The Destiny Villainess Wants Me To Work!

Chapter 291: Handcuffed!

"...Are those Pishachas?"

Su Mo’s uncertain voice echoed through the dim underground passage as Wu Haruto calmly led the group deeper beneath the White Moon Sect.

The deeper they descended, the heavier the surrounding Yin Qi became, carrying with it an oppressive chill that seeped through flesh and reached straight into one’s bones.

Yang Qingxi instinctively moved a little closer to Su Mo. Even though she had experienced many strange things and was used to it, being stared at by hundreds of Pishachas from both sides of the passage was still enough to send goosebumps across her skin.

Their crimson eyes followed every step they took, and countless pale hands stretched through the darkness as though trying to grab anyone foolish enough to come within reach.

She had already prepared herself for a battle.

Strangely, however, none of the Pishachas attacked.

Wu Haruto noticed their vigilance and smiled faintly.

"They’re all Grade Two and Grade Three Pishachas," he explained without slowing his pace. "There’s no need to worry. Every single one of them is sealed inside. They cannot escape, nor can they attack anyone outside the barriers."

Only then did Yang Qingxi realize the faint formations engraved upon every corner. Invisible streams of spiritual power connected dark prison together, forming an enormous sealing array throughout the underground passage.

Song Meilin remained completely silent.

Her beautiful eyes swept across one prison after another, unable to conceal the astonishment within them.

There were literally hundreds of Pishachas imprisoned beneath the Sect Master’s office.

Who had captured so many of these creatures?

Why were they imprisoned instead of being exterminated?

Wouldn’t killing them be far safer?

Question after question surfaced inside her mind, yet Wu Haruto showed no intention of explaining further. Seeing his indifferent expression, Song Meilin wisely chose not to ask.

The group continued forward until the narrow passage suddenly opened into a massive underground sinkhole.

The sight before them immediately captured everyone’s attention.

At the very center of the enormous cavern stood a gigantic tree.

It was completely black.

Its roots... trunk... branches...

Even every single leaf carried the color of endless darkness.

It stood there silently like an ancient existence that had witnessed countless ages, emitting an eerie aura that made one’s scalp tingle.

Su Mo unconsciously activated his Devil’s Eyes.

The moment his vision changed, dense streams of Yin Energy instantly appeared before him. They poured out from the black tree like an endless black river, so concentrated that the surrounding air itself seemed distorted.

Yet before he could fully observe the strange tree, his gaze abruptly shifted downward.

Someone was sitting beneath it.

An old man.

His body resembled a dried skeleton wrapped in loose purple robes, while his flesh appeared shriveled as though every ounce of vitality had long since disappeared. Despite his frail appearance, an indescribably terrifying pressure quietly surrounded him.

The instant Su Mo’s eyes landed upon the old man, every hair on his body stood upright.

Danger.

Extreme danger.

His instincts screamed louder than they ever had before.

This wasn’t someone he could resist.

Not even slightly.

Compared to the old man, his Golden Core cultivation felt no different from that of an ordinary mortal standing before a mountain.

At that moment, Su Mo finally realized something was terribly wrong.

This wasn’t an invitation.

It was a trap.

[No... We need to leave. This place is dangerous.]

Without the slightest hesitation, Su Mo opened the System Mall inside his mind.

His thoughts immediately locked onto the Escape Talisman.

’Hurry...’

His consciousness rapidly searched through the interface.

’Come on...’

Unfortunately...

He was already too late.

Wu Haruto respectfully cupped his fists toward the old man beneath the black tree.

"Ancestor."

His voice echoed throughout the cavern.

"I’ve brought them here."

Ancestor?

Su Mo’s pupils shrank.

’Ancestor?’

’So this old man isn’t an enemy... he’s the Old Ancestor of White Moon Sect?’

Before that thought could completely settle inside his mind, the old man’s tightly shut eyes slowly opened.

Two dark purple pupils quietly stared toward them.

No killing intent, or pressure.

Just a calm glance.

The next instant—

The old man disappeared.

No.

He hadn’t disappeared.

His speed had simply exceeded what Su Mo’s eyes could perceive.

’The Escape Talisman...’

’Hurry!’

Just as Su Mo was about to activate it, an overwhelming force struck the back of his neck.

Thud!

A sharp pain shot through his body.

His vision instantly blurred before complete darkness swallowed his consciousness.

He never even saw who attacked him.

Yang Qingxi fared even worse.

With only Foundation Building First Layer cultivation, she couldn’t even follow the old man’s movement. Before she realized what had happened, she felt a light tap against her back.

Her beautiful eyes widened slightly.

The world spun around her.

Then everything went black.

Thud.

She collapsed beside Su Mo.

Song Meilin’s cultivation had already reached the Ninth Layer of Foundation Building, making her the second strongest among the three.

Unfortunately...

The difference between Foundation Building and a Nascent Soul Level Nine expert was simply too enormous.

It wasn’t a matter of winning.

It wasn’t even a matter of resisting.

She couldn’t react.

Before spiritual energy could even circulate through her body, the old man’s finger lightly landed upon her shoulder.

Another muffled sound echoed through the cavern as Song Meilin also collapsed unconscious.

Silence returned.

Only two people remained standing.

Wu Haruto and the Old Ancestor.

Looking at the unconscious trio lying on the ground, Wu Haruto hesitated before speaking.

"Ancestor... was this really necessary?"

He looked toward Su Mo and the others before continuing.

"If we had simply explained everything and asked for their help after assisting in finding the attacker, they would most likely have helped us willingly. As for Elder Song, she’s one of our own people."

The old man looked at Wu Haruto expressionlessly for several moments before letting out a soft sigh.

"You still don’t understand, Haruto."

His aged voice carried neither anger nor disappointment.

"Young people are filled with pride and rebellious thoughts. Words alone cannot convince them. Before they are willing to listen, they must first understand the difference between themselves and those stronger than them."

His gaze shifted toward Song Meilin.

"As for Little Song..."

A faint smile appeared on his withered face.

"Let her sleep for a while. It’ll give her enough time to calm down so she won’t react too strongly afterward."

Wu Haruto slowly nodded.

"I understand."

Since these words came from the Old Ancestor himself, he naturally believed there was a deeper meaning behind them.

"You must have your own considerations."

The old man nodded slightly.

"I do."

He raised one hand, producing a folded piece of paper.

"Take this list."

"There are several materials I require before the next full moon. Make the necessary preparations."

Wu Haruto immediately received the list respectfully with both hands before carefully folding it and storing it inside his storage ring.

After a brief hesitation, he couldn’t help asking another question.

"Ancestor... your aura seems much stronger than before. Have you still not recovered enough? Can’t you still leave this place?"

The old man quietly shook his head.

A trace of disappointment flashed across Wu Haruto’s face.

"I understand."

He cupped his fists respectfully.

"I’ll prepare everything as quickly as possible. Please rest assured."

After watching Wu Haruto disappear into the underground passage, the old man slowly turned his gaze back toward the unconscious youngsters.

The kindness on his face gradually disappeared.

In its place emerged a twisted expression filled with madness.

His purple eyes gleamed with terrifying anticipation.

"Yuna."

His voice was soft.

A woman wrapped entirely in black suddenly appeared beside him as though she had always been standing there.

"Take them away."

"Lock them up using the special handcuffs and assign several Pishachas to keep watch over them."

After a brief pause, he calmly added,

"And force Song Meilin to break through."

The woman silently nodded.

Without asking a single question, she lifted the unconscious Su Mo, Yang Qingxi, and Song Meilin before disappearing into the darkness.

Once the cavern became empty again, the Old Ancestor slowly raised his head to look at the towering black tree.

His aged face gradually broke into a fanatical smile.

"Finally..."

"My wish... is about to come true."

***

After an unknown amount of time had passed, Su Mo slowly regained consciousness.

A dull ache lingered at the back of his neck as he frowned and forced his heavy eyelids open. The first thing that entered his vision was the cold stone ceiling above him, illuminated by several dim spirit lamps that cast flickering shadows across the room.

’I’m... alive?’

The realization made him instinctively relax for a brief moment before he tried to move.

Clink.

A crisp metallic sound echoed through the silent chamber.

Su Mo lowered his head and discovered that both his wrists were locked inside a pair of strange black handcuffs engraved with unfamiliar runes. Thick chains extended from them, binding his body firmly against the wall, making even the simplest movement difficult.