---Katsuki's POV---
"Seems it's just you and me partner," I said to the guy with daggers which is even now looking for an opening to kill me. It's not that I'm feeling cocky now, but this is the true me, and the style I further perfected from grandpa's notes, for how to use a two-handed blade with 1 hand with minimal effort.
I took it even further and applied it to my martial arts, which makes me look lazy and full of openings for amateurs, but it's a whole other matter for experts. They see a guy that left all defense behind, only to strengthen the attack power. For now, I call it "Lazy Art," but it may change if one day I take in a disciple. I'm going to be laughing stock.
"I have a proposition. How about we only use martial arts?" the dagger guy said to me. It seems he really doesn't like a dagger vs. blade matchup. I took a further look at his hands, and my observation says he's strong in martial arts. It seems daggers is his secondary weapon and fists first. After thinking a few seconds.
"Sure partner," I said and threw my blade to the side, and he did too with the daggers, without trying to fool me.
We 5 meters from each other, and I had my hands in my pocket while he stood in a karate stance while looking at each other.
*BUM* he attacked first while I am just waiting. If we weren't in this space, the ground would have cracked for sure under his feet.
A karate chop almost at my neck, just 5 cm before the chop landed my hand came out of my pocket with a palm strike trying to break his wrist. He retreated his chop fast, but because of my "Lacy Stance", I was only resting on one leg after the palm strike like I was already tired of standing. That meant a wide kick was already launched.
*CREAK* my kick landed on his upper arm, and it sounded like the bone cracked.
*WOOSH** WOOSH* We pulled back, and gained some distance from each other again.
"Sigh youngster you win, I'm too old for this." came out of his mouth after waiting some seconds in silence. Then he took his mask off he wore, and I was surprised that behind it was an old man, that looked like some typical Xunxia cultivator with long gray hair but is missing an eye at the side I kicked him.
*Bluuurgg* Before I could answer, he cut his wrist with a palm strike. I was stunned, but then I looked into his remaining eye, and there I got my answer. He has no will to live.
"Before I die, youngster, let me tell you about my life's biggest regret. I got too greedy with power and money and forgot all about my family, who loved me dearly. But I just pushed them away, furthered my power and carrier. Then one day it seemed I offended some "big" player in the business industry, and he wanted me gone, but I was too arrogant to even bother with him, because I'm strong, but I forgot my family was not. "
The old man took a heavy breath and continued explaining.
"He sent some thugs to kidnap my daughter, and they did. When I got her back she was mentally dead because she was abused and raped repeatedly. She committed suicide the first chance she got when I looked away, and my wife soon after followed. I have never felt so empty when I realized all I have focused on was all for nothing"
When he was done he fell headfirst on the ground first and managed to squeeze one last sentence out with a mosquito voice that I managed to hear.
"Your loved ones are everything and are priceless"
I just stood there contemplating his story. I have never needed to protect anyone because I only had my grandpa, and he was the one protecting me I guess, though it was only from a homeless dog trying to bite me, else I never needed protection because I started training with him soon after. Thus my conclusion:
'I just have to get stronger and don't make rash decisions like I was taught, and for me to fully understand his words I would need a wife or at least a friend...'
"Freind?" I mumbled out loud.
'For the love of God, I never had a friend!!' a voice sounded immediately after.
"Just saying, I am not gay. I'm 100% straight and into women, so you don't have a chance kid. I like big boobs just saying" the shadow said behind me with his hand on his chest.