The Martial Unity

Matriarch Nephi peered at him curiously. "That is the second time that you have mentioned that. Just who are you searching for, and for what?"

Rui considered her question before making a choice.

"To find the Divine Doctor."

Matriarch Nephi narrowed her eyes.

"I know of him," she remarked. "He is fickle. Fleeting."

"That is why I need your help, grandmother," Rui replied. "As a Martial Sage, your prophetic powers are undoubtedly extremely powerful. In fact, as a Martial Sage, you no longer need to use the forbidden version of the Eye of Prophecy. You can just use the original iteration of the technique handed to you by Sage Silas, right?"

Pride emerged on her face. "It is true. I have mastered the true Eye of Prophecy, the legacy left by our ancestor."

"I don't know the full extent of what Martial Sages are capable of," Rui continued. "However, I know that they are extremely powerful. If anyone can offer me any insight into the location of the Divine Doctor, I believe it is you. He is in the Beast Domain; thus, I truly need something extraordinary to help me find him."

One of the reasons his father had rather have had a member of the Silas Clan rather than ask them to find the Divine Doctor was probably because no Martial Artists of the Silas Clan at the time could help him find the Divine Doctor with their own power within a short amount of time.

However, thirty years later, that was no longer strictly true. Now that Matriarch Nephi had broken through to the Sage Realm, she possessed extraordinary power that a very small proportion of Martial Artists in the entire world possessed.

Even if she couldn't give him the exact coordinates of the Divine Doctor, he knew that she was at least capable of significantly increasing the probability of him finding the Divine Doctor.

"I can help you," Matriarch Nephi simply replied. "The Eye of Prophecy technique no longer consumes my lifespan now that I have reached the Sage Realm and am able to use the true technique. I have also been able to scry more of the future than I had ever been able to in the past."

Rui grew hopeful hearing those words.

"But why do you seek the Divine Doctor?" Matriarch Nephi asked.

"…To do what I believe would be the best for the Kandrian Empire," Rui replied. "I'm afraid I cannot divulge the exact details."

This was the sincere truth. He didn't think he could do a better job than his father, and it probably would do Kandria a lot of good to re-enter the status quo. Plus, he could help his father even if he didn't ascend the throne, and they could probably do a lot of good for the Empire together.

"Hm," Matriarch Nephi peered into him before eventually relenting into accepting that as an answer. "Then I shall help you find the Divine Doctor if that is what you seek."

Rui smiled. "Thank you. Unfortunately, I'm in a very tight position at the moment. I will need to return to the Kandrian Empire. I'm not even supposed to be here, officially. So I was hoping I could you could help me sooner rather than later."

"Before that," she remarked. "You said that you are unable to learn the Eye of Prophecy or teach your technique any time soon. That is rather concerning."

"Unfortunately, finding the Divine Doctor is a rather pressing engagement at the moment," Rui replied apologetically. "However, I can assure you that the moment I return-"

"-You said he was in the Beast Domain, correct?" Matriarch Nephi narrowed her eyes, cutting him off. "That will take a lot of time. On top of that, you may die."

"Please do me a favor, grandmother," Rui heaved a sigh. "If you are unwilling. I have offers that can sweeten the deal. For instance, I can supply the Silas Clan with longevity potions. I'm sure you, of all people, understand the value of such a potion."

Her eyes narrowed, even as they flashed with a hint of greed. "Are you willing and able to?"

"I am," Rui replied. "However, in order to gain a continuous supply of potions, you will need to settle in the Kandrian Empire."

That evoked a reaction from his grandmother. "What?!"

"These are highly precious resources that I cannot have transported across the entire continent in a clandestine manner," Rui replied. "They are in high demand in all of human civilization. There are many powers and forces on the continent that are constantly keeping track of them. They will eventually be able to track it to the Silas Clan and you will be exposed undoubtedly."

"So the solution to getting exposed is exposing ourselves to the entire world by settling in the Kandrian Empire?!" Matriarch Nephi was displeased by his words.

"You have nothing to fear anymore, grandmother," Rui replied. "I don't know if you noticed, but you're a Martial Sage."

"That does not mean that I am invincible," Matriarch Nephi huffed. "There are much stronger Martial Sages than me in the continent, including the one behind you."

"Yes, but you won't be alone," Rui replied. "Did you think settling in the Kandrian Empire would be just for show? Once you settle in the Kandrian Empire, permanently, you will be under the protection of a nation with fifteen Martial Sages and one of the most powerful militaries and navies in all of East Panama."

"Hmph," Matriarch Nephi snorted with a hint of grudging respect. "This was your intention the entire time, was it not?"

Rui smirked. "Perhaps. However, even if it was, it does not change the facts. Settling in the Kandrian Empire solves the two largest problems that the Silas Clan faces: Lifespan and security."

In reality, this had not been Rui's plan all along. A large part of his plan had not been fleshed out due to a lack of data, but once he gained a more intimate understanding of the Silas Clan, he realized that the Silas Clan settling in the Kandrian Empire was undoubtedly one of the most optimal outcomes for him and the Kandrian Empire.