The ornate ship made a round of the Three Rivers Prefecture, and many Daoists hesitated. Hou Niao noticed this and teased,
"Fairy, if you have something to say, just speak up. With the relationship between you and me, is there anything you can't say?"
The Daoist looked at him, her mind made up. "Hou Niao, be frank with me. Are you in cahoots with one of the Golden Core elders from the upper echelons of North An? I've always felt that your relationship with Chong Ling is somewhat strange. It seems more complicated than I imagined. Over the years, your actions have exceeded what a member of the Anhe should do…"
"I will only ask this once. If you do not speak now, I will never bring it up again."
