The atmosphere in the Gothic mansion’s living room had temporarily settled, but the tension between Erion and Trúc Di?n still hung in the air — tight like the string of a violin just moments before a symphony erupts.

  – “We should sit down and talk.” Din broke the silence, his calm tone resembling that of an English noble arranging a gentleman’s duel.

  Erion sat down, pulling Trang gently yet firmly by the wrist. His amber eyes were sharp as blades.

  – “You. Sit. Here. You're not going over there.”

  Trang raised an eyebrow in surprise, but his blazing gaze pinned her in place. She gave him a teasing side-eye and sat down beside him, murmuring:

  – “What’s with the attitude? Don’t tell me you’re starting to catch feelings for me?”

  Erion scoffed. “Who’d like a girl that aggressive and scary? I’m just making sure you don’t fall for whatever tricks that snake’s planning.”

  On the other side, Trúc Di?n sat down calmly. His expression remained composed, yet his gaze stayed on Trang — not out of rivalry, but something much deeper. A spark. A stirring he hadn’t felt in a thousand years.

  Mr. V?nh, seated beside him, finally pierced through the invisible wall dividing the two factions.

  – “First, I want to address the situation with Mr. D?ng’s family and Miss My. Everyone here knows… we share the same goal.”

  Erion gave a slight nod, his voice low but clear:

  – “That’s right. Those hypocrites need to be taught a lesson. But I doubt you came all the way here just for that. What else are you here to say?”

  Mr. V?nh continued, his tone heavy with regret:

  – “My disciple and I once lent our help to those families… introduced by a mutual acquaintance — Vú N?m, from My’s household. Back then, the situation was still unclear. We made a mistake… by shielding the wrong people.”

  He placed his phone gently on the table. On the screen was a photo sent by Anh Tú: A young tomboyish girl with short hair, wearing a pale blue shirt-dress and a white plum blossom hairpin, standing beside the bride, Anh ?ào, on her wedding day.

  – “We’re trying to track down this tomboy girl,” Master V?nh said, glancing from Trang to Erion.

  – “She’s the niece of Mr. D?ng — the very person both of our sides are searching for. But more importantly: she’s connected to a tragic accident that happened 25 years ago… which my disciple is currently investigating.”

  Trúc Di?n’s voice joined in, low and steady:

  – “We believe it wasn’t just an accident. It was a planned assassination. And the one surviving child from that incident… we’re still looking for her.”

  The room fell into a weighted silence.

  Fragments of memory stirred in Trang’s mind, threading themselves together like puzzle pieces. Her eyes darkened. Her fists clenched. Her heartbeat pounded like war drums.

  Yin and Din exchanged a look. Erion, too, paused mid-breath. He turned to face her—the girl who had endured years of solitude and betrayal on Earth… cheated, mocked, robbed of her inheritance, and scorned by love.

  The air inside the Gothic mansion’s living room seemed to solidify. All eyes turned toward the only girl in the room — sitting with quiet confidence, her gaze proud, though beneath it, a storm of emotions swirled.

  Erion tilted his head slightly, his deep voice ringing out with a proud, protective force:

  – “The tomboy girl in that photo… is sitting right next to me. And we’re also investigating that case.”

  Trúc Di?n and Mr. V?nh widened their eyes in unison, their brows furrowed in disbelief. Mr. V?nh looked at Trang, then back at the photo on his phone, clearly stunned.

  – “That can’t be… she doesn’t look anything like that girl…”

  Reclining on the sofa, Din replied in an even, assured tone:

  – “It’s her. She’s awakened now — returned to who she truly is.”

  Yin took a slow sip of hot tea, her gaze filled with reverence.

  – “She’s not human. She’s a royal-class black diamond, like the General. But why she lived on Earth for all those years… that remains a mystery.”

  Trúc Di?n leaned slightly toward Erion, no longer tense but now more inquisitive:

  – “You said… she’s just like you. What do you mean by that?”

  Erion gave a half-smile, his amber eyes gleaming with open pride:

  – “I mean we’re the same in every way—physically, mentally, in power, in origin.”

  “…The only difference is our biological gender.”

  Din gave Erion a smug look, then added in support of his master:

  – “If the universe created a version of the General, it was only natural it would also create a female counterpart worthy of him.”

  Erion nodded approvingly, clearly satisfied with Din’s commentary.

  Mr. V?nh went silent for a moment, then slowly nodded, as if a long-shrouded veil had finally been lifted after 25 years.

  – “Then… It all makes sense. Miss Trang is the adopted daughter of the unfortunate couple in that accident years ago.”

  Din smiled lightly, lifting a piece of custard cake and taking a bite.

  – “As of now, only we know the truth of Miss Trang’s identity.”

  – “If those greedy fools on the other side ever found out, their brains would explode. This level of knowledge is far beyond their grasp.”

  Trang remained silent. Her blood-red eyes shimmered with an unnamed light. Truths long buried beneath the desert sands were beginning to resurface — whispered back into the world by winds that refused to let the past remain hidden.

  Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  In the grand living room of the Gothic mansion, just as the truth about Trang’s identity had settled in, the sharp chime of a phone rang through the silence. Trang glanced at the screen and quickly picked up, lowering her voice.

  – “I'm here, Royal Brother.”

  On the other end came a deep, commanding voice, rich with regal authority.

  – “When will you return to Headquarters? Father has something urgent to discuss with you... regarding your physical form.”

  – “I'm on my way.”

  She ended the call and placed the phone back on the table. Mr. V?nh immediately leaned forward, his expression contemplative.

  – “You just called him... Royal Brother? What does that mean?”

  Trang gave a slight nod, her tone calm—almost detached, as though speaking of someone else’s life.

  – “He’s the Crown Prince. Son of the King. Prince Arian.”

  Din raised an eyebrow, glancing between Trúc Di?n and Mr. V?nh as he spoke, casually sipping his tea.

  – “In other words… the Demon King Satan took her in as his adopted daughter.”

  The two men looked at each other, eyes wide in disbelief, struggling to process the revelation.

  – “You’re... the adopted daughter of Demon King Satan?”

  The room felt frozen in time — but before anyone could dig further, chaos erupted from the D?ng family's estate across the street.

  Erion smirked, glancing out the window, a glint of mischief in his eyes.

  – “It’s starting.”

  ---

  Across the street – D?ng family villa

  In the kitchen, Dì T? had just brought out a steaming clay pot of herbal chicken soup meant to nourish M? Linh. As she set it down on the table, a bloodcurdling scream rang out. M? Linh recoiled in horror, face pale as ash.

  – “What — what have you cooked for me?! That’s a... a monitor lizard! It’s still alive and staring at me!”

  C?u D?ng came rushing down the stairs in a panic.

  – “Heavens! It’s just black chicken soup! I asked Dì T? to prepare it to help you recover! How could you mistake it for a lizard?!”

  But to M? Linh, the dish was no longer a nourishing tonic. The chicken in the broth had transformed before her eyes — its reptilian head lifted, sharp teeth bared in a nightmarish grin, speaking to her in a chilling, demonic voice:

  – “I will feast on your soul... slowly… until there is nothing left of you.”

  With a scream, M? Linh hurled the pot to the floor, collapsing backward as she shrieked in terror.

  – “Help me!!! Somebody help me!!! It’s talking to me!!!”

  Dì T? stood frozen, utterly pale at the outburst.

  – “Madam, I swear that’s a black chicken — I just bought it from the supermarket! There’s no way it’s a lizard!”

  But M? Linh continued to wail:

  – “I saw it! It was alive — and it threatened me!”

  ---

  Back at the Gothic Mansion

  Everyone — from the imps and royal guards to the high-ranking figures — exchanged amused glances.

  Din nibbled on a ginger cookie, eyes twinkling with delight.

  – “With breakfast entertainment like this, digestion’s never been easier.”

  Yin adjusted her glasses and nodded in satisfaction.

  – “A flawless way to begin the day.”

  Sitting beside Erion, Trang’s eyes gleamed, sharp as a blade.

  – “That was only the beginning for M? Linh. The price of arrogance... is just starting to show its teeth.”

  The atmosphere in the Gothic mansion’s drawing room settled into a contemplative stillness. Mr. V?nh raised his teacup, took a slow sip, and spoke in a voice tinged with thoughtfulness.

  – “My brother and I asked Anh Tú — a righteous-aligned elf — to help us find old photographs of you with your adoptive parents... But last night, he messaged us saying his wife and mother-in-law were screaming all night. No one in the household got any sleep. He hasn’t had a chance to search for the documents yet.”

  At his words, a memory stirred within Trang. When she left the rundown alleyway in Bình Th?nh District — where she had lived and worked for five years — and moved into Headquarters with her royal father, she had brought along something special...

  – “I have a photo album. It contains pictures of me with my parents. But…” — she looked up — “...I left it in my private chamber at Headquarters.”

  Mr. V?nh nodded slowly, still wrapped in thought.

  – “My disciple — Thi?n — he’s a lawyer. He’s currently on his way to that neighborhood to gather more information about you.”

  Trang shook her head, calm but with a note of caution in her tone.

  – “There’s no need. That entire neighborhood is a covert base run by my father. Every neighbor I had... was actually a royal mafia agent under King Satan.”

  The room fell silent for a moment.

  Then, Trúc Di?n let out a quiet laugh, his eyes glinting as he looked at her.

  – “Looks like every thread... has pulled us into the same web.”

  Erion, seated beside Trang, rested his arm casually on the back of her chair. His eyes were razor-sharp, dissecting every possibility with military precision.

  – “Now... what we need to uncover is the truth behind that accident from years ago—why she lived on Earth for so long despite her real identity being…”

  He turned his gaze toward Trúc Di?n, eyes like twin blades.

  – “...a black diamond forged by the universe itself — to balance me.”

  The words sent the room into pensive silence.

  Din leaned an elbow against the chair arm, speaking in his usual measured tone.

  – “We can coordinate. I’ll re-scan data on major accidents from that time, cross-referencing with the areas she lived in.”

  Yin adjusted her glasses, her eyes sharp like an X-ray scanner.

  – “My assistant is also running background searches around the clock. He’ll need a little more time.”

  Trang looked at each of them in turn. A strange mix of emotions swelled inside her—warmth, gratitude, and for the first time in years... trust.

  She turned to the two royal agents at her side.

  – “Prepare the transport. My royal brother said Father wants to speak with me. It’s about... my identity.”

  The two agents answered in unison, “Yes, Princess.”

  Everyone exchanged glances. Din was the first to speak:

  – “If Satan himself requested this... then let us go with you.”

  Yin added, “We want to know the full truth, too.”

  Trang nodded firmly. “Then we go together.”

  As everyone in the Gothic mansion prepared for departure, another round of frantic screaming shattered the otherwise peaceful morning. Trúc Di?n walked slowly to the arched window. His gaze swept toward the opposite mansion, where chaos was brewing once again.

  Two sleek black cars had just pulled up to the front gate of Mr. D?ng’s villa. The doors opened one by one, revealing Mr. Quy, Mrs. Lan, My, and three sharply dressed businessmen: Tu?n, Ti?n, and Deep.

  Trúc Di?n narrowed his eyes, resting one hand lightly against the window frame.

  – “My’s family... and those three fake businessmen just arrived.”

  All eyes turned toward the window. The group gathered silently behind him.

  Din munched on a piece of ginger biscuit, his voice laced with contempt.

  – “The wolves dressed in lambskin... all here like they were summoned.”

  Erion stood beside him, hand curling into a fist, his voice glacial.

  – “I’ll drown them in illusions... make them taste every last drop of karma.”

  Trúc Di?n’s eyes glinted, sharp as a blade.

  – “And that girl My... she’ll be graced with the Serpent Clan’s blessing. Once I strike, there’s no turning back.”

  ---

  At Mr. D?ng’s Villa

  The atmosphere was like sitting atop a boiling pot of oil. Just as the guests stepped into the yard, a piercing scream rang out from the kitchen — M? Linh’s terrified wailing echoed throughout the house, freezing everyone in place.

  My recoiled in fear. Mrs. Lan turned pale. Mr. Quy tightened his grip on his wife’s arm. It was the first time any of them had seen M? Linh in such a state.

  Tu?n, Ti?n, and Deep exchanged uneasy glances. The tension was undeniable.

  Ti?n grimaced, muttering just loud enough for the other two to hear:

  – “First Anh ?ào, now Mrs. Linh... Poor Mr. D?ng’s got more than he can handle.”

  Deep rolled his eyes and smirked with a sarcastic lift of his brow:

  – “At this rate... I doubt we’ll even get a word in about Trang’s whereabouts. This feels more like a haunted house than a hospital visit.”

  Just then, Mr. D?ng emerged from the house onto the front steps, rubbing his temples as if he’d just weathered a storm. His voice came out hoarse:

  – “Please, come inside... Everyone’s here, so I assume this must be something important?”

  Mr. Quy nodded and stepped forward.

  – “We came to ask about Trang’s whereabouts. We... need to speak with her about a few things.”

  Deep chimed in, half-joking, half-serious:

  – “And... to confirm whether your villa being frozen over was real, or just gossip.”

  The air tensed. Tu?n glanced up toward the second-floor window — the one belonging to Anh ?ào’s princess-themed bedroom. Screams still echoed faintly from above. He turned back to Mr. D?ng, his expression grave.

  – “?ào’s screaming up there too.”

  Mr. D?ng looked exhausted. His eyes drifted toward the second-floor window as he replied:

  – “She and my wife have been screaming all night. The neighbors are complaining. I’ve been running up and down with my son-in-law and Dì T? nonstop.”

  Back at the Gothic mansion, Trúc Di?n and Erion stood silently at the arched window. Their lips were set in firm lines, eyes glinting like ancient gods poised to pass judgment.