Inside the newly moved-in family’s apartment, boxes and furniture were scattered everywhere. A middle-aged man named H?u K?, gentle-looking yet composed, sat cross-legged on the sofa, curling his lips into a half-smile.

  – “Just as His Highness said, something about this place doesn’t feel right at all.”

  His wife, Nh? Phu, turned toward him — half of her face shimmered under the light, faintly revealing golden-brown serpent scales. Her voice was cold and deliberate:

  – “I had my subordinates dig up some information. That young man from earlier, Quang, works in IT. But instead of finding a proper job in his field, he spends his time courting rich women — pampering them, flattering them, even becoming their boy toy just to be kept. In short, he’s nothing more than a high-class gold digger.”

  Their son, L?p Thành, who was actually an undercover agent disguised as the family’s child, glanced sideways. His slit-shaped pupils flashed gold as he asked curiously:

  – “No wonder that guy flaunts his wealth so much. Guess making money isn’t that hard for him after all.”

  The daughter, ??i Ng?c, brushed her silky hair aside, her amber slit-pupiled eyes reflecting the glowing orange sunset through the window. She spoke with impatience:

  – “It’s getting late already. We should use a bit of magic to clean this place up faster — and invite them over for tea afterward.”

  ---

  At the Bình Chánh headquarters, Trúc Di?n observed everything through the Tranquil Moon Mirror (T?nh Nguy?t B?ch Kính). He cast a sidelong glance at Lita.

  – “The Serpent Clan’s operatives are all in position. Excellent.”

  Lita smirked disdainfully:

  – “Making money by cozying up to women old enough to be his mother — that boy toy really is a perfect match for that My girl. Birds of a feather.”

  Prince Arian, monitoring satellite footage, sneered:

  – “What a disgrace to all men. That guy has tech skills but refuses to work properly… it’s disgusting to see someone so lazy and dependent, hiding behind a woman’s skirt.”

  The Grand Thái S?, was testing lip colors she had personally crafted. As she painted her lips, she scoffed:

  – “Utterly useless. That boy and the centipede spirit girl may not be blood-related, but they share the same rotten nature. They tarnish the sacredness of love — an insult to those who love sincerely.”

  Master V?nh shook his head and clicked his tongue:

  – “I’ll never understand why people choose such parasitic lives. That boy clings to a woman old enough to be his mother, that My girl sells her body for money and business deals, and that centipede spirit… got some rich heiress pregnant before pretending to take responsibility.”

  Meanwhile, Satan, the Demon King, continued typing rapidly on his laptop, his deep, chilling tone laced with irony:

  – “And it doesn’t stop there. The entire family joins hands to trap rich young heirs like Anh Tú — all to sneak their way into wealthy households. Ridiculous. Genuine, selfless love is rarer than ever these days.”

  The living room was lively and filled with chatter. Everyone was sipping tea, enjoying sweet pastries, and discussing the upcoming engagement and wedding of Anh Th?.

  Charles glanced at the watch on his wrist, his tone calm yet decisive:

  – “Deep and I should head to the airport now to pick up the kids. We’d better leave early — traffic might be heavy.”

  Tu?n nodded lightly with a friendly smile:

  – “Go ahead, you two. Ti?n and I will take care of dinner. Mr. and Mrs. Huy, please stay and eat with us.”

  Mr. Tín shook his head politely, his voice gentle and respectful:

  – “Thank you, but we’ll head home. We need to remind Huy to finish preparing everything for the wedding.”

  Mrs. Nguy?t quickly added, her tone slightly rushed:

  – “Yes, we’ve got to hurry. The wedding’s next week — we’re afraid we won’t make it in time if we delay.”

  C?u D?ng smiled warmly, his words full of goodwill:

  – “If that’s the case, then we’ll catch up another time. We also have plenty to prepare on our side.”

  M? Linh smiled softly:

  – “Then please drive safely.”

  ---

  The sun dipped low toward the horizon, spreading a golden-orange glow across the surface of the ??ng Nai River. Gentle ripples shimmered like a giant breathing mirror, reflecting streaks of sunlight that danced upon the water. The ferry’s deep horn echoed through the hazy air, mingling with the faint scent of oil and dust.

  On the dock, rows of motorbikes, cars, and small trucks lined up neatly, waiting for their turn to board. A sugarcane juice vendor pushed her cart along the roadside; the clinking of ice against metal mixed with children’s laughter. A few workers in gray uniforms sat lazily on their motorbikes, puffing on cigarettes as they watched the fading sunset.

  In the distance, a large ferry slowly approached the pier, waves swirling white beneath its prow. The ticket inspector waved his hand, signaling the vehicles to move forward. Wheels rolled over steel plates with a soft screech — keng... két... The scene was both bustling and peaceful, the unique rhythm of life found only at Southern ferries in the glow of dusk.

  Erion rubbed the back of his neck, his voice hoarse with fatigue after the long trip:

  – “Let’s board the ferry and head straight back to the Gothic mansion. Din, Yin, and the little devils have already prepared dinner.”

  Trang leaned her head against the seat, eyes closed. She was tired and slightly carsick. Erion glanced at her, his gaze soft and full of tenderness:

  This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

  – “Close your eyes and rest for a bit. I’ll wake you when we arrive.”

  She nodded faintly, a delicate smile curling on her lips before drifting into sleep — lulled by the rhythmic sound of water lapping against the ferry’s hull, like a lullaby soothing a weary soul.

  Looking in the rearview mirror, Erion noticed that Chen had also dozed off. He turned his gaze back to Trang, his expression filled with affection as he whispered:

  – “Thank you for coming into my life. I won’t let anyone hurt you again. From now on, live happily by my side.”

  Inside the luxury apartment, the white ceiling light reflected off the messy table cluttered with steaming cups of instant noodles. Quang ate while glancing at his phone, his face tense.

  – “I’m really scared of My. What on earth is she thinking, getting herself mixed up with those kinds of people…? I don’t want to get dragged into this.”

  Quan lifted his chopsticks lazily, his tone flat and tired, eyes full of indifference.

  – “It’s just because her family’s rich. If she were poor, no one would bother with her. She’s greedy, unfaithful, and jealous to a sickening degree.”

  Quang squinted, his gaze sharp and bitter.

  – “She’s about to get married and still fighting over another man. That tells you just how shameless she is. I’m only putting up with her because I need the money to pay off my debts — otherwise, who would ever want to deal with someone like her?”

  Suddenly, the phone rang, making Quang flinch. He checked the screen, then sighed in relief.

  – “Not My… it’s my hacker friend calling.”

  He switched on the speaker. On the other end, a trembling, anxious voice came through.

  – “Quang? This doesn’t look good, man. Not at all.”

  Quang frowned, his voice sharp with urgency.

  – “What do you mean, not good? Be specific.”

  The hacker’s voice wavered with tension.

  – “The firewall system — two layers of encryption — I’ve never seen anything like it. And… did you notice the two crests?”

  Quan cut in, calm yet skeptical.

  – “Yes, we did. One shows a pair of spiral horns with a crown floating above a flame. The other is a crowned serpent. I’ve never seen such symbols in any firewall architecture before.”

  On the other end, the sound of frantic typing echoed, followed by the hacker’s voice, now shaking harder.

  – “I’m checking the references, but… according to some online mythological archives, the one with the spiral horns and crown represents the Demon King — Satan himself. And the crowned serpent… it’s said to symbolize the Ancient Serpent Deity.”

  The air in the apartment grew heavy. The faint hum of the fan and the soft whirring of the laptop suddenly felt colder, more sinister. Quang and Quan exchanged a glance — their eyes filled with unease and fear.

  Quang’s face turned slightly pale, though he tried to keep his composure.

  – “You’ve watched too many sci-fi movies. Demon Kings? Ancient Serpents? I don’t buy that crap…”

  The hacker’s voice pressed on, firm but trembling.

  – “I’m just telling you what I found, man. Go search the mythology databases yourself if you don’t believe me. I swear, my hands are shaking right now…”

  Immediately, Quang and Quan began searching for articles related to ancient mythological beings. The blue light from the laptop screen cast eerie shadows across their tense faces.

  After a few moments, Quan suddenly shouted, his voice trembling with shock:

  – “Boss! It’s exactly like your friend said! The emblem with the spiral horns, the floating crown, and the flame — it’s the symbol of the Demon King Satan! According to the article, he represents the law of karma in both the human and underworld realms! The other emblem belongs to the Serpent Clan Dynasty, symbolizing divine retribution and the same law of karmic balance!”

  Quang swallowed hard, his eyes widening, his voice shaking in fear:

  – “I… I don’t believe it. In this modern world, how could there be anything supernatural like that…?”

  Quan stared at the laptop screen, his hands trembling slightly.

  – “What should we do now, boss? Honestly, I think we should pull out. No matter how hard we try to attack, we’ll never be able to break through their system.”

  Quang clenched his fists, his voice low and tense, still shaken.

  – “Of course we’ll pull out… but what I can’t understand is — the Demon King Satan? The Ancient Serpent? Those things only exist in movies!”

  Quan sighed softly and shook his head.

  – “The world is vast, the universe infinite… anything can happen, boss.”

  Quang’s thoughts were a storm of confusion.

  – “Didn’t you just tell me I’ve watched too many movies? Now you’re the one getting scared?”

  At that moment, a sudden knock knock echoed from the door. Both men froze.

  Quang hurried over and opened it — standing there was the gentle-looking middle-aged man they had met earlier that afternoon. The man smiled kindly, his voice warm and courteous.

  – “We just finished cleaning up the house. My wife’s brewing some tea — why don’t you both come over for a cup to warm up?”

  Quang hesitated for a second but nodded politely, replying in a calm tone.

  – “Thank you, that’s very kind of you.”

  Neither of them noticed — behind that gentle smile, the man’s pupils subtly shifted into an oval shape for a split second before returning to normal.

  As Quang and his assistant Quan stepped into the apartment across the hall, a gentle fragrance spread through the air, immediately easing their nerves. The scent carried the freshness of herbs and blossoms — soothing, natural, and oddly comforting, as if washing away all tension.

  The middle-aged man smiled warmly as he introduced his family:

  – “My name is H?u K?, this is my wife, Nh? Phu. That’s our daughter, ??i Ng?c. Our son, L?p Thành, just went out for a while.”

  Quan politely asked:

  – “So your family is Chinese-Vietnamese from Ch? L?n, right?”

  H?u K? nodded gently:

  – “Yes, that’s right. Our ancestors came from China and settled in Ch? L?n, Saigon — part of the southern provinces of old Vietnam — sometime between the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.”

  Quang greeted them with a smile, taking a deep breath of the sweet aroma that filled the room.

  – “It’s a pleasure to meet you both. I’m Quang, and this is my assistant, Quan. By the way, may I ask what kind of essential oil you’re using? It smells incredible — could you recommend it?”

  Nh? Phu smiled softly, her voice calm and graceful:

  – “This fragrance is my own creation. My family has long practiced the traditional craft of making natural scents — essential oils, perfumes, and aromatic candles. If you like it, I’ll gladly give you a little to try.”

  Beside her, H?u K? took out two beautifully crafted sachets and handed them to the men:

  – “This is my wife’s newest scent, soon to be released. Please take these as a gift. If you enjoy them, we’d be grateful if you could recommend our products to your friends and loved ones.”

  Quan lifted the sachet to his nose, inhaling lightly. His eyes showed a flicker of delight:

  – “It’s really refined. I usually dislike strong scents — but this one’s subtle, deep, and perfectly balanced.”

  At that moment, their daughter ??i Ng?c appeared with a tray of tea and pastries, smiling brightly:

  – “My mom always makes our sachets and other products with mild, natural scents. If it’s too strong, it becomes overwhelming after a while.”

  H?u K? gestured invitingly:

  – “Please, have some tea. And these are cassia blossom cakes — a specialty from our hometown.”

  Quang took a small bite. The soft sweetness spread gently across his tongue. He nodded appreciatively:

  – “Delicious — sweet but not cloying, soft, and with a delicate fragrance.”

  Nh? Phu smiled kindly, her voice warm yet carrying a touch of mystery:

  – “These cakes originate from the old town of Tan ??, where the recipe has been passed down for more than three hundred years.”

  She lifted her teacup, taking a small sip before continuing in a tone soft as autumn wind:

  – “They’re made entirely by hand, following our ancestral method. The cassia flowers must be picked at dawn, when their fragrance is strongest. After being gently rinsed in cool water, they’re dried in the shade to keep their color and scent intact.”

  She placed her cup down slowly, pride glimmering in her eyes:

  – “Then the flowers are infused with honey or light rice wine for several days. This keeps the scent lasting longer so that when the cakes are steamed, the fragrance spreads evenly without becoming harsh. The glutinous rice flour must be finely sifted, mixed with melted rock sugar syrup, and kneaded until smooth and shiny.”

  H?u K? added softly, his tone like an old storyteller’s:

  – “The dough is pressed into wooden molds, often carved with lotus patterns or the Chinese character for ‘Blessing’. It’s steamed for about thirty minutes — just enough for it to set perfectly. When the lid is lifted, honey-soaked cassia petals are sprinkled over the top, allowing their scent to weave through every layer of the cake.”

  ??i Ng?c placed a fresh batch of warm cakes on the table. Their gentle aroma filled the room. Her mother added with a faint smile,

  – “Once cooled, the cakes turn translucent white with pale golden petals inside — soft, smooth, and lightly sweet. When you take a bite, the cassia fragrance melts in your mouth, delicate as morning dew. The ancients called it ‘the sweetness of happiness’, a symbol of luck and reunion.”

  The room remained calm and fragrant, filled with the soothing blend of herbs and cassia blossoms — yet beneath that faint sweetness lingered something strange, almost magical… something neither Quang nor Quan had yet noticed.