Tushan Honghong

**Tushan Honghong** (涂山红红) is the former Queen of Tushan, older sister of Tushan Yaya and Tushan Rongrong, and lover of Dongfang Yuechu.

Tushan Susu is her reincarnated form after using all her spirit energy, strength, and memories to fulfill the Pledge of Love with Dongfang Yuechu. In her day she was renowned as the most powerful fox spirit in the Spirit Realm and head of the Spirit Union before the start of the series. Since Honghong transformed into Susu, Tushan Yaya has taken over as Queen of Tushan, but she still greatly admires and looks up to Honghong's formidable strength.

She first appears in Episode 11 after Bai Yuechu and Susu kiss, and Susu briefly transforms back into Honghong.

## Appearance

Tushan Honghong is a tall, attractive Tushan fox spirit with a slim figure. She normally has grass green eyes, although when she is angry or annoyed, her eyes turn red. She has light orange hair that goes to her waist and is tied by a ribbon and ears that mark her as a fox spirit.

Tushan Honghong wears a traditional red dress with long, white sleeves and multiple layers. The dress is tied with multiple ribbons and her trademark bells. She also has multiple bell anklets on both her feet, and tied to the end of her hair resulting in the ringing sound that always announces her presence or arrival. Her name can be literally translated to mean "Red", a symbolic reference to her temper, raw power, eyes, dress, and hair.

## Personality

Honghong has a brash personality and prefers solving problems with direct application of force, rather than with subtlety. Despite her somewhat brutal simple nature, she is also quite clever and perceptive and not easily fooled. She often uses Rongrong's suggestions and ideas to great success. She is very protective of her family and Tushan and will unflinchingly face down any threat to their well being. While she has a well deserved reputation for her strength, she is far kinder than most give her credit for, often showing enemies mercy despite their crimes and attitudes fully deserving of death.

After being captured and then freed during the event which brought her childhood to an end, she was tragically scarred and emotionally withdrawn obsessing over the young Daoist assistant (Small Daoist) who had freed her and she had mistakenly killed. The emotional turmoil she was placed in increased her power by several fold and left her cold and distant with no room in her heart for love, being unable to forgive herself.

Dongfang Yeuchu eventually learned of her past. He then went on a journey to unite the human and yaoguai worlds to bring her dream to life. However, only after falling into the Shadow Fox Empress's trap did Honghong finally admit her love for Dongfang. Rongrong explains that only Dongfang was capable of freeing her from the nightmare of her former mistake and opening her heart.

As the Queen of Tushan, she puts the needs of Tushan before her own desires, sacrificing her own happiness for the happiness of her clan and others.

## History

Much of this history is explained in *Season 3* of the Donghua.

### *Childhood*

As a young Fox Spirit, Honghong was trained by other Tushan Fox Spirits in various different techniques and arts.

### Small Daoist

*See also: Season 3*
One day, she and her younger sister Rongrong were captured by a human Daoist who planned to sell them into servitude for money. This was a time when humans and yaoguai were still fighting each other fiercely, with yaoguai enslaving humans and humans enslaving yaoguai.

The human's younger assistant, the Small Daoist, waited until his master was asleep before attempting to free the two Fox Spirits. In self defense, Honghong punched a hole through his chest as the assistant tried to free them, tragically misunderstanding his intentions and words. Honghong incorrectly concluded that because of his own oppression from his master's hand he intended to harm her and Rongrong as well. However, the Small Daoist only wanted to free them since he too was also being tortured by his master, and he said his only friends were yaoguai.

Using his fading strength the Small Daoist removed the remaining seals on Honghong while bleeding out. As he lay dying in her arms, he explained he had only wanted to free the two yaoguai sisters because he had once been friends with a Fox Spirit similar to Honghong who had been killed by evil humans. He said he dreamed of a world where one day Spirits and humans could live together in harmony and friendship.

   Honghong was so horrified and emotionally compromised by her mistake that her spiritual power and stature grew immensely (a Fox Spirit's power is based on their emotions, the stronger the emotions the greater their power). She then carried the Small Daoist's body from the cages and freed Rongrong.

Rongrong had not yet learned healing magic and was unable to save the dying human (this event probably also pushed Rongrong into becoming a master healer). She then confronted the Daoist who had originally captured them, completely overwhelming him. For the first time she mentally projected her voice, now much more mature and deep, telling him to "scram" in what what would soon become a trademark of Honghong's mercy.

Yaya, who had been away learning to master ice magic, was surprised to see the change in her older sister when they were reunited, but was not told what had happened. Her sister Honghong had become much more serious, more of an adult, and someone filled with sorrow, but she did not explain to Yaya what had happened.

### *Adulthood*

Honghong became head of Tushan and took a lead in enforcing its defense and law. She undertook her responsibilities as the Leader of Tushan very seriously, often consulting the Tree of Bitter Love to help guide her reign. Under her protection no one in Tushan ever feared a foreign threat, especially from Daoists. Honghong often would consult Rongrong for help in managing the more day to day affairs and when subtlety was required. Every year on the anniversary of the young Daoist's death she would visit a cave where she had placed and preserved his body in memorial of her mistake. Honghong's power and strength continued to increase and while we are not given many details she evidently also became a renowned Matchmaker as evidenced by her legacy.

### *Meeting Dongfang Yuechu*

In time, the young Dongfang Yuechu came to Tushan for protection and Honghong saved him from the Daoists that pursued him seeking his legacy and bloodline. Dongfang immediately fell head over heels with the beautiful and powerful Fox Spirit. He finds a job as a Servant of Servants, convincing Rongrong to allow him to work and pay for room and board in the luxurious Tushan resort. Each day he would bring Honghong a specially crafted bento (弁当) lunch, which confused her as she thought a real servant rather than Yuechu should be doing that for her.

Back then, Tushan was frequently attacked by the Yiqidao League who often claimed to be seeking "revenge" for defeated clansmen who had been defeated over and over by Honghong. Eventually they brought the Gold Fire God with them in an attempt to subjugate Tushan. Jinmian Huoshen had mastered the Pure Yang Flame which was a rare Daoist art that would harm even Honghong and burn her "Invincible Claws."

Dongfang, knowing she was in danger, distracted the Daoists giving Honghong several openings and allowing her to defeat Jinmian. However, before she could finish him off he managed to take a magic pill which greatly increased his strength to god-like power, making him more of a threat than any Daoist ever had been in decades. Honghong was overwhelmed and tried to hold Jinmian off in order to allow her sister's and Dongfang to escape while she sacrificed herself. Dongfang at last stepped in and shared with her the secret of his Dongfang blood and used her claw to pierce his own chest to draw out his blood.

The scene was reminiscent of the horror that had long since trapped Honghong, but was softened as Dongfang kissed her with bloody lips before feinting. Filled with power Dongfang had given her and her emotions in turmoil, Honghong struck down Jinmian in a single blow while Rongrong healed Dongfang. She then concocted a plan with Rongrong to fake Dongfang's death after asking Dongfang what he wanted, in order to fulfill his wish to take away the desire of any future Daoists from pursuing him.

When Honghong asked him what he planned to do now that he was free to leave in peace without pursuers, Dongfang surprised her saying that he had no life outside of Tushan and only wished to stay with her forever.

### *Honghong's Dream*

Dongfang Yuechu eventually grew into full adulthood, learning from Yaya, Rongrong, and Honghong many of the Fox Spirit arts as well as improving his own Daoist skills. He even taught Yaya to use the Pure Yang Flame. One day, he broke into the Tushan library and dived into the love stories of past couples. He was caught by Rongrong, who asked why he broke into these secret records. Yuechu then made up an excuse, before admitting he was researching how to propose to Honghong on the Qixi Festival (an Asian festival for love).

He devised an elaborate plan to make the hillsides bloom as Honghong returned from her annual visit. He learned from Rongrong where she went each year, and fearing some other man was courting her, followed her into the cave where her memorial with the long dead Small Daoist who had saved her was. Honghong, aware of Dongfang's presence, allowed him to oversee her mourning in the hopes of getting him to give up. She explained out loud so Dongfang could hear, that she had no room in her heart for anything else: politics, career, least of all romance.

Honghong explained that her dream was to realize the Small Daoist's dream: for humans and yaoguai to reunite and live together in harmony.

Dongfang left in sorrow, locking himself up for a year, contemplating what he would need to do overcome the barriers around her heart. Rongrong explained that Honghong had worshipped her long-dead savior so much that over time that it started to eat at her and deprive her of other interests. But Yuechu said that true love should not constrain someone and bind them up with regret, as had happened to Honghong. Yuechu, unwilling to give up, at last settled on an ambitious plan and decided to gamble the rest of his life on making it work, so that he could one day realize Honghong's dream to reunite humans and yaoguai.

### *Dongfang Leaves Tushan*

Honghong soon learned Dongfang planned to leave Tushan, though she did not understand why. She returned home early, catching Dongfang off guard who had planned to leave while she was away to apply to the Yi Qi Dao League and become a Daoist after taking their entrance exam. Honghong told him if he was going to leave to just leave. Dongfang acted dramatically as usual when confronted, leaving without a word, before turning back at the last moment to explain that there was a reason for him to leave and that it was because he had learned what had once happened between Honghong and the deceased Small Daoist. Yaya, confused and unaware of the events that had happened earlier in Honghong's life, asked what he meant and Dongfang then threatened to expound it to her, before being cut angrily off by Honghong. Yaya was left in confusion, feeling like Dongfang was a traitor who had left the good graces of Tushan without gratitude. Honghong, however partially understood his true reasons for leaving, but did not elaborate to her sisters.

### *The End of a Legacy*

Over time Dongfang soon became the leader of the Yi Qi Dao and became world famous for his skill, strength, and intelligence in the Daoist world. He began the work of negotiating a union of peace and new law that would unite the human world with the world of Spirits. He involved Honghong as a major negotiator representing the Spirit Union and she seemed to help him with many of his plans (such as rescuing his cousin Fugui), while he worked toward making her dream of uniting the two races in peace become a reality. Unfortunately the Shadow Fox Empress had other plans and framed Honghong for some sort of major crime, painting her as untrustworthy and showing the humans that they could not trust Spirits. Both sides were upset, and arranged to have their leaders fight to the death in a duel to save face. Dongfang did not believe Honghong had not done the crime she was accused of, but had no way of proving it and no choice in the matter, but to go through with the duel. He secretly knew about the Shadow Fox Empress and knew Honghong was innocent, but planned to use himself as bait by acquiring the Void Tear and lure the Black Empress out into the open so he could prove her existence to the world and clear Honghong's name. He thus allowed himself to be ensnared, leaving his trusted cousin and friend Wangquan Fugui in charge of cleaning up the aftermath of his plan. Honghong was not told the details of the plan, Dongfang trusting her to do the right thing when the time came.

The two thus fell into the Shadow Fox trap and eventually uncovered the true villains, fighting together against the Shadow Fox Empress. Pushed into an unwinnable situation, and realizing her love for Dongfang after the many years was genuine, Honghong made the Pledge of Love with Dongfang and as an offering sacrificed all of her memories and power. Dongfang was then killed by the Shadow Fox Empress as the pledge finished and began to gloat at Honghong in what she supposed was a foolish oversight.

The Shadow Fox Empress began to choke the weakening Honghong saying she was a fool for giving up her strength just to give Dongfang a chance to be reincarnated. Honghong explained they had chosen to use his Void Tear as the vessel and so if she ever wanted to obtain both halves, the Shadow Fox's leader would have to ensure that Honghong stayed alive and eventually reunited with Dongfang to get the Void Tear back. Honghong then fell to the ground and lost all of her power, strength and memories, praying as she faded away that Dongfang would recognize the new her when he was reincarnated. With the effects of the Pledge of Love complete, Honghong was reduced to the frame and mind of a child and would become known as Tushan Susu.

### *Honghong as Susu*

While her former identity and memories as Honghong are sealed off and unable to manifest themselves, Susu occasionally manages to partially revert to her old self in brief instances--especially when she is in danger or those she cares most about are in danger. She can also regain much of her former strength by tasting Bai Yuechu's Dongfang blood and remembering how she feels about Bai Yuechu. Whether or not her memories return, or just her power, when this happens is somewhat unclear. The resulting personality seems to be somewhat between Susu and the original Honghong. As Susu's feelings and love for Bai Yuechu grow, she seems to become more and more like her old self. For example, until Susu had met Bai Yuechu, she had never been able to pass the Matchmaker exams.

## Abilities

#### **Brutal Strength**

Honghong's primary method of fighting relies on raw brute strength and she has cultivated such powerful spirit energy no one else in her day even came close to rivaling her in raw power. A single punch from her is usually enough to defeat lesser opponents. Her strength also gives her incredible speed and allows her to do things like run across water and move vast distances in the blink of an eye.

#### **Invincible Claws**

*See also: Jueyuan Zhizhua*

The original name 绝缘之爪 Jueyuan Zhizhua directly translates into Destiny Severing Claws / Insulating Claws / Repelling Claws. Honghong's hands are capable of touching and repelling all spirit weapons such as Daoist blades, magic, etc, effectively neutralizing any weapon turned against her, even Tears of Void.

Her Destiny Severing Claws is so powerful she can even hold Pure Yang Flame on her hands, however, the Pure Yang Flame (纯质阳炎) is also called the 灭妖神火 which translates into Yao Destroying Divine Flames. This is why the Fox Spirit Queen would suffer damage when handling the flames initially. With help of Dongfang Yuechu, Tushan Honghong was able to handle Pure Yang Flame without taking any damage.

This ability is especially useful when combined with her brutal raw strength fighting style and speed as she can use it to protect herself from attacks such as by waving her arms to fan away deadly toxins, grab hurricanes with her bare hands and split them in two and even grab hold of Shadow Foxes--since Destiny Severing Claws able to dispel or repel anything created by spirit powers.

#### **Demon Expelling Technique**

*See also: Qumoyishi*

Qumoyishi (驱魔一式) is a powerful blow that expels unwanted yaoguai from a vessel or person. Honghong used this technique to knock Shadow Foxes and Ehuishou parasites out of their host. This was the original technique developed for removing Disaster Beasts, despite newer techniques being available. Yaya can use it as well.

It can also cripple an opponent with a single blow. It is so powerful that Honghong was able to punch Bai Yuechu completely through the planet to the other side. Bai had to use Dixing Fu to absorb the blow as momentum and travel unharmed through the planet.