"Want to fight? That suits me just fine!" Lu Fan roared, unleashing his Flowing Cloud Fist with a barrage of punches.
*Bang, bang, bang...* A series of sonic booms erupted, followed by over a dozen people being sent flying in all directions.
Elder Hua Qi's expression changed drastically. He knew this kid would be formidable, but he hadn't expected him to be this powerful. These old fellows were all at the Transformation Realm, yet they were being utterly thrashed. The kid's fists weren't just strong; they were astonishingly fast.
"Hmph! Still want to fight? I'll fight until you're all satisfied before I leave," Lu Fan stated calmly, standing his ground.
"Hua Fifteen, Hua Sixteen! How did you recruit young friend Lu Fan? Didn't you explain the rules of Hua Rong Mansion?" Elder Hua Qi glared fiercely at Hua Fifteen and Hua Sixteen. As recruitment envoys, they were obligated to inform potential recruits of the rules beforehand and obtain their consent, as those brought into the mansion had absolutely crucial tasks and could not afford any mistakes.
"We..."
"We..."
Hua Fifteen and Hua Sixteen blushed. They hadn't anticipated Lu Fan would dare to act like this!
"Kid! You've got skill. However, that's no excuse for breaking the rules. Once you're in Hua Rong Mansion, you won't be allowed to act so presumptuously!" A voice suddenly boomed, causing everyone's expression to change. They instinctively took a few steps back.
*Whoosh...* A figure flickered through the air, arriving before everyone in a few blinks.
"Mansion Lord!"
"Mansion Lord!"
...
The others immediately bowed, respectfully calling out.
Lu Fan looked over. The man had black hair and appeared to be in his fifties or sixties. However, Lu Fan could tell that despite his youthful appearance compared to the others, his strength was far more profound. As expected of the Mansion Lord, he was truly different.
Just as the Mansion Lord reached them, four more figures arrived from different directions in a flash, taking positions beside the Mansion Lord. Their strength seemed to be on par with his.
"Hua Thirty-Five! Aren't you going to greet the Mansion Lord and the Four Great Elders?" Elder Hua Qi quickly prompted from the side.
"Mansion Lord? Four Great Elders?" Lu Fan's eyes twitched. The outside world didn't see these powerful individuals; they had all been brought here. Hmph! It seemed the rule about not interfering with ordinary people's lives, which Hua Fifteen and Hua Sixteen had mentioned, was set by these five. These five were the real culprits.
"So, it was you who set the rule that Transformation Realm experts cannot interfere with the lives of ordinary people? Even if they witness evildoers committing atrocities?" Lu Fan's eyes flashed with a cold glint as he asked abruptly.
The dozen or so people around them trembled. No one had ever dared to speak to these five in such a manner.
"We have more important matters to attend to, more important people to protect. Naturally, we cannot let trivial matters disrupt significant ones," the Mansion Lord stated sternly.
"Hmph! The 'important matters' you speak of are likely protecting those wealthy and influential magnates, aren't they? Their lives are important, but are ordinary people's lives not?" Lu Fan scoffed.
"The lives of those lowly commoners will be protected by others. How they are protected is none of our concern," the Mansion Lord retorted angrily.
"I'm a lowly commoner too!" Lu Fan was utterly enraged.
"But you stand in Hua Rong Mansion now, and your life no longer belongs to you!" The Mansion Lord's expression turned cold, a murderous intent flashing in his eyes. No one had ever dared to speak to him like this.
"My life belongs to me alone! No one can control it, not even you!" Lu Fan glared at the Mansion Lord, his killing intent steadily escalating.
*Whoosh, whoosh...*
The onlookers were stunned. They had never witnessed such a scene since entering Hua Rong Mansion. Lu Fan and the Mansion Lord's killing intent grew heavier and heavier, continuously climbing. The surrounding Transformation Realm experts, in the face of this aura, felt a sense of unease and apprehension.
*Bang... bang...*
Suddenly, the Four Great Elders also unleashed their killing intent, and the five of them directed their overwhelming aura towards Lu Fan.
The surrounding people's expressions grew even more grim, and they involuntarily retreated a few steps.
"Ganging up on me! I'm not afraid of you!" Lu Fan's eyes seemed to spew fire. He swiftly drew the black hidden blade, his killing intent exploding outwards, pressing against the five opponents.
"Damn... this is an invisible battle!"
The onlookers were dumbfounded. No one had ever been this audacious, facing five alone and still holding the upper hand. Should this Mansion Lord be replaced? Don't tell me he's not here to challenge the establishment!
"Very well! You may disregard Hua Rong Mansion's rules, but if there is an important mission, you must complete it!" the Mansion Lord suddenly declared.
Simultaneously, the killing intent emanating from the five gradually receded.
"Hmph!" Lu Fan sheathed his hidden blade.
"Hua Fifteen, take him to his quarters," the Mansion Lord said, turning to leave with the others.
"Phew..." Hua Fifteen let out a long sigh. If it had come to a fight, he knew his poison wouldn't be cured.
He was led to a private courtyard with all the amenities, even high-end ones, including a facial recognition lock.
Lu Fan glanced at the room and prepared to leave. He had no intention of staying here. He had parents, a career, and his woman back home. Who would want to be isolated here?
"Thirty-Five! Could you do us a favor and remove the Golden Silkworm Gu from our bodies? We're... we're fellow disciples now, brothers in arms!" Hua Fifteen and Hua Sixteen stood at the doorway, looking at Lu Fan with pleading expressions.
"Don't worry! You won't die! Tell me, who are the Mansion Lord and those four elders? And what kind of tasks do we undertake?" Lu Fan suddenly asked.
"The Mansion Lord is Hua Lao Da of Hua Rong Mansion. The four elders are ranked accordingly. Once inside Hua Rong Mansion, one no longer uses their former name; this rule applies even to the Mansion Lord.
Furthermore, Elder Hua Qi is in charge of archives, managing everyone's information. We don't usually have tasks, but when we do, they are special missions. The people we protect are of utmost importance," Hua Fifteen explained.
"Then, I only saw a dozen or so people. Where are the others?" Lu Fan recalled the roughly dozen individuals who had blocked him earlier. There should have been more.
"They are on the other side. We rarely see them except when on missions. That's because they are senior and junior sisters!"
"There are women here?" Lu Fan was taken aback.