Heshui

"I don't think that there is any need to be shy or wary about anything. I love you. I'm already completely in love with you, so have some confidence, my wife."

- Heshui to Liu Meiying Heshui (Chinese: 河水), much known by his childhood name Hui (Chinese: 辉), is the son of Taiyin, God of the Moon and Life, and Sha ming, Goddess of Death and Punishment. He is the God of Water and Thunderstorm, and the Lord of the Water Kingdom, who was accidentally summoned by Liu Meiying to the Human world. Trapped in the Human world until the next full moon, Hui promised to help the Hebian Kingdom win the war against its enemies in exchange that Meiying will be his bride; or else, he'll curse the Hebian Kingdom to five years of drought. During his time in the Human world, Hui presented himself as Xing Hui (Chinese: 星辉) and a Meiying's bodyguard.

When he returned to the Water Kingdom with Meiying as his bride, he was surprised to find out that Xiyin, his former lover, is alive that conflicted his intention of taking Meiying as his wife. It was revealed that before Xiyin, he has a wife named Lianhua, who mysteriously died; and considered to be the only woman that he truly ever loved. In the end, it is revealed that Huang is wishing to find out his real name in order to bind him to do his bidding at the imminent war between the Yin and Yang Kingdoms. Except for his parents, Meiying is the only person to whom he revealed his third and real name, Yu (Chinese: 宇), an indication that he loves Meiying much greatly than any others.

Hui will do everything then to ensure that Meiying will forever be with him that causes Meiying to voluntarily leave him alone which hardens him and settles his conviction not to choose a side between the Yin and Yang Kingdoms, even though his father is the King of the Yin Kingdom. After four years, upon being asked by Huang to find Jian in order for Hui and his mother to be spared from choosing a side in the war, Hui learns Meiying's whereabouts and about the identity of his daughter Ai liu.

Early Life
Hui was born to the King of the Yin Kingdom Taiyin, God of the Moon and Life, and his queen, Sha ming, Goddess of Death and Punishment more than five thousand years ago before the start of disillusion. At birth, he was given the name Yu, which for years will be something that only he and his parents will know of, but as his childhood name, he was known as Hui.

Little was known about Hui's childhood, except for the notion that he doesn't speak and doesn't show his powers until his third birthday, a celebration was held in honor to inform the rest of the gods of his birth. At the banquet, he was dressed by his mother as a girl to avoid the eyes of evil spirits; and every god was invited, as well as the rest of his father's brothers: the rivals Taiyang, God of the Sun and Wealth, and Jieyu, God of Balance and Retribution. Before a clash between the two could spark, making his mother choose a side at that time, Hui suddenly used his powers for the first time: summoning a Tài Shuǐlóng of extreme strength completely not expected for a child, showing then for the first time the child's ability to control water. Collapsing due to exhaustion, his father arrived to cut the clash between his own brothers. But it interested Jieyu among all, since Hui's power is drastically associated with that of his father, saying that things are going to become interesting from now on before leaving. Taiyang, on the other hand, named Hui as Heshui for his ability to control water, naming him then as the God of Water and Thunderstorm. Also, Taiyang assured his parents that no harm associated to fire will befall Hui as part of a divine speech. Both of his parents without any intention to be part of the war that will continue brewing for thousands of years, decided it best to separate.

Hui's father, Taiyin, exiled himself in the Moon where either from his brothers will be able to reach him, especially by Jieyu who was so interested in killing him, when all that Taiyin wanted to support is Taiyang. Taiyin was hesitant, but was forced by Sha ming to do so. Hui's mother, Sha ming, decided to raise Hui on her own. The reason that Sha ming and Hui didn't come along with Taiyin is because Sha ming couldn't stay at the Moon Palace for her powers are associated with that of the sun, and Hui, though could stay in the Moon Palace, couldn't leave the Water Kingdom unattended. That was the last time that Hui was reunited with both of his parents present; he'll be meeting his father five thousand years later, the same way that his parents will be reunited around the same time as well.

Romance with Lianhua
Ever since his memories of his father was removed, Hui remained under strict control of his mother not to leave the Water Kingdom. For two thousand years, Hui became the obedient son and focused on being the Water God and the Lord of the Water Kingdom. But at the coming of age of a god at the age of two thousand years old, Hui was no longer bounded by his mother anymore. At that, Hui first met his future bride, Zhi jia, Goddess of Wisdom and Warfare, who was much known as Lianhua during one of his sneaking out of the Imperial Palace during a respective ball in order for him to wander close to the separation between the World of the Gods and the Human World. Lianhua intercepted him from going any further to cross worlds, ending up for Hui to fall in love with her at first sight. Hui narrated to his mother what happened and his mother told him that Lianhua is the woman that his mother envisions to be when she was on her age. Due to that, Hui became determined to know about her much more, sending then a proposal of marriage; one that his mother agreed of to strengthen the fine line between the balance of war that can easily be tipped and be waged.

The two met once again with Lianhua hesitant of the marriage for being the kind of goddess she was. For the next years, the two of them grew close to each other that they consider the other by their childhood names and were expected to be aware of each other's third and real name. They fell in love with each other so intimately until the two of them were finally married. During their wedding, Juhua, Goddess of the Earth and Prophecy, said that their children will be as powerful as the two of them. On the first years of their marriage, fearful of the prophecy, Jieyu decided to separate the two of them.

Once when both Hui and Lianhua were at Senlin de Jieti, Xiyin, the demi-god daughter of Jieyu, found Hui and fell in love with him at first sight; only to realize later on that Hui was along with Lianhua, witnessing herself how the two were making love at that time. Xiyin, at that time, begged his father for her to become Hui's bride. With Jieyu's help and intention, Xiyin successfully killed Lianhua, who was at that time, pregnant with her and Hui's first child. Due to her death, Hui lamented her lost for so long until the present, that upon knowing the death of his wife, Hui's emotions destroyed an entire human civilization, almost vanquishing the entire Human World in flood. Unknowingly to Hui, Lianhua's body was preserved by her parents who believes that their daughter's soul was trapped somewhere; and Lianhua's soul was indeed reincarnated thousand years later in the form of Liu Meiying.

Lament and Curse
Despite the fact that Xiyin instantly turned to be Hui's comforter at the death of Lianhua, Hui remained unresponsive with Xiyin's actions. Xiyin was sent by Jieyu to be Hui's new bride, much to the dismay of Lianhua's parents and Hui's own mother. His mother reminded him not to accept Xiyin so easily; and Hui couldn't even bear the thought of taking another bride. For thousands of years, Hui never turned to Xiyin in any romantic way, not even a kiss. Due to that, in hopes of finding Lianhua's soul, Hui frequently visited the Human World in search of her.

Xiyin realized that no matter what she does will not stop Hui from searching Lianhua that she framed Hui for her death. At the time of her death, she placed a curse at Hui that the very moment that Hui goes to the Human World the next time, he'll not be able to return to the World of the Gods unless someone helped him to return. Also, the only time that he can be on the Human World will be during the full moon, where his powers were at the strongest. Due to this, Hui was kept at a close watch of not leaving the Water Kingdom at all cost.

Travel to the Human World
After a thousand years of mourning, as customary, he went to Senlin de Jieti where he was found by Kaizhan, God of War and Violence, and Lianhua's father. He promised Kaizhan that he believed that Lianhua was still "alive" somewhere, and he will bring her back.

When he returned back to the Water Kingdom, he found Jian and Shan wu fighting, and decided to meddle on to stop them from doing anymore damage. He inquired Jian about what the fighting was all about, and when Jian told him that he had only been asking about Shan wu of his whereabouts, Hui told him that Jian must know better not to lie to him, adding that among the other gods, he was one of the few whom he truly trusts with his life. They then crossed path with Juhua, who've inquired them if they'll be heading for the Moon Festival two human days from then, for where Hui said that he'll be staying in the palace as always. Juhua said that he better come with them for he'll be all alone again, and Hui didn't answer to it, dismissing himself to leave Juhua and Jian on their own.

On the night of the festival, the rest of the gods and goddesses in the Water Kingdom headed to the Capital while Hui decided to stay back as he had said. After all, it was during such festival as well that the human world pay their tribute to him as the Water God, especially by the Hebian Kingdom, who had him as their main deity. He watched on with the on-going celebration, as well as the usual rituals for him. Unknowingly for him, this yer had been the Turning Year as well, causing him to be surprised with the decision of the Elders of the Hebian Kingdom to have the new high priestess be offered to him as his bride. During the ceremony, he found the new high priestess to resemble Lianhua so much that at the very summoning of the high priestess's prayers for rain, he accidentally made it to the Human World, trapping him and surprising the high priestess and anyone else present.

He saved the high priestess from drowning and rendered the rest of the spectators unconscious. As he waited for the high priestess to regain consciousness, realizing for himself that he was indeed trap to the Human world due to his own recklessness of submitting himself to such a summon, he learned that the high priestess was named Mei. With disdain, he asked her to return him back to the World of the Gods, but figured out that the zenith of the full moon had passed, meaning that he'll need to wait for the next zenith within 28 days for him to make it back. Mei asked him if he was the Water God, to which he nodded and angrily told her that it was due to her summon that he was stuck in the Human World. He made her promised to do anything in order for him to return back, adding to the list that he'll help them in winning and ending the Long Thousand Celestial Years War and that she'll come with him back to the Water Kingdom on the next zenith, since she was originally offered to be his bride no matter.

Stay at the Moon Kingdom
Upon ensuring that Xiyin was finally dead, Hui apologized to Huang upon declaring his intention indeed to marry Mei and no one else. Huang reminded him about Lianhua, the remaining pressure point that made Hui stagger for a second, but told Huang instead that given that Lianhua was not with him, there was no point for him to stay. He added that he had been long gone from the Water Kingdom for so long already. Knowing that Huang will continue keeping a close eye at him, Hui indeed returned to the Water Kingdom and asked Juhua about the secret way to reach the Moon Kingdom, where Xifeng told him he had brought Mei. Juhua informed him that before anything else, if he wanted to go there, he'll need to evade Huang; and for him to do that, he'll need to travel to the Moon Kingdom at the point of where Huang's powers to oversee everything will be at its weakest, at the peak of the moon's height three days from now where it will be a new moon. Hui said that at a new moon, he'll not find out where to find the view of the moon among the heavens; to where Juhua assured that Hui will need to ask Tài Shuǐlóng to help him, for his stead knew where its powers is aligned next, and that is of the moon. Hui followed Juhua's words and leave the Water Kingdom without Huang's knowledge, and arrived at the Moon Kingdom to be welcomed by a Gāo Fènglóng. The wind dragon was one that Xifeng had placed in order to keep any intruders from entering the Moon Kingdom so easily, but it was just a small thing for someone like Hui whose water dragon's category was of the highest. At that moment though, Mei was waiting for Hui to arrive and to be at the right place where Hui successfully won against the wind dragon. The two lovers reunited once again, and Hui apologized for making Mei wait for too long. He was then later welcomed by Xifeng himself, and Taiyin, whom Xifeng introduced to be the God of the Moon and and Life, and so the King of the Yin Kingdom and the Master of the Moon Kingdom. Taiyin, on the other hand, called Hui with his childhood name, to which Hui inquired why he knew. Even though he had asked both Mei and Xifeng not to tell Hui the truth, Taiyin answered that he knew everything about Hui because he was his son. Contrast to Taiyin's gentleness, Hui was harsh toward him and said that his only objective was to take Mei back with him to the Water Kingdom and said that Taiyin was not his father for he only has his mother for majority of his life and that his father was "dead".

Life as a Human
Hui woke up with Mei back to the Rituals Pool of the Hebian Kingdom. The two of them was found by Xie Yun, and was welcomed by the Hebian Kingdom. The two decided to make up a lie that Hui, originally known by the Hebian Kingdom to be Mei's bodyguard, saved Mei from the wrath of the Water God; due to that, Hui was offered to escalate the ranks and asked to have anything he wanted. Hui responded that he wanted, if possible, to take Mei as his wife; to which Mei agreed, finally allowing them two be married and fulfilling one of Hui's promise to Mei. Unfortunately, not all in the Hebian Kingdom agreed to the fact that Mei shall be married to Hui since Mei was originally married to the Water God, or they'll anger the gods for a second time. The marriage, at that, slated, and the two of them were forbidden to be alone.

One time, Hui caught Mei talking to Jun Xue, and heard that Jun Xue asked for Mei's hand in marriage, which infuriated him. Before he could even approached the two, Sung Jingyi asked if he'll help him bringing such offerings with him. Jingyi led him to the Temple of Heshui and learned that Jingyi was aware that Hui was Heshui, and told him that she was supposed to be the high priestess and his real bride. Hui said that he was already in love with his bride, but Jingyi vowed that he prayed to Heshui that Hui will loved her. Later that night, Hui was on his way of secretly meeting Mei when he felt her truly frightened with their bond. He hurriedly went to her room and found a tiger and a series of masked guards. Xinyue also appeared to see what's wrong with Mei. Remembering that he was all human, Hui decided to fight the masked guards and the tiger with his sword alone, and asked Xinyue to take Mei away. Hui realized that the masked guards and the tiger has no intention of hurting him when they followed Mei and Xinyue fleeing, making him understand that the masked guards and the tiger was sent by his mother in trying to kill Mei. In the last resort of protecting Mei, Hui jumped in to the danger and protected her and Xinyue, mortally wounding him. At that, the masked guards and the tiger disappeared, and his mother realized what happened.

Physical Description
Hui was described to be an incredibly handsome young man, about the age of a male human on his mid-twenties. At first appearance, Hui had appeared on his godly form of having straight, long and ebony hair. In disguise as a human, he appeared to have shoulder-length hair that he keeps in a messy tail. During his time in the human world, he usually adept to appear as a human; but after his return to the world of the gods, he had diverted back to his original form. Only when he was faced in protecting Mei against his mother's sent assassins did he divert to his godly form in hopes that it will tame them.He was said to resemble his father so greatly that the only difference in them was the defiance and sharpness on his calm onyx-colored eyes. He was a tall man and though slim, almost lanky, he was built up with taut muscles. He has a tattoo of his guardian dragon on the right side of his body and has countless of scars on the rest of his body.

Skills & Abilities
As expected of Hui, being the God of Water and Thunderstorm, Hui's main power is the ability to conjure and manipulate the movements of the water in any forms possible. It is shown that whether he is in his godly or human form, he has no trouble in wielding water and manipulating the weather; though the extent of his abilities in disguise as a human is limited. Also, associated to his control and span is the weather itself, deciding when it will rain or not, but it is much highly associated with his emotions (as seen throughout the expanse of the novels); that when it rains when he is sad, and it thunders with lightnings when he is mad. Like the other gods, his actions leave a great impact to the humans, especially for him who is regarded to be one of the strongest gods ever. This strength of his was visible as he is able to summon a Tài-class Shuǐlóng despite his young age when he first summoned one. He strengthens and the Tài Shuǐlóng becomes his familiar and stead. With his powers over water as well, he could see anyone or anything as long as it is close to water itself. He also has a strong tolerance for pain and heals way much faster than any human. He moves gracefully and quickly, almost in a flash that Xinyue defined him to have the skills of an assassin. Aside from his powers as a deity, Hui is incredibly skilled with a lot of crafts that ranged from swords, spears, bow and arrows, and others; though his accuracy with the bow and arrows remains only second to that of Jian. His most notable choice of a weapon, when constricted from using his ability, is a long double-edged sword. It was noted that he forged it himself and named it Lengshui (Chinese: 冷水, "Cold Water"). There is no limitation about him wielding and calling forth for the sword despite on his godly or human form; though the extent of the sword's own abilities had been limited when he is in disguise as a human. Aside from his godly abilities and skills, he is highly trained with a much defined form of martial arts; capable of survival instincts; and an intelligent tactician. He had shown ambidexterity and knowledgable of the necessary logic with quick thinking. Though most of his decisions are risky, they had been proven right and has less casualties involved. He is also a fast learner, being able to adapt right away in the human world despite being on it for the first time and only seeing them done by humans. In a matter of the first try, he had been a great rider. On the other note, he is surprisingly much more skilled with Mei when it comes to calligraphy, flower arrangement, and also sewing.

Liu Meiying
The first time that Hui met Liu Meiying was at the time that Mei sought his help for the on-going war. For Mei to resemble Hui's first wife, Lianhua, Hui was entranced by her beauty that he accepted to be drawn to the Human World at that. Mei was revealed to be the Princess of Hebian Kingdom, the General of the Lotus Army, and as well as the Kingdom's High Priestess in servitude of Heshui, and at the time of Hui being summoned was during Mei's first ritual performance.

Xiyin
Hui originally never fell in love with Xiyin and never considered her as a lover, but much more of "the woman who've been there", an implication that he saw her but not truly gave her anything in return, all the while that Xiyin had been so in love with him at first sight. Xiyin first saw Hui when he and Lianhua were in Senlin de Jieti, and she watched as the two of them made love. Since that time, Xiyin had been so insistent of becoming Hui's bride that ended up to the point that she 'murdered' Lianhua herself. In the end, it only led Hui to a complete emotional breakdown and heartbreak that any advancement that she does toward Hui were rejected.

Trivia

 * Among all the gods, only Hui's three names were revealed. His deity name, Heshui, means "river water"; his childhood name, Hui, means "brilliance"; and his real name, Yu, means "world, universe".