He Ao rolled off the sofa and with a flick of his toes, sent the curved handle of his cane flying into his hand.
He looked around.
Fire and thick smoke filled the entire living room, the acrid fumes rushing into his nostrils, nearly choking him.
The bookcase, the sofa, the curtains—everything in the room that could burn was ablaze.
Moreover, there was a pungent odor of liquid fuel spreading throughout the room.
Before Cito had fallen asleep, there wasn't such a smell in the room.
He Ao glanced at the open window in the living room and after a brief pause, he looked at the closed door not far away, then immediately turned back and rushed deeper into the room.
A burning wooden coat rack was falling to one side, blocking his path; he extended his cane and forcefully struck it, snapping the coat rack in front of him.
Separated pieces of the coat rack scattered flames like unfolding petals, and He Ao passed through the blaze to reach the innermost room of the house.