The book came out during the lead up to his canonization, so his portrayal in it having critical elements was considered quite controversial at the time of its release.     For example, his narrative arc closes with an appearance to a Taoist hermit as a ghost vengefully demanding the return of his head. The hermit, knowing of Lord Guan's great reputation and famous deeds, asks what about the men whose heads Guan had taken himself (he recites an abridged list), who will return them? Spurned, the ghost vanishes and Lord Guan exits the narrative.