The Underworld is Empty, Yama is Teaching 31

Chapter 31

It was still early, too early even for morning self-study, let alone for Wu Mu, a PE teacher who didn’t have self-study duty.

Being with Xue Changyi like this, he was reluctant to leave. He pointed towards the cafeteria.

“Teacher Xue, it’s still early, want to grab some breakfast?”

Leopard Tail sneered, whispering, “Our boss wouldn’t eat with someone from the Supervisory Department! Eating with them would make him want to vomit…”

Before he could finish, Xue Changyi said casually, “Sure.”

“Huh???” Leopard Tail’s voice was loud and full of disbelief, mirroring his current state of mind.

Fish Gills: “…” He plugged his ears.

Xue Changyi and Wu Mu entered the cafeteria. Leopard Tail, still in shock, shook Fish Gills’ shoulder. “Fish Gills, Fish Gills! Slap me! Am I dreaming? Or am I crazy? Or am I still asleep?”

Fish Gills: “…”

Inside the cafeteria, Leopard Tail said enthusiastically, “Boss, Fish Gills, you two sit, I’ll get your breakfast!”

As usual, Leopard Tail volunteered to run errands.

He glanced at Wu Mu, his tone cold. “Minister Wu isn’t from our Court, we don’t know your preferences. If I buy the wrong thing, and it doesn’t suit your taste, will I get a demerit from the Supervisory Department? I wouldn’t dare. Please go get your own breakfast, Minister Wu.”

With that, he turned his back on Wu Mu.

Wu Mu: “…”

Wu Mu, unusually good-natured today, wasn’t offended. He nodded to Xue Changyi and joined Leopard Tail in line.

“Youtiao! Doufunao! Two orders of xiaolongbao… or make that three! And a jianbing, with two eggs, congee with preserved egg and lean pork, shrimp dumplings! Oh—and a glass of milk, with sugar, thank you!”

Leopard Tail ordered enough food to fill three large plates, carrying them back precariously.

Wu Mu noticed that Leopard Tail had ordered all of Xue Changyi’s favorites—congee with preserved egg and lean pork, and shrimp dumplings—leaving him no opportunity to show off. He quietly ordered his own food.

By the time Wu Mu returned to the table, Leopard Tail had already arranged the dishes, the table overflowing with food.

“Hey—” Leopard Tail raised his hand, stopping Wu Mu from sitting down. “Although there are only three of us, we have a lot of food, there’s not enough space at this table. Please sit at another table, Minister Wu.”

Wu Mu: “…”

Patience.

He took a deep breath, reminding himself to be patient. Leopard Tail and Fish Gills were Xue Changyi’s trusted subordinates, they probably misunderstood him. He shouldn’t aggravate the situation.

So, Wu Mu nodded agreeably and sat at the adjacent table, across the aisle from Xue Changyi.

Leopard Tail frowned, whispering, “What’s going on? Is Minister Wu sick today? Why is he clinging to us? Is he trying to find fault with us? Boss, be careful!”

Fish Gills glanced thoughtfully at Xue Changyi.

Xue Changyi smiled faintly. “Leopard Tail, you don’t have to whisper, Minister Wu can hear you. It’s no different from speaking normally.”

Leopard Tail turned around, meeting Wu Mu’s gaze.

Leopard Tail: “!!!” Awkward…

Wu Mu quietly ate his breakfast. He had come here to be near Xue Changyi, otherwise, he disliked the noisy cafeteria. He preferred the quiet of the equipment room, where he could admire Xue Changyi’s photocards or polish his figurines and badges.

Wu Mu frowned slightly, realizing this wasn’t working. He needed to subtly convey to Leopard Tail and Fish Gills that he meant no harm, and that he… liked their boss.

How?

His furrowed brow smoothed as an idea came to him. He wiped his hands and took out his phone.

Clink…

The elaborate keychain attached to his phone made a soft sound.

Xue Changyi glanced over. The keychain was a chibi version of himself. It seemed Wu Mu was no longer content being a secret admirer and wanted to be an open fan.

Leopard Tail, his mouth full of youtiao, mumbled, “What’s that thing? A little doll hanging from his phone? So tacky, how ugly!”

Xue Changyi: “… ”

Wu Mu: “… ”

Couldn’t Leopard Tail see that the keychain was a chibi Xue Changyi?

Wu Mu, not to be outdone, “accidentally” dropped his phone, it sliding between Leopard Tail and Fish Gills.

He said, “Could you pick up my phone for me?”

Leopard Tail grumbled, “Don’t Supervisory Department people have hands…”

But he glanced at Fish Gills, who was wearing a skirt today. If Wu Mu came over to pick up his phone, he might see up Fish Gills’ skirt. Unacceptable! Even if Fish Gills was a boy who liked to wear skirts, it was still unacceptable!

Reluctantly, Leopard Tail bent down and picked up the phone.

He definitely wasn’t trying to peek, but the screen was lit, and he saw Wu Mu’s wallpaper.

—A photo of Xue Changyi and Wu Mu together!

Thump!!

“Ow—”

Startled, Leopard Tail bumped his head on the underside of the table, the milk spilling and drenching him.

Oblivious to the spilled milk, he held up the phone, stammering, “Th-th-this…”

Fish Gills, his eyes thoughtful, handed the phone back to Wu Mu and, grabbing the bewildered Leopard Tail, said, “Boss, I’ll take this idiot to change his clothes.”

Xue Changyi nodded. “Alright.”

Fish Gills dragged Leopard Tail out of the cafeteria.

“What was that?”

“Am I still asleep? Fish Gills, slap me!”

“Ow, Fish Gills, you actually slapped me!”

Wu Mu watched them leave, a triumphant smile finally appearing on his face. He picked up his plate and moved to sit across from Xue Changyi.

Xue Changyi sighed. “I didn’t know Minister Wu was so childish.”

Wu Mu said uncertainly, “I didn’t ask for your permission before revealing our relationship to Leopard Tail and Fish Gills, is that alright?”

Xue Changyi raised an eyebrow. “Our relationship? Minister Wu, what is our relationship?”

Ding dong! A good question, one that stumped Wu Mu.

A one-night stand after getting drunk? A fan and his idol? Sworn enemies?

In any case, they weren’t officially dating. Wu Mu suddenly realized that apart from when he was drunk, he hadn’t properly confessed, skipping straight to kissing and sleeping with Xue Changyi.

Xue Changyi didn’t give him time to think, standing up and saying, “I’m finished.”

He gathered his dishes and left the cafeteria.

“Teacher Xue, wait!”

Wu Mu hurried after him, following him into the Pangong building. It was still early, but Xue Changyi was walking quickly. Wu Mu wondered if he was angry.

He impulsively grabbed Xue Changyi’s wrist.

Xue Changyi flinched, and Wu Mu quickly released him, not wanting to cause him any harm.

They stood in a corner, Wu Mu looking like a child who had done something wrong, his head lowered. “I’m sorry, I always thought… that liking you was so natural, a part of me, that I forgot to tell you—I like you, Xue Changyi.”

Xue Changyi was stunned for a moment, then chuckled. “I didn’t expect Minister Wu, so cold and aloof, to be so cheesy with his love confessions.”

Wu Mu defended himself. “It’s not cheesy, it’s the truth.”

What was that saying? Sincerity is the ultimate weapon.

Especially when spoken with such a handsome, earnest, even devout expression, even cheesy words could move a heart of stone.

Xue Changyi didn’t reply, but leaned closer to Wu Mu, tilting his head up and kissing him on the lips.

Wu Mu’s eyes widened, his cold demeanor melting away, replaced by joy and a hint of worry. Instead of returning the kiss, he gently pushed Xue Changyi away.

His expression was conflicted. “You’ll get hurt.”

Xue Changyi’s energy was full now, he didn’t need to absorb sunlight. If they continued, he would be burned.

Xue Changyi stepped closer, and Wu Mu, trying to maintain a safe distance, stepped back.

Thump—

Wu Mu’s back hit the wall.

Xue Changyi tilted his head up, his slender fingers playfully twirling Wu Mu’s tie. He whispered, “But I want to kiss you, don’t you?”

Wu Mu’s breath hitched, his eyes darkening with desire. “Mm!” The next moment, Xue Changyi moaned softly as Wu Mu captured his lips.

Tingling pleasure mixed with the sting of a burn, an intoxicating combination that sent a thrill through Xue Changyi’s usually cold heart, leaving him wanting more.

“Huh? Is someone there?”

Footsteps approached, students heading to class.

“No one there, Ah Yu, you must have misheard.”

“Impossible! My hearing is perfect. And that was definitely the sound of kissing. Is someone making out in the school building?”

“Ah Yu, we’re going to be late.”

The voices of Liu Bang and Xiang Yu faded away, and Wu Mu finally released Xue Changyi.

Xue Changyi’s lips, already red, were now even more vibrant, a small trickle of blood at the corner of his mouth.

“I’m sorry…” Wu Mu said, his voice full of concern.

Xue Changyi just smiled, licking the blood from his lips, a gesture that made Wu Mu’s eyes darken again.

Xue Changyi stopped him. “I have to go teach my class.”

Wu Mu glanced at the time. If they continued like this, they would indeed be late. At this moment, he didn’t resemble the Golden Crow, but rather a large, lovesick puppy.

Xue Changyi couldn’t help but ruffle his hair. “I’m resigning as the substitute homeroom teacher today. I’ll have a lot of free time after I retire.”

Wu Mu’s eyes lit up with hope. He nodded. “I’ll submit my resignation too.”

Xue Changyi and Wu Mu parted ways. Xue Changyi entered the Class Nine classroom. The students, unaware of Jixia Academy’s true purpose or their roles in it, considered it a blessing from the Central Office, a chance to escape the cycle of reincarnation by studying here.

“Teacher! We did so well on the mock exam, shouldn’t we get a reward?”

“Yes, Teacher! You’re always fair with rewards and punishments!”

“Does that mean we’ll all pass the make-up exams?”

“Lü Bu barely passed, how embarrassing.”

Xue Changyi said calmly, “Class, I have something to announce.”

The classroom quieted down, all eyes on him.

Xue Changyi took a deep breath. “I’m resigning today. Starting tomorrow, I won’t be your teacher anymore.”

“What?!”

“Why?”

“Teacher Xue, why are you resigning?”

“It must be because Lü Bu did so poorly on the test, right?”

“It’s not my fault, I passed!”

Thump—

Amidst the commotion, Dong Lan burst into the classroom.

“Teacher Dong?” The students exchanged glances, confused. This wasn’t chemistry class, why was the chemistry teacher here?

Xue Changyi calmly looked at Dong Lan. “Old Seven, it seems you haven’t told them the truth yet.”

Dong Lan, panting, said urgently, “Little Ten! You can’t resign! You can’t! The blood samples…”

“Someone tampered with them! The real samples were switched!”

He grabbed Xue Changyi’s hand, his eyes wide with panic, his words tumbling out incoherently. “And Second Brother… Second Brother!”

“What about Second Brother?” Xue Changyi frowned.

Dong Lan’s voice was hoarse. “The Supervisory Department Envoys reported that after you descended beneath the Terrace of Forgetfulness, they couldn’t find any trace of Li Han… Second Brother is gone!”