Chapter 115 (3): Forced Marriage

"Pope Yin is right," Mu Linyuan chimed in in agreement. "It may sound harsh, but it's what's best for you, so you have to take this advice to heart. Pope Yin is only willing to give her a chance at all because she's your maidservant. Had it been someone else in your place, she would most likely already be dead by now. Pope Yin is saying all of this for your sake! Don't take this kindness for granted!"

"Even if we set aside everything else, it's about time that you settled down and had some children," Hou Fang said. "The world is a very dangerous place, particularly for someone in your position. If you had a child, that would at least serve as a form of insurance policy. If something were to happen to you, we would raise the child for you so at least your bloodline can be passed down."

Yin Shengong gave Hou Fang a displeased glare, clearly disgruntled by the latter's assertion that something could happen to Fang Che.

However, he then turned to Fang Che and said, "Elder Hou could've been a bit more tactful with his words, but he's right. Whenever we do something, we strive to aim for the best-possible outcome, but we also have to constantly be prepared for the worst. To tell you the truth, an important reason behind why I hold you in such high regard is that I don't have any children, so there is no one that can continue my lineage.

“This is why we're encouraging you to take a concubine. Under different circumstances, your only option would be to kill her, and the only reason why I'm even giving you an alternative is because I'm raising you as my disciple and successor. Whether it be in a sect or an empire, producing an heir is the key to maintaining power and lineage! If a ruler has no son, then the entire empire is in a state of instability, and the same applies to our One Heart Church!

“If you have a son, then the line of succession of our One Heart Church will become clear for at least two more generations!"

These words were truly coming from the bottom of Yin Shengong's heart, and Fang Che could clearly feel his sincerity.

Even the three elders were moved by Yin Shengong's candid words.

"You are my disciple, and I want you to take over for me someday as the pope of the One Heart Church, but you also have to think for the future. Are we supposed to hand over the One Heart Church to someone else after toiling away for two generations? If you have no heir, the main church will send someone to take your place once it's your time to retire. Even if that's an acceptable outcome to you, it's completely unacceptable to me!

“Right now, you have a maidservant, someone that you know well, so it only makes sense that you make her your concubine. It makes even more sense when you consider her aptitude for cultivation. Any child that you have with her will surely also be cut out for warriorhood, and this could easily be the beginning of a dynasty spanning countless generations! So what do you say?"

Even though Yin Shengong was posing a question at the end, it was clear that Fang Che had no choice in the matter.

A wry smile appeared on his face as he said, "This all feels too sudden, Master. Can I think about it first?"

"What do you take me for, a matchmaker?" Yin Shengong snapped. "Let this be an ultimatum to you: either you take her as your concubine today, or she will die by my hands tonight!"

"What are you hesitating for?" Mu Linyuan asked in a frustrated voice. "Do you think Pope Yin is trying to plot against you? All of us have only your best interests in mind!"

Fang Che naturally couldn't reveal the reason for his hesitance.

If Ye Meng really were just an ordinary maidservant, then he would have no qualms taking her as his concubine, but that was clearly not the case!

"I'm not hesitating, I'm just... It just feels too sudden, and I feel..."

"What do you feel?"

"I feel a little embarrassed," Fang Che replied with a bashful expression. "I just never thought I'd find a wife so soon."

Yin Shengong erupted into laughter.

"What're you getting embarrassed for? She's just going to be a concubine."

"Both of you are at the right age, there's nothing to be embarrassed about," Mu Linyuan said.

"It's decided then!" Yin Shengong declared. "You three, go and buy some wedding stuff. The wedding is happening tonight!"

"Tonight?!" Fang Che exclaimed. "We haven't even told Ye Meng yet!"

"So what? It's not like she has a say in this anyway," Yin Shengong harrumphed. "I'll break the news to her, and that'll be that. What are the three of you still doing here? Hurry up and go!"

The three elders immediately rushed excitedly out of the room, and as they passed by Ye Meng in the courtyard, the three of them eagerly looked her up and down as if they were appraising their daughter-in-law, leaving Ye Meng utterly perplexed.

Right after the three elders departed, she was called into the guest hall by Yin Shengong.

Ye Meng entered the guest hall with an innocent and befuddled expression.

"What can I do for you, Master?"

𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

"I have decided that you and Fang Che will be getting married this afternoon. You will only be a concubine for now, but your status could be elevated in the future once you give birth to a child or two. What do you say?"

"M... Married?!"

Ye Meng was rendered speechless by this abrupt bombshell.

"I... What..."

Her face instantly turned bright red with embarrassment.

"If you don't agree to marry him, then I'll kill you right now. What do you say?"

"Master..." Fang Che groaned with a sullen expression.

"Shush!" Yin Shengong snapped.

Ye Meng was too stunned to speak. Never had she imagined that this would be how she was asked for her hand in marriage.

She had fantasized about the day of her marriage, and she had also grown quite fond of Fang Che during their time together, but he was a demonic church member!

Even though Yin Shengong had never openly revealed his identity to her, the fact that Fang Che referred to him as master told her all she needed to know, and she had no doubt that his threat was sincere.

She still had to carry out her mission, so she couldn't die now. For the sake of the continent, she would just have to sacrifice her purity.

With that in mind, she lowered her head and said, "I am, of course, willing. I only fear that Young Master Fang won't want me."

"Do you want her or not?" Yin Shengong asked as he turned to Fang Che. "If not, then I'll kill her right now!"

"Yes, I want her!" Fang Che hurriedly replied while nodding vigorously.

"There!" Yin Shengong declared with a benevolent smile. "Your feelings for each other are mutual!"

Fang Che and Ye Meng were both hanging their heads, their complexions beetroot-red.

However, Fang Che had to admit that he was secretly delighted with this outcome.

As for Ye Meng, she was so embarrassed that she could barely breathe, and even her neck had turned bright red.

She was repeatedly telling herself that she was being forced into this, that she was sacrificing herself for the greater good, but in reality, she was also unable to deny her joy at this outcome.

"You young people are always too embarrassed to make the first move," Yin Shengong harrumphed. "Sometimes, all you need is a slight push, and everything else comes naturally. You can go back to your room to get prepared. You're going to be a bride tonight. I know you're very excited."

Ye Meng just about sprinted out of the room, while Fang Che sat in an uneasy fashion, his face still flushed a deep red.

Fang Che cleared his throat, and Yin Shengong turned to glance at him out of the corner of his eye.

Fang Che cleared his throat again and was met with another side-eye glance.

Fang Che cleared his throat again, as if there were some trapped phlegm that he was struggling to expel.

"What're you coughing for?" Yin Shengong asked.

Fang Che didn't know what to say, and he was sweating profusely.

"You're over the moon right now, aren't you?" Yin Shengong asked with an amused expression.

"A little..." Fang Che admitted in a sheepish manner.

Yin Shengong erupted into laughter, and he looked even happier than when the One Heart Church was promoted to a second-rank church.

"Hurry up and have a few children for me to play around with," he urged.

"I can't just make babies overnight, Master," Fang Che said with an awkward expression.

"Make it quick!" Yin Shengong urged. "Once you have children, you'll cherish your own life more."

"Right now, our One Heart Church is facing peril from all directions, and the fallout from the Parasite Ascension Project is still far from over. I'm worried that if I start a family now, I wouldn't be able to live up to the high hopes that you have for me."

"Right now, my highest hopes are for you to get married and have a child," Yin Shengong sighed. "Only after starting a family will you learn to value your life, and you'll be more careful and cautious. You look like a smart kid, but you're just about the most reckless person I've ever seen! You're lucky that things have worked out for you so far, but if you keep living life on the edge, it'll eventually catch up to you.

“Besides, our One Heart Church has so many members. Even if Night Demon slacks off every once in a while, our church will do just fine. Otherwise, how did we survive before you joined us? Don't overestimate your own importance!"

"Yes, Master. Also, there's something that I want to ask you."

"What is it?"

"Why are you in such a hurry for me to get married? I understand why you want me to get married and have children, but why did it have to happen in such a hurry?"