GUIDE / BOSS
Hua Qianxiao, the Sword Fanatic boss guide
Hua Qianxiao, the Sword Fanatic, blocks the early Crimson Forest route and rewards The Fanatic’s Broken Blade. He is a different boss from Hua, Deadly Betrothed in the valley. Use the Abandoned Main Road approach and inspect the collapsed bridge route after the duel.
Find the Sword Fanatic beyond Abandoned Main Road
Community-reportedGrindnstrat places Abandoned Main Road before Hua Qianxiao. Activate the bell and return to the main road after any nearby platform detours. KeenGamer places the duel before the collapsed bridge and Quickhand Zhang’s cage route.
If you are below the Valley Sha-Chi Tower among wedding decorations and red flowers, you are looking at the other Hua encounter. Use that guide for the Flesh Lily objective.
- Wrong Hua?
Hua, Deadly Betrothed is the optional valley fight, with Scarlet Wraithblade and Flesh Lily access.
Open Hua, Deadly Betrothed boss guide →
Reveal video · Crimson Forest boss arena
Footage interval reviewed · see build limits below
The fight opening shows the bridge, the boss name bar and the start of a gourd-drinking animation. Use it to recognize the encounter; it is not a complete counter demonstration.
Fextralife · 2:39–2:54
Source & footage context
Creator-hosted recording; interval reviewed through bounded original-player playback and on-screen samples at 2:43.1 and 2:47.5. The configured player loaded, played and returned to paused on completion. This review checks the pictured situation, not frame-precise input timing. Exact game build, platform and difficulty are unconfirmed. Kingy has not played or tested this encounter.
Source record ↗ · Checked 2026-10-30
The original creator hosts the recording. If playback is restricted, use the YouTube link.
Airborne approach: keep defending through the follow-up
Community-reportedFextralife’s moveset chapter shows Hua Qianxiao leaping toward Soul on the bridge with his swords raised. The creator describes an airborne approach followed by several slashes. Keep your attention on the follow-up instead of assuming the landing ends the sequence.
That cue comes from the creator recording. The reviewed excerpt does not establish a precise parry or dodge window, a complete moveset, or identical behavior on every difficulty. Use the visible attack sequence and the prompts for your own controls.
Hua leaps toward you with raised swords
- Response
- Stay ready to defend the continuing slashes.
- Opening to look for
- Look for the end of the sequence before testing a short punish.
- Common mistake
- Starting a long combo as soon as he lands.
Reveal video · Crimson Forest boss moveset
Footage interval reviewed · see build limits below
Fextralife’s moveset chapter shows Hua Qianxiao jumping toward Soul with raised swords. Keep watching for the continuing slashes; this excerpt does not measure a dodge window.
Fextralife · 2:02–2:17
Source & footage context
Creator-hosted recording; interval reviewed through bounded original-player playback and on-screen samples at 2:03.8 and 2:04.9. The configured player loaded, played and returned to paused on completion. This review checks the pictured situation, not frame-precise input timing. Exact game build, platform and difficulty are unconfirmed. Kingy has not played or tested this encounter.
Source record ↗ · Checked 2026-10-30
The original creator hosts the recording. If playback is restricted, use the YouTube link.
Prepare for a learning attempt
Editorial guidanceUse a weapon whose defensive responses you can repeat, and check your current healing supply at the bell. For an unfamiliar string, first watch how it ends before committing to a long combo. Short punish attempts make it easier to identify which action exposed you to the next hit.
This is editorial practice advice, not a tested winning build. The available route reports do not establish Hua Qianxiao’s complete moveset, frame windows or a difficulty-independent stagger rule.
Collect the blade and inspect the route below
Community-reportedThe route reports agree on The Fanatic’s Broken Blade reward. Grindnstrat describes the bridge collapsing after the fight: drop down and look for Simmering Brew, then continue toward the cave. Check the ground before leaving; the medicine is described as a pickup along the newly opened path.
Continue toward Quickhand Zhang and Outlaw Trap using the Crimson Forest walkthrough. Getting the weapon does not mean the forest’s side quests or boss sequence are complete.
Sources and how this guide was made
Updated: 2026-10-30. Checked: 2026-10-30. This guide uses official information and attributed reporting; Kingy has not play-tested these instructions. Each section links to its evidence.
Sources and coverage →