"What!!"
"Quick, take down the ancestral tablets!"
"The fire is too big, we can't get in!!"
This fire had come extremely suddenly, especially since it had rained just two days prior and the surroundings of the ancestral shrine were very damp.
This family was immediately thrown into panic, the funeral arrangements were not yet completed, and now the shrine was on fire.
There were many onlookers, but few were helping to extinguish the fire.
"They must be facing retribution, I've always said they were all hypocrites."
"Yes, the child was their only descendant, and I heard he was to marry next year, but now he's gone, effectively cutting off their lineage. Now with the shrine catching fire, they can't even save the ancestral tablets!"
Outside of the house, idle bystanders began to point and make various remarks, many bringing up past grievances.
"The fire only targeted the shrine, and not a single tile on the neighboring houses was scorched."