Arthur, now known as Zhao Yun or how his parent call him Zilong was now one year old. He was meditating in his free time since he needed to train his Qi and Elements back up to the level he used to have it. He calculated that it would take him at least 13 years since he didn't want to destroy his muscles.
The moment Zhao Yun was born everyone was scared since he didn't cry. Everyone thought he was dead until his father, Zhao Xian, hit his arse making him cry from the pain he was feeling.
They were relieved when Zhao Yun cried for the first time as they didn't want to get punished for bringing a dead child into the world. Shadow seemed quite close to Zhao Yun surprising Zhao Xian and his wife as they could see that a bond was founded when Shadow was overwatching everything with her keen eyes.
Zhao Yun had trouble to drink at first since he had to suck on the nipple of his actual mother. Just thinking about it sounded wrong to him and doing it even more as Madam Su was force-feeding Zhao Yun even if he fought against it without results.
He began to speak with seven months and walk when he had nine months making Madam Su quite prideful that her son was walking and talking.
Then came his first birthday and he had no idea what was going on. He was placed in the middle of the room with many things around him.
"Zi Long, you need to choose one. Which one do you want the most," says Madam Su as Zhao Yun looked at them and didn't like any of the things of the room.
He walked towards his father and wanted to grab the sword that he was carrying on his hip when Zhao Yun says, "I wand de sward."
"You want the sword?" asks Zhao Xian as he looked at his son who nodded when Madam Su grabbed him.
"No sword for you. You will be at most a scholar once you are a grown-up," says Madam Su as she picked him up and walks back to the things on the table.
"I dond wand do be a sholar," says Zhao Yun as he looked at his father who was also helpless when it came to Madam Su.
Zhao Yun then just grabbed the book to satisfy his mother who hugged him happily after he picked it up. They began to eat as Zhao Yun was still forced by his mother to drink her milk.
She knew that he despised it but he needed the milk to grow strong. Zhao Xian found it funny how Zhao Yun fought against it only to fail in the end.
The year passes and Zhao Yun received a brother. He was named Zhao Hua with his little brother now born he had more time for himself since his mother has to look after his little brother.
He found out that his father was a spear instructor for the current Governor of the Ji Province as he was training the troops most of the time when he wasn't at home.
Shadow was always beside Zhao Yun as she watched out for him the whole time and informed Thunder about their master's situation.
Thunder, on the other hand, was quite free he came and left how he pleased as no one wanted to stop him out of fear to end like the servant that is now crippled because of his kick.
The years pass once again and Zhao Yun was now eight he was training his body slowly when his brother asks "Zi Long, why are we running around the house?"
"We are training our stamina that way. Just because I want to please mother with learning to become a scholar doesn't mean that I will not train my body, Zhu An," says Zhao Yun to his brother Zhao Hua as he passed him on the left.
"But why train now. Why not later when we are older?" asks Zhao Hua back as Zhao Yun sighs.
"We need to train now or who will protect or sibling once it's born," says Zhao Yun as he looked at his younger brother before putting his hand on his brother's shoulder and continues, "Also, I want my younger brother to be strong so I don't have to worry about him once I leave the house."
"What do you mean by that? Mother would kill father before letting you leave the house," says Zhao Hua as a joke since Madam Su loved both of her sons the same just that sometimes she favorites Zhao Yun more because of his intelligence.
"But I will leave as I don't want to be a civil servant as father but a Mercenary," says Zhao Yun as Zhao Hua sighs at his older brother.
"You and your fantasies. Who would hire you in the first place brother? Father doesn't have a name and you either. They would just send you away before hiring you," says Zhao Hua who was also quite intelligent for his age because of his older brother.
"We will see that once we are older but for now let's keep running," says Zhao Yun as they continued running.
Zhao Yun was now nine and he got a sister name Zhao Qing. She was always observing her brother with her mother while Zhao Xian was training both in the way of the Dragonspear.
Zhao Xian was quite proud of both his sons since they could follow his instructions until the end when he says, "It seems you both have the talent to wield the Dragonspear. I normally train the people with a normal spear since they can't differential between both but you seem to understand that the Dragonspear is more flexible than a normal one."
Zhao Xian trained them hard but fair as Zhao Yun was making fast improvement while Zhao Hua was lacking behind him. For Zhao Yun, it was like breathing while Zhao Hua was struggling to keep up with his older brother.
Soon Zhao Qing could walk and she followed both brothers everywhere while Shadow was watching them from the tree as she was ordered to keep Zhao Qing safe by Zhao Yun.
They wouldn't wander outside since Zhao Qing was quite slowly and she watched how her brothers spared each other with Zhao Yun standing on top of his younger brother.
Zhao Qing always cheered Hua up as she petted his head after every loss, while Zhao Yun carried her back making her hug him dearly.
The years pass again and Zhao Yun was now twelve he was quite bigger than the others now with 1,6m being a head taller than the others. He was slowly forming muscles that made him look muscular but also stocky at the same time.
He could ride on Thunder now freely making not only Zhao Xian be relieved but also Madam Su as she was preoccupied because of the horse being too wild when Zhao Yun was on Thunder they could feel the calmness that Thunder was radiating making clear that only his master would achieve this state.
Zhao Yun would also put Hua and Qing on Thunder and Thunder would tolerate them since they were his master's siblings.
For Madam Su, it was now clear that her son wouldn't be able to become a scholar. She tried hard because she was afraid of her son dying on the battlefield as she always feared for her husband would never return.
Zhao Xian was more than happy now since he had a worthy heir for the Zhao Family and even if Zhao Yun died he still had Zhao Hua who was almost at the same caliber as his brother.
Zhao Yun was now eighteen years old. He had short black hair against his father's and mother's wishes and sky blue eyes. He reached now the 2,07m tall towering over his father while his body type resembled his former body. He inherited the face of his mother as many girls as well as women tried to seduce him because of his majestic and impressive look.
He heard that the Yellow Turban Rebellion that was about to be formed in the south. He went to confront his father about it when he finds his mother and father awaiting them in the main hall.
"Zi Long sit down we need to talk," says Zhao Xian as Zhao Yun followed what his father said and sat down.
Then Zhao Xian began to explain to him that an Immortal gifted him Shadow and Thunder when he takes a Black Ring out and hands it over.
"This was the first gift that the Immortal gifted you. I was keeping it safe because everyone was eying you already. The Changshan Commandery found out about you and recommended you to join the campaign against the Yellow Turbans," says Zhao Xian seriously.
"I really didn't want you to already join a battlefield but you will be going since we can't go against it. I will be going as well," says Zhao Xian as he sighs and puts his hand on Zhao Yun's shoulder and continues, "I know that you have grown strong over the years but we will go to buy you an armor tomorrow as well as a sword."
"That won't be needed father," says Zhao Yun surprising both when he put the ring on his middle finger.
It shrinks to fit as Zhao Yun was surrounded by Light when the light dissipated he was sitting in front of his parents in the Black Dragon Armor. He had a sword on his hip while a shield was on his back.
"Did you know about it?" asks Zhao Xian as Yun nods.
"Yes, I met with an immortal once a year. He gave me pointers on how to train," says Zhao Yun lying to his parents the first time in his life.
"I should have known that the Immortal would come to meet you once in a while," says Zhao Xian as he sighs finding peace about telling his son finally about everything.
"Son, we will be joining the army of the North under Lu Zhi. He will marching in to Julu and Wei Commandery to purge that Rebellion. You will be joining me while Hua will be responsible for taking care of your mother and sister," says Zhao Xian as he stood up and says, "Sleep well, son. It will be the last time until this Rebellion is over."
"Yes, father," says Zhao Yun as his father accepted his decision when he was hugged by his mother.
"Just remember that you don't need to die out there. We don't need honor as long as you return safe and sound," says Madam Su as she didn't want to let go of her son.
"I can't promise you that, mom," says Zhao Yun as he returned the hug that lasted for a bit longer before she releases him.
They went out and Huo and Qing were waiting for them. Huo was now sixteen and was eager to join them while Qing was nine when Huo says, "I will have to protect mother and sister until you and father return."
Zhao Yun puts his hand on Huo's shoulder while smiling before picking his sister up and says, "I'm relying on you Huo. Qing tries to not make to many problems for your brother until I and father return."
"I can't promise that," says Qing as she hugged her brother.
She was sad that Yun had to leave them but didn't want to show it when Yun put her down and smiles at her while saying, "Nothing will happen to me so don't worry too much, alright."
The same night Zhao Yun was looking at the dark sky when a man with red hair and eyes sat down beside him holding a Black Dragonspear.
"Shura," says Zhao Yun as he didn't even turn to look at him.
"Tomorrow you will be leaving. Are you nervous, Arthur?" asks Shura as Yun shakes his head.
"It's been long since someone called me that," says Zhao Yun laughing a bit about it before looking into the sky while saying, "I wouldn't be honest saying that I'm not worried."
He turns towards Shura and asks, "I still remember the training but nothing prepared me for my first kill. Any tip for me."
"Don't think too much about it and keep fighting. You have enough time once the War is over or you might die on the battlefield because you had your mind somewhere else," says Shura talking about his experience when he handed over the spear.
"It should fit you well since you have almost reached your peak in growing," says Shura as he looked into the sky.
Zhao Yun takes the spear and swings it saying, "It's good, just as you said I need some more centimeters so it makes me complete."
"I wish you luck on your first campaign," says Shura as he vanishes leaving Zhao Yun alone who went to sleep after putting the spear away.