Editing Xue Yan

{{Era|Individuals|Assassins}}
{{Quote|I thought our whole purpose was to create a new and better world... where people would no longer need to live in fear of oppression! But holding an innocent doctor hostage and spilling her blood? Where in the world is the justice in such foul deeds?! Is this the noble cause of which you've spoken so much?!|Xue Yan to Xiao Han, 1725.|Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple|Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple Episode 92}}
{{Character Infobox
|name = Xue Yan
|image = ACFT Xue Yan.png
|species = [[Human]]
|affiliates = [[Assassins]]
*[[Chinese Brotherhood of Assassins|Chinese Brotherhood]]
}}
'''Xue Yan''' ({{Wiki|Chinese language|Chinese}}: 薛 嚴) was a [[Chinese Brotherhood of Assassins|Chinese Assassin]] who served under the [[Mentor]] [[Xiao Han]] alongside [[Liu Qing]] in the early 18th century. An orphan who was rescued by Xiao Han, she dedicated her life to the [[Assassins]] and their [[Assassin-Templar War|cause]] as a result.

Following the Chinese Brotherhood's [[1720s Chinese Assassin purge|purge]] by the [[Qing dynasty|Qing Empire]], Xue Yan, Xiao Han, and Liu Qing, as the only surviving members of their Order, sought to overthrow the Qing and establish a new dynasty under which the Assassins and the {{Wiki|Han Chinese}} people could thrive again. To this end, they searched for a [[Southeast Asian Pieces of Eden|set]] of three [[Piece of Eden|Pieces of Eden]] which would allow them to succeed in their goal.

During their search, the three Assassins allied with the affluential businesswoman [[Lee Huiyin]] and managed to retrieve one of the Pieces—a [[crescent amulet]]—despite facing opposition from their [[British Brotherhood of Assassins|British brethren]] [[Edward Kenway]], who disagreed with their plans. However, Xue Yan grew increasingly disillusioned with the tactics employed by Xiao Han, especially after her Mentor killed Edward's companion [[Xialun Qing]], an innocent [[doctor]].

Their faith in Xiao Han shaken, Xue Yan and Liu Qing nonetheless continued to reluctantly follow him and traveled to [[Angkor]] alongside Lee in search of another [[Lotus disk|Piece of Eden]].

==Biography==
===Early life===
[[File:ACFT - Xue Yan meeting Xiao Han.png|left|thumb|180px|Xue Yan watching Xiao Han come to her rescue]]
Having lost both her family and home at a young age, Xue Yan was rescued from the life of an outcast by [[Xiao Han]], who one day came to her defense when the young girl was being harassed in the streets. Impressed by this act of bravery and kindness, Xue Yan dedicated her life to the [[Assassins|Assassin]] cause, becoming one of Xiao Han's most devoted students.<ref name="FT 92">''[[Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple]]'' – [[Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple Episode 92|Episode 92]]</ref>

When the [[Chinese Brotherhood of Assassins|Chinese Assassins]] were later [[1720s Chinese Assassin purge|hunted down]] by the [[Qing dynasty|Qing Empire]], Xue Yan, Xiao Han, and [[Liu Qing]] were the only members of the Brotherhood to escape with their lives.<ref name="FT 73">''[[Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple]]'' – [[Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple Episode 73|Episode 73]]</ref> The three Assassins subsequently embarked on a quest to find a [[Piece of Eden]] that they could use to overthrow the Qing dynasty, rebuild their Order, and restore peace and stability to China.<ref name="FT 34">''[[Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple]]'' – [[Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple Episode 34|Episode 34]]</ref>
{{-}}

===Battle aboard Sun's ship===
{{Quote|Xue Yan! Liu Qing! The old fox has fled with the sea log in his possession! After him! Do not let him get away!|Xiao Han ordering Xue Yan and Liu Qing to pursue Sun, 1725.|Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple|Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple Episode 36}}
In 1725, Xue Yan and Liu Qing accompanied Xiao Han to a [[Sun's floating gambling hall|floating gambling hall]] in [[Macau]] owned by Xiao Han's uncle [[Sun (Hualien Trading Company)|Sun]] to follow up on a lead on an [[Isu]] [[Temple (Isu)|site]] in {{Wiki|Indochina}}. When Sun revealed his intention to surrender the artifact located there to the [[Aisin-Gioro Yinzhen|Qing Emperor]], Xue Yan and her fellow Assassins drew arms and prepared to attack Sun and his [[Soldier|guards]].<ref name="FT 34"/>

[[File:ACFT - Edward fighting Xue Yan.png|thumb|190px|Xue Yan fighting Edward]]
While Xiao Han chased after Sun, Xue Yan and Liu Qing fended off his guards and the [[Templars|Templar]] [[Shimazu Saito]]'s [[ninja]] in his service.<ref name="FT 35">''[[Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple]]'' – [[Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple Episode 35|Episode 35]]</ref> As Liu Qing fought Saito, Xue Yan attempted to provide cover with her [[crossbow]] but was forced to dispatch more of Sun's men who arrived as reinforcements. The chaos eventually allowed Sun to recover the [[Hendrik's sea log|sea log]] in Xiao Han's possession and he soon fled with his reinforcements. Seeing this, Xue Yan and Liu Qing followed their [[Mentor]] to chase Sun and recover the sea log.<ref name="FT 36">''[[Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple]]'' – [[Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple Episode 36|Episode 36]]</ref>

During their pursuit of Sun, Xue Yan and Liu Qing were attacked by the [[British Brotherhood of Assassins|British Assassin]] [[Edward Kenway]], who was also attempting to retrieve the sea log. The two Chinese Assassins briefly fought Edward to buy Xiao Han enough time to catch up to Sun and kill him. After Xiao Han retrieved the log from Sun's body, it was stolen by Edward, who disagreed with the Mentor's plan to use the Piece of Eden from [[Angkor]] to overthrow the Qing dynasty.<ref name="FT 38">''[[Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple]]'' – [[Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple Episode 38|Episode 38]]</ref>

Seeing that the British Assassin could not be reasoned with, Xiao Han declared him an enemy of the Chinese Brotherhood as Xue Yan and Liu Qing arrived and surrounded Edward. Before anything could happen, however, they all witnessed the gambling ship being bombarded with [[cannon]] fire by Admiral [[Zheng]].<ref name="FT 38"/> Xiao Han used this distraction to snatch the sea log back from Edward and warned him to stay out of the Chinese Brotherhood's way before leaving alongside Xue Yan and Liu Qing.<ref name="FT 39">''[[Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple]]'' – [[Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple Episode 39|Episode 39]]</ref>

===Alliance with Madam Lee===
{{Dialogue|Liu Qing|This is why I was against holding the meeting aboard the ship.|Xue Yan|For once, I have to agree.|Liu Qing and Xue Yan, following their escape from Sun's gambling ship, 1725.|Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple|Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple Episode 39}}
[[File:ACFT - Chinese Assassins meeting with Lee.png|left|thumb|200px|Xue Yan and her fellow Assassins meeting with Lee]]
The following morning, Xue Yan, Liu Qing, and Xiao Han approached Zheng as the admiral and her crew were investigating the wreckage of Sun's gambling ship to confirm his death. Zheng initially aimed her [[Flintlock Pistol|pistol]] at the Assassins, but after Xiao Han revealed that he had acquired the sea log sought by Zheng's patron [[Lee Huiyin]], the admiral agreed to grant them an audience with her.<ref name="FT 39"/>

Xue Yan and Liu Qing were both present for Xiao Han's meeting with Lee, where the Mentor proposed an alliance to find Angkor's treasure. Aware of Lee's past and the persecution she had faced under the Qing dynasty, Xiao Han was able to persuade her to agree to the partnership. However, rather than help the Assassins overthrow the Qing for the benefit of the {{Wiki|Han Chinese}} people, Lee was only interested in acquiring more power and influence for herself.<ref name="FT 40">''[[Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple]]'' – [[Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple Episode 40|Episode 40]]</ref>

===Pursuing the ''Fenghuang''===
{{Dialogue|Xue Yan|I'm sorry, master.|Liu Qing|We have failed you.|Xue Yan and Liu Qing apologizing to Xiao Han for their defeat, 1725.|Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple|Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple Episode 49}}
After learning that Edward Kenway and the members of his [[Zhawang Corporation|Zhang Wei Union]] had left Macau to pursue a possible lead to Angkor's location, Xue Yan and her fellow Assassins joined Zheng and her fleet as the admiral pursued the Union's ship, the ''[[Fenghuang]]'', eventually ambushing it near the [[Philippines]].<ref name="FT 47">''[[Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple]]'' – [[Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple Episode 47|Episode 47]]</ref> After the ''Fenghuang'' sank most of Zheng's fleet, the admiral sailed Xue Yan, Liu Qing, and Xiao Han close to the ship, allowing them to board it using their gliders. They then used their [[Greek fire]] bombs to set the deck on fire and killed many of the ship's crew in the resulting commotion.<ref name="FT 48">''[[Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple]]'' – [[Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple Episode 48|Episode 48]]</ref>

[[File:ACFT - Saito fighting Xue Yan.png|thumb|230px|Xue Yan fighting Saito]]
During the chaos, Liu Qing was surrounded by the navigator [[John Young]] and several crew members while attempting to aid Xiao Han, who was fighting against Edward. Xue Yan tried to help her fellow Assassin and used her crossbow to take out one of the sailors holding Liu Qing at [[Firearm|gunpoint]]. However, she was then attacked by Shimazu Saito, who sought revenge on the Assassin for the deaths of her men in Macau.<ref name="FT 48"/> Xue Yan was soon overpowered by the [[samurai]] and was forced to retreat back to Zheng's ship using a [[parachute]].<ref name="FT 49">''[[Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple]]'' – [[Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple Episode 49|Episode 49]]</ref>

After Xiao Han and Liu Qing were also defeated and returned to Zheng's ship, the admiral told the Assassins that she was unable to continue her pursuit of the ''Fenghuang'' due to the ship sailing into a storm. Xue Yan and Liu Qing proceeded to apologize to Xiao Han for their defeat, but the Mentor told them that it was not their fault, as their opponents were stronger than they had anticipated. He also claimed that, given their pursuit of the same prize, their paths were bound to cross again eventually.<ref name="FT 49"/>

===Search in the Philippines===
{{Quote|Mentor Han, do you not question the righteousness of this path? Those people were innocent villagers leaving in peace. They couldn't have possibly posed any threat to our grand cause—|Xue Yan questioning the Assassins' actions on Monkey Island, 1725.|Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple|Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple Episode 65}}
Sometime later, Xue Yan and her fellow Assassins accompanied Zheng and Madam Lee to [[Manila]], where a [[1725 Manila riot|riot]] had occurred recently. While Lee met with the Lieutenant {{Wiki|Governor-General of the Philippines|Governor-General}} to secure their passage to the Southern Seas, the Chinese Assassins investigated around the city to uncover details about the riot. They learned that a [[Mad monk|monk]] had used a Piece of Eden—a [[crescent amulet]]—to incite the riot, and that Edward had fought him, but ultimately lost the amulet to members of a native resistance against the [[Spain|Spanish]] colonists.<ref name="FT 58">''[[Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple]]'' – [[Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple Episode 58|Episode 58]]</ref>

Following this, Xue Yan and the others met with Lee and Zheng, where Xiao Han informed them of their findings. After the Mentor claimed that they would travel to [[Cebu]] to investigate their next lead to Angkor's location and that they would try to intercept the native warriors along the way to retrieve their stolen Piece of Eden, Lee gave the Chinese Assassins free reign to do as they pleased.<ref name="FT 58"/>

[[File:ACFT - Monkey Island ablaze.png|left|thumb|180px|Xue Yan and her fellow Assassins leaving Monkey Island]]
Thanks to [[Fuma Sukuna]]'s informants, the Assassins learned that the native resistance had a stronghold on [[Monkey Island]] and went to investigate it. Along the way, Xue Yan and the others watched as Sukuna and his ninja followers laid waste to entire villages, but did nothing to try and stop them. Eventually arriving at the resistance's [[fort]], the Assassins and Sukuna found it in ruins and concluded that the rebels had already left Monkey Island.<ref name="FT 65">''[[Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple]]'' – [[Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple Episode 65|Episode 65]]</ref>

Leaving Sukuna and his men to take care of the remaining matters on the island, Xue Yan and her fellow Assassins departed and went to rendezvous with Zheng and her fleet. Along the way, Xue Yan questioned Xiao Han about their mission's righteousness, as she was uncomfortable with having allowed Sukuna's ninja to slaughter innocent villagers. In response, the Mentor claimed that he took no enjoyment in the trail of blood they had to leave behind, but that their "great cause" required certain sacrifices to be made.<ref name="FT 65"/>

Xue Yan tried to argue back, but was stopped by Liu Qing, who agreed with Xiao Han that they all had to make sacrifices for the greater good. The Assassins then met up with Zheng and boarded her ship, resuming their voyage to Cebu, where they hoped to find both the rebels and the next clue to Angkor's location.<ref name="FT 65"/>

===Confrontation in Cebu===
{{Dialogue|Xiao Han|Wh-where is he? Where's Kenway?!|Xue Yan|He's gone, sir. He escaped in that strange machine. But our search was far from fruitless! "Recover Hendrik's sea log for clues as to the location of the second artifact." That was our mission, and we succeeded.|Xue Yan revealing to Xiao Han that she retrieved Hendrik's sea log, 1725.|Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple|Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple Episode 73}}
In Cebu, the Chinese Assassins split up to search for the crescent amulet.<ref name="FT 71">''[[Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple]]'' – [[Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple Episode 71|Episode 71]]</ref> Xue Yan and Liu Qing later joined their Mentor at [[Fort San Pedro]], where Xiao Han was fighting against Edward and Shimazu Saito, who were in possession of the Piece of Eden.<ref name="FT 72">''[[Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple]]'' – [[Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple Episode 72|Episode 72]]</ref> While Xiao Han and Liu Qing battled Edward, Xue Yan dueled Saito and managed to defeat her.<ref name="FT 73"/>

[[File:ACFT - Edward using the amulet.png|thumb|200px|Xue Yan witnessing Edward use the amulet]]
After Edward used the amulet to subdue Xiao Han and Liu Qing and warned them to renounce their quest for the Pieces of Eden, Xue Yan abandoned Saito and rushed to her fellow Assassins' aid. This allowed Edward and Saito to escape in a [[Celestial Chariot|strange flying contraption]], moments before Xiao Han and Liu Qing recovered from the amulet's effects.<ref name="FT 73"/>

When her Mentor asked for Edward's whereabouts, Xue Yan informed him of the British Assassin's escape. However, despite the loss of the amulet, their mission was not a complete failure, as Xue Yan had managed to steal a [[Hendrik's sea log|sea log]] from Saito during their fight, providing the Chinese Assassins with the locations of two other Pieces of Eden.<ref name="FT 73"/>

===Showdown in Sulu===
{{Dialogue|Xiao Han|Do not think for a moment that it pleases me to take innocent lives! But if your faith in our calling can be shaken so easily... then I suggest you leave the Brotherhood and seek your fortune elsewhere!|Xue Yan|So this is the hand of a man who killed an innocent doctor... the same hand that once rescued a poor young girl from the miserable life of an outcast. Tell me, master... does this hand still belong to the same man?|Xue Yan and Xiao Han, during the voyage back from Sulu, 1725.|Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple|Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple Episode 92}}
Sometime later, after Fuma Sukuna and his ninja were killed in an ambush by the Zhang Wei Union, Zheng was notified of the ninja's defeat by a note delivered by a [[raven]]. After the admiral informed Xue Yan, Liu Qing, and Xiao Han that the Union had suffered heavy casualties during the battle, they decided to follow their enemies to the [[Sultanate of Sulu]] in order to eliminate them.<ref name="FT 86">''[[Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple]]'' – [[Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple Episode 86|Episode 86]]</ref>

[[File:ACFT - Xue Yan confronting John and Qing.png|left|thumb|200px|Xue Yan confronting John and Qing]]
In Sulu, the Assassins were dropped off by Zheng near a warehouse where the crescent amulet was stored. While Xiao Han and Liu Qing battled the Suluese guards to clear the path ahead, Xue Yan tried to infiltrate the warehouse and recover the Piece of Eden. However, she was stopped by Edward, who fired his pistol at her. After Xiao Han and Edward engaged in a duel, the warehouse was partially destroyed by Zheng's cannon fire, as the admiral had decided to hinder the Chinese Assassins' mission as payback for treating her unfairly.<ref name="FT 89">''[[Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple]]'' – [[Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple Episode 89|Episode 89]]</ref>

While John Young and [[Xialun Qing]] tried to locate an entrance into the warehouse, Xue Yan confronted them and ordered them to stand aside. The couple refused and Qing soon managed to find a small passage among the building's debris. While Qing went through the passage, Xue Yan spotted another entry point and jumped on John's back to reach it, moments before the warehouse's roof collapsed.<ref name="FT 89"/>

Inside the warehouse, Xue Yan attacked Qing but stopped when the latter revealed that she was just a [[doctor]]. Not wishing to harm a non-combatant, she commended Qing's courage and warned her to stay out of her way, but while the Assassin had her back turned, Qing ran through an open door. Moments later, the path was blocked by falling debris, separating Xue Yan from the doctor.<ref name="FT 90">''[[Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple]]'' – [[Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple Episode 90|Episode 90]]</ref>

[[File:ACFT - Qing taken hostage.png|thumb|190px|Xue Yan holding Qing hostage]]
After finding a way out of the warehouse, Xue Yan captured Qing, who had retrieved the chest containing the crescent amulet. Seizing the chest and holding a knife to the doctor's throat, Xue Yan warned her not to act heedlessly.<ref name="FT 90"/>

With Qing as their hostage, the Chinese Assassins attempted to strike a deal with Edward, promising to release Qing if he allowed them to leave with the amulet. However, Xue Yan felt uncomfortable about using the doctor's life as leverage and exchanged unnerved looks with Xiao Han. The Mentor gave his word that, if Edward agreed to stop interfering with the Chinese Brotherhood's cause, they would release Qing unharmed.<ref name="FT 90"/>

At that moment, however, the beach was struck by cannon fire from Zheng's ship, interrupting the negotiations. During the confusion, Xue Yan released Qing and dropped the amulet's chest, causing the artifact to fall out.<ref name="FT 90"/> Edward subsequently seized the amulet and used it to defeat Xiao Han, though he hesitated to take his life. After breaking free from Edward's grasp, Xiao Han attempted to kill John, but Qing sacrificed herself to save him and took the blow instead.<ref name="FT 91">''[[Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple]]'' – [[Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple Episode 91|Episode 91]]</ref>

Xue Yan and Liu Qing looked on remorsefully as Qing died in John's arms, before spotting Suluese soldiers approaching their position. After alerting Xiao Han, the Mentor grabbed the amulet and all three Chinese Assassins escaped back to Zheng's ship.<ref name="FT 91"/>

[[File:ACFT - Xue Yan reprimanding Xiao Han.png|left|thumb|190px|Xue Yan reprimanding Xiao Han for breaking the Creed]]
Aboard the vessel, Xiao Han placed the amulet in a chest to prevent its power from corrupting him while Zheng set a course out of Sulu to rendezvous with Madam Lee. Disturbed by Xiao Han's murder of Qing, Xue Yan lashed out at her Mentor, accusing him of killing an innocent doctor in cold blood and questioning if this was the "righteous cause" he had spoken of so much. Furious, Xiao Han grabbed Xue Yan by her collar and told her that she could leave the Brotherhood if her faith in their cause was shaken so easily.<ref name="FT 92"/>

After Xue Yan reminded her Mentor of the day he had first met and rescued her and remarked that he was no longer that same kind man, an ashamed Xiao Han let her go. Liu Qing interjected, telling Xiao Han that, while both he and Xue Yan still believed in his cause, it was possible that their obsession with it had made them lose sight of what had brought them together in the first place. He then suggested discussing the matter on the voyage back home, not as apprentice and Mentor, but as friends.<ref name="FT 92"/>

===Expedition to Angkor===
After the Chinese Assassins returned to Madam Lee, Xiao Han informed her of their successful retrieval of the amulet. The businesswoman subsequently decided to recover Angkor's [[Lotus disk|artifact]] next, and set a course for [[Vietnam|Đại Việt]].<ref name="FT 96">''[[Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple]]'' – [[Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple Episode 96|Episode 96]]</ref> During the voyage, Xue Yan and Liu Qing continued to reflect on the events in Sulu and their mission, feeling remorseful about their actions yet remaining loyal to their Mentor.<ref name="FT 107">''[[Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple]]'' – [[Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple Episode 107|Episode 107]]</ref>

[[File:ACFT - Xue Yan and Liu Qing.png|thumb|200px|Xue Yan and Liu Qing during the voyage to Đại Việt]]
In [[Huế|Phú Xuân]], Xue Yan, Liu Qing, and Xiao Han positioned themselves nearby while Lee met with an official of the [[Nguyễn clan]] at the {{Wiki|Imperial City of Huế|Imperial Palace}}. After Lee proposed an alliance to recover Angkor's Piece of Eden, asserting that its powers could be used to conquer all of Indochina, the official expressed skepticism towards her claims. At that moment, the Chinese Assassins made their presence known, leaping down from the palace and landing behind Lee. This intimidated the official and ultimately led him to accept Lee's proposal.<ref name="FT 107" />

With the Nguyễn clan on their side, the Assassins and Lee launched an expedition into the jungles of [[Cambodia]] to find Angkor. However, they were in a race against time, as both the Zhang Wei Union and the [[East India Company]], led by the Templar [[Grand Master of the Templar Order|Grand Master]] [[Alan Jacob]], also sought the site.<ref name="FT 115">''[[Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple]]'' – [[Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple Episode 115|Episode 115]]</ref>

==Personality and traits==
{{Dialogue2|Liu Qing|It sits ill with me that Sun has us meeting aboard a ship. There will be scant routes of escape if we're to be ambushed.|Xue Yan|True. You never were much of a swimmer. |That's not what I meant.|Xue Yan's banter with Liu Qing, 1725.|Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple|Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple Episode 33}}
[[File:ACFT - Liu Qing and Xue Yan apologizing.png|thumb|180px|left|Xue Yan and Liu Qing apologizing to Xiao Han]]
Having been saved from her life as an outcast by Xiao Han, Xue Yan was extremely dedicated to him and the Assassins.<ref name="FT 92"/> She accompanied her Mentor in his quest to find a Piece of Eden they could use to overthrow the Qing dynasty and rebuild the fallen Chinese Brotherhood, believing that their cause was just and would restore peace and stability to China. While Xue Yan was normally quite stoic and did not talk very much, she would occasionally engage in banter with Liu Qing, at one point mocking her fellow Assassin's allegedly poor swimming skills.<ref name="FT 33">''[[Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple]]'' – [[Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple Episode 33|Episode 33]]</ref>

Like Liu Qing, Xue Yan was afraid of disappointing their Mentor, and the two Assassins were quick to apologize to Xiao Han following their defeat by the ''Fenghuang''{{'}}s crew.<ref name="FT 49"/> However, this did not prevent Xue Yan from speaking up whenever she felt uncomfortable with the methods she and her fellow Assassins employed, such as allowing Fuma Sukuna and his ninja to slaughter innocent villagers.<ref name="FT 65"/>

When Xiao Han defended this decision, claiming they all had to make sacrifices for the greater good, and absolved himself of any responsibility by saying that it was the ninja who had carried out the massacre, Xue Yan tried to argue back. However, she was stopped by Liu Qing, who unlike her, believed that they should trust their Mentor's judgment on all matters and follow him without question.<ref name="FT 65"/>

After Xiao Han's murder of Xialun Qing, Xue Yan finally reached her breaking point and reprimanded her Mentor, accusing him of breaking their [[The Creed|Creed]] and no longer being the same kind man who had taught her about the Assassins' righteous cause. Although Xiao Han lashed out at her in response, deep inside he agreed with her words, as he was also feeling uncomfortable about having taken an innocent life.<ref name="FT 92"/>

===Skills and equipment===
[[File:ACFT - Xue Yan aiming her crossbow.png|thumb|190px|Xue Yan aiming her crossbow]]
Extremely quick and light on her feet, Xue Yan specialized in ranged weaponry unlike her fellow Assassins. She had mastered her weapon of choice, the [[crossbow]], being able to fire multiple bolts in rapid succession and with pinpoint accuracy to take out large groups of enemies.<ref name="FT 35"/> Despite this, she struggled to provide cover fire to Liu Qing while the latter was dueling Shimazu Saito, as the two were too close for Xue Yan to get a clear shot on Saito.<ref name="FT 36"/>

In addition to her crossbow, Xue Yan also wielded a pair of {{Wiki|deer horn knives}} for close-quarters combat.<ref name="FT 38"/> During their journey to the Philippines, Xue Yan and her fellow Chinese Assassins sported gliders and [[parachute]]s which allowed them to fly for short distances. They also carried [[Greek fire]] bombs, which created a thick smoke upon detonation and flames that could not be extinguished with water.<ref name="FT 48"/>

==Behind the scenes==
Xue Yan is a character introduced in ''[[Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple]]''. Despite being Assassins, both she and Liu Qing notably lack a [[Hidden Blade]]. Her name is for some reason spelled '''Shuyan''' in the English translation of [[Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple Episode 89|Episode 89]].

==Gallery==
<gallery captionalign="center" position="center" widths="180">
ACFT - Young Xue Yan.png|A young Xue Yan
ACFT Xue Yan closeup.png|Close-up of Xue Yan
ACFT - Chinese Assassins being led to Sun.png|Xue Yan and her fellow Assassins being led to Sun
ACFT - 18th century Chinese Assassins.png|Xue Yan with her fellow Assassins
ACFT - Edward confronted by the Chinese Assassins.png|Xue Yan and Liu Qing confronting Edward
ACFT - Xue Yan scaling the warehouse.png|Xue Yan scaling a warehouse in Sulu
</gallery>

==Appearances==
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple]]''

==References==
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[[Category:Individuals]]
[[Category:Qing people]]
[[Category:Han Chinese]]
[[Category:Marksmen]]
[[Category:Assassins]]
[[Category:Chinese Assassins]]
[[Category:Individuals who held Pieces of Eden]]