"Who am I supposed to ask if you're asking me?" The old man in the loose black robe had an incredibly grim expression, his face livid with rage and twisted into an ugly sneer.

Clearly, even he hadn't anticipated that someone from a mere lower-level department would dare to do such a thing. They hadn't just openly defied the command of a leader from a superior department—they had dared to use that tone and those words with him! They even hung up on him! He was a venerable Elder of the Celestial Group, a man of high authority and immense power. This was simply preposterous, utterly audacious, and far too presumptuous!

"Then... Elder Yii, what should we do now?" Chen Huaqin asked, gritting his teeth after a moment of hesitation. "Should you issue a direct order through formal channels and have them release him? A special department like Flying Leopard is second-tier or third-tier at best. They can't possibly have the authority, let alone the guts, to disobey an order from the Celestial Group, right?"

It turned out that after his talk with Luo Yuanzhi had failed, he still hadn't given up and had come here for help. When the Old Master was alive, the Celestial Group—one of the Four Departments of Capital City—had been under his jurisdiction. As a result, the group had always been close to the Old Chen Family. Now, even though the Old Master had passed away and the higher-ups had reclaimed control over the Celestial Group, a relationship spanning decades couldn't be dissolved so easily. That was why Chen Huaqin's influence still reached this far.

The relationship was akin to that between a Provincial Public Security Department and a City Public Security Bureau. Within the special department system, the Celestial Group was unequivocally superior to Flying Leopard. Therefore, he had initially intended to leverage this connection to pressure Luo Yuanzhi and Chen Fei. He hoped they wouldn't be able to withstand the pressure from a superior department and would obediently release his son. But he never expected Chen Fei to be so audacious and reckless, completely disrespecting the leadership of a superior department and flatly refusing to let his son go.

But as furious as he was, rescuing his son is more important. The priority now is to get him out of Flying Leopard's custody! A new idea began to form in his mind. He knew perfectly well that the man before him, Elder Yii of the Celestial Group—one of the Four Departments of Capital City—was an immensely powerful figure. His position was equivalent to the director of Flying Leopard, placing him in the highest echelons of power. Therefore, he was fully qualified and possessed the authority to issue a direct order for the release through formal channels.

"Issue a direct order through formal channels?"

Upon hearing this, however, the elder in the loose black robe hesitated for a moment before shaking his head, his expression sullen. "No. I don't have that authority. I can't directly order them to release him."

"What? Why not? You're an Elder of the Celestial Group, how could you not have the authority?" Chen Huaqin exclaimed, astonished.

"You don't understand the specific division of power within our special departments," the elder explained. "Let me put it this way. Including our own Four Departments of Capital City, there are eight designated special departments in the Republic: four within the Capital City and four outside. While it's true that the four outside departments are subordinate to us, the system uses a one-to-one management model. Flying Leopard reports to the Central Guard Bureau, which is outside our jurisdiction. If we intervened, we would be overstepping our authority."

"There's a rule like that?" Chen Huaqin was dumbfounded, never expecting such internal intricacies. After his shock passed, he couldn't help but ask anxiously, "Then... what do we do now, Elder Yii? My son is still in their hands."

"Don't panic just yet."

Elder Yii pondered for a moment, then a cold look settled on his aged face. "Forget it. I'll overstep my authority then. I, Yii Xiao, should still have that much clout. I'll issue an order shortly. I want to see just how bold that kid is and whether he dares to defy an order from our Celestial Group!" As he spoke, a sinister glint flashed in his eyes.

That threat Chen Fei made over the phone… he remembered it perfectly. What is my status? My position? I, Yii Xiao, was made an Elder of the Celestial Group over thirty years ago! I hold great power and authority. When have I ever been so frustrated? When have I ever endured such mockery and disrespect? A mere whippersnapper, still wet behind the ears, dares to defy my orders and even threaten me! This is outrageous! And who is this kid messing with? A descendant of the Old Chen Family, one of the three top Red Families of the Forty-Nine City! A family of such noble status and bloodline! How can they tolerate some upstart causing trouble and defying his betters? I'd really like to see what gives that kid such confidence.

Just wait until an order with the official seal of the Celestial Group is issued through proper channels! I'd like to see if that kid still has the nerve to defy it—to oppose me, Yii Xiao, and the Old Chen Family. By then, the tables will have turned, and we will be the ones demanding accountability! How dare he lay a hand on someone from the Old Chen Family? Who gave him the courage? Who gave him the authority? Who gave him the confidence?!

Hmph! Courting death!

...

While Chen Huaqin and Yii Xiao began making their moves within the Celestial Group, Chen Fei had already left the hotel room.

"Director Wang, what's the deal with the Celestial Group? Do you know anything about them?" Chen Fei, walking in front, suddenly asked.

In his memory, the most formidable special department and power in the Capital City was undoubtedly the Central Guard Bureau. After all, when he had casually asked Old Master Xuu for a favor, he had managed to borrow Old Man Huang Xing, a master at the Innate Late Stage Peak. What that implied went without saying. But now, a "Celestial Group" had suddenly appeared. What was their deal?

"Chief Instructor, I'm actually not very clear on the specifics of the Celestial Group. They aren't our direct superior department," Wang Dashan said carefully.

It was similar to the relationship between a Provincial Public Security Department and a City Public Security Bureau. Although Flying Leopard was the "City Bureau" and the Celestial Group was indeed the "Provincial Department," the latter wasn't their direct superior. It was like the relationship between the Qinzhou Provincial Public Security Department and their own Northern Mountain City Public Security Bureau; the rank was there, but it crossed jurisdictions. Thus, he only knew of the Celestial Group's existence as a higher department, but he was hazy on the details.

However, he continued, "But Chief Instructor, you must know about our direct superior, the Central Guard Bureau, right? The Celestial Group and the Central Guard Bureau are considered to be on the same level, among the most elite special departments in the Republic."

"On the same level as the Central Guard Bureau?"

Chen Fei was slightly stunned, not having expected them to be such a major power.

But he just shook his head and smiled, a cool indifference in his eyes. So what if they're on the same level as the Central Guard Bureau? With my current strength, why would I be afraid? Besides, I'm actually curious to see just how many people are willing to back that disgusting family of mine.

Ever since he learned the truth of those past events and secrets from his mother, it was inevitable that certain people would become his enemies. As a man, and as a son, there were some things he simply had to do. He couldn't let anyone think his mother was an easy target.

"Director Wang," he continued slowly, "I need you to call Qiu Jun. Tell him to immediately drop whatever he's doing, gather a team, and station them permanently here in Chengyang County. From now on, their only job is to ensure my mother's safety. If anything happens to her, I will hold him solely responsible."

Wang Dashan's eyelids twitched. Qiu Jun is an Innate Early Stage master. Assigning such a powerful expert to a personal security detail...? Although the thought crossed his mind, he didn't dare voice his doubt and immediately nodded. "Yes! I'll take care of it right away."

The night was deep, with moonlight like liquid silver and a sky full of stars.

Chen Fei and his mother, Lin Ling, had just finished dinner at home, and he was helping out by mopping the floor.

Lin Ling gathered the pots and pans, put them in the kitchen sink, filled it with water, and added a bit of detergent. Just as she was about to start washing, a look of hesitation and complexity crossed her face.

She sighed softly, walked out of the kitchen, and looked at Chen Fei as he mopped. "How many days are you planning to stay this time?" she asked slowly. "It seems like you haven't been working lately. Why don't you just find something to do here in Chengyang County?"

"Find something to do here in Chengyang County?" Chen Fei was taken aback. "Mom, why are you bringing this up all of a sudden? It doesn't really matter if I have a job or not right now, does it?" Given my situation, why would I need a nine-to-five?

"Don't you realize how long you've been away from home?" Lin Ling said, rolling her eyes. "Ever since you left for college, you've barely been back. Before, I understood you had to work and earn a living. But you're not short on money now, are you? Can't you come home and spend some time with your old mother? Or did I raise you all these years for nothing?"

"Uh... I can, I can. Mom, just let me handle this one thing, and then I'll come home to live," Chen Fei said with an awkward smile.

Hearing this, a flicker of worry crossed Lin Ling's face. "What's left to handle?" she pressed. "Didn't I tell you everything is fine now? Some things you just have to let go. It's exhausting to get worked up over everything."

"Mom, I'm your son. Do you really expect me to stand by and watch you get bullied?" Chen Fei said helplessly. "Besides, if my master found out about this, he'd kill me."

He understood his mother's concern. Even he had felt a great deal of apprehension when he first decided to oppose a behemoth like the Old Chen Family of the Forty-Nine City. But he was a man, and he was her son. There were some things he had to do, choices he had to make. Everyone has their bottom line. If he couldn't even protect the most important person in his life—the woman who had endured so much hardship to raise him—then what kind of man was he?

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