Where Blossoms No Longer Fell

After hours of checking my body, especially my lower half, the women finally relaxed.

"You're so pure. He will surely favor you."

"Listen carefully to what we say next. This is the key to gaining the god's favor. Every step must be done perfectly."

They kept me busy until midnight, going over every single detail.

The next morning at eight, I was led to the ancestral hall.

The hall stood at the center of the village. Normally, only men were allowed inside. Women were not even permitted to bow at the entrance.

The chosen Blossom Bride was the only one who could enter.

The moment I stepped over the threshold, my thoughts swirled.

It was like I had experienced this same thing before, but the details were hazy, slipping from my memory.

"Don't daydream. Bow to the ancestors and ask for their blessing."

"Yes."

Half an hour later, the tedious rituals were finally complete.

One of the women guided me to the backyard.

She was about to help me into my bridal robes under the sun.

I clutched my chest, reluctant to undress. "This isn't right. There are men nearby, and my body is only meant for the god. Why should they see it?"

The women's eyes flashed.

"They're just the men who check the god's brides. You will only be allowed up the mountain once you pass their section of the ritual."

I let go of my hands silently.

Even though I had watched countless videos, I could not stop myself from blushing when my last layer of clothing hit the ground.

Half an hour later, I emerged from the back fully dressed in a dainty crown and ceremonial gown.

I looked up and caught the eyes of several of the village men. Their eyes were red, and their throats were bobbing as though they were swallowing hard.

The village chief nodded approvingly. "Let's go."

He raised his hand, and suddenly, music swelled outside.

Unlike the festive tunes of a normal wedding, marrying a god was solemn and grand.

The music was ancient, almost sacred, and listening to it twice made it feel like my soul had been cleansed.

My head was dizzy. I remembered nothing except following the procession out of the hall.

Halfway along the path, I accidentally tripped over my own feet.

I fell to my knees. My palms scraped hard against the rough stone, leaving a trail of blood behind me.

"Blood on such a joyful day is a bad omen!"

The village chief's face turned gloomy.

I quickly pulled a charm from my chest.

"Chief, this is a talisman from the fortune-teller. It ensures my wishes come true and everything goes smoothly.

"The fortune-teller predicted my day would start with sorrow and end in joy. See? Though I'm bleeding now, everything will turn out well."

My words seemed to satisfy the chief and the elders, and the procession continued.

However, for some reason, the cut on my hand would not heal, leaving streaks of blood along the path.

The pain made it impossible to focus on the sacred music.

As soon as we began ascending the mountain, a blindfold was placed over my eyes.

The village chief said that the god favored pure eyes, so I must not see the spirits of the mountain.

Otherwise, I would be rejected.

With my vision taken away, my other senses sharpened.

I could feel the uneven ground beneath my feet, and the music behind me seemed to seep into my bones, intruding everywhere.

The air, once thick with the scents of village smoke and cooking, was now cold and empty.

I clenched my hands tighter as the pain in my palm seared.

…

I had no idea how long we walked for. The sun seemed to have climbed to its peak.

I was finally allowed to remove the blindfold.

Before me stretched a winding, narrow path that ended in a bottomless cave. Beside it stood a towering, ancient tree.

Its scent of osmanthus drifted even from afar.

The villagers said the tree had absorbed the essence of countless Blossom Brides. That was what made it so tall and fragrant.

When we were thirty feet away from the cave, the procession abruptly stopped.

The chief's small, cloudy eyes fixed on me. "You really plan to go in?"

My cheeks flushed red, and I lowered my gaze to the cave. "Yes."