The four were on a building across from Yanli Café. Leo really wished this café was just a coincidence, but the café was dawned in purple with a hint of gold. Their main and popular dish was lotus pork soup for crying out loud! There was fog everywhere and Leo glanced from every direction, making sure if there was any sign of movement. It was quiet. Too quiet. The quietness he experienced was different from Cloud Recesses. This quietness was just eerie.
"Let's go down," Leo said. "but stick together." he pointed at Raph and Mikey. "No arguing. Got it?"
"Got it," the two mumbled.
When they got down, the four slowly headed out of an alleyway. Leo kept his hand on his sword, just in case. Even though he had two swords and two hands, but it was best to keep one on guard and the other free just in case if he needed to pull his siblings out. In the corner of his eyes, he could see Mikey and Raph, standing close to each other. They looked like they were about to run, cry, and hug each other. Even though Raph was keeping a neutral face, but Leo could tell through his body language. Leo was aware how those two could get scared easily. Luckily, Leo didn't need to worry about Donnie being freaked out. The only thing he needed to be worry was about Donnie seeing a random human and spouting poetically of how beautiful they are. It didn't matter if that said human was a man or a woman, as long as they are pretty to Donnie's standards and close to his age.
Then Leo heard a footstep. He pursed his lips and stood close by his siblings. His brothers noticed this as they took out their weapons. A growling sound could be heard at either side. Leo recognized that type of growing sound. When the fog started to clear a bit, his mouth dropped. In front of them was a zombie-looking person with blueish-tinted skin, emanating red aura.
A fierce corpse.
Around them were more fierce corpses. Leo gnashed his teeth as his brothers gasped. Mikey looked like he was about to pass out any moment, while Raph looked like he wanted to call for his dog to help and attack these things.
"Z-Zombies?!" Donnie whispered.
"They're not zombies," Leo said. "They're obviously dead, but I think they're being controlled."
"What kind of person controls zombies?!" Raph snapped.
A demonic cultivator. Leo wanted to say, but he kept quiet. Leo never thought he'll have to his use knowledge of cultivation. He never expected he'll be facing a fierce corpse! That meant he needed to find a demonic cultivator. Leo thought cultivating was no more because of the rise of technology, but it looked like the practice was still kept around. If demonic cultivators were still being use, that meant the other Sects and their practices might still be alive. Still practicing on reaching immortality.
"They're easy to kill," Leo said. "but be careful. They're quick. The females are more vicious."
"What if there's more?" Mikey asked.
"Then we need to find someone who is controlling them."
For once, Leo wished he could cultivate again. He'll be able to locate where the source was coming from. Usually in his past life he'll have to use talismans for that, but now he needed to use his natural senses. Despite that disadvantage, Leo was sure he should be fine.
At once, Leo and his brothers charged at the fierce corpses. As if it was like he was sent back into time, Leo jumped up, spun, and slashed a corpse with a clean swipe. Leo couldn't help it and smirked. He still got it. Leo quickly glanced to his side and saw his brothers were doing well. Raph was enjoying slashing a corpse through the head, Donnie was slicing a corpse with a hidden blade he had on his bo, and Mikey was using a hidden blade from his nunchaku's as he swung it at the corpse. For some reason, Leo felt nostalgic. He hadn't fought corpses for a long time and it felt like it was only yesterday that he had fought corpses with his sworn brothers. Then in the corner of his eyes, Leo noticed a shadow and a red glow. Leo knew what it was right away.
"Stay here!" Leo ordered.
Before his brothers could say anything, Leo use a grappling hook and jumped onto a roof. He threw his shurikens at the demonic cultivator, disarming him before the cultivator had time to react. The demonic cultivator grunted and looked up. His eyes widened in fear. Leo knew too well why. Not because he was a Wen, but because he's a mutant turtle.
"Wh-What?!" the demonic cultivator gasped.
"You know," Leo said. "I usually don't kill unless it's necessary. For your case, it's a different story. A demonic cultivator running around New York, causing panic, making people believe they're having a zombie apocalypse, and turning people and the dead fierce corpses! You're in the wrong city to mess with."
"H-How do you know about cultivation?!" The demonic cultivator demanded.
Leo laughed. "You don't need to know."
Then Leo sliced the cultivator's throat. Leo wiped the blood off of his katanas and jumped down from the roof. Around him he saw corpses, dead, this time. Leo wondered if they actually have the time to bring these bodies back to the graveyard or not. As much as the humans would take care of it, but it seemed a bit disrespectful to leave them here for someone else to take care of them.
"Is that all of the corpses?" Leo asked.
"I-I think so," Raph sighed. "If we're having an actual zombie apocalypse, I'm staying underground, forever!"
"Aren't we already doing that?" Donnie questioned.
Raph huffed. "Shut up!"
Suddenly, Leo heard a familiar growl in the distance. His brothers' eyes widened, while Mikey flinched. Gnashing his teeth, Leo turned and saw a fierce corpse, charging towards a man who just came out of Yanli Café. At once, Leo and his brothers charged at the last and remaining fierce corpse. Leo quickly grabbed the man and took him on top of the building, while his brothers dealt with the corpse.
"Are you okay, sir?" Leo asked as he set the man down.
The man scoffed. "Get off of me!"
For some reason, the voice was familiar. Too familiar. Leo finally got a good look at the man. Eyes widened, his blood went cold. In front of him was a man he hadn't seen a long time. He had brown hair and electric blue eyes. His hair was short and parted. He was wearing a purple suit with a lotus brooch and a purple ring. His face had his usual scowl. Leo knew who this man was. This man was the one who killed his family twice, turned him in when he found out his identity, and killed him in a public execution.
"Sect Leader Jiang?" Leo gasped.
The man paused and looked at Leo, dead in the eyes. For once, Leo wished he didn't say anything. Sect Leader Jiang stared at him for a long minute, maybe two. Then his eyes turned to shock as if he realized who Leo really was.
"YOU?! " Sect Leader Jiang snarled. "You filthy Wen-dog! Lan Yuan, Lan Sizhui!"
Leo froze. He hadn't heard his original name for a long time. Even that insult he hadn't heard for a long time and obviously, Leo never missed that insult. He hated that insult. Leo would rather be called a freak than a Wen-dog. The way Sect Leader Jiang spoke of him was like venom. It's like he still hated him, even after his death. Sect Leader Jiang unleashed Zidian from his ring. Zidian made a thundering sound that made Leo stood his ground. He took out his katanas, getting ready to strike. It wasn't the first time Leo was hit by Zidian. In his past life he was forced to get hit by Zidian as punishment for "fooling" the cultivation world and for just having a surname.
"LEONARDO, WATCH OUT!" A voice called.
Before Leo could react, his brothers threw kunais and shurikens at Sect Leader Jiang. The Sect Leader seemed taken aback by the presence of his brothers, As Sect Leader Jiang was about to swing Zidian at his brothers, Leo right away got in front of his brothers and dropped a smoke bomb in front of them.
It didn't took them that long to quickly get away and back to the sewers. Leo didn't say anything as they walked. He stared at his brothers who were talking about the zombie fight they just had and who that strange angry purple man almost hurt him.
Donnie growled. "I hate to admit, that man is handsome, but too bad it's a waste of beauty for a scowling man like that! April and Casey are better looking than him and I'll date them both!"
"Don't you already have a crush on both April and Casey?" Raph questioned.
Donnie shrugged. "What's your point? If April doesn't like me, then there's Casey."
Raph blinked. "Sometimes, I wonder what goes on in that head of yours."
Donnie shook his head and put a hand on Leo's shoulder. "If that guy tries to hurt you again, Leo, he'll have to come through us!"
The only thing Leo did was to give Donnie a smile. He patted his head as they headed to the lair. When they got there, Splinter, April, and Casey were still at the living room, drinking tea and looking worried. When they spotted them, their eyes lit up as they raced over to them.
"You're okay!" April cried.
"Are we having a zombie apocalypses?" Casey asked.
"Thanks," Raph smiled. "and no we're not."
"Some guy was controlling them," Donnie explained. "Leo was talking to him, but we didn't hear the whole conversation. I think I heard...demonic cultivation."
Casey frowned. "Demonic cultivation? What's that?"
Splinter opened his mouth, but Leo explained. "It's a practice during ancient times in China. A regular cultivator would use spiritual energy, while a demonic cultivator use resentful energy. Unlike regular cultivators, demonic cultivators don't need a golden core. If a cultivator lost their golden core, they're only option to cultivate is to use resentful energy. These corpses...there are types of them. A walking corpse is slow, a fierce corpse is more dangerous and faster, a sentient fierce corpse is someone who became the undead. These sentient fierce corpses are conscious and are loyal servants. Of course there are more types of corpses, but these are the common ones use for demonic cultivation. They control corpses how they wanted. It can be use to protect or for evil."
As Leo finished, he realized everyone was staring at him as if he had grown another head. Even his father was surprised that he knew something that he never told him. The only thing he could do was to chuckle.
"Sorry," Leo gave one of his usual amicable smiles. "I read it in a book."
Splinter smiled and nodded. "I see. You are very knowledgeable, Leonardo. As much as I will like to explain to you all more about cultivation, I do believe all of you need rest first. We can all discuss this tomorrow."
"Hai Sensei," the four said.
"Can we have some ice-cream after dinner, Papa?" Mikey asked.
Splinter patted his head. "I don't see why not. As long as you don't eat the whole carton like last time, Michelangelo."
Mikey groaned. "That was one time! I didn't mean to eat all of your ice-cream, Papa!" then he muttered. "It's not my fault we both like rocky road."
Chuckling, Splinter playfully rolled his eyes as he headed into the dojo. At once, everyone didn't waste time to dig into their pizza and fried chicken. Leo put a single slice of pizza and a couple of chicken on his plate. Glancing back, he saw Raph feeding his dog, Angel some of the crust and chicken, Mikey was shoving pizza and chicken in his mouth, and Donnie was flirting with both April and Casey. With a smile, Leo headed out of the living room. As he was about to go into his room, he felt a hand touched his shoulder. He turned and saw Mikey.
"You okay, Leo?" Mikey asked. "You're not sick, right?"
Leo blinked and gave Mikey his usual smiles. "I'm fine, Mikey. I'm just tired."
Unconvinced, Mikey nodded. "Okay, but if you're not feeling well, let us know."
"I will, I will. Thanks, little bro."
Leo gave Mikey a hug, which his brother returned. After a few minutes, they broke apart and Leo watched Mikey headed back into the living room. Sighing, Leo stepped into his room and locked it. He set his meal on his nightstand and held his bunny plush. Leo couldn't stop replaying what happened. Why did it had to be Sect Leader Jiang of all people. He wished it was Jin Ling instead. Why Sect Leader Jiang was in New York of all places? Did he heard about mutants in New York and decided to see for himself? Did he had a company here?
As he held his bunny plush tighter, Leo felt tears forming in his eyes. Leo had so many emotions running through him, he didn't know what to think. He was angry, frustrated, and upset. Leo brushed his tears and laid on his plastron, burying his face in his pillow. He didn't felt hungry anymore. Instead, Leo was remembering how it all happened and why he died. He knew it was all because of Sect Leader Jiang. Hm, he had the audacity to say my former name, Leo thought, What gave him the right to say my name?!
Lan Yuan, courtesy name Lan Sizhui was the name Leo used to be called.
