The Celestial Group, befitting its status as one of the Four Departments of Capital City, proved to be incredibly efficient. By the next morning, all orders and personnel arrangements routed through official channels were in place. It was at this time that Chen Fei received a call from Chief Luo Yuanzhi.

"Young Chen, I'm afraid you need to come back."

"Come back? Why?" Chen Fei asked, clearly puzzled by the call.

"Someone from the higher-ups is here," Chief Luo Yuanzhi said over the phone, his voice laced with helplessness. "It's about that kid you have locked up." He hadn't expected Chen Huaqin to persuade a high-ranking Elder of the Celestial Group to issue orders. This is getting troublesome.

"The higher-ups sent someone?" Chen Fei was taken aback for a moment before he realized they must be coming for him. A faint, cold light glinted in his pitch-black, crystal-clear eyes. He replied, his face an emotionless mask, "I understand, Chief Luo. I'll head over right away."

Soon after, a military Humvee sped out of Chengyang County, racing toward the Flying Leopard's Jiangnan Province Sub-base.

「About two to three hours later」

The military Humvee carrying Chen Fei arrived at the gate of the Flying Leopard's Jiangnan Province Sub-base, where Chief Luo Yuanzhi was already waiting.

"Things have gotten complicated. The Celestial Group has directly ordered us to release him and even sent people to oversee it. They'll be here any minute," Chief Luo Yuanzhi said as soon as Chen Fei stepped out of the vehicle.

"The Celestial Group? They issued the orders directly?" Chen Fei asked, his face grim with doubt. "I thought you said they weren't our direct superiors. Do they even have the authority to give us direct orders?" Didn't Wang Dashan say the Celestial Group wasn't in our direct chain of command? So how can they order us around?

Hearing this, Chief Luo Yuanzhi gave a wry smile. Although the Celestial Group wasn't Flying Leopard's direct superior, the difference in rank and power was undeniable. How could we possibly ignore them? Even under normal circumstances, whenever they issued an order—regardless of whether it was against protocol—Flying Leopard had no choice but to swallow their pride and accept it.

After all, the Celestial Group was a superior department, while Flying Leopard was merely subordinate. Ultimately, it all boils down to our insufficient rank and foundation. Otherwise, I wouldn't be in such a bind right now. Wouldn't it have been so much better to just reject them outright? The feeling of being ordered around by a department outside our jurisdiction is suffocating.

Thinking of this, his expression turned solemn. "That may be true, but... Young Chen, give me a straight answer. Are you planning to release Chen Weishan or not?" He needed to know what Chen Fei was really thinking and whether he intended to release the man.

"Of course not!" Chen Fei's expression turned cold. He replied flatly, "Chief Luo, why don't you sit this one out? Just leave it to me."

"...Alright then. Be careful," Chief Luo Yuanzhi hesitated for a moment before nodding. Since Chen Fei had said as much, it was best to leave it to him. Besides, it would be far more troublesome if he had to handle it himself. Chen Fei, on the other hand, had no fear of such complications.

「About an hour later」

A helicopter roared in, from which descended several men in black suits. They had cold expressions, and their sharp gazes swept the area. Their leader, a man who appeared to be over sixty, carried himself with an air of dignified arrogance. Judging by the aura he exuded... He's actually at the Innate Early Stage?

"Halt! Who goes there? This is a military base; unauthorized personnel are forbidden!" a member of the Flying Leopard guard shouted, as other soldiers surrounded them with rifles raised.

"Insolence! Do you have any idea who we are!? We're from the Celestial Group!" one of the men roared. Incredibly arrogant, his eyes seeming to look down on the world, he swept a piercing gaze across the soldiers. "Who's in charge here? Get him out here! This is Lord Golden Bell, the vice-captain of the Celestial Group's Fourth Squad! All of you, stand down!"

"The Celestial Group?" Many of the approaching Flying Leopard members had heard of the famous organization. They were startled by the introduction and quickly stepped back. A few, looking flustered, even ran deeper into the base to notify their superiors.

"Comrade, hello. I am Wang Dashan of Flying Leopard, the acting director here. Welcome, welcome," Wang Dashan said, appearing shortly after.

"Director?" The arrogant man's eyes flashed with disdain. How could the so-called director of a second-rate, third-tier department like Flying Leopard possibly compare to our Lord Golden Bell, let alone speak to him directly? He's not qualified at all! Just as he was about to berate Wang Dashan, the leader pushed him aside.

"Hello, I am Golden Bell, vice-captain of the Celestial Group's Fourth Squad." Evidently, Golden Bell had seen through Wang Dashan's cultivation level. He understood that the other party was an Innate Expert just like himself, so he didn't treat him lightly and spoke directly. "I trust you were notified of the purpose of our visit? Where is Chen Weishan, the scion of the Old Chen Family? Release him."

"Release him? I'm afraid that won't be possible," Wang Dashan said, shaking his head and refusing outright. "We currently suspect his involvement in a major transnational criminal case, and the interrogation is at a critical stage. So, Captain Jin, my apologies, but we cannot release him at this time." It was clear he was acting on Chen Fei's prior instructions.

As for the so-called "highly dangerous transnational criminal case," it was, of course, something he had fabricated on the spot. It was just an excuse, as everyone understood. The point was, Flying Leopard would not be releasing their prisoner.

"Involved in a highly dangerous transnational criminal case!?" Indeed. Hearing this, Vice-captain Golden Bell's face twitched fiercely, his expression instantly turning gloomy and livid. He wasn't a fool; he knew this was just a pretext for not releasing the man. How dare they defy an order from our Celestial Group?

"It seems talking nicely isn't going to work, is it? Fine." Golden Bell sneered and produced a light beige scroll stamped with the Celestial Group's emblem. "This is an official order from the Celestial Group. You can inspect it. Once you're done, our people will be taking temporary control here. I said, release him. Understand?"

"An order from the Celestial Group?" Wang Dashan's expression changed the moment he took the writ from Golden Bell's hand. It was undoubtedly authentic—a direct order from the Celestial Group, one of the Four Departments of Capital City. He hesitated for a long moment before shaking his head and handing it back. "I'm sorry. Flying Leopard is a direct subordinate unit of the Central Guard Bureau. Therefore, we have neither the obligation nor the necessity to carry out your department's orders."

"What did you say!?"

The Celestial Group members were enraged. They couldn't believe the director of some second-rate, third-tier department would dare to ignore a Celestial Group order, reject their will, and openly oppose them. This was outrageous! Did they really think we came all this way just to negotiate?

"Let me tell you something," Golden Bell said, his voice turning ice-cold as he stared at Wang Dashan. "Don't get a big head just because I spoke to you politely. Do you have any idea how powerful the Celestial Group is? Even if you're at the Innate Early Stage, in our eyes, you're no different from an ordinary person! I'll say this one last time: release the man! Otherwise, you will bear the consequences. At that point, we won't be wasting our breath talking. We'll be arresting you for insubordination!"

"Understand? Think carefully!" He jabbed a finger into Wang Dashan's chest, his face a mask of contempt. In my eyes, an Innate Early Stage cultivator from a second-rate department with no background is someone I can crush however I please. He doesn't even have the power to resist.

"You!" Wang Dashan was naturally infuriated by the insulting gesture.

But at that very moment, a hand shot out and slapped Golden Bell's finger away from Wang Dashan's chest. A cold, young voice cut through the tension. "Take your hand off him. Understand?"

Following the voice, Chen Fei appeared in everyone's line of sight, dressed in a long-sleeved shirt with a skull design and black casual pants. His eyes were glacial.

"Who are you? Do you know who I, Golden Bell, am!? How dare you—" Being struck by a mere youngster was a deep humiliation, and Golden Bell was consumed by rage.

"Who am I?" Chen Fei swept a cold gaze over him. "I'm Chen Fei, the current chief instructor of Flying Leopard."

"You're Chen Fei!?" Golden Bell's expression shifted, a hint of wariness and gravity entering his eyes. It seemed he had heard of Chen Fei and knew he wasn't to be trifled with.

In the next moment, however, a look of superiority washed over his ugly, aged face, and his expression became exceedingly arrogant. I, Golden Bell, am a man of the Celestial Group. I have status, a powerful background, and I'm here with an official order. Am I supposed to be afraid of some nominal instructor from a second-rate department? What a joke.

"So, you're Chen Fei? Good." He brandished the writ from the Celestial Group once more. "Then listen up. I am Golden Bell, vice-captain of the Celestial Group's Fourth Squad. This is an order from the Celestial Group. You will release Chen Weishan immediately and unconditionally. That is an order."

"Release him?" A mocking sneer touched Chen Fei's lips. "Sorry, can't do that. Perhaps you could try breaking him out yourself? He's locked up right here in the base."

Release him? An order? Has this guy's brain been caught in a door, or was it kicked by a donkey? Does he really think some random piece of paper is enough to make me, Chen Fei, submit? If he has the guts, he should try it himself.

"What is that attitude!?" Golden Bell raged at Chen Fei's defiance. "Do you have any idea what status the Celestial Group holds? You're just a nominal instructor for a second-rate department! I, on the other hand, am holding an official order from the Celestial Group! You must obey my command unconditionally!"

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