Blades of Secrets: The Endless Night

CHAPTER 42

Li Ming was back at the age of 16, walking through the door to see the house trashed. That evening was dark. Clouds blotted out any sun to be seen. The house is quiet, and his parents weren't anywhere.

"Mum, Dad?"

Li Ming turned the corner into the bedroom and saw his mum and dad cold and lifeless on the floor, blood pooled around them. Li Ming bent down and tried to wake them up by shaking them. He looked up to see a figure in the corner of the room. He saw red.

Li Ming runs at the person in fury as they flee. Li Ming chases him into the forest nearby, where he trips and falls. Li Ming tackles him to the floor, flinging mud everywhere. They tumbled around until Li Ming held him down and pulled away the mask to see a young boy, strangely familiar.

He looked closely to see what seemed like a younger self of Cheng Xing looking back at him. He shoved Li Ming to the side and drew out his daggers.

Li Ming looked at him but all he could see was fear in Cheng Xing's eyes as he slowly moved back. How old is he? Cheng Xing ran off, dashing through the trees. Leaving Li Ming shocked on the floor.

Li Ming walked back into the broken house, towards where his parents laid. He sits down heavily in front of them and breaks. Li Ming gasps, waking from his dream. He touched the side of the bed but feels nothing but quilts. His panting started to slow down, sweat beading on his skin. He got up and walked into Cheng Xing's room, the moonlight coming through the white curtains.

He turned on the light, the sudden brightness blinding him for a second and searched the room. He looked in the cupboard and bathroom before looking under the bed. There was nothing there.

Li Ming looked at the bed to see it slightly slanted at an angle, the edge of it lifted. Li Ming lifts the mattress to see Cheng Xing's assassin outfit and other things, hidden underneath.

Li Ming puts down the mattress and drops to the floor, he places his head against the bed frame and sighs. He slams the floor with his fist to feel something. But there was nothing. Only cool numbness. His sobs went unheard.

Cheng Xing stood there as Master walked towards him. His breathing slightly quickened, his heart raced. She raised her hand, her sharp metal claw scratching across Cheng Xing face.

Cheng Xing pulled away, breathing in sharply. when he looked back up blood had started to run down his cheek. A tear dropped from his eye, his body trembling.

Fen Yuhang looked at him worried, unable to do anything. Master lifted his face up to hers putting her nail under his chin. She wipes the tear from his face and examined the cut.

"I expected more from you."

She pulled away, turning to look at Ping Heng.

"Take Fen Yuhang and Cheng Xing to the last floor."

Cheng Xing struggled against them half-heartedly. If he disobeyed, he might as well have died. If he obeys, who knows what would happen.

Fen Yuhang was thrown into a small cell, the door clanking and locking behind him.

"What about Cheng Xing?"

They said nothing and Fen Yuhang watched from behind bars as they dragged Cheng Xing away. Fen Yuhang sat in his cell as screams echoed. The screams of someone in excruciating pain.

The door reopened hours later, and Cheng Xing pretty much falls in the cell. Fen Yuhang rushes to him. Cheng Xing was injured, his lips cracked and bloodied and his face pale and sweaty.

"Fen Yuhang I'm-"

"Cheng Xing, what did they do to you?"

Cheng Xing eyes closed.

"CHENG XING!" Fen Yuhang's eyes widened

Li Ming sat beside Wen Zhang at the hospital bed. Wen Zhang's eyes opened, and he turned to Li Ming. Li Ming noticed and immediately forced a smile.

"How are you feeling?"

"Fine. Sleepy though. What happened?"

"You went missing for a while. We were trying to find you."

The doctor walked in. "Can we have a chat," he said looking at Li Ming.

"Give me a second," he said to Wen Zhang as he left the room.

"It seems whatever he was given should have no lasting impact on him. He should be fine and able to go to work tomorrow, but he has to be supervised for the next few days to check if everything's alright."

Li Ming nods. "Thankyou."

The doctor left, Li Ming looked through the glass at Wen Zhang.

It's all alright now. He's alright now.