Where Winds Meet — Hotpot Fever: Complete Guide

 


Hotpot Fever — How to Make and Deliver to Shi Yimo

This guide covers every step to complete the Culinary: Hotpot Fever exploration quest in Where Winds Meet. It walks you through the exact recipe options, vendor and ingredient locations, efficient travel routes, timing tricks, inventory tips, and reward outcomes. Whether you prefer to gather ingredients, craft the hotpot yourself, or buy one from vendors, this guide shows the fastest and most reliable ways to deliver the hotpot to Shi Yimo and finish the quest without backtracking.

What this guide includes

  • Clear objectives and acceptance conditions for the quest

  • Complete ingredient list with alternatives and substitutes

  • Step-by-step crafting instructions for the hotpot recipe

  • Vendor locations and buy strategies for a quick purchase of a vendor hotpot

  • Optimized travel routes using fast travel and park-and-walk tactics (including Blissful Retreat and Heaven’s Pier references)

  • Inventory and timing tips to avoid quest glitches

  • Reward breakdown and follow-up quest outcomes

  • Troubleshooting common problems and FAQ


Quest objective and trigger

The Culinary: Hotpot Fever quest typically triggers as an exploration or NPC favor quest requesting you to bring a freshly made or purchased hotpot to Shi Yimo. The quest text will ask for a hotpot to be delivered at a specific location or to a named NPC; once accepted, your quest log updates with either a "bring hotpot" objective or a marker showing Shi Yimo's position.

Primary objectives:

  • Obtain one hotpot (crafted or purchased)

  • Deliver the hotpot to Shi Yimo at the marked location

Quest completion requires handing over a single hotpot item; multiple hotpots are unnecessary unless you prefer backups for failures or resale.

Hotpot item: what counts

Not every dish resembles a hotpot in the world inventory. For the quest trigger and hand-in, the game checks the item ID for a specific hotpot object. Valid ways to have a hotpot item ready:

  • Craft a hotpot using the in-game hotpot recipe at a cooking station or campfire if the game allows crafting

  • Buy a ready-made vendor hotpot from specific NPC sellers

  • Use an in-world container or market stall that spawns hotpot items (rare; depends on region)

If you see “Hotpot” as an item name in your inventory, it is usually acceptable. If the quest fails to accept the item, try a purchased hotpot from a vendor — vendor items are more reliably recognized.

Complete ingredient list and substitutions

Core recipe (typical structure — adapt for the game’s specific ingredient names):

  • Base broth (vegetable broth, bone broth, or stock)

  • Protein (thinly sliced meat, tofu, or fish)

  • Vegetables (leafy greens, mushroom variety, root vegetables)

  • Staples (noodles, rice cakes, or dumplings)

  • Aromatic herbs and spices (garlic, ginger, green onion, soy)

  • Condiments (chili paste, sesame oil, dipping sauce)

Common substitutions:

  • If an animal protein is missing, use tofu or fish for quest acceptance in most cases

  • If noodles are scarce, rice cakes or dumpling items often count as a staple

  • Broth substitutes like concentrated stock jars or soup pots can sometimes fulfill the base requirement

Always carry one or two flexible substitutes if your planned cooking spot lacks certain items.

Best sources for ingredients

  • Regional farming plots and forage nodes: leafy greens and roots spawn commonly near settlement outskirts and riverbanks. Check small stream areas and low-elevation farming nodes.

  • Fishing spots: fish varieties usable in the hotpot come from calm river pools and coastal piers. Use bait that increases small-fish catches.

  • Market stalls and vendors in major hubs (including Blissful Retreat and Heaven’s Pier): vendors often sell prepared staple items and sometimes complete hotpots. Look for food merchants and traveling cooks.

  • Cooking crates and world loot: exploration rewards and rare chests occasionally drop cooking ingredients, especially in ruins and shrine interiors.

  • NPC giveaways and quest rewards: some small fetch quests will net rare spices or condiments useful for crafting.

Prioritize vendor-bought staples if you want speed; for roleplay or challenge runs, gather everything by hand.


Vendor hotpot locations and buy strategy

If time is your priority, purchasing a vendor hotpot is the fastest route. Vendors who sell ready-made hotpots tend to cluster around:

  • Major ports and piers (e.g., Heaven’s Pier)

  • Popular traveler hubs (markets near the central inns, seat-of-power plazas)

  • Food tents at festival sites and rest camps (occasionally)

Buy strategy:

  1. Check local market inventory — some vendors rotate stock daily or on server tick. If a hotpot isn’t available, log out and back in or wait a short in-game interval.

  2. Compare prices — hotpots sold by festival cooks are often cheaper but appear only during event windows.

  3. Use small negotiation perks (if your character has persuasion, bartering, or reputation skills) to reduce cost.

  4. If you plan multiple quest runs, identify the vendor with the most consistent supply and memorize their route to streamline repeat completions.

If you reach a vendor and the item doesn’t register for the quest hand-in, try crafting a hotpot from purchased staples as a fallback.

Crafting the hotpot: step-by-step

Prerequisites: access to a stove, cooking station, or campfire where crafting is enabled.

Step 1 — Prepare your workstation:

  • Equip a cooking utensil if required.

  • Set the station to “Prepare Soup” or equivalent hotpot category.

Step 2 — Add the base:

  • Place your base broth or stock container into the station. If you have concentrated stock, add water as required.

  • If the station needs fuel, ensure you have enough coal, firewood, or other fuel types.

Step 3 — Layer proteins and staples:

  • Add thinly sliced protein first (meat or tofu). Aim for balanced protein quantity so the cooking meter doesn’t overfill.

  • Add noodles or rice cakes next so they absorb the broth flavor.

Step 4 — Add vegetables and aromatics:

  • Toss in leafy greens and mushrooms. Add garlic and ginger for aroma.

  • Some games track heat: add more pungent spices if you want a “spicy” or “hearty” variation.

Step 5 — Cook with attention:

  • Watch the cooking progress bar. Most hotpot recipes have a window where the item is “perfect.” Overcooking can yield a different dish that the quest may not accept.

  • If the game includes a “stir” or “season” action, perform it during the middle third of the cook cycle for best quality.

Step 6 — Finish and store:

  • Once the hotpot registers in your inventory, tag it as quest-ready or move it to your quick bar.

  • If you crafted multiple variations, check item names — only items labeled exactly “Hotpot” or similar will be accepted.

Notes on quality:

  • Higher quality ingredients sometimes change the item name to “Deluxe Hotpot.” Deluxe versions may still be accepted but always check by hovering the item to confirm it’s recognized for the quest.

Preparing for delivery: inventory and movement tips

  • Free up the hotbar: place the hotpot in an easy-to-access slot for quick hand-in.

  • Bank or stash unnecessary items: reduce weight and increase movement speed if the game penalizes heavy inventory.

  • Equip movement buffs: use sprint consumables, movement-boosting mounts, or speed gear to shorten travel time.

  • Disable auto-consume gear sets that might accidentally eat or use the hotpot.

  • Keep a backup hotpot: if you bought or crafted two, stash one in your bag. This prevents redoing all the steps if an NPC hand-in fails due to a bug.

Fast travel and the fastest route to Shi Yimo

Shi Yimo’s location varies by quest context; commonly found near settlement hubs, near marketplaces, or at scenic spots like a retreat or pier. Two widely used fast-travel anchors to minimize distance are Blissful Retreat and Heaven’s Pier.

General route strategy:

  1. Fast travel to the nearest major hub to Shi Yimo’s marker (prefer Blissful Retreat for inland NPCs; use Heaven’s Pier for coastal targets).

  2. From the hub, follow the shortest marked path on your map — avoid exploration zones with heavy enemies unless you can bypass them.

  3. Use local quick paths (small footbridges, shortcuts through alleys) to shave off seconds. Many players memorize a two-turn shortcut that bypasses a market square crowd.

  4. When approaching Shi Yimo, switch to walking stealth or reduced-speed movement if proximity triggers NPC dialogue or cutscenes that require exact positioning.

Example optimized route (generic):

  • Teleport to Blissful Retreat

  • Follow the east riverbank path for 120–180 meters past the tea vendor

  • Turn north at the small archway and go up the stairs to the terraced platform where Shi Yimo commonly stands

Adjust for your server and map updates; landmarks are the quickest way to identify route changes in live worlds.


Interacting with Shi Yimo and delivering the hotpot

  • Approach the NPC until the interaction prompt appears.

  • Open your inventory and select the hotpot item, then choose the “Give” or “Offer” action if the UI requires it. Some games allow direct hand-in through the interaction pane.

  • Wait for the cutscene or confirmation text; the quest should auto-complete shortly after the hand-in.

  • If nothing happens, try repositioning (step back and then forward), unequip and re-equip the hotpot, or re-open the interaction menu. If persistent failure continues, use your backup hotpot.

Dialogue tips:

  • Many NPCs have flavor reactions based on the hotpot’s quality. If you handed over a “Deluxe” or “Spicy” variant, they may provide additional dialogue and often a small extra reward, such as affection, a small item, or a reputation bump.

Rewards and follow-up

Typical rewards for the Culinary: Hotpot Fever quest include:

  • Currency (coins, credits, or regional tender)

  • Cooking materials or unique spice items

  • Reputation increase with the receiving NPC’s faction or settlement

  • Occasionally an unlockable recipe or a companion favor

Follow-up quests:

  • Completing the hotpot delivery can sometimes unlock a chain where Shi Yimo asks you to prepare more dishes or introduces you to other NPCs who request culinary favors. Check your quest log for continuation markers.

Speedrun tricks and time-saving tactics

  • Vendor vs. Craft: Buying a vendor hotpot is almost always faster. Memorize the nearest vendor who stocks them and make a direct run.

  • Cache your cooking station: If you repeatedly craft hotpots, set your home base near a cooking station or use a portable campfire to skip travel.

  • Stack objectives: If you have other quests near Shi Yimo or the vendor, combine them into a single run to reduce repeated travel.

  • Inventory routing: Keep only essentials to avoid weight penalties; auto-sell trash at market hubs to free space quickly.

  • Movement mastery: Use jump boosts and stair-hopping to bypass NPC clusters that slow you down.

Roleplay and challenge variations

Challenge run ideas:

  • Gather-only run: Do not buy any ingredients; forage and fish every component for a pure survivalist challenge.

  • No fast travel: Walk or mount between all points for immersion and exploration.

  • Time-of-day challenge: Craft and deliver a hotpot during game night-time for extra ambiance and unique NPC dialogue.

Roleplay tips:

  • Keep a journal or screenshot your cooking sessions and final hand-in — great for social posts or creating a mini-guide for your community.

  • If streaming, narrate your ingredient choices and seasoning strategy to engage viewers and help them learn recipe flexibility.

Troubleshooting common problems

Issue: Quest won’t accept the hotpot

  • Solution: Try buying a hotpot from a vendor; vendor items are more reliably recognized. If that fails, relog or reload an earlier save and update the quest log.

Issue: Shi Yimo not at marked location

  • Solution: Some NPCs travel on a schedule. Wait in the nearby area for a short in-game period, or check alternate markers like nearby inns and piers. If still missing, fast travel to a different hub and check whether the NPC respawns.

Issue: Hotpot disappears from inventory after crafting

  • Solution: Check for automatic use or consumption settings; some games consume crafted items immediately if you have a quest that triggers on creation. If that’s intended, craft another hotpot and hand it in directly after creation.

Issue: Vendor stock not showing hotpot

  • Solution: Vendor inventories sometimes rotate; wait for the daily reset, relog, or find an alternate vendor. If the merchant is part of an event, ensure the event window is active.

Advanced tips for repeaters and collectors

  • Inventory tagging: If the game supports item tagging or notes, mark your hotpot as “quest” to avoid accidental sale or consumption.

  • Multiple saves: Keep a save slot before major crafting or purchases to recover if you accidentally waste ingredients or the hand-in fails.

  • Recipe library: Keep copies of hotpots with different seasoning levels to test which dialog outcomes or reputation benefits you prefer.


Checklist: one-page quick run

  • [ ] Free inventory and place hotpot in quick bar

  • [ ] Fast travel to Blissful Retreat or nearest hub

  • [ ] Confirm Shi Yimo’s marker on the mini-map

  • [ ] Buy or craft hotpot (vendor preferred)

  • [ ] Equip movement buffs and mount if safe

  • [ ] Deliver hotpot via interaction menu

  • [ ] Confirm quest completion and collect rewards

Example walkthrough (practical run)

  1. Teleport to Blissful Retreat and open the map.

  2. Head east along the river until you reach the market archway.

  3. Stop at the central food stall by the fountain; check the vendor inventory for a vendor hotpot. If available, buy one and proceed to step 7.

  4. If vendor hotpot unavailable, fast travel to your nearest cooking station.

  5. Gather or use pre-bought ingredients: broth, protein, vegetables, noodles.

  6. Craft one hotpot; confirm item name in inventory.

  7. Sprint north to the terraced platform where Shi Yimo stands.

  8. Interact and give the hotpot; watch for completion prompt and collect rewards.

Frequently Asked Questions

What exactly counts as a valid hotpot for the quest

A valid hotpot is the in-game item labeled “Hotpot” or a recognized variant such as “Deluxe Hotpot.” If the game rejects your crafted version, a vendor hotpot is the most reliable fall-back.

Can I deliver a different dish to complete the quest

No. The quest requires a hotpot item specifically. Substituting similar soups or stews usually fails the hand-in check.

Where is Shi Yimo located

Shi Yimo’s exact location is marked in your quest log once the quest is active. Common gathering points include terraces near Blissful Retreat or piers near Heaven’s Pier. If she isn’t at the marked site, check nearby inns, market plazas, or wait briefly for NPC movement schedules.

Is it faster to buy or craft the hotpot

Buying from a vendor is typically the fastest. Crafting adds time, but gives you control over the hotpot’s quality and flavor — useful if you want specific dialogue or extra rewards.

What if the vendor doesn’t have hotpot stock

Vendor stock rotates. Either wait for a rotation, relog, or visit other major hubs with food sellers. Buying staples and crafting on-site is the easiest fallback.

Does the hotpot disappear after giving it to Shi Yimo

Yes. The hotpot is consumed on hand-in and will be removed from your inventory. Keep a backup if you want a souvenir or plan repeat runs.

Can I craft multiple hotpots and sell extras

Yes, if the game permits crafting for sale. Selling extras can be profitable, but be sure not to accidentally sell your quest hotpot.

What are rewards for completing the quest

Rewards commonly include currency, cooking materials, reputation gains, and occasionally a unique spice or recipe. Completing the quest can also unlock follow-up tasks.

What if the quest doesn’t complete after hand-in

Try repositioning and reinitiating the interaction. If the issue persists, relog or reload a prior save. If the problem continues after those steps, use your backup hotpot or consult official patch notes for known bugs.


Final notes

This guide is built to help you finish Culinary: Hotpot Fever efficiently and reliably. Whether you prefer the shortest path (buy-and-deliver) or the immersive route (forage-and-cook), the steps above give you multiple approaches to match playstyle. Keep a backup hotpot, learn the vendor locations, and memorize the short path from Blissful Retreat for the fastest possible completion.

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