Xialun Qing

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. This template should be removed from the article 2 July 2024.

"I'm afraid choosing the life they wish to lead is a luxury... that is only afforded to the fortunate."

―Qing to Shimazu Saito, 1725.

Xialun Qing was a Chinese woman who worked as a tea waitress aboard Sun's floating gambling hall in Macau in the early 18th century.

After meeting and falling in love with the Dutch navigator John Young in 1725, Qing was saved by him during the gambling ship's destruction by Sun's enemies. She subsequently joined the Zhang Wei Union, an organization founded by John's friend, the Assassin Edward Kenway, and used her medical knowledge to help the organization's members as a doctor.

Biography

Meeting John Young

John: "Only a fool of a man would fail to see your delightful charm. My dear, I do declare you've ignited a passion within me."

Qing: "B-but, sir... are you sure you want to be with a girl like me?"

John: "You'll break my heart with such modesty. Come, tell me your name at least."

Qing: "My name... is Xialun Qing."

—Qing introducing herself to John, 1725.

John telling Qing to hide

In 1725, while working aboard Sun's floating gambling hall, Qing met and fell in love with John Young, who had infiltrated the ship to serve as Edward Kenway's decoy. After John got drunk, Qing gave him a hangover cure of her own creation, which she modestly described as a "silly old trick" she had picked up ages ago. However, John was impressed and began to flatter her, calling her the brightest woman he had ever met. Qing was embarrassed and questioned what John could possibly see in her, to which he admitted that Qing had ignited a passion within him and asked for her name.

As Qing told John her name, the two closed in for a kiss, but were interrupted by a commotion outside their room. Seeing that the Shimazu ninja Edward had allied himself with were killing the ship's staff, John told Qing to hide and remain quiet if she wished to survive, before leaving to find Edward.

However, the ship later began to be bombarded with cannon fire by Jeong, forcing the civilians and staff to evacuate it. In the resulting commotion, Qing was accidentally thrown overboard but was rescued by John, who had stolen a gunboat. Qing then joined him in picking up Edward and Shimazu Saito before the group was rescued from Jeong's fleet by the Fenghuang, the flagship of the Zhang Wei Union.

Joining the Zhang Wei Union

Edward: "I know all too well how difficult voyages can be without a doctor or medicine at hand! I'm glad to have you on board, miss!"

Qing: "Likewise! I look forward to the journey, sir!"

—Edward and Qing, shortly before sailing to the Philippines, 1725.

Qing tending to a sleeping John

At the Zhang Wei Union's headquarters, Qing tended to an injured Saito and helped her get dressed up afterwards. She later tended to a seemingly asleep John while the other Union members came together to decipher a sea log containing encrypted information on the location of Angkor.

After the Union members decided to travel to the Philippines to pick up on Ferdinand Magellan's trail in the hopes of finding Angkor, John decided to bring Qing along for the voyage. Before their departure, Qing created the poison darts for Edward's new blowpipe built by Yun Pyeong-Gyu, which made Saito question why someone with her talents had been working aboard Sun's gambling ship. Qing simply told her that choosing the life one wishes to lead was a luxury afforded to few, causing Saito to apologize.

Edward was impressed by Qing's medical skills and, believing a doctor could prove useful on the journey, welcomed her into the Zhang Wei Union. Once all the preparations were complete, Qing boarded the Fenghuang alongside John, Edward, Saito, Yun and Rupiya as the group left Macau and sailed towards the Philippines.

Journey to the Philippines

"The shot didn't pierce through to the bone. You were fortunate. You'll be right as rain with some ointment."

―Qing tending to an injured Fenghuang crew member, 1725.

Qing treating an injured crew member

En route to the Philippines, the Fenghuang was attacked by Jeong's fleet and the Chinese Assassins Xiao Han, Liu Qing and Xue Yan, who also sought to find Angkor. Although the ship's crew were able to repel the attack and lose their pursuers by sailing into a storm, many crew members were injured or killed during the battle. Qing treated as many of the injured crew members as she could before the Fenghuang was again attacked by one of Jeong's ships. Fortunately, the enemy vessel was sunk by a Dutch East India Company ship captained by Edward's ally, Jan van Aert, who had decided to join the Zhang Wei Union members in their quest for Angkor.

Not long afterwards, both the Fenghuang and Jan's ship came under attack by two Spanish Men O' War, forcing them to surrender. The crews of the two ships were subsequently brought to Manila, where they arrested by the Spanish authorities due to Jan's alleged involvement in the assassination of the Governor-General of the Philippines six years prior.

Personality and traits

"And crafting poisons is the least of it! She can heal ailments and treat wounds as well! Isn't she just extraordinary?"

―John telling Edward about Qing's abilities, 1725.

Qing was a modest woman who did not think very highly of herself. Although she became enamoured with John the moment she met him, she believed that he was too good for her and as such was embarrassed when the navigator confessed his own feelings for her. In the end, however, she agreed to give their relationship a try, especially after John had saved her life. Although she would still be occassionally embarassed whenever John became overprotective of her, she came to enjoy the positive attention she received from him.

Having been forced into a life of servitude aboard Sun's gambling ship, Qing saw joining the Zhang Wei Union as an opportunity to escape her old life and put her skills to better use. She enjoyed being in the company of people who treated her as an equal for the first time in her life and was excited to join them on their adventures.

Equipment and skills

While working as an aide to a doctor aboard Sun's gambling ship, Qing picked up some medical knowledge, allowing her to treat wounds and heal various ailments. She was also a skilled chemist as she assisted Yun Pyeong-Gyu in creating the poison darts for Edward's blowpipe.

Gallery

• 
  Qing with a disguised John aboard Sun's ship
• 
  Qing and John closing in for a kiss
• 
  Qing falling overboard during the evacuation of Sun's ship
• 
  Qing with John
• 
  Qing and the others being arrested in Manila

Appearances

• Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple