Chapter 23
A strange silence fell over the room.
Like an invisible dividing line.
Swish! All eyes turned to Wu Mu, their gazes flickering like an erratic EKG, but no one spoke, a deathly quiet.
The implications were too significant. The Director General of the Supervisory Department taking a drink for the Tenth Yama King? Wasn’t this something straight out of the fan fiction forums? Many of the teachers present frequented the Underworld forums, and anyone who did had definitely seen the perpetually trending Envoy x Yama fan threads.
The Supervisory Department x Yama King fan works had practically become a Underworld specialty. Probably everyone except Xue Changyi himself had read them… including his older brothers.
Wu Mu didn’t say anything more, his face remaining cold as he emptied his glass and sat down.
“Hehe, hehe…”
The teachers chuckled nervously. “Is the food getting cold?”
“Oh dear, too many spicy dishes!” The principal interjected. “Should I order some milder dishes?”
“Yes, yes, yes! More food! More food!”
Dong Lan clicked his tongue, pouting. Others might not know, but he did. Wu Mu still harbored feelings for his cute little brother, that was why he had stepped in to take the drink—such a tsundere, how annoying!
Xue Changyi raised an eyebrow, observing Wu Mu’s actions. He leaned closer to Dong Lan, whispering, “Old Seven, urge me to drink.”
“Huh?” Dong Lan looked confused. “Little Ten, do you have a fever? Don’t you dislike alcohol?”
Xue Changyi repeated, “Urge me to drink.”
“Alright…” Dong Lan conceded, though unsure of Little Ten’s intentions. As a doting older brother, he naturally had to indulge his younger brother!
Dong Lan stood up. His cute and charming appearance immediately drew everyone’s attention. He said sweetly, “Little Ten, we’re celebrating today. We’re both new teachers at the academy, the juniors. Shouldn’t we drink more to show our respect?”
The principal wiped the sweat from his brow nervously. “Drink… drink more?”
Making two Yama Kings drink more, was that even wise?
Dong Lan nodded. “See, even the principal said so, drink more! One ‘more’ isn’t enough!”
“No, no, no!” The principal waved his hands frantically, practically a perpetual motion machine. “I was just… stuttering!”
Xue Changyi stood up, smiling. “Since the principal insists, I should follow the local customs, lest I appear unsociable, right?”
The principal: “… ” Wiping sweat… so much sweat!
Xue Changyi tilted his head back, his pale neck exposed, and emptied his glass.
It was baijiu, strong liquor, but Xue Changyi didn’t even flinch, as if he were drinking water.
Wu Mu frowned.
Clap, clap, clap! Dong Lan applauded, egging him on. “Good! Drink more, drink more! No one drinks just one cup, you have to drink three!”
Xue Changyi smiled again. “Naturally.”
He immediately picked up the second glass and emptied it.
“Good!”
“What a drinker!”
This time, it wasn’t just Dong Lan cheering, the other teachers joined in, impressed by Xue Changyi’s boldness.
Because Xue Changyi was the Tenth Yama King, of “noble” birth, and usually aloof, judging souls from his high position, he didn’t interact much with others. Many teachers considered him cold and distant, only exchanging nods and greetings.
Today was the perfect opportunity to get closer, and many curious teachers joined in the excitement.
“Teacher Xue is so straightforward!”
“He can really hold his liquor!”
Dong Lan clapped. “The third cup! The third cup!”
The principal, seeing the convivial atmosphere, relaxed slightly, even personally filling Xue Changyi’s third glass. “Teacher Xue, don’t force yourself if you can’t drink anymore.”
Xue Changyi said politely, “It’s fine.”
He picked up the glass, his pale, slender neck exposed once again.
Bang!
Wu Mu suddenly stood up, interrupting the lively atmosphere like a volcanic eruption.
Everyone looked at him, the room falling silent once more.
Wu Mu’s presence was like a dividing line. When he was silent, only the slightly lower temperature hinted at his power. But when he spoke, despite being the three-legged Golden Crow, representing the life-giving sun, his presence was surprisingly chilling!
Wu Mu strode forward, grabbed Xue Changyi’s hand, and under everyone’s stunned gazes, took the glass from him and emptied it in one gulp.
Bang!!
He slammed the glass down on the table, his voice indifferent. “Anyone else who wants to toast, I’ll drink for Teacher Xue.”
Everyone: “…”
Awkward silence.
Spring Festival was approaching, and the Underworld’s winter, just like the mortal realm’s, was cold, bitterly cold…
In the deathly silence, Xue Changyi was the first to speak. “Thank you, Teacher Wu, for taking the drink for me. I’ll toast to you.”
Wu Mu, without a word, emptied his glass.
Including the previous two, he had now had three glasses of baijiu.
Before the atmosphere could recover, Xue Changyi sat down and whispered to Dong Lan, “Go and toast Wu Mu.”
“Me?” Dong Lan scoffed. “I don’t want to toast him. Hmph, someone from the Supervisory Department, the ones who demoted my Second Brother, they don’t deserve it.”
“Old Seven, be good. We need to get Wu Mu drunk today. I have a plan.”
Hearing this, Dong Lan pouted reluctantly. “Fine, but you have to call me ‘good brother’.”
Xue Changyi sighed, seemingly immune to Dong Lan’s demands. Besides, Dong Lan was his older brother, what did he have to lose?
Xue Changyi leaned closer and whispered, “Good brother.”
Dong Lan’s rabbit-ear buns practically perked up. Full of energy, as if he had just downed an energy drink, he stood up and said boisterously, “Teacher Wu, I haven’t toasted you yet! Little Ten toasted you, so as his older brother, I naturally have to toast you as well.”
Wu Mu’s voice was husky. “There’s no need.”
Everyone thought Wu Mu’s voice sounded slightly slower than before.
Dong Lan chuckled. “Oh dear, Teacher Wu, do you look down on me? After all, we used to be enemies. The Yama Courts and the Supervisory Department have some… history. Do I have to apologize personally?”
“Haha! Hahaha…” The principal chuckled nervously. “To-today is our academy gathering, there’s no Yama Courts, no Supervisory Department, we’re all colleagues, all teachers, hahaha… right?”
The principal’s laughter died in his throat, wanting to cry…
Dong Lan continued, “Exactly, today I’m toasting you, my senior, as a chemistry teacher. You won’t refuse, will you, senior?”
Faced with Dong Lan’s deliberate provocation, Wu Mu had no choice but to stand up, pick up his glass, and take a small sip.
“No, no, Teacher Wu, you have to finish it, or you’re looking down on me, Dong Lan!”
When it came to being unreasonable, Xue Changyi smiled, his Old Seven had never lost.
Wu Mu, defeated, emptied his glass.
“Cough…” Wu Mu seemed to cough slightly, but the sound was quickly drowned out by the awkward laughter in the room.
To lighten the mood, everyone started toasting, one cup after another, but somehow, every toast seemed to end up directed at either Wu Mu or Xue Changyi.
After taking another drink for Xue Changyi, Wu Mu put down his glass. “We’re out of alcohol. I’ll go get more.”
He opened the door and walked out, his steps steady.
Thump…
As the door closed, a collective sigh of relief filled the room.
The temperature seemed to rise as the teachers relaxed. The principal wiped the sweat from his brow.
“Teacher Jiang, how’s Class Nine doing in math? I heard they all passed the last pop quiz.”
“Yes, those students are all incredibly bright, they just don’t like to study! Ever since Teacher Xue arrived, they’ve all started studying seriously. Passing is a piece of cake for them now, their grades are excellent!”
“Teacher Xue really has a way with them!”
“He’s a Yama King, how can you compare?”
“Huh…?” someone asked in surprise. “Hasn’t Teacher Wu been gone for a while? Why isn’t he back yet?”
“Don’t tell me he got lost?”
“You’re joking, he’s the Director General of the Supervisory Department! How can he get lost?”
The principal said, “I’ll go look for him. You all continue eating, continue eating.”
Xue Changyi stopped him. “Libationer, you’re the host, you should stay. I’ll go find Teacher Wu.”
“This…” The principal didn’t dare order Xue Changyi around, and besides, Xue Changyi and Wu Mu were rivals. Sending a Yama King to find the Director General of the Supervisory Department, wouldn’t they fight?
Xue Changyi had already opened the door and left.
With Spring Festival approaching, the tavern was crowded. Xue Changyi searched the front desk, but Wu Mu wasn’t there. He checked the restrooms, but still couldn’t find him.
Turning around, he saw a tall, young man in a black suit standing in a corner, facing the wall, as if in deep thought, his posture ramrod straight.
“Teacher Wu?” Xue Changyi approached, gently tapping Wu Mu’s shoulder.
“Xue… Xue Changyi…”
It was Wu Mu, his voice a soft murmur.
“Teacher Wu, what are you doing here?” Xue Changyi asked, puzzled.
What was even stranger was that although Wu Mu had said his name, he didn’t turn around, still facing the wall, murmuring, “Xue Changyi… did he find out?”
“Find out what?” Xue Changyi prompted.
Could it be… Xue Changyi’s eyes narrowed, his expression turning serious. Could it be about his Second Brother’s case?
Wu Mu continued murmuring to himself, “Did Xue Changyi find out… that I… like him?”
Xue Changyi: “…”
Xue Changyi walked around to face him. Wu Mu’s eyes were unfocused, his usually cold face softened, a look of anxiety replacing his usual indifference.
“What should I do… he seems to have found out?” Wu Mu mumbled to himself. “Because of the merchandise in the wardrobe? I told him I confiscated them, but he didn’t believe me? Or did he see that doujinshi? Does Xue Changyi think I’m strange?”
Wu Mu was drunk!
His face wasn’t flushed, he didn’t look drunk, still maintaining his aloof composure, but Xue Changyi was certain he was drunk. Just a few glasses, and he was already drunk, trying to act tough and take drinks for him. So, getting the Director General of the Supervisory Department drunk was this easy.
“Does he hate me?”
“He said he has someone he likes?”
“Did he say that on purpose, to let me down gently?”
“He hates me, I’m heartbroken, what should I do…”
Xue Changyi: “…”
He hadn’t expected that Wu Mu, when drunk, would become… a chatterbox!
