At Anh Tú’s family mansion in District 7, the air in the living room still carried the lingering aftertaste of the farcical drama at C?u D?ng’s house. In the center of the table, the large magical orb projected a crystal-clear image of Anh ?ào — sitting there, daydreaming between two men: Erion and Din.

  Trúc Di?n frowned slightly, his cold gaze fixed on the orb:

  – “What a mess… My and Tu?n are about to marry, yet she’s still fantasizing about me and Trang.”

  Beside him, Yin sat back in his chair with arms crossed, smirking in disdain:

  – “Anh ?ào already has a husband, and still dreams about two other men… That’s the fate of marriages built on wealth and power.”

  Housekeeper Anna shook her head, her calm tone carrying the weight of judgment on a pitiful soul:

  – “Perhaps it’s for the best. Only then will she finally let go of young master Tú.”

  Mr. ??c glanced at his watch, then turned back to the group with a relaxed yet firm expression:

  – “As for ?ào’s matters, my family will settle them thoroughly. For now, if you don’t mind, I’d like to invite everyone to a proper feast tonight.”

  But Erion’s eyes lit up, as if he had spotted something amusing within the orb:

  – “That centipede is slithering into a Thai restaurant. Let’s drop by — shake the tree a little, see what falls.”

  Din nodded in agreement, his calm voice laced with a cold killing intent:

  – “So it knows that here, it has no room to scheme.”

  Trang gazed thoughtfully at the orb:

  – “The ones I despise most are those who claw their way up with tricks, only to look down on the struggling.”

  Trúc Di?n smirked:

  – “The honest and struggling receive their rewards eventually. But a centipede like him — leeching off the tiger while imagining himself as the tiger — is just delusional.”

  Anh Tú’s voice was sharp with contempt:

  – “In the end, its essence remains that of a venomous centipede. No matter whose shadow it hides in, it can’t change its nature.”

  The room burst into hearty laughter. Dinner was no longer on anyone’s mind — the hunt was about to begin.

  Night had fallen over Saigon. At 6 p.m., the sky was painted in a deep, enchanting violet, a crescent moon peeking through the treetops while soft golden lights stretched along stone-paved walkways. The path of old bricks led into a luxurious Thai restaurant nestled in an outdoor garden. Traditional Thai lanterns swayed gently in the night breeze.

  The restaurant’s design blended classical and modern elegance: dark wooden furniture, handwoven silk, clay ovens radiating the warm scent of lemongrass. On each table, a vase of white lotus floated serenely in water, reflecting the shimmering glow of LED strips hidden among lush bamboo stalks.

  One after another, expensive cars glided to a halt before the restaurant gates, as though rolling straight out of a Hollywood film. From sleek black Bentleys, Cadillacs, and Maybachs, figures of staggering presence emerged — each one exuding an aura that pierced through the night.

  Dressed in lavish gowns and tailored suits, adorned with intricate accessories, their faces were cold and untouched by the dust of the mundane. Their very gaze made the entire restaurant district seem to pause for a heartbeat.

  The guards and restaurant manager rushed forward, bowing deeply as they opened the doors. The manager began to speak, but froze as he realized these were no mere elites of high society — their aura was something… cosmic.

  – “Uh… h-how many guests are in your party? I’ll prepare the proper seating,” he stammered, unable to tear his eyes away.

  A secret agent in a pale gray suit, gold-rimmed glasses glinting, swept the area with a gaze sharp as X-rays before casually pointing to a long table beside the lotus pond:

  – “That row looks quite suitable. Let’s take it.”

  Din glanced back at the little demons trailing behind him, lips curling in amusement:

  – “Order whatever you like.”

  The little demons’ eyes sparkled as they cheered:

  – “The Count is always so generous! But the General…”

  Erion whipped his head around, eyes like blades:

  – “What about the General?”

  One of the imps swallowed hard, then mumbled timidly:

  – “The General… is kinda hard to please. Always scowling… makes it tough to enjoy the food.”

  Trúc Di?n chuckled, seizing the chance to jab:

  – “With that kind of temper, you’re really not a good match for Lady Trang.”

  Erion’s fists tightened:

  – “Snake. As if you’re any better.”

  At once, Master V?nh — clad in his traditional black robe — cleared his throat loudly, cutting through the rising tension like water over fire:

  – “Let’s get to the table. Everyone must be hungry.”

  The group made their way to the long table arranged beneath a canopy of black star-trees. Candlelight flickered as the aroma of Thai delicacies filled the air — grilled prawns with kaffir lime leaves, green curry, and steaming hot tom yum soup. Earthen jars of spices stood neatly at the table’s edge.

  Behind them, the restaurant manager remained frozen in place, still replaying the odd titles he’d overheard among the guests:

  – “Count… General… Archmage… Princess. They must be actors, right?”

  The guard beside him, still staring after the otherworldly guests, whispered:

  – “Boss, I think they’re just used to calling each other that from filming together all the time. Otherwise… nobody addresses each other like that.”

  The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

  In a cozy yet bustling corner of the Thai hotpot restaurant, Anh Th? and Huy were enjoying their meal. The air was thick with the fiery aroma of lemongrass and chili, steam rising in dense waves that blurred the view around them. Anh Th? laughed happily, innocently picking shrimp for Huy, while he wore a carefully fabricated gentle smile.

  At a luxurious table farther away, a distinguished group entered, and the entire atmosphere seemed to shift. Yin raised an eyebrow, curling his lips into a mocking half-smile:

  – “Look over there… the lowly centipede.”

  Din lifted his cocktail glass, his eyes glinting coldly as his mouth arched into a disdainful smirk:

  – “A man who wastes his life scheming to ensnare heiresses instead of building his own future… ‘lowly’ is putting it lightly.”

  Erion leaned back in his chair, his gaze indifferent as he idly scrolled through his phone:

  – “One fragment of the black diamonds from my mines could split that centipede’s skull wide open.”

  On the other side, Anh Th? was lost in her dream of happiness, giggling as she ate. But then her eyes froze, her chopsticks halted in midair. She stared intently at the elegant table across the room.

  – “That’s… my sister’s in-laws… and her husband… And those people from the Gothic mansion across from our house — I saw them this morning with my sister…”

  Huy followed her gaze. His face suddenly stiffened, and the chopsticks in his hand clattered onto the table with a sharp clang. Sweat beaded on his forehead.

  – “No way… This can’t be…” he stammered. “Your sister’s in-laws… your brother-in-law… they’re demons? No… even worse — part of a noble demon bloodline. Those two aristocratic men are high-ranking vampire lords… and there are even two archfiends with them…

  “That young man with the long black hair… he’s an ancient beast… a White Serpent who has cultivated for a thousand years. There’s also a neutral archmage… and a whole flock of little imps?!”

  His body trembled as he glanced back at the table, his face drained of color.

  – “If they make a move… I’m finished…”

  A chilling cold pierced straight through his spine. The once-enticing spiciness of the hotpot now left only bitterness at the back of his throat. Meanwhile, Anh Th? remained blissfully oblivious, still gazing dreamily at the powerful figures raising their wine glasses — unaware that she was stepping deeper and deeper into a sweet illusion, a trap waiting to snap shut.

  – “Vampire lords, archfiends, an ancient beast…?” Anh Th? frowned at Huy, chewing slowly while giving him a probing look.

  – “What are you even talking about? Sounds like some horror movie.”

  Huy jolted, forcing down a hard swallow to steady himself. He scrambled for an excuse:

  – “Ah… I was talking about Marvel characters. You know, like Loki, Thor, Doctor Strange… Haha. Want to order more food? Go ahead, anything you like!”

  Anh Th? nodded, seemingly convinced, though her eyes still lingered on the other table — where the enigmatic figures laughed and chatted naturally, like a living painting torn from the pages of mythology.

  ---

  At the opposite table, the atmosphere resembled a midnight banquet of cosmic underworld powers. Every glance, every quiet chuckle carried layers of unspoken meaning.

  Housekeeper Anna, a mid-ranking elf who had once served in the royal court, sipped her tea and murmured:

  – “That centipede does know fear… look at his face, green as a banana leaf.”

  Mr. ??c smiled faintly, his eyes glinting with calculation:

  – “I’m hoping he marries into your in-laws’ family sooner rather than later. When the greedy, scheming, and deceitful collide… they inevitably tear each other apart. In the end, they’ll lose everything.”

  Mrs. Tam picked up a Thai chili shrimp, its fiery spice only sharpening her venom:

  – “My son needs to divorce her immediately. The more I look at that family, the more disgust rises in me.”

  Trang delicately lifted a piece of grilled octopus, her frown laced with biting irony:

  – “Anh ?ào will surely agree. She might even celebrate. A prisoner who sees an open door… who wouldn’t want to escape?”

  Din’s voice cut in, cold as ice:

  – “Right now, she’s harboring desires for two men at once: myself and the General. What she wants is to ‘start over’ in a new relationship — while keeping all the wealth.”

  Anh Tú sat in silence for a moment, then spoke with a low, heavy voice:

  – “I’m still her lawful husband, yet she openly shows longing for others… She truly doesn’t see me as anything at all.”

  Erion’s lips curved into a razor-sharp smile:

  – “Her purpose from the start was to seize your fortune. You heard it yourself. That word ‘love’… was nothing but a veil.”

  Trúc Di?n shook his head, setting his glass down:

  – “Better to discover it early. If someone doesn’t respect you, then it’s simple: walk away.”

  Erion’s gaze flickered to the table where Huy and Anh Th? sat, a glacial light flashing in his eyes:

  – “I’ll give that centipede a little scare.”

  Before anyone could react, Erion slipped his hand beneath the table. His index finger shifted into a flicker of black magical flame, woven seamlessly with spatial magic. A barrier unfolded — silent, unseen.

  BOOM! — In an instant, the steaming Thai hotpot before Huy and Anh Th? froze solid. White frost spread across the surface, smoke curling into icy mist. The scent of lemongrass and lime evaporated, replaced by a biting winter chill radiating from the pot.

  Huy’s eyes bulged, his heart pounding wildly:

  – “Th-this power… It’s definitely them… from that table…” Sweat drenched his forehead, his pulse hammering. — “I can’t match them… This is… cosmic level…”

  Around them, Anh Th? and the nearby diners gasped in shock:

  – “Wait — wasn’t that pot boiling just now?! How did it… freeze solid?!”

  Anh Th?’s eyes widened as a memory struck her:

  – “Huy, our villa… it was frozen the exact same way. Only our house, in the middle of blazing Saigon heat.”

  Huy stiffened — recalling the frozen mansion of cousin D?ng’s family, trapped in ice despite the tropical weather.

  The nearby guests buzzed in awe:

  – “This is insane! If someone filmed this, it’d go viral instantly!”

  – “Oh my god, I’ve never seen anything like it in my life!”

  Restaurant staff rushed over in panic, staring at the Hollywood-like spectacle unfolding before their eyes. One manager nearly dropped his tray, stammering:

  – “We… we’ve never seen anything like this before…”

  At the power table, low laughter rumbled, rich with satisfaction.

  Trang shot Erion a sharp glance, her voice light but cutting:

  – “That was a bit much, don’t you think?”

  Erion arched a brow, his eyes glittering with feline mischief:

  – “Oh, I’ve got plenty worse. Sure, we’re alike… but my power far surpasses yours. Best not to test my temper.”

  Trang raised a challenging brow:

  – “So what, you planning to take me down?”

  Erion realized he had overstepped, scratching the back of his neck with awkwardness:

  – “Just kidding. No harm meant.”

  The group around them stifled their laughter behind their hands. Yin shook his head with a wry smile:

  – “But the General always ends up getting trapped.”

  Din, calmly lifting a grilled shrimp, nodded in agreement:

  – “Exactly. Always trapped — by others, and by himself.”

  A little imp gnawing on tamarind crab piped up, voice squeaky and bright:

  – “If that centipede ever met Lord Satan, he’d probably faint for three days straight!”

  By 8:30 p.m., the dinner concluded. The group headed out to the parking lot — only to run directly into Anh Th? and Huy at the exit.

  Anh Th? beamed, bowed politely:

  – “Good evening, Uncle, Auntie, Brother-in-law.”

  Anh Tú answered curtly, while Mr. ??c and Mrs. Tam merely glanced at her without a word.

  – “Evening. So this is your boyfriend?”

  Anh Th? nodded eagerly:

  – “Yes. This is Huy, we’re about to get married. And these are my sister’s in-laws — and her husband.”

  Huy froze. Before him stood an ancient forest of power: the twin black diamonds Erion and Trang, and the elders radiating a pressure that was impossible to ignore. As a fledgling centipede spirit, he was nothing more than a blade of grass trembling beside an endless abyss.

  Trúc Di?n stepped forward, his aura as a millennium-old Serpent King surging forth. The sheer purity of his spiritual force made Huy instinctively stumble back.

  Trúc Di?n spoke with warm courtesy, though his words carried an edge:

  – “Good evening, you two. My brother V?nh and I are sorcerers — we once performed an exorcism at D?ng’s villa, so we’ve met Anh Th? before.”

  He moved closer. His dark eyes shimmered with a faint silver glow, briefly flickering green — just enough for Huy to see:

  – “Pleasure to meet you. Looks like D?ng’s family is gaining another fine son-in-law.”

  Huy stammered, shrinking like a trembling insect before an elder:

  – “Th-thank you… I’m really nothing special…”

  Erion turned his gaze toward him as well. His amber eyes briefly burned with ruby-red fire, visible only to Huy:

  – “When you two hold your wedding, be sure to invite us. We’ll be waiting.”

  By now, Trang had shifted her appearance completely — so Anh Th? didn’t recognize her. She stepped forward, smiling softly as she added:

  – “Yes, do invite us.”

  Anh Th? remained cheerful and carefree, the perfect picture of a spoiled heiress, oblivious to the danger surrounding her:

  – “Of course! I actually saw some of you this morning at the villas across from my house. I’ll bring the invitations over myself.”

  Huy’s limbs went cold, his mouth sealed shut, his thoughts a storm:

  — “What is this girl thinking?! Inviting them?! If my family sees these monsters… they might faint dead away. The wedding won’t even happen!”

  Sorcerer V?nh interjected calmly:

  – “We should be on our way. You two should head home early as well.”

  Anh Th? bowed lightly as the elders departed in their supercars. Only then did Huy finally release the breath he had been holding. Now he knew for certain: those lord-level beings lived right across from his future wife’s house.

  He would be seeing them again. Often.

  It felt as though hell itself had moved in next door.