Chapter 227: Leaving in a Huff

Qin Bai smiled as he spoke. "Oh my, what's this? It's just cooperating with an investigation, why such a big reaction? Could it be that you actually have a guilty conscience, afraid something might be discovered?""Qin Bai, stop speaking in that insinuating tone!" Liu Ziming immediately retorted, his anger blazing. "Su Zhan just made great contributions for the academy and is severely injured, and you come to arrest him right after? What kind of logic is this! Who knows if you're just using public affairs to settle personal grudges!"

The lead Supervision Department personnel's expression darkened as he said coldly, "When our Supervision Department handles matters, we only look at evidence and procedure, not personal feelings. Qin Bai provided important clues, so we must investigate according to law."

"Based solely on Qin Bai's so-called personal clues, without any substantive evidence, you're taking compulsory measures against a severely injured meritorious student," Feng Jue refuted without backing down. "We have the right to question the legitimacy of your procedures."

"Merit cannot become a reason to exempt someone from investigation," another Supervision Department personnel said sternly. "Moreover, this involves the Transcendence Society and Aberrants—this is a matter of great importance. We'd rather investigate wrongly than let any suspicion slip through."

"Bullshit! What do you mean 'rather investigate wrongly'? Is Su Zhan's life not a life?" Xu Hao roared angrily. "He got injured defending the border fortress, and you want to arrest him for interrogation? Do you have any humanity left?"

"Watch your language," the lead Supervision Department personnel shouted. "We're performing official duties! If you continue being disrespectful, we'll charge you with obstructing official business as well!"

"Official duties? I think you're just Qin Bai's lackeys!" Liu Ziming cursed without thinking.

"How dare you!"

As the argument intensified, almost turning into a shouting match, the lead Supervision Department personnel completely lost his patience.

He abruptly pulled out a document stamped with a bright red seal from his chest, snapping it open and practically shoving it in Liu Ziming's face.

"See clearly—this is an official search warrant issued by the Supervision Department headquarters. All procedures are legal and compliant. We're not asking for your opinion now, we're notifying you. Step aside immediately, or this will be considered violent resistance against the law!"

The expressions of Liu Ziming and the other two instantly turned extremely unpleasant. Procedurally, the other side had already gained absolute advantage.

"You... you're going too far!" Liu Ziming trembled with rage.

But letting them watch Su Zhan be taken away and fall into the clearly ill-intentioned Qin Bai's hands—they absolutely couldn't do it.

"No way!" Xu Hao stiffened his neck, stepping forward and releasing spiritual energy, positioning himself between Su Zhan and the Supervision Department personnel. "Today, you'll have to step over my dead body!"

Seeing this, Liu Ziming also didn't hesitate, his spiritual energy surging upward, electric arcs encircling his body. He glared at the other side, adopting a combat stance.

Feng Jue manifested his Startling Swan Sword, standing beside Liu Ziming and Xu Hao, forming a solid triangular defensive formation that firmly protected Su Zhan behind them.

The three youths released their spiritual energy without reservation.

The four Supervision Department personnel's expressions completely darkened, their powerful spiritual energy fluctuations pressing toward the three.

The lead person shouted sternly, "Final warning! Disperse immediately! Otherwise, we'll show no mercy!"

All three of them had spiritual energy at mid Stream Realm level or above. Yet Feng Jue and the other two showed no intention of backing down.

Both sides were poised for conflict. An internal confrontation seemed on the verge of erupting completely because of Su Zhan.

"Stop! What are you all doing?!"

Two terrifyingly powerful pressures swept through, instantly suppressing the confronting spiritual energy fluctuations of both the four Supervision Department personnel and Liu Ziming's trio.

Everyone looked over in shock.

They saw two figures had appeared at the cafeteria entrance at some unknown time. Leading them was none other than Vermilion Bird Academy's dean, Ye Hongyu.

Her red hair moved without wind, her phoenix eyes containing authority, her invisible aura making the entire cafeteria's temperature seem to rise by several degrees.

Half a step behind her stood Wang Mingyuan.

When the four Supervision Department personnel saw Ye Hongyu, their expressions instantly changed dramatically. Their previously official and forceful attitude deflated.

A person's reputation is like a tree's shadow. How could they not know about Ye Hongyu's strength and status, which ranked among the top in all of Daxia?

The lead Supervision Department personnel quickly restrained his spiritual energy and stepped forward. "Dean Ye, Teacher Wang, we're performing official duties. Student Su Zhan of your academy is suspected of involvement with the Transcendence Society and Aberrants. We're taking him back to assist with the investigation according to law."

As he spoke, he displayed that search warrant again.

"Arresting my Vermilion Bird Academy student at my Vermilion Bird Academy—and a student who just bled and got injured for the border?" Ye Hongyu's gaze didn't even glance at the search warrant. "Who gave you this order? Who is your superior?"

The lead Supervision Department personnel felt tremendous pressure, sweat beading on his forehead. "Replying to Dean Ye, we're directly subordinate to the Supervision Department's Third Action Group. This operation is directly responsible by our group leader."

"Third Action Group?" Ye Hongyu slightly frowned.

"It's Group Leader Liu," the Supervision Department personnel nodded.

"Very good." Ye Hongyu no longer looked at them, directly taking out her communicator, finding an encrypted number and dialing.

The communication connected quickly. Ye Hongyu spoke directly, "Director Meng, your Supervision Department's Third Action Department personnel, holding orders signed by Group Leader Liu, came to my Vermilion Bird Academy to arrest my student Su Zhan who just got severely injured in the line of duty. Are you aware of this matter?"

A middle-aged male voice came from the other end of the communication. "Dean Ye? There's such a thing? Group Leader Liu's orders? Arresting Su Zhan? What's the reason?"

"Suspected collusion with the Transcendence Society and Aberrants." Ye Hongyu coldly laughed. "Where's the evidence? Just based on certain people's one-sided claims? Director Meng, my Vermilion Bird Academy students bleed and sacrifice on the front lines, and when they return they still get baselessly suspected and harassed by their own people. Is this the Supervision Department's working style?"

"If you think my student Ye Hongyu has problems needing investigation, fine. Have you personally bring the procedures here, and I'll cooperate. But I don't recognize these current procedures. Or do you think that after I, Ye Hongyu, have guarded the southern border for many years, I can't even discipline my own students properly, needing your Supervision Department to act directly over my head!?"

Director Meng on the other end was clearly stunned by Ye Hongyu's rapid-fire questioning. After several seconds of silence, he quickly said, "Dean Ye, you're overstating things. This is absolutely a misunderstanding, I was completely unaware. This must be individual action on their side. Rest assured, I'll handle this immediately."

"Better be a misunderstanding. I want to see them leave Vermilion Bird Academy within three minutes." Ye Hongyu snorted coldly.

"Good, I'll handle it right away."

The communication ended.

The entire cafeteria fell silent.

In less than a minute, the lead Supervision Department personnel's communicator rang urgently.

He looked at the number, his face instantly paling, quickly walking aside to answer.

Everyone could only hear him continuously responding respectfully, "Yes, yes! Director! ... We understand! ... Yes! Withdraw immediately! ... Yes!"

After hanging up, that Supervision Department personnel's expression looked as if he'd swallowed a fly.

He walked before Ye Hongyu, respectfully bowed, his tone completely softened. "Dean Ye, apologies, we were presumptuous. We'll withdraw immediately!"

After speaking, he didn't dare look at Qin Bai's gloomy expression again, waving his hand at his three subordinates.

The four of them, like stray dogs chased away, awkwardly left the cafeteria under countless watching gazes.

Qin Bai stood in place, his face iron-blue, fists clenched tightly.

He glared fiercely at Su Zhan, then looked at Ye Hongyu and Wang Mingyuan protecting in front, snorted coldly, and turned away with an angry sweep of his sleeve.