Late that night-
.
Leroy treated the few members that joined his Family with his lighting and general medicine directly. Staying in one of the town's upper areas was easy with the funds he had. Not to mention the survivors needed to make some money so they were really happy to sell. He bought an estate outright that would serve as a place to stay for his Family members and those he recruited in the future for this area if at all possible.
The former Light Lion-ice members were pleasantly surprised at the fact he gave them resources right then and there. Engraved Glass shards that looked very ornate and crafted beautifully. Inside each of them were flames and lighting from his Flame Vortex Core qi. Enough to make them stronger cultivators at the base level and healthier people.
Each of them went over methods to help with their cultivation to the side with the few who were cultivators learning from each other. More than one person who never thought they would get to this point wept a lot at the loss of his family but also the fact he could not cultivate.
Xiao Mei gladly explained a few small changes to look out for the few females. Tang Bo and several others helped the males who lacked experience.
Victoria explained the insights she knew about the basic techniques she mastered to them as well from the Akademy learning. Her Bodyguard Lisa also begrudgingly did so after gaining a favor from Leroy for an audience later then taking over for her young miss to go and speak with him.
Not understanding why, Victoria did so as Leroy had done better by her than Chu Xue did. Not just lately but as long as she knew him except for that mouth of his needed to change. He was harsh and overly mean she thought but he at least tried to help the populace in his own way.
Jing Lin and Jing Van go over fighting movements and ways to survive in a skirmish with a few of their fellow villagers. It was odd seeing Jing Van treat them nicely but desperately needed.
As for Leroy, after treating the last member, he sat down in a chair and finished up on writing down who needed what in the future. Besides lingering muscle problems, a few of them had skeletal issues and a lot of mental disorders from their lived lifestyles.
"Hmmm, so much trouble." Leroy muttered. But it did shed light on a few more things he needed to do for himself. "Life Martial Art Cultivators can only treat so far. Medicine is still better and I have not erred in keeping up with my skills and devising other ways for people to learn. And not enough of the other type of people being born with the ability to treat with their qi either to worry about so far."
"So what will you do now?" Victoria asked. She sat down pretty poised and carried herself as a still proper lady. Habits were hard to get rid of easily even if you sought to be a warrior. "Surely you have a deeper plan than what was mentioned before? Right?"
"Yes. I have the medical expertise to treat the issues. So that is easy. It will take time, however. And I need to see to other matters. Not like their lives are in danger or anything." Leroy was going to say more but an unusual guest appeared. "Wait right here while I check on something."
*Bwoom!* The flickering of a barrier lit up of dense Qi to shield the place.
The others were more than glad to stay inside as they felt it was just safer to do so. They were pretty tired from the past events and wanted to relax and recover. Victoria kept a lookout all the same though, as her Aunt Lily came over assuming a defensive posture the situation must not be safe out there.
They did after all kill a lot of members of the Dark Tiger-fire family. Leroy would not put it past a member of the power-hungry families to spread the news of a ripe opportunity.
Outside in the courtyard Taishi Ci and the others he didn't remember getting the name of were waiting with the old man. The old man did look a little better as they followed the instructions really quickly of what Leroy wrote down as treatment.
"Greetings Doctor," Taishi Ci said politely. The others have a respectful gaze while looking at Leroy. "I have finished filling out the paperwork and inquired about some other matters I think will be beneficial."
Taking the documents, Leroy read it all over as he made a few notes on it for later. His eyes widened at a few passages. It was a blasted life history with how much was written down but the detail was impeccable. The worst were the various things the old man was subjected to while in captivity.
"Thank you. Every bit helps." Leroy did not like the look of some of the treatment methods used. "Okay, so he needs really bad rehab after this is all over. As for the muscle work needed, who is Cao Xong?"
"I am." One of the Beast Dragon Cultivators stepped forward. The only thing of note was the above-average arm length. Other than that, he looked the same as the others upon close look. "What can I help you with?"
The bodyguard Lily held a firm hand on Victoria as if she was ready to take her away the moment the chance arrived if the situation turned in a certain direction. Not knowing what was going on, Victoria watched Jasmine move off to one of the adjacent buildings.
"Aunt Lily, I am going to check on my friend." It took some effort but the girl walked away with her aunt following behind. She did keep looking back at Leroy and the old man which in itself was quite weird. 'Haa, what is going on now with Senior brother is nothing compared to Jasmine. She looks so listless still.'
Victoria may not be the best of friends but she was at least concerned when it really mattered. Hoping against hope she could do something about this situation, she psyched herself up to prepare for whatever it may be.
"You are going to be in charge of the Massage Therapy. Responsible for keeping track of when muscle tissue is replaced and when the degraded tissue will be removed. Sole purpose at that in regards to his medical recovery." Leroy said quickly with no hesitation. He jotted down a few items he would need to get started. "The others can watch as we do the first treatment."
"So you are willing to do it?"
"I have no reason not to. Just make sure you pay correctly and we are good to go." Leroy advised him of an empty room inside they could set up in. "The sooner the bad tissue is removed the faster you can see results more. Especially with his high Cultivation Realm recovering faster."
Hearing his cultivation realm was recovering they had even more hope than before. Gathering together the payment to pass over to him, they were given exactly what Leroy needed for he could break through against his problem.
"Thank you, Doctor!" Taischi Ci saluted before following along with the others. It was the best news they heard since the last time they spoke with Leroy. He signaled the others to stay mindful of the situation. It would be a short time in this lower region but also a chance for them to reflect on the future. "I will make sure everything is gathered!"
Cao Xong remained with the elder but the others already shot back out of the home. Responsible for removing the clothes and setting the old man down. Treating the man as if he was made of glass every step of the way.
.
Next Morning-
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"Leroy!" Tang Bo came running over with news. Jumping over those training instead of weaving through the crowd. "Big news!" His friend had been so busy lately that the fact he finally took some time for himself could not stop the news he had to share.
"Hmm, is that a group of people went to join the Light Lion-ice Family from all over the place? Consisting of a few well-named folks that made a name for themselves on sheer skill and merit alone?" Leroy continued to show basic massage techniques while talking to him. A few were shocked that he didn't care what was going on. "Remember to be mindful of the patient's condition when applying to sensitive pressure areas. Not everybody reacts the same way."
"Right." The martial students nodded. The Occupational student taking notes diligently.
"How did you know?" Tang Bo asked only a little annoyed by his reaction.
"The Rebels remember?"Leroy finished what he was teaching and instructed the others to go and spar. "Those people that joined have ties to the Rebels and something more dangerous probably. Inviting them will result in an issue later but his boyfriend the Rebel Squad Leader sent them most likely, so he couldn't turn them away."
"Colluding with the Rebels so openly, that will mess with things on our end won't it?" Tang Bo asked.
"Nope. The report I sent stated nothing was amiss while I was there. Checks were soso overall and I listed enough plausable people to draw focus on the matter itself the first time. And left enough room to warrant a second search in the future. With everything that happened late and the letters I sent, I changed it to what I recovered. Such as he had worked with the Rebels for some time and they came to apprehend him later for something."
Leroy rubbed his chin in thought as he wondered if he left something out. So much was lost in the refining process and he was short on material himself that it could have gone anyway really.
"When we take done the Dark Tang Family, I want to rebuild it." Tang Bo said seriously. This did not go well with Leroy but he continued all the same. "Hear me out, my cousin and myself are not bad and my uncle would make the perfect person to reestablish the faith of the people."
"But your traitorous Family members have quite a few heavy hitters." Victoria was actually impressed as she spoke. She heard of some of those fighters that joined up with Chu Xue but the fact Tang Bo was willing to take on his family an remake them sent a warm feeling through her. "Think that will make a difference to put yourself out like that?"
"I know it will. And if they can be saved, I will do so." Tang Bo believed in his words fully. Where the optimism came from Leroy had no real idea. "With us doing so and the help of the Imperial Army nothing we can't do."
"Nope. A stall method sure to boost morale, but against the former Dark Tang Family.. once people see them and feel that power it will be over. Not even remotely close to a victory for your side. The condition of some of the controlled people is just ghastly."
"My side?"
"Doctor Leroy!" A new member came over to speak with him while handing over a sealed message. "Straight from the Akademy sir!"
"Especially as they are. But it is time for me to start my own matters that I need to take care of.." He turned to look at the old man in the wheelchair as they wheeled him out to get fresh air. "Try not to get into trouble while away and do not use your Qi more than you already have."
The old man just glowered at him. He may be his doctor but telling him not to do something was too much after giving the news he was recovering.
"Don't give me that look. You may fool others but not me. I know quite a few people in your condition that did terrible things." Leroy waved his finger in front in rebuke. "Your people can tend to you. I am not leaving anyone behind. Old grumpy. So come to the Akademy for your next treatment phase."
"We await your safe return doctor." Taishi Ci saw them off. The others guard the place with the elder. "Elder.. you have been using your Qi to do what?"
The old man closed his eyes immediately and pretended to sleep.
Every man woman and child that had joined Leroy's side were evacuating with him to the Akademy. Every member of the Town that was left was told the Imperial Army was attacking the problem in a few hours and that they would be staying afterward to make sure the situation became stable.
Quite a few decided to stay but more than enough left. The other bit of news received was that the Jing Family that listened to Jing Lin had joined into an Alliance with the Light Lion-ice Family!
It didn't take much to understand this was done by the Family Ancestor pulling strings or outright telling Jing Ling to do this. To now have majority power in the Town was the best thing ever to get the hell away from there.
Letting the Imperial Army deal with it was for the best.
Even the Shining Demon Family pulled away completely and bolstered their own borders. A few homes are left behind but not a single good or valuable resource remains.