To develop a friendship with Zhao Dali in Where Winds Meet you must know what weighs on him the most. Zhao Dali communicates through AI dialogue with themes of isolation and opportunities no longer available to him. Your replies to Zhao Dali will affect the trust he places in you. This guide breaks down the conversation choices that actually raise his affection and explains how to steer his outlook toward hope rather than frustration.
What Actually Raises His Affection
Start from the location shown in the map image above. The focus should not be placed on feeling sorry for Zhao Dali or telling him what he needs to do. Zhao Dali’s reaction is that he wants help, so you either let him know you understand how he feels (support) or you encourage him to think positively about changing the outcome of his life. It’s suggested that the latter is often the most effective way to approach someone like Zhao Dali.
Instead of dwelling on his loneliness, shift the focus forward. Give him something to look forward to and a reason to believe things might turn around.
Dialogue Direction That Works
The best way to engage Zhao Dali is to focus on the banquet coming up as an opportunity rather than an obligation; treat him with confidence and encouragement as he prepares for events and remind him that meeting new individuals often leads to changes and increases his likeability toward himself and his relationship with others.
Subtle mentions of respected, unmarried attendees like Fairy Huang also helped. What mattered most wasn’t exact phrasing, but maintaining an optimistic, reassuring tone throughout the exchange.
When the Chat Doesn’t Go Your Way
AI conversations in Where Winds Meet don’t always play out the same way, even when you follow the right approach. Zhao Dali is generally more patient than certain other NPCs, but he can still hesitate or deny Revered status if the exchange doesn’t land properly.
When that happens, resetting the chat from the recycle icon and trying again usually helps. Keeping the tone positive while slightly changing your phrasing often makes the difference, and a few retries are sometimes all it takes.
Other Approaches Players Have Used
Some players reported success by taking a more direct or imaginative route:
- Promising to help him meet single women
- Telling him to stop dwelling on his situation and take initiative
- Claiming that someone he knows has romantic feelings for him
Zhao Dali doesn’t need realism. He needs encouragement. As long as your responses convince him that love is still on the table, his attitude shifts and his affection rises. The details can be exaggerated, indirect, or even unlikely. What matters is that you give him something to believe in.
