Blades of Secrets: The Endless Night

CHAPTER 31

It was probably around 7 am and Cheng Xing sat in the lounge clutching his stomach. Li Ming walked out the room to see him uncomfortable. Li Ming immediately rushed towards him. "Are you ok?"

"I think I ate too much last night when we went to the restaurant," Cheng Xing said hoarsely. Li Ming puts a pillow behind Cheng Xing's back.

"Don't lay down."

Li Ming goes and boils the kettle and comes back giving Cheng Xing some warm water to drink and a hot water bottle. Cheng Xing holds it close to him, feeling the warmth fill his body. Li Ming sits beside Cheng Xing and cuddles him.

"You don't seem like the person to cuddle."

"I'm not really, no. I guess I just liked it when my mum used to do it."

Cheng Xing looked back at Li Ming smiling sadly.

"I love you."

Cheng Xing could feel Li Ming's whole body freeze up.

"I love you too, no matter what."

Cheng Xing feels a glow of happiness for a split second before it faded. There was a bitter taste in his mouth. Li Ming's phone suddenly rang. Li Ming reaches into his pocket and answers the phone, putting it on speaker. "Wen Zhang, you're on speaker, what is it?"

"The child that used to be in the house with the family was found dead in a lake."

Cheng Xing's eyes widened his breathing quickening as he stared out the window. He turned towards Li Ming.

"Where?" Cheng Xing said, panicked now.

Wen Zhang's voice goes through the phone, "Near the lake at the edge of the woods"

"I'll be there."

Li Ming hangs up. "You stay here."

"I-"

"Cheng Xing, I'll be fine. Just rest I'll be back soon."

Cheng Xing watches as Li Ming leaves. Li Ming looks at Cheng Xing one more time before he closes the door.

Li Ming reached the lake, where Wen Zhang guided him over to the child's body that was pulled out. His wet short hair was plastered against his forehead. His face pale, wrinkled, lips cracked. His skin looking saggy and cold.

"His symptoms show that he was drowned."

Li Ming bent down and examined the body, feeling his skin cold to the touch.

"Where's Cheng Xing?" Wen Zhang said looking around

"He's a bit busy at home with other stuff."

Cheng Xing had an uneasy feeling in his stomach. Something is wrong.

He looked down the hallway towards Li Ming's room. He stood up and walked into Li Ming's room. It was empty, there was nothing. He walked back up to his room and realised the window was open. He didn't leave it open before. He checked around the room nothing seemed to be missing. Assassins loved using windows to get into places. Chills ran through his body.

"If Li Ming needs me, he'll surely call me."