Chapter 18 - pride and fall 

After a brief pause none said anything so the referee yelled

START!

The saber moved quickly and hit its mark. A thin shallow blood mark was left.

The Audience couldn't help holding their breath when they notice that the blood mark was on the person's throat. Alex at this point wasn't shocked but was wondering if the staff cultivator got hit on purpose. His thinking was quite simple, with no worry or shock showed on the staff user what else could it mean? Are you sure you want to continue? Said the saber user. I mean one near death is enough isn't it? He couldn't say with without a face full of pride and mockery.

The staff user tilted his head up towards the sky and said

"We cultivators are bent to face many dangers, as such we can never let fear creep in or it will end up destroying our path forward or may lead to an early death." "Other than this I am someone who will die fighting as a cultivator, then stay alive as a coward."

His words sounded righteous, Alex though saw his eyes scanning the crowed for flattering gazing and when he found them his eyes almost started twinkles for the share ecstasy

What a fake bastard Alex though.

Hehe you fool, I gave you a chance now you can only blame yourself saber user said.

Without any concern if his opponent had heard him or not, he attacked again with even more ferocious speed and power. Yet when he thought an easy win would arrive he notice both his wrists wouldn't twist according to his saber arts and looked down. Quickly horror was showed on his face and next was a horrible scream heard from the cultivator. This scream was not from the pain he felt but from the realization he could not now or in the future hold his saber ever again. His nerves, blood vessels, meridians and bones where completely destroyed. The cause of this was the staff...

His opponent had just used the right amount of force to break everything and not enough to not rip off his flesh. Even with the best pills he had heard from legend could not heal this. The judge couldn't help show sympathy for the saber user. He declared quickly that the staff cultivator won the battle. The audience was shocked on how quickly the event changed course.

As the crest fallen loser walked off stage he reached the V.I.P booth door way he notice someone blocking his path. His listless eyes look up and saw Alex standing there.

I'm only here to pick up my remaining stuff and leave the loser said

"What do you want?"

After saying this he felt what was about to happen wasn't good, as once you lose your way of cultivation many will step forward and mock you for your failure. Some will even ride your failure to look better themselves. Yet in this case it wasn't so. I'm not here to block your path but I'm here to ask you a few questions if that's is alright with you said Alex.

As he notice no mockery nor malicious intent he nodded his head while started to move again.

"Question one, do you regret the battle?"

"I do not regret the fight just that I regret the way it ended."

"I see... What about how you treated your opponent before the loss?"

"What do you mean he said with confused expression?"

"Well in my opinion you judge yourself more skilled and with that pride you thought and showed contentment and disdain for him" "This was most likely why you lost so easily, yet what made you cripple was the way you treated him as he could defeat you in other ways without crippling you."

"No I do not regret how I handled it, only that I didn't see his true skill before it was too late"

"I see that's too bad"

Hearing this he couldn't help turn his head around and ask why is that so?

"Well... To be honest first I'm glad you where honest, second if your answer was to my liking I would have asked my Pill master if there was anything we could do"

If it was anyone else saying something like that he would either just ignore them or start screaming profanities at them, yet the only thing people knew about the mysterious masked cultivator ( Alex ) was two things he was highly skilled and had strange pills. Who knew if he had not something to help him? As for the rumor he had no pills left, well he might have meant only those kind of pills he gave away from before, or simply lied… Who knows...?

The former saber user eyes couldn't help to start shining with hope again, he started to lower himself but was stopped right before he could kneel.

"I say it again, I would have given you chance IF you had giving me an answer to my liking, but you didn't." "As for Kneeling, begging or any other means it will be meaningless if you do"

All hope was now gone from the former saber user eyes. Suddenly he felt something dropping in his pocket and heard an incredible low whisper saying "Fret not I will give you this pill" "This pill will allow you to return some mobility as a mortal" "This may not be what you truly want but it's the only thing I will give you at this point" "with this may your learn humility in the future "

In Alex point of view, he wasn't a saint who would help or heal others on whims as it may only result in more suffering for others or giving a gift to someone not worthy of it... The pill would allow him only to have 30-50% of motor skill of a normal human. This in turn would make him less harmful then a normal human. So win, win.

Just like that he moved past Alex and picked up his stuff. Right before leaving the exit he turned and bowed to Alex.