Zilong

Zilong was taken in by the Tianyin Swordmaster Sect when he was just a child. Although the Sect was famous for their mastery of the "Jian," Zilong chose to take up the spear. Without a teacher, he practiced the basics of the spear day in and day out with unwavering determination. After leaving the Sect, he became a disciple of the Great Dragon under the guidance of Baxia, the Mystic Tortoise, and trained at the Dragon Altar. But with the changing of the times, the spirit of the Cloud Dragon appeared on the tip of his spear one day to the surprise of his peers. That was when everyone, including Zilong, realized he had become one with the Cloud Dragon of the Oriental Fighters and inherited the Great Dragon Spear. Even though the spear is known as the "King of Weapons," Zilong had no desire for power. No matter where he was or who he was supposed to be, Zilong was content to protect his homeland with a spear in hand. As long as he still breathed, there would be peace in the Cadia Riverlands. "Why do you train with the spear?" Duan Meng asked Zilong in front of the other disciples. This was the Tianyin Swordmaster Sect, after all, known as the zenith of swordsmanship in all of the Cadia Riverlands. Duan Meng had roamed the Cadia Riverlands as an assassin to perfect his skills, becoming one with his sword, and was unrivaled soon after joining the Sect. Zilong was different. Even though he had been a disciple of the Sect since childhood, he trained only in the spear. As wave after wave of disciples advanced their training from twigs to wooden swords to blades of steel, Zilong continued practicing the basic spear moves: thrust, parry, shuttle. "Why do I practice the spear?" Zilong contemplated while lowering his eyes, as his body continued to move on its own."I don't know." Zilong had never thought about it. Picking up a spear was as natural as breathing to him. Does one need a reason to breathe? The onlooking disciples thought Zilong was disrespectful to Duan Meng and chided him. "Then can you stop practicing in the middle of the night? We can't rest with you making a racket." "It is my fault. Please accept my apology." Zilong's response was so sincere that the mob lost interest and gradually dispersed. He changed his routine after the incident—he ventured further out to train so nobody would be disturbed no matter how late it was. Rain or shine, Zilong maintained his training. The Sect did not keep any manuals of spear techniques, so Zilong could only repeat the same basic movements, a thousand times, a hundred thousand times... From behind Duan Meng, Master Longma answered his question. "He has the will, but not the talent..." Indeed, he did not fit. The Tianyin Swordmaster Sect had no place for Zilong. Thus, Zilong packed his bags and left the Sect. He had arrived alone and would depart alone. As he looked back at the mountain where the disciples used to train, he couldn't help but wonder —Why did he choose the spear? For Zilong, training with the s