Xia Warriors: The Glory Road or The Wayward Way?

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Xia are warriors of the Shadows, the martial underworld, living below the radar and above the law. Each warrior chooses to walk either the Glory Road, that of duty, honor and victory, or the Wayward Way, that of freedom and personal gain.

The Shadow clans each practice their own form of combat skills. Some, like the Two Dragon Family and the Death Dealer, practice extraordinary chi disciplines such as the Swift Step and the Silent Speech. Others, like the Beggar Clan, depend on military-like strategy and superior weapons. All seek to gain supremacy over the other clans.

From birth, Paul Lau was raised to walk the Glory Road. On the death of his father, he became the Dragon Son, head of the Two Dragon Family, the embodiment of their unity and prosperity, and the channel through which they communicate with the long-dead Ancestor Dragon. But Paul is sick of the internal politics and external violence of the Shadows, and tired of his cousin, Tony, trying to make him over in his own image. A congenital heart disease makes him reluctant to have another close encounter with Ancestor Dragon since the first one almost killed him. He rejects the Two Dragon Family’s claim on him. Instead, he opens an art gallery and becomes involved with Rhian Nolan.

Rhian is an Irish Traveller with ties to the Beggar Clan. After a childhood spent walking the Wayward Way with her gypsy parents, she moves to America with her mother and stepfather. Rhian’s repentant mother keeps her children away from the Shadows, hoping they’ll lead normal lives. Rhian dutifully steers clear until her job as a designer places her in Paul's office to build a web site for his gallery. She falls hard for the handsome, secretive artist and is thrilled when he returns her fe...

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...oesn’t blame him. He blames Auntie and his parents for their deception and for keeping him and Paul at odds with each other for so many years. They renew their pledge of brotherhood.

A decision by the Elders is reached. Because Ancestor Dragon is no more, there is no need for the Dragon Son to be his direct descendant. Tony will be allowed to participate in a competition to decide the next Dragon Son. Before he can do so, he must prevail over the Beggar Clan. Paul is banished from the Two Dragon Family. Tony protests but Paul stops him, not wanting to jeopardize he chance at becoming the next Dragon Son. Still, Tony swears to find a way to revoke his banishment. Paul swears that when he can, he will return to San Francisco and help Tony regain his birthright.

Paul and Rhian are reunited. They get married and leave city to begin their journey on the Wayward Way.

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