Clearly, as Ancient Martial Artists possessing extraordinary martial power, they were an extremely special group in the eyes of the state. Therefore, an agreement was established over a hundred years ago: the state would not provoke the Circle of Ancient Martial Arts, and in return, its members must not casually interfere in the normal lives of ordinary people.

If someone dared to challenge the prestige of a sect within the Circle of Ancient Martial Arts, going so far as to commit murder, that sect could ignore the agreement and kill the provocateur without mercy. The state would not intervene.

Of course, if an individual or sect from the Circle of Ancient Martial Arts overestimated their own strength and sought their own demise by challenging the state's authority or harming national interests, they would be ruthlessly crushed with thunderclap-like force. The state would show no mercy.

The reasons for this treaty and the state's tolerance of the Circle of Ancient Martial Arts were twofold. First, there were truly formidable individuals within the circle whose strength was terrifyingly overwhelming. It would be no exaggeration to call them inhumanly monstrous, and there was more than one such fearsome existence, meaning the state had to consider a great deal before acting rashly.

Second, and most importantly, the modern Circle of Ancient Martial Arts had become a vital part of the nation. Many powerful Ancient Martial Artists were already serving the country and its people, which made the situation extremely complex.

This time, it was Chen Fei who had 'actively' provoked the Holy Fire Sect from within the Circle of Ancient Martial Arts. He had even gone so far as to sever an arm from its Young Master, Junn Yuanyi—a matter that was far from trivial and carried significant implications.

After all, Junn Yuanyi's grandfather was an Ancestor Level existence in the Holy Fire Sect and its sole Half-Step Innate Powerhouse. He was hailed as the elder in the southern Circle of Ancient Martial Arts most likely to break through to the next realm. His status, strength, and cultivation were all terrifying.

His authority was not to be challenged.

Thus, the Holy Fire Sect's stance was now set in stone: not only must Chen Fei atone with his life, but his entire clan would be annihilated as well. While this might have been an exaggeration, it underscored the Holy Fire Sect's unyielding attitude. There was no room for negotiation. At the very least, Chen Fei's entire family had to be wiped out.

"They want his entire family annihilated, and they expect our Flying Leopard to do it for them? The Holy Fire Sect has grown too arrogant! Do they really think the Flying Leopard is afraid of them?" Lei Long seethed after the call with their Sect Master.

Lei Long had once been a top-tier King of Soldiers. Strictly speaking, even the Holy Fire Sect's Master would not have been his match in his prime. But now, this tiger had fallen to the flatland and was being mocked by dogs. To be spoken to in such a threatening, commanding tone that permitted no refusal was utterly infuriating and humiliating.

"Afraid? They know we aren't afraid," Chief Luo said, shaking his head. "It's just that the Holy Fire Sect isn't making a move against the Flying Leopard right now. Their target is just some young man with no background or connections. Even if we wanted to intervene, how could we possibly stop them?"

Indeed, he hadn't anticipated such an incident. He had previously held high hopes for the young Chen Fei. He was a young talent with exceptional medical skills and, more importantly, great strength—at least that of a First-Class Ancient Warrior. He was the ideal candidate Chief Luo had wanted to recruit into the Flying Leopard to serve the nation, but now…

This was the Holy Fire Sect, one of the eleven acknowledged Second-Rate Ancient Martial Arts sects, and one that ranked in the middle tier at that. It was helmed by a top-level Half-Step Innate Powerhouse—the very grandfather of Young Master Junn Yuanyi, the man whose arm Chen Fei had severed. This was a massive headache.

What did being a Half-Step Innate Powerhouse even mean? The implications were staggering. Moreover, this old patriarch of the Holy Fire Sect was at the peak of the Half-Step Innate stage, a mere half-step away from the next realm. He was considered the one in the entire Circle of Ancient Martial Arts most likely to take that step. How could Chief Luo not take this matter seriously?

Even the entire Headquarters of Flying Leopard would be hard-pressed to find a single person who could match a martial artist of that caliber. Their only hope would be the nominally-affiliated Innate Level Chief Instructor, but he was accustomed to a carefree, detached existence, like a wandering hermit. He would surely consider this 'minor issue' beneath his notice and not bother to intervene.

"Damn it, are we really going to stand by and watch him die?" Lei Long couldn't help but clench his fists, his chiseled face etched with frustration.

After all, Chen Fei was his savior. What's more, the Flying Leopard's own channels had discovered that Chen Fei wasn't entirely to blame; the other side had also crossed a line. Yet now, the Holy Fire Sect was ignoring the facts, demanding Chen Fei atone with his life and the annihilation of his entire family. It was simply outrageous.

"Stand by and watch him die?"

Chief Luo fell silent for a long moment before finally sighing and shaking his head. "Among the five deputy instructors of the Headquarters of Flying Leopard, you are one, and Ma Dong is another. However, that man is now rumored to be at the Peak of a First-Class Ancient Warrior, perhaps even with half a foot in the Half-Step Innate stage. He has made significant contributions to the Flying Leopard, and in his early years, he came from the Holy Fire Sect. Under these circumstances, if we were to completely side with that young man, would it not be improper?"

"This… I…"

Lei Long fell silent, his expression turning fierce and somber.

He understood Chief Luo's point. He, Lei Long, was now a tiger who had fallen to the flatland, his strength gone. He no longer possessed the intimidating might of a King of Soldiers.

Meanwhile, Ma Dong, who hailed from the Holy Fire Sect, had long since surpassed him in strength and might have even reached the initial stage of Half-Step Innate. Given this harsh reality, the Flying Leopard could not possibly side with Chen Fei, no matter how much Lei Long wished it.

They had to consider the other party: Ma Dong, one of the five chief deputy instructors of the Headquarters.

"Elder Luo, Lei Long, I understand you value talent and think that young man named Chen Fei has potential. But now, that junior has become too arrogant. He dared to lay a hand on my senior brother's own grandson—this matter must be settled, and his crime must be atoned for with his death!" a cold voice rang out, startling both Chief Luo and Lei Long, their faces filled with shock.

That voice… it's…

"Ma Dong? You're actually here." Lei Long turned abruptly, his gaze sweeping to the side. A stern-faced old man in black stood not far away. His eyes were pitiless, his visage icy, and he emanated an oppressive, baleful aura. He looked to be in his sixties or seventies.

"Of course I had to come. Otherwise, you might make a mistake," the old man in black said nonchalantly, sweeping a cold glance at Lei Long.

"What did you say?!" Lei Long snarled, his anger flaring.

"That's enough."

Chief Luo extended a hand to stop him, then turned his deep, murky eyes toward the newcomer. "Ma Dong," he said softly, "have you come personally for that young man? Do you really intend to go through with this?"

"Elder Luo, it wasn't our Holy Fire Sect that started this trouble, but that young man named Chen Fei who overestimated himself," the old man in black replied, his murky eyes shifting as he spoke with indifference. "Yuanyi is my senior brother's most beloved grandson. Now, his arm has been severed, causing a severe drain on his vital energy. Therefore, on both principle and personal grounds, the young man must die, and his entire family must be exterminated as punishment. Otherwise, it will not be enough to quell my senior brother's rage."

"He must die? And his entire family must be wiped out? Ma Dong, don't you think you're being too tyrannical?" Lei Long retorted furiously.

Chief Luo's expression darkened. "Ma Dong, don't forget you're a member of the Flying Leopard."

"Elder Luo, but I came from the Holy Fire Sect," the black-clad elder responded faintly. His indifferent gaze then swept back to Lei Long, and the corner of his mouth curled into a sneer. "Tyrannical? Lei Long, I suggest you think this through. If the Flying Leopard handles this matter, the impact might be minimized. But if you force my senior brother to act personally, the outcome will be unpredictable. I can offer no guarantees."

He let out a cold chuckle, then turned and left. The mocking sound of his laughter reverberated in the air for a long time, chilling their hearts.

"Lei Long…" After a long pause, Chief Luo finally spoke, his brow furrowed. "The kid was reckless this time, causing such a huge mess. But Ma Dong is right. We can't let the Holy Fire Sect act on its own. The consequences and fallout would be too great, and the higher-ups would never tolerate it. So… sigh…"

"Can I give him a call?" Lei Long asked after a moment of silence, his voice hoarse.

Chen Fei had saved his life, but now he could only stand by and do nothing. For a soldier like him, with passion in his heart, this was unbearable. He was sick with self-reproach, but he truly had no other choice. A military order was absolute, and as a special department of the state, the Flying Leopard had far too many factors to consider. I… I… sigh… He couldn't help but sigh again in his heart.

"A phone call? Go ahead. Just this once. It will not happen again," Chief Luo's voice trailed off. "Sigh… consider it the last kindness we can offer him."

***

Meanwhile, in a quaint, fragrant bamboo building in Northern Mountain City, an elderly man in a Tang suit sat quietly drinking tea alone. His temples were graying, but his eyes were exceptionally sharp, like those of a hawk. The veins on his hands stood out, unusually intimidating.

He gazed at the distant scenery, his sharp, yet clouded eyes reflecting a complex mix of emotions as he muttered to himself, "Hehe, the Holy Fire Sect. Since when has such a minor sect become so brazen? Exterminate the Chen Family? Do they even have the right?"

This old man was none other than the one who had previously addressed Chen Fei's master, Ming Daochuan, as 'senior brother.' His surname seemed to be Ruan?

"Master, should we send someone to warn the Holy Fire Sect?" a tall, poker-faced man with a dark complexion asked quietly from his side.

"A warning?" The hawk-eyed Elder Ruan swirled the tea in his cup slightly upon hearing the question. He shook his head and said lightly, "Send people to protect that young girl in Chengyang County. There must be no mistakes. As for the rest… let's wait and see."

"Yes, Master." The poker-faced man immediately bowed and slowly retreated.

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