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"Wei Qiuxi said, 'That foolish child Qiqi has truly gone too far. You were almost crushed by that group from Dragon Tiger Mountain. If it weren't for Qiqi begging Peng Bai and offering herself as the Fallen Flower Cave Maiden in exchange...'
'The Fallen Flower Cave Maiden?!' Wei Ning, who had lived in Miao Village for so long, knew exactly what that title meant. She grabbed Wei Qiuxi's shoulders and shook him violently, her eyes nearly bleeding with anguish as she cried out, 'Grandfather, you mean Qiqi is going to become the Fallen Flower Cave Maiden?!'
Wei Qiuxi sighed and replied, 'Oh, foolish child. With how they treated you, what do you think you can offer them in return for such a huge favor?'
The title of Fallen Flower Cave Maiden is the highest honor among Miao women, akin to a saint in Western religions—a symbol of purity. However, Wei Ning's extreme reaction stemmed from the fact that while the status is exalted, it is also the most tragic punishment for a woman.
According to legend, the Fallen Flower Cave Maiden must marry the totem known as the Spirit of the Cave in Miao Region. Before a Cave Woman marries the Spirit of the Cave, she must refrain from eating or drinking and cry continuously until she can weep leaves from the trees. Only then does she have the chance to unite with the Spirit of the Cave. Once a Cave Woman decides to marry the Spirit of the Cave, a grand wedding ceremony must be held, organized by the three Old Priests of Miao Region. One of these priests, Peng Bai, has been absent from many recent ceremonies for various reasons.
After entering her prepared 'bridal chamber,' the Miao people cease to provide food for her; instead, she must rely on her own demise within. At this point, her expression becomes entranced as she survives solely on well water and creatures like mice and cockroaches. Generally, a Cave Woman does not live beyond three to five years; however, some manage to survive ten years or even longer—like the last Cave Woman who lived in the cave for over twenty years.
It is said that when a Cave Woman dies, she appears serene and beautiful, her body untouched by decay. Her complexion glows like peach blossoms, her eyes shine like stars—she is incredibly lovely and exudes a unique fragrance. The Miao people believe that this signifies she has been taken away by the Spirit of the Cave to live a good life elsewhere.
Of course, there are also those Cave Women who cannot endure such an inhumane existence and escape while the Miao people are unprepared. These women are hunted down by all Miao people for betraying the Spirit of the Cave. Such a Cave Woman would be stripped naked and paraded through the streets before being humiliated and burned alive.
Thus, it is understandable why Wei Ning reacted so strongly upon hearing that Qiqi would become the next Cave Woman.
Qiqi was sacrificing her life for herself. If Wei Ning couldn't save her in time—was she still even human? Her emotions surged within her, making it hard to calm down.
The next day, Wei Ning parted ways with Wei Qiuxi and rushed toward Miao Village. His words still echoed in her ears: 'I came to tell you this news; what you do next is up to you. We cannot interfere. But Qiqi has sacrificed too much for our Wei Family; you must not let her down under any circumstances. I hope to see Qiqi become my Wei Family's daughter-in-law. However, if something goes wrong, you must return within a month. I will be waiting at Wei Family Ancestral Tomb; we have more important matters to attend to.'
Wei Ning traveled swiftly through the night and continued running until she finally arrived at the ancient Miao Village nestled in the mountains by the afternoon of the second day. This village was the largest in Xiangxi and was isolated from the world; its inhabitants lived self-sufficient agricultural lives, with even government offices located ten miles away in town."
Here, it was almost entirely an anarchic state, where the greatest ruler was the Old Priest, the most experienced and senior among the three Old Priests—Monkey Fei.
From a distance, Miao Village nestled against the mountains and rivers, with smoke curling up from cooking fires, resembling a paradise. At this moment, Wei Ning had no leisure to admire such beauty. Wiping the sweat from his face, he followed the waterway and called for a ferryboat to enter the village.
At this time, there was no road into Miao Village; the only way in was by this boat. The ferryman was an old man in his fifties, looking honest and simple. Upon seeing Wei Ning, he broke into a hearty smile and spoke in clumsy Mandarin, "You must be an outsider. The Monkey family’s Miao Village hasn’t seen any visitors for nearly three months. I was just about to finish my work when I found out there were more people coming. I didn’t know why until yesterday; it turns out they are changing the Cave Woman. No wonder Meng Ge the Elder has come. It’s a pity that Peng Bai Laosi is missing. If all three Old Priests gathered, Miao Village would truly be lively. But that Peng Bai Laosi is a strange person; I’ve heard he hasn’t left that terrifying place for decades. By the way, brother, you’re not here to see the Spirit of the Cave get married, are you?"
Wei Ning was anxious and initially didn’t want to engage with the ferryman. Suddenly, he felt a stir in his heart and asked, "Old man, do you know who this year's Cave Woman is?"
The ferryman shook his head and replied, "I’m just a ferryman; how would I know so much? But I’ve heard that this year’s Cave Woman was recommended by Peng Bai Laosi. However, those who have seen her only say she wears a long black robe; no one has seen her true face."
Wei Ning felt a sense of loss wash over him. He thought to himself: If Peng Bai recommended her, it must be Qiqi. Oh Peng Bai, how cruel you are! Qiqi merely saved me and cursed you with the Cat Curse; how can you hold such a grudge and recommend her as that damned Cave Woman? At that time, Qiqi must have spared you out of consideration for your master-disciple bond; I should have cursed you to death then.
Wei Ning did not know about the deal between Qiqi and Peng Bai; he believed Qiqi had acted to save him last time. However, he realized that if Peng Bai were truly dead, he might not be able to "revive" either. Everything was cause and effect; Wei Ning sighed deeply, feeling even more guilty towards Qiqi.
Wei Ning asked again, "Has the Spirit of the Cave's wedding started yet?"
The ferryman chuckled as he pushed off with his bamboo pole, causing the boat to swiftly move upstream against the current. "It’s about to start! There are still three left; make sure you watch closely!"
Wei Ning breathed a sigh of relief and thought to himself: "Good, there's still time."
Once the boat reached shore and Wei Ning paid his fare, he hurried into Miao Village. He saw that Miao Village was already adorned with lanterns and festive decorations, filled with an atmosphere of joy. Yet to Wei Ning's eyes, everything seemed like ominous symbols of death. His heart felt increasingly troubled.
At that moment, someone patted him on the back from behind while holding a bowl of Glutinous Rice Wine and cheerfully said, "Welcome! You’ve come from afar; are you thirsty? Would you like to try my homemade Glutinous Rice Wine to quench your thirst?"
Wei Ning turned her head and saw a girl dressed in Miao attire, her eyes sparkling mischievously as she looked at her, holding a bowl of Glutinous Rice Wine just inches from Wei Ning's nose.
Wei Ning frowned and said, "What are you doing here? Are you my sister or my brother?"
The girl in Miao clothing laughed heartily, "Haha, you caught me again! This is no fun at all. Do you think I look good in this outfit?" She twirled around Wei Ning, showcasing the jingling accessories of her Miao Tribe attire.
This girl was none other than the Phoenix Maiden, whom Wei Ning had met once before. However, judging by her expression, it was likely that this was her mischievous and wicked younger sister, Qing, in disguise.
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