"Dawn."
"Yes, Father?"
"Would you like to join me for a walk?"
"...?" Dawn looked at her father blankly. She raised a brow as she questioned further, "What about your injuries? Do you not need to rest after your Tribulation?"
"Ah, I am fine, I'm fine. I wish to make the most of my time. Spring is still high, and the plum blossoms should still be full of life."
"Is see... Sure. Let's walk. The Plum Garden's Pavilion should be working at this hour. Should we visit them?"
"Hmm... That is a good idea. I wonder if any of their wines are available."
Chuckling to himself, Immortal Defiance conjured wisps of wind.
In a breath's time, his black robes embroidered in yellow gold and red ornaments adorning his body had all swirled into a brownish-blue slurry.
The beard on his face had reduced to a mere stubble, hair tied high into a messy knot.
His appearance changed to that of a mortal, one on the lower side of society.
Dressed in dull blue robes and brown boots.
"I think that it is best that you change your appearance, too. I would not want to see my daughter walking around with such a good-for-nothing man."
Dawn quietly smiled at her father's jest and allowed her face and robes to be transformed as well.
As the wisps of wind waned, a modest mortal girl was left in Dawn's place.
Straightening her messy hair, Dawn looked over her robes, which were the same as her father's.
"Why do you insist on masking us as ordinary mortals, Father?"
"If an Immortal were to show up at your winery, that would be quite the surprise, wouldn't it?"
"That is true..."
"I do not want to scare them. Also, it would not be good for my image to appear as a drunk!"
"That is also true..."
"Well, are you ready?"
Receiving a faint nod from his daughter, Immortal Defiance closed his eyes. Grabbing his chin, he tilted his head towards the ceiling.
"If we are to go under secret identities... Then you shall go by Wei Shi... and I shall go by Father."
"That is no different for you."
"And no different for you, too, in how you address me. Even if we are acting under these fake identities, we will still be playing the role of father and daughter."
Dawn let out a small hum of acknowledgement.
As wisps of wind were conjured, the visage of 'Wei Shi' and 'Father' turned sheer.
"We will exit unseen and find a desolate alleyway for us to reappear."
"Understood."
...
The starlight of the Starry Sky was gentle, still somewhat dim but brightening gradually.
It was Early Hour as Wei Shi and Father were walking around the stone-paved streets.
Wei Shi gazed around at the familiar sights of monotonous bamboo wood architecture.
They passed by stores and countless mortal people.
This was one of the 'lower' districts, where housing accommodation and commerce were located.
The destination where Wei Shi and Father were heading was located in the next district over.
"We will make our appearance in that alley." Father pointed his finger at an especially dim and desolate alleyway, "It is fortunate that few people are active at this time."
"Indeed, it is."
Wei Shi followed Father into the alley, and their sheer visage soon became solid once again.
They walked out of the alley and continued down their path.
'Why has Father taken an interest in surveilling the mortals of Star Gazing Settlement?'
Wei Shi could not shake that question from her mind.
On many occasions, she had played with the children of the Settlement in her youth. As she grew older, Wei Shi spent more time inheriting Her Father's legacy.
This isolation prevented her from mingling among the people as she used to.
"Father. Do you miss the people?"
"What? What do you mean, Da— Wei Shi?"
"..."
"It is just, I do not understand why you wish to masquerade as a mortal... as this 'deadbeat mortal', as you say."
"Hmm... Now, where could this have come from?"
"...?"
Having a question returned to her, Wei Shi held a questioning glint in her eyes.
Unknowing of why the suspicion was placed on her, she wanted to ask for clarity, but instead muttered out her thoughts.
"It is just... I do not understand why you take this approach... Why mingle among the mortals like this?"
As an Immortal and Star Gazing Settlement's Lord, no less, Father could easily demand what he wants.
Should he wave his hand, dozens of servants would bow at his feet, and even lick his boots clean if he so wished.
At a single call, he could will every woman to become his concubine.
With but a glare, he could fell any warrior of this Settlement, establishing himself as a peerless tyrant.
And yet... With a wistful look in his eyes, Father proclaimed,
"I am merely reminiscing on my youth..."
"As a deadbeat?"
"No!" Stifling his voice, Father palmed his brow as he quietly continued. "As I began my Cultivation journey, I, too, was mortal. That much should be obvious."
As Wei Shi and Father turned the corner, a vast tree-filled garden revealed itself.
An intricate fence of brown wood traced the perimeter.
In the inner depths of the garden were pavilions and a storehouse.
Looking at this sight, Father sighed as he lost himself in the dull pink of the plum blossoms.
"I spent a lot of time with people. Friends, families, and even enemies."
"I witnessed each of their lives, in passing, and the rise of their descendants. Over the span of my life, I had witnessed these very 'blessings of life' pass into ruin."
"I stand here, witnessing the people of my Settlement, remembering the very reason why I became Immortal."
"And that is...?"
That last question came from Wei Shi, who turned her gaze to Father.
"I became Immortal for the people. I have witnessed the cruelty of Night. I have witnessed the cruelty of Fall. So, I wish to witness it all no more; I wish to free the people."