Mysterious IOU is an Encounter-type side quest added to Where Winds Meet with the Version 1.4 Home Afar update. It takes place entirely in the Hexi region, centered on the Lost Crossing settlement north of Jade Gate Pass. The quest revolves around a set of cursed "Unparalleled" collectibles, a mysterious healer named Xiaohu, and three creditors who each hold a piece of the story.
Quick answer: Pick up three Unparalleled items near the Karez Boundary Stone in Lost Crossing to trigger the Encounter, then collect three IOU Notes scattered across Jade Gate Pass and return them to the creditors Hu Nu'er, Tang Qi, and Yi Shisan before burying the final note with Monk Youtong.
Triggering the Mysterious IOU Encounter
Unlike most Encounters, Mysterious IOU has no quest-giver waiting for you. You start it by finding three "Unparalleled" items hidden around the Lost Crossing area. Each time you pick one up, your character blacks out and wakes up next to the Karez Boundary Stone. After collecting all three, the Apothecarium Physician appears in front of you, and the quest officially begins.
| Item | Location |
|---|---|
| Unparalleled Treasure | In a patch of grass south of the Karez Boundary Stone, nearly touching the golden border on the map. |
| Unparalleled Manual | On top of a crate southeast of the Karez Boundary Stone. |
| Unparalleled Wine | Under a tree root north of the Karez Boundary Stone, near Qi Xian's Oddity vendor pin on the map. |
Mysterious IOU Walkthrough — Detailed Steps
Step 1: Talk to the Apothecarium Physician who appears after your third blackout. Agree to take the loan slip — referred to in-game as the IOU Note — to advance the quest.
Step 2: Walk up ahead in the village and give the IOU Note to Monk Youtong. Speaking with him reveals background about a healer called Xiaohu and sets up the next objective.
Step 3: Collect three additional IOU Notes attributed to Sanniang. All three locations are marked on your map once this objective activates.
| IOU Note | Where to Find It |
|---|---|
| Sanniang's IOU Note I | Directly behind Monk Youtong, next to the flag. |
| Sanniang's IOU Note II | Northwest of Lost Crossing in the Golden Sands River area. Two bandits stand by a ledge — use the Celestial Seize Mystic Skill to grab the note from the standing bandit's inventory. |
| Sanniang's IOU Note III | Near the Outside Whitecrest City Boundary Stone, southeast of Jade Gate Pass. Look for a large black sword stuck in the sand; the note sits in front of it. |
Step 4: Return to Lost Crossing and hand the IOU Notes to the three creditors. Each one is in a different spot around the settlement.
| Creditor | Location |
|---|---|
| Hu Nu'er | Inside a building west of the Karez Boundary Stone, hammering an anvil. |
| Tang Qi | The general goods merchant of Lost Crossing. His merchant pin is visible on the map. |
| Yi Shisan | Near the Jade Gate Pass Wayfarer, sitting on the roof of a house. |
Step 5: After delivering all three notes, go back to Monk Youtong at the flag. Speak with him one last time, then bury the IOU Note by the flag to complete the Encounter.
Mysterious IOU Rewards
Completing the quest grants a mix of gear, currency, and exploration progress. The rewards below represent the total earned across every step of the quest, not just the final turn-in.
| Reward | Amount |
|---|---|
| Sunward Spear | 1 |
| Echo Jade | 25 |
| Hexi Exploration | 25 |
| Enlightenment Points | 200 |
| Coins | 7,500 |
The Sunward Spear is the standout reward here, making this Encounter worth prioritizing if you're building around spear-type martial arts. The 25 Hexi Exploration points also contribute meaningfully toward 100% completion of the Jade Gate Pass area.
Common Sticking Points
The most frequent issue players run into is missing the Unparalleled items needed to trigger the quest in the first place. All three are ground-level interactables without quest markers until you pick them up, so they're easy to walk past. Use Wind Sense near the Karez Boundary Stone to highlight nearby interactable objects if you're having trouble spotting them.
Yi Shisan's rooftop location also trips people up. He's not at ground level — look for the house near the Jade Gate Pass Wayfarer and check the roof. You can reach him with a standard jump or Lightness Skill.
Mysterious IOU is one of several new Encounters introduced with the Hexi expansion in Version 1.4. If you're working through the region's side content, it pairs well with nearby quests like Land of Gold and An Unsung Name, all of which share the Jade Gate Pass area and contribute to the same Hexi Exploration total.