Where Blossoms No Longer Fell

The day before the sacrifice, I was sprawled on my bed at home, mindlessly scrolling through my phone.

Suddenly, the yard outside was filled with people.

The village chief walked in front of the crowd. "Josie, we've come to bring you good news!"

I rolled off the bed and jumped to my feet. "Chief, can I finally become the Blossom Bride?"

The chief smiled warmly. "Your older sister went into the cave last year. By right, it shouldn't be your turn yet. But since you insisted, we opened the ancestral hall and asked the ancestors for guidance.

"We have performed the ritual to ask for ancestors' approval, and they agreed. So, it's settled. You'll go."

"That's great!"

I was so happy I practically leapt into the air.

The chief raised a hand, telling me not to get too excited. "These are the things you'll need to prepare. We'll send you off tomorrow morning at eight.

"I've asked a few experienced women to help you get ready. If you don't understand anything, just ask them."

I quickly thanked him. "I've never done this before. What exactly am I supposed to do on the wedding night?"

One of the neighbours frowned. "We'll teach you tonight. We need to help you prepare your wedding clothes now."

I dashed into my room and came right back out, carrying a full set of bridal robes and a headdress in my arms.

"I've always dreamed of marrying a god, so I prepared these long ago."

Our village had not been doing well these past few years. More and more people had left to work in the cities.

I was the only unmarried woman left among those who stayed.

Thus, even though I was already twenty-eight, I was still chosen.

As someone who had dreamed since childhood of marrying a god, I had been preparing for this day for a very long time.

The moment the village chief and the others left, I eagerly asked the older women how I was supposed to serve the god.

One of them stepped into my room and immediately noticed the scattered items on my bed.

Her expression changed immediately.

"Josie, tell us the truth. Are you still… untouched?"

"Of course I am."

"Then what are all these?"

I calmly picked up the items and began introducing them one by one.

"These are my secret weapons. None of the Blossom Brides in recent years has managed to conceive the god's child. That's because those women just weren't capable enough.

"I went to consult a fortune-teller, and she said I should use these. With them, I can get pregnant whenever I want."

One of the women took one uncertainly. "Are these things really that powerful?"

"Of course. If you like them, take one each. I have plenty."

I opened my drawer and handed out several unopened ones.

Each of them cost over a thousand dollars. The women were instantly won over.

Not only did they teach me how to speak to the god, but they even warned me that I must never open my eyes, no matter what happened during the night.

I was so excited that I told them my biggest secret.

"The fortune-teller who read my fate said I have an exceptionally fertile body. As long as someone sleeps with me, I’ll surely get pregnant and bear a child."

I lowered my voice and added, "That's why I've never given myself to anyone before. Other than a god, no one deserves a body like mine."

Clack!

The item in one of the women's hands dropped to the floor.

When she noticed me looking at her, she quickly forced a smile.

"That's wonderful. The future of our village depends on you."

…

To be safe, after fasting and bathing as they instructed, I was pinned to the bed for a physical inspection.