Still trotting along, Leroy was already back at trying to figure out the two Horse's Dantian developments. Having unlocked the Meridians throughout the Body with great difficulty he was at least able to improve their health further.

"Hey!" Jasmine shouted as she met up with them. Literally running from the trees onto the path. "What are you doing out here?"

Her personal guards were not too far behind as she just couldn't shake them off. Wanting to do the same as Victoria to go out and hone herself in dangerous situations. Thye just kept getting in the way anytime she attacked a creature or person stronger than her.

"Just nothing is all." Leroy answered while continuing his work. "Little busy here."

"Doing what?" She didn't ask him but looked to Miniori at the reigns. She gave the other a close look over and could barely tell her cultivation level. Having seen her a few times and remembering the first time she saw her, she wondered why Unlimited Sect members was now with him all the time. "Hi."

"Hello, he is just treating the horse is all. I would offer you a ride but that is a little inconvenient." Miniori said politely.

"Humph, the Princess has been active for a few days, it will be your honor to let her ride in your carriage." One of the guards said haughtily. She even reached for the reins while moving along with the carriage. "Best if she just rides this one."

No one made a move as the guard would be taken care of automatically. Miniori gave a smile which caused Jasmine tense up.

*Bang!* The guard's hand touched against a reflective field of QI. The Formation triggered and sent her flying into the woods with s strong carrying force.

"AHHHHhhhhhhh!" The Formation sent her really far as the scream faded out pretty quickly.

Of course, the other guards immediately went on the offensive and were about to make the same mistake.

The reason the carriage was just trotting along was because of the various Formations in place. Running, it would have fallen apart very quickly and destabilized. Not something Leroy wanted at all.

"Stop!" Jasmine ordered as she felt the energy and how Leroy's party didn't move at all were different. "I am perfectly fine walking, there is a Hamlet right up the way, transportation can be purchased there as we then head toward the Mansion later."

She hoped the others would be there as the forest had been concerning.

The guards agreed as they rather not cause trouble after seeing that take place. As for the one that was sent off into the forest, she made it back 20 minutes later out of breath and covered in filth.

"My apologies princess." Completely filthy and stinking of rotting flesh and vegetables, the princess just gave her a nod of understanding and a little pity. 'The intel is wrong on this one, that Formation may not have done me any damage but it was impossible to resist once the Qi got inside me. But why is there no trace left inside me?'

Not causing a problem, she joined the others in a protective movement around the Princess. It wasn't much longer before they came across Tang Xui and the others with her. But the Tang girl's father Tang Ansui and Alchemist Nobu were not around.

Passing through the Hamlet nearby, the group came across quite the site. It had been a while since Leroy saw children abused like this in the open. The last few Hamlets at least had a small Orphanage or Monastery to take care of the children. Which he thought would be more in the growing phase since talks of a Civil War were kicking up higher once more.

Spatial Sense was getting really good with the Metal Seed in picking up words spoken and letting him carry them back to his own ears via Sound. With some more practice with Formations and Inscriptions, he could create listening devices.

Stolen novel; please report.

"Damn you!" A loud shout drew attention to a sick scene but a typical one to those here. "Blasted wretches!"

A fat man on the main road was beating several children over what looked to be dried-out bread. The children kept eating the pieces mixed with dirt despite the whips that tore at their backs.

"Richard and Hector wouldn't forgive me if I didn't do anything about this. Hell, I wouldn't be able to forgive myself!" The shouting from the fat man was ignored as he picked up the words of someone on the side. 'They worked as you wanted you should have paid them!'

"Hah, just because he had the Guard favor, that fat monster Lu Shu keeps taking advantage of people. Haa, even extending to children to be cheated by him." An old woman cursed as she leaned on her cane gossiping. "If my son was around he would tear him a new one."

"Wouldn't have been an issue if the Imperial Guards didn't conscript all the good able-bodied people." Another member said.

*Bzzt!* In a burst of lighting he got in between the situation. In the way of the next whip strike was already coming more viciously than the last thankfully. A Qi wave blocked the lash with no effort.

"You kids don't have to eat that dirty bread like that." Lifting them all up with his improved Qi control, he pulled some fruits out of his storage bag to give them. "Slowly eat this, no one will steal it from you."

Wary but too hungry to care the children ate the fruit. Some were unable to slow themselves but powered through choking it down. It was slightly maddening at how to make sure the food was not lost one way or the other they made sure it made it into their guts.

Even eating the peels and crunching the seeds inside.

"You kids have someone watching over you nearby?" Leroy was hoping they were not some group that ran from a nearby place for food. The chances of them being infected were a lot higher and with it being kids, giving medical aid would suck because of the difficulty.

"The Baldy Nun watches us but she hasn't been able to work in the last few days due to her illness. Or get us any food." One shy boy with a head full of hair like a skunk spoke up. "You are not a bad guy are you?"

They all looked at Leroy with eyes of concern. But they didn't move away as the food they ate was good enough to risk bad people to feed their bellies.

"I am a bad guy but not to people who are innocent. If it helps, I am a traveling doctor, I might be able to help the situation for she can take care of you once more."

"Nobody in the town helps anymore. They all went off and joined the rebels." A little spitfire of a little girl said. "No good traitors and turncoats took some of the older kids with them! My brother died because of them!"

By the looks of the crowd, not much pity went around. It was just the life most of them these last few months.

"What did you say!?" Jasmine shouted a little too loudly as she stepped toward the girl. She couldn't ignore the situation with some many guards with her. "How many joined?!"

"Back off before you get hurt." Leroy got in front separating the north princess from them. "If your guards were doing their jobs maybe this wouldn't have happened. I am taking these kids under my protection, your answers can wait until later."

Something just told him to keep them from ending up with her. Jasmine herself may not do anything to the kids but she couldn't handle her guards doing any questioning or interrogation on them.

"You. ." Jasmine grits her teeth frustrated. The look of distrust was quite strong. "..can't be serious?"

The guards behind her got ready to move on spot.

"You are not about to interrogate a bunch of kids who barely have their wits about them! If they were part of the Rebellion I would not get in your way!" He didn't know if they were but the condition they were in, that definitely push them not to be. 'If they are Sleeper Agents or Spies I will find out!'

"Someone finally taking care of the filth around, not bad." A few of the Hamlet members left.

"You idiots are a staple it looks like." A few youths from the biggest building came out. Their bearing was not very friendly looking at the mostly gathered youngsters. "Hear to steal more kids the same as those other Nobles, I bet!"

Leroy was suspected of the fat man so the entire situation itself he wanted to oversee it from a distance. To do that, the buck had to be passed over.

"Kids lead the way to the Bald Nun, don't worry about this situation. Leave it up to the guards to do their job for once." Smiling Leroy pushed the kids along. "Nothing here to see really. I am sure the adults can help them to."

Jasmine couldn't believe he left them to deal with this. But then again she was the one who shouted causing the situation to turn worse.

Of course, the hothead princess could not handle it peacefully and ended up fighting with the people. Whether those who remained behind were planning on joining the rebels or not, or were actually with them, they were too dangerous to leave alone.

One even managed to critically injure a northern guard and would have killed her if not for Jasmine hitting from the side.