In a small room, lit by a couple of candles and the dull red glow of burning incense, a conversation took place in Mandarin.
    Yen Chu-Hsia stood facing Wu Tung and Wu Tzi-Shi.
    "I simply fail to understand why it took you months to get us out," Wu Tung growled. "When you had been captured, we went after you in days."
    "And weigh the effectiveness of the situation. When you rescued me, I got away, and all of you were captured," Yen pointed out gently. "With my rescue plan, we're all free."
    "Do you know how much time was wasted while we were in prison?"
    Yen tried to placate him. "The time was not wasted! I have built a foundation here. I have a structure in hand that has Chinatown under our control."
    "Don't you mean, under your control? You have a structure, you have a plan—you do not lead this organization!" Wu snarled.
    "I built something as I was planning to get you out," Yen repeated softly, refusing to raise his voice in turn. "We now have control over Chinatown, what you said our goal was. There was a vacuum in place while I was here; I took advantage of it."
    "You don't know the first thing about organizing a criminal enterprise!"
    "Perhaps I am not as widely skilled as you, Wu Tung. Perhaps. But nonetheless there is a foundation here for you to build upon. Quietly, gently, subtly. I've spoken with some of the other mystical members of the community—"
    "Mystical members?" Wu Tung scoffed. "What delusions you have, Yen Chu-Hsia. Our powers come from an energy explosion. You are not a mystic, I am not a mystic."
    Yen sighed. "Obviously, you lead the Wuxia. I understand that."
    "Because the others answer to me. Were I not here, you would step in in a moment!"
    "Someone would have to, if you were not here. Surely you can see that," was the unwise reply.
    "Is that a threat?"
    "How would I threaten you? We are connected. We are one being," Yen soothed, reminding him of the near-empathic link that bound the group. "If I am mad at you, should I cut my own hand off?"
    "Don't quote the Tao at me, it won't help you."
    A faint sigh. "All I'm saying is that within our foundation here we can organize ourselves and live a life of wealth and comfort."
    "Wealth? Comfort? If we stay here in what you have designed for us, we will stagnate! We have already grown under your supervision; now that I am here to organize all of it, we will quickly grow to the edges of the community that we have. And what then? Where will we go to then?" Wu Tung challenged.
    "Perhaps we should deal with that then," Yen suggested.
    "We will deal with that now! These artificial walls that you set up while I was gone—meaningless. Chinatown is not large enough to contain us. It is a convenient base, nothing more. I thought you understood that. The criminals in this town right now are weak. You see the reports. Apparently, earlier this morning the Revolution fought a master duck hunter! Do you think that we should give the city to the duck hunters?!"
    "So what, then, are you recommending that we do?"
    Again, bad choice of words. The other man drew himself up haughtily. "I do not give recommendations. I am Wu Tung; I give orders! And my orders are to expand from this tiny little cage that you would have put us in. The Wuxia will grow; Boston will be ours."
    "You don't see the power of the shadows," Yen sighed. "I have learned—"
    "You have learned nothing! You for all your light, willing to hide in shadows. Leave the shadows to Liang Hsiang; she knows them. She belongs there. She knows how to use them. As she is using them right now."
    Yen looked alarmed. "Using them right now? What do you—"
    "While I am speaking with you, I have already ordered the other members of our group to expand our boundaries. If we're lucky, we might even whittle the opposition. Who knows, there might even be a duck hunter present." He smirked.

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