The Story
The storylines, chapter by chapter: the story so far, the main beats, what lay behind them, and how they end, folded until you're ready. Every step is on the Quests page › · the people, books, letters and factions are in Lore ›
Story pages, identities and endings stay folded until you open them. Remembered on this device.
Qinghe · Main Story
“Uninvited guests gather at Blissful Retreat. The long night's bloody rain is not yet spent. I ask the martial wanderers, the displaced, where will you return in years to come?”
- Chapter 1Another New Wing
- Chapter 2A Horse Neighs in the Forest
- Chapter 3Dusty Mirror
- Chapter 4For Whom Does He Return
Bright Tide · the main beats · 12
Bamboo Grove Hut Bright Tide 1 · Chapter 1
After being struck down by the black-clad figure, you awaken in pain to the sound of Ruby's voice. She explains that she saw no one else nearby. You find only a strange dragon mark and an old letter from Uncle Jiang near the Bamboo Abode.
Spoiler · Chapter 1The Bird Hunter Bright Tide 2 · Chapter 1
On your way to General's Shrine, you encountered a disciple from Inkbound Order. He taught you archery and horsemanship by chance. He was another recent outsider to arrive in Qinghe. He mentioned a vicious swordsman from the northern frontier. Ruby wondered if the recent disturbances were connected to hunting this criminal. Feng Jisheng gave no answer. He simply urged you both to stay safe.
Spoiler · Chapter 1General's Shrine Bright Tide 3 · Chapter 1
A stranger in Verdant Wilds piques your curiosity and trades you a Wulin Journal. Beard Guang's trade caravan has returned, this time with a horse dancer. Ruby wants to have more fun before she leaves, so you're left to return home alone.
Spoiler · Chapter 1Blissful Retreat Bright Tide 4 · Chapter 2
It's late by the time you arrive, but thanks to your practiced reassurance, Han Xiangxun lets your tardiness slide for now. With nothing to do, you stay briefly at the Blissful Retreat Inn, watching the guests and listening to tales of the Jianghu—tales that may or may not be true.
Spoiler · Chapter 2Jianghu Wanderer Bright Tide 5 · by Chapter 2
You run into the infamous bandit Yi Dao at the porcelain kiln, he's searching for Han Xiangxun. Pretending to help, you lead him astray through the hidden passages beneath Ghost Temple and shake him off, then return to report everything to Han Xiangxun.
Spoiler · by Chapter 2The Past of Water Lady Bright Tide 6 · by Chapter 2
You uncover the long-buried secret of the Evercare Clinic, and another side to someone you thought you knew. The Jianghu isn't far, it's right here. The weight of these stories points you to the next clue in the search for Han Xiangxun.
Spoiler · by Chapter 2Temporary Ally Bright Tide 7 · by Chapter 2
So it turns out Yidao's "departure" was merely a ploy to lower your guard so that he can follow you to Blissful Retreat! Just as the two of you were about to clash, a group of black-clad figures suddenly appeared. They, too, were after Han Xiangxun. Seasoned in the ways of the Jianghu and seemingly familiar with these intruders, Yi Dao proposed a temporary alliance. Together, you would track the group back to their hideout to see if Han Xiangxun was being held there.
Spoiler · by Chapter 2Horse Tamer Bright Tide 8 · Chapter 2
To your surprise, the leader of the black-clad men turned out to be the Horse Tamer from Beard Guang's trade caravan. Both Ruby and Beard Guang had been deceived into coming, as the man hoped to extract secrets about Heaven's Pier from them. After coaxing Ruby to leave with Beard Guang, you stayed behind to confront the Horse Tamer alone. Fortunately, Han Xiangxun arrived just in time, and all of you made it safely back to Blissful Retreat.
Spoiler · Chapter 2The Decision to Leave Bright Tide 9 · Chapter 3
It turns out Yi Dao and Han Xiangxun are old acquaintances. He brought news of someone's death, casting Han Xiangxun into silence and fury, and strengthening her resolve to protect you. But her overprotection left you feeling stifled. Spurred on by Ruby's "suggestion," you decided to use Yi Dao as a scapegoat to get yourself to Kaifeng.
Spoiler · Chapter 3Night Raid Bright Tide 10 · Chapter 4
You arranged to meet Yi Dao at a ruined temple at midnight. Just as you were about to leave together, thick smoke and flames suddenly rose from the direction of Heaven's Pier. You rushed back to find it under attack, an unknown force had infiltrated the settlement in search of something.
Spoiler · Chapter 4The Endless Night Bright Tide 11 · Chapter 4
The night stretched on endlessly as you searched the burning Blissful Retreat for familiar faces, trying to save as many as you could. The more you rescued, the more lifeless bodies you found. Someone had laid a formation array within the sea of fire, cutting off any way out, until Ruby proposed an idea...
Spoiler · Chapter 4Beneath the Ashes Bright Tide 12 · Chapter 4
The dust settles, no trace of the old friend remains. The young master, along with many others, was "buried" on that nightmare of a night. In the end, even immortals could not ferry those who dwelled here.
Spoiler · Chapter 4
Dark Surge · what lay behind it · 8
Dark Surge 1
Under the pear blossoms, the gates of Heaven's Pier were never shut at night. But three years ago, an unusual theft occurred. Han Xiangxun, lady of Blissful Retreat, lost the two things most precious to her. Three years later, the infamous bandit Yi Dao returned with one of them, revealing the hand that had orchestrated it all. That same person had once used Han Xiangxun's old friend, Chu Qingquan, and now, through Yi Dao's return, another scheme had begun to unfold. His name was Tian Ying.
Backstory · spoilerDark Surge 2
There was a time when Buddhist devotion flourished in Qinghe. It was then that a wandering monk arrived, calling himself Miaoshan, a disciple of Master Baozhi from a hundred years ago. During his sermons, a radiant light would appear behind him, and soon tales of "Buddha's Light" spread like wildfire. He presided over Qinghe's restrictions on Buddhist practice and once even saved a Khitan man. To this day, many in Qinghe still long for his return, hoping to see the Buddha's Light atop the mountain once more. But few know that Miaoshan's true identity was Tian Ying.
Backstory · spoilerDark Surge 3
"First, slay the envoy. Then, drive a wedge between the Khitan and their allies." To accomplish this plan, the Palace of Annals feigned hospitality to the Water Lady with a banquet, hiding ulterior motives. Yet the Water Lady saw through the trap halfway. One tried to leave, the other forced her to stay. Their struggle escalated to the summit of Moonveil Peak, where their colliding inner force shattered the Peace Bell. Amid the chaos, Tian Ying successfully stole the Water Lady's Scroll. Holding the Seal of Severance, he headed south to slay the envoy. Chu Qingquan, carrying the Seal of Continuance, returned north, awaiting a face swap.
Backstory · spoilerDark Surge 4
Three years ago, the legendary assassin Tian Ying slipped into Breeze Post during a Tang banquet and, without a trace, took the Khitan envoy's head. This silent strike severed all diplomatic ties between the Khitan and Tang. Now, the Tang court sends Aureate Pavilion to Qinghe, swearing to present Tian Ying's head as a gift to restore relations with the Khitan. After years of calm, Qinghe is once again thrown into chaos.
Backstory · spoilerDark Surge 5
The Breeze Post incident catapulted Aureate Pavilion into prominence, granting them sway over court politics. Their mission in Qinghe is to hunt the killer, yet some sharp-eyed people notice a troubling trend, which is the reappearance of the Sleeping Puppets, the same nightmare weapons that devastated the jianghu sixteen years ago.
Backstory · spoilerDark Surge 6
Few in the jianghu ever knew of a certain brotherhood—an unrecorded assembly hidden deep within the halls later known as the Palace of Annals. United by a vow sworn beneath the dragon's head, they called themselves the Sword Above. No one knows how many they were. Only that they gathered around Chai Rong, though not to serve him. Each was a towering figure of their own, a legend unto themselves. Even Tian Ying, the famed assassin, was but a climber drawn to the heights they stood upon. The Hanging Sword served neither virtue nor vice and craved no name or gold, only the cause they believed in.
Backstory · spoilerDark Surge 7
Decades ago, the couple who sought a path to their nation's eternal survival were reunited here. Together, they uncovered the mystery behind the disappearance of a village of immortals buried for two centuries. The feelings left unspoken were sealed away for eternity, and the guiding light that once warmed hearts was finally extinguished. The last witness to this tale... was a gravekeeper battling the darkness in his own blood.
Backstory · spoilerDark Surge 8
The elusive warrior Tian Ying was never seen again. Some say he marched to the frontiers, vanishing amid the mystery of Emperor Shizong's death. Others believe he withdrew to the quiet mountain village of his youth. And there are those who claim that in his days hiding among monks, he truly found faith—after carrying out one final mission as an assassin, he cast off his blade and set off on a path of true devotion.
Backstory · spoiler
Ending
Between Light and Shadow
“Shed my name. Shed my face. Shed every trace of my existence. Tian Ying is no more. Only Li Zhongdui remains. Perhaps no one will ever uncover the truth. But for a Traceless Walker, to leave no sound, no sign, is simply the way of life and death!”
Tian Qi tried countless times to destroy the small hut beneath Halo Peak, yet his hands faltered every time. That hut was the last trace of Tian Ying's existence. To destroy it would be to erase Tian Ying from the world entirely.
All Bright Tide Nodes Unlocked · All Dark Surge Nodes Unlocked
Relationships
Who you meet in this storyline, and how they're tied: each page has a Ties card.
- ?6 not met yet
Story so far
Each chapter in a few lines of ours, every line pointing to the game's words it comes from; the game's own entries are one click below.
Who you are
The story speaks to you as “you”: when someone wakes you, they call you by your name.1 Home is Heaven's Pier, and Ruby is at your side from the first scene.234 Uncle Jiang has left you an old letter, and before you go home you quietly ask Beard Guang for news of him.24
1 Journal · Memories Awakened2 Bright Tide · Bamboo Grove Hut3 Journal · Begin the Journey4 Journal · Shrine in the Wild
Key players so far · 7
- Spoiler · Chapter 1
Jiang WulangCh. 1 · Bright Tide · Bamboo Grove Hut · as “Uncle Jiang”Inferred: Jiang Wulang's page opens at the step “Ask Beard Guang about Uncle Jiang”, and his own story page calls him Uncle Jiang.
Spoiler · Chapter 1- Spoiler · Chapter 1
- Spoiler · Chapter 2
- Spoiler · Chapter 2
- Spoiler · Chapter 2
- Spoiler · Chapter 3
Chapter 1 Another New Wing
You come to in pain after a black-clad figure strikes you down, and it is Ruby's voice that wakes you.12 No one else is in sight; near the Bamboo Abode you find only a strange dragon mark and an old letter from Uncle Jiang.13 On the road to General's Shrine, Feng Jisheng, a disciple from Inkbound Order, teaches you archery and horsemanship and mentions a vicious swordsman from the northern frontier, but gives no answer when Ruby asks whether the recent trouble is tied to that hunt.45 A stranger who calls himself the Wayfarer trades you a Wulin Journal, Ruby enters your name in the shrine's tournament, and when Beard Guang's caravan returns with a horse dancer she stays for more fun, so you head home alone.678
1 Bright Tide · Bamboo Grove Hut2 Journal · Memories Awakened3 Journal · Begin the Journey4 Bright Tide · The Bird Hunter5 Journal · Archery6 Bright Tide · General's Shrine7 Journal · A Bear of a Task8 Journal · Shrine in the Wild
In the game's words · 3 Bright Tide entries
Bamboo Grove Hut Bright Tide 1
After being struck down by the black-clad figure, you awaken in pain to the sound of Ruby's voice. She explains that she saw no one else nearby. You find only a strange dragon mark and an old letter from Uncle Jiang near the Bamboo Abode.
The Bird Hunter Bright Tide 2
On your way to General's Shrine, you encountered a disciple from Inkbound Order. He taught you archery and horsemanship by chance. He was another recent outsider to arrive in Qinghe. He mentioned a vicious swordsman from the northern frontier. Ruby wondered if the recent disturbances were connected to hunting this criminal. Feng Jisheng gave no answer. He simply urged you both to stay safe.
General's Shrine Bright Tide 3
A stranger in Verdant Wilds piques your curiosity and trades you a Wulin Journal. Beard Guang's trade caravan has returned, this time with a horse dancer. Ruby wants to have more fun before she leaves, so you're left to return home alone.
Spoiler · Chapter 1Chapter 2 A Horse Neighs in the Forest
You reach Blissful Retreat late, but Han Xiangxun lets it slide and puts you to work among the guests, where you hear tales of the jianghu.12 Sent to the porcelain kiln while she handles an odd guest, Qianye, you run into the infamous bandit Yi Dao, who is searching for her; you lead him astray through the passages beneath Ghost Temple and report back to her.34 The Evercare Clinic's long-buried secret shows you another side to someone you thought you knew, and when black-clad attackers come for Han Xiangxun too, Yi Dao proposes a temporary alliance to track them to their hideout.56 Their leader is the Horse Tamer from Beard Guang's caravan; you send Ruby away with Beard Guang and face him alone until Han Xiangxun arrives, and Yi Dao turns out to be her old friend.78
1 Bright Tide · Blissful Retreat2 Journal · Blissful Retreat3 Bright Tide · Jianghu Wanderer4 Journal · The Wine Run5 Bright Tide · The Past of Water Lady6 Bright Tide · Temporary Ally7 Bright Tide · Horse Tamer8 Journal · Enemy Lair
In the game's words · 5 Bright Tide entries
Blissful Retreat Bright Tide 4
It's late by the time you arrive, but thanks to your practiced reassurance, Han Xiangxun lets your tardiness slide for now. With nothing to do, you stay briefly at the Blissful Retreat Inn, watching the guests and listening to tales of the Jianghu—tales that may or may not be true.
Jianghu Wanderer Bright Tide 5
You run into the infamous bandit Yi Dao at the porcelain kiln, he's searching for Han Xiangxun. Pretending to help, you lead him astray through the hidden passages beneath Ghost Temple and shake him off, then return to report everything to Han Xiangxun.
The Past of Water Lady Bright Tide 6
You uncover the long-buried secret of the Evercare Clinic, and another side to someone you thought you knew. The Jianghu isn't far, it's right here. The weight of these stories points you to the next clue in the search for Han Xiangxun.
Temporary Ally Bright Tide 7
So it turns out Yidao's "departure" was merely a ploy to lower your guard so that he can follow you to Blissful Retreat! Just as the two of you were about to clash, a group of black-clad figures suddenly appeared. They, too, were after Han Xiangxun. Seasoned in the ways of the Jianghu and seemingly familiar with these intruders, Yi Dao proposed a temporary alliance. Together, you would track the group back to their hideout to see if Han Xiangxun was being held there.
Horse Tamer Bright Tide 8
To your surprise, the leader of the black-clad men turned out to be the Horse Tamer from Beard Guang's trade caravan. Both Ruby and Beard Guang had been deceived into coming, as the man hoped to extract secrets about Heaven's Pier from them. After coaxing Ruby to leave with Beard Guang, you stayed behind to confront the Horse Tamer alone. Fortunately, Han Xiangxun arrived just in time, and all of you made it safely back to Blissful Retreat.
Spoiler · Chapter 2Chapter 3 Dusty Mirror
Yi Dao and Han Xiangxun are old acquaintances: he has come to claim a secret left by your foster father, Jiang Wulang, and she insists she knows nothing of it.122 He was sent by her former lover, Chu Qingquan, who has died, and his news leaves her silent and furious.21 She resolves to move the whole village and keep you away from the martial world, but you know that danger found you after sixteen years and will find you again.31 Spurred on by Ruby's “suggestion”, you decide to use Yi Dao to get yourself to Kaifeng, and bid farewell to Ruby and Doudou.14
1 Bright Tide · The Decision to Leave2 Journal · Cleaning Up the Mess3 Journal · Resolution4 Journal · Parting Ways
In the game's words · 1 Bright Tide entry
The Decision to Leave Bright Tide 9
It turns out Yi Dao and Han Xiangxun are old acquaintances. He brought news of someone's death, casting Han Xiangxun into silence and fury, and strengthening her resolve to protect you. But her overprotection left you feeling stifled. Spurred on by Ruby's "suggestion," you decided to use Yi Dao as a scapegoat to get yourself to Kaifeng.
Spoiler · Chapter 3Chapter 4 For Whom Does He Return
You meet Yi Dao at the ruined temple at midnight, but smoke and flames rise over Heaven's Pier, and you rush back to find an unknown force searching it.12 In the burning Blissful Retreat you rescue as many as you can with Du Qiaoxian and Yuan Jingang, while a formation array in the fire cuts off every way out until Ruby proposes a plan.345 The mastermind appears at last; to protect the others you confront her and fall into the depths of Sweetwine Tower.6 When the dust settles, no trace of the old friend remains, and the young master, along with many others, is “buried” that night.7
1 Bright Tide · Night Raid2 Journal · Meeting Yi Dao3 Bright Tide · The Endless Night4 Journal · Rescue5 Journal · Breaking the Trap6 Journal · Showdown7 Bright Tide · Beneath the Ashes
In the game's words · 3 Bright Tide entries
Night Raid Bright Tide 10
You arranged to meet Yi Dao at a ruined temple at midnight. Just as you were about to leave together, thick smoke and flames suddenly rose from the direction of Heaven's Pier. You rushed back to find it under attack, an unknown force had infiltrated the settlement in search of something.
The Endless Night Bright Tide 11
The night stretched on endlessly as you searched the burning Blissful Retreat for familiar faces, trying to save as many as you could. The more you rescued, the more lifeless bodies you found. Someone had laid a formation array within the sea of fire, cutting off any way out, until Ruby proposed an idea...
Beneath the Ashes Bright Tide 12
The dust settles, no trace of the old friend remains. The young master, along with many others, was "buried" on that nightmare of a night. In the end, even immortals could not ferry those who dwelled here.
Spoiler · Chapter 4