At the Gothic mansion, the evening air buzzed with anticipation. Din stood in the courtyard, his voice clear and commanding.

  – “We’re heading to District 1. Park at the same hotel as last time, then we’ll walk to Notre-Dame Cathedral for a visit.”

  Erion nodded in agreement.

  – “Right next to the cathedral is the Saigon Central Post Office. Let those little devils wander around — they could use some culture.”

  The group quickly piled into the car, laughter and chatter filling the air. The dazzling lights of Saigon soon appeared ahead, shimmering across the windshield like a stretch of starlit sky draped over the city.

  ---

  Meanwhile, at the Bình Chánh headquarters, the luxurious hall was filled with the mouthwatering aroma of seafood. The royal chefs had outdone themselves — garlic-fried crabs, grilled shrimp, and octopus dipped in vinegar, all seasoned and cooked to perfection.

  Madam Grand Advisor closed her eyes for a brief moment, inhaling the savory fragrance with quiet satisfaction before smiling contentedly.

  – “Garlic-fried crabs, grilled shrimp, octopus in vinegar… such a feast tonight. I might have to give those chefs a raise.”

  Lord Satan, the Demon King himself, chuckled, his deep voice echoing through the hall.

  – “Our son-in-law has good taste. The seafood’s fresh and well-prepared. Eat up, Madam — I heard Erion plans to give those apprentice witches quite a scare tonight.”

  The Madam Grand Advisor picked up a steaming shrimp, her lips curling into a sly grin.

  – “And what about that couple — D?ng and his wife? Are we making a move, my Lord?”

  Satan shook his head, a faint smile crossing his face.

  – “No need. Let Erion handle it tonight. We’ll just sit back and observe — offer feedback afterward.”

  Master V?nh dipped a piece of octopus into the gently boiling vinegar pot, his voice calm and steady.

  – “I heard your other son-in-law will be there too. Let’s see if the two of them can actually work in harmony.”

  Satan burst out laughing, his eyes flashing with a cold gleam.

  – “That would be a miracle. One burns like fire, the other freezes like ice — those two will never learn to yield.”

  His laughter echoed through the grand hall, blending with the rich, savory scent of the seafood — a chilling prelude to the chaos that was about to unfold.

  Dinner at Mr. Tài’s villa ended in a warm, cheerful atmosphere. M? Linh glanced at the clock, her tone gentle yet firm.

  – “It’s getting late. Anh Ph??ng and her two friends can stay here for the night. Tomorrow morning, you can head to Gò V?p.”

  Mrs. Nga nodded in agreement, though her eyes showed a flicker of worry.

  – “Mrs. Linh’s right. It’s already close to midnight, and Anh Ph??ng’s a young woman. Her two friends are foreigners — they don’t know the roads around here. It’s safer if they stay.”

  C?u D?ng took a slow sip of jasmine tea, its delicate fragrance wafting softly through the living room. His deep, steady voice carried calm authority.

  – “Stay the night, all of you. Tomorrow morning, I’ll drive you to the townhouse in Gò V?p. You can stay there for a few days.”

  ---

  Meanwhile, in District 1, Erion’s group had just arrived. Their luxury cars glided smoothly into the basement of a five-star hotel — Din’s usual spot.

  From afar, Trúc Di?n gazed at the glowing lights of Notre-Dame Cathedral, standing tall in the heart of Saigon’s night.

  – “Let’s take a walk to the cathedral.”

  The little demons following behind cheered in unison.

  – “General! Let’s buy grilled rice paper there! It’s delicious!”

  Erion shot them a sharp look, his eyes glinting like blades.

  – “Do your stomachs even have a bottom? How can you be hungry all the time?”

  Trang chuckled softly, her voice light and soothing like a night breeze brushing past her hair.

  – “They’re just playful kids. Whatever they want to eat, I’ll buy it for them.”

  The small demons burst into cheers.

  – “Hooray! Princess, don’t forget peach milk tea for us too!”

  The group walked along the lively streets, laughter mingling with the sounds of the city. Trúc Di?n gently took Lita’s hand and whispered:

  – “Tomorrow morning, we’ll meet the agents from the Xà Clan. They’re staying in an apartment right across from that guy, Quang.”

  Lita tilted her head curiously.

  – “They’re Chinese-Vietnamese from Ch? L?n, right? I remember you mentioned that.”

  Trúc Di?n nodded.

  – “Yes. Their ancestors migrated to southern Vietnam centuries ago, and most of their descendants still live in the Ch? L?n district today.”

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  Yin’s eyes widened slightly, his dark pupils gleaming with nostalgia as old memories stirred.

  – “Is that so? I’m from Ch? L?n too. I was turned into a vampire during the Qing Dynasty — that was over two hundred years ago.”

  He turned toward his assistant.

  – “Chen shares the same roots as me, as do Trúc Di?n and the Xà Clan.”

  Chen’s face brightened with delight.

  – “So we’re all townsmen! Who would’ve thought?”

  Trang smiled softly, her voice rich and thoughtful.

  – “I remember when we first met, you mentioned being a vampire from the Qing era. I knew then you must be from Ch? L?n — though you were transformed before that dynasty fell.”

  Yin nodded.

  – “You’re right, Princess. I was turned during the Qing Dynasty, but I wasn’t of Qing blood myself.”

  H?ng Nhung added with a gentle smile.

  – “Yin, Trúc Di?n, and the Xà Clan all speak Vietnamese fluently. Even while living here, they’ve preserved their own culture.”

  Arian laughed playfully, her eyes twinkling beneath the streetlights.

  – “No wonder Trúc Di?n and the Xà Clan speak Cantonese with each other — Yin does too.”

  Yin nodded again, a faint smile tugging at his lips.

  – “Among us Chinese-Vietnamese from Ch? L?n, Cantonese is the language of our bloodline — a tradition that never fades.”

  The group continued down the bustling Saigon streets, golden lights reflecting off their faces. Their laughter echoed between the buildings — a blend of mystery and life that made the night shimmer with an unspoken magic.

  The night air of Saigon was wrapped in a gentle glow as a cool breeze brushed through the trees lining the streets. Ahead of them, Notre-Dame Cathedral stood resplendent under the golden light — its twin bell towers rising proudly into the clear night sky, the deep red roof tiles shimmering with the patina of time.

  All around the square, groups of young people sat together chatting and laughing, holding cups of sugarcane juice, iced milk coffee, or kumquat tea. The sounds of conversation blended with the distant hum of traffic, creating that familiar rhythm unique to Saigon’s night. From a nearby street corner came the warm, comforting aroma of grilled corn, rice paper salad, and roasted peanuts, carried gently by the evening breeze.

  The cathedral’s stained-glass windows reflected the streetlights, casting a soft, dreamlike glow — a scene both magical and deeply grounded in the heartbeat of the city.

  Then, in the stillness, a church bell began to ring softly from afar — faint, almost ethereal, as if it were a whisper carried by the wind. The sound lingered, weaving itself into the quiet breath of a city slowly drifting toward sleep.

  H?ng Nhung’s eyes sparkled, her voice full of delight.

  – “It’s so beautiful! Let’s go closer!”

  Everyone eagerly quickened their pace, their laughter spilling through the night air.

  One of the little demons tilted his head curiously.

  – “Masters, when was this cathedral built?”

  Din glanced around and replied as they walked.

  – “Notre-Dame Cathedral was built between 1877 and 1880, during the French colonial era, originally to serve the French community’s religious needs.”

  Erion nodded, his eyes tracing the weathered brick walls.

  – “Its original name was the Saigon Church. After its completion, it was renamed the Notre-Dame Cathedral of Saigon in 1959.”

  Trúc Di?n looked up at the statue of Our Lady of Peace standing before the grand entrance, his deep voice carrying a quiet note of pride.

  – “After the statue was placed, the Vatican conferred upon it the title of Basilica in 1962.”

  The group fell silent for a moment, gazing at the century-old cathedral — a solemn witness to Saigon’s history, standing serene and sacred amid the dazzling lights of the modern city.

  After visiting Notre-Dame Cathedral, the group spent some time capturing memorable photos, blending into the lively rhythm of Saigon’s nightlife. The night air was cool and pleasant, the warm glow of the streetlights reflecting off their cheerful faces.

  Trang and the mischievous little demons were gathered excitedly around a rice paper grill cart, the irresistible aroma of grilled snacks filling the air, mingling with the cheerful crackling sounds of the charcoal. Meanwhile, Erion stood a short distance away, his gaze fixed on the cathedral’s old brick walls — the French-style architecture stirring something deep within him. As a noble French demon lord, the sight brought back faint memories of centuries long past.

  He reached out, intending to take Trang’s hand, but when he turned around — she was gone.

  – “Trang?” he called softly.

  Din, ever observant, glanced around and pointed toward the food cart.

  – “Over there. She and the kids are buying snacks.

  The group laughed, making their way over. The fragrance of grilled rice paper and butter-roasted corn wafted temptingly through the air, impossible to resist.

  Yin smiled warmly.

  – “Anyone want to try some? My treat!”

  Erion’s gaze drifted toward the Saigon Central Post Office nearby, his eyes glimmering with interest.

  – “After we finish here, let’s head over there.”

  Lita followed his gaze, her tone curious.

  – “That post office began construction in 1860 and was inaugurated in 1863 during the French colonial period, right?”

  Erion nodded, his voice low and steady.

  – “Almost correct. In 1860, the French rushed to build it to establish a communication network. By 1863, the Saigon Post Office officially opened.”

  Arian, munching happily on a freshly grilled rice paper, added with a grin:

  – “Then in 1864, it started serving the public and issued its first postage stamps — the ones with the stork emblem. In 1886, the structure was redesigned and expanded by the architect Gustave Eiffel.”

  After buying their food, the group strolled toward the post office gate. Under the golden streetlights, the building glowed — an elegant blend of antique charm and modern grace.

  Erion gazed at the fa?ade, his voice carrying quiet reverence.

  – “By 1889, the telegraph line between Saigon and Bangkok was established. In 1894, Saigon began using the telephone system.”

  Trang nodded gently, her eyes admiring the arched ceiling and the tall stained-glass windows.

  – “Even today, it remains the city’s central post office — and one of Ho Chi Minh City’s most iconic landmarks.”

  One of the little demons slurped his peach milk tea and chimed in:

  – “So back then, when people made phone calls, they said they were sending telegrams, right?”

  Yin chuckled kindly.

  – “Exactly. That’s why in the old days, this place was called ‘S? Day Thép Sài Gòn’ — the Saigon Telegraph Office.”

  The group stood quietly before the century-old landmark, hearts filled with awe, as if they could hear Saigon’s heartbeat pulsing softly within every weathered brick and beam of history.

  Inside the Xà Clan family’s apartment, after finishing bowls of black sesame sweet soup (Chí Mà Phù a Sino Vietnamese), My, Quang, and Quan expressed their gratitude.

  Quang shook hands with H?u K?, speaking warmly:

  – “Thank you and your family for treating us to such a traditional Chinese dessert.”

  Standing beside him, Quan added with a smile:

  – “And you even gave us scented pouches and osmanthus flower cakes as gifts.”

  My’s attitude had softened noticeably by now:

  – “I’ll try out this new product line and recommend it to my friends.”

  ??i Ng?c glanced curiously at My’s lips:

  – “Miss My, where did you get that lipstick? The color’s gorgeous — I don’t have one like it.”

  My smiled confidently:

  – “Well, to be honest, I’m also running a beauty business, mainly in cosmetics. In a few days, I’ll pick out some lipstick shades that will suit you and Sister Nh? Phu.”

  L?p Thành beamed with enthusiasm:

  – “When you all have time, I’ll take you down to Ch? L?n in District 5 — Saigon’s Chinatown. It’s full of traditional Chinese – Vietnamese dishes: Yangzhou fried rice, crispy noodles, dumplings, braised duck noodles…”

  Quang nodded eagerly:

  – “Let’s plan it soon. It’s been ages since I last went to Ch? L?n — I’m crazy about barbecue pork noodles.”

  After the guests left, the atmosphere in the room suddenly grew cold. H?u K? smirked faintly:

  – “Quang and Quan aren’t so bad — they know how to tell right from wrong. But that woman, My…”

  Nh? Phu cut in smoothly:

  – “My is the type who’s blinded by greed — she wants everything she lays eyes on.”

  L?p Thành spoke calmly:

  – “It’s been a while since we last visited His Highness at the Serpent Clan headquarters. And the Lantern Festival is coming soon.”

  ??i Ng?c’s eyes sparkled with excitement:

  – “The Lantern Festival in District 5 will be held on L??ng Nh? H?c Street, with dragon dances, lion dances, and all kinds of traditional street food.”

  H?u K? smiled slightly:

  – “Before that, we’ll need to return to the Serpent Clan’s headquarters in District 5 to help decorate for Mid-Autumn Festival. I heard His Highness said there’ll be a few royal guests from Satan’s Demon Faction joining the celebration this time.”