Picture this: trading blows with an old master on a river raft at dawn, crossing paths with a stilt performer by afternoon, and having a feathered shuttlecock pull you into another fierce duel before the street show even ends. Alongside these duels with Qingzhou's extraordinary folk artists, Wanderers can wield waist drums and folding fans, unleashing dynamic combos right in step with the beat.

Every new gameplay feature in Qingzhou springs from authentic local folklore: traditional folk arts become boss mechanics, while dance and melody weave directly into martial arts. Hidden across mountains and seas, these masters and their crafts bring a richer, more vivid Wuxia spirit to this maritime sanctuary.

 

New World Bosses: Old Raftsman, Tidewatcher, and Shuttlecock Champion

Qingzhou is home to eccentric masters straight out of classic martial arts cinema: unassuming at first glance, but formidable fighters with unique signature arts. First in line is the Old Raftsman.

A bamboo staff, a straw hat, and a coir raincoat make him look like just another elderly ferryman on the river. When battle begins, both you and the master leap onto drifting rafts, dueling across surging rapids. At one point, the regular combat camera shifts into a side-scrolling action perspective: rafts drifting beneath your feet as you trade blows across the water, capturing the charm of classic kung fu flicks and old-school side-scrolling beat 'em ups.

His staff technique draws directly from the river. Feints ripple like gentle currents, while true strikes land swift and heavy. In the heat of battle, he might even take a swig of wine, switching freely into an unrestrained drunken staff style.

Head down to the coast, and you will encounter the Tidewatcher.

His design draws from traditional folk performances: a tall hat, a tasselled spear, a shoulder puppet, and towering wooden stilts. Facing him feels like stepping into a grand street performance spiraling out of control. With festive tunes blending into crashing tides, the Tidewatcher moves swiftly on high stilts, unleashing relentless spear thrusts. His spins and dance-like footwork make his attack trajectories far harder to read than those of ordinary humanoid bosses. In the second phase, the crashing ocean joins the fight: as colossal waves surge from behind, you must use Lightness Skills to leap over cresting waters while keeping pressure on his spear and stilts.

The third boss, the Shuttlecock Champion, transforms another time-honored Chinese folk game into a dynamic duel.

Shuttlecock kicking is a beloved traditional sport where players keep a feathered shuttlecock airborne using feet and legs, often passing it in circles and performing flashy tricks. Usually a lighthearted pastime, in the hands of the Shuttlecock Champion, it becomes something else entirely.

Before the duel starts, a crimson-feathered shuttlecock flies back and forth across the arena; intercepting it marks your formal entry into the match. But her prowess goes far beyond kicking tricks. Wielding no weapons, she relies primarily on close-quarters striking, relentless kick combinations, and oppressive takedowns. Fast, tight, and unrelenting, the pressure test begins the moment she closes in.

 

New Path [Silkbind - Wings]: Turning Dance Steps into Combat Moves

Having witnessed Qingzhou's folk masters in action, Wanderers will have a completely new martial art style to master.

Unlike drunken boxing styles, the new Path [Silkbind - Wings] moves away from brute force, favoring fluid, dance-like grace. Within this path, the Waist Drum art draws inspiration from traditional Han and Tang dynasty sleeve dances. As your character twirls and sweeps their arms, long silk ribbons unfurl with each movement, whipping, binding, and controlling enemies mid-motion. Every strike flows naturally as part of an elegant dance.

Where there is a drum, rhythm follows. Certain Waist Drum moves incorporate drumbeat timing with forgiving input windows, requiring Wanderers to strike their waist drums to the tempo of the music. We have designed three distinct drumbeat rhythms, focusing on offense, crowd control, and team support respectively.

Paired with the silk ribbon, the fan martial art [Willowbend Fan] emphasizes sharpness and resilience within graceful motions. Channeling the wind, the folding fan controls enemy spacing and smoothly chains into follow-up attacks.

The flowing silk ribbons, dynamic drumbeats, and breezy folding fan come together so that [Silkbind - Wings] delivers both the elegance of music and dance, alongside the sharp precision of martial combat.

 

Inkbound Order: Going to College in the Jianghu

When you need a breather after thrilling battles, Qingzhou offers a completely different rhythm of life: studying at the Inkbound Order.

Academies of the Inkbound Order are scattered across Qingzhou, leaving their mark throughout the region. The main island hosts the central campus and the Pavilion of Tomes, Wellspring Town features the Primary Academy, Crownleek Village runs the ecological agriculture branch, and even the athletic grounds have their own dedicated department.

Getting admitted starts with an exam. Wanderers must first obtain an entry permit from Master Goose before sitting for the Primary exam. Once enrolled, you will attend lectures, take on sect tasks, and gradually unlock classrooms, dorms, and the dining hall. Attending classes, taking tests, living in dorms: it really is like going to college in a Wuxia world.

Already pledged to another sect? No problem. Embracing the philosophy of education for all, the Inkbound Order introduces our first Dual-Sect feature: keep your current sect and study here as a Visiting Disciple, essentially picking up a second major.

Even combat follows campus rules here. Inkbound Order disciples believe every fight must have just cause, requiring you to state your reasons before throwing hands. Win the duel, and you can leave a random calligraphic masterpiece right on your opponent's face. If someone runs around acupoint-striking others and causing trouble, you can even pull out a wooden discipline paddle to set things straight.

Since even fighting requires reasoned debate, words naturally have their own gameplay here. Lecturing and debating have always been part of classical scholarly tradition. The all-new Gift of Gab gameplay revolves around structured debates: rhetorical arguments turn into cards, sending written characters flying toward your opponent as you play and counter at the right moments. Next time disagreements arise, hold your blade and reason it out first.

 

On October 15, we welcome all Wanderers to Qingzhou to attend classes, duel masters, and master new martial arts.

By the end of the month, the story chapter [Mount Tai Blizzard] will bring a closed-circle mystery experience. An old tragedy where none survived, rumors of the realm's greatest villain, and whispers of an avenger returning from the underworld will all resurface once heavy snow seals the mountain. What truth will piece together from scattered clues? Step into the blizzard and uncover it for yourself.