Monday, August 1, 2022

[Part Eight] The Secret of Miao Village: Dialogue Revelations & Sequence of Events

Recently, a previously-unseen Shenmue II prototype was successfully purchased at an online auction and, thanks to the generosity of the group behind the purchase, it was shortly afterwards released to the community. This discs were marked "Game Jam," which was the name of an event that occurred in April 2001.

Related post:
Perhaps one of the biggest questions at the forefront of the minds of many fans was whether the prototype would help reveal anything more on the topic of the legendary Miao Village that had been cut early in development.


And this proved to be the case! Shortly after the prototype's release to the community, the discovery of a wealth of Miao Village related dialogue content on the discs, in the form of Japanese subtitle files for conversations and events, was announced on the Shenmue Dojo forums by veteran Shenmue hacker LanDC (link to thread and discussion) with detailed explanations of several key conversation sections.

It is now possible to piece together a comprehensive picture of the cut story content, and confirm at last what had once been theories and suppositions: how Miao Village was to have been integrated into the main story, details of the bicycle quest with Xiaoqin, and the true meaning of the dialogue seen in the AM2 screenshots all those years ago.

Starting with today's post, we will be presenting as much of the newly-found Game Jam dialogue as possible, and present it in a logical order that reflects the most likely sequence of events relating to the Miao Village content.

Notes:
  • The conversations shown here have been translated from the Japanese dialogue data extracted from in the Game Jam discs. The original Japanese text is also provided for reference with each conversational interaction.
  • The original dialogue content that remains on the Game Jam version covers only a subset of all the characters that would have once been part of the Miao Village subplot, however it is still substantial enough to draw useful conclusions.
  • Some notes have been added in italics, such as to indicate when a character is pointing, or when new information has been learned that gives Ryo a new objective. These are speculations based on the dialogue context.
  • The Shenmue II order has been followed for the names of Chinese characters e.g. Lishao Tao (rather than Tao Li Shao). 
  • A selection of conversations with various characters has been included, included repeated questioning, to demonstrate the variety of interactions through which Ryo is able to acquire clues.

Miao Village Story Arc: Key Story Beats


Below are the key story beats that can be identified in the cut subplot. They have been assembled into an order that appears to fit the content best. 
  1. Cut Scene: Meeting Zhang & a Mission to Retrieve the Second Volume of the Wulinshu
  2. Searching for a Way to Miao Village
  3. Visiting Sunny Capital Pharmacy & a Bicycle Delivery Quest
  4. Medicine Delivery at Miao Village
  5. Looking for Kongzheng Luo's House
  6. A. The Fate of Kongzheng Luo
    B. Master Yunhai's Friendship with Kongzheng Luo
  7. A. Finding a Way to Enter Kongzheng Luo's House
    B. Obtaining the House Key
    C. Identifying the Boy in the Photo
  8. Talking with Zhengye Luo
  9. Cut Scene: Visiting Master Yunhai at Miao Guang Temple
  10. Delivering the Wulinshu to Zhang
We'll run through each of these in detail.

Starting Point of the Miao Village Cut Content


The first relevant dialogue is a cut scene, that takes place with Yuanda Zhu's aide, Zhang. At this point in the story, it can be assumed that the following events have occurred as they do in the release version of the game:
  • Ryo has met Lishao Tao and discovered the Wulinshu in the library at Man Mo Temple. Inside the book he found a note with the Chawan Sign, which serves as his next clue to locating Yuanda Zhu.
  • After making the Chawan Sign at the Dou Jiang Diner, he has met with a man in a brown suit, who we later find out is named Zhang, who revealed that he serves Yuanda Zhu. However before Ryo had a chance to ask him any questions, several thugs burst into the restaurant and abducted Zhang.
  • A QTE event played out in which Ryo chases after the thugs - dodging a watermelon projectile in the process - and Zhang was rescued, thanks to the invisible help of Xiuying.
Ambush at the Dou Jiang Diner (screenshot from release version)

This brings us to the likely point of the first scene of cut content we will be looking at, in which Ryo talks with Zhang once again after the thugs have been defeated.

1. Cut Scene: Meeting Zhang & a Mission to Retrieve the Second Volume of the Wulinshu

Synopsis:

Ryo meets Shuqin Zhang, the aide of Yuanda Zhu, for the first time. Zhang reveals that the Wulinshu's second volume has been entrusted to a man named Kongzheng Luo at Miao Village. Zhang asks Ryo to retrieve it for him to prevent it from being obtained by the Chiyoumen.

Notes:

This cut scene starts in a similar manner to the cut scene in the release version, and the opening lines match the ones from the release version. The location can thus be assumed to be the Dou Jiang Diner. 

However, rather than suggesting Ryo seek out Ren of Heavens to help try to locate Yuanda Zhu, as in the release version, Zhang instead informs Ryo of the importance of preventing the second volume of the Wulinshu from falling into the hands of the Chiyoumen, as it contains secret information about "certain old mirrors".

From the wording of the conversation, it seems that Ryo was already aware of the existence of a second volume of the Wulinshu, but not its whereabouts. Perhaps he learned this from Xiuying earlier, or the first volume may have been marked as such when he examined it at Man Mo Temple.

Shuqin Zhang (character ID: CHO)

Cut Scene:

Tap for Original Dialogue (日本語)

張「先日は申し訳ないことをしました。」

涼「いえ、俺は大丈夫です。&それよりも…

朱元達さんを&ご存じなんですね?」

張「…あなたは?」

涼「俺は芭月涼といいます。」

張「これは…朱元達の手紙…

この芭月巌という方は、&あなたの…?」

涼「父です。

藍帝という男に&殺されました…」

張「蚩尤門の手が、もう日本にまで…

私は張…朱元達の側近です。」

涼「朱元達さんはどこに?」

張「蚩尤門に狙われ、身を隠されました…」

涼「なぜ蚩尤門に?」

張「武林書です…」

涼「武林書?」

張「朱は蚩尤門がある拳法に、

強い関心を持っていることに&気づきました。

武林書には、蚩尤門の秘密が&隠されているのです。」

涼「秘密?」

張「そう、ある古い鏡に&まつわる秘密が…」

涼「しかし、上巻にそんなものは…

ということは下巻…

下巻は今どこに!?」

張「朱は、苗村の羅孔征という男に&託されたと…」

涼「…苗村の…羅孔征…」

張「蚩尤門が気づく前に、&武林書を取り戻さなければ…

私は顔を知られています。&できれば、あなたに…」

涼「…わかりました。

苗村に行くには?」

張「苗村はワンチャイの南にある&少数民族の村です。

また豆将軒で会いましょう。」

涼「はい…」

Zhang: I am deeply regretful for what happened the other day.
Ryo: I'm fine. And, more importantly... you know Mr. Yuanda Zhu, don't you?

Zhang: You are...?

Ryo: My name is Ryo Hazuki.

Ryo hands him the letter from Yuanda Zhu to his father.

Zhang examines the letter (release version)

Zhang: This is Zhu's letter. Iwao Hazuki is your...?

Ryo: My father. He was killed by a man called Lan Di.

Zhang: The Chiyoumen's power has already spread to Japan...

Zhang passes back the letter. 

Zhang: My name is Zhang. I work closely with Zhu.

Ryo: Where is Zhu?

Zhang: At the moment, I don't know where he is. He has hidden himself from the Chiyoumen.

Ryo: Why is the Chiyoumen after him?

Zhang: For the Wulinshu...

Ryo: The Wulinshu?

Zhang: Zhu realized that the Chiyoumen is strongly interested in a particular martial art. The Wulinshu contains the Chiyoumen's secret hidden inside.

Ryo: A secret?

Zhang: Yes, a secret surrounding certain old mirrors...

Ryo: But there was nothing about that in the first volume... So it must be in the second volume... Where is this second volume?!

Zhang: I believe Zhu entrusted it to a man named Kongzheng Luo in Miao Village.

Ryo: Kongzheng Luo... in Miao Village...

Zhang: I must retrieve the Wulinshu before the Chiyoumen realize... My face is known. Would it be possible for you to...?

Ryo: Very well. How do I get to Miao Village?

Zhang: Miao Village is an ethnic village located south of Wan Chai. Let's meet again at the Dou Jiang Diner.

Ryo: Alright...
[Ryo now has the new objective of finding a way to Miao Village from Wan Chai.]

This unused model is the second volume of the Wulinshu.

2. Searching for a Way to Miao Village


Ryo's Current Objective:

Ryo is looking for information on how to get to Miao Village, which he has been told is located to the south of Wan Chai.

Synopsis:

Ryo calls in at a travel agency in Wan Chai and asks the agent, Yangming Dong, about how to get to Miao Village. The agent informs him that the only access is via a mountain road near the Sunny Capital Pharmacy in the South Carmain Qr.

Notes:

The travel agency location does not appear to be present in the release version of the game. The character of Yangming Dong is present, however his role has been changed to a general pedestrian who plays the Lucky Hit boards around Hong Kong.

Yangming Dong (character ID: KOO)

Update 2022/08/02:

A couple of additional interesting connections relating to this character have been identified by Stuart (tweet 1tweet 2) who runs the Shenmusings blog:
  • Yangming Dong features in the Shenmue II Shenmue Goodies, which was a bonus folder of content on Disc 1 of the released game. It contained a VMU-style portrait for this character and an animation. In the animation, he appears to be talking enthusiastically, as if promoting a tour, while offering a brochure of some kind.


  • In the Game Jam version of Shenmue II, there is a sign attached to a fence in the South Carmain Qr that reads "Man Mo Travel Co." in the Game Jam prototype - but in the release version the last two words on this sign are obscured. 
    "Man Mo Travel Co" can be seen on a sign in the Game Jam build (left) but the final words were obscured in the release version (right). Screenshots from the Sega Dreamcast Info site.

    Walking along the road in the direction of the arrow brings us to a larger version of the sign (with partially-obscured text) attached to the wall. The deliberate concealment of the name of this sign points to removal of the travel agency before the game's release.
    Boarded-up shop front, further along the road.

Free Quest Conversation:

Tap for Original Dialogue (日本語)

涼「すいません。」

陽明「いらっしゃいませ。」

涼「苗村に行きたいんですが…」

陽明「苗村?失礼ですが、 観光でございますか?」

涼「いえ、人を探してて…」

陽明「ああ、なるほど。

お客様、紅南街のはずれに 山道があるのはご存知ですか?」

涼「山道?いえ、よくは。」

陽明「そうです。 あの山道を行けば苗村です。

明京薬舗って薬屋の近くなんですが、 その山道を行けば苗村です。」

涼「明京薬舗… わかりました。

苗村へは…」

陽明「苗村へは紅南街からしか まいれませんので…」

Ryo: Excuse me.

Yangming: Welcome! Please, have a seat. How can I help you today?

Ryo: I'd like to go to Miao Village.

Yangming: Miao Village? Pardon me for asking, but is it for sightseeing?

Ryo: No, I'm looking for someone.

Yangming: Oh, I see. Do you know there's a mountain road at the end of South Carmain Qr.?

Ryo: A mountain road? No, I'm not familiar with it.

Yangming: Yes, sir. There's a mountain road near a pharmacy called Sunny Capital Pharmacy, and if you take that, you will reach Miao Village.

Ryo: Sunny Capital Pharmacy... Got it. 

[Ryo now has the objective of finding Sunny Capital Pharmacy.]

If Ryo questions him further:
Ryo: About going to Miao Village...

Yangming: Miao Village can only be reached from South Carmain Qr... 

3. Visiting Sunny Capital Pharmacy & a Bicycle Delivery Quest


Ryo's Current Objective:

Locate the mountain road near Sunny Capital Pharmacy in South Carmain Qr.

Synopsis:

On arriving at Sunny Capital Pharmacy, Ryo is asked by its elderly owner if he could help make a medicine delivery by bicycle to Grandmother Zong in Miao Village, accompanied by his granddaughter, Xiaoqin.

Notes:

The dialogue in this section gives context to the AM2 screenshots showing Ryo on a bicycle with Xiaoqin outside Sunny Capital Pharmacy.

As we investigated in a previous post, Sunny Capital Pharmacy was originally to have been located on a road at the southern tip of South Carmain Qr but was moved for the final release. Also, the model for Xiaoqin's grandfather, Fushou Liu, became the model for Yiming Shi of Wise Men's Chemist in the release.


The term "grandmother" in the dialogue below is used as a general expression for an elderly lady, not a family relationship.


Cut Scene:

Tap for Original Dialogue (日本語)

シャオキン「うわーん!」

涼「大丈夫か!?

まだ小さいから無理だよ。」

福寿「なんと心のおやさしい…

おそれいります。」

涼「いえ…」

福寿「お若い方…

ひとつ頼みがあるんじゃが。」

涼「頼みというと…」

福寿「苗村の宗ばあさんに&薬を届けてくださらぬか。」

涼「苗村?」

福寿「苗族の小さな村です。」

涼「その村を探してたんです!」

福寿「この子に案内させましょう。」

涼「わかりました!&ぜひ、やらせてください!」

福寿「ありがとうございます。

わしはこの通りで&この子がかわりに薬を届けると…

なにぶん孫と2人暮らしで、&困っていたところでした。」

涼「わかりました。」

福寿「いまどき珍しい&心のやさしいお方じゃ…

山あいの小さな村です。」

涼「ちょうど俺も、&苗村に用があるので…」

シャオキン「いってきまーす!」


As Ryo descends the stairs towards Sunny Capital Pharmacy, he sees Xiaoqin falling from her grandfather's bicycle which is standing on the road in front of the store. Her grandfather, Fushou Liu, is sitting at the shop entrance. Ryo comforts Xiaoqin.
Xiaoqin: Boo hoo!

Ryo: Are you okay?! You'll have to wait until you're older.

Liu: How kind-hearted you are. Thank you for that.

Ryo: Not at all.

Liu: Young man... I have a favor to ask.

Ryo: What kind of favor?

Liu: Could you please deliver some medicine to Grandmother Zong in Miao Village?

Ryo: Miao Village?

Liu: It's a small village of the Miao people.

Ryo: I've been looking for that village!

Liu: My granddaughter can guide you.

Ryo: Sure! I'll gladly do it!

Liu: Thank you very much. As you can see, I'm not fit to go myself, and my granddaughter can't easily deliver the herbs in my place... There's just the two of us living together, so I've been in a bit of a bind.

Ryo: No problem. It so happens that I have an errand in Miao Village.

Liu: What a kind-hearted young man you are, which is so rare nowadays... It's a small village in the mountains.
Ryo lifts Xiaoqin onto the back of the bicycle, then gets on himself and starts off.
Xiaoqin: Off we go!
[Ryo's objective is now to deliver the medicine to Grandmother Zong.]

The screenshot released by AM2 shows Ryo and Xiaoqin (character ID: MII) about to set off to Miao village, watched by her grandfather, Fushou Liu (character ID: HKJ).

4. Medicine Delivery at Miao Village


Ryo's Current Objective:

Ryo's immediate goal at Miao Village is now to deliver medicine to Grandmother Zong; his secondary goal is to locate Kongzheng Luo and retrieve the Wulinshu's second volume.

Synopsis:

Ryo rides with Xiaoqin by bicycle from the South Carmain Qr. up a mountain road to Miao Village and delivers the medicinal herbs to Grandmother Zong.

Cut Scene:

Tap for Original Dialogue (日本語)

涼「ふっ…」

シャオキン「おにいちゃん、みゃおそんだよ!」

涼「おばあさんの家はどこだい?」

シャオキン「うーんとね…

あ、あそこ!&煙の出てるとこ!

着いた! 着いた!」

涼「おじゃまします。」

シャオキン「おばあちゃん!」

徳喜「シャオキンじゃないか。」

シャオキン「…おばあちゃん!」

涼「薬を届けに来ました。」

徳喜「それはそれは&わざわざ遠いとこまで…」

シャオキン「うん!&おばあちゃん、お花!」

徳喜「ありがとう、シャオキン…」

シャオキン「おじいちゃんがケガしちゃったの…」

徳喜「そうかい。大変だったねえ…」

シャオキン「うん!

だからシャオちゃん、&おてつだいしてるんだ。」

徳喜「おや、シャオキンはエライねえ。&じゃあ、お菓子あげよう。」

シャオキン「わーい!

ありがとう!」

涼「それじゃ、俺はこれで…」

シャオキン「ありがとう、お兄ちゃん!」

徳喜「ありがとうございました。」


Ryo pedals the bicycle along the road out of Wan Chai, which leads over a grassy plain and eventually starts to climb up into the mountains.
Ryo: (Puff...)

The screen fades to black, and the loading screen for Miao Village displayed.

The loading screen for Miao Village

Rural houses come into view.
Xiaoqin: Big bro, it's Miao Village!
Ryo dismounts and lifts Xiaoqin down.
Ryo: Where is Grandmother Zong's house?

Xiaoqin: Um... Oh, it's over there! Where the smoke is!
Xiaoqin points towards one of the houses nearby that has smoke emitting from its chimney. Ryo follows Xiaoqin towards the house.
Xiaoqin: We're here! We're here!
The house's front door is open, and they go inside. The house's elderly owner, Dexi Zong, is there.
Dexi Zong (character ID: TKY)
Ryo: Excuse me.

Xiaoqin: Granny!

Grandmother Zong: Is that you, Xiaoqin?

Xiaoqin runs over and gives her a hug. 

Xiaoqin: Granny!

Ryo: We've brought your medicine.

Grandmother Zong: What a long way for you to have come...

Xiaoqin: Yeah! Here are some flowers for you, Granny!
Xiaoqin gives her the herbs.
Grandmother Zong: Thank you, Xiaoqin...

Xiaoqin: My grandpa got hurt.

Grandmother Zong: Oh, I'm sorry to hear that...

Xiaoqin: Yeah. That's why I'm helping out.

Grandmother Zong: Oh, you're such a good girl. Here are some sweets for you.

She gives Xiaoqin some candy.

Xiaoqin: Yay! Thank you!

Ryo: Well, I'd better be going...

Xiaoqin: Thank you, big bro!

Grandmother Zong: Thank you very much.

Ryo leaves the house.

[The cut scene ends and Ryo is free to explore. Xiaoqin also wanders the village on her own, as can be seen in the beta screenshots. As Ryo has not yet completed the Kongzhen Luo quest, the game would prevent him from leaving the village too early with the following line:]

Ryo: I should look around some more.


5. Looking for Kongzheng Luo's House


Ryo's Current Objective:

Locate Kongzheng Luo's house in Miao Village.

Synopsis:

Ryo explores Miao Village and speaks with the residents to find out where Kongzheng Luo lives.

Notes:

The extracts below include conversations with:
  • The quirky village witch doctor Dieling Miao, who claims to know what Ryo wants to ask before he even opens his mouth. He even makes mention of a Blue Dragon which is a clear reference to Lan Di, who is also known as Cang Long (the written characters for which mean "blue dragon").
  • The cryptic Xiangqi Long, who clearly doesn't want Ryo stirring up trouble in the village, and seems especially protective of a certain female resident
  • Master Yunhai, the priest at the local temple on a nearby hill - if Ryo happens to have made a detour there.
The mention of flowers laid outside Luo's house is a clever way of highlighting the house for the player, as well as a hint at his untimely fate.

Conversation 5.1: Dexi Zong
Dexi Zong (character ID: TKY)

Tap for Original Dialogue (日本語)

涼「すいません。」

徳喜「オヤあんたかい。

何だね?」

涼「羅孔征さんの家はどこですか?」

徳喜「…悪いけど、表で若い衆にでも

聞いてくれるかね?」

涼「…はい。

羅孔征さんの家ですが…」

徳喜「広場の方に誰かいるだろうから。

橋を渡れば誰かいるだろうから。」

徳喜「ちょっと歩くし…

そっちで聞いておくれ。」

徳喜「先の方で聞いておくれ。

村の奥の方で聞いておくれ。」

涼「そうですか…

どうも。」


Ryo may choose to go back inside Grandmother Zong's house, to whom he has just delivered the herbs, and speak with her again.
Ryo: Excuse me.

Grandmother Zong: Oh, it's you again. What can I do for you?

Ryo: Where does Mr. Kongzheng Luo live?

Grandmother Zong: I'm sorry, but would you mind asking one of the young folk outside?

Ryo: Okay.
If Ryo speaks to her a second time:
Ryo: About Mr. Kongzheng Luo's house...

Grandmother Zong: There will be someone over in the village square. Try asking there.

Ryo: I see... Thank you.

If Ryo persists a third time:
Ryo: About Mr. Kongzheng Luo's house...

Grandmother Zong: If you cross the bridge, there will be someone there. Try asking further inside the village.

Ryo: I see... Thank you.

Conversation 5.2: Dieling Miao (witch doctor)

Dieling Miao (character model: CHL)
Tap for Original Dialogue (日本語)

苗「そこの若者、お待ちなされ。」

涼「……俺ですか。」

苗「そうじゃ。

『羅孔征の家を探している

教えてほしい』だね。」

苗「あっちじゃ。」

涼「はい、その通りです。

でも、なぜ……。」

苗「わしは、この村のまじない師。

なんでも知っている。」

涼「すごい、ありがとうございます。

あの…」

苗「海を越えて来た若者よ、

青き龍を追い求めし若者よ、」

苗「武徳を知る若者よ、

羅孔征の家はあっちじゃ。」

涼「ありがとうございます」

[It appears that conversations with Dieling start when Ryo is close, without the player initiating it] 

Dieling: You there, young man! Wait a second.

Ryo: You mean me...?

Dieling: Yes. You're going to say that you're looking for the house of Kongzheng Luo, and could I please tell you where it is, right? It's over there.

Dieling points in the direction.

Ryo: Yes, you're right. But how did you...?

Dieling: I am the village witch doctor. I know everything.

Ryo: Wow. Thank you.
If Ryo speaks to him again:
Ryo: Um...

Dieling:
[One of these lines is chosen randomly:] 
O young man from across the sea, / O young man in pursuit of the Blue Dragon, / O young man who knows the Wude, 
Kongzheng Luo's house is that way.
Dieling points in the direction.
Ryo: Thank you.

Conversation 5.3: Xiangqi Long

Xiangqi Long (character model: SKY)

Tap for Original Dialogue (日本語)

涼「すいません。」

祥啓「ん、なんだ?」

涼「羅孔征さんの家を探してるんですが。」

祥啓「羅孔征…さんだと?」

涼「はい。」

祥啓「その目を見る限り…

どうやら悪人の類では

ないようだが…」

祥啓「この村でその名は

あまり口にしないほうがいい。」

涼「なぜ?」

祥啓「…いずれわかる。

向こうだ。」

涼「向こう?」

祥啓「羅孔征さんの家を

知りたいんだろう?」

祥啓「花の置いてある家だ。すぐわかる。

行っても会えはしないがな…」

涼「え?」

祥啓「それから!

この村で物をたずねるなら、」

祥啓「次から向こうにある寺へ行け。」

涼「寺…」

祥啓「ほかの住民を巻き込むな。

特に翠麗はな。」

涼「巻き込む?

翠麗?」

祥啓「わからなければいい。

とにかくもう俺たちに関わるな。」

祥啓「ここでは何より、

平穏が重んじられるのだ。」

涼「…どうも。」

Ryo: Excuse me.

Xiangqi: Hm? What is it?

Ryo: I'm looking for the house of Mr. Kongzheng Luo.

Xiangqi: Mr... Kongzheng Luo, you say?

Ryo: Yes, I'm looking for him.

Xiangqi: From the look in your eyes, you don't seem to be a bad guy. But it's better not to mention his name in this village.

Ryo: Why?

Xiangqi: You'll find out. Over there.
Xiangqi points in the direction.
Ryo: Over there?

Xiangqi: You're wanting to know which is Kongzheng Luo's house, aren't you? It's the house with the flowers laid outside. Can't miss it. You won't find him there, though...

Ryo: What?

Xiangqi: Another thing! If you want to ask about something in this village, go to the temple that's over that way.
Xiangqi points in another direction.
Ryo: The temple...

Xiangqi: Don't involve the other residents. Especially not Cuili.
Ryo: Involve others..? Cuili..?

Xiangqi: If you don't know what I mean, then... good. Anyway, don't involve us. Peace is the most important thing to us here.

Ryo: Thanks...
Cuili Ke, whom Xiangqi mentions, is another resident of Miao Village. (Character model: SRI)


Conversation 5.4: Master Yunhai (Priest)

Master Yunhai (character ID: OSY)

Notes:

A set of VMU-style graphics can also be found for this character within the Shenmue Goodies.


Tap for Original Dialogue (日本語)

涼「すいません。」

雲海「何かご用かの。」

涼「羅孔征さんの家って

どっちですか?」

雲海「ここを下りて

まっすぐ行った所じゃ。」

涼「ありがとうございます。」

雲海「おぬし、なにゆえに

羅孔征の家を?」

涼「羅孔征さんに会って、

聞きたいことがあるんです。」

雲海「それは無理じゃな。」

涼「えっ?」

雲海「もうおらんよ。

2週間ほど前に他界しておる。」

涼「本当ですか?」

雲海「拙僧はウソなどつかぬ。

疑うなら、あやつの家に

行ってみるがよい。」

涼「わかりました。

行ってみます。」

Ryo: Excuse me.

Master Yunhai: How can I help you?

Ryo: Which way is Kongzheng Luo's house?

Master Yunhai: Go down from here and straight ahead.

Ryo: Thank you very much.

Master Yunhai: What is your purpose for going to Kongzheng Luo's house?

Ryo: I want to meet him to ask him some questions.

Master Yunhai: That won't be possible.

Ryo: What?

Master Yunhai: He's not here anymore. He passed away about two weeks ago.

Ryo: Really?

Master Yunhai: Priests don't tell lies. If you doubt me, go to his house to see for yourself.

Ryo: I understand. I'll try going there.
[Ryo's objective is to search Luo's house for clues.]

6A. The Fate of Kongzheng Luo


Minor Story Branch

At this point, there are potential skippable conversations, depending on whether Ryo has learned about Kongzheng Luo's death or not. The conversations in this section apply if Ryo has found Kongzheng Luo's house, but has not yet learned of his death. If he has already learned of Luo's death, this section is skipped and Section 7 (Finding a Way to Enter Kongzheng Luo's House) is followed.


Ryo's Current Objective:

Ask around the village about Kongzheng Luo's whereabouts.

Synopsis:

Ryo has found Kongzheng Luo's house to be locked, so he talks with the village residents and is informed that Kongzheng Luo was killed two weeks earlier by thugs.

Notes:

Based on the conversations, it can be assumed that when Ryo visited Kongzheng Luo's house, he found the house closed up, and there was no answer when he knocked at the front door.


Conversation 6A-1: Wenyuan Ma

Wenyuan Ma (character ID: BNE)

Tap for Original Dialogue (日本語)

涼「羅孔征さんを探してるんですが…」

文円「あんた、知らんのかね?」

涼「えっ?」

文円「羅さんなら亡くなったよ。

2週間ほど前に。」

涼「亡くなった…」

文円「まだ、若かったんじゃがな…」

涼「羅孔征さんが亡くなった理由は?」

文円「あんた、どこから来たのかね?」

涼「ワンチャイの文武廟から。」

文円「文武廟…。

桃李少老師の門弟かね?」

涼「え、ええ…そうです。」

文円「ふむ。ならば信用しても…」

涼「羅孔征さんのことで

何か知ってるんですか?」

文円「あまり大きな声では

言えぬが…」

文円「羅さんは殺されたんじゃ。」

涼「殺された…。いったい誰に?」

文円「さぁ。そこまではわしも…

羅さんを倒したとなれば、

よほどの手練れと思うが…」

涼「羅孔征さんのことなんですが…」

文円「じつに惜しい男をなくしたのう。

うらみを買うような男では

なかった…」

文円「立派な拳法家だったんじゃが。」

涼「そうですか。」

Ryo: I'm looking for Mr. Kongzheng Luo.

Wenyuan: You don't know?

Ryo: Huh?

Wenyuan: Kongzheng Luo passed away, about two weeks ago.

Ryo: Passed away...

Wenyuan: He was still young.

Ryo: How did Mr. Luo die?

Wenyuan: Where have you come from?

Ryo: From Man Mo Temple in Wan Chai.

Wenyuan: Man Mo Temple... Are you a student of Master Lishao Tao?

Ryo: Y- yes... that's right.

Wenyuan: Hmm. Then I should be able to trust you...

Ryo: Do you know something about Mr. Luo?

Wenyuan: I mustn't say this too loudly, but... Mr. Luo was murdered.

Ryo: Murdered... By whom?

Wenyuan: Well, I don't know. But to have killed Mr. Luo, he must have been very skilled.
If Ryo asks again:
Ryo: About Mr. Kongzheng Luo...

Wenyuan: We have lost a very fine man. He wasn't the kind of man against whom people hold a grudge...

Ryo: I see.


Conversation 6A-2: Dieling Miao (witch doctor)

Dieling Miao (character ID: CHL)

Tap for Original Dialogue (日本語)

苗「お待ちなされ。

お前さんが探している人物は

黒き蝶が連れていった。」

涼「え? それは…」

苗「この世にいない。

殺されてしまった。」

涼「えっ! なんだって!」

苗「蒼き龍が、羅の魂を

砕いてしまった。」

涼「蒼き龍……もしかして…」

苗「お前さんがよく知る男じゃよ。」

涼「藍帝、ヤツの仕業なのか!

くそう!」

苗「お前さんか……

何が聞きたい?」

涼「羅孔征さんに家族は?」

苗「いないわけではない。」

涼「本当ですか。」

苗「息子が一人いる。

征耶という名じゃ。」

涼「でも、羅さんの家には

誰もいませんでした。」

苗「征耶のボウヤに

会ってどうする?」

涼「……」

苗「答えなくともよい。

『ワンチャイに行く』と言っておった。」

涼「ワンチャイの……?」

苗「白秦街にいるようじゃ。」

涼「ありがとうございます。」


[Conversations with Dieling appear to start automatically when Ryo approaches, without the player initiating them]
Dieling: Hold on there! The person you are looking for was taken by the Black Butterfly.

Ryo: Huh? You mean...

Dieling: He is no longer with us. He was killed.

Ryo: What?! What did you say!

Dieling: The Blue Dragon has crushed Luo's soul.

Ryo: Blue Dragon.... could that be...?

Dieling: It is a man you know well.

Ryo: So Lan Di did this! Damn him!
If Ryo approaches him again without new information:
Dieling: Oh, it's you. What do you want to ask?

Ryo: Does Mr. Kongzheng Luo have any family?

Dieling: Well, I wouldn't say he has none.

Ryo: Really?

Dieling: He has one son. His name is Zhengye.

Ryo: But there was no one at Luo's house.

Dieling: What's the point in meeting little Zhengye?

Ryo: ...

Dieling: You don't need to answer that. He told me, 'I'm going to Wan Chai."

Ryo: Whereabouts in Wan Chai?

Dieling: I think he's in the White Dynasty Qr.

Ryo: Thank you very much.
[Ryo now has the new objective of finding Zhengye in the White Dynasty Qr.]


Conversation 6A-3: Rongli Ke


Note: Rongli Ke is the daughter of Cuili and younger sister of Yiming. In the release version of the game she appears as an operator of a gambling stand in Dragon Street.

Rongli Ke (character ID: EYR)

Tap for Original Dialogue (日本語)

涼「やあ。」

栄伶「…こんにちは…」

涼「羅孔征さんのこと、

何か知ってるかな?」

栄伶「…おじちゃん、死んじゃったって

母さん言ってた…」

涼「死んだ…?」

栄伶「ほんとだもん……

母さんも…兄ちゃんも言ってたもん」

涼「そうか……」

Ryo: Hi there.

Rongli: Hello.

Ryo: Do you know anything about Mr. Kongzheng Luo?

Rongli: My mom said that he* died.

Ryo: Died...?

Rongli: It's true! Mom said so... and so did my big bro.

Ryo: I see...

*The Japanese uses the word for "uncle" here, which could either be the literal relationship, or simply be a term referring to a middle-aged man.


Conversation 6A-4: Laifu Yu


Note: Laifu Yu has a younger sister, Linghua, and an elder sister, Yumei.
Laifu Yu (character ID: RFK)
Tap for Original Dialogue (日本語)

涼「羅孔征さんのことだけど…」

来福「おじさんなら、死んだよ。

天命をまっとうしたんだって、

ねえちゃんが言ってた。」

涼「…わかった。

ありがとう。」

涼「羅孔征さんのことなんだけど…」

来福「でも、心は生き続けるって、

ねえちゃんが言ってた。」

来福「人は死ぬと土に返るって、

ねえちゃんが言ってた。」

涼「…そうか。

ありがとう。」

Ryo: I'd like to ask you about a man named Kongzheng Luo...

Laifu: If it's about him*, he's dead. Big Sis said that he was fulfilling his destiny.

Ryo: I understand. Thanks.
*The Japanese uses the word for "uncle" here, which could either be the literal relationship, or simply be a term referring to a middle-aged man.

If Ryo asks again:

Ryo: About Mr. Kongzheng Luo...

Laifu: Big Sis said that his spirit lives on. When we die, we return to the earth, she said.

Ryo: I see... Thanks.

 

Conversation 6A-5: Xiaolan Ma

Xiaolan Ma (character ID: SHR)

Tap for Original Dialogue (日本語)

涼「羅孔征さんを

探してるんですが…」

少蘭「羅さんなら亡くなられましたが…」

涼「えっ?」

少蘭「2週間ほど前のことです。」

涼「いったい、どうして…?」

少蘭「さぁ、詳しい事情は

わたしにも…」

涼「羅孔征さんが亡くなった理由は?」

少蘭「わたしもウワサでしか…」

涼「ウワサ?」

少蘭「ええ。羅さんが誰かに

襲われたとか…」

少蘭「それもよそから来た人に。」

涼「じゃあ、殺されたと

いうことですか?」

少蘭「あまり大きな声では

言えませんが…」

涼「羅孔征さんが…」

涼「羅孔征さんのことなんですが…」

少蘭「子供思いの、よき父親でした。

うらまれるような人では

なかったんですが……」

少蘭「立派な拳法家でしたのに、

なぜ、あんなことが…」

涼「そうですか…

羅孔征さんのことを

聞きたいんですが…」

少蘭「でしたら苗光寺を

たずねられては。

和尚さんは羅さんとも

親しかったし。

聞けば、何か分かるかも…」

涼「わかりました。どうも。」

Ryo: I'm looking for Mr. Kongzheng Luo.

Xiaolan: If you're wanting Luo, he passed away...

Ryo: What?

Xiaolan: About two weeks ago.

Ryo: How in the world did it happen...?

Xiaolan: I don't know the details.

Ryo: Why did Mr. Luo die?

Xiaolan: I've only heard rumors...

Ryo: Rumors?

Xiaolan: Yes. That someone attacked Mr. Luo... someone from outside the village.

Ryo: So you mean he was killed?

Xiaolan: But I mustn't say it too loudly...
If Ryo asks further:
Ryo: About Kongzheng Luo...

Xiaolan: He was a good father who loved his children. He was a great martial artist... how could anyone do such a thing?

Ryo: I see...
If Ryo asks further:
Ryo: I'd like to ask you about Kongzheng Luo.

Xiaolan: Then why don't you go to Miao Guang Temple? The priest was close to Mr. Luo. If you ask him, maybe he can tell you something...

Ryo: Okay. Thanks.
[Ryo now has the objective of visiting Miao Guang Temple.]


Conversation 6A-6: Caihua Ma

Caihua Ma (character ID: SIK)

Tap for Original Dialogue (日本語)

涼「羅孔征さんのことを

聞きたいんですが…」

菜花「だったら苗光寺を

たずねなされ。」

菜花「雲海和尚なら何か知ってるかも…」

涼「何か武術の本とか、

話に聞いたことないですか?」

菜花「さぁ。だけどこの村で一番、

和尚さんが親しかったし。」

菜花「聞けば、何か分かるんじゃ…」

Ryo: I'd like to ask about Kongzheng Luo.

Caihua: Then go to Miao Guang Temple. Master Yunhai might know something...

Ryo: Have you ever heard mention of a book on martial arts?

Caihua: No, I haven't. But the priest was the closest person in this village to him. Maybe he can tell you something...
[Ryo now has the objective of visiting Miao Guang Temple.]


6B. Master Yunhai's Friendship with Kongzheng Luo


This optional section applies if Ryo has been directed visit Master Yunhai in Miao Guang Temple to learn more about what kind of man he was.

Ryo's Current Objective:

Visit Miao Guang Temple to speak with the priest about Kongzheng Luo.

Synopsis:

Ryo asks the way to Miao Guang Temple and speaks there with Master Yunhai, who regretfully tells him that Kongzheng did not confide in him about anything related to his death.


Conversation 6B-1: Xiangqi Long

Xiangqi Long (character model: SKY)

Tap for Original Dialogue (日本語)

涼「すみません。」

祥啓「…なんだ?」

涼「苗光寺を探してるんですが…」

祥啓「苗光寺?」

涼「向こう、ですか?」

祥啓「ああ。その道は苗光寺への

階段に続いている。」

涼「そうですか。どうも。」

Ryo: Excuse me.

Xiangqi: What is it?

Ryo: I'm looking for Miao Guang Temple.

Xiangqi: Miao Guang Temple?

Ryo: Is it over there?

Xiangqi: Yes. That path leads to the stairs up to Miao Guang Temple.

Ryo: I see. Thank you.


Conversation 6B-2: Master Yunhai (Priest)

Master Yunhai (character ID: OSY)
Tap for Original Dialogue (日本語)

涼「羅孔征さんって、

どんな方だったんですか?」

雲海「拳徳をもって立ち、

徳無ければ拳も虚し。」

雲海「それが口癖じゃった。」

涼「立派な拳法家だったんですね…」

雲海「いや、大バカ者じゃよ。

こんな老いぼれより先に

逝ってしまいおって…」

雲海「朋友の契りを忘れたか…」

涼「羅孔征さんはなぜ、

襲われたんですか?」

雲海「さっぱりわからんのう。

わしに言えば、

助太刀してやったものを。」

雲海「迷惑をかけまいとしおって…」

涼「そうですか…

羅孔征さんのことなんですが…」

雲海「曲がったことの嫌いな

頑固者じゃったよ。」

義にあつい、好漢じゃったよ。

惜しい男を亡くしたもんじゃよ…」

Ryo: What kind of person was Mr. Kongzheng Luo?

Master Yunhai: He used to say, "Stand with a fist of virtue. Without virtue, the fist is empty".

He always used to say that.

Ryo: He must have been a great martial artist...

Master Yunhai: No, he was a complete fool - to pass away before a decrepit old man like myself...

He must have forgotten our pact of friendship...

Ryo: Why was Kongzheng Luo attacked?

Master Yunhai: I have no idea.

If only he had said something to me, I could have helped him.

He didn't want to burden me...

Ryo: I see...
If Ryo speaks again:
Ryo: About Mr. Kongzheng Luo...

Master Yunhai: He was a stubborn man who hated anything crooked.

It's a great pity we lost him...
[Master Yunhai does not offer any further clues at this point. Hence, Ryo's likely course would be to return to the village to find a way into Kongzheng Luo's house to search for clues. See the upcoming Section 7.]


The remaining sections of dialogue interactions follow in the next post

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6 comments:

  1. Thank you very much.
    Thank you very much.
    Once more, thank you very much.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. What a kind-hearted person you are, which is so rare nowadays! (as Fushou Liu would say.)

      Delete
  2. Another great entry in this series. Thank you very much for your work. It's always very interesting to read it!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Many thanks for saying so! The next entry will be out shortly.

      Delete
  3. Given their colorful regional/traditional attire, it makes so much more sense these characters were originally meant for the countryside chapter, rather than being relegated to the ugly slums of Kowloon, where they do, indeed, look out-of-place...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, it all fits when you know! A lot of research and careful design clearly was put into their costumes for the original scenario.

      Delete