Cheong was dumbfounded.
No, in this situation? Kill me and then ask me to release you? And to the person you were about to kill?
Is that something a sane person would say?
In the end, Cheong had no choice but to say "no"—a word that was very likely to provoke a dispute, a truly aggressive phrase.

"No, you think my official's authority is a joke? After causing such a commotion saying you’ll kill me, you want me to let you go, and I’m supposed to just say yes and follow along? What do you take me …