Zhang Xiong

Zhang Xiong, also known as the Bear. Before Emperor Zou's bloody Ascension, Xiong was a powerful cultivator of the Cold Wolf Sect and famous for his adventures with Gao Zhong Hu, the Tiger. During the Ascension his sect was destroyed by a Garalese army and he and his family arrested. Unable to ask his six year old son to die for the sake of family honor, Xiong saved himself and his family from execution by publically pleading for his life before Emperor Zou. His plea was granted after this humiliation, but his golden core destroyed on Zou's orders. Afterward, Xiong settled in Jiliang, a small, mountainous town located near the Garalese border.
In the chaos of Zou's reign he, his wife, Ruya Ilkin, Wei Ang Jian, and Wei Lian quietly assisted friends and vulnerable towns and villages by giving them martial training and military supplies. He kept these actions a secret from his children - particularly from his eldest, Huai Shi, with whom he argued bitterly for over ten years about moving on with his life rather than seeking revenge for what was done to Xiong and the family.
Xiong played a key role in the War of Eternal Day, training new recruits and heading the Gilded Retribution, the assassination of Emperor Zou.

 

Life

Early Career

Xiong was a brash and talented cultivator who engaged frequently in sect politics, quests, and conflicts, winning a reputation for strength and boldness. He contributed significantly in increasing the fame of his already prestigious sect, along with other promising young cultivators such as the Meng sisters, and Wan Gang.
Initially, Xiong hoped to win the honor of marrying Meng Lianhua, a beautiful and brilliant cultivator. Knowing his family was not as elevated as the Mengs, he approached her younger sister Yin Da to ask for help in proving his suitability through his personal prowess. He recognized that her talents and skills rivaled that of Lianhua's, though Yin Da purposefully lived in her sister's shadow. Yin Da reluctantly agreed to help; Xiong wanted to find a long-hidden cache of ancient relics that piqued her interest. Xiong also enlisted his friend Gao Zhong Hu in his quest. It wasn't until his engagement to Lianhua that Xiong realized that in the course of their travels his affections had turned towards Yin Da. After a sharp fight about Yin Da refusing to be a second choice, Xiong coordinated an end to his engagement with Lianhua and repaired his relationship with Yin Da. The families arranged a marriage between Xiong and Yin Da shortly after.
 

The Ascension and the Cold Wolf Massacre