Grandpa

Biodata

Background / History

Military Service and Family Leadership

Grandpa served as a soldier in his youth, fought Japanese soldiers, and became a squad leader in the Big Sword Corps. He trained in martial arts and later taught his son some of those skills. After his wife died young, he became the pillar of the Wu family, with his son habitually following his decisions 1 2 11.

He retained his military broadsword as a memento and regularly polished it. His wartime experience, fiery temper, and imposing presence made him a respected—and feared—figure in the village 5 12.

Wu Jie’s Birth

Despite being frightened by his newborn grandson’s fur-covered, foxlike appearance, Grandpa refused to abandon him in a burial ground. He summoned Wu Banxian, then agreed with his son that the child should become the mystic’s apprentice if that offered a chance of survival 1 2.

Wu Banxian died while carrying the child out of the village, and the family brought him home. When foxes and weasels began leaving wounded rabbits at their door, Grandpa recognized the deliveries as food for the blood-drinking infant. He directed the family to drain the blood for the child and keep the meat for themselves 2.

Grandpa named his grandson Wu Jie after Wu Banxian warned that he would face eighteen calamities over his lifetime 3.

The Three-Year Calamity

On Wu Jie’s third birthday, Grandpa intervened when Ma Laosan’s wife beat the boy over a spilled bowl of pheasant blood. He pushed her away, picked up his grandson, and repeatedly apologized after seeing her blood-covered son 3.

After the woman’s death, Grandpa stood up to Ma Laosan when he came armed to threaten Wu Jie. When her corpse began visiting the family at night, Grandpa confronted it with his military sword. He subsequently sent his son to hire Granny Liu, accepting the considerable expense because his grandson’s life—and possibly the whole family—was at risk 4 5 6.

During the Corpse Demon’s attack, Grandpa guarded the house and struck its forehead with his saber. The blow forced it backward but failed to break its hardened skull. Following Granny Liu’s instructions, he released the prepared roosters and later reminded Wu Jie’s mother to put the Funeral Shroud on the child. When the demon broke into the bedroom, it seized his blade and kicked him down 7 8 9.

After the battle, Grandpa thanked the Yellow Immortal, buried more than thirty dead foxes and weasels rather than sell their valuable pelts, and took the injured Granny Liu to the hospital. He later sought her advice about Wu Jie’s lingering fever and instructed his son and daughter-in-law to care for her as devotedly as they would their own mother 10 11.

The Six-Year Calamity

Before Wu Jie’s sixth birthday, Grandpa personally fetched Granny Liu to prepare for the next tribulation. While he was away, the five Zhang brothers attacked his family, and the youngest slapped Wu Jie 11 12.

Grandpa initially wanted to confront the brothers with his blade. Once Granny Liu warned that the Immortals would retaliate, however, he pleaded for a way to save the youngest brother. He tried to deliver her advice about keeping untethered dogs in the courtyard and well-fed white geese in the bedroom, but the brothers avoided him because they feared he had come for revenge 12 13.

After the youngest brother died, Grandpa helped take down his body and later pleaded with Second Master Yellow to spare the surviving family. He also assisted Granny Liu in restraining and treating the possessed second brother, then located a white-tailed weasel hiding on a roof beam 13 14 16 17.

Unable to drive the nimble weasel away, Grandpa brought Wu Jie at Granny Liu’s request. He witnessed the eight-tailed Fox Immortal manifest through his grandson and end the confrontation. When Wu Jie collapsed afterward, Grandpa carried him home 18 19.

The Ninth Birthday and Farewell

Grandpa was assigned to watch Wu Jie on his ninth birthday and sternly ordered him to remain indoors. He nevertheless left to help the village butcher restrain a large pig, allowing Wu Jie an opportunity to sneak out. Afterward, he blamed himself for the boy’s disappearance 19 22.

When Old Man Wang’s spirit possessed Wu Jie, a red death aura kept Grandpa asleep until Granny Liu forced open his door and shook him awake. He supplied Wang’s full name and birth details for her divination, having known him since childhood 23 24.

As practitioners arrived offering to save Wu Jie, Grandpa prioritized the child’s survival over his son’s concern about continuing the family line. He ultimately accepted Li Xuantong’s condition that Wu Jie train away from home for ten years without family contact 25 27.

At the farewell, Grandpa personally handed Wu Jie to Li Xuantong but struggled to let go, fearing he might not live to see his grandson return. He finally released him after the Daoist assured him that his flourishing Palace of Life indicated many years remaining 29.

Appearance

• Strong in old age: Still physically fit at nearly seventy, able to charge into the courtyard carrying a large broadsword 2.
• Intimidating bearing: His fierce glare and imposing presence silence the Zhang brothers when they accuse his family 13.

Personality

Grandpa is fiercely protective without being fearless. He remains calmer than Wu Jie’s parents during supernatural threats, but the Corpse Demon and the Fox Immortal’s manifestation still frighten him. He acts despite that fear and is prepared to risk his life for his grandson 5 7 8 19.

His temper is balanced by compassion and a strong sense of proportion. Although furious at the Zhang brothers for attacking his family, he does not believe a slap warrants death and repeatedly tries to protect them from supernatural retaliation. He is grateful to the foxes and weasels but objects when their revenge becomes excessive 12 14 15.

He also places survival above family expectations: when Wu Jie’s father objects to the boy becoming a monk, Grandpa pushes that concern aside so treatment can begin 25.

Abilities & Skills

Martial Arts and Saber Combat

Grandpa’s fighting experience comes from military service and martial-arts training 2 11.

• Taught his son enough martial arts to overcome the youngest Zhang brother in a direct fight 11.
• Drives the Corpse Demon backward with a saber strike, though he cannot penetrate its skull 8.
• Uses thrown teacups to expose the white-tailed weasel’s hiding place 17.
• Cannot catch the weasel as it leaps along a high roof beam; his saber strikes only notch the wood 18.

Knowledge of Spirit Mediums

Grandpa has some familiarity with spirit mediums, but relies on Granny Liu for supernatural diagnosis and countermeasures 6.

• Recognizes that Granny Liu is summoning an Immortal when her eyes and voice change 8.
• Follows her instructions concerning roosters, the Funeral Shroud, and treatment of possessed villagers 8 9 16.
• Cannot counter Old Man Wang’s possession with his saber and abandons it when Granny Liu tells him it will not help 23.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Military broadsword / saber — A keepsake from his army days, repeatedly polished and used to defend his family. Granny Liu identifies it as a killing blade feared by demons and ghosts because it has taken human lives. Its edge is slightly rolled after fighting the Corpse Demon, and the weapon cannot overcome every supernatural threat 5 7 9 23.

Relationships

• Wu Jie / Little Jie — Paternal grandson whom he names, raises, and protects; their separation leaves him uncertain whether they will meet again 1 3 29.
• Wu Jie’s father — His obedient son and martial-arts pupil; Grandpa overrides him when saving Wu Jie takes precedence over preserving the family line 1 11 25.
• Granny Liu / Old Mrs. Liu — Trusted spiritual adviser and ally. He arranges her medical treatment and asks his family to care for her after she loses an eye saving them 10 11.
• Foxes and weasels — Initially drives them away, then grows grateful for their food deliveries and protection. His affection does not stop him from opposing their lethal revenge 2 10 15 18.
• Zhang brothers — Villagers he watched grow up. They fear his temper and blade, but he repeatedly intervenes to save them after their attack on his family 12 14 16.
• Old Man Wang — Childhood acquaintance whose birth details Grandpa knows; Wang’s ghost later possesses Wu Jie 24.
• Li Xuantong — Entrusted with Wu Jie’s life and education; reassures Grandpa that he will survive the ten-year separation 27 29.

Notable Quotes

“If you want my grandson's life, you'll have to get past my blade first!” 8

“But although the Zhang Family was in the wrong, they don't deserve to die. Please show mercy and spare them.” 14

“This child will be gone for ten years. By then, I'll be over eighty. I don't know whether I'll live to see him again.” 29