Outside the mansion in District 2, the sky was swallowed by an abyssal black. Dense clouds tangled together like colossal nets tightening around the city. Thunder cracked relentlessly, bolts of white lightning slicing across the heavens and reflecting off the drenched garden below. Fierce winds howled through the trees, sending even the heaviest potted plants crashing to the ground.
In the living room, C?u D?ng and M? Linh sat across from their three close friends. The teacups on the table rattled with every gust that shook the house. C?u D?ng glanced out the window, his tone half-joking, half-serious:
– “The sky looks like something out of an apocalypse film. Do you guys notice anything strange?”
Deep tilted his head, squinting through the condensation-covered glass:
– “I do… those black clouds look odd, almost like honey dripping down…”
Tu?n frowned at his phone, frustrated after his fourth unanswered call.
– “I don’t know what My is doing… she won’t pick up at all.”
Ti?n waved dismissively, voice laced with disdain:
– “Forget her. At first, she pretended to be sweet, like some teacher’s daughter… but now her greedy nature’s plain as day.”
M? Linh leaned forward, her eyes sharp as blades:
– “Tu?n, look closely… maybe My already has her eyes on another man.”
Tu?n stayed silent. He knew well — this marriage had never been built on love. It was a transaction, a trade of power and gain. And deep in his heart, he still guarded a shadow, a memory of someone untouched by all this corruption.
---
At the Bình Chánh stronghold, inside the grand hall bathed in golden light from crystal chandeliers, Satan, the Demon King, brushed his hand across the Velkhanis Mirror. The ancient glass shimmered to life, revealing the mansion in District 2. His lips curled into a sinister smile:
– “D?ng’s house has guests tonight… perfect. The more, the merrier.”
On the Black Crystal Mirror, Erion zoomed in on the image, his voice cold as steel:
– “Tu?n is there too… that man who dares to covet my princess. I’ll deal with them all.”
Trúc Di?n smirked, running his finger lightly across the Tranquil Moon Mirror (T?nh Nguy?t B?ch Kính):
– “I’m waiting to see your masterpiece of space… let’s see how it performs.”
Erion’s gaze sharpened on him, cutting like a freshly-honed blade:
– “Just wait. Even you, Serpent King — if I lock you inside my creation — you’ll be forced to kneel and beg for mercy.”
The sky over District 2 that night hung like a suspended nightmare. Bulging mammatus clouds stacked in layers, casting a sickly yellow hue under the streetlights. At the cloud’s edge, streaks of gray-violet merged with deep blue, forming an eerie glow — as if leaking from another world.
A lightning bolt slashed across the heavens, illuminating the veins of the storm and drilling into a bottomless vortex, like a colossal eye gazing down at the city. The wind screamed past the riverside mansions, the Saigon River roared in waves, reflecting the flickering light.
On Tr?n N?o Street, people pulled over, staring upward. The clouds seemed to sink lower, bending down as if listening. Thunder rumbled—heavy, resonant, making the air thick and oppressive. From deep inside the clouds, sparks of lightning flashed, signaling something ominous drawing near.
C?u D?ng stepped out onto the veranda of his villa. The wind whipped his coat, carrying a damp, icy chill. He looked up — the mammatus clouds, massive and coal-dark, churned under lightning, creating a chaotic, surreal painting.
– “What the hell… these clouds look so strange…” he murmured.
Behind him, M? Linh and the three old friends followed. Deep raised his phone, panning slowly:
– “First time I’ve seen clouds like this… I have to record it.”
Ti?n frowned, his voice dropping:
– “Weird. This must be a really bad storm.”
Tu?n folded his arms, eyes locked on the sky:
– “At this rate, I’ll have to give my staff the day off tomorrow. No one should be out in this weather.”
M? Linh shivered, unease knotting her chest as she stared at the sky full of black mammatus clouds:
– “This is the first time I’ve ever seen the heavens like this. It feels wrong… like someone created it.”
---
At the Bình Chánh stronghold, all eyes turned to the massive 180-degree screen, displaying the violent sky outside.
Erion smirked, his tone laced with a strange delight:
– “Mammatus clouds… it’s been a long time. I’m curious who conjured them.”
Trang stood nearby, worry etched across her face:
– “If it rains, it’ll be like a waterfall… I wonder if the illusion barrier can withstand it…”
The Grand Mistress leisurely waved her black phoenix-feather fan, sipping abalone soup as she chuckled:
– “Rest assured, Princess. Even ten storms like this won’t break the barrier. It’s woven from diamond and platinum crystals mined from the Shadow Lord’s planet — fused with ancient incantations. Unyielding as a mountain.”
Din nodded, adding:
– “The General’s ?à L?t stronghold uses the same shield, but he even reinforced it with titanium. For centuries, nothing has pierced it.”
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Trúc Di?n moved up behind Trang, narrowing his eyes:
– “So… how do you plan to deal with D?ng’s family?”
Erion’s reply was calm, like a still lake hiding knives:
– “Wait a little longer. Tonight I’ll strike early… it’s always more fun when they’re still awake.”
H?ng Nhung smirked mischievously:
– “I already told the chefs to prepare snacks—so we can enjoy the drama while eating.”
The imps burst into applause, excited.
Suddenly, Trang’s eyes lit with an idea:
– “My flame can freeze physical matter… maybe I should make ice cream?”
Erion and Trúc Di?n accidentally spoke in unison:
– “Fine, let’s do it together.”
For a split second, both froze. Erion shot him a sharp glance:
– “Since when did you have that flame? Don’t kid yourself.”
Trúc Di?n curled his lip:
– “If I can’t, I’ll help with something else. Unless you’re afraid?”
The Satanic King chuckled low, his voice echoing through the grand hall:
– “So, Erion finally takes initiative? Fine. Do as you wish… just don’t freeze my entire kitchen.”
Inside the massive kitchen of the stronghold, golden lights spilled over gleaming counters—yet the atmosphere was no different from a battlefield.
Erion flung open the enormous refrigerator doors as if prying into a treasure vault, his eyes blazing with determination:
– “I cannot lose to that snake… Which milk is the best? Do we add sugar? What jam goes well…?”
Across from him, Trúc Di?n was raiding the dry storage, the clatter of cans and glass jars filling the air:
– “Where are the raisins? Almonds? Where did they hide the chocolate!?”
Master V?nh stood nearby, shaking his head with a smile:
– “Calm down, both of you. You’ll only make something delicious if you keep your composure.”
Yin chuckled, holding her stomach:
– “I wonder what flavor ice cream these two love-struck fools will create…”
The little imps burst out laughing, rolling on the floor:
– “As long as it doesn’t send us running to the latrine, it’s fine!”
Crown Prince Arian chimed in:
– “Don’t forget to bring mooncakes later, so Father and the Grand Mistress can enjoy them too.”
Trang smiled:
– “When the mixture’s done, I’ll handle the freezing. My black flame is hard to control—if I’m careless, everything will turn into solid ice.”
Normally, both Erion and Trúc Di?n were masters of the kitchen — precise, elegant, confident. But today, competing for face before Princess Trang, they scrambled like headless chickens. Their movements blurred, knives, spoons, and ladles whirled through the air like weapons in combat. The clash of utensils, the slam of cupboard doors, the clatter of pots and pans… all made the kitchen feel like the staging ground for a “Great Ice Cream War.”
Laughter roared throughout the kitchen. Yet miles away…
---
At the District 2 villa, the atmosphere was the complete opposite.
In his private room, C?u D?ng leaned back in his chair, sweat beading across his forehead. The words of Master B?y from earlier that afternoon echoed relentlessly in his mind:
– “That couple… died unjustly.”
He swallowed hard, his voice trembling:
– “Could it be… he actually saw something?”
M? Linh stood nearby, her voice unsteady though she tried to remain calm:
– “Who knows… Our family has kept this secret for 25 years. Could Master B?y really read the past?”
C?u D?ng wiped his brow, forcing himself to stay composed:
– “I’m just too anxious, losing my balance… Where are the two talismans he gave us?”
M? Linh quickly flipped the pillows on the bed, pulling out two golden charms sealed in a plastic pouch, packed with coarse salt, mugwort, and a mulberry twig:
– “I kept them inside the pillowcases. Let’s see… tonight, will those things still appear before us?”
---
Downstairs, in the guest room with two large double beds, Tu?n, Ti?n, and Deep sat around a wooden table, their laptops open with rows of financial spreadsheets. Every so often, they lifted their eyes toward the window — where the sky outside twisted into more ominous shapes, as if something was slowly emerging from the suffocating black clouds.
On the rooftop of a high-rise, beneath the suffocating night sky, heavy mammatus clouds hung low, illuminated by flashes of lightning that lit up the horizon.
A young woman stood alone at the edge of the terrace, her chestnut-blonde hair cascading to her back in loose waves, whipping wildly in the wind. A faint smile lingered on her lips, yet her voice — gentle, laced with icy undertones—slipped into the storm:
– “Let’s see… how Father’s foster daughter and that Erion will handle this.”
---
At the Bình Chánh stronghold, the Demon Lord Satan brushed his hand across the Velkhanis Mirror, his eyes glittering with wry amusement:
– “Such immature power… and yet, always eager to show off.”
Beside him, the Grand Mistress remained composed, sampling one perfume bottle after another sent by an acquaintance from the Shadow Realm. Her voice was calm, detached:
– “This storm… Erion could disperse it with a flick of his finger. But fine… let the child strut around, it feeds his ego.”
---
Meanwhile, in the kitchen, the “Ice Cream Duel” reached its climax. Both Trúc Di?n and Erion had completed their batches. A little imp scuttled closer, squinting at the bowls before pursing his lips:
– “Hmm… these colors don’t look too safe. Anyone got stomach medicine ready?”
Erion scoffed, his gaze dripping arrogance:
– “If I made it, it will taste divine. Now, one touch of black flame will finish the freezing.”
Since Trúc Di?n lacked the power of the black flame, he settled for sliding his batch into the refrigerator. Din offered a word of caution:
– “Perhaps you should do the same, General. Using that flame seems… a bit risky.”
Erion shot him a sidelong glance, voice sharp with mockery:
– “And wait hours to eat it? Ridiculous.”
---
And then… disaster struck. In his haste, Erion miscalculated the temperature of his black flame. The result: his entire batch froze solid like stone — losing all softness and creaminess. Worse, the wave of dark frost leapt across the counter, freezing Trúc Di?n’s batch as well, before it even had a chance to chill in the fridge.
Din shook his head with a wry smile:
– “I warned you, but no one listens…”
Yin clicked her tongue, half-teasing, half-serious:
– “At this rate… store-bought ice cream might taste better.”
The little imps sighed in unison:
– “Now we’ll be waiting forever — first for it to thaw, then for it to freeze again.”
Trúc Di?n stared at his batch of ice cream — now frozen solid like a rock. He clenched his teeth, struggling to contain his anger:
– “You did that on purpose… didn’t you?”
Erion cast a sideways glance, his voice calm yet dripping with mockery:
– “You’re the one who put it too close.”
The two stood face-to-face, their eyes sparking like lightning. And indeed, a crackling “zzt… zzt… zzt” flared in the freezing air between them.
Master V?nh chuckled and shook his head:
– “Just wait a little, it’ll thaw.”
Trang folded her arms, glaring at both:
– “I told you earlier I’d handle the freezing part. But no, you two had to fight over it.”
---
Outside, the superstorm raged like a mad beast, whipping white lashes of wind into the sky. Thunder tangled into a net, and lightning carved across the heavens like giant scalpels. Yet everything halted once it struck the shield cloaking the headquarters — where reality and illusion merged into one.
Crown Prince Arian entered, sneezing at the frosty air Erion had conjured. Beside him, H?ng Nhung giggled softly:
– “Just let it thaw. Everyone, head to the grand hall — there’s breaking news.”
---
When everyone gathered in the hall, Demon King Satan sat majestically upon his redwood throne, his deep voice echoing:
– “We’ll deal with this storm first. By morning, Saigon will suffer severe damage if we don’t.”
Crown Prince Arian smirked, as if he had already guessed the culprit:
– “That girl… always trying to draw attention.”
Trúc Di?n asked quickly:
– “Who is she?”
Arian replied lightly:
– “My younger sister, daughter of the second consort.”
Erion smirked, a spark of excitement flickering in his eyes:
– “Oh… so I’ll finally get to use my spatial masterpiece.”
---
The Demon King commanded Arian to connect the satellites, tracing the exact position of his daughter wreaking havoc in the skies. Instantly, a crystal-clear image appeared on the vast 180-degree curved screen:
A young girl with wavy chestnut-blonde hair and piercing blue eyes, wearing a school uniform — beauty both pure and perilous.
The Demon King spoke slowly, his tone mingling pride with a touch of bitterness:
– “Do you recall what I once told you… when Trang’s adoptive parents were slain by D?ng’s family, twenty-five years ago at the Cù M?ng Pass — the reason I could not arrive in time to save them… was because the second consort had gone into labor with a princess?”
He tilted his head slightly, eyes drilling into the image on the screen:
– “That girl… is her.”
The air in the grand hall grew unbearably heavy. Now, everyone had seen clearly the face of the princess — the biological daughter of Demon King Satan.
