Yama Reborn
Chapter 54 - 52: The Ox-Head

Chapter 54: Chapter 52: The Ox-Head

Firefly wrote, Hummingbird wrote, now it’s Bullhead’s turn... You’ve all been guessing Bullhead’s identity, haven’t you? Here it comes~

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Chapter Fifty-Two: Bullhead

「In my past life.」

December 23, 2021.

Maple Leaf Country, West Coast, a small town.

A wooden house stood there.

The garden and lawn were obviously usually well-tended. With Christmas Eve just a day away, colorful baubles and ribbons had been hung in the yard. A Christmas tree, already half-trimmed, stood there as well.

Near the eaves, a glass greenhouse kept out the outdoor chill. Inside, pots of flowers and plants were thriving.

In the house, in a room with excellent natural light, stood a Chinese-style desk with coiling cloud patterns adorning its edges. A sheet of snow-white Xuan paper lay spread across it, held down on either side by copper, tiger-shaped paperweights.

A woman stood before the desk, a phone in her hand.

"...his final message... radio silence from everyone... See you in the next life, Bullhead."

"Understood. I’m on a mission. Enough said."

The woman replied calmly, softly pressing the end call button.

So... he’s dead? she sighed, muttering to herself, "Still likes to call me Bullhead, huh... I really hate that nickname."

It was as if the news of his death hadn’t caused the slightest ripple in her emotions.

The woman composedly put away the phone.

She raised her hand, her delicate fingers picking up a stick of pine-soot ink and gently grinding it on a lotus-patterned Duan inkstone.

Her every movement was gentle, meticulous, and methodical.

After a moment, she set down the inkstick, reached out, and gently picked up a wolf-hair brush from the brush rest.

Dipping it generously in ink, she began to write on the Xuan paper.

In the warm room, the woman’s exquisite face was serene. Her red gown further accentuated her deathly pale complexion.

Her snow-white hair, in particular, added to her eerie appearance.

With a flick of her wrist, the brush danced like a dragon:

*The spring breeze begrudges not beauty’s fading,*

*Why lament that time laughs at graying temples?*

After writing, the woman put down the brush. She gazed at her work quietly for a few seconds, exhaled, and nodded in satisfaction.

"Actually, I understand people like you," the white-haired woman said slowly. She lifted her head to look at a middle-aged man sitting on the sofa in the room.

The middle-aged man appeared to be in his fifties. His once-dignified, square face was now filled with fear. His body slumped powerlessly on the sofa; he seemed to want to move but could only lie there helplessly.

The woman blew gently on the Xuan paper and continued, "People like you do terrible things, then grab the money and run here, treating it as some paradise on earth, as if all the evil you committed has nothing to do with you anymore.

"Every day, you potter with flowers and plants, and feign refinement by dabbling in antiques and curios.

"You practice calligraphy, you paint.

"A demon trying to become a Buddha, huh?

"But where in this world can such a bargain be found?

"Lay down the butcher’s knife and instantly become a Buddha. Is becoming a Buddha really that easy?

"Those you drove to ruin, those whose families you tore apart, those whose life savings you swindled, those you deceived into selling their homes and land...

"You say, ’lay down the butcher’s knife,’ but can the lives you tormented be so easily written off?"

At this, the woman smiled faintly and said self-mockingly, "Of course, I’m no harbinger of justice. Someone paid for your life. Not much, just a million. It was a small job; others dismissed it, but I took it."

"I—I can give you more!" the middle-aged man blurted out through clenched teeth, his face flushing red. His body struggled desperately, but he was unable to make a single move.

"I know you have money; you embezzled hundreds of millions from that scam back home. But alas... no dice." The woman looked up at the middle-aged man and stated calmly, "If the person who came today wasn’t me, perhaps you could have spent tens of millions to buy your way out. But with me, that won’t work."

After a pause, the woman continued with a laugh, "Yama has decreed your death, and I am responsible for collecting your soul. As you walk the path to the Yellow Springs, remember me: I am the soul collector under Yama’s command."

With that, the woman picked up a gun from the desk and smoothly attached a silencer.

THUMP! THUMP!

Two shots.

One to the forehead, one to the chest.

The middle-aged man moved no more.

The woman quietly walked to the sofa and silently gazed at the man’s corpse.

After a few seconds, she raised the gun, aiming at the man’s body.

POP! POP! POP! POP!

She emptied the magazine in one go.

Putting the gun away, the woman looked at the corpse quietly for a while longer, then turned and left.

Her steps were light. She opened the door, stepped out, and glanced at the flowers in the greenhouse in the yard.

"Hmph. Such fragile beauty, unable to withstand the storms."

The woman slowly walked to the side of the road and got into a car parked there.

With a serene expression, she started the car and drove off. As the car moved, the distant coastline became increasingly distinct.

Her mind replayed, over and over, the first conversation she’d had with that guy.

"What’s your name?"

"Yu Naitang."

"The ’Yu’ as in ’pickled fish’?"

"...Yes."

"The ’Naitang’ as in ’milk candy’?"

"No, it’s Nai! It means a large tripod, an ancient ritual vessel used by emperors. You know the Nine Tripods?"

"...I don’t. Which character is it? Write it down for me."

"..." *She picks up a pen...*

"Oh, *that* Nai. And Tang?"

"The ’Tang’ from ’Haitang’—Chinese flowering crabapple!"

"...Oh, Naitang... NT... Hmm, from now on, I’ll call you Bullhead!"

"I’d rather be called Candy! Please, no..."

"No, you will! Under Yama’s command, how could there not be a Bullhead?"

"Then who’s Horse-face?"

"Don’t know. We’ll see when we find someone suitable."

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That guy... that guy... is dead?

The fingers holding the steering wheel slowly clenched tighter, yet a faint smile gradually appeared on her face.

"In my heart, green mountains always reside; why should I follow others to admire peach blossoms? But the green mountains are no more; what sentiment is there left to cherish?"

As she spoke, she let go of the steering wheel, picked up her phone, and sent one last message.

"Bullhead... logging off."

On that winter afternoon, a car sped off the coastline. Its silver body sketched a strange arc in midair, launched off the beach, and plunged into the crashing waves!

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「Returning to this timeline.」

March 26, 2001.

Old Sun got up and escorted his visitor to the door.

Worker Liu was accompanied by a composed man in a suit who bore an air of authority.

"Well, Director Sun, we’ll take our leave today. You might want to reconsider the terms we’ve proposed."

Old Sun offered a restrained smile, opened the door, and saw his guests out.

He had just closed the door and was walking back to the living room when he heard another knock.

Old Sun turned to open the door and saw...

The sleek and handsome little porker.

This kid... Old Sun was truly a bit irked. But Chen Nuo’s beaming... Oh well, one shouldn’t strike a smiling face.

Following behind Chen Nuo was a man in a jacket.

"What is it?"

"Here to replace your glass."

"..." Old Sun clenched his molars but still let them in.

The man behind Chen Nuo was the owner of the glass shop. Upon entering, he asked a few questions and headed straight for Old Sun’s master bedroom.

"Is this the place?" he asked, pointing at the windowpanes covered with newspaper.

"Yes, yes, yes. Please hurry. I can’t live with a hole in my window indefinitely."

"Don’t worry, I’ll bring it tomorrow. Well-packaged and all set!"

After the glass shop owner took the measurements, Chen Nuo paid the bill.

Old Sun watched coldly from the side, showing no intention of being polite.

Serves him right!

The night before last, after my window was smashed, I rushed over just in time to see that little rascal’s fleeing figure! What was that? That was... Pah! That was catching him red-handed with the evidence!

After seeing off the glass shop owner, Old Sun’s expression was gloomy. He was about to say something when Chen Nuo spoke first.

"I ran into Worker Liu... um, Teacher Liu, on my way up?"

Old Sun thought for a moment. "Hmm, he and Mr. Zhao from the education company came to discuss some matters with me."

"About the school?" Chen Nuo walked over, sat on the sofa, and habitually reached for the cigarette pack on the coffee table. Old Sun’s glare stopped him cold.

"Just a habit, just a habit," Chen Nuo said with a smile, quickly changing the subject. "Is the education company here to discuss renewing your contract?"

"How do you know?"

"Just a guess."

Actually, it wasn’t hard to guess.

The restructuring of Jinling No. 8 Middle School was set to be completed by the end of this semester, transitioning it from a public to a private institution. The education company had big ambitions and significant plans. After restructuring into a private school, what’s the most important thing? Of course, it’s the teaching staff. At this shabby Jinling No. 8 Middle School, if you look back twenty years in its history, the period of its highest student enrollment coincided with the years Old Sun was a homeroom teacher. Old Sun was also the only teacher still on staff who had ever received an outstanding teacher award. If it remained a public school, perhaps due to all sorts of messy troubles, Old Sun might not receive the attention he deserved. But in a private school run by a for-profit enterprise, capitalists are driven by profit. After the restructuring and takeover, how could they let go of Old Sun, their ace teacher? They were definitely here to discuss a contract renewal with Old Sun.

"Do they want you to teach a class?"

"They want me to lead a graduating class, be the homeroom teacher, the grade level leader, and concurrently the director of teaching and research."

"The salary must have increased, right?"

"Hmm, more than before... Hey! You kid! Why are you asking so much about money?"

Chen Nuo looked at Old Sun. Don’t be so stubborn, Old Sun. You still owe me two hundred thousand. But looking at his face, it seems the discussion didn’t go well.

"You didn’t sign?"

Old Sun sighed.

Truth be told, how could he not want to sign? Old Sun genuinely loved teaching. Besides, they had proactively offered him a raise. Middle-aged people have elders to support and children to raise; they need to make a living, after all. He was certainly tempted. But...

I understand, Chen Nuo thought. It’s still that high-interest loan mess from last time.

Old Sun cared a lot about his reputation. That incident had been very damaging, and rumors were still circulating in the school. He couldn’t bring himself to go back to teaching.

"Alright, you’re still a kid; why are you asking so many questions?" Old Sun waved his hand. "Don’t skip classes today. Go to school properly!"

Still a kid? Chen Nuo looked at Old Sun with a smile in his eyes. Old Sun, if I were a bit bolder, your daughter could be on maternity leave by now.

Chen Nuo got up to say goodbye and left the Sun family home.

However, he didn’t go to school. Instead, he wandered to a nearby internet café to play StarCraft for a while, then returned to his classroom just as the bell for the last afternoon period rang.

"Chen Nuo, the school is organizing a spring outing on Saturday. Do you want to bring Xiao Yezi along?" Sun Keke immediately came over as soon as Chen Nuo returned.

A spring outing? The term sounded very unfamiliar. I probably haven’t heard that term in over twenty years.

Chen Nuo thought for a bit. He didn’t have any plans for Saturday anyway, so he nodded.

·

For young people, the annual spring and autumn outings were among the few genuinely joyful events of their school days, likely ranking as major highlights.

Chen Nuo recalled his childhood from his past life, especially memories of school-organized spring and autumn outings: crowded buses, laughter and singing throughout the journey, lining up to enter packed scenic spots, and backpacks filled with snacks and sodas. Of course, the most exciting part was the possibility of sitting next to the girl you liked on the bus...

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The destination for the spring outing was Mount Langya. Not the Mount Langya of the Five Heroes, of course. And this place has no connection to *Nirvana in Fire* or the exceedingly handsome, blood-coughing Mei Changsu.

Actually, this Mount Langya is quite famous. You all know the *Records of the Drunken Old Man Pavilion*, right?

"The hills surround Chuzhou on all sides. To the southwest lie peaks, forests, and ravines of extreme beauty. Looking at them compels one to react with awe at their lush and profound elegance—such is Langya."

*See? That added yet another line of text. There’s no need to even mention the delicious food.*

This Mount Langya is in Chuzhou, Anhui Province. It’s not too far from Jinling City, just over an hour’s drive.

Before its reform, Jinling No. 8 Middle School wasn’t wealthy, but it wasn’t overly stingy either.

They rented several buses from the public transit company and set off with hundreds of students from the first and second years of high school.

As for the third-years... a spring outing? No such thing! Why enjoy a spring outing when you could be cramming for the college entrance exams? Wasn’t that a more appealing prospect?

Sitting on the bus, Chen Nuo sighed with relief.

That was close. I almost walked into an Asura field just now.

When looking for a seat, Chen Nuo found a double seat. Then... Li Yingwan, the ’Kimchi Girl,’ and Sun Keke, the ’Cabbage Girl,’ came over and stared at Chen Nuo without a word.

Chen Nuo smiled and pulled Xiao Yezi to sit beside him.

Alright, the two girls exchanged a look.

Li Yingwan was the most direct. She snorted, turned around, and got off the bus.

She’s the daughter of a capitalist and has her own car. She would have been too lazy to take the bus if she hadn’t wanted to sit with me.

Sun Keke also snorted and took the seat in front of Chen Nuo.

Comrade Old Sun was at the very front of the bus, taking attendance.

Yes, Old Sun was also on the spring outing. Their homeroom teacher, Mr. Wu, had claimed that the leg he injured last winter was acting up again, making it inconvenient for him to join. Actually, Mr. Wu was just being lazy.

Taking dozens of adolescents on a spring outing... It’s a thrilling event for the students.

But for the teachers, it’s practically a nightmare.

Dozens of adolescents, all energy and noise, each with their own ideas, would run wild with excitement once they were let loose to play. Keeping them in check was exhausting. They could give anyone a splitting headache.

That wasn’t a trip; it was pure torture.

Not going!

Mr. Wu, being older, could pull rank and use a sore leg as an excuse not to go. All the younger, less experienced subject teachers in the grade had to attend.

They served as temporary chaperones.

So Old Sun had come. He was experienced, but also a helpful person. Besides, his own daughter was on the trip.

The journey was filled with songs and laughter. No one knew who started it, but soon all the students were singing.

It was all so incredibly cringey and typical of middle schoolers.

Youth is wasted if not spent being a little cringey, isn’t it?

Pah, Chen Yanluo thought with disdain.

A few minutes later.

Chen Xiaoye crunched on an apple given to her by Sun Keke, watching her brother join everyone in singing, "You’re always too soft-hearted, too soft-hearted, shouldering all the problems yourself..."

Old Sun felt a bit uncomfortable. Why is this little rascal always sneakily glancing at me while singing this song?

Shortly after "Too Soft-Hearted" finished, the next song began.

"’I’m hurting now, so hurt, so hurt...’"

Hmm, looking at me again? What’s the meaning of this?

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