It does kind of sound like Houmei's been told some shit. That he's had stuff planted on him and just forced to accept it as the truth.

"Is there someone in your temple that gets special treatment if you get treated bad? Like, when you look bad, they look good? 'Cause if you really don't remember it, I'd look at that real hard."

Though who is he to say.

"So is chi- that like some kinda magic? I knew a man without a mouth that could use magic. Had to do these hand motion things."