Where Winds Meet Bond Through Muck Walkthrough
This guide explains how to complete the “Bond Through Muck” quest in Where Winds Meet, including the exact location of the seedling temple and the steps to finish the quest. You will learn where to find the temple, how to solve its puzzle, and what rewards to expect.
Background: The Quest and Its Context
“Bond Through Muck” is a side quest in Where Winds Meet, an open-world martial arts RPG set in ancient China. The quest is part of the game’s exploration and world-building, often given by an NPC who asks you to retrieve a special seedling from a temple. The temple is located in a swampy area, which is why the quest name includes “muck.” Players typically encounter this quest in the mid-game, after unlocking the ability to travel across the map freely.
The quest is notable for its environmental puzzle: you must navigate through a series of mud pits and water channels to reach the temple’s inner sanctum. The seedling is guarded by a simple mechanism that requires you to light incense burners in a specific order. This quest is a good example of the game’s emphasis on exploration and puzzle-solving rather than combat.
Finding the Seedling Temple
The seedling temple is located in the southeastern part of the map, in a region called the “Misty Marshlands.” The exact coordinates are approximately (487, -215) on the world map. To find it, follow these steps:
- Fast travel to the nearest waypoint, which is the “Marshland Outpost” in the southeast.
- From the outpost, head east along the muddy path, keeping the water on your right.
- After about 200 meters, you will see a large ancient tree with a small shrine at its base. The temple entrance is hidden behind this tree, partially overgrown with vines.
- Interact with the tree to reveal the entrance. You may need to clear some vines by pressing the interaction key (default: F).
If you have trouble finding it, look for a series of wooden bridges that cross the marsh. The temple is directly north of the third bridge.
Solving the Temple Puzzle
Inside the temple, you will find a central chamber with a pedestal and three incense burners placed on the floor. The puzzle requires you to light the burners in a specific order, which is hinted at by a mural on the wall behind the pedestal. The mural shows three animals: a crane, a turtle, and a snake. The order is crane, turtle, snake, based on the traditional Chinese zodiac sequence.
To light the burners, stand near each one and press the interact key. If you light them in the wrong order, they will extinguish after a few seconds, and you must start over. Once all three are lit in the correct order, the pedestal will open, revealing the seedling.
Note that the burners are not labeled, so you must remember the order from the mural. A common mistake is to light them in the order you see them from the entrance, which is turtle, snake, crane. Always check the mural first.
Retrieving the Seedling and Completing the Quest
After the pedestal opens, interact with it to take the seedling. This will trigger a short cutscene where your character examines the seedling and comments on its unique properties. Then, you must return the seedling to the quest giver, who is usually located in the nearby village of “Qingxi.”
To return, fast travel to the Qingxi waypoint and find the NPC named “Old Farmer Chen.” He will be near the rice paddies on the east side of the village. Talk to him to complete the quest. You will receive experience points, some silver, and a unique item: the “Mud Lotus Seed,” which can be used as a crafting ingredient for a special tonic.
Common Problems and Troubleshooting
Players often encounter a few issues during this quest:
- Can’t find the temple: If you are at the coordinates and don’t see the tree, make sure you have completed the main story quest “The Marshland Mystery” that unlocks the area. If not, the tree will not appear.
- Burners won’t light: This happens if you are too far away. Stand directly next to the burner and wait for the interaction prompt to appear. Also, ensure you are not in combat mode.
- Pedestal doesn’t open: Double-check the order. The mural is easy to misread; the crane is on the left, turtle in the middle, snake on the right. The order is left to right.
- Quest marker missing: If the quest marker disappears, open your journal and track the quest again. Sometimes the marker resets after fast travel.
If you still have issues, try reloading the area by fast traveling away and back.
Rewards and Aftermath
Completing “Bond Through Muck” gives you a modest amount of experience (about 2,000 XP at level 30) and 150 silver. The Mud Lotus Seed is the main reward, and it is used in the alchemy recipe “Marshland Tonic,” which grants a temporary boost to poison resistance. You can also sell the seed for 50 silver, but it is better to keep it for crafting.
After completing the quest, the temple remains accessible, and you can return to collect the incense burners’ ashes, which are a crafting material for some talismans. However, the seedling will not respawn.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where exactly is the seedling temple in Where Winds Meet?
The temple is in the Misty Marshlands, southeast of the map, at approximately coordinates (487, -215). Look for a large ancient tree behind the third wooden bridge.
What is the correct order for the incense burners?
The order is crane, turtle, snake, as shown on the mural. Light the left burner first, then the middle, then the right.
Why won’t the pedestal open even though I lit the burners?
Make sure you lit them in the correct order and that they are all still lit when you interact with the pedestal. If one goes out, you must relight it in the correct sequence.
Can I do this quest after finishing the main story?
Yes, the quest is available at any time after you unlock the Misty Marshlands area. It is not tied to the main story’s completion.
What do I do with the Mud Lotus Seed?
You can use it in alchemy to craft the Marshland Tonic, which gives poison resistance. Alternatively, you can sell it for 50 silver.
Is there a time limit for the puzzle?
No, there is no time limit. The burners stay lit indefinitely once you light them correctly, so you can take your time.
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