The awkwardness of dinner never quite faded, no matter how many dishes the young cultivators ordered or how much wine they drank. Su Xiang quickly reached her limits and retreated to her room gratefully when Jin Wuya suggested that young ladies shouldn't be up too late drinking with men lest it harm their reputation. Wu Ling himself held back from much of the wine, serving tea to Huang Yeyan and keeping his conversation to light topics until he could make a polite retreat of his own.
Once in his room, however, Wu Ling gave himself no time to relax. Opening the room's small window, he quickly summoned Hou, setting the Golden Crow on the windowsill and looking intently into the bird's small, red eyes.
