The coldest place in Saigon at that moment was none other than D?ng’s villa. The nearby houses were also affected by the icy mist, turning the entire scene into a frosty wonderland. Neighbors gathered outside the gates, shivering and sneezing non-stop, as if they had suddenly stepped into Alaska in the middle of winter.

  Inside the warm villa of Mr. Tài, D?ng’s family had taken shelter. Huy’s family also stayed behind to help their in-laws. Looking out at the frozen villa, Mr. Tài’s face grew serious:

  – “Mr. D?ng, your family should stay here tonight. If you go back now, you’ll all be frozen into statues.”

  C?u D?ng nodded, gripping Mr. Tài’s hand tightly, his voice filled with gratitude:

  – “Thank you so much. I was thinking of renting a hotel for the night, but my daughter is pregnant and suffering from severe morning sickness. It would be too troublesome to take her far…”

  Mrs. Nga, Mr. Tài’s wife, softly chimed in with a gentle smile:

  – “Neighbors are meant to help each other. Don’t worry. I’m sure everything will return to normal in a day or two, just like last time.”

  Anh Th? was dozing off on the sofa. She was pregnant with a child of the centipede clan, which made her exhaustion and morning sickness much worse than other mothers. But neither she nor her family knew this truth.

  Mrs. Nguy?t, who understood, whispered to her husband Mr. Tín:

  – “I really pity our daughter-in-law… carrying this grandchild will be terribly hard. You must remind Huy to take proper care of his wife, do you hear me?”

  Mr. Tín nodded:

  – “I only hope that now he’s married with a child on the way, he’ll abandon his reckless ways and start focusing on building a proper life for his family.”

  At that moment, a black Lexus pulled up at the gate. The three close friends returned from the supermarket, their arms full of grocery bags. Seeing them, Huy and Mr. Tín rushed out to help.

  As soon as Huy stepped outside, he sneezed loudly, his voice trembling:

  – “Good heavens, it’s freezing… I’m still on this side of the gate, yet I feel chilled to the bone.”

  Deep, curious, walked a few steps closer to D?ng’s villa. He quickly stopped, folding his arms tightly across his chest:

  – “The cold is spreading all the way out here. I can’t even imagine how many degrees below zero it must be inside.”

  Tu?n narrowed his eyes, watching tensely from afar as the thick ice remained untouched:

  – “It’s been an entire day and the ice hasn’t melted at all. The more fire we burn, the stronger it grows… What are we supposed to do now?”

  Ti?n shrugged, letting out a weary sigh:

  – “Even my grandfather wouldn’t know… Let’s wait until tomorrow morning and see.”

  ---

  Meanwhile, at the seaside villa, the atmosphere was the complete opposite. On the sofa table, the Black Crystal Mirror glowed with a mysterious violet-black light. Erion sat back in a relaxed posture, his eyes flashing ruby-red as he watched the icy scene unfold.

  He gave a faint smile, his voice quiet yet full of authority:

  – “The fatal flaw of the Black Flame is that it leaves no survivors. The more fire you burn for warmth, the colder the air becomes, and the thicker the ice grows. I never intended to harm the innocent… but you were the ones who dragged them into this.”

  Outside, fishing boats lit up the sea, forming glittering trails of light dancing with the waves—a dreamlike sight accompanied by the sound of waves and the salty breeze. Yet within the mirror’s reflection, that frozen villa stood like a hell on earth, gathering people who were cunning, ruthless, and deceitful — wolves in sheep’s clothing hiding behind gentle, kind faces.

  Inside a luxury dormitory room for international students in the West, the soft morning sunlight of Toronto streamed gently through the window, mingling with the cheerful chirping of birds to welcome a new day. A girl with short bobbed hair dyed reddish-brown sat at her desk by the window, eyes fixed on her email. The silence was so complete that even the ticking of the clock could be heard with every passing second.

  The content of the email read:

  – “Our villa has been frozen twice already. Last time, the ice melted after just one day and one night, but this time, it won’t melt. Strangely enough, the more Dad burns fire to keep us warm, the faster the ice grows. Neighbors tried to take photos and videos, but everything comes out blurred. For now, our whole family is staying at Uncle Tài’s house next door. Anh Th?’s wedding is coming soon, so don’t forget to come home this time. You already missed big sister’s wedding. I have to help Mom take care of Anh Th?, she’s suffering from terrible morning sickness. Take care. Signed, Anh ?ào.”

  Finishing the email, the girl furrowed her brows, closed the laptop, and slowly walked to the window. Her gaze lingered on the maple garden outside, still touched by morning dew, swaying gently in the breeze. From afar, the first rays of sunlight pierced through the leaves, scattering golden streaks across the ground. A cold, cutting voice slipped from her rosy lips:

  – “Who dares bring chaos to my family…”

  Just then, her roommate — a blonde foreign girl with bright blue eyes — returned from her morning jog, pushing the door open. Dropping onto the bed with a curious smile, she asked:

  – “I heard about what’s happening with your family back in Vietnam. So, when are you going back?”

  The bob-haired girl slowly turned, her eyes flashing with pride. This was Anh Ph??ng, youngest daughter of C?u D?ng and M? Linh, whose arrogance and disdain for others matched her parents and two elder sisters:

  – “I’m ready. Tomorrow morning, I’ll be at the airport. Whoever dared to stir this trouble, I’ll make them pay — for angering a witch like me.”

  Her foreign roommate chuckled with confidence, her tone carrying a playful challenge:

  – “You’ve trained as a witch for years now. Your skills and spells are sharp — you’ll definitely handle it. This time, I want to go with you.”

  In the room, filled with morning sunlight and mist still clinging to the windowpane, Anh Ph??ng turned to her roommate. Both girls toyed with the wands in their hands. Anh Ph??ng’s voice was calm, yet firm:

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  – “This Saturday morning, you and I will get on that plane… fly straight to Vietnam, and I’ll see for myself which power dares to touch my family.”

  A sly half-smile crossed her face, determination glittering in her eyes. Yet she had no idea that this return would pit her against the most terrifying forces of the magical world — led by the master of the cosmic chessboard and the Black Diamond of universe-tier power.

  Outside the window, the sky was painted in a pure pale blue of dawn. But within the small room, a faint chill crept in, like a forewarning of the magical storm awaiting her ahead…

  Inside the cozy seaside villa, warm golden lights bathed the elegant interior. Trang placed a plate of fresh fruit on the table and spoke softly:

  – “Eat some, though I’m not very good at peeling fruit.”

  Erion pulled her down beside him, his eyes tender:

  – “As long as it’s made with your heart, it’s already delicious.”

  Trang tilted her head playfully, winking:

  – “So… are we going back now? I’m afraid Father will scold us. Before we left, we said we’d be back by nightfall.”

  Erion smiled, wrapping his arm around her slender shoulders, his deep voice steady and reassuring:

  – “I’ll ask Father’s permission later. You’re not just with me — you’re also surrounded by Yin and Din’s vampire guard. No one dares to harm you. I’ll protect you completely.”

  At that moment, the Black Crystal Mirror glowed with a violet-black light. Erion glanced at it, sensing something, and let out a scornful laugh:

  – “A fledgling power is about to appear. The Black Crystal Mirror doesn’t just transmit abilities across dimensions — it also warns of energy sources approaching.”

  Trang’s gaze fell on her own Velkhanis Diamond Mirror, which shimmered with starlike crimson sparkles:

  – “My mirror feels it too…”

  Meanwhile, at the Bình Chánh headquarters, Lita and Trúc Di?n had returned after a day of their stormy date. He lounged on the sofa while she had already gone upstairs. Suddenly, the Tranquil Moon Mirror (T?nh Nguy?t B?ch Kính) in his hand shone with radiant white light. V?nh the sorcerer stepped forward, frowning:

  – “Another new energy source…”

  Din, who had been working on his laptop, stopped and his eyes glimmered with intrigue:

  – “Is that so? Things are getting more and more interesting.”

  On his ironwood throne, Satan the Demon King reviewed financial reports of businesses spanning two planets under the Satan royal family’s control. Without looking up from the laptop screen, his commanding voice cut through the room:

  – “Arian, immediately align the military satellites with the dimensional coordinates displayed on my Velkhanis Mirror. Zoom out the full view — I want to see everything.”

  Back at the seaside villa, Erion was already working on his encrypted laptop. He accessed the Black Diamond’s military satellites, his precision rivaling that of a top IT specialist:

  – “Let’s see… who dares challenge me.”

  Chen, his aide, entered the living room, catching every word. A sinister smile spread across his face as his sharp vampiric fangs elongated:

  – “Anyone who dares challenge the General… is already tired of living.”

  Beside Erion, Trang gazed into her Velkhanis Mirror, her brows furrowing:

  – “I can sense it… this challenger feels familiar, like I’ve seen them somewhere before.”

  Chen, seated across from them, also glanced at the Black Crystal Mirror:

  – “If the princess feels this person is familiar, then it’s possible… they too know of your image from the past.”

  Erion, his hands still typing across the laptop keyboard, nodded:

  – “Exactly. Since your awakening — when you returned to your true self — everyone tied to these powers has crossed paths with you. Which means this person must have met you when you were still a tomboy living under your human identity.”

  Trang didn’t understand why an inexplicable sense of familiarity stirred inside her. Her thoughts churned as she recalled the people she had met before her awakening. “Is it truly a human this time… or someone disguised as one?” The question gnawed at her, leaving her emotions tangled and unsettled.

  In the spacious kitchen of Mr. Tài’s villa, a warm atmosphere spread as everyone gathered together. Outside, the chill from C?u D?ng’s frozen villa had extended across the neighborhood, but inside, the aroma of food filled the air, easing everyone’s hearts.

  Huy sat beside Anh Th? on the sofa, quietly watching her as she dozed off. Her face was pale from severe morning sickness, unable to eat or drink much.

  In the kitchen, Tu?n sliced tomatoes while speaking:

  – “So, after dinner, Ti?n, Deep, and I will head back. We’ll return again tomorrow morning.”

  Ti?n was frying spring rolls, the oil sizzling in the hot pan:

  – “If Mr. D?ng needs to buy anything, just let me know. I’ll bring it over first thing tomorrow.”

  Mr. Tín carefully arranged the spoons and chopsticks on the table, his deep voice steady:

  – “After the meal, my family will head home. If anything comes up, just call us—we’ll be here right away.”

  At the corner of the room, Anh ?ào was reviewing her master’s materials on her laptop when she suddenly froze at an email from Toronto. She read it aloud:

  – “Mom, Dad, Anh Ph??ng just wrote that she’ll board her flight on Saturday morning. Around 9–10 p.m. Sunday night, she’ll arrive at Tan S?n Nh?t Airport.”

  M? Linh’s face lit up with joy, her eyes sparkling:

  – “So, my youngest daughter is finally coming home…”

  But her voice faltered, worry creeping in:

  – “But what about our family villa still frozen out there?”

  C?u D?ng chuckled, folding his arms with confidence:

  – “You worry too much. I’ll rent her an apartment to stay in.”

  Deep cut in, his tone firm:

  – “The real question is, when will your villa finally thaw? As for Anh Ph??ng’s place to stay, let me take care of it.”

  Just then, Hi?u burst into the kitchen, panting:

  – “I just checked! The neighbors couldn’t film or take photos, but they’re not giving up. They’re determined to capture footage to post online.”

  From the garden, Dì T? stepped inside, her face still shadowed with unease:

  – “This ice is strange. The hotter it gets, the faster it grows — harder and colder too.”

  Mr. Tài furrowed his brow, asking slowly:

  – “You mean the hotter the temperature, the thicker and tougher the ice becomes, like concrete?”

  Deep was stunned, blurting out:

  – “That’s bizarre… I’ll need to call in a scientist to investigate.”

  Ti?n quickly suggested:

  – “Deep’s foreign friend is a professor who studies paranormal and physical phenomena. Can you bring him here to Vietnam?”

  Deep nodded:

  – “With all the chaos today, I nearly forgot. The professor is already in Saigon — he just arrived yesterday to award scholarships to underprivileged students at a university’s opening ceremony. I’ll message him now.”

  In the bright dormitory room of a luxury residence in Toronto, the morning sun streamed through the glass window, casting its light over a desk cluttered with books and a laptop. Anh Ph??ng sat before the screen, reading the latest email her older sister Anh ?ào had sent about the frozen villa in Saigon.

  Beside her, Mary — her foreign roommate—leaned in to read as well. She frowned, shaking her head in confusion:

  – “Your sister said the ice thickens, hardens, and grows colder the hotter it gets? I’ve never seen a phenomenon or supernatural ability like this before.”

  Anh Ph??ng closed her laptop, brows furrowed:

  – “Neither have I… We’ll have to ask the president.”

  Without hesitation, Mary picked up her phone and called Join — the president of the International Student Association and also a sorcerer who led a group of apprentices. Her voice was urgent:

  – “Join, come to my room right away. Anh Ph??ng’s sister just sent an email — her family’s villa in Saigon is frozen solid. And this ice… it’s unlike anything I’ve ever seen.”

  On the other end, a slightly arrogant male voice replied:

  – “So, there are witches bold enough to challenge us in Saigon as well? I’ll be there in five minutes.”

  ---

  Meanwhile, at Mr. Tài’s villa in Saigon, dinner had been carefully laid out, the table filled with delicious dishes. Laughter mingled uneasily with the underlying worry about the frozen villa.

  Deep had just messaged his foreign friend — a professor specializing in both physics and the paranormal. Moments later, his phone buzzed with a reply:

  – “Why didn’t you tell me sooner, Deep? I’m on my way. Wait for me there.”

  Taking his seat at the table, Deep glanced around and spoke clearly:

  – “My professor friend will be here immediately to assess the situation. It looks like we’ll have to stay a bit longer.”

  Mr. Tài smiled calmly, pouring more tea:

  – “That’s no problem. My home is spacious—please make yourselves comfortable.”

  Hi?u, sitting nearby, could hardly contain his excitement, his eyes shining:

  – “So we’re really going to have a professor here tonight to study this? Wow, this is the first time I’ll ever meet an international university professor!”

  C?u D?ng folded his arms, worry etched across his face:

  – “I just hope the professor can help my family escape this ordeal…”

  Deep picked up a slice of ginger-steamed squid, his expression confident:

  – “He specializes in physics and the paranormal. If anyone can uncover what on earth is happening to your family, it’s him.”

  In the end, C?u D?ng’s family had no choice but to turn to science, clinging to the hope of finding answers to the supernatural phenomena they had witnessed. Yet even if the professor could unravel the mystery of this bizarre ice, questions remained:

  How could it be dispelled, and how could its return be prevented? For those dark forces who delighted in the game of cat and mouse, this was merely the opening act.