Chapter Seventy-Seven: The Maiden of Falling Flowers Cave, Part Two

It is said that in the western region of Hunan, people live off the mountains and waters, for the surrounding land is mountainous, with peaks rising one after another and cave mouths scattered everywhere. When young women pass by certain cave entrances, they sometimes hear something inside calling their names. If the young woman responds, laughter will echo from the cave. Upon returning home, she will soon lose her mind and become delirious.

The locals believe that such a woman has been chosen by the spirit of the cave, her soul already lured away. Since their livelihood depends on the mountains and waters, they dare not offend the spirit that dwells within. Thus, the woman who answered the call and lost her wits is dressed in a red bridal gown, adorned head to toe in crimson, and placed alive in the cave that summoned her name, left to starve to death as a bride for the cave spirit.

Reflecting on this, Fang You understood: these were the doings of some mountain spirit or creature. Though the art of controlling worms was renowned among the sorcerers here, it was of little use against these wild beings, and none dared provoke them, fearing retribution against their own kin. Furthermore, the custom of the Flower-Falling Cave Bride was ingrained in the region—a woman joined in marriage to the cave spirit, seeking its blessing for favorable weather and bountiful harvests.

Elder Ye sighed deeply as he spoke, clearly reluctant, but what else could be done? The woman's soul was already lost, and to let her wander mad and broken would serve no purpose. Better, perhaps, to let her marry the cave spirit and win some good fortune for the clan.

"May I see the woman?" Fang You inquired softly.

"You wish to see our Flower-Falling Cave Bride?" Elder Ye hesitated. "Is there something amiss?"

Fang You smiled faintly. "Let me take a look, and I will know."

"Very well, since you request it. Please, follow me," Elder Ye said, leading Fang You toward another house, the crowd trailing close behind.

After seven or eight minutes, they saw in the distance a household brightly decorated, red lanterns and auspicious couplets pasted up, as if preparing for a wedding. As they approached, a woman carrying a plate of wedding pastries came out to greet Elder Ye.

"Elder Zhang, have a taste of our celebration cakes!"

Though her face was all smiles, Fang You could see the forced bitterness in the woman's expression.

"A Taoist has come to our village and wishes to see your daughter," Elder Ye told her.

"A Taoist?" The woman looked puzzled, glancing at Fang You. After a moment's hesitation, she kept smiling. "What's there to see? My daughter has been chosen by the cave spirit—a blessing! To be joined in marriage with the spirit brings fortune to our people, as is right!"

Though she spoke thus, she quickly made way and let the Taoist enter.

Inside, Fang You saw a young woman dressed in a bright red bridal robe, silver hairpins in her hair, her features delicate and beautiful, but her gaze vacant and scattered. She gnawed on her fingers, her manner dull and witless.

The mother hurried over, smacking her daughter's hand. "Don't act so foolish in front of outsiders! Tomorrow you’ll marry the cave spirit. Behave yourself then, don’t anger the spirit and bring misfortune to the village!"

Fang You stepped closer, observing the girl carefully. The mother, feigning pride, said, "My daughter has been lovely since birth—clever, resourceful, though our family is poor. She learned to raise insects and gather herbs to earn money, such a good girl!"

"Perhaps that is why she was honored to be chosen by the cave spirit, to have such good fortune—how wonderful!"

Despite her words, tears shimmered at the corners of her eyes, her voice catching as she turned away in silence.

Fang You looked at the girl and saw a trace of red vapor coiling on her brow. He already had a theory—this was likely the work of a beast that had achieved spirit form and gained some measure of magical power. Usually, when humans cultivate the path to immortality, their spiritual aura is pure white and radiant, calming all who sense it. Spirits that are truly divine have this flawless, luminous energy.

But when animals or wild spirits become earth immortals, their aura is mixed: tinged with the resentment of their kind, the bloodthirstiness of predators, and the corruption of their own making, all swirling together in chaos, typically manifesting as red.

In truth, it is easier for plants or herbivores to attain enlightenment, for they harm no living thing and live on sunlight or roots and leaves. Yet the quickest to progress are the fierce beasts, who devour all things and feed on the vitality of life, their power growing with each prey consumed. But their innate violence and bloodshed bar them from true enlightenment, and at best they become earth-bound spirits. Such is the law of nature: the strong thrive, the weak perish, and predators must do as they must.

Fang You made up his mind, leaning close to Elder Ye and whispering a few words. Elder Ye was instantly alarmed. "That won't do! If you anger the cave spirit, the whole village's fortune will suffer!"

But Fang You replied with utmost confidence, "Trust me. There will be no mistake."

Elder Ye hesitated, glancing again at the woman before them, who smiled through tears, struggling to keep her composure.

After much deliberation, Elder Ye finally sighed and turned to Fang You. "Are you truly certain?"

"I pledge my life on it. If I fail, I am yours to deal with," Fang You declared, resolute.

Hearing this, Elder Ye hesitated no longer. "If you succeed, from this day forth, you are the benefactor of our village."

"Rest assured," Fang You replied.

The mother, meanwhile, was bewildered by their conversation. She could only stroke her delirious daughter and murmur, "Oh, my child, forgive me. In your next life, don’t be born to such a mother. I am powerless to save you."

At dawn the next day, the Cave Bride’s wedding took place—a momentous event for the village. Everyone gathered to send her off; several strong men carried the bridal sedan chair toward the distant cave. Along the way, the music of suona horns and flutes filled the air, the procession lively and grand, for this was no ordinary marriage, but a sacred joining with the cave spirit, and every detail must be flawless.

Like a long dragon, the procession wound its way to a mountain ridge, where two old women assisted the bride, dressed in red, out of the sedan and led her to a cave entrance. There she sat alone, and the old women offered blessings: "May the bride and groom’s wedding night be filled with joy, and may the moon forever shine upon your union."

With these words, the procession departed, leaving the bride alone at the cave mouth, as the wind rose and the chill deepened around her.