The urgent sound of clappers and gongs tore through the morning mist.
Near the alley behind the Hou family, flames blazed fiercely, visible even from several streets away.
This establishment was a three-entry courtyard; although it covered a considerable area, after renovations, it became cluttered with too many things. The front yard was set up as a Gambling House, the central courtyard had small compartments filled with flammable materials, and the backyard was even more compact.
Being near the docks and with many people inside, if any sparks arose on normal days, they were extinguished by simply dousing them with water.
But Li Yan's rampage scared the patrons and brothel girls into a frenzy, with significant casualties among the thugs, leaving no one to care for the blaze. The fire grew more intense, quickly engulfing the entire Cuixi Hall, and the body of One-Eyed Master Lu became charred beyond recognition in the fire.
