Cong took to spying on his old friends as they traveled through his hometown. He found it to be a welcome challenge—already his thefts were getting predictable and easy—and they seemed to have some inkling that they were being followed. It attested to Cong's great skill at being invisible, a skill that even Shifu praised, in that after a week, they still hadn't caught him. At the moment, he was trailing Tigress.

The kung fu master was acting casual, but he saw the small tilt of her head whenever she looked around. She knew he was there, but she couldn't prove it. The previous evening, he had overheard their suspicions that the Serpents were onto them. They were right and wrong; a Serpent was onto them, but Fu and the others did not know. Cong had promised a huge payday just to keep them off of his scent, and when that was coupled with the golden dragon statue he'd brought a week before, they were pleased to let him scope out the city.

There was a reason that Cong was trailing the fiercest member of the Five. Up above, he saw what she didn't. He wasn't the only one tailing her. A male tiger had his eyes on her, too. He was a member of a kung fu school, one of disrepute, and Cong had learned much in the three days since he'd noticed him.

He was dishonorable and strong, but just as stubborn as their Tigress. And there were so few tigers in this part of China that Cong didn't have to be a genius to figure out why the male was following a female counterpart. He knew that Tigress was strong, brave, and smart. But there was one area that she knew little about. The one time she had run into a male of her species in the Valley of Peace, she'd nearly lost her mind with desire. Afraid of the unwanted feelings, she had poured herself into training until she was numb.

Cong had approached her one evening to find her watching the male tiger, hackles raised and eyes wild. He recognized the signs of instinct, of her body's desire to mate. It scared her, so he'd sat there silently to offer his strength. The next day, after he'd spoken to Oogway, the tiger received a message that he needed to leave immediately. As soon as he was gone, Tigress settled back into their normal routine. Besides himself and Oogway, Cong figured that none of the others knew how males of her species unsettled her. And now a despicable one had his eyes on her.

After an hour, Cong knew something bad would happen. Tigress could smell the male, and she was already growing wild with fear. And the male knew she was aware of him. Tigress was no longer concerned about a spy from the roofs, and she sped up, trying to circle around to get back home . The male was there in a moment, blocking her path. Terror appeared on her face, and she bolted into an alley.

"No, Tigress!" Cong thought. "You're playing right into his claws!"

In the time it took him to cross the street, the male had her cornered, a sultry smirk on his face. His intentions were clear as he licked his lips and sniffed her neck. Tigress's tail was frizzed out, and her hackles were raised. Cong could tell she was looking for a way out, but her mind was clouded. She made a mad dash for freedom and was promptly thrown against the building. Tigress landed hard and didn't move. The male was pleased, reaching down for her shirt.

More enraged than he'd ever been in his life, Cong landed behind him and growled, low and dangerous. The tiger turned, his orange eyes narrowed on the small form.

"Don't touch her, filth," Cong snarled.

"She isn't saying no," the male said.

"She is unconscious. And she was clearly saying no before you assaulted her."

"She's a female. She doesn't know what she wants," the male said. "And what do you care?"

Cong hissed between his teeth. "Leave, now. Or you will regret your existence."

"You are a Serpent, aren't you?" the tiger asked, keeping low to the ground and assessing his enemy.

The monkey cursed his use of the signature hiss before a threat, but he didn't deny it. He flexed his gloved hands, knowing a fight was coming. And he was ready to defend his friend. She had defended him for years, and though he was sure she wouldn't do so now, honor compelled him to fight for her dignity when she couldn't.

"You know nothing," the tiger said, a smirk pulling up his lips. "I am an honored kung fu master. She is, too. We belong together."

"I know of your track record, Chen Fan," Cong spat. "You do not take females as a wife. You use them then discard them. Master Tigress is honorable. You are nothing but a fool and a dishonorable one at that."

Surprise flashed across the tiger's face. He had not expected for a random Serpent gang member to know of his trysts with other females. Surprise turned to anger, and he growled low, a noise that would have sent shivers up any sensible creature's spine. But if Cong had learned something in the week he'd spent spying on his friends when he should have been hiding, it was that he was not sensible.

Chen Fan lunged forward, a blur of movement, but he landed on nothing but ground. A solid force struck his back with such power that it sent him tumbling onto his head. Turning his head, which spun with pain, he saw that his opponent had a staff gripped firmly in one gloved hand. Growling, he lowered himself to all fours, looking for any weakness. But his enemy showed none. He had a strong stance, a lazy confidence that Fan had never seen before.

Cong was enjoying the surprise, but he knew he had little time before Tigress woke. He didn't want to have to dart her. So he made a strategic move. As the tiger jumped again, Cong threw away the staff and pulled a knife. Shock worked its way into the tiger's eyes, but Cong didn't strike at his face. He reversed quickly, slamming the tiger on his back then pressed his knife between the predator's legs. Fan froze, eyes widening. They didn't move for a moment, Cong reveling in his victory, then there was the sound of a seam popping.

"Touch her again," he hissed into the tiger's ear, "and you will no longer be able to procreate. I will find out, and you will never be a father. Do you understand?"

Fan nodded frantically. Cong let him up, and he ran away on all fours without looking back once. The monkey snorted and sheathed his knife again. That was pathetic. And he called himself a master? No. He was a fool, just as Cong had said. Tigress still hadn't moved, so he pattered over and checked her vitals. She was fine, her breathing was even, but she stirred beneath his hands, and he turned to run, but paused for a moment.

Reaching down, he pulled the fan he'd bought a week ago out of his belt. Opening it, he studied the gorgeous design. Tigress really would love it, he thought, so he closed it and tucked it into her paw. He skittered up a building and hunkered down to watch.

Tigress jumped, the fan clattering to the ground as she looked around for her attacker. She checked her clothes, found them undisturbed, and was about to leave when she noticed the fan. Her paws trembled as she picked it up and unfurled it. She didn't move for a long moment then sighed, snapping it closed and holding it to her chest. He knew she was going to lose it if she dwelled on what had happened, and he also knew that she would ignore it until forced to talk about it. Holding the fan close, she hurried back to the hotel.

Cong watched long enough to note that the Fan was nowhere then he hurried ahead to nestle into his hiding spot. The window was open, and he heard the moment she dashed inside and slammed the door behind her. Shifu was in the room this time, and he coughed hard, probably choking on a drink.

"Tigress, what is wrong?" he demanded.

Tigress said nothing. There was movement, and Po's voice came next.

"I've never seen you look like this. Tigress, what happened?"

"I…I was attacked," she said.

"Are you harmed?" Shifu asked.

"No. Somebody saved me."

"Who? Was it Monkey?" Po asked.

"I don't know. I was knocked unconscious. When I woke up, my attacker was gone, and my savior left me this."

The fan opened with a soft noise. Po gasped, setting down a bowl.

"Hey! I saw that at the market last week!"

"So?" Tigress asked.

"It's just…I told the merchant that you would like it."

There was a pause. The tension built up until Cong thought he would go crazy.

"Somebody heard you," Shifu finally said.

"Somebody who saved me," Tigress said.

"Did you see Monkey anywhere? Anybody who could be Monkey?" Viper asked, announcing her presence to the simian.

"I didn't see anybody who looked like Monkey," Po said. "At least, I don't think I did. It was really crowded."

"But he could have been there," Shifu said.

"Maybe."

They didn't speak much for the next ten minutes, so the monkey considered his options. He needed to get back, so as much as he hated to leave, he uncurled and jumped to the next roof. Keeping to the shadows, he darted across roofs then down into an alley before making his way onto a crowded street. With his hat low over his eyes, he walked toward the base. As the crowded streets faded away, he listened for a certain noise.

Mantis was indeed spying in the underbelly, and he believed he was getting close to the Serpents hiding spot. So far, Cong hadn't heard the soft noises associated with his insect friend. He hoped he wouldn't. He couldn't just keep on his street clothes, dark and inconspicuous, while in the base. Fu would wonder what was up. But Mantis would be sure to notice him in the halls. He was the only monkey in the gang at the moment.

Each step was measured, and he passed through the guard stations without a word. They wouldn't attack him. He wore the green patch on his clothes that symbolized his allegiance with the gang. As he slipped into the hidden entrance, he pulled off his hat and freed his tail, which curled upward, happy to be out of confinement. Tugging off his dark robe, he stretched. And then he heard it. A small chirrup, a noise that he recognized as surprise. His expression didn't change, and he didn't look around. Because of his size, Mantis could hide almost anywhere. And if he tried to spot him, Mantis would know he was heard.

So Cong threw his robe over his arm, held his hat in one hand, and strode purposefully through the base. The lower gang members bowed to him, afraid and amazed, but it no longer fed his pride, which was starting to starve and wither away again. He had softened his demeanor so much that Fu had noticed, asking if something was wrong. Cong had shaken his head, a dour expression on his face, and Fu had dropped it, though he had mentioned how much he had enjoyed Cong's stint of anger. It was supposed to encourage him to revert back, but there was no going back for the simian.

Fu looked up when Cong strode into the training room. The newest recruits were fighting. Cong ignored them, passing behind them. He adjusted each stance without being asked then walked over to his gang leader.

"What have you been up to?" Fu asked, studying the awkward positions of the newbies.

"Staking out a job," Cong said.

"What are you after? If you're spending all day scoping it out, it must be amazing."

Cong nodded, unsmiling. "Riches beyond compare," he murmured.

Fu grinned, placing his clawed hand over the monkey's shoulder. Cong saw a flash of green, but he didn't react. Mantis was in the base. He knew that Monkey was indeed there. And he was about to find out just how good Cong was at stealing without being detected.

"Hey! Did you steal my lucky coin?" a boar snarled, pushing the young ox beside him.

Cong smirked, unable to help himself as he picked up a small bag at his hip and jingled it. "You all are very sloppy," he mocked, and Fu laughed.

A sick pleasure curled in his stomach. He loved it when Fu genuinely laughed. He did it so rarely, and Cong was pleased that it was usually him that caused it. Keeping his mouth set in a grim line to hide a grimace or a smile, he wasn't sure which, he opened the bag and handed back their trinkets.