Part 1: Prologue & Rain-Drenched Village

Step 1: Awakening in the Physician's Hut & Combat Basics

Soul awakens inside the ruined medical hut. The mystical surgeon Sui hands you the Dual Dragon Blades. Follow the on-screen prompts to execute the 3-hit light slash chain followed by a heavy roundhouse finisher.

MISSABLESui's Medical Journal #1: Before leaving the hut through the splintered bamboo door, turn directly around and inspect the bedside apothecary chest to grab Sui's Medical Journal #1 (Lore Collectible 1/15). Missing this prevents unlocking the Archivist Trophy in this playthrough.

Step 2: Clearing the Flooded Courtyard & Watermill Puzzle #1

Grapple across the collapsed bridge to enter the flooded lower bazaar. Three Order Spearmen patrol the murky water. Press Crouch to stalk behind the center guard for a lethal Shadow Execution, then instantly tap lock-on and parry the incoming side-thrust.

Watermill Mechanism Puzzle #1: To drain the lower bazaar and unseal the village gate, interact with the rusted watermill gear panel. Strike the Top Lever once, the Bottom Gear twice, and finally shoot the wooden counterweight rope with your grapple hook. This lowers the iron gate and reveals a chest containing Heart Shard #1 (+5% Max HP).

Step 3: Rooftop Infiltration & First Shrine of Shadows

Ascend the eastern pagoda staircase. Two crossbow snipers stand on opposite eaves. Use the grapple hook on the overhead wooden beam to launch into an aerial drop-assassination, wiping out the left sniper, then deflect the right sniper's bolt right back into his chest.

Rest at the Shrine of Shadows ahead. Spend your accumulated 1,500 Jing to unlock Phantom Step Lv1 immediately in the Agility Tree.

Step 4: Boss Encounter — Tie Dan (Iron Scythe)

Pass through the burning torii gate into the muddy village square to trigger the duel against Tie Dan, a ferocious Order executioner wielding twin chain scythes.

TACTICS WARNING: Click to Reveal Detailed Boss Tactics & Weaknesses

Boss Profile: High mobility mid-range berserker swinging heavy chained scythes.

• Phase 1 (100% – 60% HP): Tie Dan opens with a running overhead double-scythe slam. Wait until his scythes reach apex height, tap parry to deflect, and counter with a 4-hit Dual Blade flurry. When he spins his scythe in a circle, sidestep left to avoid the chain whip.
• Red Flash Warning (Unblockable): When Tie Dan's eyes glow crimson, he prepares his lunging chain grab. Do NOT block. Double-tap dodge directly forward to use your newly learned Phantom Step to phase behind him and punish with heavy combo strings.
• Phase 2 (60% – 0% HP): Tie Dan ignites his scythes with black powder. His whirlwind swings generate fire arcs. Keep medium distance, bait his flying overhead slam, deflect the landing, and execute your Sha-Chi Phantom Finisher when his posture bar turns white.

MAJOR STORY SPOILER: Click to Reveal Plot & Narrative Details

Upon Tie Dan's defeat, the executioner chuckles through spitting blood, confessing that the patriarch's assassination was an internal coup coordinated by Commander Cleaver and The Order's inner council. He reveals Soul's 66-day heart timer is accelerating, pointing you toward the Mangrove Swamp where an alchemical core stabilizer is hidden.