The Underworld is Empty, Yama is Teaching 8

Chapter 8

#Underworld High School Forum – Discussion Area#

[Announcement] General Rules for the Jixia Academy Forum~~ Reply: 0

[Chatter] Let’s talk about the new Class Nine homeroom teacher, Teacher Xue! HOT~~ Reply: 3333

[Chatter] Class Nine’s winter break field trip is actually—HOT~~ Reply: 2497

Original Post: Shocking!!! Class Nine’s winter break field trip is actually—rice planting!

NO.1: @Shang Yang, why are you so hated? Someone wants to plant #you again!

NO.2: @Shang Yang

NO.3: Look closely, upstairs, it’s not that Yang (surname), it’s the rice seedlings next to the 禾 (grain) character!!!

NO.4: ?????

NO.5: Is it the rice planting I’m thinking of? The farming kind? The agricultural kind?

NO.6: Oh my god, so many emperors, generals, and scholars in Class Nine, are they really following their homeroom teacher to plant rice??

NO.7: Teacher Xue is the best! #thumbs up emoji#

NO.8: Classmates, I suddenly really want to see what Class Nine looks like planting rice!

NO.9: Me too, me too! I want to see the First Emperor planting rice!

NO.10: I suggest we go and watch!

The sky was pitch black. It was the Tiger Hour, but the winter sky showed no sign of light, steeped in a deathly stillness.

Especially in this place, recently ravaged by fire, the farmland barren and turned to ashes. The surrounding air was thick with a hazy smoke, and every breath brought the gritty taste of ash into their mouths and noses.

The students of Class Nine rested in the charred remains of a small hut, some leaning, some sitting.

Soldiers had come yesterday, burning the fields. The farmers, left with nothing, had to abandon their land and seek livelihoods elsewhere. The remnants of this hut became Class Nine’s temporary “dormitory” for their field trip.

Exposed to the elements on all sides, in the depths of winter, the conditions were unbelievably harsh. The students had grown accustomed to the long nights, but finally, exhausted and hungry after a day of farm work, they fell into a restless sleep.

And not pleasant dreams.

Rustle…

A dark figure leaning against the corner suddenly stirred, slowly rising and adjusting their robe.

“Ah Yu?”

Liu Bang, who was a light sleeper, opened his eyes. “Where are you going?”

Xiang Yu glanced at him irritably. “It’s the Tiger Hour!”

Surprise flickered in Liu Bang’s eyes. Teacher Xue had indeed said that work would resume at the Tiger Hour, to continue their rice-planting activities.

But yesterday, everyone was so tired and hungry, no one had the energy to think about work today. They all planned to sleep until they felt better. Liu Bang never expected Xiang Yu to be the first one up.

Wasn’t Xiang Yu always challenging Teacher Xue?

“Get up!” Xiang Yu kicked Liu Bang. “Although I’m not happy about it, you’re also a member of Group Three. I’m warning you, don’t hold me back!”

Liu Bang remained silent. Before he could speak, Xiang Yu turned his back, took a deep breath, cupped his hands around his mouth, and roared, “Wake up—!!”

“Huh!!”

“What’s happening?!”

“Who’s attacking us again?!”

“What, a peasant uprising?!”

“Mmm—Brother, Jiao’er is sleepy…”

Xiang Yu continued to yell, “It’s the Tiger Hour—Wake up—!!”

“It’s only… the Tiger Hour…”

“So hungry and sleepy, I’ve never been so miserable since I was born…”

“Quiet! This Poet Immortal is in the middle of a drinking contest in my dream, almost… almost won!”

Xiang Yu rushed over, pulling each of them up. “Get up! Time to plant rice! Field trip time! Get up, get up!”

He turned to Liu Bang. “Come on, help me wake them up.”

Liu Bang was surprised, pointing at himself.

Xiang Yu urged, “What are you waiting for? Aren’t you in Group Three?”

Liu Bang was even more surprised. Xiang Yu always contradicted him, regardless of whether he was right or wrong, always going against the grain. Why was he being so cooperative today?

“Lao Xiang, don’t pull my clothes!”

“It’s only the Tiger Hour! Xiang Yu, are you on stimulants?”

“Ah, I know! You must have been so hungry yesterday that you secretly ate wild mushrooms! You’re poisoned!”

“Liu Bang! How can you be an accomplice! Let go of me, I can still sleep—”

The dilapidated hut was in chaos, the clamor broken by a cold voice.

“Class…”

Swish! All the students of Class Nine turned towards the voice, the same thought flashing through their minds—

The demon king has arrived!

Under the dark, starless sky, Xue Changyi, holding his signature black umbrella, strolled out.

Xue Changyi looked around. “It seems everyone had a good rest last night. Let’s strive to earn little red flowers today.”

All the students of Class Nine: “…”

“I know,” Xue Changyi’s gaze swept over each student. “Class Nine is full of emperors, generals, and renowned politicians and scholars. Some of you may have farmed before, some may have planted rice, but it’s long been forgotten…”

Everyone then noticed a kind-looking old man following behind Xue Changyi in the darkness.

Xue Changyi introduced him, “This is Jia Sixie, whom I’ve specially invited to guide you in rice planting. You may call him Teacher Jia.”

“Jia Sixie?”

“The farming guy?”

“What do you mean ‘farming guy’? He’s the Patron Saint of Agriculture! An agricultural scientist! Essential Techniques for the People! Do you understand? And you call yourself a Poet Immortal!”

“Still a farming guy.”

“…”

Xiang Yu, unusually enthusiastic, stood up straight, puffed out his chest, and shouted, “Teacher Jia!”

“Lao Xiang?”

“Did you really eat mushrooms?”

“Doesn’t seem like it, more like he drank fake alcohol.”

Xue Changyi repeated, “Call him Teacher Jia.”

Xiang Yu, with renewed vigor, shouted again, “Teacher Jia!”

Liu Bang followed suit. “Teacher Jia.”

The other students, seeing this, reluctantly joined in. “Teacher Jia…”

Teacher Jia smiled kindly, cupping his hands repeatedly. “Your Ma—”

He stopped as Xue Changyi shook his head slightly. Teacher Jia corrected himself, “My lord, then I won’t decline. I’ll shamelessly act as a teacher for a while.”

Xue Changyi nodded. “Everyone has their expertise. In this area, Teacher Jia is indeed the teacher. There’s no need for modesty.”

My lord?

My lord again?

Granny Meng had called Teacher Xue “my lord” earlier, and now Teacher Jia did the same. Could it be… the students of Class Nine wondered, could Teacher Xue be some important figure?

At least an important figure in the Underworld Central Office…

Teacher Jia clasped his hands behind his back and paced slowly. “In my life, I’ve always opposed the saying ‘Life and death are predetermined, wealth and honor are decreed by Heaven’.”

“In farming, ‘Follow the seasons, understand the land, then you’ll achieve much with little effort. Go against nature, and you’ll toil in vain’.”

“Students, you may know of great events in the world, but do you know the different types of rice?”

The students were languid, perhaps still sleepy, their minds elsewhere, not paying attention.

Xue Changyi said softly, “If you can answer Teacher Jia’s question, you’ll receive a little red flower.”

Whoosh!!

The students’ eyes lit up, fixated on Teacher Jia like hungry wolves.

Indeed, they were starving!

Teacher Jia, under their intense gazes, smiled and said, “How about this, if any student can name five types of rice, they’ll receive a little red flower.”

Xiang Yu nudged Liu Bang. In Class Nine, Liu Bang was the most likely candidate to answer the question and earn the extra little red flower.

“Ahem…” Liu Bang, under Xiang Yu’s “enthusiastic” stare, felt a shiver down his spine. He stammered, “…Purple glutinous rice, red glutinous rice… white… rice?”

“Very good, very good!” Teacher Jia clapped his hands. “What else? Don’t be nervous, Liu Bang, think carefully…”

“Yellow—yellow…” Liu Bang’s eyes darted around. His ancestors were indeed farmers, but that was a long time ago. Not only had he forgotten while in the Underworld, even when he was alive, he hadn’t paid much attention. Remembering three types of rice was already quite impressive.

Xiang Yu urged, “Yellow what? Yellow, yellow, you’re making me see yellow!” (A pun in Chinese, “yellow” can also mean pornographic)

Liu Bang’s face flushed, and he bowed respectfully. “Teacher Jia, I really can’t remember. Please enlighten me.”

Xiang Yu glared. “You’re so dumb.”

Liu Bang smiled good-naturedly.

Teacher Jia stroked his beard and said, “Enlighten is too strong a word. Students, there are countless varieties of rice: ‘Yellow Urn Rice, Yellow Land Rice, Green Panicled Rice, Yuzhang Green Rice, Purple-Tailed Rice, Green Cane Rice, Flying Dragonfly Rice, Red Armored Rice, Large Fragrant Rice, Small Fragrant Rice,’ and so on.”

“Let’s talk about spring rice first. Spring rice must be dried in the winter sun and exposed to the night dew. Without frost and drying, the rice will be broken…”

At first, the students were uninterested, resting their chins in their hands, sitting in the drafty hut. But listening to a lecture was still better than actually planting rice, so they patiently listened.

Unexpectedly, they gradually became engrossed. There was so much to learn about farming. It seemed vast and profound, and they felt like ignorant outsiders.

“Hahaha!!”

“Class Nine is really farming here!”

A burst of laughter interrupted them. The students of Class Nine, who had been listening attentively, looked towards the sound.

“Wow! Why are the regular class students here?”

“I see Shang Yang from the next class, and Li Yuanfang, Li Shimin!”

“Class Eight is here too!”

News of Class Nine’s field trip had exploded on the Underworld High School forum overnight. Even though other classes were on break, students flocked to “observe.”

“Whoa! The First Emperor is farming!”

“This is more exciting than Lin Daiyu uprooting a willow tree!”

“Am I seeing things?”

“Oh my god!! Even farming, His Majesty is so handsome! Ahhh, worthy of the First Emperor!”

#Underworld High School Forum – Discussion Area#

[Chatter] Ahhh, His Majesty is so handsome!!! HOT~~ Reply: 1888

NO.1000: Long live His Majesty!! His Majesty is the most handsome~~

NO.1001: What’s so interesting about Qin Shi Huang farming? Our Li Shimin is much better!

NO.1002: Why are Li Shimin fans here again?

NO.1003: If Li Shimin fans keep comparing, I’ll curse Li Shimin to be adapted into time-travel idol dramas every year!!

NO.1004: !!! You’re so cruel!

NO.1005: Exactly! What do Li Shimin fans have to brag about? Tang fans aren’t necessarily all Li Shimin fans, but Qin fans are definitely all Qin Shi Huang fans!

NO.1006: Who says so? I’m a Qin Shubao fan!!!

The forum post exploded in popularity, attracting more and more onlookers and debaters, crowding around and chattering.

“Liu Bang and Xiang Yu are in the same group, a mutual help and support learning group? I’m not seeing things, right?”

“What’s the deal with Class Nine’s homeroom teacher, Teacher Xue? He’s so unconventional.”

“I don’t know. I heard his surname is Xue, specially transferred from the Underworld Central Office…”

“Xue… that surname sounds familiar…”

“Farm! Why aren’t they farming? Just talking isn’t enough, hurry up and farm! We’re all here to see the First Emperor farm!”

Cheng Jiao puffed out his cheeks, ready to pick a fight with the onlookers.

“Wah—I’m so angry! How dare they bully my brother!”

“Jiao’er.” Ying Zheng stopped him. “Where are you going?”

Cheng Jiao stamped his foot. “To fight! I won’t let them talk about my brother like that!”

Ying Zheng smiled calmly. “It’s fine.”

“But brother…”

Lü Bu complained, “Teacher, aren’t you going to do anything about them! We’re here for a field trip, and they’re being sarcastic, especially Class Eight!”

Xue Changyi glanced at the crowd. “Clear your mind, be unmoved by the eight winds.” (A Buddhist saying about remaining unperturbed by praise or criticism)

Lü Bu: ???

Xue Changyi raised his voice. “You are all prominent figures from history. You’ve fought battles, built empires, founded dynasties, some of you have even lost kingdoms. Are you afraid of being watched? If they want to watch, let them watch. Remember, your only focus should be the field beneath your feet and the seedlings in your hands.”

Lü Bu: “… ” For some reason, he suddenly felt a surge of passion.

Passion ignited by rice planting…

Clap, clap!

Xue Changyi clapped his hands. “Failing to complete the task is what would truly make us a laughingstock. Focus on the task at hand.”

Ying Zheng patted Cheng Jiao’s head. “Jiao’er, listen to the teacher.”

Cheng Jiao, still pouting, nodded. “Okay, brother.”

Teacher Jia said, “We’ve just learned the theory. Farming, like waging war, can’t just be discussed on paper. Now, I’ll teach you how to plant rice, step by step.”

Liu Bang and Xiang Yu stood side-by-side in the small ditch, which could hardly be called a paddy field. Liu Bang, imitating Teacher Jia’s movements, whispered, “Ah Yu, what changed your mind?”

“Changed my mind about what?” Xiang Yu didn’t look at him, focused on his task.

“Teaming up with me. Didn’t you say yesterday that we were sworn enemies?”

Xiang Yu sneered. “We are indeed sworn enemies! But sometimes I wonder, what I’m doing…”

He looked towards the distant horizon, where fires were burning again, the smoke and flames of the Chu army burning Han fields.

Xiang Yu murmured, “What I’m doing… is it right?”

Liu Bang also looked into the distance, lost in thought.

“Principal?”

“Huh, the Libationer is here too!”

The crowd stirred. The principal of Underworld High School, the Libationer of Jixia Academy, squeezed through the crowd.

The principal’s face was etched with worry, but he forced a smile and nodded to the students.

Why am I here? The principal thought anxiously. Could I not come? Emperors, generals, politicians, and scholars from five thousand years of history are all planting rice. I’m here to see how I should write my resignation letter…

The principal pushed to the front, his forced smile freezing, then slowly melting into an expression of disbelief and shock.

“They… they—” The principal pointed at the students of Class Nine, who were honestly and diligently working in the ditch.

Every single student!

The principal said in astonishment, “Class Nine is… is planting rice? Obediently? Without any trouble?”

Teacher Jia approached him. “Principal, don’t worry. The students of Class Nine are indeed gifted, top students, outstanding individuals. They’re quick learners. Look, they’re doing a great job!”

In the ditch, in what could hardly be called a field, rows of green seedlings, though uneven, were planted neatly and orderly. For beginners, this was practically a miracle.

“Liu Bang and Xiang Yu…” the principal mumbled, his jaw dropping. “Not fighting?”

“Is that really a hoe in Lü Bu’s hand, not his Fangtian Huaji?”

“Yang Guang isn’t stirring up trouble?”

“Li Bai is farming sober?”

The principal rubbed his eyes again and again. “No, no, I can’t believe it. I must be dreaming! Is this Duke Zhou’s dreamland?” (A Chinese idiom referring to a pleasant dream)

“Principal.” Xue Changyi approached, holding his black umbrella, interrupting the principal’s mumbling.

“Teacher Xue!” The principal grabbed Xue Changyi’s hand excitedly. “How… how did you do it? Class Nine is full of troublemakers! How… how did you make them so obedient?”

Xue Changyi disliked being touched, subtly pulling his hand away.

With an elegant smile, Xue Changyi said, “The students of Class Nine are good children at heart.”

The principal: “…Good… children???”

The hazy sun set, and the day of labor quickly passed.

A delicious aroma drifted through the air, the smell of food.

The students paused, sighing, “It smells so good!”

“Do I smell meat?”

“And baked bread!”

Leopard Tail and Fish Gills carried two wooden crates, placing them on the ground with a thud. The enticing aroma emanated from the crates.

Leopard Tail said, “Boss, the food is here.”

Fish Gills said, “It’s all here.”

Food!

The eyes of Class Nine students lit up.

Xue Changyi looked at Teacher Jia. “Teacher Jia, how did my students perform today? Did they earn any little red flowers?”

Teacher Jia laughed heartily. “My lord, to be honest, these students of Class Nine are the most perceptive and motivated students I’ve ever taught. Every one of them deserves a little red flower today.”

Xue Changyi nodded calmly. “Since Teacher Jia has said so… serve the food.”

“Yay—Food! Brother, Jiao’er is so hungry! I want a big chicken leg~”

“Father, I’ll go get you some food… I mean, fetch your meal!”

“Ah Yu, you worked hard today. I’ll get your food.”

“God of War General, please get a portion for Li Bai. I’m too tired to move…”

“You scholars, calling yourselves swordsmen, with such poor physical strength!”

The students lined up to receive their dinner, and were just about to start eating…

“Wuwuwu—”

“Wuwuwu…”

Like the wind, but not the wind, it was the sound of crying drifting from afar. In the dim twilight, it sounded like the wailing of ghosts.

Everyone looked towards the sound. A group of refugees wandered through the desolate wilderness. They were the farmers whose fields had been burned, now homeless, their eyes lifeless, weeping softly, their bodies like empty shells, trudging forward wearily.

Xiang Yu paused, his chopsticks hovering over his food. The food was warm, the meat was fatty. After days without a proper meal, he craved something substantial and filling, but now, he couldn’t bring himself to eat. It felt like a lump was stuck in his throat, making it impossible to swallow.

He stood up abruptly, strode forward, and placed his dinner in the hands of a small refugee child, then walked away without looking back.

“Ah Yu?” Liu Bang looked at him, surprise flickering across his face.

Silently, Liu Bang also stood up, walked over, and gave his food to the refugees.

“Brother?” Cheng Jiao looked up, confused.

Ying Zheng reassured him, “Jiao’er, eat your food. Brother isn’t hungry yet. I’ll give this food to those who are hungry.”

Cheng Jiao licked his lips, almost drooling. “Actually… actually Jiao’er isn’t hungry either. Those refugee brothers are hungrier! Give it to them!”

“Guang’er?” Yang Jian smiled gently. “Are you hungry?”

Yang Guang chuckled dryly. “Father, I… I’m not hungry either, of course. I’m happy to give my food to the refugees!”

The students of Class Nine, one by one, gave their hard-earned dinners to the refugees. The refugees’ cries intensified, but their eyes were no longer filled with despair. A spark of hope ignited within them…

Xue Changyi stood beneath the night sky, watching the refugees, and sighed softly.

Just then!

His calm, still gaze suddenly flickered, as if he had been jolted by electricity. His eyes locked onto a young man among the refugees, and he whispered in disbelief, “Second Brother…?”

His hand trembled violently around the umbrella handle. Xue Changyi dropped the umbrella and ran towards the refugees.

Snap!

A black figure flashed, like lightning, appearing out of nowhere in the desolate landscape, catching the falling umbrella.

It was Director Wu.

Director Wu gripped Xue Changyi’s wrist tightly, his voice deep. “He has been cast down from the Terrace of Forgetfulness. He is no longer the Second Yama King… Xue Changyi, you cannot go to him.”