This is not correct. all the companions of the Prophet salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam followed his teachings.

These two groups appeared after the era of the companions onwards.

I heard that there were two main groups of the prophets companions, whom Allah is pleased with: ahl ar-ra’y and ahl al-hadith. As far as I know the prophet, sallallah alaihi wa salam, accepted the validity of both of them. Is this authentic and if so,on what terms were/is this free interpretation of Qur’an and Ahadith permissible?