Early Hour had long since arrived.
It was currently the second night of the second tide; rather, it was the period when the second tide was supposed to occur.
If one were to walk through the Settlement, it would appear mostly devoid of life.
The denizens of the Settlement were relocated, taking what little belongings they could afford to carry.
Resources were reallocated towards their small military force and expedition.
There were still four nights left till the arrival of the third tide, that is, if it would arrive as expected.
With the gentle starlight on his face, Sun gazed towards the bright sky.
Having mostly recovered from his odd ailment, Sun has dedicated himself to aiding the preparations for the Settlement's retreat.
'Union Settlement...'
Ever since he had heard the news, a grim expression constantly hung on his face.
'Not only Star Gazing Settlement, but Union Settlement too...'
'Lord Immortal Defiance, and Lord Immortal Union were both felled in combat...'
He was gritting his teeth, then he eased his jaw helplessly.
What could he do about the situation?
Star Gazing Settlement had fallen to powers far beyond his own.
'Could those Demons be the cause of Union Settlement's fall...?'
Sun had known Immortal Union to be a benevolent figure.
Immortal Union was there to aid and offer hospitality to Star Gazing Settlement's denizens.
He was there to offer special resources to Dawn, Sun, and Selene's closed cultivation.
He was there to support the other subsidiary, Mortal Settlements of Union Settlement.
How could Sun not see such a man in brilliant light?
How could someone be so cruel as to strike down such a benevolent figure?
How could Sun blame anyone else besides those Demons who felled Immortal Defiance?
Rather, Sun wanted to blame those Demons, regardless of truth.
He still loathed them greatly.
However, only being able to curse the names of such malevolent figures leaves a bad taste in Sun's mouth.
Looking up, Sun could still see it.
The battle between Immortal Defiance and those two Demons.
While he couldn't see it clearly, he knew just how high and mighty such a fight was.
Far above him, who still stood on the ground.
'Was it like that, too, Union?'
"Of course it was."
'...?'
Turning around, Sun tried to find the source of the voice. Yet, there was nobody around.
"Did I mumble that out...?"
"Not at all~."
"...!"
Whipping his head around again, Sun turns to face the 'air' that whispered in his ear.
In that spot, he met face to face with an odd-looking face. Their noses were practically touching.
"You!"
Sun retreated a few steps in panic.
"Be at ease, I'm not here to hurt you..."
"As if!"
In the next moment, Sun calmed.
"...?"
At the next moment, Sun grew terribly weary.
"...!"
"What was that...?"
"That was me~."
An unsettling 'purr' whispered in his ear.
Yet again, Sun whipped his head around, turning to face that same odd-looking face he gazed at just a moment ago.
Then, he was looking at air, and his shock seemed to fade as well.
'...'
'...'
'What am I doing...?'
There was no one around him, yet he had the feeling that he was just talking to someone. Not only that, but an unsettling feeling ran down his spine.
On top of that, there was an odd breeze brushing past his ear.
"Have you calmed down now, Sun~?"
Slowly remembering, he turned around, twitching as he faced that odd face, once more.
"What have you..."
"Don't worry about it. You won't remember it anyway~... Well, I guess telling you won't hurt. Then again, I've already spoken to you of something similar, no?"
"..."
His expression, which carried shock and horror, was his only response.
With a shrug, the figure plainly replies.
"I am a Follower. I am an Envoy. You were offered a hand, because you were a recipient."
"Recipient...? What do you mean 'recipient!?' Explain yourself clearly, you-!"
Pausing, Sun felt his throat tingling sorely. Was he yelling just now?
"Where did this come from?"
Blinking, he felt the chills on his spine wane; suspicion was subdued.
Eventually, he continued to walk, without hesitation.
"Slowly, I'll have you attuned in all the right ways~..."
Watching from a distance, the ominous figure stalked Sun for a moment before disappearing.
...
"Sun!"
"...?"
Having arrived at this warehouse, Sun turned to the voice who called him.
A woman dressed in brown robes approached him.
"Ah. Friend Autumn, what do you need?"
"Senior Spring and Senior Winter wish to meet with you. Can you spare any time by the Third Hour of Falling Hour?"
"I should be free by then. Why do they wish to talk with me?"
"It regards the convening of the Settlements. You have heard of their plans?"
"Yes... Yes, I have."
Recalling his memories seemed to be a little more difficult, but he eventually drew upon a well of information.
Call of Winter and Warrior of Spring, two of the Four Seasons Cultivators.
They are also the Settlement Lords of Veiled Forest Settlement, a mortal Settlement that had no connections to any Immortal.
Shade of Autumn, too, is a part of the Four Season's Cultivator.
The four Cultivators rule over the Veiled Forest Settlement, or so Sun had heard.
Sun had not heard too much about these four Cultivators, but he had witnessed two of them in action, personally. He naturally thought highly of them.
"Might I ask. If Senior Spring and Senior Winter plan to join hands with the other Mortal Settlements, would Summer's Cultivator make their appearance?"
"You... will find out about that soon."
"...?"
"Do not mind that. I will not keep you from your duties any longer. You can find us at the Settlement Lord's complex at the Third Hour of Falling Hour."
"Okay. I will see you then."
Sending her off with a wave, Sun walked himself into the storage of this warehouse.
The inside air was dry. Sun assumed it was a Dao Art Medium that caused this.
It was also cool and dark.
This warehouse stored an abundant amount of crops, such as wheat grains and rice stalks.
There were a myriad of other crops, which displayed how heavily this Settlement invested in its agriculture.
It was then that a thought popped up in Sun's mind.
'What are they going to do when they leave the Settlement?'
'If their lifestyle was founded on agriculture, would they still retain this focus despite lacking the prospects of Corpse Mountain?'
'Actually, now that I think about it. Wouldn't circumstance be driving them out of their lifestyle, as they are forced to leave now?'
'Is circumstance going to stop them from pursuing agriculture?'
This thought seemed to trouble Sun greatly.
...