Chapter 448: Forced Matchmaking

After coming down from the mountain, Qin Tuo planned to return to Kunfeng City first.

After all, he had promised Zeng Changkong he would protect Zeng Kemeng and, in the process, help her resolve the calamity in her destiny.

It seemed that this ordeal had now been overcome, so it was time for Qin Tuo to safely escort Zeng Kemeng back to the Zeng Family.

Upon arriving in Kunfeng City, Sun Haicheng was in a hurry to return to the Capital City to report on his mission, so he bid a temporary farewell to Qin Tuo.

"Mr. Qin, until we meet again!"

Sun Haicheng bowed deeply to Qin Tuo. The members of the General Security Pavilion each took one last, long look at Qin Tuo before turning to leave.

Qin Tuo had left a profound impression on them, and they would never forget what they had witnessed while carrying out their mission.

Just then, Zhu Zifeng suddenly spoke up, a little puzzled.

"Huh, Miss Zeng, why do you seem so unhappy?"

Zeng Kemeng’s face was indeed sullen, and she hadn’t said a word. She was like a completely different person from the lively, curious girl she had been before.

Seeing that Zeng Kemeng had no intention of explaining, Zhu Zifeng didn’t press the matter.

Before long, Qin Tuo and the others arrived back at the Zeng Family’s home.

When Zeng Changkong learned that Qin Tuo and his group had returned, he was overjoyed and rushed to the main hall.

The moment he saw his precious daughter, Zeng Changkong was so moved he nearly burst into tears on the spot.

Seeing Zeng Kemeng safe and sound, he knew that Qin Tuo had indeed fulfilled his promise to protect his daughter.

Moreover, he had also managed to resolve her deadly calamity.

However, before Zeng Changkong could even speak, Zeng Kemeng strode forward, her face filled with anger, and demanded:

"Dad, why did you hide so much from me?"

Zeng Kemeng had been bottling this up for a long time. If it hadn’t been for this trip to the Blood Moon Pavilion, she would have never known her father had a secret identity.

But in her entire life, Zeng Changkong had never said a word about any of it.

Zeng Changkong was taken aback for a moment, then he gave a wry smile and shook his head.

"My dear daughter, so you’ve found out. But the only reason I didn’t tell you was for your own good. You should try to understand my difficult position!"

Zeng Kemeng clenched her jaw, tears welling up in her eyes.

Of course, she knew that, but she was still furious in the moment.

Looking at his daughter’s face up close, Zeng Changkong saw that the ominous cloud that had faintly hovered over her had indeed dissipated completely with Yan Hongliang’s death.

And thanks to Qin Tuo’s intervention, Zeng Kemeng’s destiny had been completely altered.

Gazing at Qin Tuo, who stood to the side, Zeng Changkong felt a debt of gratitude he could never repay.

He walked over to Qin Tuo, preparing to give a deep bow.

"Mr. Qin, I, Zeng Changkong, can never repay this incredible debt of gratitude!"

Zeng Changkong bent at the waist for a deep bow, but Qin Tuo immediately caught his arms, preventing him from completing the gesture.

"Mr. Zeng, I was simply fulfilling my promise. There’s no need for this."

Qin Tuo said calmly.

Zeng Changkong nodded, then said to the others in the room,

"Please, all of you leave us. I need to have a private word with Mr. Qin."

After Zeng Kemeng and the others had left the hall, Zeng Changkong very carefully pulled a brand-new book from within his robes and presented it to Qin Tuo.

"Mr. Zeng, what is this?"

Qin Tuo looked at the book’s cover, his curiosity piqued.

Zeng Changkong smiled and said,

"Mr. Qin, this is the Face Reading Technique I promised you. I stayed up all night to write it out by hand myself. Now, I am entrusting it to you for safekeeping."

Qin Tuo looked at the brand-new copy of the Face Reading Technique in his hands, knowing that Zeng Changkong must have poured immense effort into recreating it.

This was the very thing Yan Hongliang had painstakingly schemed to obtain, only for his efforts to amount to nothing—and for him to lose his life in the process.

Yet, Qin Tuo’s first instinct was to refuse. He felt that this was a treasure passed down through the Zeng Family’s lineage, and it wasn’t right for him, an outsider, to accept it so rashly.

"Mr. Zeng, this book is far too valuable. I cannot accept it."

Qin Tuo politely declined.

Zeng Changkong, however, would not hear of it. He insisted,

"Mr. Qin, the Face Reading Technique can only be carried on in your hands. I believe you know this better than I."

Looking into Zeng Changkong’s earnest eyes, Qin Tuo shook his head with a feeling of helplessness.

In the end, he couldn’t refuse his persistence and could only accept the book for the time being.

Seeing Qin Tuo finally accept the Face Reading Technique, Zeng Changkong was completely satisfied.

Suddenly, Zeng Changkong’s tone became heavy with a world-weary sigh as he said,

"Mr. Qin, did you know? I have long sensed that my time is short. I have three days left to live, at most..."

Hearing this, a wave of sadness inexplicably washed over Qin Tuo.

But Qin Tuo also sensed a deeper meaning in Zeng Changkong’s words. He knew the man wasn’t telling him this for no reason; he must have a final request.

"Mr. Zeng, if you have something to say, please just say it."

Qin Tuo said calmly.

Zeng Changkong nodded and gave an embarrassed smile.

"You truly are an intelligent man, Mr. Qin. I do indeed have a favor to ask of you."

Qin Tuo said nothing, simply watching Zeng Changkong and waiting for him to continue.

Zeng Changkong took a deep breath, gathered his courage, and said,

"Mr. Qin, I see that you are currently single. Therefore, I would like to entrust my daughter, Kemeng, to you. What do you say?"

Hearing this, Qin Tuo’s expression changed in shock, and he quickly waved his hands in refusal.

"Mr. Zeng, it’s no use talking to me about this. You should be talking to Zhu Zifeng. Miss Zeng is fond of the Zhu Family’s young master."

How could Qin Tuo have failed to notice? The relationship between Zhu Zifeng and Zeng Kemeng had been heating up considerably over the past few days.

Besides, Qin Tuo had no romantic feelings for Zeng Kemeng whatsoever; he only saw her as a friend.

Furthermore, Qin Tuo already had Chen Man Ni. How could he possibly go chasing after other women?

However, Zeng Changkong seemed to have anticipated this response. He slowly shook his head, his expression turning serious as he said,

"Mr. Qin, the two of them are not fated to be together. They will not end up together. If you were to have a matrimonial bond with my child, Kemeng, then I could die with no regrets."

Qin Tuo looked utterly helpless and gave a wry smile.

"But Mr. Zeng, your matchmaking is pointless. I already have a girlfriend."

A look of stunned disbelief crossed Zeng Changkong’s face, quickly followed by a deep sense of disappointment.

He could tell from his face reading that Qin Tuo was not married, but he had no way of knowing that Qin Tuo was, in fact, already spoken for.

In the end, seeing how resolute Qin Tuo was, Zeng Changkong couldn’t press the issue any further.

His face filled with regret and sorrow, he could only shake his head and sigh.