“Shadows in Bloom” is a Jianghu Legacy (Lost Chapter) quest in Where Winds Meet set in Kaifeng. It weaves together social deduction, mini-games, and a short combat encounter, and it also ties directly into unlocking and powering up the Vernal Umbrella. The structure is rigid: you infiltrate the Heroic Assembly, gather and deduce clues in the Revelry Hall, and then follow the trail to Nimbus Tower.
How to unlock Shadows in Bloom
The quest becomes available after you reach Kaifeng and gain access to the Heroic Assembly area. Main story progress through “New Guest in Kaifeng” and “Gathering of Heroes” is typically required, so your character already knows the venue and its factions.
Shadows in Bloom is listed among the Kaifeng Jianghu Legacy quests alongside “March of the Dead,” “Under Another's Roof,” “Veiled Blades,” and “Twelve Years of Feuds.” On the map, select the Kaifeng region, look for the Lost Chapter icon labeled “Shadows in Bloom,” and set it as the active destination. Fast travel to a nearby stone, such as Caomen Avenue, and ride or run to Velvet Shade to begin.
Quest overview and objectives
| Phase | Objective cluster | Core tasks |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Velvet Shade | Meet Nine Mortals Disciple | Chase the disciple, learn about Aunt Han, the Faceless list, Mechanic Box, Yin-Inscribed Booklet. |
| 2. Infiltration | Heroic Assembly entry | Impersonate Jiang Yi, pass Bai Rong’s guqin tuning test, ride the boat to Revelry Hall. |
| 3. Revelry Hall | Gather Clues (0/7) | Win a debate, Pitch Pot, rhythm mini-game, use Heavenly Snatch, talk to specific guests across three floors. |
| 4. Hidden chamber | Final deduction | Sneak into a locked room, inspect crime scene items, run a clue deduction to locate the Jiangnan envoy. |
| 5. Nimbus Tower | Envoy and booklet | Travel north, defeat an attacker, locate the Yin-Inscribed Booklet, burn it, and resolve the story with Qin Ruolan. |
Phase 1: Velvet Shade and the Nine Mortals Disciple
Arriving at Velvet Shade in Kaifeng, you encounter a Nine Mortals Disciple asking after Aunt Han, using her nickname “Water Lady.” Engaging him kicks off the lost chapter and quickly turns into a rooftop and pole-chase sequence. Follow the prompts to vault across poles and roofs until you intercept him.
In the conversation that follows, he reveals the stakes: a list of Faceless Ones vanished together with a Mechanic Box and the Yin-Inscribed Booklet used to decode it after Chapter 1. The worry is that the Khitans will obtain that intelligence. The booklet is believed to be in the Heroic Assembly, so you agree to cooperate just enough to get inside.
Phase 2: Infiltrate the Heroic Assembly as Jiang Yi
After leaving Velvet Shade, follow the Nine Mortals Disciple to a secluded spot to discuss a plan. The solution is social stealth: you will pose as the musician Master Jiang Yi, a known figure whose presence will not raise questions at the banquet.
Equip the Jiang Yi disguise outfit when prompted and return to the entrance.
- When the door staff ask about your identity, choose the option to impersonate Jiang Yi rather than posing as a random VIP.
- This draws Bai Rong, the songstress, who wants proof of your musical skill.
Her test is presented as a guqin tuning puzzle using a row of drums labeled with Chinese solfege (Gong, Shang, Jue, Zhi, Yu). The melody she sings is mapped to a fixed order:
| Correct drum order | Label |
|---|---|
| 1 | Zhi |
| 2 | Yu |
| 3 | Gong |
| 4 | Jue |
| 5 | Shang |
Each correct hit keeps all active drums glowing pink; a mistake clears the glow and resets the pattern. Once tuned, respond with a playful remark if you want a friendlier rapport, then board Bai Rong’s boat to the Heroic Assembly’s Revelry Hall.
Phase 3: Explore the Heroic Assembly and gather seven clues
Inside the Revelry Hall, the quest shifts into investigation. A “View Clue” prompt shows that seven separate clues are spread across the three floors. You need all seven to progress to the final deduction.
First floor clues
| Clue | Location | How to obtain |
|---|---|---|
| Fu Rong’s list | First floor main hall | Talk to Fu Rong, then use the Heavenly Snatch mystic skill to pickpocket a guest list from him. |
| Pitch Pot result | First floor game area | Play and win a game of Pitch Pot against the nearby host. |
| Ling Yuming’s performance | First floor stage area | Accept Ling Yuming’s music challenge and complete the rhythm mini-game. |
| Liu Rui’s board | First floor hall near notice board | Inspect the board next to Liu Rui, then talk to him about the postings. |
Pitch Pot is forgiving; shots into the pot give you the clue, and a single round is enough. The rhythm challenge with Ling Yuming is much stricter, but mechanics are lenient: on controller, hitting all displayed buttons just as notes reach the hit area registers most inputs without major penalty, making it easier to fill the gauge.
Second and third floor clues
| Clue | Location | How to obtain |
|---|---|---|
| Debate with Jia Wenqu | Second floor hall | Challenge Jia Wenqu to a debate and select the “Yapping” strategy to overwhelm him. |
| Dance with Wen Zixuan | Third floor hall | Speak to Wen Zixuan and accept his invitation to “dance” (a simple jump/emote sequence). |
| Ouyang Binbin and Ren Jiayu’s conversation | Third floor seating area | Talk to Ouyang Binbin and Ren Jiayu to hear their take on the evening’s guest list and intrigue. |
The debate is presented through the game’s Debate mini-game: you draw and play verbal “attack” cards using Inspiration to deplete the opponent’s Mental Focus. The “Yapping” card set does heavy pressure and makes this encounter trivial.
Once all seven clues are recorded in the on-screen tracker, the objective advances, pointing you toward a disturbance on the third floor.
Phase 4: Sneak into the locked chamber and run the final deduction
On the third floor, a servant blocks access to a side chamber where a commotion is underway. Trying to push past simply resets you. Instead, use the building’s exterior.
- Exit onto the balcony nearby.
- Circle around the outside ledge until you reach a side window or opening.
- Crouch and slip into the chamber from the side.
Inside, you find what is effectively a crime scene: an unconscious guest, spilled wine, a fallen pipa, and traces of Five Minerals Powder. Interact with all highlighted objects to populate the clue board:
- Five Minerals Powder
- Wine
- Unconscious Person
- Fallen Pipa
Trigger “Start Deduction” to open the deduction interface. The correct narrative chain is built from pairs of earlier clues about a Jinling envoy and a famed musician:
| Deduction choice | Linked statements |
|---|---|
| Choice #1 | “A rich guest purchased a guqin for a huge sum of money” + “Many guests in Jinling came to see Shimmer.” |
| Choice #2 | “The Jinling Envoy loved the guqin” + “The notes were about her longing.” |
| Choice #3 | “The Jinling Envoy also admired Ruolan” + “Ruolan played the guqin in Yunhua Tower.” |
With these combinations locked in, select the conclusion “The Jiangnan envoy has gone to Nimbus Tower” and submit the clues. The main objective updates to track that envoy north out of Kaifeng.
Phase 5: Travel to Nimbus Tower and resolve the Yin-Inscribed Booklet
Nimbus Tower sits to the north of the Heroic Assembly on the Kaifeng map. You can physically traverse there or use nearby boundary stones if unlocked.
- Leave the Revelry Hall. One efficient route is to jump from a window into the water below, then swim to shore and run toward the Nimbus Tower marker.
- Enter Nimbus Tower and ascend to the upper floor.
At the top, a mysterious man ambushes you. This is the only true fight in Shadows in Bloom. It is tuned as a straightforward duel: standard weapon combos, dodges, and parries are enough, and no special gimmick is required. Defeat him to secure the room.
Search Nimbus Tower for the Yin-Inscribed Booklet
With the attacker down, start examining the study:
- Open and read the Letter and Floral Paper to flesh out the envoy’s situation.
- Inspect bottles of Wine and traces of Five Minerals Powder to mirror the pattern seen in the Revelry Hall chamber.
- Look for a low table with a visible glow; this is where the Yin-Inscribed Booklet rests.
Pick up the booklet to trigger the final prompt: it is too dangerous to leave intact. Move to the brazier or fireplace in the room and interact with it to “immediately incinerate the Yin-Inscribed Booklet in flames.”
Ending: Qin Ruolan, fireworks, and Vernal Umbrella synergy
Burning the booklet fades into a cutscene featuring Qin Ruolan. Your character regains consciousness with Ruolan nearby and can question her about the web of envoys, guqin performances, and the risks posed by the Mechanic Box and Faceless list.
There is no penalty for exhausting every dialogue option. Ask each question in turn, then close with “I understand the situation now” to move the story forward. The evening ends with a quiet moment watching fireworks alongside Qin Ruolan, symbolically closing the current chapter of intrigue at the Heroic Assembly.
Completing Shadows in Bloom also unlocks the “Blossom Barrage Damage Boost” for the Vernal Umbrella. This upgrade increases the damage of Blossom Barrage, one of the umbrella’s core offensive skills. For players chasing the Vernal Umbrella martial weapon via the Ninefold Umbrella quest line, Shadows in Bloom is not only a narrative detour in Kaifeng but a direct mechanical upgrade for that weapon once it is in use.
Once the fireworks fade, Shadows in Bloom is fully complete and its objectives are cleared from the Jianghu Legacy list. You remain free to revisit the Heroic Assembly for collectibles, anecdotes, and other Kaifeng quests that build on the same cast and location.
