Chapter 1

Dusty Mirror

main-story released investigation mystery

Summary

The mystery around Aunt Han's true identity deepens through a series of investigative beats in and around Blissful Retreat.

Characters

Aunt Han (Han Xiangxun)

Independent - formerly Jianghu underworld qinghe

Innkeeper of Blissful Retreat and adoptive mother of the protagonist. Her hidden jianghu identity is the legendary Water Lady - a master of face-altering surgery. Secretive, sharp-tempered, and pursued by the Aureate Pavilion after taking certain artifacts from them by force.
Young Master of Heaven's Pier

Independent qinghe

The player character - infant rescued by Uncle Jiang and raised by Aunt Han at Blissful Retreat. After Heaven's Pier falls, the Young Master becomes a wandering xiake whose true origin remains unknown.

Connections

Synopsis

A deliberately quiet quest - no obligatory combat, no boss. The brief: prepare to leave. Heaven's Pier is winding down. Aunt Han, the Young Master, and the regulars are arranging for everyone to depart the village the following morning, after one last evening - the First Jar Banquet.The protagonist finds Aunt Han at the lakeshore. She is supervising Uncle Zhou as he pours the Parting Tears wine into the lake - a rite of farewell. She is dumping her stocks. There is no plan to come back. Conversations across the village fill in why: something is closing in. The Aureate Pavilion's interest in Han has not gone away, and Killerblade's arrival has only confirmed it.The mystery the title gestures toward - the dust on the rhombus mirror - pays off in the protagonist's biggest single revelation of Chapter 1: Aunt Han is the Water Lady, a legendary jianghu figure renowned for the art of Face Changing. The innkeeper who scolded the player about wine glasses is, in fact, a master of disguise whose techniques once smuggled patriots across Khitan lines. The household everyone treated as bucolic was always a front.The quest closes with an appointment. Midnight at the Ruined Temple - the same temple where the protagonist fought beside Killerblade earlier - to share the last of Aunt Han's wine before everyone scatters.

Key Events

Begin preparations to depart Heaven's Pier.
Find Aunt Han at the lakeshore overseeing the Parting Tears ritual (wine poured into the lake).
First Jar Banquet announced for the evening.
Investigation beats around Blissful Retreat surface Aunt Han's Water Lady identity.
Face Changing arts revealed as her legacy skill.
Midnight rendezvous set at the Ruined Temple.
Quest closes - handoff into the Chapter 1 climax.

Outcomes & Revelations

Aunt Han = Han Xiangxun = the Water Lady (Face Changing master). Major identity reveal.
Heaven's Pier is being abandoned by its own community - read as anticipation of attack.
The "Water Lady" thread connects forward into the Jianghu Legacy track (Gone with the Wind / The Story of Blissful Retreat).
No new combat tools - this is a lore quest.

Notable Quotes

“Pour the Parting Tears into the lake. We're not coming back to Heaven's Pier.”
- Aunt Han
“One last jar for the First Jar Banquet — then everyone scatters.”
- Uncle Zhou
“Midnight at the Ruined Temple. Bring what courage you still have.”
- Aunt Han

Gameplay Notes

Effectively a walking-investigation quest with dialogue-only progression. The lore payoff is the entire point; expect 15-30 minutes. No fail-states, no combat. Useful breather between the Dalang fight and the upcoming Qianye climax. If players are under-leveled for the next quest, this is the natural window to grind nearby world content before crossing the line into For Whom Does He Return.