fail. Your pregnancy is not like others. Your family must watch closely. If anything unusual happens, bring her to the hospital immediately.”

  Anh ?ào nodded repeatedly, though her eyes flickered with unease. Beside her, Anh Th? clutched her sister’s hand tightly, gaze fixed downward — at her abdomen, where that strange, unfathomable life continued to grow day by day…

  Outside the Gothic mansion, a veil of illusion shimmered like a thin mist, coiling around the grounds and concealing the eerie scenery within. The black iron gates opened on their own, and four vehicles rolled forward in a slow, deliberate procession.

  At the front was a gleaming black Bentley Bentayga — Erion’s car.

  Behind the wheel, Din smirked with contempt.

  – “By this evening, Anh Tú’s family will be in for quite a surprise… They’ve unknowingly allied themselves with a family that’s far more than they bargained for.”

  In the passenger seat, Yin tapped her nails lightly against the window, her voice sharp as glass.

  – “And that reckless daughter of theirs… carrying the spawn of a low-ranked centipede demon. Words fail to describe the disgrace.”

  In the back, Erion sat with arms folded, his ruby eyes glowing with unholy brilliance as a crooked smile tugged at his lips.

  – “Karma never knocks politely. They delude themselves into thinking they’ll live in peace forever… But when it comes, it crushes them — down to the very last breath.”

  The armored Cadillac followed close behind. Inside, Trang leaned against the seat, her gaze fixed on the Velkhanis Diamond Mirror — a fate-divining relic forged from ancient crystalline diamond.

  Her voice was cool, detached.

  – “Indeed, the sinful are being torn apart piece by piece… yet they still wear their arrogance like armor.”

  At the wheel, an agent of the Order kept his eyes on the road, though his tone was grim.

  – “Serves them right. That family was steeped in greed and cruelty… now they finally taste retribution.”

  Trailing next came a silver Innova. Driving was Master V?nh, clad in a black silk áo Dài embroidered with cranes and pines. His salt-and-pepper hair was tied back with an old bronze cord, his eyes carrying the weight of countless lifetimes.

  He gave a faint smile.

  – “Another centipede spirit reveals itself… things are growing ever more entertaining.”

  Seated beside him, Trúc Di?n cut a striking figure in a tailored black silk shirt and fitted khaki trousers — modern nobility incarnate. His voice was edged with steel.

  – “This lowly creature… one note from me is enough to send it straight to the underworld.”

  Finally, the second Bentley brought up the rear, carrying Erion’s loyal imps.

  One of them, grinning ear to ear, lifted a leather pouch stuffed with glittering gems.

  – “Lord Satan just rewarded each of us with a whole bag… filled to the brim with jewels!”

  The imp beside him snickered.

  – “Please. Just scraps, mined from hundreds of his planets’ quarries!”

  From the driver’s seat, their captain curled his lips in a sly grin.

  – “The General even scatters black diamonds around his koi ponds as decoration. Who could ever compete with that?”

  The imp in the back held up a gemstone, its facets catching the dim light.

  – “Of course. The General owns black diamond mines spanning tens of thousands of hectares across the Shadow Worlds. He even uses them for landscaping.”

  The sky blazed under the relentless sun, the heavens a deep azure with cotton clouds drifting lazily by. Yet an air of gloom weighed heavily over C?u D?ng’s villa across the street. The breeze stirred the trees at the gate, their leaves whispering like voices from another world.

  One by one, the luxury cars — two Bentley Bentaygas, a Cadillac Escalade, and an Innova—pulled up before the Gothic estate, three doors down from C?u D?ng’s home. The wrought-iron gates, etched with ornate Gothic patterns, swung open slowly to reveal a mansion steeped in old-world nobility.

  The courtyard shimmered with black gravel, a winding stone path leading between towering green cypresses straight to the grand entrance. Along the walls bloomed clusters of antique roses in pale pink and crimson, their fragrance drifting on the air. At the center stood a round fountain with a marble statue of a maiden clutching a bouquet of dried flowers. Sunlight turned the falling spray into a dance of liquid crystal. Scattered throughout the grounds were weathered statues and cast-iron lampposts, evoking the quiet elegance of a bygone European aristocracy.

  Just then, a silver taxi stopped across the street — before C?u D?ng’s villa. Two sisters stepped out: Anh ?ào and Anh Th?, both dressed to impress, their carefully painted faces gleaming beneath the morning light.

  Anh Th? eyed the row of luxury cars, clicking her tongue.

  – “Whoever lives there must be loaded… Only Bentleys and Cadillacs, nothing less.”

  Anh ?ào, however, was captivated by the group of striking men conversing near the mansion’s steps. Her gaze lingered longest on Erion, now cloaked once more in flawless disguise — flawless skin, well-defined muscles, a refined nose, and amber-brown eyes with a mesmerizing pull.

  Then her eyes slid toward Din: sharp and elegant in a silver-gray T–Ford suit, hair of burnished brown brushed back, a touch of rugged stubble framing his jaw, and eyes as deep as the ocean.

  Anh Th? glanced sidelong at her sister, her tone mocking though edged with restraint.

  – “You’re married already, yet staring at another man like that? Then again… you never truly loved your husband, did you? You just trapped him, so you could climb into his family’s wealth.”

  Anh ?ào did not reply. Her lips tightened, but her eyes remained fixed on the men across the street. At that moment, Dì T? emerged from the villa and hurried to open the gate.

  – “You’re back already? How’s your health, Th??”

  Anh Th? flinched slightly, her voice evasive.

  – “I’m fine… just a little weak, that’s all.”

  The sisters stepped quickly into the house. Yet across the way, none of their words escaped the ears of those with supernatural hearing.

  From the Innova, Trúc Di?n and Master V?nh had just stepped out. Trúc Di?n curved his lips in a sly smile.

  – “So… Anh Tú’s beautiful wife is already casting her eyes on another man.”

  Erion, standing nearby, cut a cold glance toward C?u D?ng’s villa.

  – “And My, soon to be married, lets her attention wander to Trúc Di?n… while her fiancé, Tu?n, sets his sights on my princess.”

  Yin chuckled softly, her voice carrying the weight of prophecy.

  – “A marriage built on money and ambition, bound together to consolidate power… will crumble in time. When true love appears, divorce is inevitable.”

  A royal operative added dryly:

  – “Or when someone finds a richer catch and wants to trade up. Marriages forged in gold-digging never last.”

  Master V?nh nodded in agreement.

  – “The only chain that binds two souls is love born of the heart… It seems a storm is coming — a clash between those clinging to old bonds, and those tempted by something new.”

  From the shadows, Trang fixed her gaze on C?u D?ng’s estate — the very house where she had once suffered disdain and humiliation. Now she knew all too well: tragedy was already at their doorstep.