The Dawn of the New World Chapter 1552

Hao Xuan could hear every breath Rain took and feel every blood cell passing through his arteries. Killing him would be easier than snapping his fingers but this was neither the place nor the time.

'Some people are starting to come over. Two are still watching,' Ryuk reminded.

'I know, I remember!' Hao Xuan retorted while holding Rain's crazed gaze, 'But this motherfucker has no intention of backing off.'

Still he had to ask just to be sure.

"Do you give up?"

Rain's nostrils flared up, "NEVER! Kill me, that is the ONLY way I will stop!"

Hao Xuan's eyes darted left and right, picking up a couple of shadowy silhouettes from the corner of his eye that were watching from one of the castle windows.

'Doesn't look like they intended to intervene themselves.'

*Sigh*

"I don't want to kill you," Hao Xuan said while trying to pull his hand away but Rain held his wrist in place.

"You MUST! That is the honorable way, defeat means death!"

Hao Xuan was flabbergasted by his words.

"No the fuck it doesn't. Do you have any idea how many times I would have died if that were the case?"

He jerked his hand to free himself of Rain's grasp before turning around to leave but Rain had no intention of letting it end like that.

After wrestling the greatsword over his head Rain closed his eyes.

"There is no honor in failure. Once I am dead the blade will accept you as its master, isn't that why you are here? TAKE IT!"

He brought the sword down in front of him with full force.

Hao Xuan turned around with an annoyed expression and before it could even touch him, he used the back of his hand to gently guide the massive greatsword to the left where it cut the courtyard in half upon contact.

*BOOOM*

The ground shook and cracks spread out in every direction for 30 meters as a dust storm was kicked off, providing some much-needed cover.

Rain tried to raise the sword for a second strike but Hao Xuan held it down with one foot.

Rain looked into his enraged eyes, "Will you...kill me now?"

Hao Xuan answered by slowly placing his right hand over Rain's chest. With a quick and sudden movement, his palm twisted to the right while his knuckles dug into the boy's flesh, moving just 1 inch forward. It was just an inch but he had put nearly 60% of his full power behind it.

Rain painted the ground red with a mouthful of his vital blood while his body jolted back, stopping after several meters of dragging his heels through the dirt. When he finally came to a stop, his knees began to buckle but he kept himself up with nothing more than sheer willpower.

Hao Xuan strode over with an ugly expression, lifting his chin up so he could see his face.

"Look at yourself, so soft and weak," he began with a disgusted expression, "You wave around this blade without skill or technique, yet dare to speak of honor?! You have NO RIGHT!" with a light flick Rain fell on his back.

"You are a feeble little boy playing pretend in a man's world. Honor must be earned with hard work, dedication, and your own ability, not demanded like some spoiled little brat! Come find me when you learn to control the blade- or better yet when you know how to fight properly!"

It took everything Rain had not to pass out on the spot. When his vision began to fade he bit his tongue trying to stay awake but it was to no avail. He felt something pass through him, bringing his soul over to the world of dreams.

Hao Xuan looked around in the dirt and debris for the greatsword but it was gone. There was a trail of half-a-meter-deep holes leading back to Rain. The greatsword had 'walked' over to Rain of its own volition.

'Hmm. It neither obeys nor respects him but does not want him to die either. I might not have any other option but to kill him if that's the case, although that will need to happen away from prying eyes. If he has been staying here then his background cannot be that simple. I need to look into him more, check out his story before proceeding.'

Just as Hao Xuan walked out of the dust cloud the two feline guards came running up from the gate.

"WHAT HAPPENED?!" the older one asked upon seeing his figure appear.

Hao Xuan put on his most awestruck and concerned expression while pointing behind, "There was an esteemed lord training here when suddenly he went crazy and started swinging his blade around. I think he might have gone berserk! You should be careful!"

"Really?! That must be Lord Teng Ju then, where is he?"

Hao Xuan fearfully gestured in his general direction, "Somewhere there. I was too afraid to get close."

The older one nodded while patting him on the back, "Good. You should leave now before things get complicated."

"Thank you, I will-"

The younger one pushed him aside and jumped over, "I will report to the Princess!"