As Charles’s car glided past the Gothic villa, he glanced inside, saw the gate was locked, and continued driving:

  – “They’ve headed out first; we must hurry. There is a challenging mountain trek ahead of us once we arrive.”

  Join and Mary looked over at Dì T?, who was still sitting in silence. Join whispered a reminder:

  – “Professor... Mrs. T? is in the car.”

  Charles burst into laughter, a smile full of hidden meaning as he looked into the rearview mirror:

  – “Welcome, you two, to your official participation in this trip. Having hidden yourselves for so long, I suppose it’s time to breathe some real air, isn't it?”

  Join was bewildered, his eyes widening to their limit:

  – “Professor... who are you talking to?”

  Before the Professor could answer, Join suddenly felt the space inside the car become unusually cramped. He looked around, muttering in confusion:

  – “Strange... aside from the Professor driving, there are clearly only four of us. Why do I feel so stifled, as if the car is overloaded?”

  At that moment, the “Dì T?” who had been pensive suddenly chuckled. But instead of the familiar aged voice, a deep, calm, masculine voice resonated:

  – “It’s only natural you feel cramped, because in reality, there are a total of six people in this car.”

  Join stared at Dì T?, stammering:

  – “How... why is your voice like a man’s?”

  Anh Tú, sitting in the front, smiled as he leisurely rested his elbow on the car window:

  – “The one speaking is Phong Túc, and Bách Di?n is likely sitting right next to you.”

  Mary stuttered:

  – “What does that mean… Auntie T?… who is she?”

  At that very instant, a burst of black smoke unexpectedly erupted, swirling around Dì T?’s body like a miniature cyclone. Within the smoke, shimmering crystal dust particles — intertwining jade green and ruby red — spun like a miniature galaxy.

  The surrounding space vibrated slightly as the contours of Dì T?’s body began to melt, distorted by an invisible hand. The skin, the hair, the silhouette… everything morphed within the flow of shapeshifting energy that was restructuring every feature.

  In just a few seconds, the smoke gradually settled.

  When the shroud of light-dust completely vanished, the person sitting there was no longer Dì T?.

  In her place was a beautiful black lynx demon with long, smooth hair like a night stream, sitting with his legs crossed. His heterochromatic eyes were deep, gleaming with a cold luster. He leisurely ran a hand through his hair, his movements graceful as if he had just shed a mediocre mask to return to his true identity.

  Right in that empty space, the air suddenly rippled like the surface of water being lightly touched.

  A layer of transparent waves spread out, distorting the surrounding light. From that invisible vibration, segments of a physical form gradually appeared — as if someone were pulling an invisibility cloak away from reality.

  First came the blurred outline of shoulders, then the arms, the torso… all revealed bit by bit within the shifting optical aberration of the dissolving stealth spell.

  Just a few breaths later, a beautiful chameleon demon fully manifested.

  His characteristic two-colored eyes moved slightly — each looking in a different direction — reflecting the absolute alertness of one who had just stepped out of an invisible state, as if he had never truly left the spot, but had simply… ceased to hide. He smiled and gave a slight wave:

  – “Hello, everyone.”

  Mary suddenly remembered:

  – “It’s these two… the ones who came with Mr. Trúc Di?n at Sister Anh Th?’s wedding… but why Auntie T??”

  Seeing the confused expressions on Join and Mary's faces, Anh Tú explained:

  – “They took turns playing the role of Auntie T?, masquerading as a servant in that family for over twenty years.”

  A cry of shock rang out:

  – “Huh??? Unbelievable…”

  The car continued moving toward its destination; the perilous journey had officially begun.

  As Professor Charles’s car drifted into the distance, Huy remained standing by the window with a half-eaten box of rice in his hand. His eyes turned suspicious as he quietly observed the outside.

  – “How strange. The Professor, my brother-in-law, the two wizards, and even Auntie Tu all have business far away at the same time… and over at the Gothic villa, the doors are bolted shut. Could they have some secret plan?”

  A clue suddenly flashed through his mind, making him shudder slightly as he muttered:

  – “Since moving into this house as a son-in-law, I’ve seen too many bizarre things… In Auntie T?’s room, there are often sounds like claws scratching the floor and walls, as if some creature is moving around. I’ve even seen black cat fur… and reptile scales too…”

  Huy’s gaze sharpened:

  – “I must investigate this thoroughly.”

  While he was preoccupied with his calculations, C?u D?ng’s voice suddenly rang out from behind:

  – “What are you doing, skulkng around here? Finish eating and get to work.”

  Huy jumped, nearly dropping his rice box:

  – “Yes… I’m finished, I’m going up to my room to get ready right now.”

  C?u D?ng’s expression became unpleasant:

  – “I hate nosiness more than anything — this habit of prying into everyone’s business. What exactly are you plotting?”

  Huy immediately explained, his voice stammering:

  – “No… I wouldn't dare be curious about our family’s affairs. I was just wondering why everyone had business far away at the same time like that.”

  Just then, M? Linh walked in. Her cold eyes stared straight at Huy, her voice shrill:

  – “And you call that not being curious? Living here, you must know your place. Do you think you're going to be the boss of this house?”

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  Hearing her parents raising their voices at her husband, Anh Th? rushed in to intervene:

  – “My husband is new here, so he just wants to understand everyone to better integrate with our family. He didn't mean anything by it, Father, Mother.”

  Huy immediately followed suit:

  – “Yes, that’s right… I just want to understand everyone’s wishes.”

  Hearing this, C?u D?ng’s tone softened slightly, but the harsh look he directed at Huy remained unchanged.

  – “Enough. You and I should go get ready for the party, wife. If we're late, our partners will hold it against us.”

  Having said that, M? Linh turned her back and walked straight up to her room without looking at anyone again.

  The Camry continued to roll down the road. Inside the car, Join and Mary couldn’t stop staring at Phong Túc and Bách Di?n; they were clearly still in a state of total shock, realizing that Dì T? — the 60-year-old servant with the thin frame and gentle face for over 20 years—was actually two handsome men belonging to the ancient divine beast system taking turns playing the role.

  Phong Túc looked over at Join, his hands still leisurely braiding his own hair:

  – “Are you two little ones that surprised? Everyone who finds out for the first time has that exact same expression. You’ll get used to it eventually.”

  Join asked with an innocent, naive face:

  – “How old are you?”

  Phong Túc replied calmly:

  – “A bit over 1,000 years old.”

  Upon hearing this, both Join and Mary’s faces turned pale. Join’s eyes widened as he stammered:

  – “You said… over 1,000 years old? Then you’re about the age of my ancestors.”

  At this moment, Bách Di?n’s face lowered slightly toward his neck.

  Right at the boundary between smooth human skin and reptilian scales, the surface of the skin began to vibrate gently as if an invisible wave were passing over it. Patches of pigment slowly rose beneath the epidermis, forming smooth, bleeding streaks of color — pale green melting into light yellow, then sliding gradually into a warm sunset orange.

  The color-shifting effect did not manifest fully, but only flickered like an image overlaid upon human skin. As the light passed over, the structure of chameleon scales would appear and then vanish, as if reality were being momentarily distorted.

  That skin shifted its hue with every breath.

  He flashed an excited smile.

  – “I’ve been looking forward to this capture mission for days. Although mountain terrain isn't my specialty, for Phong Túc…”

  Phong Túc immediately interjected, his eyes filled with pride:

  – “Then that is my greatest strength. I was born to conquer cliffside terrain and harsh cold temperatures.”

  Anh Tú burst out laughing:

  – “Speaking of environments with super harsh cold temperatures, Mr. Erion and Sister Trang are the ultimate masters.”

  Hearing that, Phong Túc arched an eyebrow, his gaze still full of confidence:

  – “It’s true that regarding cold environments, no one adapts better than him. But moving on mountains with steep slopes and surfaces slippery from snow, it's not certain anyone can outmatch me.”

  Bách Di?n covered his mouth and gave a thin smile:

  – “True enough… but Erion has spatial abilities. From the foot of the mountain to the summit, he only needs one step to get it done.”

  Charles, still focused on driving, chimed in:

  – “He can move from one planet to another. A few mountains to him are just like a morning exercise.”

  Phong Túc gave a slight glare:

  – “Whatever… we'll see who's better.”

  At a deserted, vacant lot, three luxury cars — two brooding Bentleys and a fiery red Ferrari — stood silently lined up, hidden within the fading twilight.

  Erion looked up at the dusky sky, where the final orange streaks of sunset were being swallowed by the darkness, and gave a low command:

  – “Wait until it is completely dark, then I will open the space portal. Our actions will be more discreet then, avoiding the prying eyes of that riffraff.”

  Behind him, Din stepped forward, leisurely adjusting his scarf to ensure it was neat before speaking up:

  – “This time, the gathering point is located right at the border between Lào Cai and Lai Chau. They actually chose Fansipan Peak — the highest point of the majestic Hoàng Liên S?n range — to open the space portal… It is truly a shrewd move to utilize the exact convergence of these two rugged wilderness regions.”

  Yin, having just donned a pair of glossy black leather gloves, let the corners of her lips curl into a meaningful smirk:

  – “To get up there, one must pierce through ancient forests, across the foothills and slopes belonging to Hoàng Liên National Park. Although there is no snowfall on Fansipan’s peak, the high humidity causes water vapor to freeze on every branch and blade of grass, turning the entire forest into a beautiful ‘crystal labyrinth.’ However, it is currently autumn; temperatures only fluctuate between 12°C and 15°C, so that freezing phenomenon shouldn't technically appear.”

  Trang leaned over to put beanies on the little demon kids, adding worriedly:

  – “The path up the mountain is extremely treacherous. From an altitude of 2,000 meters and above, the terrain becomes slippery with sheer, vertical cliffs.”

  One little demon, preoccupied with noisily slurping bubble tea, suddenly looked up and offered a suggestion:

  – “Masters, why don't you just take the cable car? It's faster.”

  Din shook his head, chuckling at such innocence:

  – “The cable car only takes us to a stop at 3,000 meters. From there, to reach the summit, one still has to connect via the mountain train or climb another six hundred stone steps by oneself. If we just leisurely went along like tourists… by the time we touched the landmark, they would have finished receiving the goods and vanished long ago.”

  Chen burst into hearty laughter:

  – “That’s why we have to rely on the General’s space portal. Shorter paths are always more interesting.”

  Just then, from the distance of the boulevard, the roar of engines tore through the still atmosphere. Erion narrowed his eyes at the approaching sound, muttering under his breath:

  – “Don’t tell me it’s…”

  Before he could finish his sentence, an imposing Cadillac along with an Innova glided forward, braking sharply right in front of the group. A look of clear annoyance flashed across Erion’s eyes:

  – “What is that snake doing showing his face here? Planning to hitch a ride through my space portal again?”

  Yin curled her lip, her gaze scanning the distant trails of headlights heading their way:

  – “That’s not all… there are still a few more guests. It seems tonight on the peak of Fansipan is about to get crowded.”

  H?u K? was the first to step out of the car, a social smile on his lips but his eyes filled with tension. He waved to everyone:

  – “Could we accompany you for a stretch? If we march to Lào Cai following the usual route, I fear that by the time we arrive, they will have already managed to disperse several batches of goods.”

  Erion took a step forward, his lips still holding a half-smile, but his eyes, sharp and cold as daggers, were directed straight at Trúc Di?n, who was sitting in the Cadillac:

  – “Fine, on one condition… without the presence of that snake.”

  Hearing this, Trúc Di?n immediately opened the door and stepped out. His face hardened, his voice deep and full of rejection:

  – “If that’s the case, I’ll go on my own. Who craves this charity anyway?”

  Erion crossed his arms over his chest, curling his lip defiantly:

  – “Then why haven't you left yet? You found your way all the way here and still talk big?”

  Seeing the situation starting to heat up, L?p Thành quickly stepped forward to act as a mediator:

  – “Come on, now, calm down, Great Lords. The grand matter at hand is far more important than these arguments.”

  Din did not join the verbal battle; he cast his eyes toward the end of the road and sighed softly:

  – “Phong Túc is here… it looks like the situation is getting even more complicated.”

  The Camry slowly approached and came to a complete stop. Charles stepped out, still maintaining the demeanor of a sophisticated gentleman with a calm smile:

  – “My sincere apologies for keeping everyone waiting. Are we ready to depart?”

  Yin shook her head slightly, her face full of patience:

  – “The two generals are busy 'exchanging viewpoints' for a moment, so they haven't been able to lift a foot to leave yet.”

  As Phong Túc stepped down from the back to observe the situation, the already tense atmosphere became even more suffocating. Erion glanced over, his voice thick with undisguised irony:

  – “Wonderful, now we have a furry black cat too. I’ll take you both on; if you want something, bring it!”

  Chen, standing nearby, could only shake his head and sigh:

  – “Time is passing second by second, and you gentlemen still have the mind for petty jealousy? If we fail this great task, I fear the Lord will not let it slide.”

  Trang stepped close to Erion’s side, her voice gentle yet heavy with weight:

  – “We are all on the same side. Chen is right, time waits for no one; the sooner we depart, the more the advantage belongs to us.”

  Erion looked deep into her eyes for a few seconds; his tensed facial muscles gradually relaxed, and the fierce look in his eyes softened slightly:

  – “Alright. This time, we must capture the whole nest and seize all of those goods.”

  Charles let out a soft sigh of relief:

  – “Then let us depart. On the other side, they have surely begun their move as well.”

  Din flashed a confident smile, a cunning glint in his eyes:

  – “They move by ordinary physical means. We only need to arrive first, set the stage, arrange the terrain… and then leisurely wait for the prey to lead themselves into the trap.”

  Everyone returned to their cars one by one, engines roaring in readiness.

  Suddenly, the space ahead shook violently — as if the very atmosphere were being distorted by a giant hand. A dark rift appeared in mid-air, initially just a crack as thin as a spiderweb, but it quickly widened, tearing the night apart into a deep, pitch-black opening. From within, a swirling flow of black-purple light poured out like a waterfall, resembling a silent vortex swallowing reality.

  The edges of the space portal vibrated incessantly, the boundaries curving like a lake surface hit by a stone, creating ripples of dark energy spreading into the void. An infinite, profound abyss opened up right before the front of the cars.

  Without a moment's hesitation, the line of luxury vehicles rolled forward into that void. As soon as the wheels touched the boundary, the car bodies were immediately swallowed by the mysterious energy vortex.

  The moment the last car disappeared, the gate closed in absolute silence — as if it had never existed there. The space returned to its original state of stillness, empty and cold, leaving no trace of a great march.