"Leroy Agu Shentai, from the South part of the Continent." It didn't matter if they looked in the south for information considering they wouldn't find any. Controlling the information given out was the best way to fight back quietly anyway. "Not too odd that one of them was here to any of you?"
On a table was one of the noncritical patients. The number of seeds.. eggs planted in him was low in number. And only in the upper back area. A quick check over most of them revealed similar patterns with the eggs placed in them.
But only for those who were confirmed former members of the guard rotation that suffered the blood issue a few years ago. Taking notes while treating for the egg extraction, Leroy and the guards confirmed the same thing.
They all had increased back muscles that extended down to the arms in decreasing volume. In fact, it was tailored in this way after closer looks. So engrossed in the way the muscles wrapped around they forgot the initial reason for checking.
"No additional marks besides small exit points near the glutes." Leroy had a makeshift pair of magnifying glasses on as he combed over the body. The patient was uncomfortable but they really didn't care about that. "It is just a detail look to make sure nothing unsettling entered down below."
"Just hurry up, I don't like to have my ass looked at by so many people!"
"It's ok, I am a doctor." With a smirk, he looked at the others that were looking. Minus the other patients who looked up to see what was going on. "And the others can be considered to be medics at least. Or new doctors in the making."
Leroy didn't really how his words changed those in the area.
"Little small exit holes right here. They have healed over already and.. what the hell?!" He was alarmed as the holes were smooth in a way that something moved in and out continuously or frequently used. "This is permanent! The holes should have closed up if it was a regular wound!"
The Qi Refining Realm cultivators came and looked one after another. Each of them sees the same thing after comparing it to the others.
"The area is smooth like the opening of the nose. It doesn't reassemble regular wound holes or other exit marks by the eggs from the Sucking Plant. Maybe there is a new species to deal with?" Tang Xuan was starting to wonder what was really going on.
"There really is a traitor in the Clear Tang Family. No way would conditions line up like this if not purposefully done. We need to report this now." Leroy's words were true but they were to indoctrinated to do otherwise. They were guards and had to obey orders. 'A bunch of lambs to slaughter, it is about time to make a break for it.'
Those gathered nodded as they did not like the fact they were basically used like guinea pigs or expendable soldiers. The various different Hamlet members gathered their stuff and were ready to go.
A few of the upper Tang members returned to camp with grave looks on their faces.
Especially one Tang Suo who came over covered in blood and debris directly toward Leroy.
"Whatever you had in those pouches, that pesticide you called it really did the trick."
"Hmm?" Looking at the mixes that he was making before they forced him to work on these patients that rested on a table, two or three were missing. Luckily a few were still in his Storage Pouch. 'Thieving bastard!'
"Don't be to angry, I tested it with one of the teams. It worked wonders." With a wave of the hand, Tang Suo revealed some of the material he believed was used in the mix. "Can you make more with this and how fast can it be done?"
After reporting the combination to the Tang Elder, Tang Suo was given permission to use the stores of their supplies to take out the Demon Plants. The family was grateful as they did not want to use explosives or any of their Qi Bombs to level the place out as most started recommending.
It cost way too much and this process was a hell of a lot cheaper. The only problem with Leroy talking about the pesticides was that it put him on the radar of the Clear Tang Family. The procedure to remove the Sucking Plant was one thing but this was too much to overlook.
Tang Suo was authorized to use several means to rope in the "Nomad" as they saw Leroy onto their side. Luckily the man thought he had a good relationship with the other as they were pretty open when speaking to each other.
Unfortunately, family derision would not let the situation go as planned. Upstarts will always be upstarts.
A young man by the name of Tang Huo pulled his hood down blocking his eyesight while watching Leroy move about. Even more so watching the others who carried out the proposed plans trying to find a chance to stop it.
'Those idiots failed to pull you down and let my pet take care of you but no matter.' Moving towards the nest unbothered, the mastermind of the Demon Plant growth was heading to give it another feeding. 'I already grew a few Ranks after Dual Cultivating with the use of Tang Suo's energy. Considering he didn't weaken too much a second helping would even be better. After all, he refined my pet's children!'
.
Next Day-
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Leroy and the Old Tiger were booking it through the forest at top speed. Not for a moment entertaining the chance to remain despite the assurances they gave to the contrary. One thing good that came out of the heavy-handed method of them forcing the treatment of others was that he exhausted himself more than before and was able to break through to Body Tempering 6th Stage.
The number of Connections increased but he still had no real plausible idea of how that worked.
'Must keep going, never stop until your clear your destination twice over!' His lungs and muscles burned as the number of patrols he passed by finally started to decrease. Even though they were in the Qi Condensation Realm, didn't mean they could detect everything. 'I just need to make it across those mountains!'
The Old Tiger kept itself ahead slightly. Every now and then a breeze would exit its mouth toward the sides. Leroy kept quiet and didn't mention he noticed the changes.
The very shadows started to grow and obscure them from sight every now and then. They are very close to the last checkpoint. Pushing harder, Leroy didn't bat an eye when a few guards came out to try and stop them.
"Halt right there." The guard was polite enough but seeing as they didn't stop he raised his voice. "I said for you to halt!"
*Woosh!* Robes fluttered as the speed Leroy and the Old Tiger traveled had long since gained enough momentum. Of course, the two guards reacted quickly as they turned on the two and tried to catch them.
"That's a Blacktiger... are you sure we should do this?"
"We have our orders. Do not let anyone leave." Pulling out a rope with a hook at the end, he twirled it a few times before launching it toward Leroy. "Damn it!"
The hook overshot with Leroy grabbing it when he saw it. The moment it was tugged of course he let go. Unknown to the guard a slick solution was on top that was not good for a person.
"What the hell is this stuff!?" Grabbing the hook and getting ready to send it back out he held it too long in his blistered hands. "My hand!?"
"Come on!" His partner shouted as the other started to lag behind. "They are getting away!" He didn't stop as the trouble from letting anyone get out was a lot higher.
"Wait!" The guard fell down as his body was not responding to him more and more. "I.. can't move...!" Unfortunately, he was not alone as someone walked over slowly and carefully. 'It's another member of the family, I am saved!'
While he was joyful at first, it immediately turned to despair. Countless Sucking Plants came out of the brush with him. All of them at the Body Tempering Realm Peak or at the Qi Condensation Realm 1st Rank.
Several members of the Clear Tang and various Hamlet members are wrapped in their embrace. With a gesture from the Tand member, a Sucking Plant reached out wrapping the guard up before turning in the direction Leroy and the Old Tiger went.
Leroy and the Old Tiger didn't stop when heading past the perimeter. In fact, they made it to a river that was not on the map. Not only did he look lost but so did the Old Tiger. It was a man-made river that was not included on the old map by any means.
"No..no. no...!" Tired and out of breath from running several miles, he darted around every which way to get across. Nothing was available and the distance was way too much to jump across. "If a type of the eggs were introduced by the way of drinking water then this river is definitely not good. Two years ago be damned!"
"Grr!" The Old Tiger alerted him to the arrival of company. The one guard had caught up. Despite being a Realm higher this was the first time he was pushed so hard when going after someone. 'Such a pleasant situation has gotten worse before I could be healed fully! Despicable humans!'
Gripped in his sleeves, Leroy had a knife at the ready and homemade garrote.
"You ran far but you can't get away!"
"You sure you want to do a two v.s. one?" Leroy looked the Old Tiger over and it seemed ready for whatever. However, its line of sight looked passed the guard. 'What is it looking at?'
"An Old Tiger that will leave the moment it is freed from you.. I will take my chances." Only slight hesitation at the demon beast but no real concern for it overall. 'The Black Tigerfire Family won't care as long as I don't try to kill it. And it doesn't look too loyal as this guy is not riding with it. Might even get a reward for freeing it!'
They stared at each other a few moments. The Guard waiting for a move to be made and Leroy waiting to see what was coming behind the treeline. If push came to shove he could run downstream letting the momentum downward lead the way.
"Holy shit..." Leroy's mouth went slack as the sight unnerved him. He immediately shot downstream with the Old Tiger doing the same.
"Get back here!" The guard shouted and just remembered his partner should have caught up by now. "Where the.. hell.. are.." He caught sight of what made Leroy run off. "So many Sucking Plants!"
The guard did the first smart thing he did in forever and ran off for dear life.
"Get them!" Tang Huo ordered as time was running out and he needed to finish his final plans. "Take them back to the nest! as soon as possible!"
The sun was finally starting to show. The perfect time for him to implement his plan.
After running so long, it was impossible for Leroy and the Old Tiger to get away.