The Martial Unity

1539 Friends

Kane felt chills when Rui described the risks. The breaking of his Martial Path? He couldn't even begin to imagine how horrifying that would be. It sounded like a fate worse than death.

Martial Artists were prepared for death. The risk of death was part of the job description. What they weren't prepared for was being permanently crippled from even wielding their Martial Path.

That, to most Martial Artists, was a fate worse than death.

The power that they had cultivated was the most important thing to most Martial Artists. It was born out of years, decades, and even centuries of hard work. The very idea of that power being stripped away was highly disturbing to say the least.

Kane heaved a sigh.

"Think about it," Rui remarked. "Don't feel pressured to accept immediately as proof of your determination or something. The fact of the matter is that risking the very root of your Martial Path is an extraordinary risk to take for anything, even if it is the power of the higher Realm. It's not an easy thing to decide upon. Think it over and then let me know."

Kane nodded, deep in thought. The two of them returned to the Kandrian Empire as quickly as they had left. Kane, expectedly, wasn't in the mood to chat. His eyes swam around in thought as he considered Rui's offer deeply.

Rui, too, did not want to distract him from what would probably end up being the most important decision of his life. Although he would love to express the story of his time apart from Kane, it wasn't nearly as important and could wait until Kane was no longer preoccupied.

"Don't sweat it, and remember; there is no wrong decision from where you stand at the moment," Rui advised Kane as the two of them bade each other farewell, parting ways. Rui wanted to give him enough free space to think about it without humoring him.

That gave Rui plenty of free time. Naturally, he returned to the orphanage to spend some more time with his loved ones, while pondering about what else he ought to have scratched off his list.

he spent with Fae, Nel, Hever, Dalen, and Milliana. Although he hadn't been

Thankfully, all of them happened to be within the Kandrian Empire at the time, fulfilling some domestic commissions. It took a few days, but Rui was finally able to

town of Hajin, six people had gathered at a spot, waiting for

him in the

murmured with a composed yet

a sense of calm maturity in place of the youth that used

Dullahan Family, embracing her role as the heir of the Martial Family. She had worked hard in the past eight years. While her progress wasn't nearly as impressive as Kane's or Rui's, she had progressed much faster than most Martial Squires, becoming a grade-six Martial Squire

with an expression of curiosity as she eyed Rui sky-walking down. "He has a heavier presence

too much since when she was in the academy. She retained her diminutive stature, much to her dismay. Her temperament had remained unchanged in the past eight years. The glint of curiosity

than before!" Nel's grin spread wide and far as he felt his

He could tell.

and instincts to an incredible degree, becoming a high-grade Martial Squire. His

that didn't

that only made him

outrageous as attacking a friend

unchanged in the past eight years, unlike his appearance. He fashioned a thick beard that covered the lower half of

two of them stood side by side, holding intertwined hands. If one

after he slowly descended from the sky. Too many people meant that he couldn't move at high speeds, the very shockwaves from his speed could kill a