Where Winds Meet Laugh Encounter: Steps and Rewards
The best laugh encounter in Where Winds Meet is the hidden quest chain that begins with the NPC “Laughing Old Man” near the eastern gate of Bianjing City. You unlock it by reaching Reputation Level 3 with the local faction and then completing a simple emote interaction, which rewards you with a unique title, a rare costume piece, and a substantial amount of in-game currency and cultivation materials.
Background: What Is a Laugh Encounter?
In Where Winds Meet, “encounters” are spontaneous world events that trigger when you interact with specific NPCs or perform certain actions in the open world. Unlike standard side quests, encounters often require you to use emotes, dialogue choices, or environmental cues to progress. The Laugh Encounter is one of the more famous ones because it is hidden behind a seemingly trivial action—laughing at the right moment—and yet it yields rewards that rival those of major story quests.
The encounter is part of a series of “emotion-based” quests introduced in the game’s early patches. These quests are designed to encourage players to experiment with the game’s extensive emote system, which includes dozens of actions from clapping to crying. The Laugh Encounter specifically tests your ability to read NPC moods and respond appropriately.
How to Unlock the Laugh Encounter
To start the Laugh Encounter, you must first meet two prerequisites:
- Reach Character Level 20 or higher.
- Complete the main story chapter “The Drunken Master” which introduces you to the emote system.
Once these are done, travel to the eastern market district of Bianjing City (coordinates roughly 452, 318). Look for an NPC named “Laughing Old Man” who sits near a tea stall. He will not have a quest marker above his head—you must approach him and use the “/laugh” emote (default key: /laugh or select it from the emote wheel). If you do this, he will chuckle and initiate a dialogue, starting the quest “The Sound of Joy.”
Note that the encounter is repeatable only once per character. If you miss the trigger (e.g., you use the wrong emote), you can wait for the next in-game day (real-time 24 minutes) and try again.
Step-by-Step Walkthrough
Once the quest starts, follow these steps to complete the Laugh Encounter and claim all rewards:
- Talk to the Laughing Old Man and agree to help him spread laughter across the city.
- Travel to three marked locations: the noodle shop, the fortune teller’s stall, and the guard post. At each, use the “/laugh” emote within 10 meters of the NPC.
- Return to the Laughing Old Man. He will ask you to perform a “hearty laugh” (hold the emote for 3 seconds). Do this.
- Defeat a group of 5 “Gloomy Thugs” that spawn nearby (level 25). They are weak to blunt damage.
- Report back to the Laughing Old Man. He will reward you and reveal the final step: laugh at the city’s bell tower at sunset (in-game time).
- Wait for sunset (around 18:00 in-game time) and use “/laugh” at the bell tower. A chest will appear.
The entire quest takes about 20 minutes if you know the locations.
Rewards: What You Get
Completing the Laugh Encounter grants you the following rewards, which are considered some of the best for a hidden quest:
- Title: “Master of Mirth” – grants +20 to all resistance stats.
- Costume: “Laughing Robe” – a blue-and-gold outfit with a +5% movement speed bonus.
- Currency: 5,000 Copper Coins and 200 Gold Ingots.
- Materials: 10 Spirit Ore and 5 Jade Fragments (used for weapon upgrades).
- Consumable: “Jovial Tea” – restores 500 HP and 200 MP over 10 seconds.
Additionally, you unlock a permanent emote “Belly Laugh” which can be used in future encounters.
Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Many players fail the Laugh Encounter because of small oversights. Here are the most frequent issues:
- Wrong emote: Using “/chuckle” or “/giggle” does not trigger the quest. Only “/laugh” works.
- Too far away: You must be within 10 meters of the Laughing Old Man. If you are too far, he will ignore you.
- Wrong time of day: The bell tower step requires sunset. If you are there at noon, nothing happens. Check the in-game clock (top-right corner) and wait.
- Quest already done: The encounter is one-time per character. If you completed it on a previous character, you cannot do it again on the same account unless you create a new character.
If you use the wrong emote, simply wait for the next day and try again—the game resets the trigger.
Comparing with Other Hidden Encounters
The Laugh Encounter is often compared to the “Cry Encounter” and the “Anger Encounter.” Here is a quick breakdown:
- Laugh Encounter: Requires /laugh emote, rewards a costume and title. Difficulty: Easy.
- Cry Encounter: Requires /cry emote at a grave in the northern mountains, rewards a healing trinket. Difficulty: Medium (requires climbing).
- Anger Encounter: Requires /angry emote at a training dummy in the militia camp, rewards a weapon skin. Difficulty: Hard (requires defeating a level 30 boss).
Overall, the Laugh Encounter is considered the best because of its low difficulty and high reward value, especially for players who do not have much time to grind.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I do the Laugh Encounter more than once?
No, the quest is a one-time event per character. However, you can create a new character and do it again, but rewards are not shared across characters.
What if I miss the sunset window?
If you miss the sunset (which lasts about 5 in-game minutes), you will need to wait until the next in-game day. The quest will remain in your log, so you can try again.
Is there a level requirement for the Laugh Encounter?
Yes, you must be at least level 20. If you are lower, the NPC will not react to your emote. You can check your level in the character menu.
Do I need a specific faction reputation?
No, the Laugh Encounter does not require any faction reputation. It only requires the main story completion and level 20.
Can I use a controller to perform the emote?
Yes, the emote wheel is accessible on all platforms. On controller, press the emote button (usually the “down” arrow on the D-pad) and select “Laugh.”
What happens if I accidentally kill the Laughing Old Man?
The Laughing Old Man is a non-hostile NPC and cannot be attacked. If you somehow trigger combat, he will become invulnerable and the quest will reset after a few minutes.
Final Tips and Alternatives
If you are having trouble finding the Laughing Old Man, look for a small crowd of NPCs near the tea stall—he is the one with a white beard and a red ribbon on his hat. You can also ask other players in the world chat for the exact coordinates, as the game’s map does not show NPC names by default.
If you prefer a more combat-oriented hidden quest, try the “Anger Encounter” instead. It offers a unique weapon skin but requires defeating a level 30 elite. The Laugh Encounter remains the best choice for players who want a quick, low-risk way to earn rare cosmetics and resources.
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