Xiao Han: Difference between revisions
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{{Character Infobox | {{Character Infobox | ||
|name = Xiao Han | |name = Xiao Han | ||
|image = ACFT Xiao Han.png | |image = ACFT Xiao Han render.png | ||
|species = [[Human]] | |species = [[Human]] | ||
|affiliates = [[Assassins]] | |affiliates = [[Assassins]] | ||
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===Showdown in Sulu=== | ===Showdown in Sulu=== | ||
{{Quote|Your hypocrisy is despicable. All that empty talk of a power too great for any man to wield! Was that not the very reason you chose to stand in our way?! What gives you the right to deny us the artifact while taking it for yourself?!|Xiao Han to Edward, after witnessing him use the amulet's powers during their fight, 1725.|Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple|Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple Episode 91}} | {{Quote|You have no qualms about using the artifact's power, I see! Your hypocrisy is despicable. All that empty talk of a power too great for any man to wield! Was that not the very reason you chose to stand in our way?! What gives you the right to deny us the artifact while taking it for yourself?!|Xiao Han to Edward, after witnessing him use the amulet's powers during their fight, 1725.|Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple|Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple Episode 91}} | ||
Sometime later, after Fuma Sukuna and his ninja were killed in an ambush by the Zhang Wei Union, Jeong was notified of the ninja's defeat by a note delivered by a [[raven]]. After the admiral informed Xiao Han, Liu Qing, and Xue Yan that the Union had suffered heavy casualties during the battle, the Mentor vowed to eliminate their enemies now when they were at their weakest point. Jeong then set sail for the [[Sultanate of Sulu]], where the Union had traveled to.<ref name="FT 86">''[[Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple]]'' – [[Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple Episode 86|Episode 86]]</ref> | Sometime later, after Fuma Sukuna and his ninja were killed in an ambush by the Zhang Wei Union, Jeong was notified of the ninja's defeat by a note delivered by a [[raven]]. After the admiral informed Xiao Han, Liu Qing, and Xue Yan that the Union had suffered heavy casualties during the battle, the Mentor vowed to eliminate their enemies now when they were at their weakest point. Jeong then set sail for the [[Sultanate of Sulu]], where the Union had traveled to.<ref name="FT 86">''[[Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple]]'' – [[Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple Episode 86|Episode 86]]</ref> | ||
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The Mentor promised that no harm would befall Qing if Edward gave his word that he would stop interfering with the Chinese Brotherhood's cause. At that moment, however, the beach was struck by cannon fire coming from Jeong'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" /> | The Mentor promised that no harm would befall Qing if Edward gave his word that he would stop interfering with the Chinese Brotherhood's cause. At that moment, however, the beach was struck by cannon fire coming from Jeong'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" /> | ||
[[File:ACFT - Edward defeating Xiao Han.png|thumb|180px|Xiao Han pinned down by Edward]] | |||
Seeing Edward running towards the amulet, Xiao Han launched a rope dart at him in an attempt to stop him.<ref name="FT 90" /> However, this turned out to be just an illusion, as Edward had already retrieved the artifact and used it to create duplicates of himself. Xiao Han called out Edward's perceived hypocrisy for denying him the amulet's power while having no issue using it himself, and tried to fight the illusions. However, he was quickly overwhelmed and knocked down.<ref name="FT 91">''[[Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple]]'' – [[Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple Episode 91|Episode 91]]</ref> | |||
Before Edward could finish off Xiao Han, he hesitated. Angered by the thought of his opponent showing him mercy, Xiao Han broke free from Edward's grasp and headbutted him, causing him to drop the amulet. Edward's friend [[John Young]] intervened and knocked Xiao Han aside, prompting the Mentor to grab his sword and lunge at him. However, Qing sacrificed herself to save John and jumped in front of him, taking the blow instead.<ref name="FT 91" /> | |||
This left Xiao Han stunned, but before he could fully process what had just happened, Liu Qing alerted him to the arrival of Suluese reinforcements. After using a rope dart to snatch the amulet, Xiao Han ordered Liu Qing and Xue Yan to retreat and they all fled back to Jeong's ship.<ref name="FT 91" /> | |||
==Personality and traits== | ==Personality and traits== | ||
{{Quote|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 to Xiao Han, on his change of character, 1725.|Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple|Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple Episode 92}} | {{Quote|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 to Xiao Han, on his change of character, 1725.|Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple|Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple Episode 92}} | ||
[[File:ACFT - Chinese Brotherhood purge.png|left|thumb|170px|Xiao Han witnessing the Chinese Brotherhood's purge]] | |||
According to Xue Yan, Xiao Han was once a much kinder and gentler man, dedicating his life to fighting oppression and rescuing people who could not stand up for themselves.<ref name="FT 92" /> However, following the Qing Empire's purge of the Chinese Brotherhood, Xiao Han became more stoic and ruthless and made it his personal mission to overthrow the Qing and establish a new dynasty in China, under which the Brotherhood could thrive again. This was partially because the Mentor blamed himself for his failure to prevent the purge and was haunted by the deaths of his students.<ref name="FT 73" /> | According to Xue Yan, Xiao Han was once a much kinder and gentler man, dedicating his life to fighting oppression and rescuing people who could not stand up for themselves.<ref name="FT 92" /> However, following the Qing Empire's purge of the Chinese Brotherhood, Xiao Han became more stoic and ruthless and made it his personal mission to overthrow the Qing and establish a new dynasty in China, under which the Brotherhood could thrive again. This was partially because the Mentor blamed himself for his failure to prevent the purge and was haunted by the deaths of his students.<ref name="FT 73" /> | ||
Xiao Han despised the Manchus for their treatment of the Han people like himself, referring to them as "barbaric invaders" on multiple occasions,<ref name="FT 34" /><ref name="FT 36" /> and believed that removing them from power would benefit not just the Assassins, but all of the Han people.<ref name="FT 40">''[[Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple]]'' – [[Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple Episode 40|Episode 40]]</ref> To this end, he sought to acquire Angkor's Piece of Eden, which caused Edward Kenway to compare him to the Templars, who similarly wished to use the power of the Pieces of Eden for personal gain.<ref name="FT 36" /> | Xiao Han despised the Manchus for their treatment of the Han people like himself, referring to them as "barbaric invaders" on multiple occasions,<ref name="FT 34" /><ref name="FT 36" /> and believed that removing them from power would benefit not just the Assassins, but all of the Han people.<ref name="FT 40">''[[Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple]]'' – [[Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple Episode 40|Episode 40]]</ref> To this end, he sought to acquire Angkor's Piece of Eden, which caused Edward Kenway to compare him to the Templars, who similarly wished to use the power of the Pieces of Eden for personal gain.<ref name="FT 36" /> | ||
Entirely focused on his mission, Xiao Han refused to allow anyone to prevent him from accomplishing it, be it his own uncle Sun, or his "brother from the west" Edward. He denounced Sun for surrendering himself to the Manchu regime and eventually killed him,<ref name="FT 38" /> believing that his uncle was a disgrace not just to their bloodline, but also to [[the Creed]].<ref name="FT 34" /> Similarly, after Edward interfered with his plans, Xiao Han branded him an enemy of the Chinese Brotherhood<ref name="FT 38" /> and warned him to stay out of their way or else he would face the "wrath of their blades".<ref name="FT 39" /> | Entirely focused on his mission, Xiao Han refused to allow anyone to prevent him from accomplishing it, be it his own uncle Sun, or his "brother from the west" Edward. He denounced Sun for surrendering himself to the Manchu regime and eventually killed him,<ref name="FT 38" /> believing that his uncle was a disgrace not just to their bloodline, but also to [[the Creed]].<ref name="FT 34" /> Similarly, after Edward interfered with his plans, Xiao Han branded him an enemy of the Chinese Brotherhood<ref name="FT 38" /> and warned him to stay out of their way or else he would face the "wrath of their blades".<ref name="FT 39" /> | ||
[[File:ACFT - Xiao Han attempting to kill Yun.png|thumb|200px|Xiao Han attempting to kill Yun Pyeong-Gyu]] | |||
Xiao Han's determination to succeed in his goals went so far that he was willing to eliminate anyone he perceived as an obstacle. During his boarding of the ''Fenghuang'', he ruthlessly killed many of the ship's crew and almost executed Yun Pyeong-Gyu, who was unarmed and begging for mercy.<ref name="FT 48" /> He also took no issue with allowing others to slaughter innocents, believing that as long as it was not him who had committed the act, he was absolved of any guilt.<ref name="FT 65" /> | Xiao Han's determination to succeed in his goals went so far that he was willing to eliminate anyone he perceived as an obstacle. During his boarding of the ''Fenghuang'', he ruthlessly killed many of the ship's crew and almost executed Yun Pyeong-Gyu, who was unarmed and begging for mercy.<ref name="FT 48" /> He also took no issue with allowing others to slaughter innocents, believing that as long as it was not him who had committed the act, he was absolved of any guilt.<ref name="FT 65" /> | ||
That being said, Xiao Han was not completely unreasonable, as when Liu Qing and Xue Yan apologized to him for their defeat by Edward's crew, the Mentor told them not to be so hard on themselves. He claimed that it was not their fault as their opponents were much stronger than they had anticipated, and that they would have their chance to exact retribution when their paths crossed again.<ref name="FT 49" /> | That being said, Xiao Han was not completely unreasonable, as when Liu Qing and Xue Yan apologized to him for their defeat by Edward's crew, the Mentor told them not to be so hard on themselves. He claimed that it was not their fault as their opponents were much stronger than they had anticipated, and that they would have their chance to exact retribution when their paths crossed again.<ref name="FT 49" /> | ||
In time, Xiao Han grew weary of Edward's continued opposition to his cause and sought to eliminate him and his allies.<ref name="FT 89" /> During their confrontation in Sulu, Xiao Han, in the heat of battle, unintentionally struck Edward's companion Xialun Qing, an innocent doctor.<ref name="FT 91" | In time, Xiao Han grew weary of Edward's continued opposition to his cause and sought to eliminate him and his allies.<ref name="FT 89" /> During their confrontation in Sulu, Xiao Han, in the heat of battle, unintentionally struck Edward's companion Xialun Qing, an innocent doctor.<ref name="FT 91" /> For this act, he was later reprimanded by Xue Yan, who finally saw that her Mentor was no longer the same kind man who had once rescued her from the life of an outcast. Although Xiao Han lashed out at her in response, deep inside he agreed with her words, as his murder of an innocent person left him obviously conflicted.<ref name="FT 92" /> | ||
===Skills and equipment=== | ===Skills and equipment=== | ||
[[File:ACFT - Xiao Han using the rope dart.png|thumb|180px|Xiao Han using the rope dart]] | [[File:ACFT - Xiao Han using the rope dart.png|left|thumb|180px|Xiao Han using the rope dart]] | ||
Xiao Han was a skilled swordsman, easily dispatching a number of Sun's guards aboard his gambling ship and holding his own against Edward Kenway, a powerful warrior in his own right. He had also mastered the use of the [[rope dart]], which he wielded effectively in battle to disarm his enemies,<ref name="FT 36" /> or outside of combat to snatch away items from a target's hand.<ref name="FT 34" /><ref name="FT 39" /> Unlike most contemporary Assassins, Xiao Han utilized only one Hidden Blade, which he wore underneath his left arm.<ref name="FT 34" /> | Xiao Han was a skilled swordsman, easily dispatching a number of Sun's guards aboard his gambling ship and holding his own against Edward Kenway, a powerful warrior in his own right. He had also mastered the use of the [[rope dart]], which he wielded effectively in battle to disarm his enemies,<ref name="FT 36" /> or outside of combat to snatch away items from a target's hand.<ref name="FT 34" /><ref name="FT 39" /> Unlike most contemporary Assassins, Xiao Han utilized only one Hidden Blade, which he wore underneath his left arm.<ref name="FT 34" /> | ||
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==Gallery== | ==Gallery== | ||
<gallery captionalign="center" position="center" widths="180"> | <gallery captionalign="center" position="center" widths="180"> | ||
ACFT - Young Xiao Han and Sun.png|A young Xiao Han with Sun | |||
ACFT Xiao Han closeup.png|Close-up of Xiao Han's face | ACFT Xiao Han closeup.png|Close-up of Xiao Han's face | ||
ACFT | ACFT Xiao Han.png|Xiao Han with his fellow Assassins | ||
ACFT - Xiao Han reading the sea log.png|Xiao Han reading [[Hendrik]]'s sea log | ACFT - Xiao Han reading the sea log.png|Xiao Han reading [[Hendrik]]'s sea log | ||
ACFT - Edward facing Xiao Han.png|Xiao Han facing Edward | ACFT - Edward facing Xiao Han.png|Xiao Han facing Edward | ||
ACFT - Sun running away.png|Xiao Han pursuing Sun | ACFT - Sun running away.png|Xiao Han pursuing Sun | ||
ACFT - Monkey Island ablaze.png|Xiao Han and his fellow Assassins departing Monkey Island | ACFT - Monkey Island ablaze.png|Xiao Han and his fellow Assassins departing Monkey Island | ||
ACFT - Xiao Han fighting illusions.png|Xiao Han fighting illusions of Edward | |||
ACFT - Qing's sacrifice.png|Xiao Han inadvertently killing Xialun Qing | |||
</gallery> | </gallery> | ||
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[[Category:Chinese Assassins]] | [[Category:Chinese Assassins]] | ||
[[Category:Mentors]] | [[Category:Mentors]] | ||
[[Category:Individuals who held Pieces of Eden]] | |||
Revision as of 13:00, 14 January 2025
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He who increaseth knowledge, increaseth sorrow. This article contains spoilers, meaning it has information and facts concerning Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple. If you do not want to know about these events, it is recommended to read on with caution, or not at all. |
Xiao Han (Chinese: 蕭 韓) was the Mentor of the Chinese Brotherhood of Assassins during the early 18th century. He was also the nephew of Sun, the head of the Hualien Trading Company in Macau.
During his tenure as Mentor, the Chinese Brotherhood was nearly wiped out by the Qing Empire, which was responsible for the persecution of countless Han Chinese people. Seeking to overthrow the Qing dynasty and restore the Brotherhood's former strength, Xiao Han led the search for a Piece of Eden rumored to be hidden in the lost Khmer city of Angkor, which would allow him to succeed in his goal.
However, his efforts were opposed by the British Assassin Edward Kenway, who was also on Angkor's trail and disagreed with the use of the Pieces of Eden's power for personal gain. Consequently, the two Assassins clashed several times as they both searched for Pieces of Eden across Southeast Asia.
Biography
Early life
Not much is known about Xiao Han's background other than the fact that he used to be close to his uncle Sun in his childhood. Unlike Sun, who believed their ancestors' pursuit of noble goals to be the cause of their family's downfall, Xiao Han fully embraced his Assassin heritage[1] and rose to become the Mentor of the Chinese Brotherhood.[2]
At some point, Xiao Han rescued an orphaned young girl named Xue Yan and recruited her into the Brotherhood. As Xiao Han was the first person to ever show her such kindess, Xue Yan became one of his most devoted followers.[3]
However, during Xiao Han's tenure as Mentor, the Qing Empire initiated a purge of the Chinese Brotherhood, resulting in the deaths of hundreds of Assassins and the destruction of their headquarters. Xiao Han witnessed the attack first-hand and, blaming himself for being unable to prevent it, vowed revenge against the Manchu regime.[4] He was subsequently aided in his endeavors by Liu Qing and Xue Yan, who were the only other Chinese Assassins to survive the purge.[5]
Meeting with Sun
- "How dare you call yourself a descendant of the great master Xiao Yun! You have not only disgraced your homeland... but you have also trampled upon the sacred Creed that has been passed down for generations. It is my duty to execute you in the name of the Assassin Brotherhood."
- ―Xiao Han denouncing Sun, 1725.[src]-[m]
In 1725, Xiao Han, accompanied by Liu Qing and Xue Yan, arrived at his uncle's floating gambling hall in Macau to discuss a Precursor site believed to be located in Angkor. Sun had gained possession of a sea log given to him by the Templar Shimazu Saito which contained the location of the lost city, but the information was encrypted. Xiao Han was shown the log by his uncle and agreed to help decipher it. Soon after, Sun snatched the log and claimed that, by recovering the treasure in Angkor, he would gain them immense wealth.[5]
When Xiao Han asked his uncle what he intended to do with the treasure, Sun explained that he would present it to the Qing Emperor, expecting to be greatly rewarded in return. He also stated that once the Emperor acknowledged Xiao Han's loyal service to the Qing Empire, he and his Brotherhood would be pardoned for their crimes.[5]
Upon hearing this, Xiao Han used a rope dart and promptly snatched away the log in Sun's hand. He then angrily reprimanded his uncle for surrendering himself to the Manchu regime, stating he was a disgrace to his homeland for trampling on the Creed that had been passed down in their family for generations. As his fellow Assassins drew arms, Xiao Han activated his Hidden Blade and announced he would kill Sun in the name of the Brotherhood.[5]
Conflict with Edward Kenway
- Edward: "The relics of Those Who Came Before are no trinkets to use for your own ends. That goes against everything the Brotherhood believes in. What difference is there between you and the Templars?"
- Xiao Han: "I seek to use the treasure for a noble cause. That's the difference. We have a stolen kingdom to reclaim from the foul grasp of barbaric invaders!"
- —Xiao Han arguing with Edward, 1725.[src]-[m]
Sun denounced his nephew for betraying him, claiming that Xiao Han would be nothing without his patronage, and ordered his guards to kill him and his fellow Assassins. While Liu Qing and Xue Yan battled Sun's guards, including a number of Saito's ninja followers, Xiao Han chased after a fleeing Sun and eventually cornered him. However, before he could execute his uncle, he was stopped by the British Assassin Edward Kenway. Unaware of Edward's identity or affiliations, a furious Xiao Han attacked him.[6]
Learning that Edward sought the sea log in his possession, Xiao Han refused to hand it over and the two Assassins began to duel with their [sword]]s. After Xiao Han used a rope dart to disarm Edward, the latter lunged at him with his Hidden Blade, prompting Xiao Han to activate hi[s own Hidden Blade and block his attack.[7]
As the two realized they were both members of the Brotherhood, they stopped fighting and questioned what the other intended to do with Angkor's treasure. Edward jokingly claimed that he only sought an adventure before slamming Xiao Han to the ground, causing him to drop the sea log, which landed near Sun.[7]
Annoyed by his fellow Assassin's interference with his plans, Xiao Han explained that he would use the Piece of Eden from Angkor to deliver a great boon to the Brotherhood by overthrowing the Qing dynasty. However, Edward remarked that using Isu technology for personal gain went against everything the Brotherhood stood for, and compared Xiao Han to the Templars.[7]
During Xiao Han and Edward's argument, Sun grabbed the sea log and began to make his escape. Upon seeing this, Xiao Han abandoned Edward and began to chase after his uncle, soon calling upon Liu Qing and Xue Yan to help him recover the log.[7]
Sun ordered his remaining guards to slow down the Assassins, but Xiao Han and his companions easily dispatched them. As Edward caught up with them from behind, Liu Qing and Xue Yan engaged him in combat to buy their Mentor enough time to assassinate Sun and recover the sea log.[1]
Using a rope dart to stop Sun dead in his tracks, Xiao Han confronted his uncle and began to choke him. Sun tried to plead for his life, but Xiao Han ignored and stabbed him with his Hidden Blade, ending his uncle's life to prevent him from bringing more dishonor upon their ancestors, or himself. He then took the sea log from his body, but it was promptly stolen by Edward.[1]
Xiao Han once again tried to make his "brother from the west" sympathize with his cause, but as Edward refused to allow the Chinese Assassins to use Angkor's treasure for their own gain, the Mentor declared him to be their enemy. Xiao Han was then joined by Liu Qing and Xue Yan as they surrounded Edward, but before anything could happen, they all witnessed the gambling ship being bombarded with cannon fire by Admiral Jeong.[1] Xiao Han used this distraction to snatch away the sea log from Edward and, after warning him to stay out of their way, left alongside Liu Qing and Xue Yan.[2]
Alliance with Madam Lee
The following morning, Xiao Han, Liu Qing and Xue Yan approached Jeong as the admiral and her crew were investigating the wreckage of Sun's gambling ship to confirm his death. Jeong initially aimed her pistol at the Assassins, but after Xiao Han revealed that he had acquired the sea log sought by Jeong's patron Lee Huiyin, the admiral agreed to grant them an audience with her.[2]
Meeting with Lee at the Mandarin's House, Xiao Han proposed an alliance to recover Angkor's treasure, believing that joining forces would allow them to find the artifact much quicker. However, Lee was reluctant to work with another Assassin after how her partnership with Edward had ended.[8]
Xiao Han explained that, although Edward was an Assassin, he did not understand the Chinese Brotherhood's mission. However, he believed that Lee would be able to sympathize with their cause much easier given her past, as she too had been persecuted by the Qing regime.[8]
As Xiao Han revealed his knowledge of Lee's true name and background, Jeong pointed her pistol at him, but Lee was interested to hear what the Mentor had to say and allowed him to continue speaking. After Xiao Han explained his goal to overthrow the Qing dynasty and end the persecution of the Han Chinese people, Lee agreed to the partnership, but only because she believed it would allow her to gain more power and influence.[8]
Pursuing the Fenghuang
- "Do not be so hard on yourselves. These were no adversaries we faced. It seems our brother from the west is no pushover in terms of skill. But with our sights set on the same destination, our paths are bound to cross eventually. This will not happen again next time."
- ―Xiao Han to his fellow Assassins after their fight with Edward's crew, 1725.[src]-[m]
After learning that Edward and the members of his Zhang Wei Union had left Macau to pursue a possible lead to Angkor's location, Xiao Han and his fellow Assassins joined Jeong and her fleet as the admiral pursued the Union's ship, the Fenghuang, to the Philippines.[9] After the Fenghuang sank most of Jeong's fleet, the admiral sailed Xiao Han, Liu Qing, and Xue Yan 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.[10]
During the chaos, the Union's engineer Yun Pyeong-Gyu realized that water only made the Greek fire burn more fiercely and instructed the crew to use sand to extinguish the flames. Upon spotting Yun, Xiao Hun attempted to kill him as the engineer became frozen in place due to his fear. However, he was stopped by Edward, who engaged the Chinese Mentor in a duel.[10]
After Xiao Han and Edward reached a stalemate, the latter was joined by several crew members who held the Chinese Mentor at gunpoint. Upon seeing Xue Yan be defeated by Shimazu Saito and noticing that a storm was approaching, Xiao Han declared that there was no point in continuing the fight and ordered his Assassins to retreat. They all used parachutes to glide back to Jeong's ship, where Xiao Han asked the admiral if she could resume her pursuit of the Fenghuang.[11]
Jeong revealed that Edward's crew had sailed into the storm, forcing her to call off the pursuit as she did not want to risk losing her fleet. However, she assured the Assassin that they would eventually catch up to Edward and make him pay for betraying Madam Lee. Liu Qing and Xue Yan then apologized 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, and that, given their pursuit of the same prize, their paths were bound to cross again.[11]
Search in the Philippines
- "Out destination has not changed. We sail to Cebu. Although... perhaps we will not even need to make it all the way. If we track down the natives who took the artifact of Those Who Came Before... we may be able to secure the artifact before it even reaches Cebu."
- ―Xiao Han explaining his plan to Lee, 1725.[src]-[m]
Sometime later, Xiao Han and his fellow Assassins accompanied Jeong and Madam Lee to Manila, where a riot had occurred recently. While Lee met with the Lieutenant 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 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 Spanish colonists.[12]
Following this, Xiao Han and the others met with Lee and Jeong, where the Mentor informed them of their findings. When Lee questioned what their next move was, Xiao Han claimed that they would travel to Cebu, where another lead to Angkor's location could be found.[12]
However, the Mentor then pointed out that the journey may be unnecessary, as if they managed to intercept the native resistance fighters along the way, they could simply take the Piece of Eden they had stolen. As Lee praised Xiao Han for his cunningness and placed her hand on his shoulder, she told him that he had free reign to do as he pleased.[12]
Thanks to Fuma Sukuna's informants, the Chinese Assassins learned that the native resistance had a stronghold on Monkey Island and went to investigate it. Along the way, Xiao Han 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.[13]
Xiao Han then decided to follow the resistance to Cebu and left with Liu Qing and Xue Yan while Sukuna and his men stayed behind to take care of the remaining matters on the island. Before rejoining Jeong and her fleet, Xue Yan questioned Xiao Han about their mission's righteousness, as she was uncomfortable with having allowed Sukuna's ninja to slaughter innocent villagers. 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.[13]
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 Jeong 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.[13]
Confrontation in Cebu
- Edward: "You might think you have your people's plight in your heart, but the freedom you take by force will only bring rot and ruin to everything you hold dear in the end!"
- Xiao Han: "That is for my brethren and I alone to decide. Your part in our cause is to surrender the artifact and no more...!"
- —Xiao Han and Edward arguing during their fight, 1725.[src]-[m]
As Jeong's fleet approached Cebu, Xiao Han instructed the admiral to wait for his signal to commence her attack. Jeong reassured him that she would do so and Xiao Han and his fellow Chinese Assassins proceeded to infiltrate the city to look for the crescent amulet. Splitting up, the Mentor headed to Fort San Pedro, where he found that Edward had claimed the amulet after defeating the resistance's leader, Rajah.[14]
Promptly killing the defenseless Rajah with a rope dart, Xiao Han revealed himself and confronted Edward, demanding that he hand over the amulet.[14] As Edward refused, the two Assassins fought each other and Edward was quickly defeated when Xiao Han immobilized him with a rope dart. The Mentor then asked Edward how he could call himself an Assassin when he opposed the Chinese Brotherhood's cause, to which Edward proceeded to call out Xiao Han's own hypocrisy.[15]
Claiming that Rajah, whose life Xiao Han had just taken, had also fought for his people's freedom, Edward asked the Chinese Mentor if that was the kind of liberty he wanted, before pointing out that freedom taken by force would only end up destroying everything he held dear. However, Xiao Han was unmoved by his words and claimed that his course of action was for him and his brethren alone to decide and that Edward's only part in their cause was to surrender the amulet.[15]
At that moment, Shimazu Saito arrived and loosed an arrow at the rope dart holding Edward in place, releasing him. As Liu Qing and Xue Yan also came to the fort and joined their Mentor, the Chinese Assassins engaged Edward and Saito in a duel.[15] While Xue Yan fought Saito, Xiao Han and Liu Qing battled Edward, who struggled to keep them at bay.[4]
After Saito was defeated, Edward reluctantly decided to unleash the amulet's powers against his opponents. Gazing into the artifact, Xiao Han found himself back at the Chinese Brotherhood's headquarters, with all of his apprentices still alive and delighted to see him. After the Mentor assumed that the Brotherhood's purge was just a bad dream, one of the Assassins quickly corrected him and the vision turned into one of hundreds of Assassins lying dead in front of their burning base, much to Xiao Han's horror.[4]
As the vision came to an end, Xiao Han found that he was unable to control his own body and all he could do was lay on the ground, defeated. Seeing this, Xue Yan rushed to his and Liu Qing's aid, allowing Edward and Saito to escape in a strange flying contraption.[4]
After recovering from the amulet's effects, Xiao Han asked Xue Yan for Edward's whereabouts, to which she informed him of the British Assassin's escape. However, despite the loss of the amulet, the mission was not a complete failure, as Xue Yan had managed to steal a sea log from Saito during the fight, providing the Chinese Assassins with the locations of two other Pieces of Eden.[4]
Showdown in Sulu
- "You have no qualms about using the artifact's power, I see! Your hypocrisy is despicable. All that empty talk of a power too great for any man to wield! Was that not the very reason you chose to stand in our way?! What gives you the right to deny us the artifact while taking it for yourself?!"
- ―Xiao Han to Edward, after witnessing him use the amulet's powers during their fight, 1725.[src]-[m]
Sometime later, after Fuma Sukuna and his ninja were killed in an ambush by the Zhang Wei Union, Jeong was notified of the ninja's defeat by a note delivered by a raven. After the admiral informed Xiao Han, Liu Qing, and Xue Yan that the Union had suffered heavy casualties during the battle, the Mentor vowed to eliminate their enemies now when they were at their weakest point. Jeong then set sail for the Sultanate of Sulu, where the Union had traveled to.[16]
In Sulu, the Assassins were dropped off by Jeong near a warehouse where the crescent amulet was stored. Xiao Han ordered Xue Yan to recover the artifact while he and Liu Qing cleared her path by battling the Suluese guards. After Edward stopped Xue Yan, the Mentor intervened and engaged in a duel with the British Assassin, commenting that he was growing weary of their repeated encounters.[17]
At that moment, the warehouse was partially destroyed by Jeong's cannon fire, as the admiral had decided to hinder the Chinese Assassins' mission as payback for mistreating her. Undeterred, Xiao Han ordered Xue Yan to find another way into the building while he resumed his duel against Edward.[17]
After the Zhang Wei Union's doctor Xialun Qing retrieved the chest holding the amulet from the warehouse, she was taken hostage by Xue Yan. Seeing this, the Chinese Assassins offered Edward a deal, promising to release Qing if he allowed them to leave with the amulet. Although Xiao Han hoped to strike down Edward while he was distracted, he changed his mind after taking a look at Xue Yan, who was obviously uncomfortable with the Assassins' plan.[18]
The Mentor promised that no harm would befall Qing if Edward gave his word that he would stop interfering with the Chinese Brotherhood's cause. At that moment, however, the beach was struck by cannon fire coming from Jeong's ship, interrupting the negotiations. During the confusion, Xue Yan released Qing and dropped the amulet's chest, causing the artifact to fall out.[18]
Seeing Edward running towards the amulet, Xiao Han launched a rope dart at him in an attempt to stop him.[18] However, this turned out to be just an illusion, as Edward had already retrieved the artifact and used it to create duplicates of himself. Xiao Han called out Edward's perceived hypocrisy for denying him the amulet's power while having no issue using it himself, and tried to fight the illusions. However, he was quickly overwhelmed and knocked down.[19]
Before Edward could finish off Xiao Han, he hesitated. Angered by the thought of his opponent showing him mercy, Xiao Han broke free from Edward's grasp and headbutted him, causing him to drop the amulet. Edward's friend John Young intervened and knocked Xiao Han aside, prompting the Mentor to grab his sword and lunge at him. However, Qing sacrificed herself to save John and jumped in front of him, taking the blow instead.[19]
This left Xiao Han stunned, but before he could fully process what had just happened, Liu Qing alerted him to the arrival of Suluese reinforcements. After using a rope dart to snatch the amulet, Xiao Han ordered Liu Qing and Xue Yan to retreat and they all fled back to Jeong's ship.[19]
Personality and traits
According to Xue Yan, Xiao Han was once a much kinder and gentler man, dedicating his life to fighting oppression and rescuing people who could not stand up for themselves.[3] However, following the Qing Empire's purge of the Chinese Brotherhood, Xiao Han became more stoic and ruthless and made it his personal mission to overthrow the Qing and establish a new dynasty in China, under which the Brotherhood could thrive again. This was partially because the Mentor blamed himself for his failure to prevent the purge and was haunted by the deaths of his students.[4]
Xiao Han despised the Manchus for their treatment of the Han people like himself, referring to them as "barbaric invaders" on multiple occasions,[5][7] and believed that removing them from power would benefit not just the Assassins, but all of the Han people.[8] To this end, he sought to acquire Angkor's Piece of Eden, which caused Edward Kenway to compare him to the Templars, who similarly wished to use the power of the Pieces of Eden for personal gain.[7]
Entirely focused on his mission, Xiao Han refused to allow anyone to prevent him from accomplishing it, be it his own uncle Sun, or his "brother from the west" Edward. He denounced Sun for surrendering himself to the Manchu regime and eventually killed him,[1] believing that his uncle was a disgrace not just to their bloodline, but also to the Creed.[5] Similarly, after Edward interfered with his plans, Xiao Han branded him an enemy of the Chinese Brotherhood[1] and warned him to stay out of their way or else he would face the "wrath of their blades".[2]
Xiao Han's determination to succeed in his goals went so far that he was willing to eliminate anyone he perceived as an obstacle. During his boarding of the Fenghuang, he ruthlessly killed many of the ship's crew and almost executed Yun Pyeong-Gyu, who was unarmed and begging for mercy.[10] He also took no issue with allowing others to slaughter innocents, believing that as long as it was not him who had committed the act, he was absolved of any guilt.[13]
That being said, Xiao Han was not completely unreasonable, as when Liu Qing and Xue Yan apologized to him for their defeat by Edward's crew, the Mentor told them not to be so hard on themselves. He claimed that it was not their fault as their opponents were much stronger than they had anticipated, and that they would have their chance to exact retribution when their paths crossed again.[11]
In time, Xiao Han grew weary of Edward's continued opposition to his cause and sought to eliminate him and his allies.[17] During their confrontation in Sulu, Xiao Han, in the heat of battle, unintentionally struck Edward's companion Xialun Qing, an innocent doctor.[19] For this act, he was later reprimanded by Xue Yan, who finally saw that her Mentor was no longer the same kind man who had once rescued her from the life of an outcast. Although Xiao Han lashed out at her in response, deep inside he agreed with her words, as his murder of an innocent person left him obviously conflicted.[3]
Skills and equipment
Xiao Han was a skilled swordsman, easily dispatching a number of Sun's guards aboard his gambling ship and holding his own against Edward Kenway, a powerful warrior in his own right. He had also mastered the use of the rope dart, which he wielded effectively in battle to disarm his enemies,[7] or outside of combat to snatch away items from a target's hand.[5][2] Unlike most contemporary Assassins, Xiao Han utilized only one Hidden Blade, which he wore underneath his left arm.[5]
During their journey to the Philippines, Xiao Han and his fellow Chinese Assassins sported gliders and parachutes 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.[10]
Behind the scenes
Xiao Han is a character introduced in Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple. In Episode 34, he implies that both himself and Sun are descended from an Assassin named Xiao Yun, who may or may not be Shao Jun.
Etymology
Xiao (蕭) is a common Chinese surname derived from Xiao County, a region in the north of the Anhui province of East China.[20] Han (韓) is also a Chinese surname derived from 姬 (Jì), the ancestral name of the Zhou dynasty that ruled China between the 11th and 3rd centuries BCE, though it can also be used a given name.[21] The name is also used to denote the Han people, the largest ethnic group in China.[22]
Gallery
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A young Xiao Han with Sun -
Close-up of Xiao Han's face -
Xiao Han with his fellow Assassins -
Xiao Han reading Hendrik's sea log -
Xiao Han facing Edward -
Xiao Han pursuing Sun -
Xiao Han and his fellow Assassins departing Monkey Island -
Xiao Han fighting illusions of Edward -
Xiao Han inadvertently killing Xialun Qing
Appearances
References
