On the Dark Planet, the mayor’s mansion gates slowly creaked open. The dry, grating sound dragged through the air, echoing into the night as thick as poisonous fog. It blended with the hoarse cries of crows, each drawn-out call like an ominous funeral bell.

  On the moss-covered tiled roof, clusters of bats hung upside down. Their thin leather wings occasionally snapped open with hollow flapping sounds, sending ash-like dust drifting through the air. The night wind whistled through withered trees, twisting their bare branches into crooked shapes scattered across the dense forest, stretching warped shadows along the ground like invisible crawling hands waiting to swallow any lost soul.

  Three reinforced horse-drawn carriages stood ready at the gate. The muscular black horses snorted clouds of white breath into the cold air, stamping their hooves against the stone. Servants in ash-gray cloaks moved silently like shadows, carefully checking every rein and fastening each harness to ensure everything was secure before departure.

  Small wooden crates padded with thick cotton lining were prepared to protect the Velvet Crave petals from bruising or losing their essence during transport. The guards skillfully loaded each crate onto the carriages, working quickly but cautiously, keeping noise to an absolute minimum in the night.

  The steward wore a heavy cloak, its wide hood covering half his face. He slowly scanned the surroundings before speaking in a low voice:

  – “At this hour the citizens are already asleep. Move faster. All these petals must be transported tonight so the extraction can be done on time.”

  The servants bowed in unison and replied softly:

  – “Everything has been reinforced carefully. The petals are still perfectly fresh.”

  The steward walked around back to inspect the cargo once more. After confirming that everything was in order, he gave a slight wave of his hand. The subordinates quickly climbed onto the carriages. Soft cracks of the whip sounded, and the three carriages began rolling away from the mansion gate.

  The steward stepped onto another carriage and immediately ordered it to follow behind to personally supervise the shipment.

  Across the dense night sky, flocks of bats and black crows silently followed the convoy. They were not merely creatures of darkness, but covert agents under Queen Seraphina’s command, secretly tracking this transport operation.

  ***

  Back on Earth, in Vietnam, it was now a blazing noon. At D?ng’s villa, lunch had just ended. Huy was helping Dì T? dry the dishes and place them neatly on the shelf.

  He planned to rest for a bit after finishing, but suddenly remembered he had to take his wife shopping. Huy quickly wiped the last bowl and hurried upstairs. Entering the room, he saw Anh Th? sitting at the vanity table and gently commented:

  – “You’re pregnant, so you should limit using makeup. After you give birth, I’ll buy you new cosmetics.”

  Anh Th? immediately showed displeasure:

  – “When going outside, I have to look good. I’ve always been like this. Think about it — if I run into my close friends and they see me looking sloppy, where would I hide my face?”

  Huy sighed softly and gave in:

  – “I only want what’s best for you and the baby. But it’s your choice.”

  Right next door along the same corridor was Dì T?’s room. Phong Túc was there in his true form. With his сверх-sensitive hearing, he caught every word of the conversation. The corner of his mouth curled slightly, his eyes gleaming with cold amusement:

  – “The centipede demon’s tragedy is about to begin. Let’s see how much you can endure.”

  At the District 5 headquarters, after everyone had thoroughly washed their hands, they all rolled up their sleeves and began making mooncakes together. The cakes were crafted using traditional handmade methods combined with intricate artistic shaping.

  The dough had rested for a full hour. L?p Thành divided it into small portions according to exact measurements. L?o Ng? brought out round wooden molds carved with patterns of carp, the characters Phúc – L?c – Th? (Blessing – Prosperity – Longevity), peaches, and lotus flowers. These molds were reserved for baked mooncakes. Beside them were plain round plastic molds without patterns, used for artistic 3D decoration on the cake surface.

  H?u K? picked up a piece of dough and demonstrated while explaining:

  – “First, sprinkle a little flour on the table and lightly dust the rolling pin so the dough won’t stick. Don’t use too much, or the cake will turn dry. Then gently roll it out to thin it. Remember to rotate it so the thickness stays even and doesn’t end up thicker on one side than the other.”

  Trúc Di?n continued, placing a mung bean filling ball in the center of the flattened dough:

  – “After placing the filling, wrap the dough around it, then gently roll it between your palms to form a smooth, round ball.”

  Yin picked up a wooden mold, dusted it with a thin layer of flour, and placed the cake ball inside:

  – “When putting the cake into the mold, press lightly so it fits snugly. Don’t press too hard or the filling will squeeze out.”

  Finally, L?o Ng? instructed how to release the cake:

  – “Tap lightly on all four sides of the mold and the cake will come out more easily.”

  The results were excellent — everyone completed their cakes successfully. Even the little demons proved surprisingly skillful; not a single cake was misshapen or damaged.

  Next, Nh? Phu lifted a plain round plastic mold:

  – “I’ll show you how to create 3D flowers on the cake. First, just make a nice round cake like before.”

  ??i Ng?c took red-colored dough and a fondant sculpting tool set, skillfully shaping a flower:

  – “Artistic decoration is much more difficult. It requires precision and patience. If anyone isn’t used to these tools yet, I’ve prepared flower and leaf molds. Just press the dough into the mold, shape it, then attach it to the cake using sugar syrup.”

  Erion carefully tried forming a small flower, but this task clearly did not suit the temper of a Black Diamond. He frowned:

  – “So annoying. Why does it keep turning out crooked?”

  Trúc Di?n smirked and teased:

  – “Brother-in-law needs more patience. With that temper, you won’t manage it.”

  This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

  Erion shot him a sidelong glare:

  – “Then I’ll go bake the cakes.”

  The little demons groaned in unison:

  – “This is too hard. We give up. We’ll go help the General with the baking instead.”

  At the Bình Chánh headquarters, the Grand Madam Advisor had successfully created the ghost fire. Small flames floated before everyone’s eyes, glowing in a full spectrum of colors. She calmly instructed the agents:

  – “Carefully place them inside. They only emit light and gentle warmth, so there’s no risk of burns.”

  When the multicolored flames were set into the lantern cores, each lantern began to tremble slightly, then slowly lifted off its base and floated into the air like miniature hot-air balloons. The ghost fire inside did not flare wildly but spiraled into soft ribbons of light — each lantern a different color — like rainbows in the night, casting a cool, deep glow.

  The lantern frames were 3D-printed in the shapes of skulls, diamonds, and crowns — sharp-edged, angular, distinctly Gothic in style. Instead of brocade or colored paper, the entire body was wrapped in silver glitter rope, the strands woven into a raised mesh that caught the light intensely, every movement scattering tiny star-like reflections.

  Hundreds of lanterns drifted together across the vast hall. Multicolored light reflected off the high European-style arched ceiling with its curved stone ribs, then poured down over ironwood pillars carved with swirling clouds and Eastern sacred beasts. Along the rosewood walls inlaid with mother-of-pearl, the shifting firelight turned the shell patterns blue, violet, and jade-gold, like rippling water in motion.

  Tall arched doors and railings carved with bronze-drum motifs shimmered under the glow, giving the entire space both the majesty of an ancient grand hall and a surreal, mystical veil. The lanterns moved freely along slow, invisible paths, their lights swaying like thousands of stars drifting across the enclosed sky of the chamber.

  The Demon King Satan looked over the scene with clear satisfaction:

  – “Excellent. Now all that’s left is baking the cakes and preparing a few more dishes for the festival tray.”

  ***

  At the District 5 headquarters, the batches shaped with wooden molds were finished, while the artistic cakes still required more time due to their complexity. Trúc Di?n wanted to show off his skill and manliness in front of his future wife Lita and everyone else:

  – “I’ll bake this batch first.” He glanced lightly at Erion. “No host lets a guest go down to the kitchen.”

  Erion casually chewed a gummy candy and replied:

  – “Fair enough. It’s your kitchen, so you cook. A guest like me wouldn’t know what to do anyway.”

  Lita, H?ng Nhung, and Arian helped Trúc Di?n carry the trays of cakes down to the kitchen. The oven had already been preheated. L?o Ng? stood by, checking and precisely adjusting the temperature:

  – “For mooncakes, temperature determines the final quality. After baking, the cakes must not crack, dry out, or lose their patterns. We’ll bake them in three rounds.”

  He inspected each tray before it went into the oven and continued:

  – “The first bake is at 180–190°C for about 7 to 10 minutes, depending on cake size. This is the most important stage — it sets the pattern and prevents surface deformation.”

  The oven had been preheated for fifteen minutes. Trúc Di?n carefully slid each tray inside, his movements neat and focused:

  – “While we wait, I’ll prepare the egg yolks.”

  The first ten-minute baking round finished. Trúc Di?n opened the oven door, and a wave of scorching heat burst outward at once, making the air shimmer. Standing behind him, Lita frowned slightly and stepped back half a pace:

  – “It’s so hot — be careful.”

  L?o Ng? immediately spoke up:

  – “Your Highness, allow me to handle it.”

  But Erion was standing right there watching. Trúc Di?n didn’t want to lose face. He tightened his grip on the tray handle:

  – “I can do it. I can’t let him look smug forever.”

  However, Trúc Di?n was a White Serpent, and his body was naturally sensitive to high temperatures. The heat blowing straight into his face made his movements visibly slower.

  Right then, Erion stepped forward. His hands still looked human, but the surface of his skin and inner structure gradually transformed into black diamond form. Cold crystal facets emerged beneath the skin, reflecting the oven fire into deep, dark rays of light. He casually lifted the nearly 200°C tray as if holding a cool glass, the corner of his lips tilting slightly:

  – “Just this much already gives my brother-in-law trouble, huh. I forgot the White Serpent doesn’t handle heat as well as I do.”

  Din burst out laughing, his voice full of amusement:

  – “These two can’t live in peace — they take shots at each other over the smallest things.”

  Chen shook his head:

  – “There’s really no way to make them get along.”

  Yin kept focusing on attaching details onto the cake surfaces with sugar syrup, not even looking up:

  – “Just leave them be. What else can we do.”

  Charles adjusted the pattern on his cake and gave a faint smile:

  – “A thousand-year feud — books and films never stop mentioning it.”

  Trang also finished her final detail, her tone gentle:

  – “Maybe one day they’ll reconcile. I still hope that happens.”

  Before anyone could hold onto that hope, the little demons cut in:

  – “Even if the General makes peace with Trúc Di?n, there’s still Phong Túc.”

  The atmosphere stalled for a split second. Din growled:

  – “Right — there’s still that overly furry black cat.”

  H?u K? looked surprised:

  – “Erion really calls him that?”

  The little demons nodded rapidly:

  – “That’s right.”

  L?p Thành held his stomach laughing:

  – “Then the road to harmony is still very far away.”

  The trays of cakes were placed neatly on the marble table, faint heat still rising from them. Erion glanced at Trúc Di?n, his tone calm but provocative:

  – “There. What are you doing next?”

  Seeing the tension between the two stretched tight as a wire, L?o Ng? quickly stepped in:

  – “Let me — I have more than a thousand years of experience.”

  He picked up a bottle of clean water and sprayed a thin mist over the cake surfaces. A soft sizzling sound rose as droplets touched the still-hot trays. After finishing each tray, he explained:

  – “Before brushing the egg yolk, you need to lightly spray them so the cakes cool down. Then brush evenly — the next bake will give a beautiful, glossy color.”

  The afternoon spread a gentle golden sunlight across the entire space. The sun hung low, pouring warm rays over the rows of trees and rooftops, tinting everything with a soft honey glow. The breeze moved slowly, carrying the scent of dry leaves and warm earth, making the air feel strangely peaceful.

  Clouds drifted lazily across the sky like thin silk ribbons. The distant calls of birds blended with the ordinary sounds of daily life, forming a calm background melody for an afternoon nearing its end. Nothing was harsh or dazzling — only soft and deep — as if the world itself had slowed down to breathe.

  But C?u D?ng’s villa was completely opposite to that tranquil afternoon scene. Anh Th? had just returned from shopping, and the sofa was piled high with cosmetics and body care products such as skin creams, body wash, perfumes, exfoliating scrubs… The table was scattered with branded handbags, wallets, dresses, jewelry, and luxury shoes.

  Huy sat there breathing heavily, quickly drinking a glass of cool filtered water to ease his thirst. M? Linh walked down the stairs, showing no sign of blaming her daughter for spending too much money. Anh Th? handed her mother several lipsticks:

  – “I think these shades really suit you, Mom. They’ll look very classy on your lips.”

  M? Linh held the lipsticks and beamed:

  – “Perfect timing. Only my daughter truly understands me. I was just thinking about buying some new shades.”

  Outside the gate, Huy’s friends had just arrived. The purple-haired boy peeked inside:

  – “Hey, I see Huy’s wife and mother-in-law in there. That lady is fierce. I don’t know if we can get him to come out.”

  The buzz-cut boy looked toward the garden:

  – “His father-in-law is feeding the fish. Should we ring the bell?”

  The orange-haired girl took out her phone:

  – “I’ll call him. His in-laws are pretty strict — don’t want him getting scolded because of us.”

  In the living room, Huy’s phone rang. M? Linh and Anh Th? both turned to look. Huy stammered slightly:

  – “Uh… it’s just my friends calling. May I step out for a moment, Mom?”

  He quickly walked out to the front steps to answer:

  – “What’s up? Why are you calling?”

  The purple-haired boy spoke softly:

  – “We’re asking you out for coffee. Can you come?”

  Huy glanced back into the living room:

  – “Let me ask for permission first. Wait a bit.”

  He hung up and went back inside to speak to M? Linh:

  – “I’m going out for a bit, Mom.”

  M? Linh shot him a sharp sideways look:

  – “There’s still a lot of dust on the rooftop. You haven’t finished cleaning it.”

  Thinking quickly, Huy answered tactfully:

  – “Yes, but my friends want to introduce me to a job opportunity, so they came looking for me.”

  Right then, C?u D?ng walked in and said loudly:

  – “If someone’s introducing him to a job, let him go. With his current salary, how can he support a wife and child?”

  Hearing that, M? Linh agreed:

  – “Fine, go. Make sure you find a high-paying job so you can take care of my daughter and my grandchild.”

  Huy bowed to his in-laws, then quickly headed down to the garage. For him, it was a rare moment of freedom in the day.

  As soon as he stepped outside the gate, the purple-haired boy teased him:

  – “So how’s the first day as a son-in-law in a rich family? Tell me so I can learn from it.”

  Huy looked slightly embarrassed in front of his friends:

  – “You’re so nosy. Why did you guys come to see me anyway?”

  The orange-haired girl replied:

  – “Same as always — going for coffee.”

  Huy gestured for them to lower their voices:

  – “Let’s move first, then talk. If my in-laws see us standing here, we’re all dead.”