Immortal Chapter 37 Summary: Memories Return and a Passionate Reunion

⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.

Summary

Liyen wakes in her locked room after her experience with the Mirror of Destiny. She examines her reflection, recognizing that her face has always been the same; her immortal name surfaces but she chooses to remain Liyen. She tests her ice magic, finding it weaker because part of her lifeforce remains damaged from the Wangchuan waters. Exhausted, she falls asleep.

A dream-plunge into a battlefield memory: Liyen sees herself as an immortal warrior in gold armor. She watches Queen Caihong—her mother—battling Wuxin soldiers alongside a broad-shouldered warrior. A hooded enemy hurls a green curse at the queen. The warrior pushes her mother to safety, taking the full brunt of the attack. Zhangwei shields Liyen from residual streaks, absorbing some of the curse. The warrior dies; Liyen recognizes him as her father. She wakes sobbing.

Zhangwei has entered the room. Liyen attacks with a dagger but stops when she sees his face. He proves his identity by referencing their past intimate moments. They embrace. Zhangwei explains he infiltrated the Celestial Kingdom by impersonating a Wuxin soldier he interrogated. He describes the plan to share the single Divine Pearl Lotus between a mortal (Liyen) and an immortal (himself), which required her to remain mortal until the lotus was taken. Liyen reveals she rejected both the Wuxin and immortal destinies shown by the mirror, unwilling to let Tianxia be destroyed. Zhangwei vows to stand by her choice. They kiss passionately and become physically intimate; Liyen feels a profound sense of recognition and calls him "beloved," fully embracing their bond despite her fragmented memories.

Key Events

Liyen recovers her memories and tests her ice magic.
She dreams the traumatic death of her father in an ancient battle.
Zhangwei arrives in her room and proves his identity.
They discuss the long-hidden plan involving the Divine Pearl Lotus and Liyen's mortal state.
Liyen rejects both the Wuxin and immortal destinies to seek another path.
Liyen and Zhangwei consummate their love, deepening their connection.

Character Development

Liyen transitions from confusion to acceptance of her immortal past while retaining her mortal identity. She shows resilience in facing her father's death and demonstrates new confidence in wielding magic and expressing desire. Her choice to reject both fates marks a growth in agency and moral conviction.

Zhangwei reveals extremes of devotion: he risks death to find her, shows restraint in waiting, and respects her choices. His vulnerability and patience deepen his character beyond the warrior archetype.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Memory and Identity: Liyen grapples with fragmented recollections, searching for a coherent self that integrates her past life and present name.
Magic as Power and Cost: Her ice magic returns but is weakened, symbolizing the irreversible damage of her Wangchuan poisoning and the cost of survival.
Sacrifice and Healing: The shared-lotus plan required both partners to make sacrifices; Zhangwei's shielding in the dream reinforces selfless love.
Intimacy as Reclamation: Physical union becomes a way to bridge memory gaps and reaffirm belonging, healing emotional wounds.

Why This Chapter Matters

Chapter 37 is the emotional and narrative climax of Liyen's journey toward self-discovery. It solidifies her romantic relationship with Zhangwei, resolves long-standing mysteries about her past and the lotus plan, and establishes her refusal to accept a destiny chosen for her. This choice sets the stage for the final conflict with the Wuxin and her mother's court.

Study Questions and Answers

Why does Liyen reject both the Wuxin and immortal destinies shown by the Mirror of Destiny?
Liyen refuses to let Tianxia be ravaged by war and suffering. By rejecting both paths, she asserts her own moral judgment over predetermined fate, seeking a third way that preserves life.
How does Zhangwei's method of finding Liyen demonstrate his resourcefulness and dedication?
He infiltrates the Celestial Gateway by killing most Wuxin and coercing a survivor into revealing the safe passage. This shows his willingness to use lethal tactics and deception—and risk his own life—to reach her.
What role does physical intimacy play in Liyen's recovery of identity?
The act of union with Zhangwei triggers visceral recognition—she "knows" him with certainty despite missing memories. This emotional and physical connection heals old wounds and solidifies her sense of self and belonging.