New Heaven Official’s Blessing short film has Xi Lian catching Hua Cheng as he falls from the city wall

A lovely new Heaven Official’s Blessing short film was released on the Made by Bilibili YouTube channel today that illustrates one of the most iconic parts of the hit animated series, and the novel it comes from.

That scene has not been fully animated before, as we all wait patiently (or not so patiently) for Season 3 of the popular Boys’ Love Chinese anime.

But, it appears, with Season 3 allegedly somewhat in production, animation studio Red Dog Culture House is hard at work putting together the next installment in the now-iconic Boys’ Love story. (Fingers bloody crossed, eh?)

The new Heaven Official’s Blessing short film is just a small segment of that.

Xie Lian saves Hua Cheng

That scene, of course, is the first time Xie Lian, the much beloved Crown Prince of Xianle, meets then-child Hua Cheng as he falls from a city wall during the annual parade, and a young Xie Lian jumps up to catch him and take him to safety.

An event that sets the pair off on a long journey towards their shared destiny.

The scene continues as Xie Lian participates in a mock fight on a parade float with his personal attendant Mu Qing as he carries Hua Cheng in his arms.

Months after the parade has ended, and Xie Lian is now the disgraced martial god who fell back to earth, we see Hua Cheng at a deserted and rundown Xie Lian temple, leaving a flower on the prince’s statue.

But, as he does so, he is taunted by a group of children who scream at him that his mother didn’t want him, and hit him with stones.

RELATED: Which Chinese actor voices Xie Lian in Heaven Official’s Blessing and what other donghua has he starred in?

Again, Xie Lian who is hiding in his martial god form behind the temple statue watching the boy, saves the child but then disappears again.

Hua Cheng, sensing Xie Lian just rescued him, rushes back into the temple pleading with Xie Lian to come back so he can see him again.

When he doesn’t, Hua Cheng begins to sob, asking why he was born and what is the good of living if life is nothing but pain.

Against every heavenly rule, Xie Lian then reappears and changes Hua Cheng’s life again. This time with that iconic suggestion “If you don’t know how to live, then live for me”.

The Heaven Official’s Blessing short film ends with the two many years later — with Hua Cheng all grown up and having appeared in Xie Lian’s now “scrap collector” life as “San Lang”, reminding himself and us of his deep and never ending feelings for Xie Lian…

I have liked him since I was a child. I have liked him for many years. It took a lot of hard work to advance…

And no, while the new Heaven Official’s Blessing short film is still not the Season 3 we have been desperately waiting for since Season 2 ended in January last year, at least we get to see our two favorite boys animated and vibrantly living once again, right?

RELATED: Which Chinese actor(s) voice Hua Cheng/San Lang in the Heaven Official’s Blessing donghua?

Watch the original Made by Bilibili film below then, if you don’t speak Chinese, check out the excellent fan-translated version with English subtitles below that.

By the way, the new short film is titled “Chapter 1”, which likely hints at more short chapters of Heaven Official’s Blessing (aka Tian Guan Cifu) on their way soon?

Update: The official Heaven Official’s Blessing short film video was removed from Bilibili’s YouTube channel only hours after it was uploaded — so your only current option is to watch the fan-subbed version instead.