Inside the house, incense smoke curled thickly in the air, the faint sharpness of sandalwood stinging the nose and making the atmosphere feel even heavier. M? Linh sat close beside C?u D?ng, her hand gripping his tightly, her trembling voice breaking the silence:

  – “Husband… why do I feel so cold?”

  Seated next to them, Mr. Th?ng leaned slightly, speaking in a calm, steady tone:

  – “This is Master B?y’s house, he’s famous for his spiritual power. Just be patient, he’ll be done soon.”

  Fifteen slow minutes passed. From inside, a teenage boy around seventeen — the apprentice of Master B?y — rushed out, slightly out of breath:

  – “Master invites you in now.”

  The three followed him into a small room. In the center, sitting cross-legged on the red-tiled floor, was a middle-aged man with a buzz cut and unnaturally red lips. This was Master B?y, a figure quietly respected throughout the region. His voice, slightly effeminate and drawn-out, filled the room:

  – “Sit down… tell me what troubles you.”

  C?u D?ng lowered his head, speaking slowly:

  – “Master, I had a younger sister. She and her husband died in a traffic accident twenty-five years ago. My wife and I never saw anything before, but these past few nights… they’ve appeared to us. We haven’t dared to sleep.”

  M? Linh quickly added, her tone pleading:

  – “Please, Master, help us. Their spirits haunt us day and night… we can’t take it anymore.”

  Master B?y extended his hand toward her:

  – “Give me your right hand.”

  Hesitantly, she placed it in his palm. He studied it closely, then nodded:

  – “I see… they died unjustly. They are reaching out to you, perhaps calling for help… or seeking something left undone. Spirits do not return without reason.”

  His eyes sharpened as he fixed his gaze on the couple:

  – “Perhaps there is something they could not resolve, and they are asking you to do it. Or… perhaps you wronged them somehow, and that is why they cannot rest in peace.”

  At those words, both husband and wife shivered, goosebumps rising across their skin, their hands icy cold. Yet C?u D?ng forced a calm expression:

  – “Master, we have lived virtuous lives. We give to charity regularly. We have never wronged anyone. Mr. Th?ng here can vouch for us — he has been both a friend and a long-time business partner of my family.”

  Mr. Th?ng nodded firmly in agreement. But deep inside, had he known the true crimes of the D?ng family in the past, even he would be more haunted than by any restless spirit.

  M? Linh quickly echoed her husband’s words:

  – “Yes, Master. We have always lived kindly and generously. They must want our help with something. But their apparitions… they terrify me. I feel like I’m losing my mind.”

  C?u D?ng glanced at her, nodding repeatedly:

  – “Yes, Master, please help us. Make it so they no longer haunt us.”

  Beside them, Mr. Th?ng quietly added:

  – “I beg you to help my friends, Master.”

  Without replying, Master B?y rose and stepped into the inner room. Two minutes later, he returned holding two talismans, wrapped in plastic along with a bundle of mugwort, coarse salt, and a fresh mulberry twig.

  – “Take these. Place them beneath your pillows to lessen the nightmares. And tomorrow… prepare a proper meal to offer the departed couple. Though they are gone, they must still be honored. Never neglect them.”

  Sweat trickle down C?u D?ng and M? Linh like rain. They nodded eagerly:

  – “Yes, thank you, Master. We’ll do exactly as you say.”

  They rose and followed the apprentice to the gate. Mr. Th?ng slipped a 100,000 VND note into the boy’s hand, earning a cheerful bow and thanks. Moments later, the black Mercedes glided silently away, leaving behind the heavy scent of incense lingering in the twilight air.

  The luxury Mercedes-Benz rolled away from the Hóc M?n dairy farm, its tires crunching slowly over the dusty evening road. In the back seat, C?u D?ng and M? Linh still trembled, though they tried to appear calm in front of Mr. Th?ng and the two bodyguards.

  From the driver’s seat, one of the bodyguards glanced back and asked:

  – “Do you want to head home now… or go somewhere else first?”

  C?u D?ng stammered:

  – “Take Mr. Th?ng back to Gò V?p… then straight to District 2.”

  ---

  Meanwhile, inside the Bình Chánh headquarters, Prince Arian focused intently, his skilled fingers gliding across a laptop keyboard. On the military satellite map, the image of the black Mercedes glowed clearly.

  Opposite him, the Demon King Satan held the Velkhanis Mirror, lips curling into a sinister smile as his booming laughter echoed:

  – “Talismans to limit illusion powers? Trying to block my psychological warfare? Let’s see how well that works.”

  Erion rested his chin on one hand, his eyes glittering as he gazed into the Black Crystal Mirror:

  – “So tonight… we’ll be busy again. What a pleasure.”

  The Grand Advisor Lady sipped her chrysanthemum tea, speaking leisurely:

  – “This time, let’s switch to… live action.”

  All eyes turned toward her. She tilted her head slightly, adding:

  – “If the furniture in D?ng’s house started floating up and down… at least one of them would faint on the spot.”

  Din clapped with delight:

  – “Ha! If the old Lady Advisor pulls that trick… that couple will have no choice but to confess their sins.”

  Trúc Di?n smirked:

  – “If it’s live action inside his house… leave it to me.”

  Erion rose with an arrogant air:

  – “No need for you. This time, I will strike directly — while the whole family is awake. Not an attack of the mind, but of space itself.”

  Yin frowned with curiosity:

  – “And how will the General do that?”

  Erion’s eyes turned distant, cold as steel:

  – “Tonight, I will show you all… a masterpiece of space, crafted by my own hands.”

  This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

  His chilling laughter reverberated through the grand hall, merging with the ominous silence that cloaked the gathering of demonic lords.

  ---

  Night fell over Saigon. After dropping Mr. Th?ng at his home, the Mercedes stopped in front of the District 2 villa. C?u D?ng and M? Linh stepped out.

  He leaned toward the bodyguards and muttered:

  – “I’ve already transferred your money. Go home. I’ll call when I need you. And today’s business… not a word from either of you.”

  The bodyguards bowed respectfully and drove away.

  ---

  Dì T? opened the gate with a warm smile:

  – “Welcome home, sir and madam. The herbal chicken soup is ready… please rest, I’ll bring it up right away.”

  The gate shut behind them. Inside the living room, M? Linh asked:

  – “Where are my daughters?”

  Dì T? replied softly:

  – “Miss Th? has been sleeping upstairs—her morning sickness is quite heavy. As for Miss ?ào… she’s been on the balcony all afternoon, reading and preparing for her master’s exams.”

  C?u D?ng nodded:

  – “We’ll eat first… they can join if they feel like it later.”

  ---

  On the second-floor balcony, however, Anh ?ào wasn’t reading at all. Her eyes drifted toward the Gothic villa across the way, where elegant, successful gentlemen resided — the very type of men she secretly dreamed of, despite being married.

  Her husband, Anh Tú, had grown completely insignificant in her heart. The men she longed for were refined and mature, while he was nothing more than a spoiled young heir—lacking entirely the presence of a true businessman.

  At that moment, in a small alley in District 8, the atmosphere inside a modest four-room house was far heavier than joyful. This was the home of Huy’s parents — soon-to-be in-laws of C?u D?ng.

  Mr. Tín sat at a wooden table, carefully checking the numbers in a savings book, his voice grave:

  – “We only have this much money saved… but we must give Huy a proper wedding.”

  Mrs. Nguy?t looked at her husband, eyes dim with worry:

  – “D?ng’s family is so wealthy… as the groom’s side, we must spend properly, otherwise they’ll look down on our son. How could we let them think his marriage is shabby?”

  Mr. Tín narrowed his eyes, speaking firmly:

  – “Our family carries the bloodline of centipede spirits… so letting Huy live with his wife’s family will be safer. If a daughter-in-law came here and discovered the truth… we’d be ruined. We must calculate carefully — if the secret is exposed, the whole clan will suffer.”

  Despite being spirit descendants, Mr. Tín and Mrs. Nguy?t lived with conscience and care—unlike their wayward son.

  Upstairs, Huy was in high spirits, visions of glory filling his head:

  – “I’m about to become the prized son-in-law of a construction steel empire… once I marry in, I’ll benefit from my wife’s fortune too. With such a family behind me, I’ll never struggle again.”

  He believed this was his path to paradise—unaware it was actually a shortcut… straight to the hell his future in-laws had already prepared for him.

  ---

  Back at the District 2 villa, C?u D?ng and M? Linh savored bowls of aromatic herbal chicken soup. A cold smile curled on C?u D?ng’s lips:

  – “That brat Huy… once he steps into this house, he won’t live to enjoy it. Dreaming of touching my fortune? Not a chance.”

  M? Linh added with venom:

  – “Climbing to the top in one step? He’s far too green.”

  Just then, the doorbell rang. Dì T? hurried to answer, letting in three of Mr. D?ng’s longtime friends — Ti?n, Deep, and Tu?n.

  C?u D?ng strode quickly from the kitchen, smiling broadly:

  – “Well, well… you three were away on business for ages. Everything went smoothly?”

  Deep, carrying a gift bag, nodded:

  – “All good. Brought something for your family.”

  Ti?n glanced at his friend, teasing:

  – “I hear you’re about to welcome a second son-in-law? Congratulations.”

  C?u D?ng grimaced:

  – “The first son-in-law came from a prestigious real estate empire, which made us proud… but the second one? Just my daughter Th?’s stupidity.”

  Tu?n frowned:

  – “What do you mean stupid? Did that guy trap her with a pregnancy to force his way in?”

  From the kitchen, M? Linh joined in loudly:

  – “Tu?n, you’re absolutely right. He used the baby to get his foot in the door. If we don’t let them marry… we’ll lose face in front of business partners.”

  C?u D?ng clenched his teeth:

  – “That girl Th? has shamed us beyond measure. We wanted to marry her into a wealthy, respectable family — give her a good life. Instead, she got tangled up with some lowlife. It makes my blood boil.”

  Even Dì T? voiced her disdain:

  – “They came here at noon — his parents were polite and simple enough. But him? Dyed blond hair, flashy clothes like some street punk — what a way to meet his bride’s family. He’s nothing but a gold-digger.”

  Deep smirked:

  – “Gold-digger or not, once he steps into D?ng’s family… he won’t get a single coin.”

  At the mansion in District 7, Anh Tú’s family gathered around the dinner table. The soft golden glow of the crystal chandelier fell upon the lavish dishes, yet the atmosphere was colder than the food was warm.

  Mr. ??c set down his chopsticks, his voice firm:

  – “I’ve already spoken with the lawyer. Tú divorcing ?ào won’t affect our assets.”

  Housekeeper Anna smirked, her tone dripping with disdain:

  – “Even if young master Tú sits in the director’s chair, every share and asset is under the owners’ names. That position exists because you placed him there — it was never his. Once divorced, he has no right to a single cent. Even the Mercedes was bought before the marriage — separate property. That D?ng family thinks they can trap our young master into giving up this empire? Daydreaming fools.”

  Mrs. Tam sighed, her eyes a mix of anger and disappointment:

  – “We thought our son married a proper wife… yet she turned out just as cunning and deceitful.”

  Anh Tú curled his lips into a cold sneer:

  – “I want the divorce finalized as soon as possible. And that centipede spirit is about to become the ‘precious son-in-law’… The real show is about to begin.”

  ---

  Meanwhile, at the Bình Chánh headquarters, in the grand hall that fused European gothic with Eastern aesthetics, the little demons busied themselves preparing a sumptuous dinner. The aroma of French cuisine and fine wine filled the air.

  Erion shot them a sharp glare, his tone laced with irritation:

  – “Useless minions — greedy for food and sleep. Best you all return to the Shadow Realm and spare me the eyesore.”

  Din chuckled lightly, defusing the tension:

  – “Why mind them, General… Little demons are no different from children craving sweets.”

  From the corner of the table, Trúc Di?n coughed lightly, leaning toward Trang:

  – “After dinner… shall we get some ice cream together? I know an Italian place that’s amazing.”

  Trang smiled softly:

  – “Sure, I’d love that.”

  The veins on Erion’s neck seemed to pulse at the sight of his rival stealing ground. His voice cut in coldly:

  – “I’ll go too. I’ve heard that Italian parlor is quite good.”

  The little demons erupted in cheers at the thought of their General taking them out for ice cream.

  Trúc Di?n frowned:

  – “What’s your deal, tagging along?”

  Erion replied flatly:

  – “Are you the shop’s owner, that you can forbid others from going?”

  The Demon King Satan boomed with laughter:

  – “I see Trúc Di?n is the one taking the lead here. A man who can’t show his feelings has no warmth in him.”

  The Old Grand Tutor Lady waved her black phoenix-feather fan, her eyes piercing into Erion:

  – “If you truly knew how to express yourself, Erion, you’d already have a wife and children by now… instead of rotting alone.”

  The entire hall burst into raucous laughter.

  Erion — the fearsome demon, unmatched in battle yet utterly clumsy in matters of the heart—could only stay silent. He had no idea how to express himself so that Trang could understand. Yet in that moment of awkward silence… lay his most genuine feeling.

  Trang looked at him with eyes full of warmth, her thoughts whispering deep inside:

  – “You fool… I’m a woman, I can’t be the one to speak first. I’ve been waiting for you to take the lead, but you stay silent… leaving me so disappointed.”

  After the lavish dinner at the Bình Chánh headquarters, everyone was preparing to take a walk and visit the Italian ice cream parlor. The atmosphere was lively… until a sudden crack of thunder split the sky, shaking the great dome of the grand hall.

  A secret agent rushed in, panting:

  – “My Lord… outside the illusion barrier, heavy rain, strong winds, and thunder have erupted.”

  Yin frowned:

  – “Strange… the weather was perfect this morning, and now…”

  Master V?nh sighed:

  – “The weather is unpredictable these days… sunshine in the morning, storms by night.”

  Trang lowered her voice, a little disappointed:

  – “We were going for ice cream… Guess we’ll have to wait until tomorrow.”

  On the 180-degree curved screen displaying satellite imagery, Demon King Satan observed slowly:

  – “Curious… an eye of the storm is forming. But… I can smell magic.”

  Prince Arian zoomed in on the image:

  – “Father is right. This storm isn’t natural… it’s been conjured by power.”

  Erion’s eyes darkened, fixed on the screen:

  – “This power… feels very familiar. Perhaps a battle beyond Earth awaits us.”

  Demon King Satan remained calm, his tone heavy with authority:

  – “It’s merely ordinary power. Let’s see if it amounts to anything this time.”

  Erion smirked, his lips curling:

  – “The black flame of mine and Trang’s… can freeze not only power, but space and time itself.”

  Din nodded gravely:

  – “What matters… is finding out who’s behind it.”

  The Old Grand Tutor Lady sipped her rose tea, her words sharp:

  – “Tonight, you must all stay here. If we use this storm to our advantage… it’ll add to the drama for D?ng’s family.”

  ---

  At the District 2 villa, D?ng’s three close friends were about to leave after dinner. But as they stepped into the yard, the wind howled so fiercely that the trees bent almost to breaking.

  Deep frowned:

  – “Strange… the afternoon was bright and sunny, and now it’s like a Category 12 typhoon.”

  Tu?n raised a hand to shield his eyes:

  – “Leaving now is too dangerous, the wind’s too strong.”

  D?ng gazed up at the blackened sky:

  – “Stay here tonight… going home now would be suicide.”

  Ti?n nodded in agreement:

  – “Yes. The winds are only getting stronger… We’ll spend the night here.”

  ---

  At the District 7 mansion, the family of elves led by Anh Tú also sensed something unnatural. The stench of sorcery lingered in every gust of wind.

  Mr. ??c — the clan’s patriarch — his eyes glimmered with a faint violet light:

  – “This storm is no natural phenomenon… Someone is pulling the strings.”

  Anh Tú’s eyes too burned violet as he stared at the rolling black clouds:

  – “The group of Trúc Di?n and Erion… they must already know.”

  Housekeeper Anna whispered:

  – “To deal with this storm… only they have the power.”

  ---

  The magical storm spread further, covering a vast stretch of Earth’s surface. Yet Demon King Satan remained utterly calm. In the depths of his gaze… it was clear he already knew who was behind it. More importantly, his forces held terrifying strength — enough to twist this storm into… a nightmare for its creator.