Throne and Tempest I sends you into the Kaifeng Imperial Palace, the large new area added with the version 1.7 update on May 28, 2026. The quest splits into two halves, with the second half opening a few days after the patch. The stretch most players get stuck on is the Sealed Treasury infiltration, where you slip into the palace in disguise, patrol a courtyard at night, and shadow a guard named Liu Liang across the rooftops.
Quick answer: During the final step, follow Liu Liang to the haunted courtyard by traveling along the building rooftops so you stay out of sight. When you reach the tree, strike the bell using the Meridian Touch mystic art to finish the quest.
How to start Throne and Tempest I in Where Winds Meet
The quest begins at South Gate Avenue in Kaifeng. Walk up to the crowd gathered around Constable Wang and listen to people complaining about a rise in theft. Speak with the locals there to kick off the investigation.
Use the Wind Sense mystic skill to track the footprints scattered around the scene. They lead you across the city to Zhang Ankang and Liu Xian. Talk to them and the onlookers to learn about a so-called Signboard Spirit that is said to kill people at midday.
The trail points you to an Official Seal. Pick it up to start a conversation with a middle-aged man, then follow him to a carriage and board it. He reveals a plan to rob a secret vault, and once you agree to help, your character changes into the Imperial Service garb and enters the palace. Talk to the security personnel inside to move forward.
Choose the right dialogue with the idle Imperial Guard
Inside the palace, you will see an idle Imperial Guard standing by the walls. Talking to him gives two options, and the choice matters.
The two options available are listed below.
| Dialogue option | Result |
|---|---|
| Start with the business of Imperial Service | You are locked up; Zhao Guangyi rescues you, and you receive a pendant. |
| Pretend to be a guard of the Sealed Treasury | Continues the infiltration cover. |
Join the Imperial Service and start the night patrol
After you are free, report to Du Youwei to join as a new recruit on the security team. Finish the dialogue, then head to the study room to read through some old files.
Next, switch to the Zi hour using the in-game time change feature so the night patrol can begin. Follow the marker to reach Xing Li and the other recruits.
Patrol the palace and find the Letter Hidden Beneath a Dead Tree
This step is straightforward. Keep following the patrol markers until you arrive at a courtyard. Search the area to pick up the "Letter Hidden Beneath a Dead Tree."
The letter explains that the palace deliberately spread a haunting story to scare people away from the secret vault. With that revealed, head back and report to Du Youwei.
Servant's quarters and Haunted Palace Wall
Du Youwei grants permission to investigate the servant's quarters. Speak with Huizhen inside, which starts a minigame where you have to dodge her slaps to keep the interrogation going.
Afterward, the next marker leads to the Haunted Palace Wall. In that courtyard, use Wind Sense again to track footprints until you find a token belonging to a palace guard. Return to Du Youwei to continue.
Investigate the Training Ground and win the cricket fight
At the Training Ground, eavesdrop on three separate guards. Their conversations point you to a cricket match held next to the haunted courtyard.
Go to the rear garden and catch a cricket, then head to the fighting ground located north of the Imperial Vault Boundary Stone.
Cricket fighting is one of the game's minigames. Pick a captured insect from the panel on the left to fight on your behalf. The crickets attack automatically, so your job is to trigger their special ability at the right moment to gain the upper hand.
Follow Liu Liang in stealth to finish the quest
The last step is a stealth tail. You need to follow Liu Liang all the way to the haunted courtyard without being seen.
Step 1: Climb onto the rooftops of the surrounding buildings and trail Liu Liang from above. Staying on the roofs keeps you out of his line of sight, which is the key to not getting spotted.
Step 2: Continue shadowing him until you both reach the tree in the haunted courtyard.
Step 3: At the tree, strike the bell using the Meridian Touch mystic art. This completes the tailing sequence and triggers the closing conversation with Liu Liang.
Finishing the dialogue with Liu Liang ends Throne and Tempest I. The reward payout confirms the quest is complete.
Throne and Tempest I rewards
| Reward | Amount |
|---|---|
| Echo Jade | 80 |
| Lingering Melody | 1 |
| Coin | 67,500 |
| Imperial Service Token | 1 |
| Stored EXP | 67,500 |
| Imperial Palace Exploration | 120 |
If you fail the rooftop tail, the most common cause is dropping to ground level near Liu Liang, which puts you inside his sight line. Stay on the roofs the entire way and only descend at the tree to use Meridian Touch on the bell, and the quest will close out cleanly.