Rui gazed at Kane with a shocked expression.
He understood exactly what Kane was saying.
After his family stopped having such a major presence in his life, Rui had been Kaneās greatest drive.
Keeping up with his best friend was one of the most powerful drives and sources of motivation for Kane.
He didnāt want to be left behind.
He didnāt want to be alone.
And thus, for many, many years and decades, Kane had focused on his Martial Path and Martial Art to focus on his life to keep up with Ruiās absurd growth rate. Despite being a prodigy and a genius himself, it took him everything just to keep up.
That was what he was referring to.
It was the end of the road for him.
"It has been fun to play catch-up with you for all these years and decades," Kaneās tone was solemn. "It was even fun and refreshing to reach the Sage Realm before you. But..."
He shook his head.
"No more. I do not care to become a Transcendent Candidate or a Martial Transcendent after you inevitably reach those Realms of power. No..."
A warm smile emerged on his face.
"I have found more fulfilling things in this world."
The air grew profound.
Rui gazed at him with a serious expression.
He would be lying if he said he didnāt feel sorrowful about this change.
This dynamic had defined their friendship for a long, long time.
It had, in some ways, been the reason that Ruiās friendship with Kane was fresh and strong while his bonds with his other friends were based on their time in the past. It was the bond that allowed their friendship to grow stronger and stronger.
And now, Kane had decided that it was to come to an end.
Rui was sorrowful.
And yet, he understood.
"You have a family now." Rui gazed at him with a knowing expression. "Youāre going to be a father now. You have responsibilities and commitments."
Kane nodded with a serious expression.
"I may not hate my father, but I despise his fatherhood." Kaneās tone was solemn. "I intend to dedicate myself to my family with love. And the regular kind, not whatever he has in mind. If Iām to do that..."
He turned to Rui, heaving a deep sigh. "I canāt afford to spend all my time desperately training to keep up with you, only to inevitably become a madman like my father. I am not that desperate for power. I am a Martial Sage. I am equipped with the power to protect my family, if nothing else."
Kaneās aversion to Transcendence was understandable.
Rui knew that it wasnāt possible to reach Transcendence through sanity.
Martial Transcendents were, in some ways, broken people.
Broken with a broken relentless drive and broken by their Martial Paths, which dominated their very mind and soul.
Kane wanted nothing to do with the power.
He turned towards Rui with a bittersweet smile.
"It was fun while it lasted. It gave me purpose for a long time when I had nowhere to go and no one to hang out with, but..." he shook his head. "I have grown up in a way. I have a family to be with and a home to go to. So, you know, donāt take it personallyā"
"Kane."
Rui interjected with a genuine smile.
"Iām happy for you."
Kane heaved a sigh of relief.
It was clear that he was worried that Rui wouldnāt take it well. The last thing he wanted was to damage his precious friendship with Rui, who was also just as precious to him as his family.
"I get it," Ruiās tone grew more relaxed. "In fact, I would probably get mad at you if you neglected your family in order to keep up with me in terms of power."
Kane huffed mirthfully at that. "I would get mad at myself if I did that. But..."
He winced.
"Iād imagine my father would get mad at me if he were here."
Rui stirred as he stroked his chin.
"Well, yes, youāre probably right. However, he disapproved of you only chasing to keep up with me. Iād imagine heād disapprove even more," Rui heaved a sigh. "Ah, well, he is a madman."
Kane snorted with a resentful huff. "Heās the only man who can make his son feel inadequate even after reaching the Sage Realm."
Rui winced at those words as he thought back to how hard Damian had grilled his son when they were in the Beast Domain. It was indeed true that with such strictness, even Martial Sages would feel inadequate.
"If it makes you feel any better," Rui turned to him with a helpful tone. "He called all the Martial Transcendents pathetic, including the Martial Primordial. So even Martial Transcendents are disappointments to him.
"Hah!" Kane laughed heartily at those words. "You know... that does make me feel better after all. Tsk, I shouldnāt have even felt bad about it if Transcendents are in the same category. Though the only person that didnāt disappoint him is..."
He threw a strangely proud smirk at Rui. "You."
Rui stirred at those words. "I donāt imagine he had expectations of me like he had you."
"No, he certainly did," Kane corrected him. "I told him about you a long time ago. How you would catch up to him one day."
Ruiās eyes lit up as he recalled Damian recounting that at the very start of their little battle.
"I suppose I didnāt disappoint him, after all." Rui stirred. "Although I have yet to surpass him."
Their battle was a draw, and the man broke through to the Transcendent Realm shortly after.
"I will definitely surpass him after he comes back," Rui said in a serious tone. "I donāt intend to be left behind for long. If I canāt catch up to him by the time he returns despite all the time advantage that I get by virtue of that, then I will definitely have failed too much in the path to power and for Project Water."