Inside the red Ferrari, Yin drove with a satisfied smile on her lips:

  – “Anh Tú did a great job. I wonder what he managed to collect.”

  Din folded his arms, the corner of his mouth curling into a dangerous smirk:

  – “Probably more than we expect. D?ng’s household… has always been buried in secrets.”

  At that moment, Chen froze, his eyes widening as if all the scattered pieces had suddenly snapped together:

  – “So that’s it… The Dark Lord has known every major and minor detail of D?ng’s family for all these years — because this Black Lynx was reporting directly to him?”

  Din nodded calmly:

  – “Exactly. A Black Lynx with supreme concealment abilities… living inside that house like a shadow. The Satan Royal Mafia’s operatives don’t merely infiltrate — they take root in their target’s life. His calculations are terrifyingly precise.”

  At the áo Dài tailor shop, it was now Mrs. Nguy?t, Mrs. Nga, and Dì T?’s turn to be measured. As the tailor worked, M? Linh glanced at her watch:

  – “I wonder if Th? is done shopping for her wedding outfits yet. I’ll call her and ask everyone to go out for dinner together.”

  Mr. Tín spoke up:

  – “Where are you planning to eat, in-laws? I’ll send the address to Huy so they can come straight there.”

  C?u D?ng replied immediately:

  – “To Mr. Quy’s restaurant. We can also check out the wedding venue while we’re there. Here’s the address — send it to them.”

  M? Linh nodded:

  – “Remember to bring the invitation cards. As for those gentlemen, if we don’t see them tonight, I’ll ask Tú to drive me to their company tomorrow morning.”

  C?u D?ng shook his head:

  – “Tomorrow you and I will go together. Tú still has to handle the house decorations, the wedding gate, and the bridal car.”

  At another tailor shop, Charles was also being measured. Deep looked at Join and Mary:

  – “Once the professor is done, it’ll be your turn. After that, we’re going to have dinner at my friend’s restaurant. Mr. D?ng just sent me the address.”

  Huy, checking his phone, chimed in:

  – “My dad sent the address too.”

  Deep glanced at Huy’s screen:

  – “That’s right — Mr. Quy’s place. That’s where your wedding will be held. Perfect chance to check the layout.”

  After finishing his measurements, Charles let out a sigh:

  – “Tu?n and Ti?n are probably at the hospital by now. Tu?n’s fiancée is in pretty bad psychological condition.”

  Deep nodded gravely:

  – “It’s serious. Dr. Tùng had to administer intravenous sedatives.”

  Charles thought to himself:

  – “Wiping D?ng’s family’s memories clean was the right move. Otherwise, they would have gone insane. But who could possibly do something like that? A few strands of Black Lynx fur are still far too vague.”

  As the tailor measured his shoulders, Join’s thoughts raced as well.

  – “Who exactly is this Black Lynx? He acted right under our noses, yet neither Mary nor I sensed anything. How did he do it?”

  Anh Th? sat waiting on a nearby chair, her mind drifting into rosy dreams of marriage — a loving husband who would cherish and protect her unconditionally. But reality was far crueler. Huy was only after her family’s wealth. His tenderness was nothing more than a calculated step toward gaining her trust — and her family’s assets.

  ***

  Back at C?u D?ng’s villa, after leaving the storage room on the rooftop, Anh Tú returned to Anh ?ào’s room. He removed the memory card from the camera and transferred all the photos to his laptop.

  He murmured:

  – “Not enough to keep it on the card. I’ll back it up in email too, just to be safe.”

  He sent the entire batch of images to Trúc Di?n. Inside the Maybach, Trúc Di?n received the email notification:

  – “Anh Tú has sent everything.”

  Arian, the royal IT specialist of the Satan Dynasty, spoke with urgency in his eyes:

  – “We’re heading back to the Serpent Clan headquarters. That’s where we have the full equipment to analyze these images.”

  The luxury cars accelerated toward District 5, heading straight for Trúc Di?n’s secret base.

  At the international hospital, My looked much better. The hallucinations had disappeared, and her complexion had regained a healthy rosy color. Her parents finally felt relieved as they saw their daughter gradually recovering.

  Mr. Quy turned to Tu?n:

  – “Tonight, Mr. D?ng’s family will come to our restaurant for dinner and also take a look at the wedding hall. You and Ti?n should go there to receive them for me. Your aunt and I will stay here to take care of My.”

  Tu?n nodded:

  – “Yes, I’ll go right away. Since it’s Anh Th?’s wedding, I’ll double-check everything to be safe.”

  Mrs. Lan, gently brushing My’s hair, added:

  – “I already told the manager, but having you and Ti?n go over there again will make me feel more at ease.”

  My smiled faintly, her voice still weak:

  – “I need to recover quickly so I can attend the wedding.”

  Tu?n gently squeezed her hand:

  – “This time, Mr. D?ng is only inviting close acquaintances. I heard that V?nh the master and his sworn brothers will be there too, along with some foreign businessmen — his neighbors.”

  Hearing that, My’s eyes lit up, her mind instantly clearer:

  – “Oh my God… Trúc Di?n will be there too? I have to look really beautiful. I have to capture his heart…”

  Ti?n glanced at his watch:

  – “Let’s go. We shouldn’t keep them waiting.”

  Saigon at night, dazzling with lights

  The deep purple sky blended with brightly lit buildings, forming an artificial galaxy. Streetlights stretched into streams of golden light, while car headlights wove through the night like glowing ribbons in motion. The city became lively and sparkling, modern yet carrying Saigon’s uniquely romantic charm.

  Inside the grand hall of the restaurant branch in District 3, everyone had already arrived.

  C?u D?ng looked toward the entrance:

  – “Look, Mr. Deep and the professor… and Anh Ph??ng’s two friends as well…”

  He suddenly paused:

  – “Huh? Why are Huy and Th? coming in together with them?”

  M? Linh laughed lightly:

  – “They’re going to the same place, so running into each other is normal.”

  Anh ?ào tilted her head:

  – “Did everyone meet outside the entrance?”

  Deep shook his head:

  – “At noon, I invited the professor and these two kids out for lunch. When we were heading out, we ran into Huy and Th?.”

  Hi?u bowed politely to Charles:

  – “Hello, professor. During today’s physics test, the whole class was shocked by my results.”

  Charles nodded with satisfaction:

  – “You have a good memory and you’re intelligent. One explanation is enough for you to grasp the lesson.”

  Hi?u grinned mischievously:

  – “If my classmates find out I’m being tutored by an international university professor, they’ll be so jealous.”

  Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.

  Mr. Tài gently patted his son’s head:

  – “But don’t ever become arrogant. Always stay humble — ripe rice bows its head.”

  At that moment, Tu?n and Ti?n stepped out.

  Tu?n said warmly:

  – “Please come in and take a look at the wedding hall. We also have a full-service decoration design team here.”

  C?u D?ng nodded:

  – “Mr. Quy is always so thoughtful. By the way, how is My doing?”

  Ti?n replied briefly:

  – “She’s fine. The doctor will probably allow her to be discharged in a few days.”

  Deep spoke up:

  – “Then let’s go in and choose a design.”

  ***

  Serpent Clan Headquarters – District 5

  The room was flooded with blue light from high-tech screens. Rows of servers hummed softly, like the breathing of a massive steel beast in operation. Erion glanced at Trúc Di?n:

  – “Not bad… just missing a military satellite system.”

  Trúc Di?n raised an eyebrow:

  – “Then we hope brother-in-law will enlighten the Serpent Clan, so we can research satellites.”

  Erion leaned back, crossing his legs, his tone provocative:

  – “Military secrets and you want me to share them? Dream on.”

  Arian frowned:

  – “You two, stop bickering already! Focus on the data Anh Tú sent.”

  H?u K? sat down, flexing his fingers:

  – “I’ll handle it. You two esteemed gentlemen can relax… and continue arguing.”

  The whole room burst into laughter, utterly helpless before these two eternally feuding figures.

  Seeing Trang deep in thought, Din asked immediately:

  – “Is something troubling you, Princess?”

  All eyes instantly turned toward her:

  – “I’m thinking of a way to force that hidden person to reveal himself.”

  ??i Ng?c asked right away:

  – “Have you come up with a plan yet, Princess?”

  Trang nodded slightly:

  – “I have one. He has stayed by my side protecting me for twenty years, a secret agent of Father. He must already know my current appearance. Now… where is Uncle D?ng’s family at the moment?”

  Erion immediately opened his encrypted laptop, typing through a series of password strings, connecting directly to Black Diamond’s military satellite:

  – “I’m tracking their location. Results coming up now.”

  Trúc Di?n frowned:

  – “How would you even know where to look?”

  Erion smirked, his eyes filled with confidence:

  – “Don’t underestimate your brother-in-law like that. Earlier, when Chen went out to take photos at Tan ??nh Market, he conveniently attached a tracking device under D?ng’s car.”

  Yin exclaimed in admiration:

  – “The Grand General really plans things thoroughly.”

  Erion crossed his arms, shooting Trúc Di?n a victorious glance:

  – “If I weren’t thorough, how could I run an entire organization? Right… brother-in-law?”

  Trúc Di?n merely shot him a glare, not bothering to respond.

  ***

  Inside Mr. Quy’s restaurant wedding hall. The restaurant manager introduced:

  – “Since the guest list consists only of close acquaintances, Mr. Quy suggested this hall to Mr. D?ng. It can accommodate around three hundred guests, just enough to create a warm atmosphere. If the hall is too large, it would feel sparse.”

  The receptionist handed a catalogue to C?u D?ng. The manager continued:

  – “These are decoration themes based on the main color palettes. You may choose two to three colors to combine according to your preference.”

  Mr. Tín asked further:

  – “And what about the dishes? How do they taste?”

  The manager replied politely:

  – “Once you finalize the menu, the restaurant will prepare a sample table for everyone to taste and see if it suits your palate.”

  Mr. Tài nodded thoughtfully:

  – “I admit this place is elegant. I think this hall is suitable. Like the manager said, with fewer guests, a hall that’s too big would lack warmth.”

  M? Linh turned to Dì T?:

  – “You should taste the food and give your opinion. You’re good at cooking, so your sense of flavor is more accurate.”

  Dì T? waved her hand shyly:

  – “I only cook family meals. I’m not very knowledgeable about banquet dishes.”

  C?u D?ng laughed heartily:

  – “You’re being modest again, Sister T?! Your cooking is excellent — everyone in my family praises it.”

  Anh Th? was flipping through the catalogue:

  – “Every design looks beautiful, but I like the one styled like a fairy-tale garden.”

  Mary quickly flipped a few pages and stopped:

  – “This one is pretty! It has lavender, roses, a castle model, and even fairy wings.”

  Anh Ph??ng and Anh ?ào looked and nodded as well:

  – “This one looks so dreamy.”

  The manager added:

  – “That design is very popular among brides with a refined, gentle aura. Besides lavender, you can request any flowers you like. Our design team will tailor it to match the client’s aesthetic perfectly.”

  Anh Th? beamed:

  – “I choose this one, okay, Dad?”

  C?u D?ng nodded, then glanced lightly at Huy:

  – “Whatever my daughter likes, I’ll take care of it. Her wedding may have a modest number of guests… but they’re all entrepreneurs and corporate directors — business partners of your mother and me.”

  M? Linh cut in, her tone sharp and acidic:

  – “That’s right. A wedding for the daughter of a steel corporation family can’t be done half-heartedly.”

  Huy felt as if salt were being rubbed into his wounds, but outwardly he still smiled:

  – “Enduring humiliation is fine… after the wedding, I’ll have everything.”

  C?u D?ng smiled warmly, but his thoughts were cold as steel:

  – “You’re still too green, boy. I raised you, and you think you can outsmart me? Planning to come in and grab my family’s assets? We’ll see… your parents will only end up collecting your corpse.”

  M? Linh was no gentler, her lips smiling while her eyes were sharp as blades:

  – “I’ll be watching closely to see what tricks you can pull. Even someone like Anh Tú — exceptionally intelligent and academically outstanding — still lost to us. Someone like you? Just small fry.”

  Huy looked around, then asked Anh ?ào:

  – “Why didn’t your husband come with us today, sister?”

  Anh ?ào smiled softly:

  – “My husband has to deal with some company contracts. He said he’ll invite you out for coffee tonight.”

  C?u D?ng immediately spoke up proudly, his tone full of self-importance:

  – “My eldest son-in-law is the only son of a famous real estate tycoon on the business scene. He’s a director on the board and graduated from New York University, majoring in business administration.”

  M? Linh added, equally proud:

  – “Exactly. He’s smart, highly educated, and comes from an influential family. Him marrying Anh ?ào is a perfect match for our family.”

  Charles frowned, secretly scoffing:

  – “Good heavens, as if this couple were truly powerful. Their current success comes from stealing other people’s achievements, not from their own efforts. But that fortune is about to run dry.”

  Join listened, his expression stiffening slightly:

  – “With a family background like that, it’s no wonder Anh Ph??ng is disliked at school. She always looks down on others.”

  Mary’s eyes were filled with discomfort as well:

  – “The only reason she stays close to me and Join is because our family is rich. If we were poor, she’d laugh right in our faces.”

  Tu?n, Ti?n, and Deep exchanged looks, all of them feeling awkward on behalf of the others.

  As for Mr. Tín and Mrs. Nguy?t, they could only endure in silence, since their son had gotten someone else’s daughter pregnant. Now they had no choice but to listen to their in-laws’ condescending remarks.

  Meanwhile, Mr. Tài’s family, having been neighbors of Mr. D?ng for many years, understood everything all too well…

  ***

  Inside Anh ?ào’s princess-themed bedroom, after sending all the information he had gathered to Trúc Di?n, Anh Tú took the opportunity to carefully review every detail again on his laptop. He zoomed in on childhood photos of Trang; behind her, every single photo showed the dark silhouette of a well-built, elegant man with horns on his head and a crown. Having heard Trúc Di?n talk about him before, Anh Tú knew that was none other than the Demon King Satan — her father, who had always stayed close to protect her.

  But then he noticed several photos where Satan’s shadow was absent. Instead, there appeared a dark silhouette of a young man — tall, clearly muscular, with long hair reaching past his waist. What caught his attention the most was this: the figure also wore a crown, but instead of horns, there was a pair of pointed ears on both sides of his head.

  He murmured to himself:

  – “Not bat ears… not elf ears either — I know those well. No one in the clan has ears like this. Not mouse ears… could it be…?”

  After thinking for a moment, he suddenly recalled the detail about black lynx fur:

  – “That’s it — cat ears! Then this shadow must be that secret one… the Black Lynx.”

  In his hand, he was holding a keychain found inside the wooden chest — a small wish-bottle charm, containing tiny gray stones with a

  crystal-like structure. Anh Tú frowned:

  – “This looks familiar. I need to send it to Trúc Di?n for analysis.”

  ***

  Inside the blue-lit technology room of the Serpent Clan, Trúc Di?n was intently analyzing the enlarged photos on a curved screen when a message from Anh Tú appeared on his phone. He spoke softly:

  – “Anh Tú found something and wants us to analyze it.”

  Erion tilted his head in curiosity:

  – “What did he find?”

  Trúc Di?n replied, his tone still filled with doubt:

  – “A wish-bottle keychain. Inside are small gray particles with a crystal-like structure.”

  Din pondered deeply:

  – “Strange. That D?ng family really does have many abnormal secrets.”

  Erion urgently ordered the two little imps:

  – “Fly to D?ng’s house immediately and retrieve that keychain.”

  One of them asked right away:

  – “Why not go by car? D?ng’s family isn’t home right now anyway.”

  Din frowned:

  – “All you know how to do is eat. D?ng’s house is equipped with surveillance cameras. If you drive there, Anh Tú will immediately become a suspect.”

  H?u K? zoomed in on every image displayed across the massive curved screen.

  The shadow behind Trang — the Demon King Satan — was already known to everyone.

  But when the images shifted to those showing the shadow of a young man wearing a crown, with sharp, pointed ears, the entire group spoke in unison:

  – “The Black Spirit Lynx.”

  Arian was stunned:

  – “It’s really him. When His Majesty isn’t by the Princess’s side, he is the one who takes over her protection.”

  Erion clenched his jaw:

  – “But the most important question is… who is he disguising himself as right now?”

  Chen hesitated:

  – “That’s extremely difficult, General. Disguise and shapeshifting are the highest-level skills among ancient divine beasts.”

  Trúc Di?n nodded:

  – “I’m a White Serpent, but this isn’t my specialty.”

  ??i Ng?c agreed:

  – “The Serpent Clan excels at camouflage and concealment. But transforming into someone else — only the Black Spirit Lynx can do that. And one other spirit beast.”

  Yin frowned:

  – “Who is he?”

  L?p Thành explained calmly:

  – “He isn’t classified as an ancient divine beast, but his power is terrifying. Not only does he possess shapeshifting arts, he also masters true invisibility. Unlike the Serpent Clan… he can completely vanish and merge with his surroundings.”

  Erion let out an irritated snort:

  – “One Black Spirit Lynx is already a headache. Now there’s another one who can turn invisible?”

  ***

  At Mr. Quy’s restaurant, everyone was seated inside a private VIP room. The staff began serving dishes one after another. C?u D?ng stood up, his voice loud and confident.

  – “Since everyone is gathered here today, I’d like to treat you all to a proper dinner. Please, enjoy yourselves.”

  The restaurant manager bowed respectfully:

  – “These dishes are among the most popular choices for wedding banquets. You may sample them first and see if they suit your taste.”

  Mr. Tài nodded approvingly:

  – “All excellent dishes. I’ve seen these served at many weddings.”

  C?u D?ng turned to Huy’s parents:

  – “Brother and sister-in-law, please try them. If you like them, we’ll finalize the menu.”

  Mr. Tín replied politely:

  – “Thank you. Every dish looks delicious.”

  Charles smiled warmly:

  – “Let us raise a toast to Anh Th? and Huy — wishing them a lifetime of happiness.”

  Everyone lifted their glasses. The atmosphere appeared cheerful and harmonious. Yet inside the hearts of C?u D?ng and his wife simmered bitterness — they had intended to marry Anh Th? off to a wealthy heir, only for Huy to ruin their plans. Huy’s parents, on the other hand, were deeply uneasy.

  Both were centipede spirits by nature — gentle and kind-hearted. They feared their son would suffer if he became a live-in son-in-law, and even more so that their true identities might be exposed if Anh Th? were to marry into their family.

  ***

  On the second-floor balcony of C?u D?ng’s villa, Anh Tú waited anxiously. Before long, two bat-faced demons flew in. He glanced back toward the open window, and the two lesser demons immediately slipped inside.

  As soon as Anh Tú closed the door, they reverted to human form.

  He lowered his voice:

  – “Here. Take these back to Trúc Di?n and General Erion. Don’t drop anything.”

  One of the demons glanced toward the window:

  – “This place is dangerous as hell, and you still came back. If it were me, I’d have run the moment I could.”

  The other demon sneered:

  – “Marrying the wrong wife — and that kind of family? I’d rather stay single for another few hundred years.”

  Anh Tú’s eyes dimmed with sorrow:

  – “I was trapped. I was foolish — blinded by Anh ?ào’s beauty and gentle facade. I never imagined it was all just an act.”

  One demon laughed mockingly:

  – “If she couldn’t act perfectly, how would she ever enter a wealthy household? Even that centipede spirit wants to become a king — masks are mandatory. Once this is over, you should divorce her. She’s already setting her sights on the General and the Count.”

  Anh Tú let out a bitter smile:

  – “I know. That’s exactly why I came back here… to settle accounts with this family.”