Professor Charles closed his eyes for a moment, then slowly opened them. The final missing piece — something he had been struggling with for days — had just clicked into place. His faint smile disappeared, replaced by a calm, steady gaze. Join and Mary stood beside him, eyes wide, stunned by what they had just heard.

  – “I can’t believe… Anh Ph??ng’s parents actually murdered people to steal their property.” Join whispered, as if afraid to speak louder.

  – “And here I always thought their family was so proper… that those sisters were delicate and noble…” Mary clutched her chest, breathing fast, her face growing pale.

  Charles leaned forward, speaking in a low voice filled with grim certainty.

  – “I knew it long ago. I stayed behind to uncover the full truth. And there was one more detail — something I’ve finally figured out.”

  Join asked quietly:

  – “So… do you know who the murdered couple was?”

  Charles exhaled slowly, his words sounding like a verdict:

  – “They were the younger sister and brother-in-law of that man, D?ng. Their family murdered the couple… and they even tried to kill their daughter. Fortunately — the girl survived.”

  Both young witches covered their mouths, trying not to gasp. Sweat dotted Join’s forehead.

  – “All that cruelty… just for money? They killed his own sister and her husband, and almost murdered their own niece?” Join whispered in disbelief.

  ---

  Inside the freezing room, the air was suffocating. C?u D?ng stood facing the reflection of the Demon King Satan in the mirror, his shirt soaked with sweat, heart pounding wildly. M? Linh’s legs had gone rigid — she could no longer stand properly and had to cling to Anh Ph??ng’s shoulders just to keep herself upright.

  The majestic shadow of the Dark Lord smiled with contempt, his voice resonating like a death knell rising from the abyss.

  – “Always so diligent with charity, always showing off to the world how righteous and kind-hearted you are. Even I must admire the acting skills of your entire family. Let’s see if any of you can keep performing… once you fall into hell.”

  He raised his hand, and a black skull-topped scepter materialized. The air instantly grew heavy — like tens of thousands of tortured souls were kneeling around them. The wind itself seemed to choke as his voice grew colder.

  – “Very well… let me show you the places in hell I’ve personally reserved for you.”

  In the next instant, his majestic form vanished from the mirror — replaced by a violent, terrifying landscape of the underworld, so vivid that C?u D?ng’s entire family struggled to breathe.

  ---

  A blazing red inferno stretched as far as the eye could see — rivers of molten lava coiled like fiery dragons, light shimmering across the viscous surface. The sky above glowed with shades of crimson and purple, clouds of ash swirling violently as hot cinders rained down like burning embers.

  The ground was cracked open, jagged black cliffs reflecting the twisted shapes of suffering souls. Everywhere echoed cries — voices of anguish, regret, fury, and hopeless pleas merging into a sorrowful chorus. Pillars of flame erupted, consuming nearby souls before spitting out brittle, broken sounds of remorse.

  Some spirits were chained to stone pillars, limbs stretched, bodies convulsing within hellfire. Elsewhere, silhouettes dangled from thorned chains, shedding flakes of ash as giant spinning blades swept beneath them. Dead trees hardened into skeletal forms bristling with iron hooks, dragging souls across scorching lava.

  Lesser demons scurried about — merciless and gleeful. Some pressed heated iron clamps into human flesh; others poured boiling oil into cauldrons, their tiny faces curling with wicked delight as screams rose around them. Tongs, blowtorches, and jugs of burning oil glimmered beneath the firelight — grotesque tools crafted for infernal torture.

  A colossal abyss yawned open — within it, millions of souls writhed together, their pleas collapsing into meaningless noise, crushed by despair. Flickering visions of their sinful lives flashed across the molten surface: greed, deceit, betrayal — each memory shredded and played again in endless loops.

  Shrill cries echoed across the domain:

  – “Please have mercy… Demon King Satan, please spare us…” But their begging was drowned out by the laughter of flames and the echo of judgment.

  A small demon held a fire-spitting rod, stoking a boiling cauldron, grumbling:

  – “Should’ve thought about that before being evil. Now you come here crying that you’re innocent?”

  Another demon pushed the soul of a fraudster into a grinding machine, voice deep:

  – “Nothing escapes our eyes. Every time you committed evil, the heavens were watching.”

  When the horrifying scenes of hell finally faded from the mirror, the figure of the Demon King Satan appeared once more — majestic, blazing, and shrouded in twisting black smoke. His voice was low and thunderous, dripping with satisfaction and mockery as it rumbled through the room like a storm in the dead of night.

  – “Well? Looks like you can barely stand. But this is the karma you must pay. Before doing anything, think carefully about the consequences. I despise those whose hands move faster than their brains — causing harm, then screaming ‘I’m innocent!’ when caught. There is no such thing as wrongful punishment in hell. We watch the life of every being — from the moment they are born to the moment they leave this world.”

  The room thickened with dread at his judgment. The cold grew so intense that no one could do anything except tremblingly look at one another.

  ---

  Outside the door, Charles, Join, and Mary remained frozen in place. Though pale with fear, none of them could deny the truth in every word the Dark Lord had spoken.

  – “He’s not wrong…” Join whispered, gaze distant. “Evil people always think they can cover the sky with one hand. They don’t realize how small they are — nothing more than dust under heaven’s eyes.”

  Mary squeezed Join’s hand, her fingers cold as ice.

  – “I’m not afraid of demons… What terrifies me most are demons wearing angel masks. All these years I thought Anh Ph??ng was a good person, but her luxurious life was bought with someone else’s blood.”

  Charles rested a steady hand on his students’ shoulders, voice firm.

  – “I, along with a few friends, have a plan to teach this wicked family a lesson. Do you two want to join us?”

  Join replied instantly, voice unwavering:

  – “Of course! At first I didn’t understand — just heard that their villa had strange phenomena, so I came to check. Now I see the whole truth. What’s happening to them is the darkness delivering their punishment.”

  Mary nodded with newfound determination shining through her fear.

  ---

  Back inside the room, the Demon King’s reflection still loomed in the mirror — majestic, the red blaze of helllight glinting off his spiraling horns, casting trembling shadows across the terrified family.

  He curled his lips into a half-mocking, half-scornful smile.

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  – “That’s enough for today. Remember to take good care of your daughter… and the grandchild she’s about to bring into this world.”

  Anh Ph??ng gathered the last of her courage, her trembling voice rising in defiance:

  – “Where are you? Come out! Face me directly!”

  The Demon King’s laughter roared like icy thunder, chilling enough to freeze bone.

  – “You? A little brat like you wants to confront me? Truly the child of evildoers — arrogant and reckless. You’re not even qualified to touch the shadows of my operations.”

  He tilted his head slightly, voice dropping yet echoing powerfully:

  – “And it’s not just me. My children… are already very close to your family. You may be dealt with at any moment — whenever I command it.”

  Suddenly, thick waves of pitch-black smoke erupted around the mirror, accompanied by eerie laughter echoing from the void. Then everything dissolved — the mirror vanished completely, leaving only a burnt smell and a suffocating chill in the air.

  M? Linh trembled violently, face drained of all color, before collapsing unconscious.

  C?u D?ng’s heart pounded so hard it felt like it might burst. His whole body shook uncontrollably as he fell to his knees, collapsing under the weight of fear.

  Anh Ph??ng panicked, scrambling to support her mother:

  – “Big sis! Help me get Mom to the bed!”

  Anh ?ào jolted awake at her sister’s cry and hurried over.

  – “I’m coming!”

  On the rooftop terrace of the Gothic mansion, the cool night breeze carried the soft glow of the moon. Its silver light shimmered across the magical mirrors, each one radiating a faint, otherworldly aura.

  Erion lounged back on the sofa, one arm draped lazily over the cushions while the other held the Black Crystal Mirror. He propped his chin with a finger and let out a low voice tinged with disbelief:

  – “What is this…? Didn’t Father-in-law say only we would take action tonight?”

  Din leaned over to look into the mirror, the corner of his lips curling upward:

  – “His Majesty said to let them keep their spirits up for the wedding… but looks like he decided to go big instead.”

  Trúc Di?n flipped his Tranquil Moon Mirror (T?nh Nguy?t B?ch Kính) face-down on his lap and shook his head with a helpless smile:

  – “Father-in-law showed them the real hell. I wonder if anyone in that family will be sane by tomorrow morning.”

  Trang covered her mouth with a soft laugh, her eyes sparkling with mischief:

  – “Royal Father always has a solution. Whatever he does, there’s always a reason.”

  Yin sprawled comfortably across a chair, his voice lazy but still carrying an intimidating presence. He casually spun the Hetian jade ring on his finger before speaking:

  – “The wedding will still happen for sure… That D?ng couple cares way too much about their so-called ‘precious reputation.’”

  Arian rested his elbows on the balcony railing, gazing into the distant night as the breeze lifted his platinum-blond hair:

  – “Father may have been a little heavy-handed, but it’s fine… He always knows how to keep things balanced.”

  ---

  Meanwhile, inside the grand hall of the Bình Chánh headquarters — bathed in warm golden light from ornate crystal chandeliers — Grandmaster Thái s? slowly sipped her tea, her expression contemplative.

  – “It seems the Dark Lord got a bit carried away this time.”

  Satan burst into a booming laugh, echoing like thunder splitting the night sky:

  – “I have my methods! You all started the fire — I merely added a bit of wind to make it burn brighter!”

  Master V?nh chuckled and shook his head, teasing:

  – “If that’s ‘a bit of wind,’ then it must’ve been a level 20 typhoon.”

  The elite agents standing behind them struggled to suppress their laughter, hands covering their mouths — caught between admiration and fear.

  ---

  Outside the room, Professor Charles guided Join and Mary into the quiet garden behind the headquarters. Moonlight glittered on the dew-soaked grass, and the wind whispered through the leaves, making the night feel colder than before.

  Charles stopped walking and turned to face his two students. His voice was low but piercingly sharp:

  – “Tell me honestly… Anh Ph??ng has been practicing dark magic, hasn’t she?”

  Mary stiffened, glancing at Join with uncertainty. She opened her mouth but couldn’t form the words. Join understood that their professor had already seen through everything; he sighed softly and admitted:

  – “Yes, sir… she’s an apprentice witch. And… we are too.”

  Charles nodded slowly, his calm gaze layered with quiet contemplation:

  – “I knew the moment I saw you two at the airport. But you’re different from Anh Ph??ng. You’re not the type of witches who scheme or act selfishly.”

  Join smiled, relieved to finally be understood:

  – “You’re right, sir. We started learning magic only to protect ourselves — and to protect the people we care about. You know… I used to be a victim of bullying, and Mary too…”

  Mary nodded, her voice small but sincere:

  – “We never intended to use magic to hurt anyone. Thank you, professor… for understanding and trusting us.”

  Charles gave a gentle smile. The night wind brushed through his salt-and-pepper hair, and in that moment, the old teacher felt that amid all the darkness around them, at least these two students remained a shining light.

  Suddenly, loud shouting erupted from the crowd gathered outside C?u D?ng’s mansion, stirring the entire area into chaos. Charles, Join, and Mary immediately rushed around to the front yard to see what was happening.

  What they saw made all three freeze in place:

  The mansion across the street — the one that had been covered in layers of thick frost for days — had returned to normal. Not a single trace of ice remained. The shimmering ocean suspended overhead had vanished as well, revealing a starry night sky sparkling with ethereal beauty.

  The crowd of reporters, journalists, YouTubers, and nearby residents stared wide-eyed:

  – “Oh my god, when did everything go back to normal?”

  A young man was so shocked he nearly lost his balance:

  – “The frost was insanely thick. Normally it would take an entire day to melt, but in the blink of an eye, it’s all gone?”

  Charles stepped forward, lightly touching the cold, dusty iron gate.

  – “No water traces… how strange.”

  Mary frowned.

  – “Melted ice always leaves water behind. When we got here, the entire place was still frozen solid. That was only a few hours ago.”

  Join lowered his voice.

  – “Only the one who created it could erase everything in an instant.”

  Mary scanned the area, unease creeping in.

  – “Then he must be nearby.”

  Charles nodded, eyes sharp.

  – “I once read in a book about dark forces… Only the demon known as the Black Diamond can do this — creating frost from black flames with negative temperature. The hotter the flame, the thicker and colder the ice becomes.”

  Join added softly:

  – “Mary and I will use magic to track the frequency of his energy.”

  While the crowd continued buzzing in disbelief, Charles raised a hand to calm them.

  – “Everything is back to normal now. Everyone should go home and rest. Those who’ve been staying here for days must be exhausted.”

  A YouTuber sighed, disappointed.

  – “I skipped meals and sleep to come here, and I couldn’t film or take any proper pictures. Now the phenomenon’s already gone… Such a waste.”

  A girl beside him huffed, stuffing her camera into her backpack.

  – “So frustrating. Let’s go. If something new happens, we’ll come back.”

  Join quickly chimed in, gentle but firm:

  – “She’s right. Everyone go home and rest. You all still have work tomorrow.”

  The crowd dispersed noisily, engines roaring as cars and motorbikes drove off one after another, their sounds fading into the night.

  High on the rooftop of the Gothic mansion, Erion gently touched the Black Crystal Mirror. Purple-black light shimmered, reflecting his calm face.

  – “That’s enough. Time to return the area to peace.”

  A group of little demons yawned dramatically, whining in unison:

  – “Because of the General’s masterpiece, we’ve barely slept for days!”

  Erion shot them a sideways glare.

  – “Oh really? A moment ago, you all devoured half a seafood platter by yourselves, then wandered off to eat roasted corn and grilled rice paper.”

  One of them immediately defended itself with an awkward grin:

  – “W-Well… that’s why we were eating to recover, General!”

  M? Linh found herself standing in the middle of a cold, eerie room surrounded by countless mirrors of every size and shape. But the strangest part wasn’t the room itself — it was what the mirrors reflected.

  None of them showed her reflection.

  Instead, they revealed the figures of Qu?c and H?nh.

  In the mirrors, Mrs. H?nh was cradling a small centipede curled up like a shiny black gemstone. Mr. Qu?c smiled softly, his voice echoing across the room:

  – “Sister in law, isn’t your grandchild adorable? A very handsome baby boy.”

  Mrs. H?nh looked down lovingly at the tiny creature in her arms.

  – “You must honor your grandparents, okay? Don’t make them sad…”

  M? Linh’s face twisted in terror. She clutched her head and screamed:

  – “No! That monster is NOT my grandchild! You two are trying to scare me again, aren’t you?”

  She lunged forward, smashing the mirrors around her in a frenzy. Glass shattered explosively, shards scattering across the floor. Blood dripped from her hands, streaking down her arms and staining the ground beneath her feet.

  Sinister laughter echoed from every direction:

  – “Sister in law, this is the truth… He is your grandson.”

  M? Linh screamed in despair, continuing to swing wildly at the mirrors — until suddenly she heard a fading voice growing clearer and clearer:

  – “Madam! Please wake up, Madam!”

  She jolted awake, eyes flying open, breathing heavily. Sweat soaked her forehead. Beside her stood Dì T?, face pale with worry.

  – “Madam, what kind of nightmare were you having? I was cooking breakfast downstairs and heard you screaming… I rushed in thinking something terrible happened.”

  M? Linh blinked in confusion, her voice trembling:

  – “So… it was just a dream.”

  She sat up, gripping Dì T?’s hand, eyes still darting around the room in fear.

  – “Dì T?… I saw a demon in this very room last night.”

  Dì T? shook her head gently, trying to reassure her.

  – “It was just a dream, Madam. Oh, and… the mansion across from us is back to normal. I woke up this morning and nearly jumped out of my skin when I saw it.”

  At those words, C?u D?ng — who had been lying on the sofa by the window — shot upright.

  – “Are you serious?”

  Dì T? pointed toward the window.

  – “Go see for yourself, sir. Everything’s normal again.”

  C?u D?ng and M? Linh hurried out to the garden, morning sunlight spilling across their faces. The moment they saw the mansion across the street, C?u D?ng let out a joyful shout:

  – “Oh my god, thank heavens! Our house is normal again!”

  Dì T? smiled, relieved:

  – “That means we can host Ms. Th?’s wedding here after all. And Ms. Anh Ph??ng won’t need to move to Gò V?p anymore.”

  From behind, Mr. Tài stepped out, his voice calm yet his eyes dark with unspoken depth.

  – “It’s finally over. The wedding won’t have to be relocated.”

  The sun rose higher, bathing the peaceful mansion in warm light, birds singing sweetly across the garden — as if everything had returned to peace.

  But none of them knew…

  That calm sunrise was only the quiet shell hiding the tragedy about to unfold.