WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Episode 11 of Heaven Official's Blessing, "Right and Wrong, Buried in the Sand," now streaming on Funimation.
Even though it was an open secret as to who San Lang was (he wasn't even trying to hide his identity), the reveal in the season finale of Heaven Official's Blessing is still satisfying while still leaving viewers wanting more. Heaven Official's Blessing began with a lonely but content god who was scorned and ridiculed -- it ended with a god who now has someone by his side who can make him genuinely happy.
But alongside San Lang, the Season 1 finale also unveiled some more unexpected identities.
The True Traitor
Poor Fu Yao is left to fend for himself, fighting against the scorpion-tailed snakes while San Lang and Xie Lian are completely protected by San Lang's red umbrella. For some reason, Fu Yao's mana is blocked so he can't summon fire to kill the snakes. Banyue is restrained, meaning there must be a sixth person in the pit with them. As if to confirm his suspicions, a sword suddenly comes flying out that is swiftly deflected by San Lang's blade. The flashes of light that spark as the blades clash briefly illuminate a man with an eye patch and a glowing red eye.
Initially, Xie Lian has no clue who the sixth person is but Fu Yao's offhand comment about Xuan Ji reminds him that he does know him -- and he met him back in the ghost bride case! It's General Pei Jr., Pei Xiu, who is acting under the alias Zhao. But Xie Lian and Pei Xiu's connection go back even further -- 200 years ago, to be exact. Pei Xiu is the very same boy who befriended Banyue and was responsible for the fall of the Banyue Kingdom.
The One Who Caused the Sandstorm
Cover blown, Pei Xiu is vindictive, saying that he doesn't regret the massacre. Banyue tries to take the blame for him but is overcome with exhaustion and faints. A voice suddenly rings out from above: the two women whom Xie Lian saw in the sandstorm, who pulls them all out of the pit with an enormous cyclone. They land back on the pit's surface and Xie Lian notices that none of the caravan travelers are here. Nan Feng trudges towards them, his face swollen and bruised from his fight with the duo.
Carrying a whisk and a fan, the woman in white greets Xie Lian cheerily while her companion eyes San Lang who smirks back. It turns out she's a heavenly official: the Wind Master, which explains how she managed to create the sandstorm. None of them, including Nan Feng, knew it was her -- it seems this isn't the Wind Master's usual form.
The Wind Master admonishes Pei Xiu for continuing to lead innocent travelers to Sinner's Pit and decides to take him and General Millstone back up to the heavens to seek trial. Banyue is free to stay with Xie Lian since she did nothing wrong. Seeing how she's still unconscious, Xie Lian summons her into a clay pot that San Lang produces.
Dinner with the Ghost King
The three of them (Nan Feng suddenly disappeared) head back into the desert where they regroup with the rest of the travelers. With the Banyue Fern, they heal Uncle Zheng and the group goes on their merry way, but not without Tian Sheng promising to build a huge temple for Xie Lian. Thinking to thank Fu Yao for his work, Xie Lian offers to cook dinner but Fu Yao pales, conveniently gets a call back to the heavens, and jets out of there. Xie Lian turns to San Lang with a smile and asks casually, what he wants to eat...Hua Cheng. San Lang starts but smiles. He leans in close to Xie Lian and says he actually prefers the name San Lang.
Xie Lian once remarked that a Ghost King wouldn't spend time with someone like him but Hua Cheng is unlike the other Ghost Kings. We don't quite know yet why he chooses to stay with Xie Lian but with how they juxtaposed Hua Cheng and the child whom Xie Lian once saved when he was a Crown Prince, Xie Lian must have met Hua Cheng a long time ago. Whatever happened 800 years ago left a significant mark on Hua Cheng to have remembered, and loved, the former Crown Prince for so long. Although their relationship isn't confirmed yet, the gestures and gazes are enough to speak about a love that transcends the three realms.
A post-credits scene confirmed that the second season is in production, so we can be sure to see more of Xie Lian and Hua Cheng soon enough.
