"So, is that how it is then?" Elder Chu says, almost off-handedly with her attention seemingly focused entirely on the scroll she was reading.
Zhou Cheng still keeps his back straight and his eyes forward. "Yes, Honoured Elder. We tried to see if there was a way to reverse things but lacked the knowledge."
It feels like no time at all has passed since Zhou Cheng struck down Tang Bingwen's petrified form - they had all moved rather swiftly since then. Without Greenwater Oasis to restock and rest, the caravan had little choice but to keep moving, and they double backed along their previous route as best they could, conserving their food as they went.
The Sand Devil proved more a boon than a bane in that regard - without the meat they had collected from it, there was a very solid chance they couldn't have made the return journey.
"A pity," she mutters, stamping her seal on whatever it was she was holding and picking up another, "Junior Tang was always an impatient sort. Let his failure be a lesson to you, Disciple. There are no shortcuts to growth - only prices to pay. Pay with your time or pay with something else."
"This Disciple will take those words to heart."
"Was there anything else to report then, Disciple?"
The journey back had been blessedly uneventful, unless one counted the nights Zhou Cheng spent meditating over the past week - and most importantly, the incredibly dangerous weapon currently sitting within his spatial ring.
For some, having a powerful treasure such as the Umbral Prism fall into their lap would be seen as a blessing from Heaven. For Zhou Cheng, it felt more like a curse. Even with what he learned from Tang Bingwen (and he had no doubt it wasn't everything), he had no idea what it was truly capable of.
Too risky to hold. Too powerful to throw away. Too dangerous to use.
A part of him wanted to just give it to the Sect so he wouldn't have to deal with it himself.
"There was some business with another cultivator with an emblem of a sun," he answers, placing his faith in the hope that if he offers a different truth, she won't ask about anything else. "He offered offense to a member of my party, so we suppressed him, but I was not familiar with his faction."
She gives him an unimpressed glance before turning back to her paperwork. "There are no small number of Sects in the area with Sun imagery - I suppose the most likely is the Radiant Sun Palace. Regardless, a scuffle between Disciples is nothing to be concerned about - it was just a scuffle, wasn't it, Disciple?"
He nods. That was all it was. He might hold a grudge against Zhou Cheng, perhaps, but that would be his decision.
"Good," she says simply, apparently satisfied with just that. "You've fulfilled the task, so I will grant your request."
He straightens up just a little at those words, his resolve hardening. Three years and change, all for this. The end was finally in sight, and all that was left was to face Lei Ming and finish what he started properly.
"This is your last chance to change your mind," she continues, "Are you certain you wish to proceed?"
She still has to ask? "Yes, I am, Honoured Elder."
"Very well. I will inform the Law Pavilion that you have officially challenged Lei Ming. He will have three days to respond. I suggest you use that time wisely to prepare yourself."
He isn't able to stop himself from reacting to that news. Even now he is still expected to be patient and wait?!
"Did you expect to come back and immediately face Lei Ming, Disciple?" she asks, sounding faintly amused as she turns to regard him more properly. "In your current state?"
Zhou Cheng freezes for a moment. It has been several days since he was forced to use the Thunderous Breath technique, and was subsequently injured by the Sand Devil. He has recovered enough that he can move, fight, and hold himself appropriately. He would even say he's fairly healthy. But the wound… it still aches from time to time. He has yet to exert himself in a true fashion.
She shakes her head and turns back to her work. "Go see the Medical Pavilion - all of you need to recover, I suspect." She clicks her tongue with annoyance - at him, at whatever she's reading, he doesn't know - and swiftly amends something with her brush.
He takes the dismissal for what it is, and leaves as quickly as he can.
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The last time Zhou Cheng was at the Medical Pavilion, he had gotten into that spat with Hei Lian after the Tournament. The memory sits sourly in his mind, the shame at himself for losing sight of what was important… but it's another reminder of what he's fighting for. Why he's fighting at all. Still, he cannot say he enjoys being back. The whole building reeks of bitter medicinal herbs, and all sorts of other things the more alchemically-inclined Disciples are refining or otherwise working with.
"Inner Disciple Zhou Cheng reporting after a mission," he declares calmly to the attending Disciple, holding his wrist out to confirm everything.
The tired looking Core Disciple - he smells almost overwhelmingly of pungent herbs and… wildflowers? - seems slightly surprised at that, but clasps wrists all the same.
Core Disciple Bang Yanhuo.
"Junior Zhou is it?" he asks, like he hadn't just confirmed it then and there. "The same Zhou Cheng who made it to the finals of the Tournament a few years ago?"
Stolen story; please report.
Truthfully, Zhou Cheng doesn't really know if there are any other Zhou Cheng's. The Sect is a large place with many people in it - that he might share a name isn't impossible, but it still feels… unlikely. He supposes a Core Disciple at the Medical Pavilion would be one of the best positioned to know, given how many people he interacts with. "That is indeed me, Senior Brother."
Being recognised could be a danger, depending on Bang Yanhuo's feelings towards him, but Zhou Cheng remains defiant.
Fortunately, Heaven is smiling on him, because Bang Yanhuo's eyes light up not with malevolence and cruelty, but relief and no small amount of determination. "I have heard a rumour that you're going to challenge Core Disciple Lei Ming."
… Surely the news cannot spread that fast? He has just returned! He came straight here from Elder Chu's office!
She was busy at work, surely she was not so rushed that she went straight over to the Law Pavilion?
"I… am," he says slowly, still trying to wrap his head around what is happening.
The smile that spreads across Bang Yanhuo's face is nothing short of vindictive.
Before he can question why he is asking, he's being ushered into a treatment ward. Bang Yanhuo works swiftly but with clear purpose, touching him at three different points with two fingers at a time. Whatever he can sense, it seems to disappoint him. "You need to be more careful, Junior," he scolds, even going so far as to flick him on the forehead gently to reprimand him. "You're lucky that the wound wasn't infected - there's still lingering Qi from the attack present as well, which could've festered. It's quite compatible with your system, so it hasn't caused any issues but you can't just leave these things."
Zhou Cheng is too busy being bewildered to really respond to any of that. He flicked him on the forehead. On the forehead! He can't remember the last time someone did that to him…! He's not sure anyone has ever done that to him!
Seemingly ignorant to his inner confusion, Bang Yanhuo continues the treatment. A few simple pokes in a few spots around the still scarring tissue, and an ache that Zhou Cheng hadn't even really registered seemed to vanish. He even felt… energised? "There," he declares, "That should clear it up. Now take this. That should make sure everything heals up properly. I'll remove the scarring in a second, I just-"
"No." He's a little surprised at his interjection, but not nearly as much as Bang Yanhuo seems to be. "Leave it. A reminder."
"... Well, it's your body, Junior." Bang Yanhuo moves on from the topic swiftly enough, reaching into various pockets and pouches that Zhou Cheng wasn't even aware he had to hand him pill after pill. "And here, you'll want to take this and this later tonight - be ready to process them properly and integrate the Qi into your system. It might take you a while, but that should help you along. And save this for when you're in a bit of trouble - the boost should help you for a while, but you'll crash down after an hour. It can knock you out for a while so be ready for that. These will help with any poisons, so keep them handy. They only work for a handful seconds, so don't take them prematurely. They'll clear out anything you've got in your system whilst they're active though."
For a moment, Zhou Cheng is almost worried he won't have enough arms to carry everything being piled on him. "... Senior, what is this… for?"
Bang Yanhuo gives him a look like he's the one acting oddly. "Is it not obvious?" he asks, which, really, he shouldn't have to. If it were obvious, Zhou Cheng would not ask. "If you're going to stand a chance against Core Disciple Lei Ming, you'll need help."
"... But why are you helping me?" He wants to believe it is because it is the right thing to do. He wants it to be because Bang Yanhuo has recognised that Lei Ming deserves retribution for what he has done. But he cannot trust in that.
"Is that not obvious either, Junior?" Bang Yanhuo asks, and Zhou Cheng has to bite his tongue to avoid saying it's really fucking not. "That bastard took our cute Junior, Hei Lian, for himself. If it were not for my duties here at the Pavilion, I would've punched him in the face myself already - so you'll just have to do it for me, yes?"
For… Hei Lian? The answer surprises him, but more than anything, he feels he is surprised at the surprise. When he thinks about it, should it be an obvious conclusion? Hei Lian is kind, wonderful and cute. It is only natural that he inspires loyalty from his Seniors.
It is also only natural that Lei Ming would covet him - but Lei Ming is a terrible, venomous person who can only take without earning.
He bows deeply, an upwelling of gratitude warming him from the bottom of his heart. "A thousand thank yous, Senior Bang!"
Senior Bang just waves him off. "Your thanks aren't necessary, Junior Zhou. Junior Hei would be crushed if you got hurt."
He would, wouldn't he? The thought just hardens his resolve all the more. "Then I will do my best to avoid such a fate."
"Good lad. Now, what are you waiting for? Take your medicine!"
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Bang Yanhuo is not the only one to offer him unsolicited aid. Whatever rumour has spread, has spread like a wildfire on a windy day. Outer and Inner Disciples alike approach him, offering words of encouragement and whatever help they can, and whilst Zhou Cheng cannot help but feel frustrated that none of them seemed willing or able to come to his aid when he was at his lowest, he still finds himself quietly bewildered by the sheer scale of it.
There are no shortage of those who have been wronged by Lei Ming in some way. A Disciple who was harassed, another who had her bounties claimed from her in the Forest. One who was unfairly punished. Like Zhou Cheng, they have been unable to obtain proper justice due to Lei Ming's scheming and status, so he holds an amount of sympathy for them. The reality of the situation makes itself clearer to him the more approach, and he cannot help but feel regret at his reaction to Kong Meiling.
She was not alone in her fear - and she was not wrong to fear either. Those who spoke out had suffered retaliation.
But amongst the throng of those united by Lei Ming's foulness, one or two approach for other reasons. They do it because of Hei Lian.
"Here," a tall, handsome Inner Disciple declares, offering him a pair of vambraces made of what looked like wyvern scales and some kind of leather. His hands smell like ash and smoke, and unclean smoke at that. Zhou Cheng is rather reminded of a fireplace without the fire. "Hei Lian's kindness when I was at my lowest is a light I won't forget. You're quite fortunate to have him."
Zhou Cheng can't help blinking a little, staring at the offered gift with a mix of confusion and curiousity before slowly taking them. "I… thank you. I will be sure to convey your thoughts to him."
The Inner Disciple cracks a small smile. "His cooking was the only thing I had to look forward to, in those days. I was quite disappointed when I didn't get to enjoy it again the last time I was in the Phoenix Wing."
Why didn't you do anything then? is what he wants to ask, but well. He knows why, and he's doing something now isn't he? It's better late than never. "He'll be glad to hear that," he says instead.
The Disciple's smile widens. "If I thought I had a chance, I'd challenge you myself for his loyalty," he adds with an almost wistful air of regret, "But I don't think I'd stand a chance, would I?"
Zhou Cheng narrows his eyes, a surge of something violent in his heart. "You would not."
The Disciple simply laughs. "Fight hard, Zhou Cheng. We'll be cheering for you."
He watches him go with mixed feelings, unsure of whether he should be annoyed or heartened. The vambraces, at least, seem quite well made. He can detect a faint air of Qi about them - it carries the scent of oiled leather, polish and a purer, stronger scent of metal.
They fit him well. Hopefully, he won't need them.