He opened his mouth, but didn't know how to defend himself.

But he felt he had been disguising himself quite well, so how could he have been discovered?

Seeing his silence, Zhuang Wuxia became even angrier.

She raised her hand and slapped Jing Shen hard across the face. With a crisp "smack," Jing Shen's cheek instantly swelled up.

"You dare to do it but not admit it, you're not a man!" Zhuang Wuxia said through gritted teeth, tears welling up in her eyes.

Jing Shen was somewhat stunned by the slap.

He touched his burning cheek, a complex expression flashing in his eyes.

Whether he was stunned by the beating or did it on purpose, he inexplicably said, "Why don't you try it and you'll see?"

As soon as he said those words, Jing Shen regretted them.

He saw a flash of surprise in Zhuang Wuxia's eyes, which was then ignited with an even more intense rage.

"You..." Zhuang Wuxia trembled with anger and was speechless for a moment.

Just as tensions were about to rise, the manor lord's voice rang out: "Enough! The manor is in imminent danger, and you still have the mind to argue? Wuxia, go and prepare for defense. Shenjing, come with me."

Zhuang Wuxia glared at Jing Shen fiercely, then turned and left.

Jing Shen watched her retreating figure, his heart filled with mixed emotions.

After Zhuang Wuxia left, the manor lord stared intently at Shen Jing, his eyes revealing a sharp glint.

He slowly spoke: "What is your purpose in entering my manor in disguise?"

Shen Jing felt a little uncomfortable under that sharp gaze, but he quickly adjusted his mindset.

Now that his identity has been exposed, he has no intention of hiding anything anymore.

Shen Jing took a deep breath and said frankly, "Master, my real name is Jing Shen."

Upon hearing this, the manor lord raised an eyebrow slightly, but did not show much surprise.

Seeing this, Shen Jing continued to explain, "The reason I concealed my identity was simply to find out the origin of your black jade pendant, Master."

At this point, Jing Shen's gaze unconsciously drifted towards the manor lord's chest.

Upon hearing this, the manor lord was slightly taken aback.

He clearly hadn't expected Shen Jing to be so candid.

After a moment of silence, the manor lord slowly spoke: "This black jade pendant was something I carried with me when I left the Demonic Sect. To be honest, I was once a member of the Demonic Sect."

As he said this, a complex look flashed in the manor lord's eyes.

It was a recollection of the past, and also a sense of helplessness regarding one's former identity.

Shen Jing was greatly shocked upon hearing this.

He never expected that this seemingly upright manor lord had such an unknown past.

Just as Shen Jing was still processing this information, the manor lord suddenly changed the subject: "I'm telling you the truth because my daughter, Zhuang Wuxia, really likes you, and I hope you won't let her down."

The manor lord's tone softened, and his eyes revealed a father's concern for his daughter: "I want to ask, do you have feelings for my daughter?"

The question came so suddenly that Shen Jing was momentarily speechless.

He lowered his head and pondered for a moment before admitting frankly, "At first, I did dislike Zhuang Wuxia. But as time went by, I gradually developed feelings for her, and it's not that I don't like her."

As he said this, a complex expression appeared on Shen Jing's face.

He recalled the moments he had spent with Zhuang Wuxia, and a warm feeling welled up in his heart.

Although Zhuang Wuxia is sometimes willful and domineering, her enthusiasm and sincerity are undeniable.

The manor owner breathed a sigh of relief after hearing this.

His expression softened, and the corners of his mouth even turned up slightly: "In that case, I'm relieved."

The manor owner then said, "If you are willing to stay, I will absolutely not hold it against you for concealing your identity."

A hint of expectation flashed in his eyes, and his voice carried a touch of sincerity: "Jing Shen, although your origins are unknown, I can see that you are an upright person. If you are willing to stay, you can not only be with Wu Xia, but also be a great help to our manor."

Upon hearing this, Shen Jing looked troubled.

He took a deep breath and said frankly, "Master, I am deeply grateful. However, I am not a person of this world, and I will have to return sooner or later."

"I come from another world, and I came here by chance. Although I have met many wonderful people and things here, it is not my final destination."

The manor owner was slightly taken aback upon hearing this, but quickly regained his composure.

He pondered for a moment, then slowly said, "Since that's the case, I won't force you. This is your own choice, so consider it carefully. Whatever your final decision, I will respect it."

Shen Jing bowed deeply to the manor lord, then turned and left the study.

As soon as he opened the door, he saw Zhuang Wuxia pacing anxiously back and forth outside.

Her brows were furrowed, and her hands were constantly twisting together.

Upon seeing Shen Jing emerge, Zhuang Wuxia immediately rushed forward, angrily wanting to hit him.

"You liar!" she shouted, waving her small fists.

Shen Jing nimbly dodged, and said irritably, "Hey, can you stop touching me all the time?"

Zhuang Wuxia became even more furious when he saw him avoid her.

She glared angrily at Shen Jing, then suddenly her eyes reddened, and she shouted, "I want you to stay! I like you!"

After saying that, she suddenly pounced on him and hugged Shen Jing tightly.

This sudden confession left Shen Jing stunned.

He could feel Zhuang Wuxia trembling slightly against his body, and he could hear her suppressed sobs.

For a moment, Shen Jing's heart was filled with tremendous turmoil.

He recalled every moment he spent with Zhuang Wuxia, her passion, her persistence, and her pure affection.

At the same time, his origins came to mind.

Two completely different emotions collided fiercely in his heart, plunging him into an unprecedented dilemma.

After a long while, Shen Jing gently patted Zhuang Wuxia's back and said softly, "Wuxia, I'm sorry, I hurt you."

Zhuang Wuxia looked up at him with teary eyes and asked softly, "Then...would you like to stay?"

Shen Jing looked into her expectant eyes and her heart softened.

He said slowly, "Alright, I promise you, I will stay."

As he said this, his eyes held both determination and a hint of barely perceptible confusion.

Upon hearing this, Zhuang Wuxia immediately stopped crying and burst into laughter, hugging Shen Jing tightly and weeping with joy.

Shen Jing gently hugged her back, needing to tell Xiao Feng that she had become attached to this world and didn't plan to leave for the time being.

Although he didn't know if this decision was right or wrong, at this moment he just wanted to cherish this hard-won relationship.

Wu Hai stood imposingly before the assembled Ming Cult army, clad in a long black robe, his eyes blazing, exuding a powerful aura.

His gaze swept over the thousands of soldiers before him, and every soldier involuntarily straightened their backs.

Just then, Wu Hai's trusted confidant approached with a fawning expression, bowing and scraping, and said with a smile, "Vice Master, you must tell everyone about your ambitious plans to attack Bijian Manor, to boost the morale of the brothers!"