After Zaheer and his cabal infiltrated Zaofu in 171 AG, Hong Li was questioned along with the other guards to determine who was involved in the attempted kidnapping of Avatar Korra. While being interrogated by Aiwei, Hong Li stated that he was born and raised in Zaofu but raised suspicion from the truth seer after insisting that he did not know Zaheer and his companions. Hong Li denied helping the criminals enter the city but was accused of lying by Aiwei, who identified him as the traitor. Suyin Beifong berated Hong Li for betraying the Metal Clan and pressured him to admit the whereabouts of the four criminals, but Hong Li merely refuted Aiwei's claims, restating that he was not involved. A search of his apartment led Team Avatar to find a note from Korra's assailants as well as a copy o