After a meeting with no less than three of the bigwigs of Villain Valley - not to mention getting beaten by one of them - Yi wakes up in Mingjian Manor, apparently no worse off for the attack. Your first goal is to speak to a few people...
... but first, have a quick look on your right. East of the Guest Room where you start is a small clearing with seemingly nothing in it. There's a big rock a little ways to the south that's blocking the view of the clearing, and if you look behind the rock you'll find a hidden chest. It contains an Intact Coin, Jinchuang Ointment, and a Jadeite Guanyin.
As you head south and east through the estate grounds you'll run into several familiar faces, as well as a cut scene. From here the grounds branch out, and if you head to the south you'll find the manor's front gate. Here you can speak to the Boatman and return to Gusu City, if you wish. You can also roam the grounds and speak to the many NPCs...
... though the only three you must address are Mowen, Moqi, and Yuanming, who are standing together in the manor's central area. Once you've chatted with all three the Sword Appreciation Assembly will begin. You'll need to fight three enemies, one-by-one:
- Crimson Condor, who fights with his fists. Crimson Condor can hit at a bit of a range, and his attacks inflict Bleeding, so don't take him lightly.
- Jue Wuxin, who wields a polearm. Wuxin hits relatively hard, but his weapon is better suited for hitting multiple foes, so he's not as difficult to defeat as you might think.
- Fang Kuohai, who wields a saber. Kuohai is likely way too strong for Yi, so don't expect to win this battle. His AOE attacks are a bit overwhelming. The fight will end automatically after a few rounds.
The assembly ends for the evening after the battle with Kuohai. Mowen will give you Jinchuang Ointment before retiring for the night. If you speak to the nearby NPCs they'll suggest visiting the garden, which is located to the east of the central sparring area. You'll hit a cut scene when you enter the garden, and by the end of it Yi's Five Immortals' Mental Sutra will receive a bit of a boost, allowing you to pump more Martial Points into the move and make it more powerful.
Check the north side of the garden for a chest containing Jinchuang Ointment and a Note of Calligraphy Highlights, then follow the path east through the garden. It will lead you to a chest containing Longyou Plum and Martial Arts Thoughts, as well as a northbound trail. Follow the trail to finally meet the woman who appears on the title screen. After a bit of conversation Ouyang Xue will join the party, and you'll have to lead her on an expedition to Gusu City. Head to the pier in the south of the manor.
Gusu Lantern Festival
Xue will give you 20,000 coins upon arriving in Gusu City, where the Lantern Festival is taking place. There are several quick side quests for you to do while you're in the city.
- First is the Lantern Vendor near the bridge where you start. He has riddles to complete, and you can take a stab at them for 800 coins per try. Your Affinity with Xue will rise for completing the riddles. You can also find a chest containing the High-Grade Yangelixir Spagirism and a Heartfire Pill in a chest behind the Lantern Vendor's stall. The answers to the quiz are as follows:
- Light
- Snowflake
- Stars
- Candle
- Next is Mr. Xiao, on the south end of the stands. He'll serve you 'Solar Term Wontons' for 800 coins. Inspect the plate on the right side of the nearby table after paying. If you choose to Console Mr. Xiao he'll give you Xiao's Cookbook, as well as some Solar Term Wontons.
- East of Mr. Xiao is Flying Fish, who 'challenges' you to take on her or her two siblings. You can choose one of the three:
- Gluttonous Tiger - An eating contest. Eat three pots twice. He'll outeat you, and you'll receive Braised Dongpo Pork. (If you try to overdo it you'll permanently lose 5 HP.)
- Iron Ape - A test of durability. If you admit defeat you'll receive Cuprite Ingots. (If you try it out Yi will permanently lose 5 HP, so... don' t try.)
- Flying Fish - A Sparring contest. Beat her to receive a Four-Time Refined Spirit Pill and Master's Notes.
- In the southeast of the festival is a Storyteller. You can give him 1,000 coins to hear a story. There are four stories, and you can listen to any of them. (Which you choose doesn't seem to matter, aside from the story-related tidbits that may or may not be true.)
- Next to the stairs leading up to the festival's dancers is a Poor Scholar. You can pay 1,000 coins so he can watch the dancers. He'll give you the Nether Claws Advanced Blueprint.
- An explosive AOE attack that Ignites Yi and can inflict Grievous Wound... yeah, he pretty much just uses this over and over
- A ranged dart that can inflict Bleeding
- A line attack that can inflict Incapacitate and Bleeding
- Divine Blood Claw, an AOE attack that can inflict Bleeding, Frost, and Grievous Wound
- A polearm strike that applies buffs to Hou Jou
- An AOE attack
- Repelling Staff Technique, which prevents Yi from using any moves besides Lightness
- A normal fist strike
- A slamming attack that knocks Yi back several spaces, giving Kong an aura that renders him immune to all attacks
- Prana Vajrapani Palms, a single-target slap
- A fiery whirling attack
- Saha Hell, a multidirectional line attack
- If you look in the southeast of the estate grounds you'll trigger a cut scene with Frosty Condor. This little scene will earn you the Soul-Piercing Nails manual, as well as Martial Arts Perceptions.
- Check to the northwest and you'll see Hou Jiu standing with a man named Lu Yuanxing. You'll also notice that you can recruit Yuanxing... though not yet. Feel free to give him some Gifts to get started, however.
- Mowen (no surprise there), who is standing down and to the left of Tai'e Hall's front door - agree with him to raise Affinity
- Ouyang Xue, who is in her own hall, to the east of Tai'e Hall - she'll give you the Sky Feather Swordplay manual
- Yao Ji, who is in the eastern garden - call her by her name to raise Affinity