The Underworld is Empty, Yama is Teaching 38

Chapter 38

Wu Mu arrived at Xue Changyi’s apartment, entering the password to unlock the door.

Click—

The door opened, and a feeling of inexplicable joy washed over him.

This was Xue Changyi’s home, and he knew the password. Xue Changyi had even told him to wait for him here.

Wu Mu closed the door with a goofy smile. If anyone from the Supervisory Department saw him now, their jaws would drop, thinking the encroaching death had arrived early.

The apartment was clean and tidy, a little impersonal since Xue Changyi lived alone. Wu Mu sat on the sofa, patiently waiting for him to return.

After half an hour, he took out his phone. Xue Changyi still hadn’t returned, and he hadn’t said where he was going, not even inviting him along. Perhaps… it was Yama Court business, and Wu Mu, after all, was from the Supervisory Department.

He opened his briefcase and, from inside the serious, black leather bag, pulled out a novel—My Nemesis, My Wife.

It was a new release, a doujinshi featuring the Underworld’s hottest CP, the Director General of the Supervisory Department x the Tenth Yama King. Wu Mu loved reading fan fiction about himself and Xue Changyi, buying every new release.

He opened the novel, starting to read to pass the time.

It was a… purely smutty book, detailing how sworn enemies could be fierce rivals by day and passionate lovers by night.

Wu Mu’s brow furrowed in concentration, his expression serious, as he devoured the words, completely absorbed in the story, losing track of time.

Click—

The door opened softly, but Wu Mu, engrossed in his reading, didn’t notice.

Xue Changyi entered the living room and saw Wu Mu sitting on the sofa, seemingly reading an official document or handling some urgent Supervisory Department business, his expression serious and focused. They said a man at work was most handsome, and at this moment, Wu Mu was undeniably handsome.

Not wanting to disturb him, Xue Changyi was about to walk past the sofa when he caught a glimpse of…

It wasn’t an official document at all.

But a doujinshi!

Xue Changyi raised an eyebrow, standing behind Wu Mu and reading aloud, “The cold Yama King straddled his nemesis, his slender waist swaying seductively, a captivating allure unlike his usual demeanor…”

Thump!

Wu Mu jumped, slamming the book shut and hiding it behind his back.

“You’re… back?” he stammered.

“Hehe…” Xue Changyi chuckled, tilting his head. “Minister Wu, so you enjoy reading this kind of novel?”

Wu Mu: “…”

He looked flustered, like a child caught doing something wrong. “If you don’t like it, I won’t read it again.”

“Pfft…” Xue Changyi couldn’t help but laugh. He turned and walked away.

Wu Mu immediately stood up. “Where are you going?”

Xue Changyi paused, looking back at him. “To take a shower.”

Wu Mu’s eyes darkened, his mind conjuring up images from the novel.

Xue Changyi continued, “Didn’t I tell you to be clean and wait for me in bed? Have you showered?”

Wu Mu: “…”

He had thought the text message was a joke. This was only his second time at Xue Changyi’s apartment, how could he just use his bathroom? He shook his head.

Xue Changyi raised an eyebrow. “Together?”

Wu Mu had read his fair share of doujinshi, and Xue Changyi’s words, usually only found in those books, were now a reality.

His eyes darkened, like two swirling abysses, ready to devour Xue Changyi.

And Xue Changyi, oblivious to the danger, beckoned him closer, even smiling faintly.

Wu Mu couldn’t resist any longer. He strode forward and scooped Xue Changyi up in his arms.

“Ah…” Xue Changyi hadn’t expected to be carried. He was a grown man, even if he was thinner than Wu Mu, he wasn’t light.

Wu Mu carried him effortlessly, his muscles flexing, and strode towards the bathroom.

The sound of running water filled the air, warm water filling the bathtub, steam swirling around them.

Wu Mu frowned slightly. “Where did you go just now? Why are you so drained?”

Just now…?

Xue Changyi had been to the Mirror of Retribution. As a Yama King, he could access it freely without suspicion, but activating the mirror required power. Only with sufficient power could one see the future, otherwise, only the past and present were visible…

He had seen his own death in the mirror, which had drained him considerably.

He didn’t answer Wu Mu’s question, but instead pushed him into the bathtub. Splash— With the sound of water, he straddled Wu Mu, just like in the doujinshi Wu Mu had been reading.

Xue Changyi leaned down, his hands on Wu Mu’s shoulders, a playful smile on his lips. “So you like it like this?”

Wu Mu’s eyes darkened, a predatory glint in them.

Xue Changyi leaned closer, his lips brushing against Wu Mu’s ear. He whispered, “Minister Wu, please… feed me.”

Morning sunlight streamed through the gap in the curtains.

Xue Changyi’s long eyelashes fluttered, and he slowly opened his eyes.

Wu Mu lay beside him, his brow relaxed, still asleep, probably dreaming something pleasant.

A smile touched Xue Changyi’s lips. So this was what it felt like to wake up with someone beside him—warm.

A feeling he wanted to hold onto…

He leaned over and gently kissed Wu Mu’s forehead.

Wu Mu’s eyelashes trembled, about to wake up, but Xue Changyi stroked his hair, whispering, “Sleep.”

Wu Mu’s breathing evened out, and he drifted back to sleep.

Xue Changyi gazed at him, his expression complex, his fingers tracing the contours of Wu Mu’s face. He sat up and got out of bed.

He dressed and straightened his clothes, closing the gap in the curtains, then looked back at Wu Mu one last time before leaving the bedroom.

He glanced around the living room, picked up the open doujinshi from the sofa, closed it, and placed it neatly on the coffee table. He sighed softly, opened the door, and stepped outside.

Someone was waiting for him, leaning against the wall, arms crossed, a worried frown on their face.

“Second Brother?” Xue Changyi smiled. “So early? What brings you here?”

Li Han didn’t answer the rhetorical question, asking instead, “You went to the Mirror of Retribution yesterday, didn’t you?”

Xue Changyi said calmly, “Second Brother, is there anything you don’t know?”

Li Han replied, “I don’t know how heartbroken Wu Mu will be if you leave like this.”

Xue Changyi fell silent.

Li Han’s voice was husky. “Even if the encroaching death is delayed, the sun will lose its light, because you won’t be by his side.”

Xue Changyi joked, “Fortunately, he’s not the only Golden Crow, there were ten of them.”

Li Han didn’t smile. He continued, “And Dong Lan, you know Little Seven, he’s so stubborn, he would do anything for you. If you’re gone, he might even destroy the entire Underworld.”

Xue Changyi’s tone was still light. “That’s why we need you, Second Brother, to stop him. It’s a heavy responsibility. Old Seven might be stubborn, but he… listens to reason.”

“Changyi…” Li Han’s voice was serious, no longer amused by his jokes.

Xue Changyi said, “Second Brother, listen to me.”

Li Han remained silent.

Xue Changyi’s voice was soft as he looked back towards the bedroom, his eyes filled with memories.

“Back then… when everything was chaos, the sky and earth fused, no rivers, no lakes… I existed in that world.” He was lost in his memories. “In that vast emptiness, I saw a little crow, dying of thirst, its black eyes looking at me, so full of longing. That was the first time… I felt compassion.”

His expression was serene as he said softly, “I want you to live, Second Brother, I want Old Seven to live, and I want him to live too.”

His eyes hardened, his voice hoarse. “I’m the only way to delay the encroaching death.”

Bang, bang, bang—

Ding-dong! Ding-dong!!

The incessant knocking woke Wu Mu up, loud enough to be the Thunder God and Lightning Mother.

He frowned, noticing Xue Changyi was gone.

Bang, bang, bang!

The knocking continued, escalating into pounding.

Wu Mu got dressed and opened the door.

“Little Ten! It’s big brother!”

“Little Ten, open the door!”

“Little—”

The door opened, and Dong Lan stopped mid-knock, his eyes widening. “Why are you here?”

Wu Mu raised an eyebrow. “Father.”

Dong Lan said irritably, “What are you doing here?”

Wu Mu replied, “I stayed here last night.”

“Ahhhh!!” Dong Lan covered his ears, his rabbit-ear buns trembling. “I don’t want to hear it! I don’t want to hear it!”

Wu Mu: “…”

He raised an eyebrow, and since his adoptive father refused to listen, he tilted his head slightly, adjusting his collar to reveal the hickey on his neck.

It was a mark left by Xue Changyi last night, at Wu Mu’s insistent request. But to the uninformed, it looked like Xue Changyi had been the enthusiastic one.

“Ahhhh!!!” As expected, Dong Lan shrieked even louder. “What have I done! How did I raise such a shameless son! You demon—”

He stamped his foot. “Call Little Ten out here! What time did you two stay up last night?! Not answering calls, not replying to messages, making me come all the way here!”

Wu Mu said, puzzled, “Xue Changyi isn’t home.”

“Not home?” Dong Lan looked at him, his eyes full of disdain, as if to say—After what happened last night, my precious little brother can still get out of bed, but you can’t? Seems like you’re not up to par!

“Ahem…” Wu Mu coughed. “I just woke up, Xue Changyi isn’t here, he must have gone out. I’ll call him.”

He took out his phone and dialed Xue Changyi’s number.

Ring—ring—ring—

After a few rings, just as they thought it would go to voicemail, the call connected.

“Hello.”

Wu Mu asked, “You’re out? There are no classes at the academy today.”

“Mm, I’m out,” Xue Changyi’s voice sounded distant. “Something came up.”

Wu Mu asked again, “When will you be back? Should I come pick you up?”

Xue Changyi didn’t answer, but said with a smile, “Wu Mu, I miss you.”

“What?” Wu Mu’s expression turned to one of surprise, about to ask…

Boom—!!!

A deafening explosion came through the phone, and the line went dead.