Old Friend - walkthrough for sequence 9 | Walkthrough AC Chronicles: China Guide
Last update: 11 May 2016
Secrets:
- Synchronization points - 2
- Animus shards - 16
- Treasure chests - 2
Optional task: You must save three Concubines (500 points).
Obtainable upgrades:
- Increase Helix Bar - Increases Helix bar size. You must collect at least 800 points in this mission to obtain it.
- Increase Health - Increases Health bar size. You must collect at least 1200 points in this mission to obtain it.
- Faster Health Recharge - Increases health points regeneration speed. It is obtainable only in Plus and Plus Hard modes. Additionally, you must collect at least 2400 points.
General information: Ninth mission is one of longer ones. It has many hard "stealth" fragments. Using Helix ability might prove to be very useful and helpful. Saving Concubines optional task isn't easy as well. They are well guarded, so you must plan all your moves carefully.
Reaching main entrance
After performing a leap of faith, get out of haystack and hide behind the closest column. Use nearby columns as a cover and move between them when enemies will observe the water. Remember that columns don't offer full protection. You mustn't find yourself in enemy sight. After you reach the second column, wait for the guard on the right (the one with a shield) to walk right. Go after him and lower yourself at the edge. Now move to the right.
In the next territory you should start by holding to the ceiling and reach Helix boost. Use near edges to reach the upper ledge. Go right and take first Animus shard lying on the ground. If you want, you can use the scaffolding on the right and get another Helix boost. Otherwise, go to the highest ledge. Get close to enemy with the crossbow. Move after he goes right. Climb to the highest ledge and reach first synchronization point.
Keep walking to the right. Two enemies guard territory on the right. You should use Helix to jump between curtains undetected. If you don't want to use Helix, then you should use bamboo curtains to get close to the left guard and, after that, lure him away with a noise dart. Reach the right bushes and wait for the second guard to go left.
You're getting close to the room where you can find first Concubine who can be saved. However, first you must get through the highest floor of the building. Wait until guards start talking and jump through the left window. Quickly reach the right window and climb through it. After you avoid guards, quickly go to the right. After reaching the end of the ledge, lower yourself down on the edge.
Lower yourself on the edge so that you hold to the ladder on the ceiling. Move as far to the left as possible and wait for enemy with heightened senses to show. After he gets pass you quickly move to the left. Get close to a single enemy guarding a Concubine and kill him (you can hide his corpse, but it is not required). Get close to the woman to save her (upper directional button or moving your stick up).
Don't walk too quickly from the room. Use the fact that curtains are protecting you from detection. Once again, follow the enemy with heightened senses and hold to the ceiling to safely bypass him. After he walks away, you can jump to the lowest ledge and take second Animus shard. Return up and jump through the right balustrade.
There is a master (most elite type of enemies) in next location, but you don't need to be afraid of him. It's another territory in which using Helix is VERY helpful in remaining undetected. After activating it all you need to do is jump between columns. If you have used your Helix bar then things get more complicated. In that case, you should most of all focus on placing yourself on the correct side of columns. You can use upper ladders as well, although they don't offer full protection. As for the last enemy (the one with crossbow), walk out of hiding after he starts checking the river.
No matter what tactic you have chosen, you must reach the red ladder on the right. Under the scaffolding you will find first treasure chest. Walk as far to the right as possible (you must crouch), lower yourself on the edge and then move to the left. Open the chest and additionally collect Helix boost.
Using main entrance
Return to the upper ledge and start climbing. Replenish your throwing knifes supplies and use one of them on the rope visible on the right side. Wait for the wooden beam to create a new passage and use it. Hold to the ceiling and start climbing. Go to the further plan. Go left and carefully get close to the territory with three guards. Get to the lower right ledge where you will find third Animus shard.
Now reach the platform above two enemies with ranged weapons. Jump to the left edge and remain in the hanging position. Wait for one enemy to turn around and quickly lower yourself down. Reach the bottom. Now focus on avoiding enemy positioned further to the right. You can carefully jump between columns, use Helix or disorientate that enemy with a noise dart.
Walk under the scaffolding with previously mentioned enemy and hide behind a new column. You must avoid being detected by enemy watching through the window of building on the right. Jump to the closest hideout after he starts looking right. When he again starts observing left side, go out of hiding. Reach the right ladder and start climbing. If you want, you can enter the building with enemy. Inside you will find ammunition box, it is optional to get it.
After reaching another large and well guarded territory start with climbing on the highest ledge. It is located left from enemies. It will allow you to enter the building on the right. Inside you will find fourth Animus shard and Helix boost. After that, go to the bottom and hide behind bamboo curtains.
In this location you must carefully move between neighboring curtains. At first you must watch out for left enemy from the upper balcony and for the guard with a spear patrolling the main lower level. While you're going right, you should see fifth Animus shard on one of upper balconies. It is best to reach it from the left. Hang under the ledge with two enemies that have crossbows. Use noise dart to "encourage them" to look left. Then quickly jump behind you and walk through the left bamboo curtain (it is worth mentioning that curtains block enemy sighting radius).
Window seen on the right (left from the new enemy with crossbow) leads to the room with second Concubine. Sadly, reaching her won't be easy. You should stun the crossbowman with firecrackers. Then jump to his ledge. Don't climb on it, instead start moving on the edge to the right. You must get behind the enemy. After you succeed, use rope dart on the ladder at the ceiling and start slowly moving to the left. You can safely reach the window by waiting for enemy to look down and by distracting him again (firecrackers are recommended).
Room with the Concubine is guarded by a single enemy. You must climb through the window at correct time so that you will be behind him. Kill him, save the Concubine and return to the window. Once again you must distract enemy with crossbow (if you don't have firecrackers anymore, you can use noise dart). Move right and jump to the bottom where you will find sixth Animus shard.
Before you leave the previously described territory, look around for a ladder leading to lower level. Don't use it yet. Wait for one of guards residing below to turn in the opposite direction. Quickly walk to the bottom and use rope dart after you find yourself right from talking guards. It will allow you to get to the place where you will find seventh Animus shard.
Return above and go to the right. Use rope dart in new location on the left wooden construction. After upper enemy turns right climb up and take eighth Animus shard. Return down before you will be spotted. Move as far to the right as possible and get to the interactive ceiling. Climbing on the ledge will allow you to collect ninth Animus shard.
Passage through gardens
Return to the platform with eighth Animus shard. You must climb on it again and jump to the left ladder. Carefully bypass enemy with a crossbow (by crouching and sneaking). Keep walking, on the way run through the roof and get to the first plan. On right side you will find new synchronization point, so use Eagle Vision and perform a leap of faith. Walk out of haystack and go right. Get to the ceiling from another ledge to collect Helix boost and tenth Animus shard. Slightly further use ammunition box and run to further plan.
Go left and collect eleventh Animus shard. Twelfth Animus shard is on the upper ledge guarded by elite enemy (wait for him to go right). Now use interactive edges to get close to last Concubine (you can collect another Helix boost on the way). After the right guard gets far away from you, carefully lower yourself. Get as close to enemy with a spear as possible (the one that guards Concubine). Wait for enemy to turn around, quickly run to him and kill him. Now you can save Concubine.
Important - If you have trouble with reaching enemy with a spear on time, you can distract or stun him.
Reaching Empress' Tower
Go right and bypass new enemy by hiding behind a column (important - it will turn right after some time!).Reach the right column sticking out from the water and use it to reach higher balcony. Wait for another enemy to go left and quickly go right. Perform a long jump and run to further plan. On the left you will find second treasure chest, it is well hidden. To reach it you must crouch and walk through the tunnel shown on the picture above.
Return to previous location and use throwing knife on the upper rope. It will lower the ladder (and block access to previously looted treasure chest). Climb up, perform a jump to the right and use interactive edges to reach window. Walk through it and collect thirteenth Animus shard. Now you can go right.
Soon you will reach new territory with enemies. Once again, Helix ability will be of great help. You can use it to jump between curtains without the risk of being detected. If your Helix bar is depleted, then you must get through with regular actions. Be especially careful when you hide behind columns and you are only partially covered.
Wait for enemy with heightened senses to go towards the waterfall and start following him in crouching position. After you reach the waterfall, carefully hang on the edge. Watch out for enemy with a crossbow and move right. When you get behind enemy, climb up and go right. Go to the higher level.
Now you must go left. Wait until enemy with a shield starts checking the lower level and sneak behind his back. Do the same with enemy that has a spear. There are bushes nearby. Use them to reach the fourteenth Animus shard (don't move when enemy is nearby!). Return right and start using interactive edges visible on the further plan.
Jump to the right building and climb up. Hide behind bamboo curtains, wait for one of enemies to walk right and follow him. Jump through first window and get close to enemy looking through the fourth window. Use firecrackers (or some other gadget) to stun him, then start quickly using the edges to move right.
Go right. After a while you will get close to two enemies and fifteenth Animus shard. You can kill them and load last save point after you collect the secret. You can also get to the upper edges and from there try to lure them left with a noise dart.
Reach upper ledge and enter the left building. Replenish your ammunition and walk through the window. Wait for upper enemy to stop observing middle ladder. Quickly go up and then get close to the ceiling. Move left through a corner.
Don't go to the main mission target yet. First explore the lower territory. You will find last Animus shard there. To get it, first you must get through two new enemies.
After you obtain last secret you can return to the upper ledge. Jump on the roof of the construction under which you have found the shard. Jump to the left edges and use them to reach upper ledge. Now you must walk through the wooden beam. It will lead you to entrance to Empress' chamber.