{She certainly has fire in her,} Kueng said, passing the photographs to the next Elder.

Jiaoshu had called a late night meeting with the Elders once he had received the photos from the two guards. Neither one of the children knew the guards had captured the fight on film; nor would they for years to come.

{The girl is already an effective fighter. She took them out with minimal effort and maximum force,} said Jiaoshu.

{Yes. But from what the guards said, our Manchu had to hold her back from inflicting anymore harm on these boys,} Po Sin said, the note of disgust in his voice rising at the word "boys."

{Hm, yes. Her control is still off...} began Jiaoshu.

{Off?! The girl has none!} Po Sin interjected. {I doubt the girl will ever possess the amount of control required! We cannot have such a loose cannon in the Triad! How do we know she wouldn't become unstable and attack one of our own?}

Kueng leveled Po Sin with a silent glare. {Xiaohu has never harmed anyone in practice. This was a direct attack on her person, Po Sin. You would do well to recognize the difference. And if I remember correctly, you had very little control of your temper when you were her age. Still you let your control slip now and then.}

Jiaoshu and the third Elder, Shing, sipped their tea calmly, acting as if they had not heard this reprimand. Out of everyone in the Triad, only Kueng could ever say such things to Po Sin and not receive punishment. Po Sin huffed and sipped his own tea. While Kueng normally wouldn't berate anyone with an audience, there were times when he felt it was necessary to make certain the words set in.

Slowly the rest of the photos were flipped through. The snapshots caught the flowing form of the girl as she leapt forward, her hair streaming behind her, mouth open in a battle cry. Included was the aftermath where Manchu was holding her down. Po Sin nodded approvingly at these.

{This boy at least knows control. He will make a fine member of the Triad when the time comes.}

{A little premature, Po Sin? He still has much training to go through,} Fai said.

{Speaking of training, how are the others coming along, Jiaoshu?} Kueng interrupted before Po Sin could say anything to Shing.

The conversation turned to the other students for a brief time before the Elders excused themselves for the night. Kueng stayed after to finish his tea and chat with Jiaoshu.

{Xiaohu is definitely in need of more control, Jiaoshu. You know my feelings about the girl.}

Jiaoshu nodded. {She has gained much control, contrary to recent events. Master Kên Huo has been a fine influence on her. He praises her often for her respect of the medium. I feel that what happened today had more to do with her personal feelings than anything else. The girl would never strike out unless provoked.} He paused and sipped his tea. It had taken Li Mei an hour to convince him that Dee had not lost her control, but was merely defending herself as she had been taught. {Kueng, what happens when the time comes if you are not here?}

Kueng smiled and tilted his head. {Jiaoshu, there is no need to worry about that now. If I am not here in a few years, then I'm not here. The Triad will keep going with or without me. As much as I wish Po Sin were not the next in line for Supreme Elder here in Gotham, there is nothing I can do about it. Your children will get in or not depending on their own merits.}

{Yes, Kueng. I just worry about them the way any father would.}

{I understand,} the Elder said. With effort, he rose from his seat, gave Jiaoshu a nod, and left the small room.
Growth Spurts Main / Triad Main /