Jeong Jeong

"fire"

- But fire brings only destruction and pain. It forces those of us burdened with its care to walk a razor's edge between humanity and savagery. Eventually, we are torn apart.

Jeong Jeong, also referred to as the Deserter, is a strong, enlightened, but embittered man who has seen more than his share of the cruel reality of war. Once an honored Admiral of the Fire Nation military, he left and gained his now famous title, the Deserter. Because he was the first person to abandon the military and survive, he is considered a legend within the Fire Nation. He lives in the Earth Kingdom wilderness to avoid Fire Nation soldiers and bounty hunters, and travels with a small group of followers including Chey, the second man to survive leaving the Fire Nation army.

History


Jeong Jeong is 60 years old, has two vertical scars next to his right eye, and is a master firebender. However, he does not think highly of firebending, referring to it as a "burning curse". In a conversation with Katara, he admitted that he had always wished that he were a waterbender, since water is considered an element of healing, whereas firebending "brings only destruction and pain".

Long ago, Jeong Jeong had a pupil, Zhao, who did not acknowledge the dangers of firebending. Zhao was only concerned with using fire to destroy his opponents; he wasn't concerned with learning about the discipline that came with it, much to Jeong Jeong's disappointment.

When Aang was brought by Chey to Jeong Jeong's camp in order to learn firebending (in "The Deserter"), Jeong Jeong is furious, since it was clear to him that Aang was not interested in learning discipline. He could tell just by watching Aang walk into the camp that Aang had not mastered Waterbending or Earthbending, the disciplinary principles of which would aid Aang in controlling the power of firebending. Jeong Jeong only consented to teach Aang after receiving a chilling vision from Avatar Roku through Aang's body.



Jeong Jeong's teaching techniques rested heavily on discipline. Before he taught Aang how to firebend, he made sure that Aang learned discipline, so that he wouldn't unintentionally hurt anyone. Jeong Jeong has Aang do breathing exercises for several hours; Aang becomes impatient, which greatly angers the master, who uses Zhao, his former student, as an example of what could happen to one who did not learn the discipline associated with firebending. Aang quickly apologizes, and says that he is reading to learn Jeong Jeong's way.

Jeong Jeong then proceeds to teach Aang to use real fire, much to Aang excitement; however, Aang is disappointed when Jeong Jeong assigns him the simple task of preventing a leaf from being completely burned. Aang decides to create his own fire, and accidentally burns Katara. The accident was another examples of why Jeong Jeong's teachings of discipline were vital in learning firebending.

Shortly after, Zhao and his men showed up. Zhao and his men attacked Jeong Jeong, who was able to escape under the cover of fire.

In "The Western Air Temple", Aang and the others discuss the necessity of finding a new firebending teacher. Katara suggests they look for Jeong Jeong, and Aang replies, "Yeah right. Like we'll ever run into Jeong Jeong again".

In "Sozin's Comet, Part 2: The Old Masters", Jeong Jeong returns and is revealed as a member of the "Order of the White Lotus". During Aang's battle with Ozai, Jeong Jeong, along with the rest of the Order, liberate Ba Sing Se. Jeong Jeong and Iroh both use the power of Sozin's Comet during this battle.

With the end of the war and the coronation of Fire Lord Zuko, it is likely that Jeong Jeong has since received amnesty for his previous betrayal of the Fire Nation, as the betrayal had been in response to the oppressive nature of the Fire Lord's authority.

Abilities


A Firebending Master, Jeong Jeong is one of the most powerful firebenders in the series. Although few of his abilities are shown, Jeong Jeong seems to specialize in the creation of walls of fire. He first used this to fend off Zhao's river boats, controlling the wall so precisely the flames could burn on water. Subsequently, he created a fire wall to to fend off four simultaneous fireblasts. In Sozin's Comet, Part 2: The Old Masters, he surrounded Team Avatar with a large wall of fire, and later he created fire walls to push Fire Nation tanks around.

In Sozin's Comet, Part 3: Into the Inferno, Jeong Jeong was shown to be able to keep himself suspended in the air, by extending a jet of fire below his feet. It is possible that he was only able to do this because of the Comet's power, as most firebenders can only use this method for short bursts, with the possible exception of Azula and Fire Lord Ozai. However, given his vast experience and mastery of firebending, he shows no difficulty in executing it. Jeong Jeong's technique is different from Ozai's in that Jeong Jeong seems to levitate rather than fly, and can execute other large firebending techniques without needing to land or cut off his propulsion.

Jeong Jeong's control of his firebending was such that he was able to keep himself suspended in the air, and firebend while suspended. He used this technique in the liberation of Ba Sing Se. Jeong Jeong also seems to control his firebending very well, as it only pushes back Fire Nation tanks, rather than melting them. This ability corresponds with his beliefs about firebending.