From Death To Dominion

As Ye Xian turned to leave, he could still feel the lingering intensity of Shea Gev Ruth's gaze burning into his back.

Just as he reached for the door handle, her voice, smooth as silk, stopped him in his tracks.

"Leaving so soon?"

Ye Xian glanced over his shoulder, flashing a smirk. "Unless you plan to keep me here for… other reasons, I think it's best I go before I cause any more misunderstandings."

Shea Gev Ruth leaned back against her desk, her jade-green eyes gleaming with amusement. "Misunderstandings? How interesting. What exactly do you think people would misunderstand, Ye Xian?"

Ye Xian turned fully, crossing his arms. "Well, let's see. A young, handsome, incredibly talented student gets called to the office by the beautiful, enigmatic principal, who then gives him her own blood as a gift. If I didn't know any better, I'd say this feels suspiciously like an ancient courting ritual."

Shea Gev Ruth chuckled, tilting her head. "You certainly have an imagination. But tell me, if that were the case, would you accept?"

Ye Xian's smirk widened, but he feigned a troubled sigh. "Ah, Principal, if only you had met me a little earlier! Sadly, my heart already belongs to another. Though, I must admit, you're making it difficult for me to stay loyal."

Shea Gev Ruth pushed off the desk, taking slow, deliberate steps toward him. The soft click of her heels against the polished floor sent a peculiar thrill through him.

"And here I thought you were a man of great discipline," she mused, stopping just an arm's length away.

Ye Xian inhaled deeply, catching the faint, intoxicating scent of jasmine and something else—something uniquely hers. He kept his tone light, despite the quickening of his heartbeat. "Oh, I am. But even the strongest cultivators have weaknesses. And mine happens to be beautiful, dangerous women with piercing eyes and a habit of putting me on edge."

Shea Gev Ruth arched a delicate brow. "Dangerous, am I?"

Ye Xian chuckled, gesturing toward his throat. "You did just threaten to eat me, Principal. My poor, innocent heart nearly gave out."

Shea Gev Ruth lifted a finger, pressing it lightly against his chest. Her touch was barely there, yet it sent a faint jolt through his body.

"Innocent? You?" she murmured, tilting her head. "Somehow, I doubt that."

Ye Xian swallowed, keeping his expression composed despite the teasing warmth of her touch. "Principal, if you keep doing things like this, I may start thinking you actually like me."

Her smirk deepened, but instead of answering, she slowly trailed her finger up from his chest to his collarbone, then to his jawline, tilting his chin ever so slightly.

Ye Xian's breath hitched, but he refused to back down. Instead, he met her gaze head-on, the teasing glint in his eyes unwavering.

"Should I be flattered or afraid?" he mused.

Shea Gev Ruth's lips parted slightly, her breath brushing against his skin as she whispered, "Perhaps… both."

A shiver ran down Ye Xian's spine. He was playing with fire, but damn, was it exhilarating.

But just as suddenly as she had closed the distance, she pulled away, stepping back with a satisfied expression.

"Run along now, Ye Xian," she said smoothly, turning back toward her desk. "And be careful who you show your talents to. Not everyone will play as nicely as I do."

Ye Xian exhaled slowly, shaking his head with a grin. "Noted, Principal. But between us, I have to ask… Was all of that just a lesson, or were you having a little fun at my expense?"

Shea Gev Ruth sat back down, crossing her legs elegantly. "Who knows?" she murmured, resting her chin on her palm.

"You're an amusing one, I'll give you that. But don't let your charm make you reckless, Ye Xian. The world isn't as forgiving as I am."

Ye Xian nodded, a rare seriousness flashing across his face.

"I understand. And… thanks, I guess."

Shea Gev Ruth simply waved a hand, dismissing him.

"Off with you now. Before I change my mind and decide to keep you here after all."

Ye Xian smirked. "Tempting offer, but I should probably leave while I still have my virtue intact."

Her soft laughter followed him as he finally stepped out of her office, his heart still pounding slightly.

As he walked down the hall, he exhaled deeply.

Principal Shea is terrifying… but damn if she isn't interesting.

As Ye Xian slipped into the classroom, the moment his foot crossed the threshold, a loud voice rang out.

"Ye Xian is back!" one of the students shouted.

The entire class turned toward him, their murmurs filling the room. Some students perked up, eager for gossip, while others simply smirked at the disruption.

Teacher Fred, who had already been in a foul mood, snapped his head toward the disturbance. His patience had been wearing thin—his students had spent most of the lecture dozing off, whispering among themselves, or blatantly ignoring him.

He had been waiting for an opportunity to make an example of someone. And now, fate had delivered him Ye Xian, who just so happened to be late.

His expression darkened. "Ye Xian, since you think it's acceptable to arrive whenever you please, why don't you stand in the hallway with your hands raised until the lecture ends?"

Ye Xian sighed inwardly. He had expected something like this. Keeping his tone calm, he replied, "I was late because the principal summoned me. If you have an issue, feel free to ask her directly."

The room fell into stunned silence. Teacher Fred visibly choked on his words.

A conversation with Principal Shea Gev Ruth? Absolutely not!

His face twitched as he struggled to come up with a response, but in the end, he simply waved Ye Xian toward his seat.

"Fine. Sit down."

Riener gave a thumbs up.

The student who had excitedly announced Ye Xian's arrival tried to slip under the radar, but Fred's glare landed on him like a hawk spotting prey.

"And you," Fred snapped, "instead of paying attention to the lesson, you're busy announcing arrivals like a town crier? Since you enjoy standing so much, go stand outside with your hands raised."

The student opened his mouth to protest but quickly shut it when he met Fred's icy stare. With a resigned sigh, he trudged out of the classroom, muttering curses under his breath.

Teacher Fred, now in a slightly better mood, resumed his lecture. Meanwhile, some students cast glances at Ye Xian, a mix of admiration and amusement flickering in their eyes.

When the lecture finally ended, Ye Xian and Reiner walked out of the classroom together, making their way through the academy's stone-paved hallways. The afternoon sun cast long shadows across the courtyard, where students gathered in small groups, chatting about the day's lessons and the latest gossip.

"So," Reiner started, stuffing his hands into his pockets, "what happened after I left? Care to enlighten me?"

Ye Xian chuckled, shaking his head. "Oh, you missed quite the spectacle."

Reiner raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Now you've got me curious. Spill it."

Ye Xian smirked. "Well, after you ran off, Steve and that walking dumpling of a sidekick strutted up to me, acting like they owned the academy. You know how they are—all arrogance, no brain cells."

Reiner snorted. "Classic Steve. If idiocy were a sect, he'd be the grand elder."

Ye Xian nodded. "Exactly. Anyway, his lackey started whining that I stole from him—utter nonsense. Then Steve, in all his wisdom, demanded that I apologize while kneeling and provide 'compensation' for my so-called disrespect."

Reiner raised an eyebrow. "And you, of course, refused?"

Ye Xian grinned. "Naturally. Then came the fun part."

As Ye Xian recounted the story, Reiner listened intently, his eyes widening with every sentence.

Ye Xian look ahead and amusement flickering in his gaze.

"He must have thought I was bluffing. The moment the bet was set, I didn't waste time—I just bombarded his face with slaps right in front of everyone."

"You what?! You didn't even throw a proper punch? Just slapped him?"

Reiner burst out laughing, clutching his stomach. He couldn't believe it—Ye Xian was a realm lower than Steve. It was hard to accept. Was he telling the truth?

Ye Xian smirked. "Not just one. A barrage. Left, right, left, right—one after another. The whole courtyard echoed with the sound of my palm tenderizing his cheeks. By the time I was done, he looked like a red bean bun fresh out of the steamer."

Reiner wiped a tear from his eye. "I would pay to have seen that. If that was actually true!"

"Oh, it's real. You'll see the aftermath tomorrow,"

Ye Xian said with a smug grin.

"And the best part? The students were howling. Steve's face went through all five stages of grief. First, confusion. Then shock. Then rage. Then embarrassment. And finally… acceptance of his fate."

Reiner gasped between laughs. "You turned his face into a public drum? Like hell, I'd believe that! You really know how to boast!"

Ye Xian shrugged. "It's the truth. You'll soon see how incredible I am. I was simply helping him experience life's hardships—one slap at a time."

Reiner doubled over. "So what happened next? Did he just stand there like an idiot?"

He asked suspiciously. It was hard to believe that Ye Xian, with his current cultivation level, could have beaten Steve.

It would have made more sense to say the opposite, but seeing that Ye Xian had no injuries or marks on his face, Reiner chose to stay silent.