Xiao Han
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 set of three Pieces of Eden which would allow him to succeed in his goal.
During their quest, Xiao Han and his fellow Assassins Liu Qing and Xue Yan allied with the affluential businesswoman Lee Huiyin, who also desired the Pieces' power. However, their efforts were opposed by the British Assassin Edward Kenway, who disagreed with the group's plans. Consequently, the Chinese Assassins clashed with Edward and his organization, the Zhang Wei Union, several times as they both searched for the Pieces across Southeast Asia.
Xiao Han eventually succeeded in securing one of the artifacts—a crescent amulet—though in doing so he inadvertently killed Edward's companion Xialun Qing, an innocent doctor. While feeling conflicted about his actions, the Mentor resolved to continue his quest for the other Pieces, being driven by a strong desire to avenge his slain kin, which made him increasingly ruthless.
Biography[edit | edit source]
Early life[edit | edit source]
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] This eventually caused Xiao Han and his uncle to drift apart, as Sun chose to preoccupy himself with his goal of becoming Macau's dominant merchant to restore their family's fortune.[1]
At one point, Xiao Han rescued an orphaned young girl named Xue Yan, who was being harassed in the streets, and subsequently recruited her into the Brotherhood. Impressed by Xiao Han's bravery and kindness, Xue Yan quickly became one of his most devoted students.[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[edit | edit source]
- "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 that he would kill Sun in the name of the Brotherhood.[5]
Conflict with Edward Kenway[edit | edit source]
- 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 swords. After Xiao Han used a rope dart to disarm Edward, the latter lunged at him with his Hidden Blade, prompting Xiao Han to activate his 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 Zheng.[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[edit | edit source]
The following morning, Xiao Han, Liu Qing, and Xue Yan 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 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.[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, Zheng 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[edit | edit source]
- "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 Zheng and her fleet as the admiral pursued the Union's ship, the Fenghuang, to the Philippines.[9] After the Fenghuang sank most of Zheng'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 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 Zheng's ship, where Xiao Han asked the admiral if she could resume her pursuit of the Fenghuang.[11]
Zheng 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[edit | edit source]
- "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 Zheng 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 Zheng, 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 Zheng 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 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.[13]
Confrontation in Cebu[edit | edit source]
- 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 Zheng's fleet approached Cebu, Xiao Han instructed the admiral to wait for his signal to commence her attack. Zheng 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 had been 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 lie 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, their 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[edit | edit source]
- "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 during their fight, 1725.[src]-[m]
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 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. Zheng then set sail for the Sultanate of Sulu, where the Union had traveled to.[16]
In Sulu, the Assassins were dropped off by Zheng 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 Zheng's cannon fire, as the admiral had decided to hinder the Chinese Assassins' mission as payback for treating her unfairly. 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 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.[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 Zheng's ship.[19]
Aboard the vessel, Xiao Han placed the amulet inside a chest to prevent its power from corrupting him. While Zheng set a course out of Sulu to rendezvous with Madam Lee, Xue Yan lashed out at Xiao Han, reprimanding him for murdering Qing, 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.[3]
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.[3]
Voyage to Đại Việt[edit | edit source]
Later, aboard Madam Lee's ship, Xiao Han met with the businesswoman in private and showed her the chest containing the crescent amulet. After Lee revealed that her spies had learned that the East India Company was also searching for the Pieces of Eden, turning their race for the artifacts into a three-way struggle, Xiao Han remarked that eliminating Edward's crew when they had the chance would have made their mission easier.[20]
In response, Lee told Xiao Han that he failed to see the bigger picture and that, thanks to his deciphering of Hendrik's sea log, they knew the locations of the remaining two Pieces of Eden: Burma and Angkor. Suspecting that Edward and his companions were already on their way to Burma, Lee revealed her plan to wait for them to recover the artifact hidden there, and snatch it afterwards. Xiao Han then warned Lee that the Pieces were not mere trinkets to be toyed with, and the businesswoman promised to keep that in mind.[20]
When the Mentor questioned what their next move was, Lee revealed that they would be heading to Indochina to find Angkor and recover the artifact housed there. With that, she ordered her fleet to sail to Đại Việt so they could commence their expedition.[20]
During the voyage, Xiao Han and Lee, having grown fond of each other over the past months, began a romantic relationship, spending most of their time in the latter's cabin. One day, after an intimate encounter, Lee decided to ask Xiao Han about his true reason for seeking the Pieces of Eden, pointing out the redundancy of trying to revive the long-collapsed Ming Empire.[21]
After Xiao Han responded that some tasks must be fulfilled regardless of their futility, Lee revealed that she had been listening to him speak in his sleep and that she knew about his nightmares of his Brotherhood's purge. She then correctly deduced that Xiao Han was not driven by a sense of righteousness but by a desire to avenge his fallen comrades, even if it meant going against the Creed.[21]
When Xiao Han remained silent, Lee apologized for upsetting him and claimed that Assassins like him and Edward served a nobler purpose and did not pursue their own selfish ambitions, unlike herself. She then remarked that it was not too late for Xiao Han to turn back from his current path, only for the Mentor to suddenly pin Lee down and declare that he would not rest until the world was restored to its natural order.[21]
Seeing that she could not change Xiao Han's mind, Lee told him about her intentions to use him and his Brotherhood for her own gain, but promised that, in return, Xiao Han would be able to take anything he desired from her "wretched existence". With that, the two closed in for a kiss and prepared to share another romantic moment.[21]
Following their arrival in Phú Xuân, Xiao Han and his fellow Assassins positioned themselves nearby while Lee met with an official of the Nguyễn clan at the 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 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.[21]
Personality and traits[edit | edit source]
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 defend 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] having recurring nightmares where he would recall the names of each slain Assassin.[21]
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] This led him to seek the power of the Pieces of Eden, a quest which brought him into conflict with Edward Kenway, who compared Xiao Han to the Templars due to their similar desire to exploit the artifacts rather than safeguard them.[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]
However, this event did little to diminish Xiao Han's determination to complete his mission, as the Mentor believed that it was his duty to avenge his slain kin and restore order to the world. Madam Lee took notice of this determination and used it to manipulate Xiao Han and his fellow Assassins into helping her futher her own ambitions.[21]
Skills and equipment[edit | edit source]
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 or impale his enemies,[7] and outside of combat to snatch away items from a target's hand[5][2] or immobilize a fleeing target.[1] 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[edit | edit source]
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[edit | edit source]
Xiao (蕭) is a common Chinese surname derived from Xiao County, a region in the north of the Anhui province of East China.[22] 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.[23] The name is also used to denote the Han people, the largest ethnic group in China.[24]
In the version of Forgotten Temple published by Bilibili Comics, Xiao Han's name is written as 少寒 in Chinese, and in the Korean translation as 小韩 when the Hangul transliteration is 샤오 한. [citation needed] The name 少寒 is romanized as Shào hán, where 少 spoken with actual Chinese tone [citation needed] means "young" or "small" and 寒 means "cold" or "poor".
Gallery[edit | edit source]
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Xiao Han prior to the Chinese Brotherhood's purge -
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 chasing after Sun -
Xiao Han and his fellow Assassins departing Monkey Island -
Xiao Han fighting illusions of Edward -
Xiao Han inadvertently killing Xialun Qing -
Xiao Han holding the crescent amulet -
Xiao Han's Hidden Blade -
Xiao Han wearing a bathrobe -
Xiao Han and Madam Lee sharing an intimate moment
Appearances[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
