1st playthrough - stumbled upon this location and found a really cool Katana (Bolar's Oathblade).

2nd playthrough - Did NOT go to this location prior to completing the ILL MET BY MOONLIGHT quest because I wanted to try playing the game a different way (not going to dungeons unless instructed to do so to avoid glitches and items not leaving my inventory).

Will I ever be able to get the Katana? Will this dungeon ever revert back to what it looked like prior to completing the mission? I have read in some places that you should clear the dungeon first and then go back to it when you accept ILL MET BY MOONLIGHT quest. I am wondering if this is a bug or did I miss something?

This brings me to my next question and I cannot seem to get a straight answer. Why is it that some locations never clear? For example, I have killed every single person in Bloated Man's Grotto, I have opened every chest and I have completed the mission successfully.....and yet, it still doesn't say cleared (this has happened with other locations as well).

I'm sure the topic of 'areas not being cleared' has been mentioned, but I couldn't find any detailed explanations on this forum. An official response from Bethesda on how the game dictates whether a dungeon has been cleared or not would be much appreciated. Thanks!

yea & sometimes places discover themselves for me or clear when i havent cleared them...ive had that also of places not clearing....

and i just wanna say i do what you do & not visit a dungeon, cave etc...because i dnt wanna bug out a quest or misc obj . its such a shame that we cant go exploring without worrying if i clear this will it be glitched for something else or oh i better not take that path to that hidden cave IT MIGHT BUG OUT.... and they said play how you want & go where you want ....i cant! evey place i explore or every named item, i have to b careful because it might glitch