Immortal

“The immortals will show us no mercy. Their God of War will burn Tianxia to the ground.”

This passage reveals the mercilessness of the gods and their lack of patience and empathy for mortals. They expect utter devotion while simultaneously considering mortals beneath them. This quality of immortals irks Liyen, who believes mortals should be treated as equals to immortals and given the same opportunities.

“You must hide Liyen until the Divine Pearl Lotus has merged with her body. Only then will its presence be concealed, and she can safely return here. Once the lotus has bonded with another, it cannot be seized—only gifted through a willing heart.”

This is the first mention of how the lotus must be willingly gifted. This detail seems small at first, but as Liyen becomes more emotionally connected with Zhangwei, this information poses a larger threat and creates tension in the narrative. Given her previous distrust of immortals and their apathetic greed, there remains the potential worry that Zhangwei’s feelings are a pretense to help him gain control of the lotus.

“Once, he’d told me: ‘There are lies of necessity and those of malice. Those you choose to tell will define your character.’ And now he’d done this to save us all, to ensure none suffered the immortals’ wrath but him.”

While this is mentioned throughout the novel only in terms of Liyen or her grandfather’s actions, this later applies to Zhangwei as well. When it is revealed that he’s lied to her in many ways, it at first seems like an egregious betrayal. However, it is later discovered that it was out of necessity—both their lives hinged upon the lies he told Liyen.

“I wanted to delay the moment when I had to face the immortals, not just because of the lotus but until I could safely leash my anger and grief.”

Liyen is one of the few characters in the novel who manages to successfully leash her negative feelings, separate them from her grief, and avoid her desire for vengeance. She recognizes that vengeance will only continue the cycle of violence and loss that she and her people have faced, and she is determined to break free of it.

“The statues in the temples seemed so cold and distant, but as a child, it had comforted me to reach for them in times of need—when there were fears and wishes I dared not share with another.”

This passage first seems relatively unimportant and not worth thinking twice about, but later when Liyen’s immortal past is revealed and her lost memories restored, this passage gains meaning. In subtle ways such as this, Sue Lynn Tan foreshadows the hidden past Liyen isn’t aware she’s missing and hints at the complexities of the immortals outside of the limited, hateful perception the mortal Liyen harbors for them.

“We were a kingdom of warriors, trained to serve—yet mortal blades could not shed immortal blood, whether god or monster. The queen was reluctant to arm us with the tools that could wound them, too—relinquishing just a few weapons to us, barely enough to outfit a single troop.”

The immortals expect the people of Tianxia to protect them and their precious Kunlun Mountains, yet give the soldiers no trust or protection in return. Their greed and lust for power prevents them from providing soldiers with the proper weaponry to defeat their enemies, all because of the fear that those weapons might someday be turned on themselves and pose a threat to their power.

“You think there is glory in this? You think I feel triumph […] You speak from ignorance.”

This first interaction Liyen has with the God of War already conflicts with the image she’s crafted of him in her mind. He does not seem to thrive on inflicting suffering and destruction as she first thought. These consistent contradictions between her perception and his true nature prompt conflicting feelings to emerge, heightening the tension of the story.

“Immortals could not be trusted. Their selfishness went deep, their rare kindnesses were calculated or accidental. They didn’t care about us; they’d never treat us as their equals. To the immortals, we were nothing but tools, tossed aside once we broke. That was why they didn’t deserve our service, why we had to be free of them.”

This quote encapsulates Liyen’s early distrust of the immortals. Her perception of immortals as self-serving and exploitative stems from both personal betrayal and the oppression of Tianxia, solidifying her determination to break free from their control. However, as the novel progresses, Liyen’s understanding of power becomes more nuanced—she learns that not all immortals are the same, just as not all mortals or Wuxin are purely good or evil, challenging the absolute nature of this belief.

“While no place is shielded from misfortune, at least it’s not intentionally caused, imposed as a punishment. We shouldn’t have to live within these walls when our world lies beyond them. Why must we set the immortals’ wants above our own, especially when they care nothing for us? Don’t you want us to live for ourselves?”

This quote highlights Liyen’s belief that Tianxia deserves autonomy and also reinforces the theme of Earning Rather than Demanding Devotion, as she is still open to becoming equal allies with the immortals. She argues that true freedom means choosing one’s fate rather than submitting to external control, a belief that continues to influence all Liyen’s decisions throughout the novel, including that of her own fate.

“The God of War might not be the monster he was rumored to be, but that did not mean he wasn’t dangerous. Part of me wanted to retreat from this perilous game—yet the stakes were too high. He held many things in his palm, including the safety of Tianxia. If I wanted to gain anything of worth, I needed to push the door between us wider to win his trust, to hide my resentment and loathing, to make him think I cared. And above all…I must never forget that I was pretending.”

This passage captures Liyen’s initial deception and strategic mindset while also showcasing the power dynamics between her and Zhangwei. Though she acknowledges that he is not the villain she once believed, she still views their relationship as a game of manipulation, where trust is a currency rather than an emotional bond.

“I gritted my teeth but kept my head down. The arrogance of immortals was hard to stomach; if only I had the power to repay them in kind.”

This passage evidences Liyen’s frustration with the imbalance of power between mortals and immortals, reinforcing the theme of Greed and the Pursuit of Power. Her desire to “repay them in kind” suggests that, at this stage, she equates justice with retaliation, a mindset that aligns with The Cyclical Nature of Vengeance seen throughout the novel. However, as she grows, she learns that continuing the cycle is not the answer if she seeks positive, lasting change.

“When the Queen of the Golden Desert rose, a hush settled over the crowd. Her face was grim as she stared at the God of War. It would vex her to punish him, the leader of her army, when it should have been me. Rulers were not infallible—they could err, lose their temper, or be tricked. The pressure was immense to do what was right, not just for themselves but for their kingdom, a delicate balance that was so hard to strike.”

This passage highlights Liyen’s evolving understanding of leadership and the burdens and complexities of power rather than just its privileges. Her assertion that rulers—whether mortal or immortal—are not infallible and must constantly navigate between personal biases and duty creates a point of commonality and empathy between Liyen and Queen Caihong despite their differences.

“Tears were falling from my eyes…I was crying, despite my earlier claims. Not for him, I told myself wrathfully—but from remorse, from causing such anguish to anyone. At once, I lifted my chin, willing the wetness in my eyes to vanish. How weak I was. Where was the satisfaction, the sense of justice fulfilled? The immortals had threatened my grandfather and hastened his death, brought storms and floods and suffering to my people. Shame scorched me at these conflicted emotions for the God of War, and most of all—I hated that I cared.”

Liyen’s inner conflict is illustrated in this scene as she oscillates between resentment and empathy for Zhangwei. This directly ties into The Cyclical Nature of Vengeance as she expects to feel vindicated by Zhangwei’s suffering, believing that his pain should serve as justice for the harm done to her people, yet instead, she is ashamed of her compassion.

“My mind clouded. This moment between us…what was it? All I knew was that I wasn’t just pretending anymore. And whatever this was, it might be more dangerous than any punishment the queen could devise.”

This passage marks a significant shift in Liyen’s emotional arc, as she begins to lose control over the carefully constructed facade she has maintained with Zhangwei. Her realization that she is no longer pretending to have genuine feelings for the God of War signals the collapse of her earlier conviction that their relationship is purely strategic.

“The words resonated, my heart quickening. He said things sometimes that I didn’t entirely understand, that reached deeper than I wished—that I was afraid to examine. It was becoming far too easy to see him as someone other than the God of War who’d burned my home, who struck such terror into the hearts of mortals, immortals, and monsters. But I was not here for him. My smiles, my words, were for my kingdom—and how he could help us. I had to regain control of myself, else I risked being swept away.”

This passage acts as subtle foreshadowing to the reveal of Liyen and Zhangwei’s shared past. She is sometimes confused by the level of intimacy some of his words to her hint at, without any proof of that intimacy existing before. Eventually, when she retrieves her lost memories, these comments make much more sense to her.

“‘If the Wuxin had won, the other immortals would have been next,’ I said bitterly. Selfishness lay at the root of this, those who jostled for gain rather than for the good of the realm.”

This passage reflects Liyen’s growing disillusionment with the power struggles that define both immortal and mortal realms, alluding to the theme of Greed and the Pursuit of Power. Her bitterness stems from the realization that each faction prioritized its own interests rather than the well-being of all. By acknowledging that selfish ambition fuels these conflicts, she begins to see that no side is truly righteous, foreshadowing her later rejection of binary morality and her determination to forge a new path outside of the endless cycle of conquest and vengeance.

“A negotiation need not be defiance, except this was only true for those the queen believed her equals, not those whose service she expected as her due.”

Liyen recognizes that the queen does not engage in negotiations with those she believes are beneath her but instead expects unquestioned obedience. This realization fuels Liyen’s resistance to the immortals’ continued involvement in Tianxia’s rule.

“How did some immortals live for so long yet possess so little wisdom or empathy? Maybe their time was squandered because it held no value to them, while us mortals chased each day as though it might be our last. Immortality was their legacy, while we had to fight to leave our mark or be forgotten.”

This passage reflects the extent of Liyen’s critique of immortality, emphasizing the contrast between mortal and immortal perspectives on time, ambition, and memory. Her observation that immortality breeds complacency while mortality fuels purpose suggests that value is found not in longevity, but in the impact one leaves behind.

“Minister Dao added, ‘If Your Ladyship is satisfied, we would be honored to continue sharing your burdens at court—to handle the petitions so Your Ladyship may pursue other matters that she enjoys more.’ A flagrant attempt to grasp power. Had the ministers found a way to work together? More than greed, this was an intended slight, one I would not meekly ignore. Not today of all days, after confronting the immortal queen, being stabbed by the God of War, then chased by monsters.”

Liyen recognizes the ministers’ attempt to seize control under the guise of loyalty, reinforcing the themes of greed and pursuit of power. Their offer to “share her burdens” is a thinly veiled power grab, demonstrating that mortals are just as capable of manipulation and ambition as the immortals she resents, illustrating that the conflicts are not as black-and-white as they first seemed because no faction is truly, fully immune to these vices.

“Heroes are not born but made through their choices. One could be given the greatest gifts in the world and choose to do nothing with them. Or someone with nothing could forge their way to the pinnacle of power. Whether mortal or immortal, our destiny is in our hands.”

This passage emphasizes that greatness is not a birthright but a result of one’s choices and actions. It challenges the notion that immortals or the Wuxin are inherently superior to mortals. This philosophy becomes central to Liyen’s leadership, as she ultimately rejects entitlement and also rejects becoming either immortal or Wuxin, but rather a mixture of both even when she is warned she might be looked down upon.

“I flushed, quelling such thoughts. I was wrong, used to thinking of him within such narrow confines, filling in his character with my own prejudice and the tales I’d heard. There was a time all I did was look for his flaws, to ignore all he was. Ill-advised, for it meant I’d underestimated him.”

Liyen’s shifting perception of Zhangwei is evidenced here as she acknowledges her own biases and misjudgments. Her earlier hostility toward him was fueled by preconceived notions and secondhand accounts, but as she sees him more clearly, she realizes that her assumptions blinded her to his true character.

“‘They thought they could dominate us, to frighten us into submission. They were wrong; they made us stronger.’ Lord Dalian raised his voice so all could hear him. ‘Power keeps us safe; it keeps us alive. Though we lost the war, we never forgot the lesson. This time, victory will be ours.’”

This passage encapsulates Lord Dalian’s dangerous ideology, reinforcing the theme of The Cyclical Nature of Vengeance and how oppression can breed a relentless thirst for power that never reaches a satisfying end. His speech, meant to rally his people, reveals a fundamental flaw: He is not seeking justice or peace, but dominance, ensuring that the cycle of war will continue.

“But I was wrong. We each shone brightest in our own lives, unless we allowed our light to be dimmed. Our differences did not make us weaker; we were strong in our own ways. I had grown to know the mortals and the Wuxin in a way Mother never could have. This might have been a weakness in her eyes, but I believed it was my greatest strength.”

Liyen has always preached the equality between mortals and immortals, but in this passage she notes the importance of remaining empathetic and understanding of each. Liyen sees her empathy as a strength that her mother doesn’t possess due to her inexperience being among mortals.