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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. |
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[]
Early life[]
Qing grew up an orphan on the streets of Macau. In her own words, she felt like a ghost because no one ever paid attention to her, forcing her to survive on her own.[1] Eventually, she was able to find work aboard the floating gambling hall operated by Sun, the head of the Hualien Trading Company, as a waitress, though she would also occasionally tend to the customers' various needs.[2]
At some point during her work aboard the gambling ship, Qing served as an aide to a doctor, allowing her to pick up some medical skills that would prove useful in her later life.[2]
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.[src]-[m]
John telling Qing to hide during the ninja's attack
One night in 1725, while working aboard the gambling ship, Qing met and fell in love with John Young, who had infiltrated the ship to serve as Edward Kenway's decoy.[3] 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.[4]
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.[4]
However, the ship later began to be bombarded with cannon fire by Admiral 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 Zhang Wei Union's flagship, the Fenghuang.[5]
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.[src]
Qing tending to a sleeping John
At the Zhang Wei Union's headquarters, Qing treated 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.[6]
After the Union members resolved to travel to the Philippines to pick up on Ferdinand Magellan's trail and find 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.[2]
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.[2]
Journey to the Philippines[]
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.[7] Although the ship's crew repelled the attack and lost their pursuers by sailing into a storm, many crew members were injured or killed during the battle. Qing treated as many of the injured sailors 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 Union members in their quest for Angkor.[8]
Qing and the others being arrested in Manila
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 were arrested by the Spanish authorities due to Jan's alleged involvement in Governor-General Fernando Manuel de Bustillo Bustamante y Rueda's assassination six years prior.[9]
While Jan and his men were imprisoned in Fort Santiago's dungeon, the Fenghuang's crew were forced to remain inside their ship, under heavy guard. During their imprisonment, John managed to learn that Governor Bustamante had been killed in a riot by Archbishop Francisco de la Cuesta's supporters, and relayed this information to the others. Edward then decided to take matters into their own hands and had Qing distract the guards by bringing them food and drinks, allowing the rest of the crew to escape the ship.[10]
After Edward and Saito rescued Jan's crew and the other Union members retrieved their confiscated weapons and supplies from a warehouse, the Fenghuang sailed away from Manila, followed closely by Jan's ship. When the Spanish Navy gave chase, Jan volunteered to distract their pursuers to give the Union members time to flee.[11]
Once they had escaped from the Spanish fleet, Edward told Qing and the others about his and Saito's encounter with a monk who wielded a Piece of Eden in the shape of a crescent amulet. As Saito was still recovering from the amulet's effects, Qing tended to her while Edward ordered the crew to set a course for Cebu.[11]
Excursion to Monkey Island[]
- John: "I swar, if those scoundrels laid a finger on you—"
- Qing: "I-I'm perfectly fine, my love. If anything, the people here treated me like an honored guest. In fact... I'm more worried you've scared these poor people half to death."
- —Qing and John after being reunited on Monkey Island, 1725.[src]-[m]
Qing and Yun attempting to reproduce the formula for Greek fire
Following their escape from Manila, the Union members discovered that the Spanish authorities had confiscated all of their food rations and attacked two passing Spanish schooners to take their supplies. Afterwards, the Fenghuang docked at a nearby village to resupply, where the natives instantly recognized and greeted the Union members, as Zhang had recently begun trading with them.[12]
While Edward recruited several of the villagers into the Union, Qing and Yun attempted to recreate the formula for Greek fire. However, they were interrupted by the screams of John, who had been attacked by an unseen creature.[12] Rushing to his aid alongside Edward and Rupiya, the group found John struggling to get rid of a baby monkey, much to their amusement.[13]
While the others laughed at John's predicament, Qing was able to calm down the agitated monkey and cradled it until it fell asleep. As she pointed out that the monkey must have lost its parents, John suggested that they adopt it and Qing agreed. Afterwards, the Fenghuang departed the village and began making its way towards Cebu.[13]
That night, Qing continued to assist Yun with his experiments, but they were interrupted once again, this time by the Fenghuang being bombarded with mortar fire. Rupiya was able to steer the ship to safety and Edward instructed him to take cover behind some rocks on the nearby Monkey Island.[13]
With the crew trapped and unaware of where the mortar fire had come from, Qing offered a solution and revealed her and Yun's latest invention: a hot air balloon,[13] which they dubbed the Celestial Chariot. After Yun suggested using it to survey the island, Qing volunteered to be the pilot, claiming that she wanted to be the first human to experience the miracle of flight. John opposed her decision due to being concerned for her safety, but both Qing and Yun assured him that she would be unharmed.[14]
Qing surveying Monkey Island
After taking flight in the Celestial Chariot, Qing briefly admired the view before focusing on her task at hand. Surveying Monkey Island, she was able to determine the locations of all enemy encampments and mark them on a map, which she sent back to the Fenhuang, allowing the crew to fire on them. However, the Celestial Chariot then suffered a malfunction due to a sudden gust of wind and caught fire, with Qing still inside.[14]
Remembering Yun's instructions on how to proceed in the event of an emergency, Qing jumped out of the burning balloon and deployed her parachute, landing safely on Monkey Island. However, her parachute ended up getting caught in a tree, leaving Qing stuck. Not long after, a group of natives found the stranded Qing and approached her, causing her to scream in terror.[15]
Fortunately, the natives did not not mean harm and brought Qing back to their village, where she used her medical knowledge to treat their sick and wounded. Not long after, Qing and the natives were taken by surprise when an expedition led by Edward and John arrived in the village in search of her. Mistakenly assuming the villagers had kidnapped Qing, the group attacked them, only to realize their error of judgement when they saw Qing carrying a box of medicine.[16]
After Qing explained that the natives had rescued her from the jungle, her fellow Union members felt remorse for having attacked them, especially when the village's chief allowed them to stay as guests. Qing later told Edward and John about the village's recent history and how most of his inhabitants had been forcefully recruited into a native resistance against the Spanish colonists, which operated out of Monkey Island's fort.[17]
Qing treating the villager
However, the conversation was interrupted by the sudden screams of a woman outside, who was pursued by what appeared to be a Manananggal. After the monster was incapacitated and unmasked as one of the missing villagers, Qing brought the man inside, insisting that he required immediate medical attention. While Qing treated the villager, the chief informed the Zhang Wei Union members that others like him roamed the island's jungles, prompting Edward to come up with a plan to capture them.[17]
After the successful capture of several brainwashed warriors, the Union members decided to use them to storm Monkey Island's fort and rescue the prisoners held there. Qing joined the others in their assault and jumped into the water after John planted explosives to destroy the fort.[18] The group was soon picked up by the Fenghuang, and Qing was reunited with Yun, who immediately apologized for nearly getting her killed, but Qing revealed that Yun's parachute had saved her life.[1]
Following this, Qing suggested rebuilding the Celestial Chariot and using the lessons learned from their failed prototype to improve the balloon. While Yun excitedly agreed, John was opposed to the idea, as he did not want to risk losing his lover again. After Qing told John that she knew how much he cared about her and that being a member of the Union was the first time she ever felt loved, John promised to find a place to call home and asked for Qing's hand in marriage, to which she excitedly accepted.[1]
Confrontation in Cebu[]
After the Fenghuang departed Monkey Island and sailed to Cebu, Qing and most of the crew stayed behind on the ship while Edward and Saito went to the city to look for the next clue to Angkor's location.[1] When the native resistance's fleet reached Cebu, John decided to attack it and the Fenghuang easily sunk the enemy ships before picking up Edward and Saito, who had failed to prevent the resistance's leader Rajah from escaping with their prize: another sea log.[19]
Qing and the others watching Edward, John, and Saito board the Celestial Chariot
The crew followed Rajah and his men to Fort San Pedro, which the resistance had taken over, but could not think of any way to infiltrate it without getting within range of the fort's cannons. Yun offered a solution and revealed an improved Celestial Chariot he had built, which could carry up to three people at once. Edward and Saito subsequently volunteered to board it, with a reluctant John joining them, and the trio took off in the balloon while Qing and the others remained aboard the Fenghuang.[19]
Following a naval battle against Jeong's fleet, which had also arrived in Cebu, the Fenghuang went to pick up Edward, Saito, and John, who had landed in the water after their escape from Fort San Pedro with the crescent amulet.[20] However, the Piece of Eden proved to have negative effects on Edward, making him largely unresponsive. Qing examined the Assassin and concluded that, while physically stable, he appeared to have completely withdrawn into himself.[21]
The Union members were at a loss without their leader until John recalled that Jan van Aert had asked them to reconvene with him in the Sultanate of Sulu. The navigator subsequently ordered the crew to set a course for Sulu so that they could meet Jan while Edward was taken below deck to recover.[21]
Personality and traits[]
Qing embracing John
Qing was a kind and modest woman who did not think very highly of herself, in part because of her difficult upbringing, being forced to grow up alone on the streets.[1] Although she became enamored 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.[4]
In the end, however, Qing agreed to give their relationship a try, especially after John saved her life.[5] Although she would still be occasionally embarrassed whenever John became overprotective of her, she came to enjoy the positive attention she received from him,[2] and excitedly agreed to marry and settle down with him.[1]
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.[2] 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.[1] She also felt a moral obligation to help other people like her find their place in the world, just like the Union had helped her find her purpose.[1]
Qing possessed a love of science which allowed her to work well alongside Yun Pyeong-Gyu, assisting him with his various inventions. As Edward Kenway once said, when the two put their minds together, it was typically for "something that could save [their] very lives".[13] Qing was also shown to be brave in certain situations, readily volunteering to pilot the Celestial Chariot despite the possible danger, although this decision was partially motivated by her desire to be the first person to experience the "miracle of flight".[14]
Skills and equipment[]
Qing treating an injured crew member
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,[2] and reproducing the formula for Greek fire.[12]
In addition to her medical skills, Qing also appeared to be a talented actress, easily deceiving a group of Spanish guards into taking a break from their duties and accepting the food and drinks she had brought them.[10]
Behind the scenes[]
Xialun Qing is a character introduced in Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple. Although in Chinese naming tradition, a person's surname comes before their given name, most characters refer to her as "Xialun" rather than "Qing".
There is some inconsistency regarding Qing's eye color, with certain episodes depicting her as having brown eyes while others show her with blue eyes.
Gallery[]
Appearances[]
References[]