The gentle rays of the late afternoon sun stretched across the Japanese-style garden behind C?u D?ng's mansion, bathing each stone in golden light and highlighting the lush green of the carefully pruned bonsai trees.

  But in stark contrast to the peaceful scenery outside, a heavy, oppressive silence blanketed the living room — like a thunderstorm silently brewing on the horizon.

  M? Linh had regained consciousness, but her mind was still shaken. Each time she looked at food or a glass of water, she would mumble incoherently, eyes wide with terror, clutching her head and curling into herself as if she were seeing something grotesque.

  After waking from a long, exhausted sleep, Anh ?ào had barely spoken a word. The hallucinations still haunted her, causing her to clutch her arms tightly and stare blankly at the bowl of soup in front of her.

  Anh Tú had made her a special crab soup himself, but she only managed a few spoonfuls before setting it down.

  My’s family and the three businessmen had left the mansion earlier that day — also deeply shaken by the nightmarish visions. The house now lay under an eerie, uncertain silence.

  In the kitchen, C?u D?ng gently patted Anh Tú on the shoulder and motioned for him to come outside to the garden. The evening breeze rustled through the trees, as if eavesdropping on their hushed conversation.

  – “Tomorrow morning, I plan to take your mother and wife to the hospital for a full checkup,” D?ng said.

  – “Mr. Quy's family also wants to take My. But the moment she hears the word 'hospital', she screams and loses control.”

  Anh Tú sighed deeply, his voice low and weary.

  – “That’s probably for the best, Dad… My wife looks completely worn out. She barely ate a few spoonfuls of soup all day. But what if Mom and my wife refuse to go too? What if they panic like My did? What can we do then?”

  C?u D?ng furrowed his brow, eyes thoughtful.

  – “Then we’ll need to ask Ti?n and Deep to come help. Just the two of us can’t handle two women in a state of psychological breakdown.”

  Suddenly, Anh Tú’s phone buzzed in his pocket. A new message flashed on the screen—it was from Trúc Di?n.

  C?u D?ng tilted his head, curious.

  – “Who’s texting you?”

  Anh Tú hesitated for a moment, then forced a small smile.

  – “Just some friends asking me out for coffee… But with everything going on, I’m really not in the mood. I’ll head back inside to take care of my wife.”

  The last rays of sunlight disappeared behind the bamboo grove at the edge of the garden.

  The sky slowly darkened to a deep indigo hue—a silent omen of the midnight feast to come.

  A feast hosted with great ceremony by beings from another world... where the dishes were hallucinations, the music was made of screams, and the guests were souls stained with guilt and secrets.

  Just as Anh Tú was about to re-enter the room, Dì T? came rushing out in a panic, her face pale as chalk.

  – “Mr. Tú, wait! I need to tell you something… Last night, when I went into the master bedroom to bring out the water jug, I passed by the large mirror on the wardrobe. I… I saw a shadow. A woman’s shadow. I swear on my life — I saw it with my own eyes.”

  – “A woman’s shadow?” Anh Tú repeated, confused.

  – “Yes… a woman,” Dì T? said, her voice trembling. “She had long hair flowing behind her, a pair of downward-curving horns like a ram’s, and a shimmering crown on her head. The shadow sat with one leg crossed over the other, like a queen on her throne!”

  Anh Tú’s eyes widened in shock.

  – “You… you saw it too?” he gasped.

  – “Last night, I saw something in the vanity mirror in our bedroom. But it wasn’t a woman — it was a man! Tall, muscular, with spiraling horns rising high above his head… and he was wearing a crown as well!”

  Behind them, C?u D?ng had been listening. His knees suddenly buckled, and he had to grab Anh Tú’s arm to steady himself.

  – “Dad! Are you okay?” Anh Tú asked in alarm, holding his father’s shoulders.

  – “The master… he might’ve caught a chill!” Dì T? added, concerned.

  – “No… I’m fine. Just a little dizzy. Haven’t slept well these past few nights,” C?u D?ng replied, waving a hand in reassurance.

  But inside, his mind was a storm.

  “The woman with the curved horns… could it be H?nh? And the muscular man with spiral horns… could that be Qu?c?”

  A cold chill ran down his spine. They were his younger sister and her husband. And both… had died — at his and M? Linh’s hands.

  – “Dì T?… did you get a clear look at her face?” Anh Tú asked quietly.

  – “No… just the silhouette. But… but My’s family also mentioned something. Last night, during her panic attack, Vú N?m said she saw a dark shadow in the mirror on the wall. Its mouth was full of sharp teeth, opened wide, and its tongue was split in two and stretched over a meter long. Its entire body was covered in shimmering scales…”

  Dì T? whispered, almost too softly to hear:

  – “It looked like… a giant serpent. Also wearing a crown.”

  Anh Tú tensed.

  Being part-yokai, he had a keen sense for otherworldly beings. A crowned serpent… that was the true form of the ancient divine beast—Trúc Di?n himself!

  But the other two shadowy figures…

  Feigning discomfort, he clutched his stomach.

  – “Are you alright, Mr. Tú?” Dì T? asked, concerned.

  – “Just a bit of a stomachache… excuse me, I need to use the restroom,” he said abruptly, voice strained.

  As soon as he entered the bathroom, he locked the door and quickly pulled out his phone. Typing rapidly, he sent a message to his parents:

  – “Mom, Dad — last night, two shadowy figures appeared in the mirrors at my in-laws’. One was a woman with downward-curving horns, the other a muscular man with spiral horns. Both wore crowns. At My’s house, a crowned serpent appeared. These might be spirits or entities from other worlds. Please check with Ms. Anna ASAP.”

  A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

  After sending the message to his parents, Anh Tú sat silently for a moment, still overwhelmed with unease. He quickly opened the unread message from Trúc Di?n.

  – “Tú, tomorrow afternoon, come to the Gothic mansion — three houses to the left, directly across from Mr. D?ng’s villa. I will tell you the full truth about your wife’s family… and about Trang. You may bring your parents under the pretense of visiting new neighbors.”

  Anh Tú blink, stunned.

  – “So… Trúc Di?n has found out the truth about Trang too?”

  He immediately typed another message to his parents:

  – “Tomorrow afternoon, Trúc Di?n has invited us to the Gothic mansion. He says he’ll reveal everything.”

  ---

  Meanwhile, at their residence in District 7, Mr. ??c and Mrs. Tam were sitting in the living room with their housekeeper, Anna. After reading their son’s message, Mr. ??c quickly typed back:

  – “We’ve already met with Master V?nh and Trúc Di?n. They’re also investigating D?ng’s family. We’re working with them. But be aware — the Gothic mansion is home to two vampire lords and the Black Diamond, Erion. We’ll pretend to visit your in-laws and stop by there tomorrow.”

  Mrs. Tam frowned, her voice calm but serious:

  – “We’ve crossed paths with those beings before, alongside Trúc Di?n. But why is he now inviting us into their territory?”

  Mr. ??c gripped the armrest of his chair tightly:

  – “Could it be… that Trúc Di?n has allied with the vampires — and with Erion?”

  Anna’s eyes narrowed, her tone firm:

  – “The crowned serpent-shaped shadow is none other than Trúc Di?n himself — the ancient serpent deity. But… didn’t he once help My’s family? Why would he turn against them now?”

  Mrs. Tam reread Anh Tú’s message.

  – “So Trúc Di?n isn’t just an ancient divine beast… he’s a crowned Serpent King?”

  Anna was browsing through the records in the Elven information system regarding ancient divine beasts.

  – “That’s correct, madam. He’s the crown prince of the Ancient Serpent Clan — one of the most feared and revered tribes in the cultivation world. He’s no ordinary spirit beast.”

  Mrs. Tam still had lingering doubts:

  – “Then… who are the other two crowned shadows?”

  Mr. ??c fell silent for a long moment, then let out a sigh:

  – “If we want the full truth, we’ll have to see for ourselves tomorrow. The two vampire lords and Erion may be terrifying, but they operate by a strict code. If they’ve chosen to act… they must have a reason. The same goes for Trúc Di?n.”

  The late afternoon sunlight streamed gently through the towering Gothic-arched windows, casting a golden glow over the third-floor room—known as the Warrior Princess Chamber. The room was styled like a fairy-tale fortress, its deep wine-red silk-covered walls blending into a ceiling carved with flaming phoenixes, frozen mid-dance in a firestorm. Along one side stood racks of ancient weapons, displayed like the collection of a royal warrior bloodline.

  At the heart of the room stood a canopy bed, veiled in sheer white netting embroidered with fire phoenixes. Beside it, a pearl-inlaid vanity and a tall bookshelf filled with language texts. Trang stood at her mirror, calmly choosing an outfit. Today, she wore a soft cream boho dress, light as morning mist, paired with prairie-chic accessories: A tiger’s eye stone bracelet, a feathered headband, and a handwoven ethnic bag from the Central Highlands. She looked like a poetic muse stepped out of an old Western painting—graceful, dreamy, yet nobly poised.

  Meanwhile, on the mansion’s ground floor, the grand reception hall exuded quiet power. A gentle trail of agarwood incense hung in the air. The walls were paneled in Lao rosewood, the floors laid with red dalbergia, and thick ebony columns held up a ceiling etched with Four Sacred Beasts and lines of ancient N?m calligraphy.

  The sitting area featured a large handcrafted wooden sofa with golden silk cushions. A low mother-of-pearl tea table sat at the center, backed by a towering ebony bookshelf packed with rare books and collectibles. Above, a European crystal chandelier cast a warm amber glow, while silk paintings along the walls depicted battles between ancient magical bloodlines. The entire space radiated regal stillness and elite dark magic authority.

  At that moment, Trúc Di?n and Master V?nh returned from the downtown house, stepping through a spatial gate with the necessary artifacts in hand.

  Today, Trúc Di?n looked every bit the highborn prince cloaked in modern allure. He wore an ivory silk shirt from T–Ford, with the top two buttons left open, subtly revealing his chiseled collarbones — refined yet restrained. His tailored black trousers from G–Armani fit like a second skin, accentuating his tall frame and grounded stance.

  On his feet were mirror-polished black Oxford shoes by Ber, glinting like his cold, calculating eyes beneath the chandelier. His long black hair was neatly half-tied with a silver pin from AQueen — carved into the shape of a cobra wrapped around a crown, the supreme emblem of the ancient Serpent Clan.

  From the mezzanine above, Satan leaned over the railing, eyes gleaming.

  – “I wasn't mistaken… That’s true royal Serpent blood!”

  Just then, Din, Yin, and their pack of little demons returned, rushing from the Gothic mansion in District 2 with items for the “evening banquet” — a meeting of the realm’s most powerful beings. Grandmaster Thái s? sat cross-legged on a mother-of-pearl bed platform, her tone calm but her eyes sharp as X-rays.

  – “So the Diamond went back to ?à L?t? That’s one less rival…”

  But before her words faded, Erion appeared in the doorway. The air seemed to pause at his arrival.

  He wore slim-fit black khakis by S–Laurent, hugging his long legs and perfect physique. On top, a vintage denim shirt by R–Lauren, timeworn at the edges, gave him a rugged charm. The crumpled collar only added to his raw masculinity.

  On his feet were black suede combat boots from R–Owens — high-ankled, thick-soled, each step echoing like a roar from the abyss. The hallway lights swept over his sharp features, catching the amber gleam in his tiger-like eyes — dangerous, melancholic, and hypnotic. He didn’t need a crown. His presence alone silenced the room.

  Grandmaster Thái S? raised a brow.

  – “I thought you went back to ?à L?t. What, here to crash the party?”

  Erion lazily glanced at Trúc Di?n, his voice drawling but razor-edged.

  – “I already told you… the universe created her for me. Only I am worthy.”

  The room erupted with laughter. Din rolled off the couch, clutching his stomach. Yin choked on her drink. Even the ever-serious Master V?nh had to turn away to hide his amused grin.

  At the base of the Lao rosewood staircase, all eyes turned toward the warrior princess—though today, she descended not in armor, but with the softness of a woodland muse. Trang walked down slowly, each step graceful and grounded.

  She looked like she’d just stepped out of the wildflower plains — gentle, free-spirited, yet undeniably noble. She wore a sleeveless white lace-trimmed maxi dress by Zimmer, flowing with a boho soul yet regal in poise. Her long black hair flowed loose, accented by a braided leather headband with feather charms from I–Marant resting at her forehead. On her feet were handwoven lace-up sandals from Chloe. No heavy makeup. No extravagant jewelry. Yet she captivated the entire room.

  Erion froze. His gaze instinctively flicked toward Trúc Di?n — but at that very moment, both of their eyes landed on her.

  Silence.

  Trang glanced briefly at Erion, then stepped toward Trúc Di?n, her voice light, a smile dancing on her lips:

  – “So… how do I look?”

  To Trúc Di?n, she was like a dream made real. No caked-on powder, no theatrical flair. Just authenticity. The kind of woman he’d always longed for.

  As for Erion, his heart thundered. But he scowled, annoyed at how intently his rival was staring at her:

  – “Hey, snake-boy — can you not stare like that?”

  Trúc Di?n raised a brow and smirked:

  – “And what about you? Weren’t you staring just as hard?”

  Erion immediately turned to Trang:

  – “I’m taking you for a walk today. I don’t trust you alone with that… serpent.”

  Trúc Di?n scoffed:

  – “As if you are any safer.”

  From his throne — carved from a single block of rosewood — Satan slowly leaned on one hand, voice amused:

  – “Are the two of you just going to stand here competing in glares? A real man acts. Show me which of you deserves to be my son-in-law.”

  Sensing rising tension, Din quickly interjected:

  – “Why don’t we all go for a stroll? It’s been a while since we had a chance to walk around Saigon.”

  Yin clapped excitedly:

  – “Yes! The weather’s perfect this afternoon. Let’s all go!”

  Even the little demons cheered, eager to join the outing and take in the beauty of Saigon.

  Satan roared with laughter:

  – “Then off you go! But someone keep those two from killing each other.”

  Trang, standing calmly between them, gave her answer without hesitation:

  – “Let’s go then… but I want to ride in the same car as Trúc Di?n.”

  The words dropped like fire on dry coals. Erion clenched his fists, seething.

  From across the hall, Grandmaster Thái S? calmly nibbled on spicy dried beef and sipped a cold peach tea:

  – “You lot better be back by midnight. We’ve got a banquet to prepare.”

  Master V?nh’s voice was gentle:

  – “Don’t worry. I’ll keep everyone on track.”

  Everyone bowed respectfully to Satan and Grandmaster Thái s? — except Erion, whose scowling face looked like a wrinkled dumpling under a rainy sky.

  A black Cadillac quickly rolled out of the driveway, carrying Trang, Trúc Di?n, and two elite bodyguards. Behind it followed two Bentley Bentaygas — one with Erion, Yin, and Master V?nh; The other driven by Din, escorting Erion’s mischievous demon crew.

  Once the mansion fell silent, Satan narrowed his eyes and turned to Arian:

  – “Activate satellite tracking. I want to see how Erion handles having competition.”

  Arian and H?ng Nhung sat before a massive 180-degree curved screen, where ultra-HD satellite footage streamed back in real time.

  Grandmaster Thái S? sipped her tea, gaze fixed on the screen:

  – “Erion… Still stubborn. Still hotheaded. Arrogant. Reckless. But when it comes to Princess Trang… he’s softening. He’s learning restraint.”

  Satan grinned broadly:

  – “When I make a move, I’ve already secured 90% of the victory. The other 10%? Just luck — whether they can escape my hand or not.”