TL;DR
- Quick Hand’s Request is a multi-region Tale given by Quick Hand Zhang, a thief you rescue from a cage in Crimson Forest.
- The quest spans five regions: Crimson Forest, Village of Lu, Pangzhen, Meigu Lake, and Mirage Estate.
- Each region has 3 hidden treasures (Pangzhen has 4) hidden inside green-glowing chests.
- Return the treasures to Zhang’s hideout in each region to earn a reward per area.
- Completing the full questline is required for the perfect ending.
- Finish Zhang’s final Mirage Estate request before the last battle — it becomes missable after that.
Quick Hand’s Request is one of the longest Tales in Phantom Blade Zero. It’s tied to a fan-favourite NPC — Quick Hand Zhang, a fast-talking thief who you first meet trapped in a hanging cage. Once freed, he becomes a recurring character with his own chain of treasure-hunting requests that runs through almost every region in the game.
It’s not missable in the traditional sense, but the final request in Mirage Estate must be completed before the endgame. The entire questline also counts toward the perfect true ending, so it’s worth seeing through from start to finish.
How to Start Quick Hand’s Request – Free Zhang First
You can’t start the quest until you rescue Quick Hand Zhang from his cage. Here’s how that works:
Progress through Crimson Forest until you reach the Trail of Cages Bell. You’ll see Zhang trapped inside a hanging wooden cage on the road. He’ll call out to you and ask for help in exchange for information about reaching Pangzhen.
Continue along the path, defeat the enemies near the campfire, and follow the cliffside until you find a lever or crank mechanism. Activating it lowers the cage and frees Zhang. Before you leave, open the nearby chest — it contains the Cavalrybane accessory, which is useful against the next story boss.
Once freed, Zhang gives you the Quick Hand Pendant (if you speak to him again), which increases one-handed weapon damage by 10%.
Where to Find Zhang’s First Hideout
After freeing Zhang, progress to the Thieves’ Camp. Exit the camp and climb the wall to the right. Zhang’s first hideout is through the door at the top. Speak to him there to officially begin Quick Hand’s Request. He’ll hand you Quick Hand Zhang’s Relic List, which tracks all the treasures across each region. This also unlocks his other Tale, The Wily Hare’s Three Dens.
All Quick Hand Zhang Treasure Locations – Every Region
Each region has its own set of treasures hidden in distinctive green-glowing chests. Collect them all and turn them in at Zhang’s hideout in that same region to claim your reward before moving on.
Crimson Forest Treasures (3 Total) – Reward: Flying Dagger Phantom Edge
Treasure 1 – Bloodstained Seal: Found inside a cave west of Quick Hand Zhang’s hideout in the Thieves’ Camp area. Head into the cave, defeat the enemies inside, and the chest is further in.
Treasure 2 – Sect Leader’s Snuff Bottle: Located in the underground area accessed through the hatch near the Outlaw Trap Bell. You need the Crimson Forest Tunnel Crank to open the hatch. Drop down, cross the wooden bridge, defeat the second butcher enemy and dogs, and take the left path up the slope to find the chest. This is the same underground area used for the second injured thief in A Healer’s Mercy.
Treasure 3 – Ancient Crossbow: Found inside the locked cave near the Thieves’ Camp Bell. You need the Thieves’ Camp Dungeon Key to open the door. After unlocking it, the green chest with the Ancient Crossbow is right behind you as you enter. This is the same door you open for the fourth injured thief in A Healer’s Mercy.
Turn in all three to Zhang at his Thieves’ Camp hideout to receive the Flying Dagger Phantom Edge — a ranged secondary weapon that adds a fast thrown-dagger attack to your arsenal. See our complete Phantom Edges list for more on what it does.
Village of Lu Treasures (3 Total) – Reward: Shouyi Pendant / Fine Thread Accessory
Zhang’s second hideout is in the Village of Lu, inside a cave accessed by a hidden ladder beneath a building with red vines. Descend into the hole and follow the cave to find him. Activate the Zhang’s Hideout (Village of Lu) Bell there.
Treasure 1 – Wedding Candles: From the Well of the Three Puppets Bell, head northwest toward a temple with red lanterns. Go inside, defeat the enemies, climb the stairs, and enter the prayer room. Open the green chest to get the Wedding Candles.
Treasure 2 – Unveiled Statue: Found near the Lady Grounds Crane Bell on the northeast side of the map. Look for the chest near that bell area to collect this treasure.
Treasure 3 – White Jade Twins: Located inside a collapsed cellar in the lower section of the Village of Lu. You’ll need the Village of Lu Cellar Key to access it. Once inside, find the green chest to pick up the White Jade Twins. Our Village of Lu Cellar Key guide has the exact location of the key.
Turn all three in at Zhang’s hideout to receive the Fine Thread accessory — it increases damage and Sha-Chi depletion of summoned objects by 50%.
Pangzhen Treasures (4 Total) – Reward: Goldblaze Phantom Edge
Pangzhen is the only region with four treasures instead of three. Zhang’s hideout here is in an abandoned house west of the village, closer to the mountains. Find the Zhang’s Hideout (Pangzhen) Bell inside the house, then take the ladder down through the floorboards to meet Zhang.
Treasure 1: Requires the Tianxiang Pavilion Key, which you get by talking to a puppet in the Order’s underground tavern to start the Star Performer quest. Our Tianxiang Pavilion Key guide covers the exact steps.
Treasure 2: Found after defeating Wu Xuan, the Fallen General boss. After the fight, head through the circular gate behind him and up the stairs to find a small house at the end of a garden filled with puppet enemies. The green chest is inside.
Treasure 3 – Carved-Edge Inkstone: Found by using a rope to cross a water gap, landing in front of a door that leads to the building holding this chest.
Treasure 4: Requires the You Loong’s Deluge Phantom Edge, which you get by defeating You Loong, Leader of the Blackwater Crew, in the pond near the Banyan Tree in western Pangzhen.
Turn all four in to receive the Goldblaze Phantom Edge — essentially a rifle-type ranged weapon. Check our Phantom Edges list for how it handles.
Meigu Lake Treasures (3 Total) – Reward: Sha-Chi Blood Catalyst Medicine
Zhang’s Meigu Lake hideout is reached by crossing a bridge at the west dock area and jumping across wooden poles. Activate the Zhang’s Hideout (Meigu Lake) Bell and speak to him.
Treasure 1 – Blue Blossom Compass: Found on the northern island of Meigu Lake. Glide across a rope, cross the bridge, and jump on the logs to reach the green chest.
Treasure 2 – Blight Astrolabe: Found inside the Phantom Illusionist Ruins. Explore this area and you’ll come across the chest along the route.
Treasure 3 – Sundial of Impermanence: Also inside the Phantom Illusionist Ruins, further in — roughly after the fifth Bell in that area. Keep pushing through the ruins until you reach it.
Important: Two of the three Meigu Lake treasures are behind a special locked area tied to the Secrets at the Heart of the Lake quest. To unlock it, you need to defeat the four acolyte scarecrow bosses around Wulin, including one inside Crimson Manor. Our Frozen Mirror Meigu Lake guide explains the full unlock process.
Returning all three earns you the Sha-Chi Blood Catalyst medicine item.
Mirage Estate Treasures (3 Total) – Reward: Thundermoon Lantern Accessory
This is Zhang’s final hideout. Enter the cave behind the Zhang’s Hideout (Mirage Estate) Bell and descend to meet him for the last time.
Treasure 1 – General’s Bronze Mirror: Near the Training Grounds Bell. Go into the building the Herald was standing on and find the east room on the ground floor. The green chest is there.
Treasure 2 – Gold-and-Silver Sachet: Near the Opera House Bell. You need the Opera Ticket, which is obtained as part of the main quest in Mirage Estate. Use it on the locked door with the monster’s head. On the other side, the green chest is in the building immediately to your left as you enter.
Treasure 3 – Golden Cloud-Moon Hairpin: Near the Perfect Vessel Estate Bell, found around the back side of a pillar. It’s a green chest, so watch for the glow.
Warning: Complete this final request before entering the last encounter of Mirage Estate. Once the endgame begins, this window closes.
Turn all three in to Zhang to receive the Thundermoon Lantern accessory and complete the full Quick Hand’s Request questline.
All Quick Hand’s Request Rewards at a Glance
- Crimson Forest – Flying Dagger (Phantom Edge)
- Village of Lu – Fine Thread (Accessory)
- Pangzhen – Goldblaze (Phantom Edge)
- Meigu Lake – Sha-Chi Blood Catalyst (Medicine)
- Mirage Estate – Thundermoon Lantern (Accessory)
The Flying Dagger and Goldblaze are especially worth picking up early — both add solid ranged options to your combat rotation that complement most builds.
Is Quick Hand’s Request Missable?
The quest itself is not missable as long as you rescue Zhang from his cage. However, the Mirage Estate portion is time-sensitive. You must complete Zhang’s final request before the game’s concluding events trigger. If you push into the final battle without finishing it, you’ll miss the Thundermoon Lantern and the questline will be marked incomplete.
Since this questline is part of the requirements for the perfect ending, leaving it unfinished affects your outcome. Make sure every regional request is turned in before heading into Mirage Estate’s final area.
Quick Tips
- Always talk to Zhang at each new hideout as soon as you arrive in the region — that way his request is active and the chests are already counting.
- The Crimson Forest treasures overlap heavily with the A Healer’s Mercy route, so do both quests together in the same pass through the area.
- Green chests are distinct from regular chests — look for the bright emerald glow.
- The Pangzhen treasures require some story progression and specific Phantom Edges. Don’t worry if you can’t grab all four immediately on your first sweep.
More Phantom Blade Zero Guides
- A Healer’s Mercy Quest Guide
- Secrets of the Baishan Sect Guide
- Thieves’ Camp Dungeon Key Location
- Tianxiang Pavilion Key Location
- Village of Lu Cellar Key Guide
- Frozen Mirror Meigu Lake Guide
- All Phantom Edges List
- All Weapons List
- Tiger Cannon Phantom Edge Guide
- Feather Bow Phantom Edge Guide
- Deep in the Valley Quest Guide
- All Chapters List
Phantom Blade Zero is available on Steam, PlayStation Store, and Epic Games Store.
