Around the Orphanage Monastery-
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Leroy had seen fourth-world countries in better conditions and tribal videos by his friend William. A literal Demon Beast was chewing on a kid that was half-dead to the world. Either from his overall situation or from a fate pass hunger itself.
Besides an old drunk who beat some away with a stick, most had given up fighting and waited for death to claim them.
The children moved together, eyes darting around in learned behavior to watch out for creatures in the shadows. A few wanted to help the other child but pointed out a few more Demon Beasts in the bushes waiting.
"Disgusting!" Tang Xui was appalled. But not at the situation really but at the people not doing anything.
"Yet you aren't doing a single thing about it." Leroy had gotten a count on the few that could be saved immediately. Others... would prefer death instead unless he understood the refining process to the point he could redo their bodies with the Flame Vortex as he does himself. "Spotter, take out the ones on the outskirts!"
"Kaaaww!" With a cry that terrorized those nearby, the Demon Eagle took flight. With its outburst, it alerted the other creatures but this also stopped them from attacking briefly.
*Bzzt!* A lighting burst arched out paralyzing the Demon Beasts. Keeping the charge around them, Leroy then used it to then pull them all towards him for quick kills and hopefully as a deterrent to cause others to run away.
"Here goes.." both swords drawn he started cutting them all down with a vicious flurry. Chopping off the heads, he tried not to damage them too much. "... go inside, it is safe in there. Do not worry."
Snatching up with each other that was once attacked, the kids and a few older people ran as instructed. The Demon Beasts realizing the situation was dire started to pounce on any they could. Trying to take anyone down to eat for a meal. They were quite rapid as they were pushed into a corner for survival.
"Graa!" A type of shadow jackal pounced on Leroy the very movement it had a chance. The others seeing this jumped to pile on top like they usually do. "Arrr!"
The beasts started to scream as they hit against the condensed flame barrier that protected him. When they were a foot off the barrier, a condensed bold of lighting shot into their chests.
"Hope you creatures taste good!" Leroy pivoted and cut the heads off to make sure they were dead. Clearing the area didn't take long with the others striking fast and deadly. Picking one up and cooking it with his flames a bite was then taken. "Umm, not bad at all!"
Such weak Demon Beasts were a threat to the people but not healthy cultivators. The situation made him even more mad that the Guards didn't take care of them with a just pass by.
Moving on to what he needed to do, Leroy was still in for seeing more problems.
Inside the Monastery, while checking it over with his senses, Leroy attributed it to a Temple in Osaka they visited on vacation back on his Earth. But this one looked centuries if not millennia older.
He remained quiet at first as memories that did not belong to him started to surface. Of the countless people that were refined, a few actually lived here once before. Piecing together that something remained in the wreckage of some of the buildings that hadn't been open in years.
A look around later of the place definitely.
"This woman..." Leroy couldn't get over the countless Lesions and patched skin. ".. haven't seen a case this severe in a while."
He got done after putting on his gloves and glasses. With a little circulation of Qi with lighting, the magnification was even better.
His eyes resembled the Demon eagles which was enough to give the level of a microscopic view without heavy Qi usage or the use of technology helping.
Mycobacterium leprae or just Leprae cells. Leprosy was definitely a problem back in the day and seemed to be the same case even in this place. Thinking about it, the adage of leaving those types of people alone because they believed they were cursed most likely lead to it.
The nun was reduced to the Qi Refining Realm but the disease still ate away at her cultivation. Attacking her Dantaian any time she tried moving it herself or from natural movement usage.
The fact the others didn't catch it from constant direct contact or any other exposures had to be because of the Nun's methods itself.
"This will take a few weeks to cure. Alright, lady, you are going to have to come with me." Lifting her up he looked at the kids who gathered in the room. "Pack whatever you have, you all are coming with me to."
"Eh, do you plan on doing this everywhere?" Tang Xui asked somewhat bothered.
"If I am able I will. Not that hard to feed them with my skills. Besides, it's not like it will be for free. Not like these kids can't be taught to contribute to society somehow."
"Right, I think I can find a place for them with the Tang members." Tang Xui felt bad at her first thoughts.
"Hard pass, I will take care of it myself." Leroy stopped her right then and there. "Getting involved with your family is about the same as getting involved with the other nobles during this time. Besides, it wouldn't be long before they are screwed over."
Thinking of Tang Xuan and the incident with the Family in general with the Mine and the Demon Plant fiasco, Leroy would not send anyone that way unless he knew more about the general situation. With the Rebellion picking up as well, the kids would be the first ones tossed to the side.
"That's not fair Leroy... I didn't have anything to do with that situation."
"I heard you then and I hear you now." The kids finished gathering their items and were ready to leave. Just a rag wrap of clothing and only one child carrying a toy. "Once we make it to the Akadmey I will have everything prepared for you to keep your stuff."
"Thank you," Weakly the Nun tries to move in his arms. Feeling a small barrier of Qi she relaxed that his exposure would not increase. "Good to know someone still cares."
"If not for remembering my family members I may not have. It's good to have reminders that we are all human."
As they prepared to leave, Jasmine returned with her guards who had seen better days from the brief fight. There was no haughtiness or arrogance in their eyes anymore. The number of times they almost lost their lives to the Rebels was too many to count.
"This is .. Camilia, I have known her since I was a child. Save her.. please."
"Hmm?" Leroy gave her a look at why he should. "I kind of want to see how it will turn out. Ya know, kind of how you did a few days ago when I was getting whipped."
"You!" A personal guard jumped forwards ready to threaten him but that did not end well at all. "Kuk!" Grabbed by the throat and lift up into the air, she kicked and punched the arm that held her.
The execution of Leroy's movements in confined spaces had gotten better and better.
"I could snap your neck right now and then kill all of you. So easy to get rid of such trouble right now. Don't you think?" Looking at the other guards he dared them to make a move. "I mean, you are a waste of life with how dumb you are, it would be better for the human race if you were killed now. Dressing it up the Rebels did it would make several act away from looking directly into the matter. But not your father most likely he would figure something out but would he really care at a disappearance while in duty?"
"What's that supposed to mean?" Jasmine felt a sinking sensation in her heart at the implication.
"I am sure they can tell you." Leroy increased pressure on the guard and could see she was running out of breath already. He put his hand by her kidney and reached inside. "To save another member, a payment is needed."
*Slrch!* He pulled the kidney out directly and kept it wrapped in his Qi. Handing it over to Miniori, she ran inside to get started on the old man inside that was injured.
It didn't take much for him to treat the guards and Jasmine herself. The poison inside them was pretty potent but the biggest was the damage to their Qi passageways. He did not heal that of course.
"You have had time to think it over, don't you think it is time to voice them?" Working away, Leroy felt he gained a noticeable increase in strength when he acted a certain way. Causing mental or to be more precise emotional turmoil in someone. 'The Flame Vortex is taking it in, but how do I use it?'
"I don't know what you are talking about." Jasmine said fiercely. Looking at the guard who lost an organ she was really angry at him for what he did. The guards themselves who were already hostile thought less of Leroy but didn't dare make a move. "How could you do this to me!? I am the North Princess! A Noble that only has a few higher than my position! Most would try to curry favor and bend their backs to help me!"
The others looked over at the Princess's outburst. Leroy continued as normal and finished his work. Turning to her, he got close despite himself and common sense saying to back away.
"But you need to understand something, that means nothing to me." Leroy cupped her face as he stared into her eyes. "You are just another person who eats, sleeps, and shits. Nothing beyond that in my eyes. Your guards are less than that since they think so much of themselves. Your father as well, such a pathetic man from what I hear and have come to understand."
Jasmine was disgusted with herself feeling him cup her face, as she only wanted to lean into the touch. Leroy thought a Modern Notion of how people believe they can save another from emotional hardship passed but he dismissed it in the next moment.
Hearing the words about her father she smacked his hand away.
"Oww!" gripping her hurt hand, she couldn't believe it hurt so much. Jasmine was distinctly made aware that Leroy had trained his body a lot more than she initially thought. "What is your head made of!?"
"Heh, the same as yours but more thicker. You are still so weak.. it is shocking. How much more do you need to go through before you get your head out of your ass I wonder." He turned away from her, unbothered by the weird Qi he was receiving from the surroundings. "I never thought I would see the day she became better than others."
"What do you mean?"
"Contact her and find out." Leroy had picked up with his Spatial Sense Victoria and those with her fighting in a few Hamlets and two of the Towns in the area. Focusing closely he was able to determine she was pushing herself hard to take out the Rebels and Undead Cultivators she came across. "Such a change, if she can keep it going, Freedom will be hers."
"Grr!" Still feeling slighted, Jasmine was not done talking to him. "You think you are so strong, what happens when you piss someone off and they take out those you care about?"
"I will react in kind." Raising his hand up and pointing it out forward, he started shooting out balls of Qi Fire. It was steady with just a small gap and didn't hit trees but lobbed over them. "We all gotta die sometime though."
At first, no one understood why he kept firing. After 4 minutes they understood as countless Undead Creatures and Cultivators on fire came out. The bones were visible on the people so they had been dead for some time now.
"So many!" One of the guards shouted as she moved back. "We need to get out of here before we are surrounded!"
"We have been surrounded for some time now." Leroy kept firing as he popped a cork for a bottle. The Replenishing Elixer flowed smoothly and pushed his Qi back up already. "Can't believe your people couldn't tell. You didn't think it was weird no animals were heard or the people didn't flee."
"What about the kids?" Tang Xui asked. "Are they like them?"
"No, the kids and people are fine. But the population should be a lot smaller than what it actually is. From what I picked up, a lot of them are not from this Hamlet."
"Where are your horses?" The guard Camille asked.
"Away.. why?" Leroy continued to fire out at those he picked up moving towards them. The people that lived the Temple started running out of their homes hearing the commotion. "If you can't fight, I suggest running until you can't run anymore. Or just gather around and die together."
"Why are you so calm about this?" Tang Xui was nervous seeing so many. "We might die here!"
"Nah, they aren't strong enough. Besides, the numbers are gonna be thinned soon." Looking to the side where Kaitori was working on a Formation still. "Well, might take some time."
Stepping forward, he placed some gloves on. And downed two more elixirs.
"Those look better than the ones you sold me. I am a little jealous." Swallowing her fear, Tang Xui joined him. She sent a flare into the air hoping her father would see it. "We just need to hold out right, not too difficult."
"Whew!" Saiori stepped forward drawing two tonfas. She wasn't done as she put some thick armor on. "Not my swords but this will do nicely. This should keep me from getting poisoned."