The Martial Unity

Chapter 2045 Clarity

"That is how it is with all choices. You never know what choice you will make until you are confronted with the choice. The stronger you become, the more you are able to choose that you were unable to before, and the more you learn about yourself with the choices you do end up making," his grandmother continued in a sagely tone. "Choices are an expression of one's self in that regard. They come from heart, mind, and soul. Words, on the other hand, are shallow and fickle. They mean nothing. They do not reflect who you truly. Actions speak louder than words. Power gives you the ability to act and thus, to know."

It is true that Rui understood himself less until he was forced to make hard choices such as his choice between his family and freedom when Chairman Deacon discovered his identity. Or, more recently, when he was confronted with difficult choices after his princehood came to light. His choice to instead pursue the Divine Doctor gave him deeper insights into what kind of person he was that he would have otherwise not known.

"However, I have power."

Matriarch Nephi raised an eyebrow. "Martial power, but also, political power," Rui replied calmly. "I can exert influence on all of East Panama with the political power that I have at the moment, does that not allow me to understand myself better due to a wider array of choices I can make?"

"All Martial Artists have some political power," she remarked. "In your case, however, your political power exceeds your Martial power. Unfortunately, it does not help nearly as much as Martial power does. You're far better off cultivating Martial power than political. There are reasons that political power does not turn politicians into enlightened sages."

Rui narrowed his eyes. "…Is it because political power is not their own?"

not truly make their choices, but the choices that their many stakeholders and citizens may want. Their choices are constrained by the desire to not lose their ability to choose. They are constrained by checks and balances that impact their choices. They learn less than if the sole driving factor behind their own political actions was their own soul rather than countless external factors that directly

saying. "…Martial power, on the other hand, is pure. It does not require the approval of a system of checks and balances to exert itself. Our ability to exercise power is absolutely unconstrained, and our choices to exert it are a direct reflection

cultivating your own power. Our Martial Art and Path are reflections of ourselves that aid in giving us a deeper understanding of ourselves," she regarded him appreciatively. "The stronger you grow, the more choices you will need to make, the more you understand yourself. The pursuit of the Soulforger rank boils down to a pure pursuit

"Apprentices pursue general individuality. Squires pursue individuality to draw out physical power. Seniors pursue individuality to draw out mental

untapped potential, however little it may be. However difficult it may be to manifest. By the Master Realm, a Martial Artist has already come into touch with their affinities, be it body, mind, or anything in between.

case, that would be my Martial Mind," Rui

wouldn't recommend it," she remarked. "Your Martial Mind is extremely powerful, but I sense you have already created an extremely sophisticated and complex Martial Mind from the very beginning. Improving it after it is going to be highly difficult because it

"True," Rui admitted.

thought. Improving them at this point would take an extraordinary amount of effort. As for replacing them

it. "I suppose your point is that I ought

gained the Martial Mind, it would be better for you to acclimatize your Martial Art techniques to your Martial Mind. That is the most common path that Martial Masters take when they break through to