It takes him the better part of a day to walk on his own again. He knew the repercussions of using the technique could be dangerous, but he hadn't quite realised the depths of that until he was forced to rely on Tian Mingfei's aid in order to get onto the camel's back.
It's not that he's bothered that she can lift him with one arm like he weighs no more than a bowl of rice - it's just that she has to do it at all.
He supposes he should consider himself fortunate that the only people to really see him in this state of weakness are his allies and a group of mortals. In that sense, he got off lucky. Tian Mingfei is unlikely to ever speak a word of this shame, and Kong Meiling… well, he's chosen to trust her for now, so he won't think about that.
At least the mortals have no understanding. They see him struggling to balance himself and take it as apropos, whispering in hushed tones and staring with awed gazes. To them, he's still the hero that defeated the Sand Devil, not a useless idiot who can't even stand without falling over.
He's not sure if he prefers that, if he's perfectly honest. If they at least whispered with words he understood, he could maybe deal with it. People have been whispering about Zhou Cheng since he could remember, and he has always had good hearing. Good, bad, it doesn't really bother him.
He just wishes he knew what the fuck they were saying.
As if answering his prayers, Chief Batu pulls up beside him on his own camel, grinning at him. He has a wide grin despite having such a squashed face, and Zhou Cheng wonders if it stretches so far that it could split his head in two. "You've certainly got a lot of attention, Young Master!"
He doesn't think anyone has actually called him 'Young Master' before. He's not sure how he feels about it. "I only did what was necessary."
"Ah, but you did it, and that is what matters, yes?"
Well… he supposes he can't really argue with that. "... What are they even whispering?" He's decided to take a leap of faith - of sorts. What the mortals are saying should be beneath him. The talk of mortals, their opinions, their words, none of that should matter to a Cultivator. And he wants it to not matter to him. He endured months of derisive whispers and mutterings until he proved himself worthy - and then years of it all over again when he was knocked down.
He can handle people gossiping about him. He just can't stand not knowing what it is they're gossiping about.
Chief Batu has a mischievous twinkle in his eyes that he's not really sure he appreciates. "Ah, it is of no true concern, I'm sure. They are simply very excited about you, yes? So young, so handsome, so powerful. Like a prince from a fairy tale."
Oh. Is that it? Honestly, he's a little… disappointed it wasn't something more interesting. But at least he can stop worrying.
"If it were not tradition for the groom's family to initiate such things, I suspect many of my cousins would be making overtures."
He furrows his brow. "... Overtures?"
The mischief seems to double in his eyes as his grin widens dangerously. "Marriage overtures, my friend. Surely such a handsome fellow as yourself has earned the favour of many a maiden?"
Marriage? He scoffs. "I have no time for such concerns." He cannot say he's even thought about the topic, really. He remembers Hei Lian teasing him about it a few times - and sometimes Shan Guojin would rib him and declare that he'd understand when he was older.
Well. He's older now. He still doesn't get it. And thinking about it just frustrates him with the reminder that both Hei Lian and Shan Guojin aren't here. The only person he trusts to actually talk about this topic is Kong Meiling, and he hasn't really had the opportunity until recently - and he certainly didn't have the inclination.
"Truly? My granddaughter will be so disappointed to hear that. I fear she's grown rather enamored of you."
For a brief moment, he wonders which one of them is his granddaughter - and then he tries to figure out how old Chief Batu is because he does not look like a man with grandchildren. Truth be told, when he thinks about it, he has trouble imagining Chief Batu as an old man… or a younger one. There's something about him that has sunk into his mind, as though he sprung fully formed from his mother like that.
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It's an incredibly silly thought. So he changes the topic rather than think about it more. "How much longer until we reach the Oasis?"
The Chief considers the question carefully, stroking his chin with a thick finger. "Well, at our current pace, we should arrive within a few days. We will likely be resting there for some time, so you may have to return with a different caravan."
"Oh." He's not sure how he feels about that. He's not exactly fond of the camels, and he finds the Chief more irritating than anything, but he can't help but feel that he will miss him.
Perhaps it's simply been so long since he's been able to have a conversation with someone who isn't Tian Mingfei. He means no offense to her truly, but she is not what he's looking for in a conversationalist.
He doesn't really think anyone would seek her out for conversation unless the topic was the best way to beat each other bloody.
"Well, I'm sure there'll be opportunities to say our goodbyes then - but thank you, for guiding us across the desert."
Chief Batu beams at him, eyes disappearing under the power of his round rosy cheeks. "Think nothing of it! I still owe Tian's mother a favour, and helping her daughter is the least I could do."
The question how old are you? plays on his tongue for a second, but he swallows it in favour of something else. "Oh? What did she do to help you?"
"The same thing you did, really," he says simply, "She killed a Sand Devil. Much older one. Huge. Almost swallowed the entire caravan!" He chuckles, like it was nothing more than a funny anecdote. "I still remember dangling in its grasp and thinking it was the end, then pow! Like Heaven's Lightning! She just stood there, like a vengeful goddess, and then she turned to me, and do you know what she asked?"
He does not, so he shakes his head slowly.
"She looks me dead in my eyes, and asks 'Do you know how to cook this? My daughter is hungry.'!"
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The Bone Sands give way to the Jade - streaked through with what looks like Blue and and Purples, in swirls and scatters. There is a palpable tension that seems to lift from everyone's shoulders as they cross, properly leaving the territory of the Sand Devils for something safer (and more colourful, besides).
It proves a touch premature to relax, unfortunately.
As they crest a dune on the following day, Chief Batu cheerfully proclaims that they have arrived.
"Behold, my friend, Greenwater Oasis in all of its…"
Whatever he was going to say to finish that sentence is something Zhou Cheng will never likely find out for sure. He could probably guess, if he were inclined, but like Chief Batu, he is too busy gazing with shock, confusion and no small amount of horror.
It's easy to see where Greenwater Oasis should be, because in many ways, it is still there. A lush, verdant green oasis - the water a bright shimmering green from what Zhou Cheng can only assume (and certainly hopes) is just the light reflecting off the jade green that surrounds it.
There were even huts and small buildings built here, although how they have any sense of stability or lasting power in a desert, he cannot say.
He says 'were', although like the oasis, the huts are still there - just changed.
Changed in the way that everything around the oasis has changed.
There is no more sand. No more jade desert.
There is only perfect, crystal green glass. The huts have turned to glass. The sand has turned to glass. The trees have turned to glass.
The people have turned to glass. Chief Batu likely cannot make out the figures, but Zhou Cheng can see their outlines.
He's not sure letting him know it doesn't appear to have been painful will do much to assuage him. The figure sweeping the front of their hut doesn't seem to have even noticed anything was happening.
It doesn't take long for Tian Mingfei and Kong Meiling to join them - nor do the other members of the tribe hesitate to congregate around them, whispering quietly in hushed but clearly worried tones.
"Well," Tian Mingfei murmurs, "Mission accomplished I suppose. I will speak with the Chief, see if we can return swiftly-"
"No." His own declaration surprises him a little, but when he thinks about it, it really shouldn't. "We can't leave."
At that, Kong Meiling lets out a quiet sigh, fanning herself vigorously with one hand. "And what, exactly, are we going to do, Zhou Cheng? What can we do?"
He doesn't know. "We're going to try," he says after a moment of quiet, "We should do at least that much. Chief Batu said he intended to rest here - I imagine they will appreciate the time to refill their waterskins, if nothing else." He pauses for a moment. "If the water is safe to drink." That's an important consideration.
"And if there is nothing we can do?" She says it like it's a foregone conclusion. She may even be right.
It's not as though he has any idea of where to even begin with something like this. "Then… at least we will have the results of an investigation to bring to Elder Chu. She asked me to ascertain what happened to…" It takes him a moment to remember the name of the person he is supposed to be delivering this letter to. "... Tang Bingwen. So we should find that answer."
Technically, he's pretty sure the answer 'he was turned to glass' will suffice, but he cannot help but try. Even if they're all beyond saving, something should be done.
And if something should be done, then Zhou Cheng will do it. It doesn't matter if it's hard or if it's painful, so long as it is right.
That is the man he aspires to be.