Han Ying

**Han Ying** (韓英, *Hán Yīng*) is the young master of Tian Chuang. He is an exclusive character to the live-adaptation *Word of Honor*.

## Appearance

Han Ying is a young man with a broad face and thick eyebrows, his face is gentle and honest out of combat, he wears his hair in an upright bun. In his first appearance, he wears the basic Tian Chuang robes, after Zhou Zishu's depart, he wears the young master robes.

## Personality

As one of the Tian Chuang, Han Ying is shown to be ruthless and cruel, threatening Gao Chong, taking his disciples as hostages and ready to kill him if needed. However, Han Ying displays a sincere and extremely loyal side to him, kneeling immediately to his former master and devoting all his life to him. Han Ying is determined, as shown by his willpower to get the Liuli Armour for Zhou Zishu, not fearing the death or consequences, he also managed to gather eighteen disciples of Tian Chuang who were loyal to Zhou Zishu and operate under Tian Chuang's eyes in secret.

## History

### Background

Han Ying was an orphaned slave, whether he was born in such circumstances or fell into it is unknown. He was saved and freed by Zhou Zishu at some point in his life, because of this enmity, Han Ying vowed his life to Zhou Zishu once he entered Tian Chuang, however, his allegiance lays with Zhou Zishu only, not to Prince Jin nor Duan Pengju.

All his life, Han Ying wished to become one of the disciples of the Siji Manor under Zhou Zishu's leadership.

### Farewell to the Imperial Court

Han Ying was present to see Zhou Zishu carrying out the Nails of Seven Apertures for Three Autumns in Bi Changfeng. He looks in remorse as Bi Changfeng becomes paralysed of his wounds.

After Zhou Zishu's official department, Han Ying is promoted to young master under Duan Pengju's leadership.

### Havoc in Jianghu

Once the news of the Liuli Armour spread out, Tian Chuang sent out Han Ying to investigate, who attempts to interrogate the head of the Five Lakes Alliance, Gao Chong, to tell him information about the Liuli Armour and offer him opportunities if he was cooperative.

### Ambush and A Reunion

When Gao Chong was uncooperative, Han Ying opted for an aggressive approach, which was to ambush Gao Chong and Zhang Chengling on their visit to the Five Lakes Monuments. Han Ying had his agents at the ready to fire their crossbows, only for a mysterious man to jump in and evade all the crossbow shots. Han Ying instantly recognised his former master's move, *Limitless Invisibility*, and ordered his agents to stop shooting. As Han Ying was issuing his order, another mysterious man came out and took him hostage by grabbing his throat.

At this point, Han Ying had recognised who Zhou Zishu is, so he proceeded to surrender by ordering the agents to release the hostages and retreat. Having said so, Gao Chong and his disciples managed to escape unharmed, while Wen Kexing told the agents that he'll return their master in a bit. Han Ying stares at Zhou Zishu until he reveals himself, in which Han Ying kneels to him and professes his utmost loyalty, willing to serve Zhou Zishu. Han Ying answers Zhou Zishu's inquires on Tian Chuang's activity and interest in the Liuli Armour and afterwards, Zhou Zishu tells him to act as if he had not seen him at all, and Han Ying complies.

### Another Chance Encounter

One of Han Ying's fellow agents, who is loyal to Zhou Zishu, had spotted Zhou Zishu in an Inn and passed out. Considering Zhou Zishu's lack of disguise, Han Ying hid Zhou Zishu somewhere so no other Tian Chuang agent can spot him. When Zhou Zishu awakes, Han Ying talks to him again about his nails, and considers obtaining the Liuli Armour to access the Yin Yang Manual, so Zhou Zishu can be saved. Han Ying repeatedly offers his life and service to Zhou Zishu, who in return, laments about his past and leaves.

### Betrayal and Loyalty

During the Heroes Conference, one of Tian Chuang's batches in the south located Zhou Zishu and were about to report the information to Prince Jin. Han Ying intercepted the information by killing all of the team and pinning it on the Scorpions. Han Ying acted to Prince Jin the made up scenario so he wouldn't suspect, and distract him by claiming there are spies within the Tian Chuang. He took advantage of hi state as wounded and snuck into Prince Jin's room at night to steal the piece of the Liuli Armour, he had also found a letter that states that Zhou Zishu's father was killed by the former Prince Jin for treason. Unbeknownst to Han Ying, Prince Jin had suspected him of treachery, and sent out an agent to follow him, who had confirmed his suspicions indeed.

Prince Jin kept Han Ying alive in order to use him as a lead to Zhou Zishu's location. As Han Ying made his escape, he was injured severely, and managed to crawl to the Siji Manor during the New Years Eve, where he was carried inside and treated by Zhou Zishu, Wen Kexing and Zhang Chengling. He revealed the information in the letter to Zhou Zishu, and gave him the Liuli piece he had managed to steal, not knowing it was a fake.

Zhou Zishu presses Han Ying to hold on a little longer, as Wu Xi is coming and might save him. However, as Zhou Zishu was away, Wen Kexing tried to keep Han Ying alive at the expanse of his own health, risking a critical injury to his body. Han Ying pleaded with Wen Kexing to cease, and when Wen Kexing would not, Han Ying entrusted him to the eighteen young disciples of the Tian Chuang who were loyal to Zhou Zishu before committing suicide by severing his own heart meridians.

### Legacy

During the conversation between Zhou Zishu and Prince Jin, Prince Jin dismisses Han Ying as a "cheap orphan slave", in which Zhou Zishu retorts emotionally that Han Ying was "one of the people" and was only twenty two when he died.

## Relationships

### Zhou Zishu

Because of Zhou Zishu's act of kindness, Han Ying is fully devoted to him. Han Ying expresses concern and worry over Zhou Zishu's depleting state because of the nails constantly, and had always tried to serve Zhou Zishu through any means. Han Ying does not mind sacrificing his life for Zhou Zishu nor for any of his associates.

### Prince Jin

Externally, Han Ying was a loyal agent of the Tian Chuang, and therefore to Prince Jin, addressing him with formalities and apologising for his mistakes, however, this is merely superficial, as Han Ying percieves Prince Jin as an enemy due to his hostility towards Zhou Zishu. Prince Jin on the other hand, perceives Han Ying as a lesser human, stating that he was a "cheap orphan slave" that isn't worth mentioning.

### Duan Pengju

Han Ying and Duan Pengju did not have a relationship beyond professionalism, Duan Pengju had suspect Han Ying of treachery nonetheless.

### Bi Xingming

As one of the loyal disciples to Zhou Zishu, they had worked together and covered for each other during their operations.

### Wen Kexing

As Wen Kexing is someone close to Zhou Zishu, Han Ying automatically respects him and vows to aid him. When sensing that Wen Kexing is willing to critically wound himself over saving Han Ying, he commits suicide so Wen Kexing wouldn't be able to heal him any further. Before he did that, he entrusted Wen Kexing to the eighteen disciples, showing that Han Ying had trusted Wen Kexing to deliver the message and disciples to safety.

### Zhang Chengling

When Zhang Chengling posed as a possible lead on the Liuli Armour, Han Ying had no qualms about injuring him to get his hands on any sort of information. Once he knew that Zhang Chengling was one of Zhou Zishu's associates, he apologised and offered to protect him from any harm.

When Han Ying knew that Zhang Chengling became a disciple of Zhou Zishu's, he expressed envy and desire to be also Zhou Zishu's disciple, in which Zhang Chengling responds that he can become his senior brother.

## Trivia

* Han Ying's name is a homophone for "*Winter Flower*" (寒英, *Hán Yīng*) which is the flower that grows in the Siji Manor during winter.

## References

1. ↑ Word of Honor: Official Commemorative Artbook
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Web-Series, Episode 30
3. ↑ Web-Series, Episode 08
4. ↑ Web-Series, Episode 10
5. ↑ Web-Series, Episode 28