176 Slipping

Ren stands before the burning house, or what's left of it. Three days... the house has been burning for three days and no matter what they do, they can't put the fire out! No one can even get within ten feet of the blazing fire without catching on fire themselves.

Ren falls to his knees and throws his head back, screaming at the top of his lungs in anger. Why? Why!? Lady Xue collapsed that night and hasn't recovered since... it's like someone placed a dark curse on his Master and all his loved ones. 

He felt so useless... 

"Where's the woman?" A deep voice behind him asks. Ren frowns and turns to find a man in solid white clothes with long black hair. Ren collects himself and slowly stands to face the man. Was this the man from the higher heavenly council that Master told him about?