Wen Zhuliu (温逐流, Wēn Zhúliú), formerly Zhao Zhuliu (赵逐流, Zhào Zhúliú) is a cultivator in the Qishan Wen Clan who acts as Wen Chao's personal bodyguard. He is known as the Core-Melting Hand (化丹手, Huàdān Shǒu).
Appearance[]
Wen Zhuliu is a tall, broad-shouldered man with an expression of indifference and an air of coldness about him. He appears to be in his late twenties. In the novel and the web series, he wears a black robe instead of the typical sun robes of the Qishan Wen Clan.[1]
Personality[]
Wen Zhuliu is a stoic, mild-mannered person who rarely initiated combat.[2] He dislikes arrogant, cruel personalities and shows respect towards powerful cultivators even if they are his opponents,[3] but his loyalty towards Wen Ruohan is greater than his own principles.[4]
History[]
Wen Zhuliu used to be called Zhao Zhuliu, though he changed his name at some point after joining the Qishan Wen Clan.[3] Wei Wuxian comments that, as his youth is not particularly well-maintained, he must have started cultivating later in life.[1]
Wen Ruohan often uses Wen Zhuliu's core-melting talent to aid his oppression of any clans who oppose him, which earns Wen Zhuliu a fearsome reputation.[1]
At some point in time, Wen Zhuliu was appointed as the personal bodyguard of Wen Ruohan's youngest son, Wen Chao. He therefore accompanies Wen Chao as the latter 'trains' the disciples of other clans,[1] and is present during the night-hunt at Mount Muxi. When the Xuanwu of Slaughter appears during the fight between the Qishan Wen Clan and the other disciples, Wen Zhuliu rescues Wang Lingjiao from Jiang Cheng before escaping with Wen Chao.[5]
After the disastrous night-hunt, Wen Chao orders Wen Zhuliu to protect his mistress Wang Lingjiao on her mission to Lotus Pier to punish Wei Wuxian and set up a supervisory office. Though Wen Zhuliu dislikes Wang Lingjiao, he saves her from Yu Ziyuan when Yu Ziyuan attempts to kill her for her cruel and presumptuous actions.[3]
Wen Zhuliu only fights once Yu Ziyuan attacks him with Zidian.[3] During the ensuing massacre, he melts the Golden Cores of both Yu Ziyuan and Jiang Fengmian, leading to their deaths. Nevertheless, he maintains his respect for Yu Ziyuan, reprimanding Wang Lingjiao for disrespecting Yu Ziyuan's corpse.[4]
When Jiang Cheng is captured, Wen Zhuliu melts his golden core at Wen Chao's request, despite Jiang Cheng's pleas. He is also present when Wen Chao captures Wei Wuxian and throws him into the Burial Mounds.[6]
After Wei Wuxian escapes the Burial Mounds, he seeks vengeance on Wang Lingjiao, Wen Chao, and Wen Zhuliu. Although Wei Wuxian's Demonic Cultivation kills Wang Lingjiao, Wen Zhuliu manages to rescue the severely injured Wen Chao and promptly flees the scene.[7]
On their journey back to Nightless City, Wen Zhuliu applies ointment to Wen Chao's injuries and attempts to coax him into eating, to no avail. Wen Chao inquires as to how long it would take to get back to Nightless City, to which Wen Zhuliu replies "around two days". Wen Chao becomes enraged and insults Wen Zhuliu, telling him to go, but quickly changes his mind when it looks as though Wen Zhuliu is truly about to leave. Wen Chao then offers Wen Zhuliu the chance to become his older brother, and the latter refuses, saying "there is no need."[7]
Wen Zhuliu and Wen Chao are apprehended by Wei Wuxian, Jiang Cheng, and Lan Wangji. Upon entering the courier station where they are hiding out, Wei Wuxian inquires if Wen Zhuliu is still going to try to save Wen Chao's "dog life." Wen Zhuliu replies that he would "die trying" before attacking Wei Wuxian. Wen Zhuliu is injured by a ghost, one of which severely injures his hand. Jiang Cheng and Lan Wangji intervene, and Jiang Cheng wraps Zidian around Wen Zhuliu's neck. He either dies from slow strangulation, or after watching Wen Chao tortured to death.[8]
Abilities[]
- Core-Melting Hand: Wen Zhuliu possesses the unique ability to destroy a cultivator's Golden Core with his bare hands. Once melted, the victim's core can never be restored. His known victims are Yu Ziyuan, Jiang Fengmian, and Jiang Cheng.[6]
Relationships[]
Wen Ruohan[]
Wen Zhuliu shows the utmost loyalty to Wen Ruohan, claiming that he owes his clan leader a "debt of generosity."[3]
Wen Chao[]
Wen Ruohan assigns Wen Zhuliu specifically to guard Wen Chao. Though Wen Zhuliu dislikes Wen Chao's pompous attitude, he follows his orders and protects him to the death for the sake of his father.[3]
Wang Lingjiao[]
Wen Zhuliu does not care for Wang Lingjiao's petty and cruel behavior. He protects her from Yu Ziyuan solely because Wen Chao had ordered him to.[3] After Yu Ziyuan is killed, Wen Zhuliu reprimands Wang Lingjiao for disrespecting her corpse, telling Wang Lingjiao that, "Purple Spider was a remarkable cultivator, one who preferred death over humiliation." In return, she unsuccessfully attempts to turn Wen Chao against Wen Zhuliu, claiming he was slow to protect her.[4]
Wei Wuxian[]
Wen Zhuliu is one of Wei Wuxian's first targets for revenge with demonic cultivation, as the successful massacre of Lotus Pier and ensuing suffering were owed largely to Wen Zhuliu's ability. When Wen Zhuliu is captured, Wei Wuxian scoffs at his insistence that he owes Wen Ruohan a debt, asking Wen Zhuliu why his debt had to be paid at the expense of others.[8]
Animation Divergence[]
Wen Zhuliu wears unique Wen Clan robes with a red gradient along the sleeves in place of the flame motif, but not the black robes described in the novel.[9]
Overall, Wen Zhuliu's milder temperament is downplayed in the Animation, which depicts him as much more willing to start fights than he is in the original novel.[9]
During a battle in Chongyang, Wei Wuxian removes Wen Zhuliu's golden core before killing him, which are rather different circumstances than in the novel.[9]
Manhua Divergence[]
Wen Zhuliu's black robes are again not shown in the manhua.[10]
Web Series Divergence[]
In the Web Series, Wen Zhuliu is strangled to death by Zidian before Wen Chao is tortured to death, rather than held aloft as he watches Wen Chao tortured to death.[11]
Gallery[]
.JPG "Wen Zhuliu Concept Draft (Donghua).JPG (1.93 MB)")
References[]
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