Jeong Jeong's History
Early life, career, and desertion
From a young age, Jeong Jeong was recognized by his teachers as a firebending prodigy, and through diligent study and practice, he became a master in his teenage years. He eventually joined the navy and taught firebending to young soldiers, one of whom was Zhao. The future Admiral, however, did not acknowledge the dangers of firebending, concerning himself only with using the art to destroy his opponents and neglecting to learn the discipline that came with it. After many years of watching his students wage war and cause destruction, Jeong Jeong began to question his own teachings.
Ten years before he met Avatar Aang, Jeong Jeong deserted the Fire Nation Navy and vowed never to teach firebending again. Under constant pursuit by the military, he was forced to move from place-to-place, never settling in one area for more than a season. Years after his defection, Jeong Jeong came in contact with a tribe in the northwestern Earth Kingdom and was declared a living god. They offered him residence at a small camp, where he stayed during the winter.
Aang's firebending master
When Aang was brought by Chey to Jeong Jeong's camp in order to learn firebending,[1] Jeong Jeong was furious, since it was clear to him that Aang was not interested in learning discipline, and had not learned waterbending or earthbending. He said that because Aang had not learned how to master these elements, he lacked the disciplinary principles which would aid him in controlling the power of firebending, and thus refused to even see him. Defiantly, Aang sought out Jeong Jeong in a small hut, where he was meditating surrounded by candles sitting before a dead tree.
Jeong Jeong reiterated his refusal and remarked on Aang's lack of discipline, referring to him as too weak. As soon as he said that the flames of the candles around him flared intensely before extinguishing completely, and the master had a vision where he found himself sitting with only one candle lit in front of him and the previously dead tree behind him now in bloom. Avatar Roku appeared before him where Aang had been previously sitting and ask whether Jeong Jeong thought he was weak. After the deserter bowed in respect and immediately denied meaning that, Roku ordered him to teach the Avatar firebending. As Jeong Jeong reluctantly agreed, the vision ended, and he was back in his room with Aang, who was pleased to hear the old master's decision.
Jeong Jeong's teaching techniques rested heavily on discipline. Before he taught Aang how to firebend, he made Aang train using several techniques, hoping the young Avatar could avoid hurting anyone. Jeong Jeong instructed Aang to do breathing exercises for several hours, however, Aang quickly became impatient. The Avatar's impatience greatly angered the master, who used Zhao, his former student, as an example of what could happen to one who did not learn the discipline associated with firebending. Aang quickly apologized and said that he was ready to comply with Jeong Jeong's orders.
Jeong Jeong proceeded to instruct Aang in actual firebending, much to Aang's excitement. He was disappointed, however, when Jeong Jeong assigned him the simple task of preventing a leaf from being completely burned. Jeong Jeong returned to find Katara's hands burnt because Aang attempted firebending on his own and watched as she healed her burns. He informed Katara about her newfound skill and stated that healing is his preferred ability over a "burning curse". Shortly thereafter, Zhao and his men sailed upriver toward Jeong Jeong's encampment in pursuit of the Avatar. Zhao was instead confronted by Jeong Jeong, who raised a wall of fire that stretched from the clearing of the riverbanks and across the river itself. The ships' progress was hindered; however, Zhao, aware of his former masters' reluctance to fight, was not deterred and simply walked through the wall of flames.
Jeong Jeong dissipated the wall completely, leaving no trace of fire to spread and harm the surrounding environment. Aang subsequently arrived at the scene, and with a grin, Jeong Jeong conjured up an immense mass of flames and disappeared, leaving Aang to deal with Zhao and his men.
Liberation of Ba Sing Se
Before the liberation of Ba Sing Se, Jeong Jeong answered the call of Grand Lotus Iroh and gathered at the White Lotus camp in preparation of the upcoming battle. When Sozin's Comet arrived, Jeong Jeong used the power of comet to increase his firebending and fend off multiple tundra tanks that were attempting to defend the city.
