The quick answer
Jianghu Friends are NPC relationships. Find an eligible character, open their chat, read the hint and respond to the concern it describes. Check the displayed relationship change; a pleasant reply alone does not prove the friendship rank increased.
On this page
Open the NPC’s own interaction
Look for eligible Jianghu Friend or Old Friend indicators while exploring, including the gold interaction icons. Approach the character and select the chat interaction when offered. This is not the same screen as inviting a real player from your friends list.
Read the character description or hint before typing. It usually explains the problem they want to discuss, which is more useful than guessing from their occupation alone.
Example: Wang Duobao near General’s Shrine
Wang Duobao sits fishing by the river near General’s Shrine, north of Stonewash Strand. His conversation concerns remembering fallen soldiers, rather than merely catching fish.
A sensible approach is to acknowledge that concern, explain why remembrance matters and suggest a concrete way to preserve the soldiers’ stories or honour them. Use your own short replies and respond to his latest question.
Our suggested opening would be: “What would help people here remember the soldiers?” This is an example of following the hint, not a guaranteed phrase that instantly completes the friendship.
Keep the conversation tied to the hint
- Identify the NPC’s concern in one sentence.
- Send one relevant reply or question.
- Read the response and look for a visible relationship change.
- Continue toward a practical resolution of that concern.
- If the chat loops or loses the topic, use its available refresh control and try a clearer opening.
Do not treat claims made inside the conversation as proof that an inventory item was delivered or a world quest completed. Check the relevant game interface for those outcomes.
Check the relationship state and reward availability
Developed NPC friendships can provide gifts, including recurring gifts at higher relationship ranks. Inspect that character’s recorded status and the available reward prompt. Avoid assuming every NPC uses the same payout or that replaying the conversation immediately gives another gift.
Our recommendation is to befriend characters you meet along an existing exploration route. That gives the activity context and avoids turning every conversation into a repeated search for an instant-completion phrase.
Keep three systems distinct
| System | Who or what it concerns |
|---|---|
| Jianghu Friends | NPC conversations and their individual relationship progress. |
| Player Intimacy and Partnership | Your bond with another human player. |
| Combat companions | Eligible support characters and activities that allow them. |