Where Winds Meet Yingyuan Lore and Xiujin Lou Origin Guide

To uncover the origins of the Xiujin Lou faction in Where Winds Meet, descend through the subterranean chasm of Yingyuan and inspect five key environmental relics left behind by Emperor Li Zuo and his loyalist protector, Liu Qingyi. Rather than following standard quest waypoints, reconstructing this storyline requires examining remnants and archival markers across three descending layers of ruins.

Yingyuan Clue Sequence and Exploration Route

Follow this five-step route from the upper cavern down to the bottom sump to piece together the events in chronological order:

1. The Deserter’s Stele (Upper Cavern): Examine the weathered stone marker standing near the broken suspension bridge. This inscription records the refusal of imperial guards to advance deeper into the toxic subterranean chambers.
2. The Crucible Remains (Central Laboratory): Inspect the fractured bronze furnace on the middle tier. Interacting with this relic reveals a memory fragment depicting the failed preparation of longevity elixirs.
3. Liu Qingyi’s Silk Scrap (Living Quarters): Pick up the faded green embroidered fabric located behind the stone dressing table in the makeshift infirmary. The accompanying log details Liu Qingyi’s growing doubts concerning court alchemists.
4. The Imperial Sarcophagus (Sealed Vault): Complete the floor pressure-plate puzzle to unlock the hidden burial chamber. Read the imperial edict within to learn Li Zuo's final realizations and physical collapse.
5. The Altar of Rebirth (Lowest Sump): Inspect the ceremonial stone platform at the bottom of the chasm. This final relic records how the surviving retainers regrouped following the emperor's demise.

Li Zuo's Fall and Liu Qingyi's Sacrifice

Yingyuan served as the final refuge for Emperor Li Zuo—historically remembered as Emperor Ai of Tang—following his forced abdication by the warlord Zhu Wen during the collapse of the Tang dynasty. Desperate to escape assassination and preserve the royal lineage, Li Zuo turned to rogue alchemists promising Changsheng (immortality).

Archival texts found on the altars document the disastrous physical toll of the longevity concoctions:

• Physical degeneration: Severe photosensitivity and blackened veins that permanently disfigured the emperor.
• Psychological breakdown: Intense isolation and mental instability, turning his intended preservation into subterranean imprisonment.
• Court fracture: Factional fighting that broke out among the royal survivors as the rites continued to fail.

Throughout this decline, Liu Qingyi remained the emperor's primary caretaker and guardian. To maintain order and defend the imperial archives against hostile courtiers, her logs confirm that she underwent ritual procedures herself to secure the necessary martial power, permanently surrendering her identity to safeguard the remaining court secrets.

The Underground Origins of Xiujin Lou

Xiujin Lou did not originate as the prestigious intelligence network and entertainment pavilion known in the surface world. Instead, it formed as an underground pact among the retainers who survived the Yingyuan disaster under Liu Qingyi's leadership.

The gilded embroidery that defines Xiujin Lou attire originated as a practical disguise. Heavy gold threading was applied over garments and veils to conceal the corrosive skin lesions caused by toxic alchemical vapors in the chasm. Over generations, this practical concealment transformed into the faction's signature uniform of luxury and clandestine influence.