The footsteps were getting closer. Wei Ning trembled as he held his breath hoping that the figure wouldn't catch him.

Hiding in the warehouse was not a good idea. The figure had him cornered.

The dust from the surrounding boxes was starting to suffocate him. The footsteps stop close by.

Everything was so quiet. Wei Ning prayed that the figure wouldn't hear his heartbeat that seemed so loud in this deafening silence.

A box tumbled close by and there was a swish of the sword striking the pile of boxes into pieces.

Wei Ning clasped his mouth shut in fear, going that the next strike won't be in his boxes.

The footsteps pace backwards once and then recede away. Wei Ning lets out a small sigh of relief when he hears the footsteps go out the warehouse.

He cautiously gets up and looks around the room. The dusty warehouse seems empty. The huge pile of broken boxes sends shivers down his spine.

He tiptoes to the door and pulls on the handle.

Locked.

He tries pushing the doors.

Locked.

A dark figure lands softly behind him. He feels the cold tip of the sword pressing on his neck.

"What do you want?"

Silence.

"Money? I can give you how much ever you want," Wei Ning began to blabber in fear.

Silence.

"Who sent you? How much did they pay you? I'll pay you twice the- no, triple the amount," he tried.

Silence.

"Not enough? Ten times."

The blade inches deeper into his neck each time he spoke. Was it his fear causing him to move around or was it the figure pressing in the sword?

"What do you want? Tell me!"

"Your life" the figure whispered before slashing his throat.

****************

Li Wei Jian was having the time of his life. Drinks, girls, music. Everything and everyone was cheerful. Beauties surrounded him pouring him drinks and fussing over him.

"Hahahaha~ And then you can never guess what happened next," he said wrapping his arm around one of the ladies.

"What happened~?" another giggled.

"He tripped on his robe."

The room burst out laughing.

"My~ Master Li~ You're so brave. You're so brave to catch that guy~" a lady said wrapping her arms around Li Wei Jian's neck.

"Well that's what any detective would do, CiCi," he said as he placed his cup down.

CiCi climbed onto his lap and other ladies began to remove his robe.

Li Wei Jian was well built. Tall and handsome and well built, all the ladies were head over heels for him.

His dark hair was like the night sky. It cascaded like a waterfall down his shoulders. His eyes on the other hand were golden like the sun. It seemed as if it could burn through you.

CiCi began to kiss him softly on his cheek and down his neck. Another beauty ran her fingers on his back.

A loud shriek pierced the night.

"That sounded like Madame Xu," CiCi said.

Pulling his robes back on Li Wei Jian began walking out. A small crowd had begun to gather at the entrance of the room at the end of the corridor.

A lady stood at the door covering her mouth in horror. Others around also stood in shock.

When Li Wei Jian and the rest reached the room, they saw the horrific state of the room. The ladies screamed in fear and covered their eyes as Li Wei Jian stepped forward.

The room was unrecognizable with all the blood on the walls. In the center of the room on the small dinner table on a plate was a human heart.

"That's pig blood," a voice spoke calmly.

Li Wei Jian turned back to see who it was. He bumped into a hard chest, just as he began to turn around.

"Oomph-"

The person steadied Li Wei Jian and stepped beside him into the room.

"Who would do such a horrible thing," Madame Xu wailed drying her eyes with a handkerchief.

"Don't worry, as that gentleman said it's pig blood. It can be cleaned easily," Li Wei Jian comforted her.

Madam Xu leaned onto Li Wei Jian as he patted her back to calm her down.

"Master Xue, can you please find who did this?" she asked the gentleman who was inside the room.

"I'm sorry," he said shaking his head stepping out of the room. "I'm not in a position to do any official work currently," he apologized.

Li Wei Jian felt Madam Xu relax in his arms. Did he imagine that? Maybe she didn't want her customers to be investigating instead of spending money for the brothel.

"Master Li can solve this," CiCi said eagerly.

Madam Xu turned tense immediately. Okay, he didn't imagine that.

"CiCi, I don't think it's appropriate for me to investigate this."

"Are you an investigator?" the gentleman asked stepping out of the room.

"Uh well,-"

"Master Li has solved many cases, right Master Li?"

"Yes, bu-"

Madam Xu looked up at Li Wei Jian and pleaded to him "Please save the name of our brothel, Master Li."

......................

"We should leave this to officials," Li Wei Jian replied when all the gathered people looked at him with eager eyes.

"You're an investigator but not an official?" Xue Jiang Cheng asked stepping out of the room.

"It's more of a hobby," Li Wei Jian replied admiring the strong frame Xue Jiang Cheng had.

"And you solved...?" Xue Jiang Cheng inquired.

"Thefts, kidnappings," Li Wei Jian replied snapping from drooling over Xue Jiang Cheng's looks.

Xue Jiang Cheng shook his head. "I meant to ask why you solved. Weren't there officials for that?"

"Oh, uh, they couldn't be bothered by those," Li Wei Jian replied.

"Madam Xu," Xue Jiang Cheng turned to the lady, "No one leaves this place tonight."

Madam Xu looked pale and nodded her head.

"And you," Xue Jiang Cheng grabs Li Wei Jian's arm and drags him into the room, "will solve this."

Xue Jiang Cheng shut the doors and windows. The crowd outside began to disappear.

Li Wei Jian pinched his nose-bridge wondering what he was getting dragged into.

"Listen, the cases I have solved involved animals, not humans, and they too were all alive."

"I knew when you said that officials couldn't be bothered," Xue Jiang Cheng replied as he began to look around the room. "You're just a cover. And this 'is' pig blood," Xue Jiang Cheng said sarcastically.

Li Wei Jian scoffed. "You can try though if you want, but you're on your own," Xue Jiang Cheng chided him with a smirk.

"Well, for starters-" Li Wei Jian began but Xue Jiang Cheng completely ignored him.

The stench of the blood was getting worse as minutes passed. The closed windows and door were not helping it either.

Li Wei Jian watched as Xue Jiang Cheng checked each and everything in the room.

"Master Xue, are you sure you don't want my help?" he asked grinning. Xue Jiang Cheng had looked all over but didn't find anything useful.

"I can help if you beg~" Li Wei Jian said trying to get on his nerves.

Xue Jiang Cheng stiffened hearing this. He glared at Li Wei Jian as if he had grown two heads.

Li Wei Jian continued enjoying the reaction he got out of him. "One word is all it takes..."

"You wouldn't dare" Xue Jiang Cheng growled taking a step towards Li Wei Jian.

"Well you can shut me up," Li Wei Jian shrugged leaning back on the door as Xue Jiang Cheng came closer to him.

"I won't hesitate to," Xue Jiang Cheng said slightly pulling his sword open.

Xue Jiang Cheng glared at Li Wei Jian as the latter grabbed his robe by the collar and pulled him closer.

"Madam Xu knows something," Li Wei Jian whispered softly into Xue Jiang Cheng's ear.

Xue Jiang Cheng sniffed in the sweet scent of Li Wei Jian. He whispered back "And you know that because...?"

Li Wei Jian felt the heat of Xue Jiang Cheng's breath on his ear sending tingles all over his body.

"S-She was the one who invited you to visit her today, wasn't she?" Li Wei Jian asked trying not to blush.

Xue Jiang Cheng stood up straight but didn't step back leaving Li Wei Jian stuck between him and the door.

"She knew that you wouldn't be able to investigate. She relaxed with relief when you confirmed that. But..." Li Wei Jian continued whispering.

"But she didn't expect you to be here tonight," Xue Jiang Cheng completed the sentence. Li Wei Jian nodded.

"And we are whispering because...?" Xue Jiang Cheng asked sliding his finger on the neck of Li Wei Jian's robes.

"Because..." Li Wei Jian sounded breathless "You will go deaf if I speak loudly when you are this close."

There were light footsteps outside the door as if someone was eavesdropping on them. Xue Jiang Cheng pushed the door open to see who it was, but Li Wei Jian who was leaning on the door tumbled backward.

In a reflex he grabbed onto Xue Jiang Cheng, who had already snaked his hand around Li Wei Jian's waist.

They both saw a shadow figure jump out of the window at the other end of the corridor. Xue Jiang Cheng dropped Li Wei Jian onto the floor mercilessly and ran to the window.

"Ow~" Li Wei Jian exclaimed as he lay down on the floor. That's when he saw it. His face went pale seeing it.

"Master Xue," he called out.

Xue Jiang Cheng ignored him trying to look out the window for the shadow figure.

"Master Xue," Li Wei Jian called out more sternly.

"What?" Xue Jiang Cheng replied annoyed. He saw Li Wei Jian on the floor. "Stop acting," he said a bit pissed that the figure got away.

Then he realized that Li Wei Jian was not laying down acting, but was actually looking up at something. Something that caused Li Wei Jian's golden eyes to go black, and his face to go pale.

He looked back up into the room and nearly dropped his sword in shock.

"SOLVE THIS NOW, LITTLE CHENG AND LITTLE JIAN."

The two men looked at each other speechless.

Xue Jiang Cheng and Li Wei Jian stared at each other in shock. The person was obviously mocking them.

"How did the person manage to write up there?" Li Wei Jian wondered.

"Stools, ladders" Xue Jiang Cheng replied dryly.

Li Wei Jian side eyed Xue Jiang Cheng. "I know that much."

"Oh?" Xue Jiang Cheng acted as if he was surprised.

"I meant when. If Madam Xu was the culprit she would have written only your name. But the person knows I'm an investigator-"

Xue Jiang Cheng stared at Li Wei Jian.

"I-I'm the one investigating," Li Wei Jian corrected.

"Maybe you were lured here just like I was," Xue Jiang Cheng said as he looked around for a stool.

He found a tiny footstool under the bed.

"I was not 'lured' here. I-uh came here on my own for some work," Li Wei Jian said watching Xue Jiang Cheng climb up to take a closer look at the writing.

"Get Madam Xu here."

"I'm not your servant," Li Wei Jian protested.

All the still he went out to fetch her. Xue Jiang Cheng noticed that the writing was more dry in the first half and just as he suspected. This Li guy's name was added late on.

Madam Xu leaned onto Li Wei Jian as she entered the room, covering her nose with a handkerchief. Li Wei Jian turned back to the door and called out to CiCi who had tagged along on her own to get Madam Xu's smelling salts.

Xue Jiang Cheng got straight to the point. "Madam Xu, why did you call me tonight?" he asked.

"I just wanted to ask you to look into a person for me, my son," Madam Xu said wiping her tears.

"Liar" Li Wei Jian whispered to himself walking to the footstool to inspect the writing.

"He says you're a liar," Xue Jiang Cheng just said bluntly.

"What-!" Li Wei Jian looked in disbelief.

"He said you relaxed knowing I wouldn't be able to investigate this but were devastated that he could," Xue Jiang Cheng continued.

"Madam Xu, do you know the person who did this?" Li Wei Jian asked.

Madam Xu looked up and down at the two guys speechless. CiCi came in with the salts.

 Madam Xu composed herself and dismissed CiCi "Go check on the other girls."

She turned back to the two men, the look in her eyes filled with no emotion. "I knew the victim, my son. Or that's what he claimed to be."

"You have a son?" Li Wei Jian asked in awe.

"Had. I was very young, but the father demanded custody, and being in this line of work, the kid will be just a hurdle, so I gave him up."

"He returned?" Xue Jiang Cheng continued for her when she didn't.

"A week ago."

"Why do you - did you feel this person was not your son?" Li Wei Jian asked curiously.

"A mother knows her child."

Xue Jiang Cheng confirmed "So you wanted me to find out if he was actually your son." Madam Xu nodded.

Once Madam Xu left, Xue Jiang Cheng closed the doors.

"Do you have to? The room is getting stinkier" Li Wei Jian complained.

"This place has lots of eyes prying. And this is not a great sight for drunk customers." Xue Jiang Cheng shut him up.

"Why do I feel like you are pissed at me?" Li Wei Jian asked grabbing his sword as Xue Jiang Cheng walked past him.

"I am not." Xue Jiang Cheng brushed him off.

"You were the one who called me here"

"Keeping suspects close"

"I see. Wait what?! Why am I a suspect?"

Xue Jiang Cheng just sighed covering the heart in the food tray with a cloth.

"I am not okay?"

"Yes yes yes" Xue Jiang Cheng replied blandly.

Li Wei Jian was getting angrier by the second with this attitude. Sure the man looked like he walked out of a portrait, but his social skills were zero.

"Fine, how should I clear my name?" Li Wei Jian gave in, sitting down on the bed.

Xue Jiang Cheng didn't reply to anything, and walked across the room walls tapping them with the hilt of his sword.

Li Wei Jian covered his eyes frustrated and spoke softly, "I- I have some problem with me. I don't seem to like girls the way a guy should normally do. And my heart flutters when I see hot guys like you..."

Li Wei Jian was shocked at what he said out loud and clapped his mouth shut. Xue Jiang Cheng looked at him shocked.

"I-uh shit," Li Wei Jian facepalmed "I'll leave you alone."

Li Wei Jian left and returned to his room. The ladies had all left.

"You're an idiot, Wei Jian" he murmured lying down on the bed eyes closed.

"Yes"

Li Wei Jian's eyes shot open, looking into the dark brown ones starting down at him.

"How did you-?" he began and realized he was looking at Xue Jiang Cheng upside down who was peeping in through the wall and a bloody panel open into his room just above his bed.

"I'm guessing you remember the ladies who were in here with you tonight." Xue Jiang Cheng said with a smirk.