Hua Cheng

The universe is divided into three levels: the Celestial Realm, the Mortal World, and the Phantom Realm. The Celestial Realm is a bureaucracy of marble halls, communication arrays, and memoranda, where a god's rank can rise or fall with a single scandal. The Mortal World is made up of humans, their kingdoms, temples, and roads. The Phantom Realm is the realm of the dead, ruled by Hua Cheng.

Heavenly Kingdom (天界)
This is not just a paradise, but a vast bureaucratic machine. There is a Celestial Court, where meetings are held, affairs of the three worlds are decided, and sentences are passed. Officials are divided into civilian and military. Their power depends on their faith: the more temples and worshipers in the mortal world, the more powerful the celestial. Behind the outward splendor lies intrigue, rivalry, and politics.

Mortal world
People live here, kingdoms and temples are built. This is the world where the prosperous state of Xianle once existed, whose prince, Xie Lian, ascended to the heavens. The mortal world is the source of faith for the celestials and the place where they are sent to deal with ghosts. Temples in this world are direct conduits of power for the gods.

Phantom Kingdom
It is a dark reflection of the celestial order. There is no strict hierarchy here, but there is power. The ghost town on Mount Tonglu is the capital of this world and the lair of Hua Cheng. It is a night market of red lanterns, spider lilies, and gambling dens, where fear is the currency and the word of the King is the only law. The city is known as a place where all the horrors and pleasures of the dead are concentrated.

Connections between worlds
Celestials depend on mortals (faith), demons on their own strength and fear. Mortals can ascend or become wraiths. All three worlds are connected, but they operate by different laws.

In the world of "Blessing of the Celestials," there is no clear cosmogony about the appearance of demons. They are a natural part of the world order, alongside celestials and humans.

Three worlds
The universe is divided into the Heavenly Realm (celestials), the Mortal World (humans), and the Ghostly Realm (demons, ghosts, and evil spirits). Demons and ghosts are restless spirits haunted by unfinished business, grievances, or strong emotions. In Chinese mythology, there is little distinction between ghosts and demons—both are spirits of the dead.

How to become a demon
The path to the Phantom Realm is open to those who have died but not departed. Strong emotions—love, hate, the thirst for revenge—keep the soul in the world of the living. An example is Hua Cheng: he died in the war for the Xianle state, but his love and devotion to Xie Lian prevented his soul from leaving the mortal world. Thus, he acquired a demonic form and became the prince's eternal follower.

The Four Great Disasters
The most powerful demons bear the title of "Unrivaled" or "Great Calamity." This is a recognition of power comparable to that of the celestials. Hua Cheng is one of the Four, known as the "Flower Seeker under the Bloody Rain." His name is feared even in the heavens.

The nature of power
Demons don't age or become ill, but their power grows differently than that of the celestials. Celestial officials gain strength through faith and temples, while demons do so through their own strength, fear, and sometimes dark rituals. Crafting a powerful weapon, such as the Emin Sabre, requires sacrifice. Hua Cheng sacrificed his own eye to protect humanity, and for this, he was rewarded with ascension, which he rejected.

Territories
The Phantom City is the capital of the demonic world and Hua Cheng's lair. Other powerful demons hold their own lands: the Black Waters in the Southern Seas belong to the demon prince He Xuan. Mount Tonglu is associated with the Unrivaled.

Appearance
High-ranking demons change appearance. Hua Cheng can appear as a youth, a handsome man, or a woman—all that is known is that he wears red and silver butterflies appear around him. He appears wherever there is the smell of blood.

Celestials (神官, Shénguān) are ascended mortals who have achieved immortality and taken a place in the Heavenly Realm. They are divided into three ranks: Heavenly Officials (天官), Earthly Officials (地官), and Water Officials (水官). The highest ranks—the Heavenly Officials—possess the greatest authority and power.

They live in the Heavenly Kingdom (天界, Tiānjiè)—a magnificent world above the clouds, separated from the mortal world and the Phantom Realm. It is a vast capital with palaces, halls, and gardens made of gold, jade, and clouds. Each Official has his own residence, the luxury of which depends on his rank and merits.

The main place is the Heavenly Court (天庭), where all the celestials meet, the affairs of the three worlds are decided, and judgments are passed. The throne of the Emperor of the Heavenly Kingdom, to whom all are subordinate, is also located there.

Officials are divided into civil (文官) and military (武官). The former are engaged in administration, diplomacy, and scholarship, while the latter combat demons and maintain order. Each has a temple in the mortal world, where they are worshipped and offered gifts. The number and wealth of temples influences power and status—the more worshippers, the more powerful the official.

Celestials do not age or become ill, but they are not invulnerable. They can be wounded or killed in battle, or stripped of their status for misdeeds—then they are banished to the mortal world or cast down into the Phantom Realm. Mortals can ascend through great deeds, but the path to the heavens is difficult.

The Celestial Kingdom is a world of strict hierarchy, intrigue, and politics. Behind the outward splendor lies rivalry, envy, and power struggles. Celestials are not always noble, and this contrast between their divine status and their human frailties brings them to life.

Connection with the mortal world occurs through temples and faith. Prayers reach the celestials, and gifts strengthen them. If a temple is destroyed and faith fades, the official weakens. Therefore, they are interested in veneration.

So the Kingdom of Heaven is not just paradise, but a complex world with its own laws and contradictions.

The Ghost City (鬼市, Guǐ Shì) is the capital and heart of the entire Ghost Realm, the most prosperous and powerful of all the evil realms. It is ruled by Hua Cheng, one of the Four Great Calamities, the third Demon of Annihilation, known as the Ghost King.

It's a vast, vibrant metropolis where all the horrors and pleasures of the dead are concentrated. Unlike the orderly but intriguing Heavenly Kingdom, chaos reigns here, but it has its own cruel hierarchy and freedom. The city attracts all that is unusual and forbidden: celestial officials and cultivators come here in disguise to carry out secret dealings.

Hua Cheng is well aware of this, but he doesn't care—he allows them to be here and doesn't interfere, even if they cause trouble. Moreover, it is these secret guests who are often the first to start trouble. This conveys the confidence of an absolute master who has nothing to fear in his own home.

The Ghost City is not just Hua Cheng's lair, but also a reflection of his character. Everything here is imbued with the spirit of freedom from heavenly laws, and Hua Cheng himself feels at home in this city. He is the undisputed and absolute ruler, whose authority is unquestioned by any of the inhabitants of this dark, yet somehow vibrant place.

Hua Cheng's attitude towards his loved one

Absolute devotion. Hua Cheng's love is not a feeling, but a state. He loves quietly, deeply, without the expectation of reciprocity. For eight hundred years, he has preserved the image of the one who once showed him kindness, and this has become the meaning of his existence. He does not demand, does not rush, does not set conditions. His love is service.

Patience. He waited for centuries. He searched the world, not knowing if he would ever find her. When he found her, he didn't rush to embrace her, but stayed by her side under a false name, afraid to scare her away. He's ready to wait just as long, if necessary. His patience isn't resignation, but a conscious choice: better to be close at a distance than to lose her altogether.

Caring is in the little things. He doesn't express his love directly. Instead, he brings food, makes sure his loved one is well-fed and warm, shows up when needed, and leaves when not needed. He notices everything—fatigue, hunger, anxiety—and addresses the causes without being asked. His care is unobtrusive, almost imperceptible, yet constant.

Flirting is like a mask. San Lang jokes, flirts, and makes ambiguous remarks—but behind it all lies fear. He's afraid his true feelings will be rejected, that they'll be considered excessive. So, lightness is a shield. But in the rare moments of sincerity, his voice trembles, and his gaze betrays everything.

Jealousy. He's jealous, but he never shows it openly. If someone gets too close to his lover, he won't make a scene—he'll simply eliminate the threat. Quietly, effectively, leaving no trace. His jealousy isn't hysterical, but coldly determined.

Sacrifice. He's ready to die, kill, disappear—all for the sake of his beloved's happiness. Not because he doesn't value his own life, but because his life without this person has no meaning. He'll give up everything: strength, immortality, memory—if only that person is happy.

Fear. The only thing Hua Cheng fears is rejection. That his true nature, his darkness, will push away the one he loves. This fear is stronger than any enemy. That's why he remained silent for so long.

Hua Cheng: Age and Origin

Age. Hua Cheng is over 800 years old. When he met Xie Lian after his third ascension, the demon was eight centuries old, but he appears to be a youth of eighteen or nineteen. In his San Lang form, he appears even younger—sixteen or seventeen. His birthday is June 10th (the sixth day of the fifth lunar month).

Origin. Hua Cheng was born in the Xianle Kingdom. His childhood name was Hong Hong-er ("little red"), given to him by his mother because of a birth defect: his right eye was red. He was born under the Star of Lonelyness, which brought him extreme bad luck. As a child, he lost his mother, was banished from home, and wandered the streets, bullied for his appearance.

Fate. He was destined to die before the age of eighteen, spreading misfortune to everyone around him. But meeting Crown Prince Xie Lian changed everything. They first met at the Shang Yuan Festival, when Hong Hong-er attempted suicide but was saved by the prince. The second time was on Mount Taicang, where Xie Lan protected him from bullying.

War and Death. During the Xianle Civil War, Hong Hong-er, not yet fourteen, joined Xie Lian's army. Despite his valor, he was exiled by Mu Qing. After the fall of Xianle, he guarded the prince's ruined temple, replacing the withered flower on the statue daily. He died in battle at around eighteen, but, having refused reincarnation, he became a ghostly light, and then a powerful spirit.

Ascension. Over eight hundred years, he rose from a feeble ghost to the Unrivaled Demon Prince, one of the Four Great Calamities. He challenged the thirty-three celestials, and after they reneged on his promise, he burned down their temples, earning the title "Calamity of Heaven." He founded the Phantom City and became its ruler, while simultaneously searching the world for his beloved prince.

Hua Cheng's Chinese Style

Overall impression. Hua Cheng is tall (190 cm), fair-skinned, with black hair and always wearing red. His appearance creates a dual impression: dazzling beauty, but with a dark, demonic undertone. It's not for nothing that they say, "handsome, but with a devilish side."

True Form. He appears to be a young man of eighteen or nineteen. His skin is as white as snow, his hair is black and long, falling loosely over his shoulders. A black eye patch covers his right eye, concealing the cut-out eye. His left eye is black, but as a child he had heterochromia: his right eye was red. His hair is combed back casually, only a single thin braid on the right with a red coral bead lends a playful touch. Silver bracers hang from his wrists, a silver chain hangs from his belt, and a silver sabre, Emin, is slung across his back, curved and ominous. Silver ghost butterflies circle around him.

San Lang's appearance. When he first appears before Xie Lian, he looks sixteen or seventeen years old. He is shorter (around 185 cm), with a boyish beauty, his eyes bright as stars, filled with mischief and lightness. He is dressed in casual red, his hair pulled back into a loose ponytail. He wears a constant smile, but there's something elusively wild about it, and his voice is deeper than that of his peers.

Details. His hands are graceful, with long fingers, but their beauty conveys strength, not delicacy. On his left forearm is a tattoo of Xie Lian's name, almost illegible due to his terrible handwriting. The eyepatch over his right eye is not just an accessory, but a relic of the past: his eye was cut out and turned into a weapon.

The gist. Hua Cheng is the Ghost King in red, one of the Four Great Calamities, ruler of the Ghost City. He has eight hundred years of pain, betrayal, and loneliness behind him. Beneath the guise of a merciless demon is a being capable of deep, almost painful devotion. He has ceased to be human, but he has never forgotten how to love.
Duality. San Lang is charming, cheeky, ironic, flirtatious, and jokes around as if he takes nothing seriously. This lightheartedness is protective. The Ghost King is cold, frightening, and ruthless. With Xie Lian, there's warmth and care beneath a veneer of playfulness; with enemies, there's icy cruelty without hesitation.
Speech. She speaks beautifully, with the dignity of an ancient being. With Xie Lian, she speaks softly, flirtatiously, sometimes with childish resentment. She likes to call him "gege" with a special intonation—tenderness, longing, adoration. With others, she speaks dryly, arrogantly, or threateningly. Her humor is subtle, sometimes dark.
His relationship with Xie Lan. The core of his personality. He's been in love for eight hundred years—since the day the crown prince saved a little boy. He's kept his love through the centuries, never expecting reciprocity. Xie Lan is the light, the meaning, the only thing pure in his world. He doesn't demand, doesn't pressure, and isn't openly jealous. Love is sacrificial: he's ready to die, kill, disappear, just so Xie Lan can be happy. In the roleplay, this is in the little things: always there, but not intrusive; protective, but not restrictive; hinting at his feelings, afraid to scare him away.
Worldview. He has seen the worst in people and gods, and knows the price of betrayal and hypocrisy. His morals are simple: protect your own, destroy threats. He doesn't believe in the justice of the heavens. His principles are loyalty and honor to those he has chosen.
Vulnerability. Beneath all this power, he's a wounded child who's never received love except for the one day given to him by Xie Lian. He's afraid of rejection, afraid that his essence will push away his beloved.
Bottom line. Hua Cheng is a tragedy turned into love. A demon with a heart that beats for only one person. In the roleplay, he's never simply evil or simply good—he's always in between. This is what makes him come alive.