A Late-Night Meeting in District 3 – The Beginning of a Silent Alliance

  The café owned by Yin in District 3 carried a distinctly modern Chinese aesthetic, blending traditional elegance with contemporary refinement. Dark wooden walls were accented with ink paintings and minimalist porcelain decorations. Red lanterns hung low, casting a gentle glow that gave the space depth and warmth.

  The VIP floor was quiet, separated from the soft notes of traditional music below. The air was filled with the rich aroma of hand-roasted coffee, mingling with the cool night breeze of Saigon.

  Around a long wooden table, everyone gathered, chatting cheerfully after dinner.

  – “District 3 is close to my brother’s place. One of these days, you should all come over for a home-cooked meal.” – Master V?nh said as he stirred his iced black coffee.

  – “Of course. We’re like family now, there’s no need for formalities.” – ??c replied with a warm smile.

  – “As for me, Yin, and the General… we’ll be running into that centipede spirit quite often.” – Din muttered, his eyes thoughtful as he slowly turned his teacup.

  – “Then once that centipede marries D?ng’s daughter, he’ll be seeing us every day.” – a small demon mumbled while licking at his ice cream.

  – “That works out perfectly. His family might show up too. The more the merrier.” – Trúc Di?n chuckled, stirring his glass of milk coffee.

  – “Then the Gothic mansion will be our base. Anyone can stop by anytime to watch the drama unfold.” – Erion smirked, his voice half-joking, half-serious.

  – “Am I allowed to come too?” – Trang asked softly, still savoring her frozen cocoa.

  Erion nearly choked on his drink, coughing a few times before blurting out:

  – “Of course! I’d… actually like you to stay there…”

  The two royal agents exchanged a glance, one of them sneering:

  – “If the General insists, we can always report back to the Dark Lord. I’m sure he’d assign ten more agents to keep watch over the princess while she’s asleep.”

  – “Hey, hey! I’m not up to anything improper, don’t twist my words!” – Erion protested in a panic, but the table had already erupted into laughter. The atmosphere brimmed with warmth and mirth.

  ---

  Meanwhile, back at the mansion in District 2, a gleaming scooter stopped at the gates. Huy had just dropped off Anh Th? after their “frozen” dinner at the Thai hotpot restaurant.

  His face was still pale, like a banana leaf, from unexpectedly encountering the elders. Though shaken to his core, he forced himself to remain calm. If he slipped even once, his true identity as a centipede spirit would be exposed.

  Dì T? came out to open the gate. Huy bowed politely:

  – “I’ve brought Th? home safely. Now I’ll take my leave. Please send my regards to Uncle and Aunt, and wish them a good night for me. Goodbye, Aunt.”

  Not waiting another second, he sped off toward his small house in District 8. Inside, his unease was building, a creeping dread growing heavier with each passing moment.

  Closing the gate, Dì T? frowned, puzzled:

  – “That brat’s attitude completely flipped. This afternoon, he was strutting around like a rooster, and now he looks like soggy noodles.”

  She turned to Anh Th?:

  – “Did you two have fun at dinner? Why did he look so lifeless, like his soul was missing?”

  Anh Th? glanced across the street toward the Gothic mansion:

  – “We actually ran into Mr. V?nh and Trúc Di?n, along with my brother-in-law’s family… and the people from that mansion across the street. They were all dining together.”

  Dì T? nodded knowingly:

  – “When the in-laws came by earlier, they met Mr. V?nh and his brother. But as for those others… it seems they must have just gotten acquainted.”

  10 p.m. The dim yellow glow of streetlights stretched across a narrow, winding alley in District 8. A heavy silence lingered in the air.

  A shiny scooter rolled slowly to a stop before an old, weathered one-story house. Huy was still pale and shaken, his breath unsteady, his legs barely able to hold him up.

  The rusty green iron gate creaked open. From inside stepped two elderly figures — Mr. Tín and Mrs. Nguy?t, Huy’s real parents. Both were centipede spirits who had lived quietly in human form amidst the bustling city. Though born as monsters, they were honest and sensible, despising greed and “ladder-climbing” schemes — exactly what their son was now plotting.

  Mrs. Nguy?t planted her hands on her hips, her voice sharp with scolding:

  – “Good heavens, where’ve you been till now? Skipping dinner, running off who knows where — what nonsense is this, boy?”

  Huy replied weakly, his face pale:

  – “I… I took Anh Th? out for dinner. I told you earlier I wouldn’t eat at home tonight.”

  From behind, Mr. Tín eyed him suspiciously:

  – “Then why’s your face so white — like you saw a ghost at noon?”

  Huy pushed his scooter into the yard, locked the gate, and quickly pulled his parents inside. His voice dropped to a whisper:

  – “I took Anh Th? out… and by sheer bad luck, we ran straight into an entire gathering of Overlords.”

  – “Overlords? What kind of nonsense is that?” – Mrs. Nguy?t gasped.

  Huy nodded frantically:

  – “Yes, it’s true. Among them was a noble family of spirits — the in-laws of Anh Th?’s family. Their son married Anh ?ào, her older sister!”

  Both centipede parents stiffened, their faces paling instantly. Though they were demons, their cultivation hadn’t even reached a hundred years, far from the higher ranks. Just hearing the words “Overlord” made them shudder.

  Mr. Tín glanced around nervously as if afraid someone might overhear, then lowered his voice:

  – “A righteous spirit clan isn’t necessarily dangerous… but why do you look as if someone drained every drop of blood from you?”

  – “That’s not all, Father…” – Huy whispered, his voice trembling.

  – “Among them were also noble vampires… cosmic-level demons… and even the Serpent King, an ancient beast who’s cultivated for a thousand years!”

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  – “Merciful heavens!” – Mrs. Nguy?t nearly screamed before clamping her hand over her mouth.

  – “You — you didn’t offend them, did you?”

  – “No! No, I swear I didn’t!” – Huy shook his head so hard sweat poured down his face.

  – “Just seeing them made my legs buckle. They only exchanged polite greetings… only because they know Anh Th?’s family.”

  – “Stay far away, boy.” – Mr. Tín exhaled deeply, clutching his chest.

  – “Overlords and ancient beasts… if we ever crossed them, we’d be crushed into dust.”

  The house fell silent. The night in District 8 seemed darker, deeper than before.

  Mrs. Nguy?t clicked her tongue:

  – “Climbing into a noble household like that… it’ll only end in misery. Get out of it, son, before it’s too late.”

  – “I… I’ll think about it…” – Huy lowered his head, still trembling inside.

  Mr. Tín’s anger finally boiled over. He clenched his fists, his voice firm:

  – “How many times have I told you? Poor but clean, ragged but honorable. Don’t covet what isn’t yours! You’ve brought nothing but shame to your mother and me!”

  Huy had barely finished muttering “I’ll think about it…” when his eyes suddenly widened in panic. His face drained of all color.

  – “It’s too late, Father, Mother… Anh Th? is pregnant. That’s your grandchild… I can’t just walk away. If I try to run, her family might kill me for it!”

  Mr. Tín clutched his chest, gasping:

  – “Heavens above… You’ve gone and knocked the girl up? You’re no better than Anh Th? herself — nothing but a bringer of ruin!”

  Mrs. Nguy?t grabbed her husband’s arm, her face torn with turmoil, but her voice steady:

  – “It’s done now. That child is still our grandchild… How could we turn our backs on that, son?”

  The air in their home froze. Panic, dread, and resignation wrapped around the centipede spirit family like chains. Huy staggered beneath the weight of shock and the storm of schemes swirling in his head.

  Meanwhile, back in Yin’s café in District 3, the atmosphere couldn’t have been more different. Warmth and laughter filled the quiet VIP floor, healing the fractures in weary hearts.

  Though his marriage had collapsed, Anh Tú managed a faint smile:

  – “I still have time… I’ll treat this marriage as one of life’s biggest lessons.”

  His father, Mr. ??c, placed a firm hand on his shoulder, voice steady yet warm:

  – “That’s how a man should face it. Live rightly, and good things will find their way to you.”

  Master V?nh, the sorcerer in his black áo Dài, silver hair tied neatly, eyes glinting with wisdom behind round spectacles, nodded slowly:

  – “Perhaps this was a blessing in disguise. Better to see the truth now than be trapped in a poisonous marriage for years.”

  Trúc Di?n sipped his iced milk coffee, voice light:

  – “Exactly. It’s fortunate that Anh ?ào and her family showed their true colors so early.”

  Din leaned back, cappuccino in hand, a grin tugging at his lips:

  – “A good man like you will have no trouble finding someone more deserving.”

  Erion, arms crossed, brows furrowed as if scheming, muttered:

  – “Honestly, I just hope that centipede bastard marries into that house soon… The karmic drama would be glorious to watch.”

  Everyone burst out laughing.

  Because sometimes, a parting isn’t the end—it’s the beginning of something far better.

  And in that laughter, a new kind of family was forming. Not bound by blood, but by trust, loyalty, and shared humanity.

  After the warm evening at Yin’s café, everyone quietly parted ways, returning to their own homes.

  Anh Tú’s family went back to their villa in District 7.

  The Trúc Di?n brothers returned to their townhouse in District 3.

  Erion, Din, and their little demons drove toward the Gothic mansion in District 2.

  Yin slipped away to his Qing-style estate in District 9.

  As for Trang, accompanied by the two royal agents, she went straight to the secret headquarters in Bình Chánh.

  All of them were in need of rest, after days of chaos that had drained both body and soul.

  ---

  Near midnight.

  Two sleek black Bentley Bentaygas rolled up to the gates of the Gothic mansion. Under the pale glow of the streetlights, their polished paint gleamed like obsidian. When the doors opened, Erion, Din, and the demonlings stepped out one by one, their dark aura weighing down the very air around them.

  On the second-floor balcony across the street, Anh ?ào found herself staring. For a moment, she forgot that she was still, legally, Anh Tú’s wife. Her eyes locked onto the two men — Erion and Din — standing at the gates opposite. Their sharp, commanding presence struck her like a blow.

  – “They’re nothing like Anh Tú… Mature. Strong. Radiating power.”

  Her lips pressed together, a strange heat stirring in her chest.

  Below, Din’s cold gaze flicked upward toward the balcony. His lips curled into a smirk:

  – “And just like that… we’re dragged into this ridiculous farce of a marriage.”

  Erion gave a low, crooked laugh, his voice dark:

  – “Not just us. Trang and Trúc Di?n too… That soon-to-be-wed couple are watching us all. What a farce indeed.”

  One of the demonlings muttered softly, noticing their lingering attention:

  – “Masters, let it go… let’s head inside.”

  Another, a curly-haired little fiend, glanced at the balcony with disdain:

  – “That D?ng family reeks of greed. Always taking, never giving. They want the world handed to them on a silver platter.”

  The iron gates swung open. The demons entered the Gothic mansion, leaving behind Anh ?ào with her restless eyes and her tangled, unspoken thoughts.

  ---

  At that same hour, in a luxury penthouse in Th? ??c, Tu?n closed his laptop after finishing work. He lifted a framed photo of himself with My, staring at it with a hollow, detached expression.

  Stepping out onto the balcony, the night wind tugged at his white sweater as the glittering city lights spread beneath him.

  In his mind, another face surfaced — Trang. Wild beauty, fierce spirit, a woman who carried herself like a warrior.

  – “If only I could see you again… You’re the woman I’ve been searching for all along.”

  ---

  Meanwhile, at the Th?o ?i?n villa, My lay alone on the vast bed, her room bathed in soft, dim light. Yet her heart was no longer empty—Trúc Di?n’s image consumed her thoughts.

  – “I want you here with me… only you.”

  Those who once chose ambition, wealth, and status above all else were now beginning to realize the truth:

  What they craved most was not power, but the raw, honest bond of the heart.

  But…

  …for some of them, it was already far too late.

  It was deep into the night.

  Inside the bedroom of C?u D?ng and M? Linh, the faint glow of the bedside lamp cast eerie shadows across the ceiling. The air felt thick, suffocating, as if something unseen was pressing down on them. Both husband and wife curled up on the bed, sweat dripping despite the air conditioner blasting at twenty degrees.

  C?u D?ng’s eyes were wide open, his hand gripping the blanket edge, heart still pounding from the “encounter” of the night before. His voice trembled:

  – “Let’s just hope… they don’t come back to haunt us tonight…”

  Beside him, M? Linh shivered:

  – “At least yesterday Tú was still here… This morning I heard his mother-in-law wasn’t well, so he went back there…”

  Her husband shot her a wary glance and lowered his voice:

  – “Let him go. He’s already married to ?ào, our victory is sealed. In fact, it’s better he’s not around. If he stumbles across our secrets during this time… we’ll be in real danger.”

  M?. Linh clutched his hand tightly:

  – “So, did you find an exorcist yet? We can’t keep letting that couple’s spirits torment us every night!”

  Irritation flickered across C?u D?ng’s face:

  – “You think it’s easy to find a powerful sorcerer? A few friends gave me names. I’ll vet them first, see if any of them are the real deal.”

  – “Then hurry up and vet them!” M? Linh hissed. “And what about Th?’s five-billion debt? Did you handle it?”

  C?u D?ng smirked faintly, his tone smug, as if fresh from a shady deal:

  – “I pulled from our savings account and paid it off. No need to sell the house. The real estate market is booming — why sell now? But if we don’t pay, the gangsters will keep storming in. How are we supposed to run a business like that?”

  ---

  Meanwhile, at the Bình Chánh headquarters, in the private chambers of Satan, the Demon King, the atmosphere was the exact opposite—serene, sovereign, terrifying.

  He reclined on a hand-carved rosewood bed inlaid with pearl, draped in deep crimson satin sheets. In his hand gleamed the Velkhanis Mirror, a relic that pierced through all dimensions, reflecting mortal thoughts and deeds.

  Satan’s lips curled into a thin smile, his abyssal eyes glinting:

  – “That pathetic couple still knows no fear… planning to summon an exorcist, no less? Heh… I dare them. The game isn’t over. And I do so love a little cat-and-mouse.”

  ---

  At the same time, in a townhouse in District 3, Trúc Di?n sat draped in a white robe, holding the Tranquil Moon Mirror (T?nh Nguy?t B?ch Kính), an ancient mirror of cultivation no less formidable than the Velkhanis itself.

  A cold smirk tugged at his lips:

  – “Summoning an exorcist? How amusing. They’d be better off worrying about that centipede spirit — soon to be their precious son-in-law. That’s far easier than standing against us.”

  ---

  Back at the Gothic mansion in District 2, silence reigned. The little demonlings were fast asleep on the mezzanine, each cuddling a stuffed toy, snoring in unison.

  In the study, Din typed on his laptop, the screen’s glow glinting against his glasses, sharpening his already cold features. He was tracking underground finances — funds funneled in from the Dark Kingdom, investments across the human world.

  Across from him, Erion lounged in an armchair, sipping hot soy milk as if it were fine wine. In his hand shimmered the Black Crystal Mirror, a relic of chthonic power.

  Suddenly, Erion’s eyes flared crimson like molten rubies. His brows knit.

  – “Din, that wretched family is plotting against us. Let’s see if they can truly find an exorcist bold enough to stand before me.”

  Din didn’t look up, still scrolling through numbers. His tone was cutting, mocking:

  – “Who could rival a Demon General, equal to Satan himself? They’re just mortals. The moment we manifest… those so-called sorcerers will faint for a week straight.”

  The two locked eyes — then burst out laughing. The chilling sound echoed through the Gothic halls, reverberating like a dark omen.

  The game had only just begun.

  And already, the pieces were moving… trembling beneath the weight of dread.