Wufangchu

Wufangchu (often called “Dad” by Sakura Gozen) is one of the most dangerous opponents Paladin ever faced, and the only one who emerged victorious over Paladin more than once.

Wufangchu was a warlord of the late Tang dynasty. Born into a prosperous and peaceful time he devoted himself to study becoming a master of strategy alchemy, martial arts, calligraphy poetry and sorcery. when he was 40 years old he began to become afraid of growing old and dying so he dedicated himself to finding a way to preserve his life. To this end, he hunted down and captured a great green dragon, and imprisoned it in a secret cave in mountainous region of southern China (what is today the Dibang Wildlife Sanctuary). He founded a monastery near the cave so that the dragon would be guarded by Taoist monks. Using the blood of the dragon he created a magical elixir that preserved his life for centuries. Unfortunately the elixir also turned his skin green, so he became very reclusive and secretive.

From his hidden sanctuary he continued to rule his growing empire for centuries, becoming an almost mythical figure. He was able to ride out political tides by allying himself with the most powerful families in each dynasty, and occasionally faking his death to retreat into hiding and wait out great turmoil.

Months later, he met Kondo Isami, the leader of the Shinsengumi and they became really close friends. Unfortunately,during the training at Nagareyama on April 26, 1868, Isami and his unit were caught by surprise by the 200 strong Imperial forces. On the following day, April 28, a messenger arrived at Itabashi with a letter seemingly written by Katsu requesting that Kondō's life to be spared, but the messenger was arrested and the request was denied. Kondo Isami was declared guilty on April 30, 1868 and was beheaded by the executioner Yokokura Kisoji at the Itabashi execution grounds on May 17, 1868. And Wufangchu was in great sorrow when he heard about the death of his friend.

As a man of great wealth it was no surprise that he emerged as an opponent of communism in the 20th century. He had no taste for democracy or for ineffective government in general, so he didn't like the Chinese Nationalist, and instead allied himself to the British, even marrying a British noble woman (who he had recognized as a dragon in disguise).

Faced with the twin threats of rising communism and Japanese invasion he was forced into hiding. When the Japanese took Hong Kong Wufangchu's wife was killed. Enraged, Wu swore to take revenge on the Japanese but with China in the middle of extreme chaos he was forced to work in secret, even resorting to criminal enterprises to fund his organization. The combination of rage, sadness, desperation and hatred and for his growing list of enemies lead Wu down a very dark path, during the cold war years, and by the time the cold war was over, Wu was known the world over as the leader of a secretive criminal empire. Still he found many willing supporters among people who could not stand life under communism and longed for a return to Chinese tradition and an empire. His followers even began to promote him as an anti communist champion calling him the Jade emperor, a title he relished.

Wufangchu was invited by Eris to compete in her Golden Apple contest and immediately jumped at the Chance. When another contestant came to assassinate him he faked his death, by allowing the assassin access to a clone, and letting him escape to tell the tale. Then he traveled to Birmingham Alabama to take part in the contest while the other contestants thought he was dead.

Word of his death caused the communists to believe the time was ripe to put an end to his criminal empire and seize control of his holdings but the government was really surprised by just how large and devoted his organization really was. China fell into a civil war. Wufangchu was confident that when he won the Golden Apple it's power would allow him to win the war and rule all of China. Unfortunately he did not win the Golden Apple. Paladin did, and this made Wu very angry, and a little depressed. He began to scale back his plans from conquest of China to setting up an independent break away kingdom.

Paladin was sent to China to fight against Wufangchu with the secret mission of destroying his high tech equipment so it wouldn't fall into the hands of the Communists. Wu captured Paladin and using his blood was able to create an army of Paladin Clones. He also used his teleporter to steel some nuclear missiles.

After detonating the missiles, he sent his unstoppable Clone army into battle and in no time crippled the communist army. Team Gold managed to magically destroy the clone army, but then they were all captured. Wu then forced the communists to agree to his terms ending the war and establishing the Jade Empire as an independent nation. He also forced them to accept the independence of Tibet and Taiwan.

during his brief reign Wu also negotiated with Japan and obtained control of Dinosaur Island in reparation's for Japan's war crimes, particularly the murder of Wufangchu's wife.

While Team Gold was being held captive, Wu used Paladin's blood to create a new elixir, so he wouldn't have to drink dragon blood elixirs any more. This returned his skin to it's natural golden tone (since he was known as the Jade Emperor he started dressing in green to keep his theme going). **It should be mentioned here that he didn't just drink Paladin's blood nor had he been drinking plane dragon blood for centuries. He used the blood as an ingredient in a complicated and secret alchemical formula.**

Since Paladin had defeated Wufangchu in the golden apple contest and defeated his clone army, Wufangchu wanted revenge so he set a trap luring Team Gold into an explosion. Then he took them prisoner. He wanted to make another clone army, but his spies discovered that one member of Team Gold, Dream Princess had a Golden Apple that she was holding on to. Wufangchu immediately began searching for a way to get this Golden apple for himself, and eventually he succeeded.

Eating the Golden Apple had a very dramatic effect on Wu. It was no doubt enhanced by the effects of the elixirs he had already drank. Wu became in his own words A GOD.

Wufangchu's daughter Lingling had a crush on Paladin (She's a bit of a yandere ) and when Wu became "a god" he promised her anything her heart desired. He was not at all surprised when she said she wanted Paladin. Wu personally kidnapped Paladin and his family, and even the Pastor of the Church Paladin went to. He forced Paladin to marry Lingling and made it as official as possible, inviting dignitaries from around the world.

Unfortunately for Wufangchu Paladin managed to disillusion Lingling convincing her that her father really was a villain, and their marriage could not work. At the wedding reception, Lingling assassinated her father, then killed herself in front of a crowd of shocked witnesses. Since no one knew about Wu's son, this made Paladin the Emperor. But this was not the end of Wu.

18 months later Wufangchu emerged alive from a dragons egg. The egg had been laid the same day Wu Died so his followers including his son, Wubailong, were ready and waiting to greet Wu when he hatched out.

Then something happened that no one could have predicted and which changed the course of Wu's life forever. Wufangchu and his son were kidnapped by aliens and put into an arena to fight Paladin and his friend Shadow, but instead of fighting they actually put their past behind them and forgave each other. Then Wu stole an alien fighter ship and escaped back to earth, with his son.

Wu immediately put his followers to work learning how to make more of the space fighters, planning to conquer Northern China. Out of respect for Paladin (his son in law) he was resolved to leave the Jade Empire alone. He retreated to his base on Dinosaur island and began manufacturing the fighters with help from several other countries including (Romania and South Korea) with whom he was setting up an anti communist alliance.

But a version of Paladin from the future came to Wu and convinced him to change his heart. Wufangchu finally took the time to consider the consequences of his thirst for revenge. He accepted his own responsibility for his daughter's actions and realized that the course he was set on could cost him the life of his son. He began to consider the feelings of mortals again because for the first time in a long time he realized that he had the same feelings. He canceled his plans for conquest and resolved to follow a new more peaceful path.

There is a legal precedent in the Paladin Universe that people who have died and returned to life can not be prosecuted for crimes they committed before their death. as a result Wufangchu cannot be punished for his criminal past. and since Paladin destroyed Wus criminal empire during his own reign as emperor Wu has done very little since his resurrection that anyone would want to punish him for. (Wufangchu did send his son to break Dr. Fang out of Prison, but Dr. Fang is very old and won't live much longer any way. He's retired quietly on Dinosaur island).

## Relationships

### Sakura Gozen

> “I just can’t stand her,but I love her no matter what. I am her father’s friend and I must take up the responsibility as being a parental figure since she doesn’t have a family anymore.”
>
> -Wufangchu

Wufangchu was a friend of Kondo Isami, the father of Sakura Gozen. After he realized that Sakura is the daughter of his friend, he felt an affection towards her, calling her "his lost treasure". Although he cares a lot about her, he gets irritated when Sakura pokes fun at him since he doesn’t appreciate her antics and jokes(which he finds annoying). Since Wufangchu and his son were planning to go to Shangri-La for a long time. Wu formally adopted Sakura and left her in charge of his Estate. She turned a portion of the island into a new sanctuary for displaced Cat Girls.

## Trivia

AnaisHKYoutube,the creator of Sakura Gozen,calls him “My super cool adopted dad”.