User blog comment:Master Sima Yi/Assassinews 03-03-'13 — Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag trailer and screenshots/@comment-84.48.82.2-20130303180507/@comment-4636255-20130303183450

I don't know why he would have a cane. It could have a blade hidden inside. Or maybe it's a method to hit enemies without killing them. Or something.

Or maybe just a blowgun.