The Martial Unity

Rui and Julian had a frank conversation for the first time in three years. While he gave a doctored version of his story to the others, he was able to be more frank with his elder brother.

"The Divine Doctor…?" His eyes widened with shock. "The mythical prodigious genius who is said to have cured death?"

Rui nodded, not correcting his mistake.

The truth about the soul transference ritual was something he could not divulge if he wanted to maintain a good relationship with the three immortal sages who created it.

"Incredible…" he whispered with awe. "To think that not only was he real, but you somehow managed to find him in the Beast Domain. What was he even doing there?"

Rui shook his head, heaving a sigh. "Long story, it's not for me to divulge, either. However, you're a researcher who dabbles across multiple fields, including but not limited Martial Art and esoteric science. I'm sure the Divine Doctor can be of great interest and use to you should you be able to work alongside him."

Julian's eyes lit with interest. "That would be the kind of opportunity that arises once in a lifetime."

A fleeting smile cracked at the edge of Rui's mouth. "I can probably give you a chance to have that opportunity. Here, in Kandria."

Julian stared at Rui in amazement. "You managed to get him to agree to settling in the Kandrian Empire?"

"That's right." Rui nodded. "Although, I cannot force him to work with you specifically, as long as you are the best, you will be able to get a chance to work with him."

Julian nodded absentmindedly, engrossed in thought. "Still…to think that you managed to bring the Divine Doctor back to Kandria to heal His Majesty. Maybe you can get him to heal your mind if psychology is within his specialty."

Julian had been shocked when he learned of what Rui had subjected himself to in the Garden of Salvation.

"To think that you experienced such a fantastical adventure in the Beast Domain…" He shook his head. "You're one of a kind, Rui."

A wry smile momentarily cracked at the edge of Rui's mouth. "You haven't even heard the best and worst of it."

He abstained from telling him about the dungeon or alien flora lifeform.

Those were far too important to be divulged to a civilian without any security clearance for them.

"Anyways…" Rui got up from his seat.

"Leaving so soon?"

"…I have many important and pressing matters to attend to, I'm afraid."

"I suppose that's true." Julian closed his eyes. "The others have already gone to sleep, so go on and take care of everything you need to. Good luck…"

Rui nodded.

WHOOSH

In an instant, he already found himself surging away from the Quarrier Orphanage at an incredibly high speed.

His eyes narrowed.

It was indeed true that he had many orders of business to attend to, but they were not equally important.

The Martial Union.

The alien flora lifeform.

The Elder Tree Pact.

The Divine Doctor agreements.

The Rui Faction and administration.

His various stakeholders, benefactors, and patrons.

Master Reina's mischief.

The return of the Emperor of Harmony.

These were undoubtedly important.

"But my Martial Art…My Martial Path is more important."

He was a Martial Master.

His breakthrough into the Master Realm was one of the greatest moments of his life and one that had permanently seared itself into his memories.

"But it's in the past." His eyes narrowed. "I need to know what is needed to pursue my Martial Path in the future."

Project Water was more important to him than all of the aforementioned matters.

He needed clarity regarding what the path forward as a Martial Master was.

Only after he gained this clarity and understanding could he be bothered with handling the rest of the important matters that awaited his attention.

"If I go to the Martial Union now…" His expression soured momentarily. "I'll have to spend a lot of time dealing with the consequences of my actions…"

The Martial Union was certainly not going to be gracious enough to address all his questions and doubts regarding the path forward to higher Realms before the matter of his deceit.

He didn't want to get bogged down by lesser matters prior to gaining a satisfactory amount of understanding and clarity regarding the most important thing in his life.

That was why he didn't move towards the Martial Union headquarters in the town of Vargard.

No.

He was traveling towards the Ivilia Forest in the South-West region of the Kandrian Empire. With the power of the Martial Heart and Martial Mind, he surged to his destination at astonishing speeds, reaching it in a matter of moments.

He had already spotted his target.

And they had spotted him.

"Rui…?" The Martial Masters of the Silas Clan widened their eyes with shock as they slowly emerged from the forest with caution.

The approach of a powerful Master-level aura had certainly not gone unnoticed.

The Martial Masters of the Silas had moved to intercept the rapidly incoming Martial Master before they got anywhere near the civilians of the Silas Clan, but they most certainly had not expected to run into the grandson of their matriarch!

For a moment, they were stunned, frozen.

They had always known that Rui was the youngest and most prodigious Martial Senior in existence.

Yet, for all their prophetic power, they could never have foreseen that he would shatter the record for the youngest Martial Master by half!

They each stared at him with bewilderment.

"Y-You…" they choked, stammering. "How coul—"

"—Where is my grandmother?" Rui's impassive voice cut through their astonishment apathetically.

The frost in his voice jolted them out of their stupor.

"…She is in her quarters at the center of the settlement." They carefully enunciated the Kandrian dialect, which they had only recently become fluent in.

"Thank you."

WHOOSH

Rui breezed past them quicker than they realized, surging towards the Silas Clan in the distance to where his grandmother awaited him.