In a room on the second floor of the eastern residence, two different handwritings traded questions and answers across the pages, outlining a story that had developed in a completely different direction from the west side of town.
Luo Haihua and her husband had watched a lantern topple over on its own during the night. They had intended to stop it, but an item on them capable of analyzing clues told them that dying in the blaze was not an accidental death trigger at all. Instead, it was the key to clearing the Instance and unraveling the world setting.
The item told them that Poplar Blossom Town had been burned to the ground many years ago and no longer existed.
The Poplar Blossom Town they were currently in was an illusion from the past, a false existence in itself, so there was naturally no way to find a real exit.
Only by passing through the scorching flames themselves could they enter the real Poplar Blossom Town.
This claim was not baseless. The proof was the letter hidden in their room:
[If this city falls, family and nation shall perish. The property of you sons and daughters will all become slaves and spoils...]
[There are many in the southeast who would answer the king's call. Once the royal army arrives, perhaps a breath of life may yet remain. We must gather firewood and kindling, burn the palace and destroy the towers. Better that pearls, jade, and golden cauldrons turn to ash than furnish supplies to the enemy.]
It was said that, when Poplar Blossom Town was about to fall, General Meng, who defended the city, ordered his soldiers to begin from the east side of town. While driving the townspeople away, they set fire to the houses and supplies, so that