Inside a small one-story house tucked away in an alley of District 8, Huy’s family gathered around a modest dinner table. On it were only a few simple dishes — salted stir-fried silver shrimp, caramelized fish sauce dip with boiled vegetables, and omelet with minced pork served with chili fish sauce.

  Mr. Tín, still chewing his rice, muttered while doing quick math in his head:

  – “Six ceremonial trays... there’s one for 24K gold jewelry, one for sweets, one for fruits, one for tea and wine, one for betel and areca, and another for the wedding cake. Gotta add the dragon-phoenix candles too, to make it proper...”

  Mrs. Nguy?t set down her chopsticks, worry flashing across her eyes:

  – “Luckily, our in-laws want to keep it simple. If they’d asked for a big, fancy ceremony, we’d never be able to afford it.”

  Huy picked up a piece of omelet, speaking more cheerfully than usual:

  – “I’ve saved up a bit, I’ll help out with the costs. Besides, the professor said he could lend us some money.”

  Mr. Tín shook his head firmly:

  – “Only if we’re really short will we borrow. Your mother and I don’t feel right owing that man anything, you hear?”

  Inside Huy’s mind, however, a calculating thought flickered:

  – “Just hang in there, Dad, Mom. Once I marry Th?, her wealth will be mine too. Then you’ll both live in comfort — no more scraping by.”

  ---

  Meanwhile, in Mr. Tài’s bustling kitchen, Mrs. Nga was slicing fruit while chatting:

  – “So, have you and your wife made any plans for the wedding yet? We can lend a hand if needed.”

  Tu?n nodded, his tone half teasing, half urging:

  – “Better hurry up, man. Only a week left to get everything ready.”

  Ti?n, setting the bowls and chopsticks on the table, chimed in:

  – “Yeah, you still have to find a venue, rent a gown, book a makeup artist... that’s a long list.”

  C?u D?ng simply smiled calmly:

  – “No worries. As for the venue, just contact Mr. Quy — My’s father. He runs a wedding hall chain.”

  Tu?n nodded in realization:

  – “Oh right, I forgot... your future in-laws own the whole wedding restaurant business. Guess your wedding will be held at their place too.”

  The kitchen filled with laughter and lively chatter — that familiar mix of warmth and excitement that always surrounds the final days before a wedding.

  Inside the Bình Chánh headquarters, Demon King Satan, Master V?nh, and Grand Thái S? Chancellor were calmly enjoying their dinner. Satan swirled his crystal glass, letting the golden whiskey shimmer under the amber light. His eyes gleamed with calculation, as if he were orchestrating a grand chessboard under his control.

  – “Everything has fallen into place… Once I give the signal, each piece will move exactly as I intend.”

  The Lady Grand Thái S? gently picked up a piece of golden braised anchovy and placed it over her fragrant bowl of white rice. Her distant gaze was filled with schemes.

  – “The wedding of that man Mr. D?ng and that centipede demon girl will surely be magnificent… and the guest list, I presume, will include some very interesting figures.”

  Master V?nh nodded, slowly sipping his cup of jasmine tea.

  – “All the great powers gathering in one place… how amusing this will be.”

  ---

  Meanwhile, in a small apartment across town, Quang and Quan were tidying up their workspace, getting ready to head out for coffee. Suddenly, a series of urgent knocks thundered on the door.

  – “Quang! Open up, now!”

  Quan shot Quang an exasperated look.

  – “There it is—the boss’s ATM just arrived. How you put up with her, I’ll never understand.”

  Quang grimaced, forcing a crooked smile.

  – “Trust me, I’m tired of it too… but hey, it’s the ATM. Gotta endure.”

  No sooner had he finished speaking than his expression flipped to cheerful as he went to open the door.

  – “Hey, darling. What brings you here this late?”

  My stormed in, collapsing onto the sofa with a scowl of contempt.

  – “Don’t you have any solution at all?”

  Quang frowned.

  – “You mean hacking into the military firewall? I’m a civilian, not a soldier. How the hell am I supposed to do that?”

  My clenched her purse strap, snapping in frustration.

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  – “Then how am I supposed to get Trúc Di?n? I want him to come to me willingly!”

  Quan, irritated, cut in.

  – “That’s on you. People aren’t merchandise — you don’t just get them because you want to.”

  Their heated argument echoed through the apartment corridor, drawing curious neighbors to crack open their doors for a peek.

  Across the hall, the Serpent Clan’s secret agents had heard every word. A soft shimmer of white smoke swirled, and in seconds, all four transformed their appearances — perfectly disguising themselves as a picture-perfect family.

  H?u K? glanced at Nh? Phu, a sly smile curling his lips.

  – “Get ready. We strike now.”

  ??i Ng?c smirked, revealing a sharp fang that glinted under the light.

  – “Who does she think she is? To make His Highness come to her willingly? A leech dreaming of clutching a crane’s leg.”

  Nh? Phu adjusted her expression and stepped out into the hallway, her voice calm and polite.

  – “Is everything all right over there, Mr. Quang? Do you need any help?”

  Quang hurried out, forcing a polite smile.

  – “It’s nothing serious, just a little argument with my girlfriend. Sorry for disturbing everyone.”

  H?u K? also came forward, his eyes subtly glancing into the apartment across the hall before speaking slowly.

  – “Couples argue all the time, that’s normal. And that young lady — she’s the girlfriend you mentioned earlier, right? One look and you can tell she’s from a refined family… so elegant and graceful.”

  My, still fuming on the sofa, immediately softened when she heard the flattering words “elegant and graceful.” She stood up, walked to the door, and smiled sweetly.

  – “You’re too kind, sir. Thank you for the compliment.”

  Nh? Phu smiled warmly.

  – “I only speak the truth. You carry yourself with such poise — it’s impossible not to notice that noble aura of yours.”

  My took a deep breath, her eyes suddenly brightening.

  – “What’s that lovely scent? I’ve never smelled anything so light and refreshing before.”

  H?u K? smiled gently.

  – “My wife’s family has a traditional craft—handmade natural fragrances. We use fresh herbs, flowers, and woods, then dry them using a special technique that preserves the original aroma and keeps the materials from spoiling.”

  ??i Ng?c chimed in, her eyes glimmering playfully.

  – “Since it’s handcrafted, it’s very different from synthetic perfumes. The one you’re wearing is synthetic, isn’t it? That’s why the scent is a bit harsh — it can cause headaches or sneezing for people with sensitive systems.”

  My nodded in agreement, her tone softening further.

  – “You’re right, natural scents and synthetic ones are completely different. Could you recommend me a few fragrances? I’d love to support your products.”

  Nh? Phu smiled gracefully, lightly taking My’s hand.

  – “I was just telling Mr. Quang that I hoped to meet you someday to get some customer feedback. I’m about to release a new fragrance collection — please let me gift you some samples. I’d be honored if you could give us your honest opinion to help us improve.”

  Nh? Phu kept her voice soft and sweet, as gentle as a passing breeze.

  – “Why don’t you come in for some tea? While you’re here, I’ll prepare a few gifts for you. Please don’t refuse, all right?”

  At the words “gift,” My’s eyes lit up, her excitement showing clearly.

  – “Of course! If the products are good, I’ll introduce them to my friends too.”

  H?u K? smiled calmly and turned to Quang and Quan.

  – “Would you two like to come in as well?”

  Quang gave an awkward chuckle.

  – “We already stopped by earlier for tea and pastries. If we come again, we might seem impolite.”

  L?p Thành quickly circled around behind them, throwing an arm over their shoulders with a cheerful grin.

  – “Don’t be shy, we’re neighbors after all. Besides, my parents would love for more people to know about their products.”

  And so, the group entered the opposite apartment, the mood light and friendly.

  Inside the living room, a soft, natural fragrance filled the air. The mingling scent of herbs, blossoms, and sandalwood made My feel as if she had stepped into a serene garden from a fairy tale.

  She took a deep breath, smiling blissfully.

  – “It smells wonderful… definitely a natural scent, so different from the synthetic perfumes I usually wear.”

  Nh? Phu returned, carrying a small paper bag in her hands, her tone warm and kind.

  – “This is our little gift for you. Inside, you’ll find a scented candle, a bottle of essential oil, and a jar of solid perfume. Please try them and, if you like them, help spread the word for us.”

  ??i Ng?c approached with a pale pink sachet embroidered by hand, its soft rose scent gently wafting through the air.

  – “Earlier, my parents gave the two gentlemen sachets with masculine fragrances. This one is for women — it’s lighter, sweeter… and actually has a bit of a romantic meaning too.”

  At the words “romantic meaning,” My’s eyes sparkled with curiosity.

  Nh? Phu smiled gracefully, continuing the explanation with practiced charm.

  – “According to our family’s feng shui tradition, each color and embroidery pattern carries its own symbolism. The golden sachets given to Mr. Quang and Mr. Quan are embroidered with the characters for Fortune and Metal, representing wealth, luck, and prosperity.”

  – “The one you’re holding is pink with a rose motif — it symbolizes love and charm. Keep it close to you, and it may lead you to the true romance you’ve always wished for.”

  My gently ran her fingers over the silk fabric, feeling its delicate texture and fine embroidery. A faint smile curved her lips, and a glimmer of hopeful longing flickered in her eyes.

  Inside the Gothic mansion’s grand dining hall, the once-tense atmosphere had turned warm again. Laughter and conversation filled the air as everyone enjoyed the luxurious seafood feast spread across the long table.

  But suddenly, the entire room froze in unison. Din’s lips curved into a mysterious smile as his eyes gleamed with a deep, oceanic blue — cold and menacing.

  – “That strong scent of witches... they’ve arrived.”

  Erion set his wine glass down, his sharp gaze cutting through the air toward the front gate.

  – “So, Father-in-law has decided to add a few more pieces to his chessboard. Interesting…”

  Arian nodded slowly, his low voice thick with intent.

  – “Then tonight, we should send our warmest... greetings to the new neighbors.”

  Trúc Di?n smirked, his tone laced with anticipation.

  – “In that case, Lita and I will stay here tonight. Wouldn’t want to miss the welcoming party.”

  Lita added quickly, though her eyes flickered nervously toward Erion.

  – “We’ve already informed Father, but... brother-in-law Erion, what about you?”

  Erion arched an eyebrow, his expression darkening slightly.

  – “If you want to join in, then stay. Just make sure that snake of yours doesn’t test my patience.”

  Yin’s gaze grew distant, her expression unreadable as she calculated their next move.

  – “Finish your meal quickly. We’ll need to discuss our strategy... and assign roles for what’s coming.”

  ---

  At that same moment, a Lexus maneuvered through the crowded streets before stopping in front of Mr. Tài’s house.

  As Anh Ph??ng, Mary, and Join stepped out, a chill swept over them — what they saw next made their blood run cold.

  Before their eyes stood the mansion, encased entirely in a thick layer of frost. Cold mist rolled from the walls, and above the house stretched an ethereal oceanic void — a shimmering mirror of the sea itself. The sound of waves mingled with the haunting calls of whales, dolphins, and unseen sea creatures.

  Join’s eyes widened in disbelief, his voice trembling.

  – “Impossible... None of the entities I’ve encountered could do something like this. To merge spatial dimensions together… whoever did this isn’t an ordinary demon.”

  Mary’s wary gaze stayed fixed on the haunting sight.

  – “It was him. Only that demon could create something like this.”

  At that, Charles stepped forward, his voice calm yet grave.

  – “I’ve studied the occult for years… and according to my research, you’re both correct.”

  Join stiffened for a moment, then nodded respectfully.

  – “Yes, sir… we’ve studied spiritual phenomena as well, that’s why we recognized the pattern.”

  From the doorway, Deep smiled and called out warmly:

  – “Come inside, everyone! They’re waiting for you.”

  A gust of icy wind swept past them, carrying with it a whisper — the unmistakable breath of the underworld.

  Tonight, peace would not come easily.