Xie Lian/Relationships

## Xie Lian

* Manhua
* Donghua
* Audio Drama

## Family

### Hua Cheng

Hua Cheng is his husband and lover, as well as his most devoted believer. The two meet in the present time as Xie Lian is heading back to Puqi Shrine and manages to hitchhike on the cart of an old man heading the same direction. Hua Cheng was sitting on that cart and managed to strike up a conversation with Xie Lian, who immediately grew to like him due to his intelligence and knowledge. When Hua Cheng, whom he introduces himself as San Lang, claims to be the son of a noble family and was kicked out, Xie Lian happily welcomes the man to live with him. The two get along well and live together in peace before Xie Lian needs to go on another mission. Even then, San Lang accompanies him and helps him out.

Over the course of the novel, Hua Cheng continues to support and care for him. Unlike most other Heavenly Officials who so much as fear the mention of Hua Cheng, and are disgusted and in fear of him, Xie Lian considers him adorable. Hua Cheng has had strong feelings for Xie Lian since their mortal lives, and is implied to have loved him since they first met. Xie Lian himself loves Hua Cheng so much he is hardly able to refuse him anything.

### Qi Rong

Xie Lian has strained relationship with Qi Rong. Qi Rong is his younger cousin and was deeply loyal and infatuated with Xie Lian before the fall of Xianle. He always tried to get Xie Lian's attention and approval, attempting to help him and get justice for Xie Lian even when the means to accomplish that were inappropriate or uncalled for.

This led to Xie Lian often being annoyed and angered by Qi Rong's actions and unreasonable nature. Thus Xie Lian also started ignoring Qi Rong or he would order Feng Xin to take away Qi Rong so he didn't have to deal with it. He also suggested his mother to strictly detente Qi Rong to teach him manners. Despite Qi Rong's immaturity, Xie Lian also loved and cared for Qi Rong loyally as his little brother cousin. Xie Lian was the only person who never wronged or ignored Qi Rong intentionally unlike other royal members. When Qi Rong was kidnapped during the Civil war of Xianle, Xie Lian rushed to rescue Qi Rong.

After the war between Yong'an and Xianle, Xie Lian doesn't seem to think about what happened to Qi Rong and had accepted that he died in the war like other royal family members. He was quite shocked when they meet again after his third ascension. Due to Qi Rong becoming incredibly vulgar and still insulting the ones he cares about, Xie Lian resents Qi Rong, a feeling that is mutual by that point. The only reason Xie Lian was mostly tame with Qi Rong was because of Gu Zi, as he didn't want to hurt his father.

### Mother

A kind woman who loved him deeply and hated seeing her loved ones suffering. She was just as about as bad a cook as Xie Lian. After her passing, Xie Lian also started to name his culinary attempts.

### Father

When Xie Lian was little, he looked up immensely to his father, believing he was the best king in the entire world, one that would go down into history. However, as he grew up he quickly realised his father was no different from the average person and begins to question his decisions and beliefs. When he was only a teenager, training on Mount Taicang, Xie Lian spends more time with his mother than his father during his rare visits and tends to avoid speaking to his father. His father dislikes his son seeing him weak and dyed his grey hairs black before going to pray at his son's temples.

## Heavenly Officials

### Feng Xin

Feng Xin is Xie Lian's former bodyguard, a position he acquired when he was 14. After Xie Lian ascended, he became a deputy general and Xie Lian's attendant. He was extremely loyal to Xie Lian, trusting and supporting him. Xie Lian relieved Feng Xin of his duties during his first banishment, not meeting him again until his third ascension eight hundred years later. Feng Xin still cared for Xie Lian, although he was hesitant to express so at first.

By the end of the novel, they have reconciled and are good friends once again. He pays visits to Xie Lian when he is waiting for Hua Cheng's return, sometimes together with Mu Qing. He and the latter would also help out Xie Lian during Hua Cheng's birthday and the amnesia incident.

### Mu Qing

He's Xie Lian's former servant and deputy general. Although they got along and Mu Qing followed Xie Lian alongside Feng Xin, Mu Qing ultimately left Xie Lian after his first banishment to take care of his mother.

At the end of the book, he expresses that all he wished for is to become his friend. Xie Lian holds no grudges towards him, and in fact, saves him when he faces the danger of falling into lava.

The two have a steady friendship by the end of the book. He also fixes Ruoye for Xie Lian which was torn in two during the final battle and pays multiple visits to Xie Lian together with Feng Xin.

### Jun Wu

Jun Wu first met Xie Lian when he defeated the demon of the Yi Nian Bridge. He was so impressed by Xie Lian that he took off his disguise of a mortal Taoist and showed his true form as the Heavenly Emperor. After returning to Heaven, he told the gods that Xie Lian has a great potential.

Jun Wu favored Xie Lian above any other Heavenly Official and in return Xie Lian respected him immensely. When asked, Xie Lian named Jun Wu alongside Mei Nianqing and Hua Cheng as the three people he trusts unconditionally.

### Shi Qingxuan

Shi Qingxuan is one of Xie Lian's closest friends and allies. He first meets Shi Qingxuan on his mission in Banyue, although they only really start to talk to each other after Shi Qingxuan defends him during the following trial in the Palace of Divine Might. Shi Qingxuan quickly warms up to Xie Lian, treating him with enthusiastic kindness and not caring about Xie Lian's status as the laughing stock of the three realms.

They often help each other out throughout the story and Xie Lian was devastated after Shi Qingxuan's disappearance, always keeping him in the back of his mind and trying to find his whereabouts. They later reunite and continue to have a strong friendship by the end of the novel. Shi Qingxuan has mentioned him as his second best friend.

### Pei Ming

They first met after the Banyue Pass incident, although they have both heard much about each other beforehand. While Pei Ming didn't detest him, he was still suspicious of Xie Lian since he was involved in the cases of his subordinate's scandal being exposed and the incident at the Black Water Island, but those negative feelings were faint and short lived. Xie Lian respects Pei Ming and was relatively indifferent about him, although it's mentioned that he's quite curious about his person and would read the inappropriate tales about Pei Ming if it wasn't for his cultivation path. Despite that, he's often unsettled by Pei Ming's laid back nature and the way he talks to Hua Cheng. By the end of the novel they have become close allies and have a friendly relationship.

Of all characters, Pei Ming seems to be the one most supportive of Xie Lian's and Hua Cheng's romantic relationship.

### Yushi Huang

She was the one who lent him a spiritual device that provided rain so he could relieve the drought in Yong'an, although they didn't meet each other until 800 years later. She helped him and his comrades out during the Tonglu Mountain mission and they have a friendly, respectful relationship with one another. Yushi Huang frequently gifts him vegetables from her agricultural work.

## Former Heavenly Officials

### Mei Nianqing

Mei Nianqing was his teacher during his childhood in Xianle. He has always been supportive of Xie Lian, but he was also very worried about him. They remain good friends by the end of the novel, to the point that in an extra Xie Lian went to him for advice on what to give Hua Cheng for his birthday.

### Yin Yu

Xie Lian met Yin Yu in Ghost City for the first time, where Yin Yu escorted him to Hua Cheng's Paradise Manor. That day he noticed Yin Yu's Cursed Shackle and was quite curious about it. He doesn't meet him again for a long time, but after they do interact they seem to get along well quickly. Xie Lian often mentions how little presence Yin Yu has, even mistaking him for He Xuan at one point. He feels bad for everything that has happened to Yin Yu and cheers him on when he's faced against Jun Wu, praising and admiring his noble and moral character.

## Ghosts

### White No-Face

Even after 800 years, Xie Lian is still afraid of him.

### Ban Yue

As Xie Lian was once the lieutenant of Banyue army. He got acquainted with the child, Ban Yue, after she ate some of Xie Lian's spilled cooking since she was starving. He was mistaken dead after saving her, but they are reunite once more when Xie Lian goes to investigate the Banyue ruins several centuries later. The two remain close friends as she often helps him in times of need and highly respects him.

### Lang Ying

Lang Ying was taken in by Xie Lian after the events of Yu Jun Mountain. Xie Lian took on a sort of guardian role for Lang Ying, wanting to teach him cultivation and buying him clothes. Lang Ying was grateful and slowly got used to the life at Puqi Shrine, opening up more and more over time. Once he learned from White No-Face that Xie Lian was the reason for Yong'an's fall and decided to get revenge, he sacrificed his life and let himself be devoured by Bai Wuxiang. Xie Lian, though hurt by his betrayal, still cared for him and mourned his death.

### He Xuan

He Xuan and Xie Lian shares a neutral relationship. He Xuan in disguise as Ming Yi had accompanied in many missions with Shi Qingxuan along with Xie Lian and Hua Cheng although he had mentioned it wasn't his will. He Xuan had drank soup made by Xie Lian at Puqi Shrine which made him faint.

## Humans

### Lang Ying (Past)

Xie Lian tried numerous times to help Lang Ying and his kingdom. However, Xie Lian soon felt resentment when he kept winning battles against Xianle. He tried to get revenge after his parents ended their lives, but Lang Ying died before Xie Lian could do the deed. Surprisingly, Lang Ying holds no hatred against Xie Lian.

### Unnamed Farmer

He was the one who restored Xie Lian’s faith in humanity. He now keeps a bamboo hat to honor the unnamed farmer.

## Items

### Ruoye

As the spiritual weapon born from Xie Lian's parent's suicide and Xie Lian's own bungled suicide, Ruoye from the start was affectionate towards its master. While Xie Lian was at first resentful towards the spiritual weapon and pushed it away as it was a reminder of his parents' deaths, but he did eventually grow close to it. He often used it to capture and bind enemies or as part of a snake charming act during some of his many street performances to earn money. Ruoye is loyal to Xie Lian and always listens to his commands, except for the instances where it is asked to bind and capture a woman, as Ruoye enjoys wrapping itself around beautiful women and tends to be docile and less willing to return to its master. Nonetheless, Xie Lian cares for Ruoye and heavily relies on it during battle, placing great faith in it. He also lets it wrap around his body to rest, displaying his trust that it won't harm him.

### E-Ming

E-Ming Is Hua Cheng's scimitar and main weapon. Despite its fearsome reputation, it has a very childish personality. Xie Lian considers the scimitar cute and tends to pet it like he would a pet and enjoys showering it with attention and praise. E-Ming, in turn, is deeply affectionate towards Xie Lian and loves the attention it receives from him. This earns E-Ming the ire of its owner, Hua Cheng, who is jealous of E-Ming and at times tries to push his own weapon away to refocus Xie Lian's attention onto himself. E-Ming also tends to fight with Ruoye for Xie Lian's affection.

### Wraith Butterflies

Hua Cheng's wraith butterflies are met with fear throughout the Heavenly Court, however Xie Lian doesn't see what the fuss is about, viewing the butterflies as intelligent and cute. He feels remorse for them as they shatter during their escape from White No-Face in the Cave of Ten Thousand Gods.

### Fang Xin

Former Weapon of Bai Wuxiang in past later given to Xie Lian. According to Xie Lian Fang Xin has a shy personality unlike E-Ming and Ruoye. Fang Xin also an obedient spiritual weapon towards Xie Lian. Xie Lian uses Fang Xin as his main weapon for striking , attacking enemies and also to control negative energy.

## References

1. ↑ Novel, Book 1, Chapter 13: Clothes Redder than Maple, Skin White as Snow
2. ↑ Novel, Book 2, Chapter 58: Upon the Grand Avenue of Divine Might, A Fleeting Glimpse of Beauty
3. ↑ Novel, Book 2, Chapter 63: Lost Red Pearl, Inadvertently Luring the Red-Eyed IV
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Novel, Book 2, Chapter 72: To Meet You in the Mortal Realm; To Find Flowers Beneath the Rain
5. ↑ Novel, Book 1, Chapter 2: The Scrap Immortal, Third Time Entering the Heavenly Capital
6. ↑ Novel, Book 5, Chapter 235: The Heaven Crossing Bridge; Three Idiots Return to Olden Times
7. ↑ Novel, Book 1, Chapter 1: Heaven Official’s Blessing
8. ↑ Novel, Book 3, Chapter 167: Jealous Ghost King; Three Questions Where the Friendship Lies
9. ↑ Novel, Book 3, Chapter 111: Fighting the Reverend; Crown Prince Takes Wind Master's Place II
10. ↑ Novel, Book 1, Chapter 33: In the Palace of Divine Might, Crown Prince Meets Crown Prince II
11. ↑ Novel, Book 2, Chapter 70: Fallen Golden Statue; Boor Buries Suffering Son
12. ↑ Novel, Book 4, Chapter 193: White Clothed Ghost Appoints Black Warrior as General II
13. ↑ Novel, Book 4, Chapter 196: Man in Abyss Receives a Bamboo Hat in the Rain