Professor Charles’s sharp gaze stayed locked on C?u D?ng, as if trying to pierce through every vein, every hidden thought inside his head. Mr. Tài added in a low, steady tone:

  – “You need to tell the professor everything, Mr. D?ng. Only then can he find a way to help you — and your whole family.”

  C?u D?ng turned toward the window, where his own villa still glowed with that otherworldly sight — a sky split in half between day and night, the sun and moon hanging side by side.

  Memories flashed through his mind: his wife and children screaming in terror at grotesque illusions, their faces twisted in agony, the countless times he had called Dr. Tùng, only to receive the same cold diagnosis — “Psychological disorder.”

  He sighed heavily, knowing he could no longer evade the truth. Finally, he began to speak — though only half of it was real.

  – “Her name is Trang… my niece. She lost both her parents in a car accident when she was five. She was the only one who survived. My sister and her husband died instantly. I couldn’t leave the child to fend for herself — I’m her only living relative.”

  – “My wife and I decided to raise her like our own daughter. She was quiet, gentle, never caused trouble. We loved her and trusted her completely.”

  Professor Charles carefully jotted down notes in his leather-bound journal, his calm eyes still sharp and probing:

  – “And then? What happened next? Why is she no longer living with your family?”

  C?u D?ng’s eyes flickered uneasily. He shot a quick glance at M? Linh, a silent signal. She caught on instantly, her tone turning cold and unflinching:

  – “Five years ago, I discovered that she had stolen my diamond ring. I couldn’t tolerate a thief under my roof. It would have been a terrible influence on my children — so I threw her out.”

  In the corner of the room, Anh Th? lowered her head, her pale fingers clutching her sleeve until the fabric twisted white.

  Her heart felt like stone — because the one who had stolen the ring was her, not Trang.

  But she had stayed silent, letting her cousin take the blame. Later, when the truth surfaced, the rest of the family agreed to keep it buried.

  It was, after all, a convenient excuse — a way to cast out the girl they’d always seen as a thorn in their side.

  Yet now, sitting across from them, was a world-renowned scholar — a man who had lectured thousands of students. His insight was razor-sharp; no lie, no flicker of emotion could escape his eyes. Still, he kept his composure. He didn’t expose them — not yet. Instead, he calmly observed, waiting to hear more.

  After taking careful notes, Professor Charles turned toward Tu?n, his voice firm and deliberate — every word striking through the tense air:

  – “And what about My? Did she ever cause trouble for Trang? Tell me the truth. If we want to cure the curse, we must find its root.”

  Tu?n sat still, his eyes clouded with turmoil. He didn’t want to expose the shameful past of his fiancée. His lips parted several times, but no words came out. The silence stretched tight — until Deep spoke up, his tone calm but resolute:

  – “Then let me tell it.”

  He drew a deep breath and began slowly:

  – “Trang once had feelings for Tu?n. But she never confessed. She only admired him from afar, always keeping her distance. She knew her place — she never tried to interfere in his life.”

  Professor Charles’s eyes narrowed like blades:

  – “And why did she think she wasn’t suitable? Explain clearly.”

  Deep lowered his gaze.

  – “Because she came from poverty. Orphaned since childhood, she sold small goods on the streets to survive. Tu?n, on the other hand, is a wealthy businessman. They lived in different worlds. Trang only loved him silently — until the day he met My and announced their engagement. After that, she disappeared.”

  Ti?n looked distant, his expression tinged with sorrow:

  – “Trang was a kind and understanding girl. I remember at Anh ?ào’s wedding — D?ng’s eldest daughter — she was there. I saw the way she looked at Tu?n… quietly, as if trying to remember his face one last time before leaving forever.”

  Deep continued, his tone heavy with disgust and regret:

  – “But My was different. She saw that look and felt insulted. She rushed at Trang, pulled her hair, and humiliated her right in front of everyone. Ti?n and I had to break it up.”

  The pen in Professor Charles’s hand stopped moving. He lifted his head, eyes filled with both sorrow and conviction. Then he turned to C?u D?ng and M? Linh, his voice sharp as a blade cutting through deceit:

  – “From what Deep and Ti?n just told us, I don’t believe Trang ever stole that diamond ring. That accusation must be investigated properly. If the truth remains buried — the dark forces surrounding your family will never forgive you.”

  At that, Mr. Tài spoke up firmly, his voice echoing through the tense silence:

  – “I was their neighbor. I saw how Trang lived in Mr. D?ng’s house. That girl was gentle, honest, and kind. She would never steal anything — least of all your ring, Mrs. Linh.”

  The room fell silent again. All eyes now turned toward D?ng’s family — sharp, accusing, unrelenting. In that thick, suffocating air, suspicion crackled like lightning tearing through the dark.

  Professor Charles saw it all — every twitch, every uneasy glance. He already knew.

  They were lying. And beneath their lies… a terrible truth lay buried in the past.

  At the seaside villa, the crystal lights had gone dark. Erion sat in silence on the sofa, before the Black Crystal Mirror that glowed with an eerie violet-black light. His appearance had returned to its true, demonic form:

  Skin as black as obsidian, eyes burning crimson like molten rubies — glowing fiercely through the darkness. Beside him, Trang still slept soundly, her breathing calm, her face peaceful. One of his hands gently caressed her silky black hair, while the other brushed across his sharp, spiraling horns. His voice rumbled cold and deep, echoing as if from the abyss itself:

  The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

  – “Filthy mortals… daring to slander and defile the name of the one I love. When those apprentice sorcerers return… I will deal with you all myself. Alone — that will be enough.”

  Outside, the crashing of waves against the cliffs seemed to blend with his fury — low, rhythmic, yet filled with a dreadful power.

  ---

  Back in Mr. Tài’s living room, the tension still hung heavy in the air. Professor Charles turned his sharp gaze toward C?u D?ng, his tone calm yet heavy with pressure:

  – “After she was cast out of the villa, where did Trang live?”

  C?u D?ng swallowed hard, his voice rough and trembling:

  – “She rented a small room in Bình Th?nh District… sold rice paper snacks and milk tea for school kids. I visited a few times, gave her some money to help… but I have my own family to care for, so I couldn’t do much.”

  The professor nodded slightly, then pressed further, his eyes intent:

  – “During her time there, did she grow close to anyone?”

  C?u D?ng looked up at the ceiling, trying to recall:

  – “There was… an old man who collected bottles. Everyone called him Mr. Nhan. He lived at the end of the alley, over seventy years old. Trang treated him like a father. I met him a few times — he often helped her sell snacks to elementary school kids after class.”

  A moment of silence passed. Professor Charles tapped his leather notebook thoughtfully.

  – “And no one knows where Trang went after she was evicted?”

  Everyone shook their heads. Deep sighed and spoke up:

  – “I sent my assistant there. He met the landlady — she said Trang owed rent, so she was kicked out. After that, no one saw her again.”

  Professor Charles pondered briefly, then looked to Deep:

  – “Tomorrow morning, take me there. I want to see it for myself — and speak with the locals.”

  Deep, Ti?n, and Tu?n nodded in unison:

  – “Yes, we’ll go in the morning.”

  Mr. Tài glanced at the wall clock and spoke with weary calm:

  – “It’s nearly dawn. Everyone should rest… we’ll leave early.”

  But C?u D?ng sat motionless, dark thoughts flickering behind his eyes:

  – “She’s long gone. Let them go digging — they won’t find anything.”

  Beside him, M? Linh wore a face of feigned pity, yet deep inside, contempt burned like acid:

  – “Thank heaven that landlady threw you out. A bastard child — brought home by my foolish in-laws, Qu?c and H?nh… Only idiots would take in something so tainted.”

  As dawn broke, everyone at Mr. Tài’s villa slowly began to wake up. Tu?n yawned and groaned:

  – “Didn’t sleep till four a.m. last night… what time is it now?”

  Deep glanced at his watch and replied:

  – “Seven already. Get up, guys. I was too sleepy to drive home last night, so I crashed here.”

  At that moment, Hi?u, the mischievous teenage boy, cheerfully held up his badminton racket:

  – “It’s Saturday! I’m heading out to play with my classmates!”

  From the kitchen, Mrs. Nga’s voice called out:

  – “Don’t forget the sandwiches I just made for you, dear!”

  But just as Hi?u was about to leave, he froze. Before his eyes, C?u D?ng’s villa had transformed beyond belief. If last night it had been like sunlight shimmering in the dark, then this morning — it looked as though the entire sky above had been replaced by a vast stretch of outer space.

  Above, the sky was pitch-black — no moon, only a colossal Jupiter looming close by, beside it Mars, and farther away Venus, with the Milky Way blazing across the horizon. Below, layers of frost blanketed the villa thicker and colder than the night before. The entire scene seemed ripped from reality and stitched into a fragment of the cosmos itself.

  Hi?u dropped his lunch box, stammering:

  – “The… the universe! Uncle D?ng’s house looks like it’s floating in space!”

  From inside, Professor Charles rushed out upon hearing the shout. Everyone else followed — and froze in collective shock.

  Deep’s eyes widened:

  – “Does D?ng’s villa… change the stars every day now?”

  Ti?n trembled:

  – “My God, it’s an entire galaxy up there—just hovering over his house!”

  C?u D?ng stood speechless, stunned by what he saw. Above him, the cosmic sky rotated in brilliant motion, while just beyond the villa’s invisible boundary, the morning sun still rose gently over the quiet neighborhood.

  People began to crowd the street again—neighbors who had stayed up all night watching the glowing “ice palace” now rushed back when they saw this new “daylight galaxy.” Some pointed, some gasped — and one elderly man fainted on the spot after glancing up.

  Meanwhile, inside a seaside villa, Trang and Chen were preparing breakfast. In another corner, Erion stood before the balcony, gazing at the sea. The salty breeze brushed against his handsome face as he held the Black Crystal Mirror in his left hand. His right hand ignited with black fire as he touched the mirror’s surface. A cold smile crossed his lips:

  – “I’ll grant them a blessing — the chance to witness a scene beyond Earth.”

  Chen glanced at the mirror, smirking:

  – “You always have such creative ideas, my Lord. If you reproduced Jupiter’s gravity too, it would feel even more real.”

  Erion brushed a hand over his curved horns and replied deeply:

  – “I have no wish to harm the innocent nearby. But that idea… has merit. After I seal that D?ng family inside the cube, I might test it.”

  As Chen mixed the fruit salad, he asked:

  – “So you’ll keep shifting spatial dimensions, each one with its own spectacle?”

  Erion nodded:

  – “Exactly. It will make them — and the world—wonder who we truly are. Confused, afraid… restless. The D?ng family won’t sleep well from now on.”

  Trang smiled softly:

  – “Breakfast is ready. Let’s eat before we head down to the beach. Tomorrow night, we’ll return to the Gothic mansion.”

  Chen chuckled faintly, though his smile was a little twisted:

  – “You should change your appearance, my Lord. If people see your true form outside, they’ll drop dead on the spot.”

  Erion stepped closer, gently taking the plate of fried eggs and bacon from Trang, his lips curling faintly:

  – “Of course. If I went out like this… humanity wouldn’t survive the sight.”

  They all laughed together, the warmth of breakfast filling the room. Outside, the waves whispered against the shore, sunlight poured in through the windows, and the scent of food blended with sea air — a rare, peaceful morning before the coming storm.

  Everyone was still frozen in disbelief, staring at the sci-fi-like spectacle hovering above the frozen villa, when the sound of a motorbike echoed from afar. A moment later, Huy’s shiny scooter stopped abruptly at the gate. Seeing the surreal scene before him, his mouth fell open so wide that he almost toppled over with his bike.

  A young man nearby quickly rushed to help him up:

  – “Are you okay, sir?”

  Huy, eyes still fixed on the cosmic sky above the icy mansion, stammered:

  – “What… what is this? Has my father-in-law’s villa turned into outer space!?”

  From an old Dream motorbike, Mr. Tín and Mrs. Nguy?t stepped down, both visibly shaken. Mr. Tín whispered to his wife in a trembling voice:

  – “Dear… this kind of power ain’t something from an ordinary demon.”

  Mrs. Nguy?t nodded gravely:

  – “Aye, you’re right. Even our centipede clan’s ancient magic’s never seen power like this.”

  The gate slowly opened, and C?u D?ng with M? Linh came out to greet their in-laws. Though C?u D?ng secretly disliked them, he was a skilled actor; a polite smile quickly formed on his face:

  – “Welcome, brother and sister. You’re here early.”

  Mr. Tín replied with his usual cheerful grin:

  – “Th? messaged last night, said your villa looked like night in broad daylight. We came early today to see what’s goin’ on.”

  Standing nearby, Deep let out a weary laugh:

  – “Well, now it’s officially become a rest stop in outer space.”

  Tu?n glanced around, then said decisively:

  – “Let’s get to the motel area right away—we can’t waste any more time.”

  Professor Charles nodded, his tone firm:

  – “You lead the way. The mission must proceed swiftly.”

  Tu?n turned to C?u D?ng:

  – “Are you coming with us?”

  C?u D?ng shook his head, looking exhausted:

  – “Go on without me. I can’t handle this anymore… everything’s far beyond what I can comprehend.”

  M? Linh gently stepped forward, her voice soft:

  – “Please understand, my husband’s deeply shaken by all these strange phenomena. You all go first — we’ll contact you later.”

  …

  At the Bình Chánh Headquarters, the 180-degree curved monitor displayed crystal-clear footage of the icy villa — its cosmic sky swirling vividly while, outside, the real morning sun shone over a clear blue sky.

  Seated on his ironwood throne, Satan, the Demon King, scrolled through a financial report on his laptop and chuckled dryly:

  – “Erion truly deserves the title of ‘Content Creator of the Year.’ His ideas are always insane.”

  Arian sipped his milk coffee, eyes fixed on the satellite feed:

  – “Father, the professor and D?ng’s three companions are en route to the motel. I’ve already dispatched our agents there.”

  Satan closed his laptop, his gaze sharpening:

  – “This time, I’ll appear again — under the guise of old Mr. Nhan. It’s about time they learned a little… truth.”

  Master V?nh spoke up:

  – “Then allow me to accompany you, my lord.”

  Satan nodded:

  – “You’ll play the role of an old friend from the countryside, visiting Sài Gòn with me.”

  Then, turning to Arian, he added:

  – “Alert our operatives. Master V?nh and I will confront them personally.”

  Arian bowed respectfully:

  – “As you command, Father.”