Immortal: 15 Questions and Answers About the Novel

1. Why did Grandfather give Liyen the Divine Pearl Lotus?

Liyen was dying from Wangchuan River water poisoning. Her grandfather, Zhao Likang, gave her the only antidote—a lotus he had stolen from Queen Caihong. He chose to sacrifice his honor and his life to save his granddaughter, knowing the immortals would punish him. The gift forces Liyen into a fate tied to immortal politics and the Wuxin threat.

Evidence context: In Chapter 2, Grandfather reveals Liyen is dying and hands her the lotus, which bonds to her. Aunt Shou confirms the queen came for it. This act sets the entire plot in motion, making Liyen a target for both immortals and Wuxin. The decision underscores the theme of sacrifice and love.

2. How did Aunt Shou orchestrate the events against Tianxia?

Aunt Shou, revealed as a Wuxin elder, poisoned Liyen with Wangchuan water to force her grandfather to give her the Divine Pearl Lotus instead of Queen Caihong. She also sent the Winged Devils to attack Liyen at the wall and later in the palace, all to ensure the lotus remained with the mortal realm and out of immortal hands.

Evidence context: In Chapter 34, Aunt Shou confesses her betrayal. She admits to poisoning Liyen and sending the Winged Devils; she wanted revenge against the immortals for her daughter’s death. This deception highlights the deep trust-and-deception fault lines in the story.

3. What was the God of War’s initial motive for courting Liyen?

Zhangwei, the God of War, feigned romantic interest in Liyen to orchestrate a ceremony where she would willingly gift him the Divine Pearl Lotus. He needed the lotus to heal a lingering wound from the Wuxin war. Their entire early relationship was a calculated trap, with false tenderness designed to secure her trust.

Evidence context: In Chapter 15, during the pledging ceremony, Zhangwei and Queen Caihong reveal the plan. He admits he enchanted her hair to extract the lotus. This betrayal is a turning point in the power-and-autonomy arc.

4. Why did Liyen refuse to forget her mortal memories at the Eternal Boatman?

The Eternal Boatman offered Liyen passage across the Wangchuan River if she gave up all memories of her mortal life. She refused because she would not discard her grandfather, her bond with Zhangwei, or her identity as Lady of Tianxia. She insisted on keeping her full self, choosing the pain of memory over the ease of forgetting.

Evidence context: Chapter 46 (chapter 45 in the outline) describes the deal. Liyen’s refusal reinforces the identity-and-choice theme, as she defines herself by every role she has held.

5. What is the significance of the red-thread bracelet?

Zhangwei fastened a red-thread bracelet on Liyen’s wrist when she arrived in the Immortal Realm. The bracelet counts down her allowed stay; if she overstays, she will die. It symbolises the time limit on her search for the Shield of Rivers and Mountains and reinforces the power imbalance between mortals and immortals.

Evidence context: In Chapter 6, Zhangwei explains the bracelet’s function. Liyen is forced to comply because she needs time to search for the shield. The bracelet becomes a physical reminder of the mortality-vs-immortality divide.

6. How does the Divine Pearl Lotus bond with Liyen?

When Liyen accepts the lotus from her grandfather, it disintegrates into shining flecks that enter her chest. The bonding causes burning heat followed by paralysis, leaving her temporarily unable to move or speak. After it finishes merging, a scar remains and Liyen gains enhanced strength and the ability to sense the lotus inside her.

Evidence context: Chapter 2 describes the physical sensation: “a blistering fire… followed by an icy numbness.” The lotus later becomes the object of conflict, as both immortals and Wuxin seek it from her body.

7. Why does Zhangwei allow Liyen to keep his sword?

Zhangwei gifts Liyen a sword that becomes her companion blade, the counterpart to his own legendary weapon. He trusts her with it partly because she carries the Divine Pearl Lotus, but also because he is beginning to care for her. When a Wuxin impostor tries to seize it, the sword disappears rather than submit, showing its magical bond to Liyen.

Evidence context: In Chapter 31, the false Chengyin attempts to take the sword, but it vanishes and burns his hand. Zhangwei later reveals he forged it for her. The sword represents the fragile trust underlying their power-and-autonomy struggles.

8. How does Liyen discover Chengyin is an impostor?

Liyen notices a scar on the impostor’s wrist that matches one she gave the real Chengyin in childhood. However, the impostor’s manner seems subtly wrong, and when Liyen tests him by mentioning the scar casually, he reacts without the genuine annoyance Chengyin would show. She then attacks him, forcing a fight that reveals his true Wuxin nature.

Evidence context: Chapter 31 details the discovery: “the scar on the underside of his wrist—the one I’d given him when we were children.” This moment underscores the trust-and-deception theme and Liyen’s growing ability to read people.

9. What does the Mirror of Destiny reveal about Liyen’s past?

The Mirror of Destiny shows Liyen two horrific futures, then restores her memories of being Queen Caihong’s immortal daughter. She was cursed during the Wuxin war and made mortal as a cure. The mirror also reveals that she chose to descend to the mortal realm to save Zhangwei, sacrificing her immortality for him.

Evidence context: In Chapter 36, Liyen demands her memories back. She learns she had a prior relationship with Zhangwei, which reframes their entire conflict as a tragic separation.

10. Why does Aunt Shou betray Liyen?

Aunt Shou, whose real name is Shou-yen, is a Wuxin elder who has lived in Tianxia for decades under disguise. She blames Queen Caihong for the death of her daughter, Damei, and seeks revenge against all immortals. She poisoned Liyen to force the lotus into mortal hands, planning to use it to weaken the immortal realm.

Evidence context: Chapter 33-34 reveals her motives. She says, “They murdered my people. They are wicked and false.” Her betrayal represents the devastating cost of the mortality-vs-immortality conflict.

11. How does Liyen open the gateway to Kunlun?

Forced by Lord Dalian to open the sealed gateway, Liyen cuts magical vines and throws one into the archway. The vine triggers a deadly burst of light that kills many Wuxin soldiers, including followers of Dalian. Her action breaks Dalian’s control and allows Zhangwei and Chengyin to act, though it traps the group in the Netherworld.

Evidence context: Chapter 43 describes her deliberate sabotage. Liyen refuses to cooperate fully, instead using her knowledge to strike at Dalian’s forces.

12. What is the deal between Liyen and Zhangwei after her return?

After escaping the Immortal Realm, Liyen negotiates with Zhangwei: he will secure Tianxia’s freedom from Queen Caihong, return the Shield of Rivers and Mountains, and dismantle the supernatural wall. In exchange, she will give him the Divine Pearl Lotus and his sword. Zhangwei agrees and offers to train her, forging a fragile alliance.

Evidence context: Chapter 20 (in the outline; chapter 20 in the book) details this negotiation. Both characters recognize they need each other, though trust remains absent. This deal drives the power-and-autonomy arc forward.

13. Why does Liyen propose a competition for consort?

After lying that she has Queen Caihong’s mandate, Liyen faces ministers who want to control her through marriage. To buy time and assert her authority, she announces a deadly competition to choose an imperial consort. The distraction allows her to consolidate power and keep the court focused elsewhere while she deals with the God of War and the Wuxin.

Evidence context: In Chapter 16, she makes this announcement after returning to Tianxia. Chengyin later supports her, and the ministers are unsettled by her assertiveness.

14. How do Liyen and Zhangwei escape the Netherworld?

The Eternal Boatman agrees to ferry them only if they pay with all their memories. Liyen refuses to give up her mortal memories. Aunt Shou and several Wuxin volunteers drink Wangchuan River water to forget their own grief and pain, providing the payment. The couple then crosses on a golden boat, leaving the Netherworld behind.

Evidence context: Chapter 45 (outline) and the description of the Eternal Boatman. Aunt Shou sacrifices her memory of her children, ending her arc of grief.

15. What is the outcome for Tianxia at the end of the novel?

Liyen reforms Tianxia’s government by appointing ministers based on merit and planning a democratic succession. Zhangwei arrives at court and offers marriage with a dowry: freeing Tianxia from the Golden Desert, tearing down the wall, and equipping guards with immortal weapons. The court accepts. Liyen realises her identity encompasses all her roles—mortal, queen, daughter, lover—and embraces her future.

Evidence context: Chapter 47 describes these reforms and the marriage proposal. Liyen’s growth as a leader fulfills the identity-and-choice and sacrifice-and-love themes. The wall’s removal echoes her grandfather’s dream of freedom.