Chapter 3205: Studying Path

Rui’s message was tough, but fair.

None of the Martial Sages were particularly fond of his ultimatum and his unwillingness to do more to protect Martial Art, but they had no say in the matter. His power made it so that no one could question his decision.

Once the impromptu meeting was over, Rui ensured that they would spread the message and even announce it to the world officially, just in case. The more people who knew about it, the safer the blood children were.

"Good on you for protecting those kids, man," Kane slapped his shoulder with an approving smile. "I would have been pissed as hell if you allowed for millions of children to be exterminated."

"There was never even a question," Rui replied with a huff. "Those Martial Sages have lost too much of their humanity if they were so eager to commit genocide. It makes me wonder if they have truly handled the tilt towards psychopathy well."

"Hah, they’re all fucked in the head as far as I’m concerned," Kane shook his head. "I don’t care for any of them, and I certainly am ever more eager to distance myself from them. I will probably drop out of the Martial Union and focus on Fae."

Rui smiled at him.

"That sounds like a great decision. As a Martial Sage, you don’t really need the Martial Union anyway. The Martial Union needs its Martial Sages more than the other way around. I think you should do what you are comfortable with. Unfortunately..."

His expression grew complicated. "I probably won’t be here when you become a father."

Kane huffed with a wry smile. "I already knew that. You can never sit still in one place unless you’re in training. Let me know when you get back. I intend to name you as the godfather of my child."

Rui’s eyes widened. "Kane..."

"What do you say?" he directed a knowing look at Rui. "You up for it?"

Rui smiled. "I would be honored."

The two of them conversed for a bit more as Rui informed him of what had happened since their last conversation.

"Ah, so you made up with her," Kane remarked. "That’s good. Good stuff. I knew you could do it. It ain’t that hard."

"I have you to thank for that," Rui threw him a grateful look. "Such a simple yet profound insight. It opened up the path ahead of me."

Kane shook his head. "You’re nuts, man. Have fun with all of that."

"I intend to," Rui’s tone grew determined. "I will be departing to Genora to spend deep human civilization’s ties with the dark elves and finalize a bilateral trade agreement, among other things."

"Elves..." Kane scratched his head. "Ah, yes. The tree-huggers. Sounds boring as hell, but you do you."

"After that, I intend to go to the therianthropes in the Kiriket."

"Aren’t we at war with them?"

"Yes, but apparently not all of them."

"Sounds complicated."

"And after that, I intend to visit the skinwalkers," Rui briefly explained to him what the skinwalkers were.

"Interesting," Kane’s eyes lit up. "Sounds like they’re right up your alley. I imagine you will be able to develop your adaptive evolution to even greater degrees with them."

"That is the hope," Rui replied thoughtfully. "My prior conversation with the Martial Sages helped me realize that it is feasible for me to tap into the other paths even if I am a human. So I will be heading off for a new adventure exploring that possibility with Amare."

Kane threw a mischievous glance at Rui. "Hehe. Have fun with her."

Rui huffed, shaking his head while Kane chuckled.

"Well, I need to get back home soon," Kane glanced at his pocket watch. "Catch you later, buddy. Drop by one more time before you head off, alright?"

"Will do."

Kane bade him goodbye as he departed from the Martial Union after finishing what he initially came for, making the preparations for a long journey into the true world. He quickly headed in the direction of the Quarrier Town eagerly, looking forward to inspecting Arastia’s Martial Path more closely.

If he was going to integrate the Blood Path into the Martial Path in future generations of hemosapien-homosapien hybrids, then he would need to understand the former extremely well.

By the time he arrived in the Quarrier Orphanage, he found not just Arastia, but also Amare, who had propped the little girl on her lap while fawning over her incessantly.

"Oh my god, you are so cute!" Amare squeezed the little girl in her gentle embrace.

Her expression scrunched with pain, as though Arastia’s cuteness caused her physical pain.

The little girl simply sat in Amare’s lap, gazing at her with stars in her blood-red eyes.

"You feel strong!" Arastia exclaimed as she gazed up at Amare.

"Hehe, your aunt is very strong."

"Really?!"

"Indeed!"

STEP

Rui arrived before them, almost appearing out of thin air, directing a softened smile at the two of them.

"Rui, you never told me that your orphanage has such adorable babies!"

"She’s eleven, you know?" Rui huffed.

"But she’s so cute!" Amare sobbed. "I just want to gobble her up!"

Arastia’s expression grew pale at those words.

"Hey," Rui plucked the little girl from her lap, much to Amare’s despair, carrying her in her arms. "You’re scaring her. Chill out, ok?"

He ignored Amare’s protest as his attention turned to Arastia, who gazed up at him with admiration in her blood-red eyes.

"Congratulations on breaking through, Arastia," Rui smiled gently, lightly pecking the little girl on the forehead. "You’re a big, strong girl now."

"I’m a Martial Apprentice now!" Arastia responded jubilantly. "You have to call me Apprentice Arastia!"

Rui winced at those words with a troubled smile. "Well, I’m not too sure about that."

Looking at her up close, he was able to get a better understanding of the changes that she had gone through as a result of her breakthrough down a brand-new Path that was unlike anything he had ever seen before.