Inside the Serpent Clan headquarters, a lively atmosphere spread throughout the great hall. Laughter and chatter mixed with the fragrance of glutinous rice dough and rich cake fillings, creating a rare sense of warmth. The men rolled up their sleeves and stood around long tables, forcefully kneading dough for the crusts, each smooth white mass gradually turning elastic under their strong hands. On the other side, the women carefully portioned the fillings by exact measure — mung bean, lotus seed, and mixed fillings — each weighed precisely and placed neatly beside intricately carved molds.

  Nh? Phu and ??i Ng?c stood side by side. In front of them were bowls of natural color extracts prepared to mix into the glutinous dough for artistic shaping. Soft green from pandan leaves, bright orange from gac fruit, warm yellow from turmeric, clear blue from butterfly pea flowers, fresh red from strawberries, and deep purple from purple sweet potato… all blended into a vivid palette that was both beautiful and fragrant with nature.

  In another corner, Trúc Di?n was using a soft brush to gently dust off fabric lanterns and glass-paper lanterns prepared for hanging. He worked while listening, then suddenly paused when familiar footsteps sounded behind him. His voice lowered:

  – “They’re here — and of course… him too.”

  Before he could finish, Erion appeared first, followed by Trang, Din, Charles, and a noisy cluster of little demons behind them. Trúc Di?n let out a breath, his eyes showing helplessness:

  – “There’s no way to avoid that black diamond, when he and I are both sons-in-law of Father Satan.”

  Yin, standing nearby, understood his feelings and gave a mild smile, speaking calmly:

  – “Fate arranged it this way. You two should learn to get along.”

  Din heard clearly. The corner of his lips curved into a meaningful faint smile:

  – “You escaping Miss My is already a blessing. Otherwise it would’ve been disastrous.”

  Erion looked around the crowded hall, his tone casual with a hint of curiosity:

  – “Are the fluffy black cat and the chameleon coming?”

  H?u K? answered immediately without hesitation:

  – “They’ll come on Mid-Autumn Day. I heard things have been very noisy over at D?ng’s place since morning, right?”

  Din shot a sideways glance, dissatisfaction in his voice:

  – “Like a marketplace. That’s why we came here to take refuge.”

  Trang’s gaze was suddenly drawn to the sparkling lights of fireflies kept inside a glass sphere on the table. She blinked a few times, then couldn’t help running closer, her voice full of delight:

  – “So beautiful — it’s my first time seeing them in real life. Why are these fireflies bigger than the ones online?”

  L?p Thành, standing nearby, explained calmly:

  – “These are fireflies from Bích Th?y Kim Tinh, not from Earth, so it’s normal that they look different to you, Princess. Some even glow in five colors.”

  Trang turned to Erion with a slightly pouty look, her voice softening:

  – “I want a glass sphere to raise fireflies like that too.”

  Erion thought for a few seconds before answering, a slight hesitation in his tone:

  – “On the Dark Planet there are ghost lights — many colors too — but if we release them around the house it would look like a horror movie. If you like it, I can find glowing stones like phosphor crystals — they’re beautiful as well.”

  Trang nodded at once, her smile blooming:

  – “I like wish jars. Make one for me, okay?”

  Erion replied immediately without hesitation:

  – “Of course. Whatever you like, I’ll indulge you.”

  Right then, Lita stepped over as well, gently tugging Trúc Di?n’s sleeve, her voice full of expectation:

  – “I want one too. Make one for me.”

  Trúc Di?n reacted no slower than Erion, nodding repeatedly:

  – “Naturally. I’ll make it exactly how you want.”

  Yin glanced at Chen with a teasing look:

  – “Well, Chen — you see it clearly now, right?”

  Chen’s face sagged. He sighed and spoke like someone surrendering to fate:

  – “Whatever ??i Ng?c likes, I agree to all of it — as long as she’s happy.”

  Arian gave a light glare, his voice cold but suggestive:

  – “Try refusing — lightning, thunder, and storms will appear instantly.”

  Charles looked at the Mid-Autumn cake ingredients, excitement shining in his eyes:

  – “I’ll help everyone make the cakes.”

  The little demons, just thinking about hot mooncakes fresh out of the oven, started drooling and gulping loudly:

  – “That’s right — hurry up so we can eat. Last year we didn’t get any at all.”

  Din cast a light glare:

  – “At this time last year we were in Japan, attending the moon-viewing festival. The Japanese call it Tsukimi.”

  Yin recalled the moment and spoke slowly:

  – “Instead of mooncakes, the Japanese have round dumplings stacked into a tower shape. They also display susuki grass — also called foxtail grass — to pray for a good harvest.”

  Trúc Di?n nodded:

  – “An interesting common point is that both countries have legends about the jade rabbit on the moon. However, in Japan the rabbit isn’t pounding the elixir of immortality — it’s pounding rice cakes, also known as mochi.”

  A trace of regret crossed Erion’s face:

  – “At that time I was still imprisoned in the Avici Hell, so I missed many meaningful moments.”

  Trang smiled brightly, eyes narrowing with joy:

  – “Then now we’ll experience it together. There are still many interesting things on Earth.”

  L?p Thành and H?u K? had finished kneading a batch of baked-cake dough. L?p Thành wiped his hands clean and covered the dough surface with a white, clean, damp linen cloth:

  – “Let the dough rest for about an hour. While we wait, let’s decorate the lanterns.”

  The Serpent Clan’s grand hall was built in the style of an ancient Chinese imperial palace — majestic, ornate, and full of life. The lanterns were not hung by cords but floated in midair, aligned in straight ceremonial rows like those of a royal shrine hall. Their frames were lacquered in deep red and trimmed with gold, adorned with dragon, phoenix, and lotus motifs painted in fine golden strokes. Between them stood bamboo-framed lanterns wrapped in brocade and delicately hand-embroidered, along with red glass-paper lanterns of many shapes, their glow flickering softly as if breathing with the air.

  Around each lantern, ancient serpent runes coiled into thin circular rings, glowing with a pale jade hue. Magic power flowed softly, making the light gentle and warm instead of harsh. Inside the lanterns, spirit fireflies were released freely, drifting slowly — their glow gathering and scattering like tiny stars held back in the mortal world.

  Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

  Gold, crimson, and jade-blue lights intertwined, reflecting off stone pillars carved with divine serpents and ancient Hua clan patterns, giving the entire hall the feeling of an old Ch? L?n guild house — sacred yet worldly. Every footstep echoing on the stone floor seemed to move in rhythm with the flowing light, as if the space itself were breathing.

  The air carried the scent of fresh glutinous dough and faint cinnamon blossom, blending with the pure magical aura unique to the Serpent Clan. It made the grand hall no longer cold or overwhelmingly solemn, but warm for the coming reunion night — where the Mid-Autumn Festival was not merely a celebration, but an ancient rite binding together the souls of beings from many worlds.

  At the Bình Chánh headquarters, Demon King Satan, the Grand Madam Advisor, and the agents were still closely monitoring every movement of the interplanetary criminal group. At the same time, the atmosphere of Mid-Autumn preparations was gradually spreading everywhere.

  The ingredients for traditional mooncakes were carefully selected by the chefs: Fine white flour, thoroughly cleaned mung beans, glossy salted egg yolks, golden malt syrup, and plump lotus seeds — all premium quality. The spacious kitchen was constantly lively with the sounds of chopping and cooking, warm aromas blending in the air.

  The lanterns here had a completely different style from those of the Serpent Clan. Their frames were intricately 3D-printed, shaped like crowns, skulls, and diamonds, each line sharp and authoritative. Instead of brocade cloth or red glass paper, the lanterns were wrapped with shimmering gold and silver metallic threads woven like a thin mesh, reflecting the light into a look both mysterious and luxurious.

  The maids and lower-ranking agents carefully adjusted each lantern: some polished the frames, some aligned the symmetry, others tested the lighting — ensuring every detail was flawless, without a single mistake.

  Demon King Satan closed his laptop, rolled his neck slightly, his voice low and cold:

  – “Let’s start decorating. The satellites are handling that criminal group already.”

  The Grand Madam Advisor remained focused on an ancient divine-beast manuscript, which recorded methods to create floating ghost-fire flames in midair. She spoke slowly:

  – “This year I’ll add a few more colors for liveliness — and prepare fireworks too, so the children can enjoy them.”

  ***

  While everywhere else was bustling with festival preparations, C?u D?ng’s villa was filled with a heavy and somewhat noisy atmosphere.

  In the kitchen, M? Linh was preparing a facial mask mixture while Dì T? handled the cooking. Seeing the pack of spring rolls still untouched on the table, M? Linh immediately shouted:

  – “Huy, where the hell did you go? Why aren’t you frying the spring rolls yet? If he gets home and they’re not done, you’re in trouble.”

  Huy hurried out from the toilet, face pale:

  – “Yes, I just went to the restroom for a moment. I’ll do it right away, Mom.”

  M? Linh’s voice stayed harsh, without softening:

  – “Don’t you dare slack off. Since you’re a son-in-law, you should know to help your wife’s family. Otherwise I’ll throw you straight back to your parents’ house.”

  Huy quickly tore open the spring roll package and started putting them into the frying pan:

  – “Yes, I’m doing it now, Mom.”

  After finishing the mask mixture, M? Linh turned and went straight upstairs. Dì T? sighed and reminded him gently:

  – “Use the non-stick pan so they won’t break apart. Pour in plenty of oil — too little and they’ll burn, then the master and mistress will scold again.”

  Huy hurriedly took a large plate and lined it with oil-absorbing paper:

  – “Yes, thank you, Aunt. Please guide me more if needed.”

  Dì T? nodded with a kind expression. But beneath the disguise, Bách Di?n was smiling — half contemptuous, half eager:

  – “If you want to seize your wife’s family’s assets, you must endure hardship. You can’t expect to eat without working. Every day you’ll be scolded and criticized — not to mention the scheming sister-in-law and the cunning younger sibling… not easy to swallow at all.”

  It was lunchtime. C?u D?ng, Anh Tú, and everyone else were already gathered in the house.

  In the kitchen, Huy was helping Dì T? prepare the lunch. The dishes were still hot as they were brought one by one into the luxurious dining room, except for the plate of spring rolls, which were slightly burnt.

  As soon as C?u D?ng sat down, his eyes immediately stopped at the plate of spring rolls, his face showing clear displeasure:

  – “Who fried the spring rolls and burned them like this?”

  M? Linh sat down leisurely, picked up her chopsticks, and glanced at Huy:

  – “You’re really useless. You can’t even fry spring rolls properly.”

  Anh ?ào frowned with disgust:

  – “I’m not eating burnt food. He burned them, so let him eat them all.”

  Join spoke up to add in, trying to ease the atmosphere:

  – “I’ll eat them. They’re only slightly burnt.”

  Anh Th? was gentler, turning to Huy:

  – “Sit down and eat. After we finish, take me shopping, okay? I need to buy a few things.”

  Huy had just pulled out the chair and hadn’t even had time to sit down when C?u D?ng growled:

  – “Your place is in the kitchen. Go down there and eat.”

  His anger was boiling inside, but for the bigger plan, Huy forced himself to swallow it:

  – “Yes, I understand.”

  Anh Ph??ng had also just sat down, looking at Huy walking quietly back to the kitchen with a contemptuous gaze:

  – “A poor nobody trying to be on equal footing with our family? When poor people push their way into the rich circle, sooner or later they’ll be crushed.”

  In the kitchen, there was a small stainless steel table. On it was a bowl of cold rice mixed with scorched rice, a bowl of vegetable soup, a fried fish, and a small dish of fish sauce. Huy sat on a plastic chair, holding his rice bowl and eating quickly — probably because he had worked a lot and was too hungry.

  Up in the dining room, M? Linh leaned slightly to look down toward the kitchen and sneered:

  – “Look at him — exactly like your niece when she used to stay here — lowly and shabby.”

  C?u D?ng also looked in the same direction as his wife:

  – “You’re right, but back then Trang… she worked even more brutally than this guy.”

  Anh Ph??ng spoke with satisfaction, picking up a piece of pan-seared salmon as he talked:

  – “Now I hear she followed an old scrap collector back to the countryside to live and even got married. That’s good — less trouble for her parents.”

  M? Linh kept her sour tone:

  – “Today is his first day as a live-in son-in-law in this house — there’s still a long time ahead. People like him and Trang are only worthy of being stepping stones for us. They have no value and aren’t worthy of respect.”

  Anh Tú, Join, and Mary fell silent. Anger rose inside them hearing those harsh words. Through each sentence, they partly understood what Trang had gone through — during those long twenty years, she had been treated by her aunt and uncle no differently than under an old landlord household.

  Huy was driven down to the kitchen. He sat hunched at the small stainless steel table beside the stove. His hunger gnawed so badly that he no longer had the mind to keep up appearances. He ate greedily, stuffing big bites of rice into his mouth as if afraid someone would snatch it away. The food was leftovers from the upstairs table — cold and bland — but Huy still swallowed it, a flash of grievance and endurance in his eyes.

  – “Just wait… I’ll make you all pay. The more you look down on me now, the more you’ll have to respect me later.”

  Huy lowered his head and kept eating as if he had never heard the scornful murmurs from his wife’s family. In his mind, each step of calculation gradually became clear.

  – “I must make Anh Th? completely trust me… As long as I can persuade her to let my name be jointly listed on the assets her parents give her personally, everything will change. Once my name is on the papers, I’ll take control step by step… At that time, who gets kicked out of this house is still unknown.”

  Huy tightened his grip on the chopsticks. A cold smile briefly appeared at the corner of his lips, then he quickly lowered his face again, continuing to pretend to be a gentle, patient, long-suffering son-in-law.

  Outside the cosmetics factory, Nicolas and the shareholders had just finished their work. Everyone prepared to head home to get ready for the second round of model casting scheduled for tomorrow.

  Although it was blazing hot at noon, standing beneath the ancient trees of Cát Tiên National Forest still felt cool and pleasant. Long-tailed monkeys leapt continuously from branch to branch, a few yellow-cheeked gibbons sat watching their surroundings, and birds chirped brightly throughout the forest.

  Grimm took a deep breath, looking relaxed:

  – “It really feels great here, but at night it’d be kind of scary — like ghost scary.”

  Nicolas shot him a sideways glare and growled:

  – “We’re demons, and you’re afraid of ghosts?”

  Grimm scratched his head awkwardly:

  – “I’ve lived on Earth too long, so I’ve gotten used to living like a human.”

  The man in the ash-gray suit quickly urged everyone:

  – “Let’s head back. Tomorrow is the second qualifying round. From yesterday’s group, I already selected a few candidates.”

  The woman in the pastel purple suit suddenly remembered My and said:

  – “As for me, I eliminated My. Something about her isn’t right — like she has psychological issues.”

  The woman in the red dress curled her lips meaningfully:

  – “It’s because her greed is too strong, so Velvet Crave amplified her emotions. Plenty of people use our company’s cosmetics — no one else reacts that severely.”

  A young man offered a different view:

  – “Her mental state may be unstable, but she’s still a major distributor in the system. Let her pass this round — we’ll gain another hardworking subordinate.”

  Kane nodded in agreement:

  – “Exactly. Letting her pass the qualifier doesn’t mean she’ll win anyway.”

  Nicolas thought for a few seconds, then agreed:

  – “Fine. If that girl became the brand representative model, I’d probably go bankrupt. By the way, I’ve got news — my mother is preparing to come down here to visit me and review the company’s business situation.”

  Hearing this, everyone showed surprise and a hint of apprehension. The woman in the pastel purple suit quickly asked:

  – “When will the Queen arrive so we can prepare a proper reception?”

  Nicolas remained calm and unconcerned:

  – “I’ve only heard about it for now. When she’s ready to leave, I’ll inform everyone.”

  Every detail of the conversation had already been recorded. The ones monitoring them were none other than high-ranking agents of the Royal House of Satan, disguised as harmless wild animals throughout the forest.

  ***

  At the Bình Chánh headquarters, the Mid-Autumn Festival decorations were nearly complete. Demon King Satan held a skull-shaped lantern wrapped with shimmering metallic rope that sparkled under the lights. Having heard the entire conversation, he let out a faint scoff:

  – “Your mother is a Queen? She must be from some planet within the Milky Way galaxy.”

  The Grand Madam Advisor nodded while skillfully sorting colored powders to prepare ghost-fire flames:

  – “If that place belongs to the Milky Way, it’s relatively close to Earth. We can narrow it down — easier than if it were in Andromeda.”

  Satan slowly rotated the skull lantern in his hand, his gaze turning thoughtful:

  – “So the old fox behind the curtain is about to show himself. Let’s wait and see.”