The major January update expands the universe of Where Winds Meet with new regions, events, and gameplay systems—taking players deep into the shadows of the city of Kaifeng.
With Update 1.2, the development team behind Where Winds Meet responds to calls for deeper storytelling, more PvP content, and better onboarding for new players—while also inviting a sharply ironic look at deception, loyalty, and heroism in the digital Jianghu.
Underground Black Market Opens as a New Area
Starting January 23, the new area “Nine Mortal Ways Base” opens its doors in Where Winds Meet. This underground black market hides beneath the bustling surface of the city. Players who have completed the main mission “Another New Wing” and reached level 5 can not only expose elaborate scam schemes, but also earn rewards such as the “Iron Rice Bowl” headgear or the title “Notorious Rodent.”
In smaller encounters like “Honest Shovel” and “Crazy Stones,” the Kaifeng Prefecture explicitly warns players about current scam tactics. A week earlier, on January 16, the solo area “Mistveil Prison” also becomes available, accessible via a new character in the Mistveil region. Story details remain deliberately vague—except for one thing: a mysterious guide leads players into a brand-new single-player experience.
Kaifeng Finale Brings Major Rewards
The final chapter of the Kaifeng campaign, “Gambit Beneath the Shimmer,” brings the storyline to a close. Players who have completed the previous main and legacy chapters and reached an exploration score of 6,000 can unlock the follow-up campaign “Supreme Freedom.” Rewards include exclusive decorations like “Into the Dream” and “Spring Seeking,” as well as the accessory “A Zephyr’s Answer.”
For the first time, the game introduces a structured guild competition with region-specific battlefields. The preseason begins after the update on January 9 and is divided into preparation and competition phases. Every Saturday and Sunday, guilds battle across three regional time slots for points, leaderboard rankings, and rewards such as “Wonder Jade” and “Treasure Tokens.”
New Quests and Storylines
New encounters like “Bellman’s Oath” and “Voices in the Air” highlight the mystical side of the game world—including the restoration of a powerful bell. Two new side storylines, “The Gilded Chase” and “Whispers Beneath the Moon,” add extra narrative content with rewards such as the title “Little Matchmaker” and the item “Cool Breeze Fan.”
The new live event “First Jianghu Martial Games” runs through early February and focuses on lighthearted challenges like “carrying grandma” or “building human pyramids.” Rewards for successful participants include the hat design “Hide & Seek” and the decoration “Moonrise Over the River.”
At the same time, the game introduces a mentor system: players below level 60 can team up as “Fledglings” with experienced “Guide Swallows,” granting benefits to both sides. Returning players also gain advantages from this system.
New Outfits and Cosmetic Content
On the technical side, the game receives extensive optimizations. Photo mode now supports multiple light sources, nighttime shots, and 4K resolution. Controller controls have also been reworked, adding touchpad support, voice input, and a global cursor. A new feature additionally allows players to restore accidentally recycled gear for up to seven days.
Visually, the update adds a wide range of new skins. Highlights include the Battle Pass outfit “Inkstone Reverie,” the mount “Pursuing Leopard,” and the martial weapon “Bamboo Spear.” Additional content such as “Serpent’s Spine,” “Moon Gazer,” and “Woven Sunlight” will roll out throughout January.
You can find the full patch notes on the developers’ official website.
