Many players struggle to unlock Zhao Feiyan because the game never explains her conditions clearly.
If you need her for Inner Ways pages, it’s normal to get stuck after clearing the fog in Kaifeng.
Make sure your game progression has fully unlocked the Kaifeng region. Clear the main story for the Kaifeng segment (fog cleared is good, but ensure side story unlocks too). Often the merchant NPCs only appear after you complete the introductory story quests in that region.
Quick Fix
Zhao Feiyan usually appears only after you progress Kaifeng’s local quests and activate the city’s merchant district triggers. Check story, exploration, and nearby NPC tasks.
Step 1: Progress Kaifeng’s Main City Introduction
You need this step because Zhao Feiyan only spawns once Kaifeng’s “arrival” sequence is fully completed.
Many players think clearing the fog is enough, but the merchant system unlocks later.
Instructions:
- Finish the quest chain leading into Kaifeng: “New Arrival in Kaifeng” / “New Guest in Kaifeng.”
- Visit the government plaza to trigger the city introduction dialogue.
- Walk through the main street until a cutscene or prompt appears.
- Re-enter the market district after completing the introduction.
Testing Step:
Return to Kaifeng’s merchant district and check if new stalls/NPCs have appeared.
Root Cause:
Zhao Feiyan doesn’t activate until Kaifeng’s region state shifts from “fog cleared” to “city initialized.”
Step 2: Unlock Merchant District Side Activities
The Zhao Feiyan merchant node connects to marketplace activation events.
Without completing these side triggers, some merchants never appear.
Instructions:
- Explore Kaifeng’s main bazaar and interact with shopkeepers.
- Complete any small errands or vendor tasks that appear nearby.
- Check the crafting or tailoring merchants—activating them helps sync the district.
- Leave the area and return after completing a few tasks.
Testing Step:
If the marketplace becomes busier or more NPCs appear, the merchant district has fully activated.
Root Cause:
Kaifeng merchants spawn in layers, and some require local activity triggers to load.
Step 3: Complete Nearby Blue/Yellow Side Quests
Certain side quests around Kaifeng directly unlock merchants like Zhao Feiyan.
Missing even one may prevent her from spawning.
Instructions:
- Look for quests around Kaifeng’s city gate, merchant road, and riverside.
- Finish blue quests (exploration) and yellow quests (story-linked tasks).
- Return to the merchant district after each quest.
- Restart the area or relog if the spawn doesn’t appear immediately.
Testing Step:
Visit Zhao Feiyan’s marked stall location; if she appears, the unlock is complete.
Root Cause:
Some merchants are bound to local quest progression instead of global story progress.
Does Zhao Feiyan only appear after completing a specific Kaifeng side quest rather than the main fog-clearing story?
Yes — Zhao Feiyan is often tied more to Kaifeng’s local side quest chain than the main fog-clearing storyline.
Some merchants don’t spawn until you finish the NPC interactions tied to their district.
Players commonly report he appears only after:
- Completing a short Kaifeng errand or district quest
- Helping a nearby NPC who references merchants or travelers
- Finishing a side chain that unlocks extra vendors in the market zone
If the main story is done but Feiyan is missing, it’s usually because the smaller Kaifeng chain wasn’t completed yet.
Finishing that local quest line triggers his appearance in most cases.
Is his shop locked behind a reputation tier or relationship level with a local faction?
Some shops in Kaifeng only open once your reputation reaches a specific threshold.
If Feiyan’s stall depends on local trust, he won’t appear until you’ve met that requirement.
His appearance may require:
- Reaching a certain Kaifeng reputation tier
- Completing tasks for local guards or merchants
- Increasing affinity with the city’s civilian faction
If your reputation is low, the stall may stay empty even if the map marker exists.
Raising faction favor unlocks additional vendor NPCs, including Feiyan.
Do players need to finish any Inner Way tutorial or cultivation breakthrough before he spawns?
Some NPCs tied to advanced gear or special items appear only after your cultivation reaches a minimum stage.
If Feiyan sells progression-related items, the game may hide him until you complete Inner Way basics.
This includes:
- Finishing the introductory cultivation tutorial
- Reaching your first breakthrough stage
- Unlocking Inner Way interaction prompts
If your cultivation is too low, Feiyan may not spawn because the game assumes you’re not ready for his inventory.
Leveling up your cultivation often makes him appear on your next visit.
Is his merchant stall active only at certain times of day in Kaifeng?
Yes — some Kaifeng vendors follow time-based schedules, appearing only during certain hours.
If Feiyan follows this pattern, you may only see him during daytime or early evening.
Players report similar behavior with other Kaifeng merchants during:
- Morning market hours
- Evening festival periods
- Daytime-only stalls in crowded districts
If he disappears randomly, it may simply be his operating schedule.
Returning at a different in-game time often makes the stall appear normally.
Does he appear only after speaking to another NPC who “introduces” him?
Many merchants unlock only after another NPC mentions them or directs you to their stall.
If Feiyan requires an introduction, he won’t spawn until you trigger that dialogue.
This usually involves:
- Talking to a nearby vendor who mentions a “new merchant”
- Completing a conversation chain about Kaifeng’s markets
- Receiving a hint or referral to Feiyan’s wares
Once the introduction flag is activated, his stall loads correctly.
If you haven’t spoken to the right NPC, Feiyan may stay hidden despite being part of the city.
Could Zhao Feiyan be tied to a quest chain many players accidentally skip in the city?
Yes — many important Kaifeng NPCs are tied to short city quest chains that are extremely easy to overlook.
If Zhao Feiyan is linked to one of these, he won’t appear until you complete the chain.
Players often miss:
- Small errands started by random townsfolk
- Side quests without markers
- Dialogue-trigger quests that don’t auto-track
If Feiyan is tied to one of these hidden city tasks, skipping even the first step can prevent him from spawning entirely.
Revisiting Kaifeng’s side-quest NPCs usually reveals the missing trigger.
Is there a world exploration point in Kaifeng that must be activated before his shop opens?
Some merchants only appear after you activate a nearby exploration landmark or discovery point.
These locations register your presence in the district and unlock vendors related to that area.
This can include:
- Market plazas
- Crafting hubs
- Trading alleys
If you haven’t triggered the exploration point linked to Feiyan’s stall, the game may not load him yet.
Walking through every major district in Kaifeng often forces these triggers.
Do players report that he appears only after completing a hidden market or black-market quest?
Yes — several Kaifeng merchants are tied to underground trade routes or black-market themed side quests.
Finishing these can unlock advanced vendors who otherwise never spawn.
Common triggers include:
- Helping a suspicious merchant
- Recovering stolen goods
- Investigating shady traders near alleyways
If Feiyan belongs to this group, his shop won’t appear until the black-market quest is cleared.
Players who never explore side alleys often miss this entirely.
Is his unlock tied to helping a specific Kaifeng resident or finishing a short errands quest?
Many vendors in Kaifeng unlock after you help a single resident with a quick errand.
These are usually small tasks like delivering items or assisting a nearby NPC.
This may involve:
- Running a short delivery
- Solving a minor dispute
- Helping a shopkeeper with supplies
Once that NPC is helped, the game opens new vendors in the district.
If Feiyan is tied to one such resident, completing that tiny quest is required before he appears.
Could his absence be a known spawn/despawn bug after clearing the fog?
Yes — players have reported that some NPCs fail to load correctly after fog-clearing phases.
This can cause vendors to appear, disappear, or never spawn until the world refreshes.
Typical signs include:
- NPC missing only after fog removal
- Vendor stall present but empty
- NPC reappearing after relog or zone change
If Feiyan vanished because of this bug, relogging, switching channels, or leaving/entering Kaifeng usually fixes it.
This is a very common issue after major environmental transitions.