“Cries in the Distance” is one of those side quests that catches you off guard. You’re minding your own business investigating a broken bell on a mountain, and then you hear someone desperately calling for help echoing from below. It’s unsettling in the best way—atmospheric and immediately grabs your attention.
What makes this quest stand out is the puzzle design and the reunion with a familiar face. You’ll cross paths with Feng Jisheng, someone you met at the very beginning of your journey during an archery competition. More importantly, this quest serves as a deep dive into Where Winds Meet’s Tai Chi mystery system—something that looks intimidating on paper but becomes satisfying once you understand the mechanics.
Finding the Quest: How to Trigger Cries in the Distance
The Starting Point
Head to the Peace Bell Tower located southwest of Heaven’s Pier. Climb to the top of the mountain (or if you’re already there investigating the bell), look for a hatch you can drop down through. This entrance leads to an underground cave, and that’s where the distressed voice is coming from.
Meeting Feng Jisheng
Once inside, you’ll quickly realize the voice belongs to Feng Jisheng—your archery rival from the game’s opening. He’s trapped inside, and naturally, he needs your help to get out. This is where the puzzle-solving begins.
The First Obstacle: Burning the Tree Roots
Before you can even reach Feng, there’s a barrier of tree roots blocking the way.
What to Do:
- Turn toward the tree roots
- Equip and fire a fire arrow at them
- The roots will burn away, revealing a path forward
Once the roots are cleared, you’ll find a chest. Open it, and you’ll spot a pressure plate on the ground. Step on it to trigger the wall mechanism that’s holding Feng.
Understanding the Tai Chi Puzzle System
This is where “Cries in the Distance” shifts from a straightforward rescue mission to an actual puzzle-solving experience. Feng will explain how the Tai Chi contraptions work—it’s worth listening to his explanation because it genuinely helps.
The Basic Concept:
You and Feng each stand on a pressure plate, which summons the Yin-Yang Dial. This activates a series of four rotating contraptions around the chamber:
- Heaven and Earth contraptions – Rotate separately
- Water and Fire contraptions – Move together as a pair
- Yin-Yang Dial – Controls the connection between water and fire
Your goal is to rotate everything so that:
- Earth and Heaven face opposite directions (toward the walls)
- Water and Fire face each other (across from one another)
The Key Insight: Think of it like balancing the forces. When the Yin-Yang Dial is in one position, water and fire are linked. Rotate it, and they move independently. This flexibility is what lets you solve the puzzle.
Step-by-Step Tai Chi Puzzle Solution
If you get stuck on the rotations, here’s the exact sequence that works:
Step 1: Rotate the Heaven Contraption
- Approach contraption (3) in front of the green leaves and tree roots (where you shot the fire arrow)
- Rotate it counter-clockwise once so it faces the wall
Step 2: Check the Earth Contraption
- Contraption (4) on the opposite side is already facing the wall
- Leave it as is—no rotation needed
- These two are now correctly positioned (Heaven and Earth facing opposite directions)
Step 3: Unlock the Water and Fire Movement
- Go to the Yin-Yang Dial and rotate it once
- This separates the water and fire contraptions so they can move independently
Step 4: Rotate the Fire Contraption
- Approach contraption (2) between the two candle shelves
- Rotate it counter-clockwise once
Step 5: Rotate the Water Contraption
- Move to contraption (1) facing contraption (2)
- Rotate it clockwise two times
- These two are now facing each other (Water and Fire aligned)
Step 6: Lock the Solution
- Return to the Yin-Yang Dial and rotate it once more
- This completes the puzzle and opens a path forward
Pro Tip: If you mess up a rotation, don’t stress. You can rotate the contraptions back and try again—there’s no penalty for experimenting.
Descending Deeper: Collecting Clues
Once the puzzle opens, you’ll see a way down. Use your Mighty Drop ability to land safely in the lower chamber. This prevents fall damage and gives you a stylish entrance.
Take a moment to explore the area and collect any clues you find. Speak with Feng once you’ve gathered everything—he’ll guide you to the next phase.
The Thick-Skinned Albino Black Bear: The Quest’s Real Challenge
Here’s where the quest takes an unexpected turn. The next area resembles a training ground, and a Thick-Skinned Albino Black Bear emerges as your final obstacle.
Why This Bear Is Different:
This isn’t a typical combat encounter. Normal attacks barely scratch it. You could swing your sword all day and barely dent its health. The game is essentially telling you: “There’s a better way.”
The Tai Chi Mystic Skill
The solution lies in using the Tai Chi mystic skill—a technique you’ll want to master for this fight. Once you activate it, you gain the ability to grab and throw objects.
How to Defeat the Bear:
- Pick up the Tai Chi energy (it appears as a glowing projectile or object)
- Throw it at the rocks on the right side of the arena
- Throw it at the rocks on the left side
- Throw it at the rocks on the front side
Hitting all three rock positions depletes the bear’s health. Keep repeating this sequence until it falls. Meanwhile, Feng will be playing dead in the background—he’s not much help in combat, but at least he’s out of the way.
Combat Tips:
- Focus on picking up and throwing the Tai Chi energy rather than direct attacks
- The rocks glow slightly—they’re your targets
- Don’t waste time on normal attacks; they’re ineffective against this enemy
- Stay mobile and avoid the bear’s charge attacks while you’re setting up throws
Claiming Your Rewards
Once the bear is defeated, the fight ends. Loot the chests scattered around the arena—you’ll find decent rewards for your trouble.
After claiming your loot, speak with Feng one final time. He’ll thank you for the rescue and wrap up the quest narrative. With that conversation complete, Cries in the Distance is officially finished.
Understanding the Bigger Picture
This quest does more than just provide a side storyline. It teaches you critical mechanics you’ll use throughout Where Winds Meet. The Tai Chi puzzle system appears elsewhere, and the Tai Chi mystic skill becomes relevant for future encounters. Investing time in understanding these systems here pays dividends later.
If you want to explore more of the game’s mechanics and systems, check out our guides on mystical skills and unlocks and other boss fight strategies. If you’re working on building relationships with NPCs like Feng, our Li Laizuo affection guide covers the conversation system you’ll be using frequently.
Note
“Cries in the Distance” is one of those quests that stays with you. It blends exploration, puzzle-solving, and combat in a way that feels natural rather than forced. The reunion with Feng adds emotional weight, and the Tai Chi mechanics are genuinely clever once you understand them.
Take your time with the puzzle—there’s no rush, and the satisfaction of rotating those contraptions into the correct position is worth savoring. And when you reach that bear fight, remember: normal attacks won’t cut it. Trust the Tai Chi mystic skill, stay focused, and you’ll come out victorious.
Useful Resources
For more information about Where Winds Meet and its features, check out these official links:
- Official Website: Where Winds Meet
- Steam Store Page: Where Winds Meet on Steam
- PlayStation Store: Where Winds Meet on PlayStation
- Wikipedia Entry: Where Winds Meet
