The Martial Unity

Senior Sarak did not trouble Rui for much longer, leaving to allow Rui to get the rest that he needed and deserved.

Rui on the other hand, had plenty of time to think about what he needed and wanted to.

He thought about his current circumstances.

('Complicated…') He sighed.

He had not forgotten his original predicament that set him on the path in the journey to the west. He needed to become strong enough to eliminate the threats to his family and himself. In order to do that, he needed to at least reach the Senior Realm at a bare minimum. Otherwise, he could forget trying to kill Chairman Deacon.

That was why reaching the Senior Realm well within the time limit of ten years was his sub-goal.

That was why he traveled to places like the Umiana Trench, Thundering Valley, Crexeet Town, and the Floating Sect. These places all made him stronger in some fashion or the other.

However, for the first time since then, he would be traveling for a reason other than Project Water, and gaining more power.

He sighed deeply as thought about Senior Xanarn. He didn't know how much to feel what he was feeling.

He didn't even know how far he was willing to go.

('I guess we'll find out.')

He disliked the strange lack of clarity he felt in his heart when it came to matters surrounding her. It was unlike anything he had ever experienced in his life.

He hated uncertainty, especially when it came to his own self. The comfort of clarity was something that he had grown used to across two lives. Now he was confronted with emotions that he did not know what to make of.

It became the third reason for his journey.

A journey for ambition.

A journey for power.

And now, a journey for self-discovery.

('I wonder if-')

"Rui!"

His thoughts were interrupted.

"Kane," Rui smiled.

"Oh my god, I'm so goddamn happy you woke up!" Kane exclaimed with genuine relief appearing on his face.

"Was my condition that bad?" Rui smiled wryly.

"Bad? BAD? It was HORRIFIC. Your SKIN was falling apart! Don't you EVER do that again!"

Rui sat in place as Kane chewed him out for another five minutes.

"Ok ok…" Rui gestured for him to stop with his hands. "I get it. But the only reason I did that was because I had faith in you."

"Well don't. That shit is too heavy for me," Kane snorted, earning an amused laugh from Rui in response to his candor.

"Huff…" Kane sighed as he calmed down, regaining his composure. "Well, I'm glad we can get back to normal. The war ended so we don't need to be on edge anymore."

"About that…" Rui began.

"Hm?" Kane knitted his eyebrows, staring at Rui with sharp eyes.

Having spent much time with Rui, he had come to recognize Rui's penchant for chaos and trouble.

"I'm planning to leave the Floating Sect," Rui told him.

"What?" Kane frowned. "Why?"

Kane didn't understand.

Rui had told him how Ajanta Island could accelerate the speed at which they fulfilled one of the conditions to break through to the Senior Realm. He had told him how he intended to remain in the sect for as long as was needed to fulfill that condition.

Had he fulfilled that condition?

"The new technique that I am working on requires resources that cannot be found in the Floating Sect."

"…I see," Kane sighed. "It's a shame, but we'll have to leave then."

At that moment, those words gave Rui an insight.

"This time, I believe it is best if I go alone," Rui explained. "I do intend to return to the Floating Sect when I have found what I am looking for. Frankly, you'll simply be wasting time accompanying me. It is better if you grow stronger here on the sect."

Rui glanced at the knife hung in a scabbard by his belt. "After all, I believe you have experienced some epiphanies."

Kane looked uncomfortable as Rui noticed what he had been meaning to talk to him about.

"You don't disapprove?" Kane put his hand on the hilt of the knife. "I thought you would remind me of my decision to never wield one ever again and tell me to throw it away."

Kane looked uncertain.

At that moment, Rui felt a deep sense of regret hearing those words.

('We are not peers. I am old enough to be his grandfather,')

It did not help that Rui was deeply insightful. It warped their relationship and the influence that Rui had on Kane was great.

At that moment, Rui realized that Kane had become psychologically dependent on him.

"Kane," Rui narrowed his eyes as he spoke with a solemn tone. "Your Martial Path is yours, and yours only. No one, not even the mightiest of Martial Transcendents can tell you where it leads. What you do with your Martial Art, and where you take it, are matters that are yours to decide, nobody else's. Listen to your heart, that is the only way we can awaken our Hearts."

Kane nodded slowly.

"You don't have to make a decision immediately," Rui told him. "You could, but you don't have to. Just make sure that whatever choice you make when you do make it, is your choice, and nobody else's."

Kane nodded wordlessly again.

"I think it's best if you take this opportunity to remain in the Floating Sect working on your Martial Art rather than follow me around as I work on my Martial Art," Rui informed him. "It's just a temporary split. We can come back stronger."

"Alright," Kane nodded slowly as his eyes wandered around giving what Rui said some deep thought. "So we're going to be splitting up for a while. How long will you take?"

He looked at Rui with anticipation.

"Hard to say," Rui replied with a non-committal tone. "It could be as little as half a year to more than a year. I really cannot make precise estimates."