345 The Devious One

"You are good," the old man praised, wearing a satisfied smile.

I was lying flat on the ground, my face and body covered in black and blue bruises as my chest heaved up and down in sheer exhaustion.

My sword was a few meters away from my reach and agonizing jolts of excruciating pain were coursing through my body each time I tried to move.

Just as I was mustering up my courage to brace the pain and move to stand back up, the old man's voice reached my ears.

"You almost had me this time."

Liar! I never almost had him! This devious old man had seen through all my attacks from a mile away! Yes, I was calling him devious now!

Earlier, when I saw him, I had thought of him as a noble and stern warrior. Well, forget that! He was devious, through and through!