Where Winds Meet: Shadows in Bloom Quest Complete Guide

The Shadows in Bloom quest in Where Winds Meet is one of those side missions that starts simple—help a disciple avoid trouble—and escalates into a full detective adventure at the Hero Assembly. You’ll be donning disguises, playing mini-games with guests, and piecing together clues to track down a mysterious envoy who’s vanished without a trace.

If you’re struggling to find all seven clues or can’t figure out how to combine them correctly, this guide has you covered. Let me walk you through every step of Shadows in Bloom, from triggering the quest in Velvet Shade to watching fireworks at Nimbus Tower.

How to Start Shadows in Bloom Quest in Where Winds Meet

Starting the Shadows in Bloom quest is pretty straightforward once you know where to look in Kaifeng.

Quest Location: Velvet Shade, Kaifeng

Head to the Velvet Shade district and approach the crowd gathered by the water. You’ll trigger a small cutscene where you meet a Nine Mortal Ways Disciple who’s about to get himself into trouble (again, apparently).

After the cutscene, you’ll need to follow the disciple across the rooftops. This is basically a quick parkour sequence—just stick close to him and stop him before he causes chaos. Once you catch up, he’ll ask for your help sneaking into the Hero Assembly.

If you’re working on building relationships with different sects, check out our guides on how to join the Nine Mortal Ways or how to join Midnight Blades.

Getting Into the Hero Assembly (Disguise Mode)

Here’s where things get fun. When you agree to help the disciple, your character automatically changes into Master Jiang Yi’s disguise. No, you don’t get to pick your outfit—this is one of those “trust me, this will work” moments in quest design.

Your goal? Sneak into the Hero Assembly without blowing your cover.

Passing the Songstress Test

Before you can board the boat to the assembly, you need to pass a tuning test. Here’s how it plays out:

1. Speak with the Revelry Hall Manager
2. Songstress Bai Rong interrupts and decides to test your musical knowledge
3. Choose easy mode when prompted (she’ll tell you the correct tunes—thank you, Bai Rong)
4. Approach the drums and hit them in this exact order: Zhi, Yu, Gong, Jue, Shang

Get the sequence right, and you’re cleared to proceed. Mess it up, and… well, let’s just say easy mode exists for a reason.

Once the tuning is complete, interact with the nearby boat to finally reach the Hero Assembly. Time to do some detective work.

How to Gather All 7 Clues at the Hero Assembly in Where Winds Meet

After arriving at the Hero Assembly and sitting through another cutscene, you’re free to start collecting clues. There are seven clues total, spread across three floors. Each clue requires you to interact with specific NPCs, and many involve mini-games.

Let me break down each clue location so you don’t waste time wandering around.

Clue #1: Hua Jieyu (First Floor)

Location: Left side of the entrance, among the crowd

From the main entrance, head left and look for Hua Jieyu standing with other guests. You’ll need to challenge her to a game of Pitch Pot and win to obtain your first clue.

Pitch Pot isn’t too difficult—just aim carefully and take your time with each throw. If mini-games aren’t your strong suit, our Gift of Gab debate guide covers similar mechanics that might help.

Clue #2: Liu Rui (First Floor)

Location: Right side of the entrance, near the white board

Circle back to the entrance and head to the right side this time. You’ll spot Liu Rui standing near a white board with writing on it. Read the board first, then talk to Liu Rui to receive the second clue without any mini-game required.

Easy clue—just don’t skip reading the board or the dialogue might not trigger properly.

Clue #3: Ling Yuming (First Floor)

Location: Left section of the first floor

Proceed left again to find Ling Yuming. This time, you’ll need to compete in a Graceful Melodies match (basically a rhythm mini-game). Win the match to obtain the third clue.

If you’re having trouble with rhythm-based challenges, check out our Melodies of Peace oddities guide for similar mechanics.

Clue #4: Jia Wenqu (Second Floor)

Location: Crowded room on the second floor

Climb up to the second floor and head into the room packed with guests. Find Jia Wenqu and prepare for a Gift of Gab debate mini-game. This one tests your rhetorical skills—choose your responses carefully to win and deduce the fourth clue.

Gift of Gab can be tricky if you’re not familiar with the debate mechanics, so take your time reading each option.

Clue #5: Fu Rong (Second Floor)

Location: Near the stairs on the second floor

Still on the second floor, walk around near the stairway area until you spot Fu Rong talking with one of the sisters. This clue requires a different approach—you need to use Celestial Seize to steal the Gift Book without being noticed.

If you haven’t unlocked Celestial Seize yet, check our guide on how to get Celestial Seize before attempting this quest.

Clue #6: Wen Zixuan (Third Floor)

Location: Third floor main area

Head up to the third floor and find Wen Zixuan waiting for a dance partner. Accept her invitation and complete the dance sequence to receive the sixth clue.

The dance mini-game is mostly about following on-screen prompts—nothing too complicated, but stay focused.

Clue #7: Ren Jiayu (Third Floor)

Location: In front of Sister Qiang’s room on the third floor

Still on the third floor, approach Ren Jiayu who’s standing in front of Sister Qiang’s room. Simply talk to her to receive the seventh and final clue—no mini-game required for this one.

With all seven clues collected, you’d think you’re ready to solve the mystery, right? Well, not quite yet…

How to Investigate the Scene in Shadows in Bloom Quest

Just as you’re about to piece everything together, an accident interrupts your investigation. Time to put on your detective hat.

What to do:

1. Go to the scene marked by the quest indicator
2. Use the balcony to access a restricted area (sneaky!)
3. Gather additional evidence by investigating thoroughly
4. Examine all interactive points before moving to the next phase

This investigation segment adds context to the clues you’ve already collected. Don’t rush through it—some of the evidence here is crucial for understanding the full story.

How to Piece the Clues Together in Where Winds Meet

Now comes the puzzle-solving part. You need to combine specific clues to answer three questions about the Jiangnan Envoy. Here’s exactly which clues to combine for each question.

Question 1: What Does The Jiangnan Envoy Favor?

First Clue: Many guests in Jinling came to see the Shimmer
Second Clue: A rich guest purchased a guqin for a huge sum of money
New Clue: The Jinling Envoy loved the guqin

This one establishes what the envoy is interested in—musical instruments, specifically the guqin.

Question 2: Who Does The Jiangnan Envoy Admire?

First Clue: The Jinling Envoy loved the guqin
Second Clue: The notes were about her longing
New Clue: The Jinling Envoy also admired Ruolan

Now we’re connecting the dots between the envoy’s interests and a specific person.

Question 3: Where Did The Jiangnan Envoy Go?

First Clue: The Jinling Envoy also admired Ruolan
Second Clue: Ruolan played the guqin in Yunhua Tower
New Clue: The Jiangnan Envoy has gone to Nimbus Tower

Bingo—now you know exactly where to find the missing envoy.

The game doesn’t always make it obvious which clues to combine, so if you get stuck, just reference the combinations above. Once all three questions are answered, you’ll unlock the final quest segment.

How to Complete Shadows in Bloom Quest in Where Winds Meet

With the mystery solved, it’s time to head to Nimbus Tower and wrap things up.

Finding the Envoy at Nimbus Tower

Follow the quest marker to Nimbus Tower in Kaifeng. As you climb up, you’ll be ambushed by an enemy—looks like someone doesn’t want you finding the envoy.

Combat encounter: Defeat the ambusher using your best weapon combos. This isn’t a particularly tough fight, but stay alert.

After the battle, investigate the area to find the Yin-Inscribed Booklet. This item is key to understanding what’s really going on.

The Firework Finale

Following another cutscene where your character faints and wakes up (classic wuxia drama), you’ll have the opportunity to speak with Qin Ruolan. Accept her invitation to watch the fireworks together.

The firework show serves as the quest’s conclusion—a peaceful, beautiful moment after all that sneaking around and puzzle-solving. Enjoy the view, and congratulations on completing Shadows in Bloom!

Shadows in Bloom Quest Rewards

While the quest doesn’t explicitly list massive rewards, completing Shadows in Bloom provides:

• Experience points (useful for leveling up faster)
• Kaifeng exploration progress (helps unlock more content)
• Story advancement (unlocks follow-up quests and dialogue)
• A memorable narrative experience (the fireworks scene is genuinely nice)

The real value is in the storytelling and the relationships you build. If you enjoyed this quest’s investigation elements, you might also like the Her Legacy quest or the Gathering of Heroes quest.

Tips for Shadows in Bloom Quest Success

Here are some lessons learned from completing this quest:

• Master the mini-games early by practicing in daily activities
• Always choose easy mode on mini-games if you’re unfamiliar with them (no shame in that)
• Talk to every NPC on all three floors to make sure you don’t miss any clues
• Save before mini-games if you’re worried about failing
• Take screenshots of clues as you collect them for easy reference during the puzzle phase
• Don’t rush the investigation scene—examine everything for bonus context

If you need help with other Kaifeng quests, check out our Raw Leaf Porridge quest guide for another Kaifeng side mission.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Shadows in Bloom Quest

Shadows in Bloom is one of the more elaborate side quests in Where Winds Meet, blending stealth, mini-games, detective work, and narrative storytelling into one cohesive experience. The quest does an excellent job of making you feel like you’re genuinely part of the wuxia world—sneaking into exclusive gatherings, gathering intelligence, and solving mysteries.

The mini-game variety keeps things interesting, though if you struggle with rhythm or debate mechanics, it can feel a bit overwhelming. The good news is that most mini-games offer an easy mode, and none of them are impossible with a little practice.

The clue-combining puzzle is probably the trickiest part for most players, mainly because the game doesn’t clearly explain which clues go together. But once you know the correct combinations (which I’ve laid out above), it’s just a matter of selecting the right pairs.

Ready for more Kaifeng adventures? Check out our guides on how to get to Kaifeng, all free outfits and hairstyles, or tackle some dungeon content with our Coppergold Hollow guide.

Now available on PlayStation and PC—go enjoy those fireworks!

For more beginner-friendly tips, don’t miss our complete beginner’s guide and best starting weapons guide.