Departing Bird, Returning Clouds
Last updated 2026-08-02
Departing Bird, Returning Clouds is a Hearsay Commission and part of the main storyline for As Time Passes: A Decade of Suibian Temple at Failume Heights.
Parts
- What Everyone's Been Waiting For
Steps
- Talk to Yixuan
- Deliver the skyletters to Anton
- Chat with the shopkeepers
- Talk to Yixuan
- Speak with everyone at Suibian Temple
- Talk to Ju Fufu
- Talk to Belion about the upcoming Adventure plans
Gameplay Notes
- During step 2, at least two Skyletters may be submitted to the construction workers standing around Suibian Temple. If this is not done, the Skyletters will remain in your inventory after the commission is complete.
- Upon starting step 5, decorations and NPC dialogues related to the Tidefaire will appear around Suibian Temple. These decorations will persist for a week after this commission is finished.[verification needed]
- During step 7, the tips from Ju Fufu will not appear if auto-manage is turned on, meaning that it must be turned off in order to complete the commission.
- Completing this commission awards the Waifei Peninsula achievement Fly to That Place of Longing.
Dialogue
- (Talk to Yixuan)
What Everyone's Been Waiting For
Special Event
What Everyone's Been Waiting For
Story Description: While everyone at Suibian Temple is busy hiding skyletters, Senior Fufu is worried about getting too caught up in hiding her own. Thus, the mission of gathering information from the residents falls on your shoulders.
- Ju Fufu: We're back, Shifu!
- Yixuan: Ah, how did it go?
- Pan Yinhu: It went smooth as butter.
- Ye Shiyuan: Same here.
What were you all up to?
- (ProtagonistProtagonist): (Hm?Hm? /
Oh?Oh?) What were you all up to?
- (ProtagonistProtagonist): (Hm?Hm? /
- Sounds like you were busy without me...
- (ProtagonistProtagonist): Sounds like you've been busy without me.
- Ju Fufu: We secretly placed the skyletters! We were gonna ask you and (BelleBelle /
WiseWise) to come, but the three of us were able to handle it~ - Secretly?
- (ProtagonistProtagonist): Secretly? Why?
- Ju Fufu: According to the records, this is how the Tidefaire was done...
- Ju Fufu: Suibian Temple makes the skyletters with special sigils drawn on them and then hides them all over Waifei for people to find.
- Ju Fufu: Once somebody finds one, they write their words inside and bring it back here to Suibian Temple.
- Ju Fufu: Then, after the collection deadline, Shifu performs the ritual to send them flying!
- Ju Fufu: And that's what we were up to! We placed a bunch of skyletters all across Waifei... secretly, of course!
- Pan Yinhu: Um... were we supposed to hide them...? I barely placed a few before someone spotted me, so I just started handing them out on the spot... maybe I was too conspicuous...
- Ye Shiyuan: Same here. The moment I stepped outside the temple, people swarmed me. I ended up just distributing them as I walked.
- Ju Fufu: Wait, don't tell me... was I the only one who actually tried to secretly hide them?!
- Pan Yinhu: That's our senior Fufu!
- Ye Shiyuan: That's our senior Fufu!
- That's our senior Fufu!
- You're the only one who stayed true to the tradition!
- (ProtagonistProtagonist): That's our senior Fufu! You're the only one who was sure to keep the tradition!
- Yixuan: That said, the number of skyletters returned doesn't match the number we put out. Perhaps some were never found, or maybe the people who picked them up are still contemplating what to write.
- Ju Fufu: Oh no... did I hide them too well...?
- Pan Yinhu: Where did you hide them?
- Ju Fufu: Um... Up on the rooftop ledges... between roof tiles... under some really heavy water jugs...
- Ju Fufu: They said that finding the skyletters is a key part of the event, so I really wanted to emphasize the finding aspect...
- I think you might've taken the tradition a little too seriously.
- (ProtagonistProtagonist): I think you might've taken the tradition a little too seriously.
- Ju Fufu: Wh—What do I do...? Now I'm really getting worried. What if no one finds the ones I hid?!
- Ju Fufu: Ahhhhh! I wanna go back and put them somewhere easier to find! But I'd totally get caught if I did that now! And we can't just walk up and ask people, "Hey, did you find the skyletter under the water jug?"... If only someone could, y'know, go ask around more subtly...
- Ye Shiyuan: You mean you want someone to go and check whether people actually found the skyletters?
- I see, then I'll go!
- Finally, something I can help with!
- (ProtagonistProtagonist): I see, then why don't I go?! Finally, there's something I can help (with.with. /
with!with!) - Ju Fufu: I'll leave it to you then, (Wise!Wise! /
Belle!Belle!) If anyone complains the letters were too hard to find, just gently nudge them in the right direction! - Ju Fufu: Oh, and if the water jugs are too heavy or the rooftops too high, just let me know! I'll be right there to help!
Got it! I'll make sure they get there! Great. Thank you, Shifu, on behalf of Belobog Industries.
Skyletter ×2, 
Skyletter ×2, 
Skyletter ×2)Deliver the skyletters to Anton
- Anton: (Yo bro, what's up! How do you feel about the renovation resultsYo bro, what's up! How do you feel about the renovation results /
Hey Belle! What do you think of the renovationsHey Belle! What do you think of the renovations) at Suibian Temple? - It's changed so much since I first got here!
- Way more polished than when I first got here!
- (SiblingSibling): (Yep, Anton just asked me the same thingYep, Anton just asked me the same thing /
Yeah, Anton just asked me the same questionYeah, Anton just asked me the same question), and that's exactly what I told him. - You changed your outfit.
- You've changed into the Suibian Temple clothes, huh?
- (SiblingSibling): (Yeah, I've mostly been holed up in my room tinkering with the HDD, but hey! The big skyletter ceremony is about to start!Yeah, I've mostly been holed up in my room tinkering with the HDD, but hey! The big skyletter ceremony is about to start! Tooltip for Yeah, I've mostly been holed up in my room tinkering with the HDD, but hey! The big skyletter ceremony is about to start!ⓘ /
Yeah, though I've been spending most of my time in my room working on the HDD, the most important skyletter ceremony will be held soon.Yeah, though I've been spending most of my time in my room working on the HDD, the most important skyletter ceremony will be held soon.) - (SiblingSibling): (Of course, I gotta dress up properly so I can attend the ceremony as a Suibian Temple mystic.Of course, I gotta dress up properly so I can attend the ceremony as a Suibian Temple mystic. /
Of course, I'll need to wear the formal attire of a Suibian Temple mystic to attend the ceremony.Of course, I'll need to wear the formal attire of a Suibian Temple mystic to attend the ceremony.) - Oh right, Anton, take this.
- Shifu told me to give this to you.
- Anton: What's this? Whoa, skyletters — and a ton of 'em! More than enough for everyone! And here I was worried about if we'd all have to write super tiny to cram everything onto one, hahaha!
- I'll go hand out the remaining skyletters to everyone!
- Anton: Alright! If you're up for it, you can take care of handing them out. They'll be pumped, plus it shows Suibian Temple's recognition of Belobog Heavy Industries!
- (Submit Skyletter ×1, Skyletter ×1, Skyletter ×1)
- (Give the last three skyletters to the construction workers, optional)
- Transcription missing
Chat with the shopkeepers
- (Idle)
- Sweety: Ah, perfect~
- (Talk to Sweety)
- Sweety: You're just in time~
- What's wrong?
- Sweety: You're heading back to Suibian Temple, right? Take this skyletter with you! I've already written my wish on it!
- So you found the skyletter, huh?
- Sweety: Humhum, of course! No need to go looking — I've got my ear to the ground~ Every customer at Yum Cha Sin is my informant~
- Sweety: Everyone heard this morning that the skyletters were going to be released, so they've all been waiting patiently! Especially the customers upstairs, they could see Pan Shifu releasing the skyletters from across the street —shouting, "A panda! Look, a panda!"
- Sweety: They don't mean to be rude, they're just excited~
- Sweety: Then everyone rushed out and got skyletters directly from Pan Shifu. Some customers even got one for me~
- Talk about getting something for nothing!
- Sweety: Right! And get this, right when I finished writing my wish, you showed up! It's gotta be fate. Fate brought you here to help me take it to...
- Sweety: Wait... It feels more genuine if I deliver it myself. It's my wish, so I shouldn't let someone else do it for me...
- That's true, doing it yourself feels more ceremonial.
- Sweety: That's right! Okay, I won't trouble you then — I'll deliver the skyletter myself!
- (ProtagonistProtagonist): (Looks like Sweety got a (skyletter, let'sskyletter, let's /
skyletter. Let's goskyletter. Let's go) check on the others.)
- (Talk to Sweety again, optional)
- Sweety: I wonder what the Tidefaire is like, I'm so excited!
- (Idle)
- Vince: Oh?
- (Talk to Vince)
- Vince: I never thought I'd see something like this...
- See what?
- Vince: There it is, the skyletter. I have no idea when it ended up hidden under my teapot.
- Vince: It's been a while... The resemblance is uncanny!
- Have you been to the Tidefaire before?
- Vince: No, back then I was traveling all over, dealing with treasures, so I missed several Tidefaires.
- Vince: A friend who attended the Tidefaire back then showed me photos of the skyletters. I thought I'd only ever get to see such a rare item in pictures. I never imagined I'd get my hands on the real deal in my lifetime.
- Vince: Talk about fate... I'll join in just this once. So I just write my wish and take it to Suibian Temple, right?
- Yeah, you can hand it over to anyone at Suibian Temple.
- Vince: Okay, I'll write mine right now and take it over there.
- (ProtagonistProtagonist): (Looks like Vince got a (skyletter. Let'sskyletter. Let's /
skyletter, let'sskyletter, let's) check on the others.)
- (Talk to Vince again, optional)
- Vince: Hmm, what kind of blessing should I write...
- Vince: One for my daughter...
- (Idle)
- Reed: I can't wait!
- (Talk to Reed)
- Reed: The Tidefaire is about to start! I can't wait!
- Did you get a skyletter?
- Reed: Hmm, if only the Tidefaire could happen every day~
- Do you have that many wishes?
- You're really into the Tidefaire, huh?
- Reed: Not exactly. Think about it — when the Tidefaire is happening, Suibian Temple's entrance will be bustling.
- Reed: I could set up a stall there and showcase our best-selling items — sales will double!
- Reed: Then, I'd write a wish on the skyletter to double the convenience store's sales.
- Reed: Do the math — that's like doubling twice over!
- Here's to your booming business!
- (ProtagonistProtagonist): (Looks like Reed (got a skyletter, let'sgot a skyletter, let's /
already has a skyletter. Let's goalready has a skyletter. Let's go) check on the others.)
- (Talk to Reed again, optional)
- Reed: The Tidefaire, the Tidefaire!
Talk to Yixuan
- (Talk to Yixuan)
Special Event
The Ones Who Wrote the Skyletters
Story Description: After visiting Suibian Temple, Master Yixuan hands you a skyletter, asking you and (BelleBelle /
- Pan Yinhu: Oh, (Wise!Wise! /
Belle!Belle!) You're back! - We got so many skyletters!
- (ProtagonistProtagonist): We got so many skyletters!
- (SiblingSibling): People kept dropping off more skyletters while you were gone. We've gathered all the ones we received here.
- Ju Fufu: So? So?! Did anyone say they couldn't find any?
- Everyone I talked to said they were able to find one.
- (ProtagonistProtagonist): Everyone I talked to said they were able to find one.
- Ju Fufu: Phew... that's a relief!
- Yixuan: We also had some extras prepared here at the temple. I asked Sweety to spread the word at Yum Cha Sin... "If anyone couldn't find a skyletter, they could just come here and ask for one."
- Leave it to Shifu to always have a plan!
- (ProtagonistProtagonist): So everyone could get a skyletter if they wanted one. (Shifu always has a plan!Shifu always has a plan! /
Leave it to Shifu to always have a plan!Leave it to Shifu to always have a plan!) - Ju Fufu: Thank goodness. I should've guessed that Shifu would have a plan...
- Ju Fufu: Wait! So even Shifu wasn't going to hide the skyletters?! Was I the only one committed to the traditions...?!
- Ju Fufu: Grr!!! You all could've told me if you weren't planning on hiding them!
- Ye Shiyuan: We just didn't want to dampen the mood. Especially given the way your eyes lit up the second someone mentioned hiding the skyletters.
- Pan Yinhu: So... are we all set now? Have we gathered all the skyletters?
- Ah, wait! I want to write one, too!
- (ProtagonistProtagonist): Ah, wait! I want to write one, too!
- Yixuan: Of course, we still have some extras here. Go ahead, both of you should take one.
- (SiblingSibling): (We get one too? Yay! I already know what I'm going to write. How about you, Wise?We get one too? Yay! I already know what I'm going to write. How about you, Wise? /
We get one too? Awesome! I already know what I'm going to write. How about you, Belle?We get one too? Awesome! I already know what I'm going to write. How about you, Belle?) - I wish peace and happiness for everyone in Waifei Peninsula.
- (ProtagonistProtagonist): I wish peace and happiness for everyone in Waifei Peninsula.
- (SiblingSibling): Same here, I wrote the exact same thing. I hope everyone in Waifei Peninsula stays safe and happy!
- Yixuan: Very well. I'll take your skyletter. The time has come, let the ritual begin.
- And so, under everyone's watchful gaze, Yixuan steps gracefully into the flock of birds. The final ritual of the Tidefaire begins...
- (Cutscene plays; the skyletters take flight and soar off into the night, including one from the hands of Old Mo)
Speak with everyone at Suibian Temple
- (Talk to Ju Fufu)
- Ju Fufu: It's so beautiful... watching the skyletters soar together is so moving...
- Ju Fufu: I wonder where they'll end up flying to...
- Into the Hollow, perhaps.
- Ju Fufu: I mean specifically. Out onto the sea, maybe? Or in rock crevices, or between mountains... One might even land on an Ethereal's head...
- I hope they all land somewhere out of the Ethereals' reach.
- Ju Fufu: Mm-hmm, agreed! But hey, it's not like our worrying is going to change anything.
- Ju Fufu: As Shifu would say, "Out of reach or not, it all comes down to fate!"
- (Talk to Yixuan)
- Yixuan: Looking at everyone's expressions... I understand now why my predecessor founded the Tidefaire. Its meaning goes beyond just making wishes.
- Meaning?
- What do you mean?
- Yixuan: The Hollow doesn't just corrupt one's flesh and organs, it also destroys the mind and spirit. The more one falls into despair, the easier it becomes for Ether, especially Miasma, to slip through the cracks.
- Yixuan: Now imagine those trapped in some desolate place — seeing messages left behind by those near and dear to them might remind them of home, and so light a fire anew to keep their despair at bay.
- Yixuan: If nothing else, it might at least slow down their descent into the abyss.
- Yixuan: It seems we must keep the Tidefaire going.
- So there'll be another one next year?
- Yixuan: Perhaps we will not even wait till then. If things settle down in the Waifei Peninsula, we could make it a regular event.
- (Talk to Pan Yinhu)
- Pan Yinhu: Alright... time to get back to work.
- Isn't the Tidefaire all set and ready to go?
- Didn't we finish all the work already?
- Pan Yinhu: I reckon at least half the folks at the temple won't be able to sleep. Too excited and all, you know?
- Pan Yinhu: So I figured I'd whip up some snacks for them while there's still time — just a little late-night treat.
- Make sure you get some rest too!
- Pan Yinhu: Haha, I know, I know! Thanks for looking out for me, Junior!
- Pan Yinhu: It's just a few snacks. I'll be done real quick, and rest up right after!
- (Idle)
- Ye Shiyuan: So, what do you think?
- (Talk to Ye Shiyuan, after speaking with the others)
- Ye Shiyuan: You've been working hard lately. Take a break if you're feeling tired.
- Ye Shiyuan: After doing so much for Suibian Temple, make sure you're taking care of your health too.
Let's take a break.
- Ye Shiyuan: Yeah, the Tidefaire's still going for a few more days. Take it easy and get some good rest tonight.
- I want to look around some more...
- (Exit Dialogue)
- (Talk to Old Mo across from Fluffy, optional)
- Old Mo: It flew away... good... good.
- Old Mo: Go on, fly. Fly and find Zhen...
- (Mo Ping is present but does not speak)
Talk to Ju Fufu
- (Idle)
- Ju Fufu: The Tidefaire is so wonderful...
- (Talk to Ju Fufu)
- Ju Fufu: The Tidefaire is amazing... Everyone's having such a great time! And not just Suibian Temple — the whole Waifei Peninsula is buzzing with energy!
- Ju Fufu: It's not my first time, I can't help but feel moved every time I see witness this scene. I'm so lucky to be a part of Suibian Temple!
- Me too.
- Ju Fufu: The renovations to Suibian Temple look great, and everyone is backing us. The Tidefaire will keep going in the future, right, Master?
- Yixuan: (Yes, I discussed it with Wise yesterday. That's what I had in mind.Yes, I discussed it with Wise yesterday. That's what I had in mind. /
Yes. I spoke to Belle about this yesterday — that is indeed what I had in mind.Yes. I spoke to Belle about this yesterday — that is indeed what I had in mind.) - Ju Fufu: Awesome! I'll help with everything I've got — I'll do even better than this time!
- Me too!
- Ju Fufu: With all the buzz from this Tidefaire, Suibian Temple's future business is bound to improve! Let's keep up the good work — we're going to make the next one bigger and better!
- (Talk to Ju Fufu again, optional)
- Ju Fufu: The Suibian Temple in Waifei Peninsula is getting more and more popular! Don't slack off — let's keep up the good work!
Talk to Belion about the upcoming Adventure plans
- (Suibian Temple Management interface opens)
- Ju Fufu: Each area has a Depths marker.
- Ju Fufu: Exploring Depths will grant you richer rewards and Scrolls of Refinement!
- Ju Fufu: The tab with this symbol marks out Depths locations!
- Ju Fufu: Get Scrolls of Refinement to upgrade your products!
- Ju Fufu: But make sure you're geared up before exploring! Stay safe out there~
Fly to That Place of Longing Achievement Complete
Open-World Dialogue
These NPCs' idle quotes and dialogues will appear in the open world during steps 5, 6, and 7. Note that none of these interactions have to be completed in order to proceed the commission, and are completely optional.
- (Idle, at the stall across from the Video Store Branch)
- Chunshi: New arrivals! Top-notch quality that everyone's raving about!
- (Idle, near Ye Shiyuan)
- Old Man: Hm? How many years has it been since we last saw this?
- Old Man: If you've ever seen the skyletters of the Tidefaire soaring through the sky, you'll remember them for the rest of your life.
- Old Man: If it can be passed down, us old-timers will have really done something with our lives.
- (Idle, in front of Belion)
- Boy With a Lantern: Where on earth are all those skyletters hidden...
- Boy With a Lantern: Harder to find than Daddy's secret stash...
- (Idle, by the rightmost gateway)
- Disciple 1: The Tidefaire is actually happening...
- Disciple 2: Yeah, renovating the temple, managing the shops, bringing back skyletters... none of these were easy tasks.
- Disciple 2: But seeing this sight now, I think it was all worth it.
- (Idle, in front of the player's room)
- Disciple in Sunglasses: Private residence ahead. No trespassing.
- Disciple in Sunglasses: Thanks for cooperating.
- (Talk to the Quiet Girl by the rightmost gateway)
- Quiet Girl: How many skyletters have you found?
- Proud Girl: Why don't you go first and we'll see who wins?
- Quiet Girl: That weird competitive streak again? Well, I only found 2.
- Proud Girl: I found... 22 of them!
- Quiet Girl: Wow, incredible!
- Proud Girl: Your sarcasm only makes me more smug and satisfied.
- Quiet Girl: Actually, I found 23 of them, and this is your 51st time losing the bet.
- Proud Girl: Ugh, let's just think about what wishes to write!
- (Talk to the Old Man by the leftmost gateway)
- Old Man: Getting to visit the Tidefaire again in my lifetime is all I could ask for.
- Old Lady: You totally latched onto me back then while sending skyletters, didn't you?
- Old Man: Yeah, time really flew by. It's been over a decade since I last saw a skyletter.
- Old Man: Not many decades left in this lifetime, huh.
- Old Lady: What are you talking about? Even if you don't many, you can just borrow mine.
- Old Lady: We can watch skyletters together many many more times, and spend many many more decades together.
- Old Man: You can say that with a straight face? I'd say you're the one who can't get enough of me.
- Old Lady: Getting shameless I think. I learned it all from you.
- (Talk to the Lively Man in the right courtyard)
- Lively Man: The blessing ceremony is reopening after all these years. It's gonna be super powerful for sure! Have you decided what wish you're gonna make?
- Aloof Man: That's why everyone writes their wishes on skyletters 'cause they say a wish won't come true if you speak it out loud.
- Lively Man: What's the difference? If you're expressing it, you want people to know, right?
- Lively Man: Besides, I already saw what you wrote from behind you.
- Lively Man: That's a lovely wish. I didn't have one before, but now my wish is for your wish to come true.
- Aloof Man: I feel like I should be angry right now, but for some weird reason, I just can't get mad.
- Lively Man: You should be thankful, y'know! Two people wishing the same? It's more likely to come true!
- Aloof Man: Alright, now I'm getting a little mad.
- (Idle, in front of Chunshi's stall)
- Woman 1: These, these, and these, wrap them all for me!
- Woman 2: Every time I pass by, I can't help but get drawn in...
- Woman 2: But honestly, there's nothing in particular I want to buy.
- Woman 2: Maybe it's not the shopping I love, but the whole market vibe.
- (Idle, to the left of the Video Store Branch)
- Little Girl: I don't think we've celebrated this festival before...
- Little Boy: Who cares what festival it is? Any day off is a good day!
Gallery
Suibian Temple decorations
The tree in the rightmost courtyard
Lanterns around the Video Store Branch
Chunshi's stall
Other Languages
| Language | Official Name |
|---|---|
| English | Departing Bird, Returning Clouds |
| Chinese (Simplified) | 离鸟与归云 |
| Chinese (Traditional) | 離鳥與歸雲 |
| Japanese | 飛び立つ鳥と帰る雲 |
| Korean | 떠난 새와 돌아온 구름 Tteonan Saewa Doraon Gureum |
| Spanish | Aves que levantan el vuelo, nimbos que regresan |
| French | L'oiseau s'en va, les nuages reviennent |
| Russian | Улетающие птицы, прилетающие облака Uletayushchiye ptitsy, priletayushchiye oblaka |
| Thai | นกที่จากไปและเมฆที่กลับมา |
| Vietnamese | Li Điểu Và Quy Vân |
| German | Fortfliegende Vögel, heimkehrende Wolken |
| Indonesian | Kepergian Burung, Memulangkan Awan |
| Portuguese | Pássaro Errante, Nuvens que Retornam |