My's terrified scream echoed through the Th?o ?i?n mansion. From the kitchen below, Vú N?m rushed upstairs, still wearing her apron.

  But the moment she stepped into the living room, she froze, her face pale as death.

  On the mirrored wall opposite the sofa, a massive shadow was reflected — a towering serpent-like figure, its scaled body coiled with glittering ridges. Its head bore an ancient crown, mouth wide open to reveal hundreds of razor-sharp fangs, and a split tongue that stretched over a meter long, as if ready to swallow the entire room whole.

  Vú N?m stumbled backward, pressing her back against the wall, her hands trembling, eyes glued to the spectral image.

  She muttered under her breath:

  – “Last time… it was the Demon King Satan… and now… who is this… who…? This is bad — I need to call Master V?nh immediately…”

  Mr. Quy looked over, surprised to see Vú N?m drained of all color.

  – “What’s wrong, Vú N?m? You look… shaken.”

  She pointed a quivering finger at the mirrored wall, voice barely holding steady:

  – “That… that shadow… it’s the Serpent King…”

  Businessman Ti?n furrowed his brows, nearly dropping his glass of water:

  – “First the Demon King, now a Serpent King? I feel like I’ve stepped into a sci-fi fantasy film…”

  Deep squinted at the mirror and sighed:

  – “I don’t see anything. Vú N?m, you're close to Master V?nh, maybe you're just... influenced by him?”

  Vú N?m reminded everyone of what happened to Anh ?ào at D?ng’s mansion — the haunting possession. Her eyes suddenly shifted, turning into deep amber like a tiger’s gaze, and her voice changed — low, coarse, almost echoing from another world.

  That was when the rest of the room remembered the truth, their faces blanching. Mrs. Lan clutched Mr. Quy's arm, swaying:

  – “Yes... Anh ?ào’s case was even worse. What should we do now?”

  Mr. Quy supported his wife:

  – “I’ll reach out to Master V?nh first thing in the morning. Hopefully, he can help…”

  My remained curled in Tu?n's arms, her body still trembling, drenched in cold sweat, eyes blank and haunted like someone trapped in a nightmare.

  ---

  Meanwhile, on the rooftop of the Gothic Mansion…

  The scene was like a casual midnight garden party — soft golden lights, mellow jazz playing, tables filled with boba tea and snacks.

  Erion stood by the arched balcony, his hand lightly brushing the obsidian surface of the Black Crystal mirror. From it, the living room of the Th?o ?i?n mansion flickered to life — clear and vivid, along with traces of ancient spiritual energy.

  His eyes narrowed:

  – “Trúc Di?n… He’s not merely an ancient divine beast — he’s the Serpent King…”

  Din was sprawled on a velvet sofa, one hand behind his head, the other holding a mint milk tea:

  – “A thousand-year noble, huh? We should've invited him to this party. We need to throw a proper banquet for Brother Trúc Di?n sometime… after all, we share the same goal.”

  Yin nodded, raising a chilled soda, the moonlight reflecting off its surface:

  – “A shared enemy often leads to unlikely allies. The tides are shifting — friends become foes, and foes become friends.”

  The royal agents and little demons all nodded in agreement, as if silently acknowledging a shift in the grand game. The board had expanded, and Trúc Di?n had just

  stepped onto it — assuming a role no one could have foreseen.

  On the rooftop of the Gothic mansion, under the soft golden glow of the moon, Trang and Erion simultaneously pressed their palms against their mirrors — her shimmering crimson Velkhanis Diamond, and his abyssal Black Crystal.

  Instantly…

  At D?ng’s Mansion, the karmic illusion surged into a new and terrifying level.

  Anh ?ào screamed uncontrollably, her shrieks shaking the entire house:

  – “The dolls… they’re laughing at me again! I threw them in the trash! WHY ARE THEY STILL HERE?!”

  Inside her mind, the giggles of phantom children echoed relentlessly:

  – “Look, friends… our little princess is melting… bit by bit… tee-hee-hee.”

  – “It’s almost time to cast her in the mold. Let’s pick… the prettiest mold for our little lady… ha-ha-ha…”

  Clutching her head, Anh ?ào retreated into a corner, eyes bloodshot, tears streaming down her face. Though no dolls remained in the room, the laughter resounded like their souls haunted every inch of space.

  Meanwhile, her husband Anh Tú screamed back in helplessness:

  – “I’ve told you again and again — there’s nothing wrong! Your body is fine! Everything is still normal!!!”

  Out on the balconies, neighbors had had enough.

  A middle-aged man from the next villa yelled:

  – “It’s late! Are you possessed or something?! People are trying to sleep!”

  A woman slammed open her window:

  – “You scream in the morning, at noon, and now all night?! Doesn’t anyone in your house think of calling a doctor?!”

  Mr. Tài, who lived across the street, shook his head in frustration:

  – “It’s chaos every day. And earlier there were loan sharks outside! I need to meet with the neighborhood board ASAP — this is unbearable.”

  ---

  Inside the mansion, in the first-floor bedroom, M? Linh thrashed on the bed, eyes wide with terror, pointing at the glass water jug:

  – “Dì T?! Dump it! QUICKLY! There’s an eye inside… A HUMAN EYE! It’s watching me — it blinked at me!!!”

  C?u D?ng sat slumped in a chair, hands buried in his hair:

  – “Good heavens… What’s happening to this family?! Did you and ?ào both go mad? There’s nothing in that jug!”

  ---

  Back on the Gothic rooftop, every twisted development continued to display vividly within the twin mirrors — Black Crystal and Velkhanis Diamond — as laughter echoed all around.

  Din leaned back, laughing heartily:

  – “This is better than any movie I’ve seen, right, General?”

  Yin sipped his milk tea calmly:

  – “Real people, real consequences, high-level illusions… it's karma's finest art collection.”

  The two royal Satanic agents and the little demons clapped enthusiastically, as if watching a live theater performance.

  ---

  Meanwhile, in a second-story room of a traditional Chinese tea house in District 3, Trúc Di?n set down his Tranquil Moon Mirror (T?nh Nguy?t B?ch Kính) after observing the events unfold.

  His emerald eyes shimmered with subtle light:

  – “So that’s who’s behind this. The same group from this morning. And the girl standing beside Erion… she’s no less powerful than he is.”

  This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

  His gaze lingered on Trang’s image, his voice softening:

  – “That girl… her aura, her divine essence… she’s the true bearer of time and space.”

  Master V?nh nodded, brows furrowed in thought:

  – “But who she is… where she came from… still remains unknown.”

  Trúc Di?n poured more tea, his voice calm but tinged with curiosity:

  – “But now I know where she is. And something about her feels familiar…”

  Master V?nh folded his hands behind his back:

  – “She’s part of the group who clashed at D?ng’s mansion… along with Erion and the two high-ranking vampires, correct?”

  Trúc Di?n nodded, eyes drifting toward the window, distant:

  – “I want to meet her. I feel she’s special… like I’ve seen her before.”

  Master V?nh placed his teacup down with serene resolve:

  – “Then tomorrow morning… we go.”

  At the Bình Chánh headquarters, inside the high-strategy command room of a grand mansion styled in a blend of Middle Eastern opulence and old European grandeur, Satan, the Grand Dowager Advisor, Arian, H?ng Nhung, and the royal Satanic agents were intently watching the unfolding events at D?ng’s mansion and My’s house via a 180-degree curved screen — streaming live from Crystal-X class military satellites, developed by Satan himself.

  The atmosphere was equal parts regal and... indulgent. The table was piled high with caramel popcorn, premium milk tea, imported sodas, and every international snack imaginable.

  One young agent, doubled over laughing, held up an inflated bag of chips:

  – “My Lord, I think we should rename this program: ‘A Sitcom Called Karma.’”

  Another agent, still munching and dipping his fries in sauce, chimed in:

  – “That Erion – Princess Trang combo is executing flawless moves, and Trúc Di?n’s directing in parallel — this is blockbuster material!”

  H?ng Nhung, dressed in a form-fitting crimson velvet gown, stared intently at the footage from My’s home:

  — “That Trúc Di?n fellow also uses a mirror… its structure and functions look eerily similar to Your Majesty’s Velkhanis.”

  Satan, reclining in a throne-like chair upholstered in black dragon hide, spoke with the deep, even tone of a sovereign of darkness:

  — “That Trúc Di?n… he’s not just an ancient beast. He’s the Serpent King, crown prince of the Snake Clan that has hidden away for a thousand years within the spiritual realms. Much like Arian, my son, who is the crown prince of the royal Satanic bloodline. But as for those two — Trang and Erion…”

  He set down his herbal tea, his gaze distant:

  – “…they are sovereign-class Black Diamonds, born from the cores of dead planets, crystallized over millions of years in absolute zero. Among the rarest materials in the universe, carrying the energies of birth – death – destiny – and destruction. Not only are they powerful, but they also carry true royal blood.”

  H?ng Nhung’s eyes widened at the revelation of Trang’s true nature — her best friend, the one she had long protected. She never imagined Trang was also a Black Diamond like Erion.

  An agent behind her dropped his popcorn in shock:

  – “So… does that mean… we should be calling both Trúc Di?n and Erion… Your Highness?”

  Satan smirked calmly:

  – “All of you… will call me Father Emperor.”

  The Grand Dowager Advisor set down her black phoenix-feather fan on a sandalwood table, her voice low and deliberate:

  – “Our Lord truly is a master strategist. You're gathering the brightest gems of the cosmos under the Satanic royal banner… When united… we’ll become the most dominant family in the galaxy.”

  ---

  Meanwhile, at the villa in District 2, the late-night screams of Anh ?ào and M? Linh echoed across the neighborhood, drawing complaints from all sides.

  In Anh ?ào’s pink princess room, though all the dolls had been thrown out, a hideous voice still rang through the space:

  – “I KNOW YOU’RE STILL HERE… DAMNED DOLLS… LAUGHING AT ME!”

  Anh ?ào shrieked, clutching her ears, trembling violently:

  — “GO AWAY! I ALREADY THREW YOU IN THE TRASH!!!”

  Anh Tú, holding his head in despair, glanced at the vanity mirror. Suddenly, his demonic sight activated. Reflected in the glass was a towering, muscular shadow with spiral horns curling skyward, a radiant crown upon its head. The dark figure stood proudly, like a director watching his cast writhe in agony. Tú stumbled backward, whispering:

  – “What… am I seeing? Who… who is that?”

  Downstairs in the master bedroom, M? Linh pointed at the glass jug of water on the table:

  – “There’s… an EYE in there! A HUMAN EYE! It’s staring at me — it’s glancing sideways!”

  Dì T? turned pale, rushing over:

  – “I don’t see anything! It’s just a regular water jug — please, calm down, ma’am!”

  Meanwhile, C?u D?ng exploded like thunder, gripping his head:

  – “HEAVENS ABOVE, CAN I JUST HAVE A MOMENT OF PEACE?!”

  As Dì T? carried the jug out of the room, she passed by the large mirror attached to the wardrobe. In it, she saw a shadowy figure sitting cross-legged — long, flowing hair, a glittering crown atop her head, flanked by curved horns sweeping downward like those of an Asian Mouflon. Dì T? nearly fainted:

  – “W-What am I seeing now? Don’t tell me… I’m starting to hallucinate too?!”

  ---

  Back on the Gothic rooftop, Erion, Trang, Din, Yin, and the royal Satanic agents were feasting… and laughing until their sides hurt.

  Din raised his soda, toasting with Yin:

  – “Here’s to us — directors of a spectacular karmic tragedy.”

  Yin raised his cold, elegant face to the moonlit sky, his eyes glittering:

  – “This… is only the beginning of what karma has in store.”

  At the Th?o ?i?n villa, things weren’t much better than the chaos brewing in District 2. My’s screams echoed through the neighborhood, nearly causing Mrs. Lan to drop her herbal drink. Mr. Quy had just stood up when My burst into the living room, hair a tangled mess, eyes wide with terror.

  – “They’re in the painting! THEY’RE WATCHING ME!!!”

  Tu?n rushed over, hugging her tightly.

  — “My, calm down… It’s just your parents, me, and my two buddies, Deep and Ti?n. Look around — there’s no one else here.”

  But My trembled, crying out:

  – “They’re cursing me… FROM INSIDE THE PAINTING! They’re in there!”

  Her hands shook violently as she pointed to an oil portrait hanging by the wooden staircase.

  – “THERE! THEY’RE MOCKING ME! LIKE THEY’RE TEARING ME APART WITH THEIR EYES!!!”

  Ti?n stood up, scratching his head.

  – “Uh… so who exactly are ‘they’? And how’d they crawl into a painting?”

  Deep glanced nervously at Mr. Quy and Mrs. Lan.

  – “I think… it’s time to call Dr. Tùng again. The psychological symptoms are flaring up.”

  Tu?n frowned, skeptical.

  – “So you’re saying that shaman V?nh and his brother didn’t solve anything?”

  Deep calmly recalled something Vinh had asked them:

  – “Do you remember when Shaman V?nh asked My when the visions and nightmares began? Everything started after she yanked Trang’s hair and insulted her. That’s when the hallucinations began — and haven’t stopped since.”

  Everyone had witnessed My pulling Trang’s hair and mocking her at the wedding—in front of countless guests. Someone even filmed the scene and uploaded it online. The clip had gone viral, tens of thousands of views… yet Trang had remained silent, never saying a word in retaliation.

  Mr. Quy’s gaze turned serious:

  — “Then we’ll need to find Trang and apologize. My started this — she’s the one who caused all this.”

  Mrs. Lan held her daughter close, her eyes misty:

  — “Sweetheart, please don’t scare me like this… we’ll get through this, I promise… But how do we even find that girl?”

  Mr. Quy, thinking fast, said:

  — “Trang’s the niece of Mr. D?ng. Tomorrow morning, we’ll head to his place and ask.”

  ---

  Back on the rooftop of the Gothic villa, the group lounged under the stars, sipping milk tea and munching snacks while watching the ‘karmic drama’ unfold live from C?u D?ng’s home via a crystal-clear 8K satellite feed.

  Yin cracked open a soda and deadpanned:

  – “Ah, the classic: wife screams, husband sulks, child cries, neighbors curse. Straight out of reality TV.”

  Din laughed, throwing himself into a velvet armchair:

  – “My’s place is giving them a run for their money. At this rate, they’ll be setting up an altar by midnight.”

  Erion leaned over the balcony, wind in his hair, but his gaze was unsettled — he noticed something, or rather, someone missing.

  He scanned the rooftop… and stopped.

  In a quiet corner, Trang had fallen asleep on a black velvet sofa. Her long dark hair spilled over the patterned tiles, her delicate face serene beneath the soft golden glow of the lights.

  Din nudged Yin, whispering:

  – “She’s asleep. I’ll carry her in.”

  Before he could rise, Erion shot over like a missile:

  – “NO NEED!... I’ll do it.”

  A little imp nearby covered its mouth, giggling:

  – “Huh? Didn’t our General swear he’d stay single for another thousand years? What’s this sudden... shift?”

  Erion’s face flushed crimson. He cleared his throat and briskly walked over, scooping Trang into his arms as if cradling a precious gem, careful not to wake her.

  Under the amused, teasing glances of Din and Yin, he disappeared from the rooftop with swift, quiet steps, whispering to himself:

  – “Better this than a thousand more years of their gossip…”

  Morning light streamed softly through the gray-toned curtains. Trang slowly opened her eyes. Her head still felt a little heavy. She found herself lying on a wide, warm bed, the sheets carrying a faint scent of mint.

  Across the room, seated on a sofa by the glass door, Erion leaned back, eyes focused on his laptop. His black shirt sleeves were rolled up neatly, highlighting his strong, muscular build — making him even more captivating. Without looking up, his deep voice broke the silence:

  – “You’re up early. You could’ve slept a bit more.”

  Trang sat up, pulling the blanket around her, her voice laced with suspicion:

  – “Then where did you sleep last night?”

  Erion finally looked up, amber eyes glinting with mischief:

  – “You really think I’d dare sleep next to a warrior who could roundhouse-kick me in her sleep?”

  – “Smart. You do value your life,” Trang shot back with a smirk.

  Wearing a modern-cut white shirt tailored to her hourglass frame and sleek black leather leggings, Trang stood and walked toward the arched window — like a warrior emerging from the battlefield. Her long black hair cascaded down her back, crimson-tinted eyes sharp and steady, every step carrying the confidence of someone who’d conquered a thousand storms.

  Erion, still captivated by the woman he loved to spar with, was caught staring. Their eyes met.

  Flustered, he quickly changed the subject:

  – “Bathroom’s that way. Everything’s prepared. Heels are by the door. Hurry or we’ll miss breakfast.”

  Twenty minutes later, a soft knock echoed through the room. A small demon peeked in politely:

  – “General, Princess… You have visitors.”

  Erion frowned slightly, muttering:

  – “Visitors? At this hour? Don’t tell me it’s that old man Satan again…”

  Straightening his collar, he descended to the living room. Din and Yin were already laying out tea and pastries for their unexpected guests: Shaman V?nh and… Trúc Di?n.

  – “Good morning,” V?nh stood up with a courteous nod. “May we speak for a moment?”

  Footsteps echoed on the staircase.

  Trang appeared.

  She descended like a tempest through the Gothic mansion, not draped in silk or dressed for show, but with the silent strength of a royal warrior. Her toned frame, proud eyes, and unshakable poise created an aura that drew every gaze without a single word.

  Trúc Di?n shot to his feet — almost involuntarily.

  His emerald serpent eyes locked onto her, unmoving. For the first time, something shifted within the Serpent King. Standing before him was a queen forged in battle, radiant like a falling star crashing into the world of men.

  Erion, who had just started to sit, paused—then turned to look at her… then at Trúc Di?n.

  His eyes narrowed. His voice dropped a tone:

  – “Snake boy, what the hell are you staring at?”

  Trúc Di?n fired back instantly:

  – “Black dragon, I can look at whoever I damn well please. That’s none of your business.”

  Din leaned in and whispered to Yin:

  – “Someone’s jealous.”

  Yin sipped his tea, smiling:

  – “The storm’s coming fast… things just got interesting.”

  A little imp giggled behind her hands:

  – “Swear to Satan, wasn’t someone just saying yesterday he’d stay single for another thousand years? Ahem?”

  A nearby royal agent from Satan’s court muttered:

  – “If he makes it a thousand years like this, I’ll do a handstand into the Underworld.”

  Laughter erupted around the room, turning the crisp morning into something warm and bright.

  But between two ancient souls, a new battlefield had quietly formed.

  Its name… was love.