The darkness was lit up by flames that licked the sky. Despite the pouring rain, the fire kept growing higher, spreading farther until it engulfed the entire Ma household in the bright, all consuming flames.
There was no escape, and the neighbours and the towns folk could only watch in horror as the fire crumbled the house, scorching the grey stone walls until only parts of the stone could be seen under the black suds. They could only pray that the fire wouldn't spread over to the other surrounding buildings.
ZhiYi and PingZe had quietly made their way down the street, back to the inn under the cover of their umbrellas. On their way, they passed the people hurrying towards the house to see if they could help in any way.
There would be nothing that could drown out the rain, the fire was set with Fan ZhiHao's talisman. It would burn the household to ash.
