Embarking on the ‘Cries in the Distance’ quest in Where Winds Meet is no small feat, especially when you’re faced with the infamous yin-yang puzzle—a brain-teaser that has left many players scratching their heads. But here’s where it gets controversial: while some players find this puzzle a masterpiece of design, others call it unnecessarily cryptic. Love it or hate it, solving it is key to unlocking the quest’s secrets. So, let’s dive in and unravel this enigma step by step, with a few surprises along the way.
The Quest Begins: A Call for Help in Moonveil Mountain
To start the ‘Cries in the Distance’ quest, head to the southwestern part of Qinghe and make your way up Moonveil Mountain. As you near the summit, you’ll hear a desperate cry for help. And this is the part most people miss: instead of entering the temple at the top, follow the voice to a small cave on a lower ledge of the southwest slope. This detour is crucial, as it sets the stage for the puzzle ahead.
Inside the cave, drop through the hatch to find yourself in a chamber adorned with a yin-yang symbol and surrounded by small statues. For now, ignore the puzzle and focus on the doorway blocked by branches. Use a burning arrow to clear the obstacle, then step on the round pressure plate behind it to free Feng Jisheng, a young man who will become your reluctant guide. Return to the yin-yang symbol to speak with him.
The Yin-Yang Puzzle: A Riddle Wrapped in Mystery
To progress, step on the pressure plate opposite Feng Jisheng to activate the ‘eight trigrams formation.’ Your next challenge is to ‘unravel the Tai Chi mysteries’ by solving the yin-yang puzzle. Here’s where opinions divide: some players find Feng Jisheng’s clues helpful, while others deem them more confusing than clarifying. Let’s break it down in a way that even beginners can follow.
Feng Jisheng offers these cryptic hints:
1. Statues in the heaven and earth spots can turn freely without affecting each other.
2. Statues in the water and fire spots must move in reverse if one turns.
3. Heaven and earth must face each other.
4. Water and fire must be connected.
Step-by-Step Solution:
1. Identify the Statues: Turn the statue next to Feng Jisheng. If the opposite statue moves, they’re water and fire. The remaining two, which move independently, are heaven and earth.
2. Fix Water and Fire: Turn the central yin-yang dial once to disconnect the water and fire statues from the small circles on the ground. Turn both statues until their dragon heads face away from the yin-yang symbol.
3. Align Heaven and Earth: Turn the yin-yang dial once, then turn the heaven and earth statues until their dragon heads face inward.
4. Connect Water and Fire: Turn the yin-yang dial one final time to connect the water and fire statues with steam. This completes the puzzle.
Beyond the Puzzle: A Bear Fight with a Twist
Once the puzzle is solved, the yin-yang dial disappears. Drop into the lower room, interact with the five marked objects, and follow Feng Jisheng into the next chamber. Here, you’ll face a bear—but this isn’t your typical battle. Here’s the twist: you must use the tai chi mystic ability (unlocked earlier in the main quest) to pick up the bear and throw it into piles of stone. Repeat this three times to defeat the bear and uncover hidden treasure chests.
Positioning is Key: Stand in front of a stone wall, wait for the bear to attack, evade, move behind it, and use the tai chi ability. Throwing the bear from the opposite end of the arena won’t work—trust me, I’ve tried.
Rewards and Reflections
After defeating the bear, collect the three treasure chests and speak to Feng Jisheng to complete the quest. Your rewards include Medicinal Tales, a ‘Letter to Brother’ quest item, a ‘Strange Stone Ring’ quest item, 14 pieces of ebon iron, one oscillating jade, and various materials and money.
Food for Thought: Did you find the yin-yang puzzle brilliantly designed or unnecessarily frustrating? And what did you think of the bear fight mechanic? Let’s debate in the comments—I’m curious to hear your take!
