My heart skipped a beat upon seeing the creature. They had said it was a creature of great fortune, with only one other person in our village having seen one for themselves. It stood out like a sore thumb from the lush greenery, with its wings shimring like the purest sapphire.
It was a sight to behold. I knew that it wasn't much compared to the fantastical Spirit Beasts like the World Tree, or the Celestial Ape. But it was the first ti I'd seen anything remotely close to the books I had read. The Azure Moonlight Flutter seed to leave a trail of glitter as it flitted between the trees. Another awe-inspiring sight of what nature has to offer.
"Wow." I whispered to myself.
'I need to get that damn butterfly!'
The coins I could get from selling it would be enough to get so headway on that greenhouse for the winter! Determination and desire surged in my body as I stared at the Azure Moonlight Flutter.
Little butterfly, you will be a stepping stone for this young master's goals!
I ruffled through my leather pouch which contained a few tools and knick-knacks. Every other second, I glanced back at the butterfly, hoping it hadn't moved from its position.
I carefully bruised the Moonbeam Petals, rolling them delicately between my fingers to release the essential oils within them and cause their fragrance to intensify. I placed them inside a cloth, securing them with a bit of vine from a nearby tree. It was tight enough to keep the rolled petals from falling but had enough room to let the scent waft over .
Shaking it over my head, the aroma of jasmine and a hint of vanilla spread through the air. My bruising technique really helped make it even stronger to cover the distance between and the Azure Moonlight Flutter.
After a few seconds, the sapphire butterfly began making its way toward , following a non-linear flight pattern. I hadn't thought I'd be trying to capture an insect today, otherwise, I would've gone ahead and brought a net designed for the task. But a cloth should be more than enough to keep it steady before I could deposit it into so sort of glass jar. I've worked with plenty of delicate plants before, handling the Azure Moonlight Flutter shouldn't be too much of a problem.
Right?
With every beat of its wings, it drew closer and closer. My arms were twitching in anticipation, waiting for the mont it landed on my Moonbeam Petal bait to try and grab a hold of it.
There was a fleeting thought that crossed my mind, wondering if the Azure Moonlight Flutter could sohow aid in my pursuit of cultivation. I quickly dismissed the notion, as I knew that they were unlike other Spirit Beasts whose bodies held imnse value. This ethereal creature was a re butterfly that had managed to absorb a trace of qi, a far cry from the mythical beasts spoken of in ancient tales.
But it would go for a nice sum if I could capture it. Alive, preferably. Maybe I could even figure out a way to breed them in my garden! I have plenty to keep it nice and happy in my ho.
Almost as if it sensed my overwhelming desire, the Azure Moonlight Flutter recoiled from the Moonbeam Petal essence I had laid out for it, darting away deeper into the forest. I gaped at the sheer speed the butterfly retreated with, leaving a faint glimring trail in its wake.
It left alone in the clearing for a few seconds, and I could hear my dream of having a nice and fancy greenhouse collapsing into pieces.
"My money! Co back here!"
I followed the trail it left, letting my feet carry through the Whispering Leaves Forest. That damn butterfly was fast when it wanted to be. I wouldn't exactly call myself a slouch but it took all I had to keep up with its swift retreat.
Dreaming Gardener, one of the many monikers bestowed upon . Indeed, I was a gardener who dared to dream. In my fantasies, I had envisioned grand escapades where I would chase after ancient Spirit Beasts, journeying across perilous hills and valleys before cornering the ferocious creature that had tornted the common folk for ages. Such grand visions filled my mind ti and ti again.
Kai, a prodigy that appeared only once in a century, in his majestic dark-red robes and wielding a divine weapon, would vanquish the Mist Serpent of the Jade Mist Valley or confront the Celestial Ape that road the peaks of the Celestial Summit Plateau.
Yet, here I was, utterly exhausted from chasing a re butterfly. My robes had beco soiled with gri and dirt. Fortuitously, I had chosen my attire wisely dark maroon with black undertones, which made the stains less conspicuous. Such was the sagacity of I, Kowtow Kai!
But really, this is getting annoying.
I don't know how long its been since I continued the chase. Sotis I lost sight of it, but followed the glimring trail to get a headway of where it went. But I always caught a glimpse of it again, enough to keep committed. I quickly realized I ventured from the route I always took, but it was too late to stop. I would capture the Azure Moonlight Flutter or die trying!
Well, dying was bit extre. Maybe if I completely lost sight of it, then I'd consider going back.
The chase continued and I was starting to feel the strain. My breathing beca heavier and my running form beca disjointed as I reached the point of total exhaustion. At one point, I fell to my knees.
I had no clue where I was. Judging from how long I'd been running, I could be several li away from the village. Getting back would be a mighty pain.
I forgot to bring a water canteen with as well. Of all the days!
No. That damned Azure Moonlight Flutter had to stop eventually.
I pushed off from my kneeling position and ran through the forest. Its trail had gone seemingly cold. The glimring sparkle trail had dwindled as I recovered from exhaustion, but it was faint enough for to see and move forward. The sound of rushing water attracted my ears. I didn't recall a body of water being in the area. But it should be enough to satiate my thirst.
As I continued, I couldn't help but notice the distinct aura that enveloped the area. The forest seed to radiate a serene tranquility that was unlike anything I had ever experienced elsewhere in the forest. The trees stood tall and proud, their bark free from any signs of scarring or damage. The canopy above was dense, with sunlight filtering through the leaves, casting a myriad of dappled patterns on the forest floor. The air was crisp and pure, devoid of any trace of human disturbance.
The vegetation was lush and vibrant, with a diverse array of plants I had thought were scarce. Wildflowers, in a dazzling array of colors, adorned the ground, while the lodious songs of birds filled the air. Even the undergrowth seed to be arranged in a harmonious symphony, as if orchestrated by an unseen force.
It was as if I had stumbled upon a long-lost sanctuary, a hidden gem tucked away from the prying eyes of humanity.
But this wasn't what I ca for! Where's that damn butterfly?
As I continued, I stumbled upon a breathtaking sight a clearing with a srizing waterfall, its crystal-clear waters cascading gracefully down the rocky cliffside. The Azure Moonlight Flutter danced in the air.
"Damn you," I pointed at the insect flying around in circles. "You've led on a goose-chase for too long! You're mine!"
The Azure Moonlight Flutter continued to ignore , as always. I glanced at the water. It would be a pain to capture it while floating there, close to the waterfall. My clothes would get wet! Then I'd have to trudge back ho, drenched and miserable.
I took off my robes, making sure to do it as quickly as possible while keeping an eye on the Azure Moonlight Flutter. With nothing covering my privates, I grimaced, knowing that it would look absurd from an outsider's perspective.
I prayed that my theory of this place being barren of humans was correct. I didn't want anybody seeing naked chasing after a butterfly like so sort of madman.
But just as I finished folding up my clothes neatly off to the side, I watched as the Azure Moonlight Flutter flew into the cascading waterfall and disappeared.
"MY GREENHOUSE!"
My heart sank. That Spirit Beast would sooner commit suicide via a waterfall's downpour than let profit off its existence. How terrible! I wasn't even going to kill the thing, just keep it in a jar and sell it off to the nearest bidder!
I stood there for a mont, lanting the loss of such a beautiful being and the fortune it might have brought . I hoped that playing a part in its demise wouldn't result in so horrible curse being put on .
But as I was about to turn back, sothing caught my eye. The glimring trail the butterfly had left behind seed to extend past the waterfall and further into the distance. Inside of where I had thought the butterfly had been crushed. It was only because of the clarity of the water that I was able to spot the tell-tale glimr of the Azure Moonlight Flutter. Curiosity piqued, I approached the waterfall, my eyes squinting as I tried to make sense of what I was seeing.
As I got closer, I realized that sothing was off. The waterfall still appeared as a normal cascade of water, but the fact that the glimring trail extended beyond it made question my initial assumption. From what I could assu, it was only stone and dirt behind the wall of water. Could the Azure Moonlight Flutter have survived the force of the waterfall? Or was there sothing more to this scene than t the eye?
I approached the downpour and reluctantly pushed my hand into it, expecting a flat surface. But contrary to my expectations, sothing shimred and I fell forward, flat on my face. Ow. That would leave a mark.
Drenched in water, I spotted the glimring trail leading deeper into a cave. No, this wasn't natural. There were steps! This was manmade! And from the looks of it, it had been untouched for years. I shook my head and squeezed the water out of my hair. I turned to look back, seeing the waterfall continue as is. Waving my hand through caused a small shimr and I drew back, seeing that there was so sort of illusion in place.
"Sothing more than an Azure Moonlight Flutter...Could it have led to the secret base of a martial master? Maybe the WInd Sage used to live here..."
Ah, who am I kidding? I shouldn't get ahead of myself. Let just see if I can find that butterfly once and for all. There'd be so traces around here if the Wind Sage actually ca around. He wasn't that ancient. Probably a century old, at most.
But still, the idea of finding sothing in this cave formation intrigued . Maybe not a cave master looking for a disciple, but who knows?
"Azure Moonlight Flutter, you will not escape that easily!"
Determined to capture the elusive butterfly, I followed the glimring trail deeper into the cave. The farther I ventured, the more uneasy I felt. The air was damp, and the darkness seed to close in around , making the cave feel even more claustrophobic than it already was. Yet the trail continued, and I couldn't help but be drawn further in, my curiosity piqued by the mysterious environnt.
As I delved deeper, I began to notice sothing strange. The walls of the cave were etched with markings and symbols, unlike any language I had ever seen. It was clear that this place was no ordinary cave. It had once been the site of a lost civilization, their secrets and stories hidden away beneath layers of dust and ti.
Or so sort of crazed scholar went ahead and hid his archive here.
I couldn't help but let my imagination run wild, as I whispered to myself, "Could this be a secret hideout of a legendary cultivator? Or maybe the tomb of an ancient king?"
Ancient artifacts lay scattered about, covered in cobwebs and gri. So were broken, others still intact, but all of them seed to hold a deep connection to the past. I couldn't help but wonder what had happened to the people who once lived here, what drove them to create such a hidden sanctuary. They didn't emit any sort of qi or energy. But even then, my skin tingled upon being so close. I could tell they were unlike anything I'd seen. They looked far too abstract, even for cultivator artifacts.
As I ventured further, the cave opened up into a larger chamber. The air grew colder, and an eerie silence settled over . There, floating atop a pedestal in the center of the room, was the Azure Moonlight Flutter. It seed to be drawn to an artifact that rested beneath it a large, intricately carved stone tablet. The tablet was adorned with the sa mysterious symbols I had seen etched into the cave walls, yet they seed to hold a greater significance here.
I stared at the artifact, my imagination running wild once more. "This... this must be so sort of... legendary treasure? An ancient cultivator's legacy? Maybe..."
The Azure Moonlight Flutter continued to float above the artifact, seemingly unaffected by my presence. I cautiously approached it, my heart pounding in my chest. As I reached out to capture the creature, I couldn't help but wonder if it had brought here for a reason.
The Azure Moonlight Flutter finally in my grasp, I gazed at the mysterious artifact before . For so reason, the butterfly on my palm didn't seem as eye-catching. I knew that I had stumbled upon sothing extraordinary, though the true nature of it was beyond my comprehension. My life as a humble gardener had been simple, but now, with this discovery, maybe I...
I chuckled nervously, "This is how it usually goes, right? I touch the pedestal and a flashing light overcos ?"
I asked the butterfly in my palm, but it seed content to just stare at with eerie intelligence. Seeing no response, I gulped down my anxieties and got closer to the pedestal marked with engravings of a lost language.
"Well, here goes nothing."
I placed my palm on the tablet and closed my eyes, waiting for sothing to happen.
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