After traveling through the book, I conquered the male protagonist Long Aotian!

"We have a clue. Liu Erniu's daughter will be married in three days. If that's the case, we just need to find Liu Erniu's home and apply to be his daughter's guard when she gets married. By then, if the ghost cultivators attack, we can catch them all in one fell swoop."

Gu Qingze moved slightly closer to Chu Lingxiao and gently patted Chu Lingxiao's shoulder. After Chu Lingxiao's attention slowly focused on him, Gu Qingze used his spiritual power to transmit his voice.

"I hope it's that simple." Chu Lingxiao's words rang out slowly, with an elusive emotion in his tone. It was hard to tell whether it was a sigh or a simple wish for the operation to go smoothly.

"Yeah." Gu Qingze nodded slightly.

After some inquiries and searching everywhere in Cangyun City, they soon found the location of Liu Erniu's home.

Liu Erniu's home is quietly located at the end of a narrow and dim alley.

The crumbling wooden door seemed like it would fall apart at any moment. The paint on the door had long since peeled off, revealing mottled wood grain that crisscrossed and looked a little weathered.

Walking into the yard, the ground was bumpy, full of stagnant water and mud. The turbid water was like an uneven mirror, reflecting the sky.

The clouds in the sky twisted and distorted in the stagnant water, as if telling of the family's plight.

There are some worn-out farm tools piled up in the corner. They are covered with rust, as if they are relics forgotten by time. They lie there quietly, exuding the breath of time, and it seems that they have not been used for a long time.

The house was made of simple mud and stones, and the walls were covered with cracks. Those cracks were like scars on the earth. The wind blew in through the gaps, making a humming sound, like plaintive crying.

The sound echoed in the silent air, causing an inexplicable sadness in people's hearts.

The thatch on the roof has become sparse, and you can even see the sunlight filtering through in some places.

At this time, Liu Erniu was sharpening a knife in the yard. The knife was flashing coldly in the sun. Seeing two strangers coming to his house, he hurriedly clenched the knife in his hand and walked towards them with a vigilant look on his face.

"Who are you and what are you doing here?" Liu Erniu's voice was hoarse and nervous, and his eyes were full of vigilance.

After Gu Qingze and Chu Lingxiao briefly explained their purpose, Liu Erniu relaxed his guard and immediately showed a look of gratitude on his face.

"So you are immortals. It's great that you are willing to protect my daughter."

His voice trembled, like a flame swaying in the wind, and there was a hint of hope in his eyes.

Gu Qingze asked doubtfully, "Will you stop doubting us for a while?"

Liu Erniu shook his head and said sincerely: "I don't have any plans, and if the two immortals really wanted to plan, they would have stopped talking to me long ago."

His eyes and words were full of sincerity, like clear spring water, allowing people to see his inner simplicity at a glance.

"I just ask you to protect my daughter. If it's not necessary, I don't want my daughter to take risks. After all, she is the child I have raised for so many years. Who doesn't have feelings for a child?"

Liu Erniu wiped his tears as he spoke, and his rough hands wiped away the tears, as if he was soothing the pain in his heart.

His face was full of helplessness and sadness, and he seemed really worried about his daughter.

Gu Qingze couldn't help but speak: "What you mean by being forced to do so is it for the bride price for your son to marry a wife?" There was a hint of doubt in his eyes.

"What? Who are you listening to?" Liu Erniu was at a loss, with a look of surprise and grievance on his face. "I wouldn't sell my daughter for the sake of my son."

"It was the one who wanted to collect protection money recently. I really don't have money. I have been in arrears for a year. They said that if I don't pay, I will be hacked to death. My daughter felt sorry for me, so she agreed to the request from Mr. Zhao who had been pursuing her before..."

"To be honest, Mr. Zhao treats my daughter badly and is frivolous. If she marries him, my daughter will only be a concubine and will definitely suffer. But for the sake of our family..."

Liu Erniu wiped his tears as he spoke. His sad expression was very moving. His tears were like beads that had broken off the string, falling continuously.

Gu Qingze subconsciously looked at Chu Lingxiao, and Chu Lingxiao immediately understood what he meant. Qingze was asking him for confirmation:

"Liu Erniu is telling the truth. I can tell that what we heard on the road is probably a rumor."

Seeing this, Liu Erniu immediately expressed his true feelings: "How could I possibly deceive an immortal? I'm not a fool."

His eyes were full of eagerness and sincerity, as if he was trying to prove his innocence.

"Fairies, please come and sit in my room. I will thank you."

Liu Erniu made a "please" gesture, which was full of respect and gratitude. They couldn't refuse, so they followed Liu Erniu into the house.

When I walked into the house, the light was dim and there was a damp and moldy smell in the air. That smell was like a heavy yoke, making people feel depressed.

There was very little furniture, just a worn-out wooden table and a few stools with missing parts.

The wooden table seemed to have gone through countless years, the scratches on it were like wrinkles of time, a few stools were tilted here and there, and there were a few chipped bowls and plates on the table.

The bedding on the bed had been washed so much that it had turned white, with patches all over it, and it was almost impossible to see its original color.

The paper pasted on the windows was already in tatters and rustled when the wind blew.

There is not a single decent decoration in the whole house. Only the hardships and helplessness of life are deposited here. The hardships are like heavy stones, pressing on the hearts of the people here.

However, Gu Qingze and Chu Lingxiao looked calm as everyone has self-esteem.

They knew that they should not show any strange expressions at this moment. If they showed shock, pity or any other expressions, even if Liu Erniu did not say it on his face, he would always feel uncomfortable in his heart.

Just then, Liu Erniu's daughter just came back from picking wild vegetables outside. When she appeared at the door, she looked a little tired and uneasy.

She was extremely pretty. Although she was wearing simple clothes whose color had faded and looked a little old, it could not conceal her elegant and refined face.

Her eyebrows were like distant ink, and when they were slightly frowned, there was a hint of sadness, like a green mountain shrouded in clouds and mist, which made people feel a trace of pity.

Her eyes were like autumn water, clear and bright, and under her small nose, her cherry-like lips were red without any makeup.

Even in this poor environment, her beauty is like a flower blooming in the wilderness, exuding a unique charm.

"Dad, who are these two?" She looked at Gu Qingze and Chu Lingxiao and asked puzzledly. Her voice was clear and pleasant, like a clear spring flowing in the mountains.

Liu Erniu quickly introduced: "My girl, these two are immortals. They heard about our family's affairs and are willing to protect you when you get married."

Liu Erniu's voice was full of gratitude and hope.

The girl showed a look of surprise on her face, which was like fireworks blooming in the night sky, instantly illuminating her face, and then a look of gratitude emerged. "Thank you, two immortals." She bowed slightly.

Gu Qingze looked at the girl and said gently, "You're welcome. We will do our best to protect you."

His eyes were full of tenderness and determination, as if he was making a promise to the girl.

Chu Lingxiao also nodded and said, "Don't worry, we are here and nothing will happen to you."

The girl bit her lip and said, "Immortal, I know this is dangerous, but I am doing this for my father... I don't want him to be bullied by those people again."

Gu Qingze sighed and said, "You are very brave and filial. Please believe us, we will definitely solve this problem." His voice was full of encouragement and comfort.

Liu Erniu looked at his daughter with heartache in his eyes. "My daughter, it's all your fault. You have suffered so much." His voice was full of guilt and self-blame.

The girl shook her head and said, "Dad, this is not your fault. I volunteered. My mother passed away when I was a child. You have been raising my brother and me for so many years. Now it's time to repay you for your kindness."

"And my brother, after using my betrothal gift to pay off his debts, there will be some money left, which is just enough to help my brother find a wife, so that he can also start a family and have someone to take care of him."