Allure of Vanity starts when you pick up any petal of the Yan’er flower at Meigu Lake. Collect all 6 and go back to the island at the Meigu Songhouse Dock, where Yan Qiansui, the Zither Maiden appears. Beating her completes the quest and you receive the Illusory Pipa Strings. It is purple: it fails if you cross into the Mirage Estate without closing it.
Where does Allure of Vanity start?
At Meigu Lake, as soon as you have the Sha-Chi Powered Boat. There is no NPC: the quest triggers when you pick up the first petal of the Yan’er flower, and then the rest appear on the map. The reference bell is Meigu Songhouse Dock.
Step by step
Book and petal titles are translated from the Spanish version of the game; the in-game English wording may differ.
- Pick up a Yan’er petalThe easiest one is as you leave the Pangzhen Docks by boat, in open water among blue flowers (“Allure of Vanity” petal).
- Collect the other five“Lineage”, on a rocky shore with sunken boats; “To the Lake”, near the Meigu Songhouse Dock; “Yan Qiansui”, in the water next to the Songhouse’s low shore; “An Offering”, northeast of that dock; and “Everything Has Changed”, next to the big sunken ship.
- Go back to the Meigu Songhouse DockWith the six petals, Yan Qiansui appears on the dock’s island, a few meters from the bell. Save manually before you approach.
- Defeat Yan QiansuiSend her blue projectiles back to bring down her barrier; if the zither glows blue, block, and if it glows red, dodge. Full strategy in You Loong, Yan Qiansui and the One-Eyed Archer.
- Take the Strings to MystIt is no longer part of this quest, but the Strings are the piece you are missing for the Illusory Pipa.
Rewards
| Reward | Where it comes from | What it is for |
|---|---|---|
| Illusory Pipa Strings | Yan Qiansui | Piece of the Illusory Pipa, which opens the Mountain of Imprisonment |
| Fanatic’s Fragment: Attachment | Yan Qiansui (according to KeenGamer) | Accessory |
| +10% maximum health | Complete Yan’er flower (6 petals) | Permanent upgrade |
| Progress toward the Master of the Misty Waters trophy | Yan Qiansui | Together with the frenzied You Loong and the One-Eyed Archer |
It fails if you cross from the Green Serpent House into the Mirage Estate without defeating Yan Qiansui. Also, without the Strings there is no Illusory Pipa, and without the Pipa you cannot close Pillars of Kunlun, Whence the Weeping or The Herald’s Illusion either: it is the purple quest the others depend on most.
Why is it not progressing?
- I cannot see the petals on the map: they only appear after you pick up the first one.
- I have five and cannot find the last one: compare them with the list above; the sunken ship is the clearest landmark in open water.
- Yan Qiansui does not appear: check that you have the six petals and that you are on the Meigu Songhouse Dock island, not at another dock.
Frequently asked questions
Where are Yan’er’s petals?
Spread around Meigu Lake, most of them around the Meigu Songhouse Dock and the big sunken ship. You have the full table in the Memory Flowers.
Where does Yan Qiansui appear?
On the Meigu Songhouse Dock island, once you have the six petals.
Is it required for the Illusory Pipa?
Yes: Yan Qiansui gives the Strings, one of the three pieces Myst needs to repair it.
Does it count for the true ending?
Yes. It is one of the purple quests.
