To begin your journey, head north of Buddha Fort inside the Qinghe region. Beyond the forest and near the cliffside, you should see a solitary Scholar seated with a giant bell beside him. It would be easy to miss him alone in the area, but he’s the correct person to begin with.
Talk to him to begin the quest. At first, he will be skittish and give little information. You will need to wait for a full day in-game time for him to be more forthcoming. Use the clock mechanics to accelerate time, and then return and talk to him.
He introduces you to the Heavenly Silk Garment, starting the investigation. The new goal is to go to a neighbouring house in which a Seamstress lives.
Meets Little Needle
Inside the house, you will not meet the Seamstress but her apprentice, Little Needle. She seems reluctant to assist you, but will if you can provide her with some pigments.
Inside the house, obtain the blue, red, and black paints from the table, as well as the brazier. Deliver the items to Little Needle to gain her cooperation.
With this accomplished, go back to the Scholar. Upon arrival, you will encounter an unpleasant event in progress. While in proximity to the location indicated for eavesdropping, go there once the event concludes.
The Scholar is dead.
On the ground, you’ll discover the Mysterious Handkerchief, the first clue in the adventure. Now, based on what the Scholar said earlier, the next clue leads to Monk Tranquillus. From this point onwards, wherever you lead your adventure, Little Needle will be right behind you.
Meet Monk Tranquillus
Monk Tranquillus can be located slightly south of Buddha Fort. When you get there, he will already be conversing with Little Needle. To start a sparring match, talk to him.
After beating him the first time, he still keeps his guard up, and a second sparring match ensues. Beat him to receive some answers. He says that the Silkworm Lady who made the Celestial Silk Garment was already deceased.
This is an issue that raises an even more disquieting question: “Who killed the
Search the sparring doo around, and you’ll find another handkerchief, this one bearing a different but equally sinister pattern, this one made by someone else.
Setting the Trap
Talk to Little Needle again, then use a fire arrow to knock away the thorns blocking a cave entrance to create a hiding place to lure out the attacker.
Wait in place, and soon enough, an enigmatic woman emerges. Trace this woman to learn the secrets behind Scholar’s death, which is actually only part of a setup.
Return to Monk Tranquillus, or what is left of him, and you will learn that there were two attackers, a woman and a man. Having learned this new information, talk to Little Needle again. It is time to go hunting for the next target.
Preparations for the Final Examination
Make sure that Celestial Seize is activated on your Mystic Arts hotbar before proceeding. You’ll want it for the next step.
Head south in Qinghe, near where this entire thing began. Talk to Little Needle and then go on up to the Mysterious Pavilion Owner. Let him tell you his tale, but don’t believe him.
Little Needle, and move on alone, quietly investigating the area. This marks the start of the quest turning into authentic Wuxia detective work.
Revealing the Plot of the Pavilion’s Owner
Keep your distance and follow the Pavilion Owner. Once he is finished talking about the letter, use the skill “Celestial Seize” to grab the letter stealthily.
Then, explore the surrounding environment. Hit the ground near the old ruins with Mighty Drop (Jump + Q) to discover a secret basement filled with explosives.
Behind the Silkworm Lady’s grave, you will discover yet another secret trap. Near the bamboo grove area, be near the wall where you can secretly listen to two men planning to lie in wait.
There’s only one conclusion to be drawn—and that’s that the Pavilion Owner set a lethal trap that was to be sprung on the unsus
The Truth Revealed
Rushing back to warn Little Needle, however, he finds that it’s already too late. She’s been dosed with sleeping gas, and soon the Young Wanderer follows.
Following the cut scene, press “Q” or “Spacebar” to shout a warning. Masked assailants appear and slay the Pavilion Owner and Aureate thugs, who had planned to kill you and kidnap Little Needle.
These attackers show their identities as former servants of the Silkworm Lady. The Pavilion Owner used these people as test subjects for the Celestial Silk Garment, making them blind to test the defensive power of the garment. These people are referred to as the “Fitting Kids” and suffered for their ambition for years.
Their revenge is now complete; they exit silently.
Talk to Little Needle one last time and think about what has occurred. The truth is finally revealed, and the cost is high.
With that conversation over, the end of the series “Woven With Malice” has been reached.
