Heaven Official's Blessing: Vol. 1

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of graphic violence, death, and bullying.

Xie Lian (谢怜), whose name translates to “thank” and “sympathy” or “love,” is the protagonist of Heaven Official’s Blessing. Once a revered martial god, he ascended to heaven at 17 but was soon cast down after failing to save his people. As a god of misfortune, his second ascension ended in disgrace within half an hour. Eight hundred years later, he ascends again—not as a warrior or ruler, but as a humble god of scrap-collection. His appearance reflects his journey; he wears white, symbolizing purity and mourning in Chinese culture, and a bamboo hat, often associated with wanderers and the impoverished.

Xie Lian’s defining characteristic is his enduring misfortune, which isolates him from others. Despite his bad luck, he remains remarkably kind, though his generosity often leads to suffering. Initially, he appears naïve, always smiling and assuming the best in people. However, his seemingly carefree nature masks deep pragmatism and resilience. His 800 years of hardship—including betrayal, starvation, and exile—have stripped him of illusions but not his principles. “He’d grown up endlessly coddled and pampered […] yet this punishment hurled him from the clouds down into the mud […] He lost all dignity, no self-esteem remained, and he was as unkempt as one could be” (18).