Quick answer: Enter the Green Serpent House’s hidden passage, then take the red stair beyond the red gate. When the cutscene ends, ring the Estate Rear Gate bell. Finally, press E at the seam in the middle of the large red double door.
Before you cross
The Heart’s Trail ends with “Enter the Mirage Estate through the hidden passage in the Green Serpent House”. Start at the Green Serpent House bell, go through the serpent door, and climb the red stair to a forecourt. A red gate stands there with a long stair behind it. The first time you reach that spot, Inanis warns you: “To proceed rashly… may only invite disaster.” You then get two choices, “There’s still unfinished business. Return later.” and “No turning back now. Forward it is!” Choosing to return later sends you back so you can wrap things up.
Finish WHENCE THE WEEPING before you cross, because entering the Estate closes that quest. Also complete Secrets at the Heart of the Lake and collect the Violet Blossom from Inanis. If you chose to return later, the warning does not appear on your next visit. Walking through the red gate and up the stair counts as crossing. A banner updates THE WAY FORWARD while you are on the stair, and then the screen fades to black.
How to reach the Estate Rear Gate bell
A cutscene called “One Day Before” plays first. It shows a snowy shore at sunrise, a horse-drawn carriage, and a masked man in chains. Uncle Zhong then credits the Herald, Leng Tu, with what you are seeing, calling him “A true genius.” When it ends, you are about 39 m from the first bell.
How to open the red door
What is past the red door
In a hall beside the courtyard beyond the door, collect YU’ER’S MEMORY FLOWER, I. STRUGGLE, the first of 3. Gathering every remnant raises your HP by 7%. The memory features Leng Tu, Herald of the Veil, discussing Soul Displacement Powder and his puppets.
Behind that hall is a storeroom full of sacks and jars. A chest there gives you 3,052 Remnant Dust and 7 Universal Solvent.
How to reach the Nuo Mask Altar bell
Yin and Yang Puppets are positioned along the route. They remain motionless until you come within roughly 1-2 m, then spring to life and attack. If one awakens nearby while a Shadow Assassin is attacking you, your health can disappear very quickly.
Another Shadow Assassin patrols the bamboo path by the altar. Fight these enemies individually instead of slipping past them at close range.
After the Estate Rear Gate, the Nuo Mask Altar is the next bell in the Mirage Estate. You’ll find it amid red candles on a street of altars, with Nuo robes and painted chests hanging there. As you enter the altar street, an Old Beggar’s voice says “Wear the Nuo mask, take the Nuo form.” and “Strap on the ghost face, let the wraith be born.”
Press E at the cross to ring the bell. The menu that opens is headed “Nuo Mask Altar” and lists Traverse, Upgrade Equipment, Store, Train Abilities, Save and Leave.
The sliding lattice door past the pond court
Beyond Mirage Estate’s pond court, go down to the lower level and find the red lattice wall. Use E at the panel marked with the prompt; it slides aside to reveal a lit hall.
A Yin Puppet is inside, with a blue glint visible deeper in. The hall contains both a Yin Puppet and a Yang Puppet; each awakens once you get within a couple of metres. Together, the pair can kill Soul in about 15 seconds on Pathbreaker. Step into the hall slowly and be ready to fight before you go after the glint.
Can you leave the Mirage Estate
Rest at the Estate Rear Gate bell and select Traverse; press Tab to bring up the world map. Pick a bell in a different region, such as the Scavenger Pens bell in Weeping Creek Valley. Loading begins immediately, with no warning. To get back, use Traverse on the Pangzhen map to reach the Estate Rear Gate.
