Xin Hong is a childhood friend of Xiang Ying and was known as Number 36 during his training in the Zhuque Corps. He harbored deep feelings for Xiang Ying, which led the trainers to pit Xiang Ying and Xin Hong against each other in a fight to the death as part of their final exam. Xiang Ying managed to overpower Xin Hong and, with heavy reluctance, killed her only friend, or so she believed. Miraculously, he survived and was transferred to the Qinglong Corps, another division of Zheng Dao Hui. Throughout this period, Xin Hong's desire to reunite with Xiang Ying fueled his will to live. After the Qinglong were wiped out by the Xuanwe, Li Jiang Qiang allowed Xin Hong to live a normal life with the task of watching over Xiang Ying.
Incidentally, Xin Hong was also the assassin who fatally shot Li Qian De through his hotel room window. However, Li Jiang Qiang did not blame him for his brother's death, understanding that Xin Hong was trained to obey orders and that many soldiers and assassins under his command do not know the identities of their leaders.
