The male supporting character was actually myself.

Little did they know that Lian Yunshang had incurred the wrath of heaven and the resentment of the people to repay the life-saving grace, but how much karma would Wen Menglong have to bear for this?

The flooding of Yuntai alone resulted in the deaths and injuries of tens of thousands of people in the border region!

In a world where gratitude is repaid and revenge is sought, wouldn't Wen Menglong be the one to bear the brunt of all the wronged souls and sins after his death? Lian Yunshang, as an immortal mermaid, naturally doesn't need to worry about such things.

The fluffy ball grew angrier as it listened, baring its sharp claws and wagging its fluffy tail, it huffed and puffed out, "I really want to swat that wicked mermaid to death with one claw!"

"Host, how can I help this time?"

Jiang Chen sipped his tea leisurely, shook his head and smiled, "This time I'm the powerful Sea God, so I basically don't need your help with anything. You have other important tasks to undertake..."

He pointed to the sea not far outside the window, its surface rippling like it had been sprinkled with gold, and lowered his voice, saying, "The seabed holds countless shipwrecks and treasures, and those priceless gold and silver jewels are all unclaimed."

I'm still a minor and can't control too much, but I do know the exact locations of many shipwrecks. I'll draw a map for you so you can collect the information and expand our storage area.

"Meow~ This is awesome! I love this mission world!" Upon hearing this, the money-grubbing cat perked up immediately, its deep blue eyes gleaming with golden light, and its two little paws twitching excitedly as it said, "Host, give me the map quickly! I want to move all the gold and silver treasures into my space!"

Oh right, I also need to go treasure hunting, dig for pearls and corals, and catch all kinds of seafood like fish, shrimp, crabs, and clams to expand the food manufacturing machine's warehouse!

Meow meow meow~ I can't wait! I'm confident in the Assassin Cat's abilities; I'm sure I'll find countless treasures!

Jiang Chen used his magic to conjure a map, tapped it to save it in the little white cat's brain, and gave it a large conch shell. "This is a communication tube imbued with magic. You can use it as a cell phone. Remember to stay in touch."

"Yes, sir!" The fluffy little ball saluted, then skipped away, its cheerful voice carried on the wind, "Hahaha... Sunken treasure, here I come..."

Not long after the little white cat ran away, Wen Menglong woke up from his dream again, rubbed his face and couldn't help but smile, "Brother Jiang's technique is truly amazing. This time I had a wonderful and heartwarming dream."

In my dream, I indeed married a gentle and virtuous beauty. I diligently studied medicine and ran a pharmacy. Although we weren't extremely wealthy, we were surrounded by children, living a harmonious and happy life with my sister's family—just the blissful life I had always dreamed of.

After saying that, he smiled a little embarrassedly, "I've seen quite a few magic tricks before, but I've never heard of anything like Brother Jiang's skills."

If my dream of wealth and power could truly come true, I would wish to live a peaceful, smooth, and simple life. It's just a pity that I didn't see the woman in my dream clearly. I only know that she was gentle and charming, but I don't know where she came from..."

Jiang Chen was actually a little envious of him.

Life is so simple here; even when encountering things like magic, if you can't figure it out, you simply don't want to think about it. The protagonist didn't even delve into it; he just accepted the premise. No wonder in the original story, no matter what excuse the female lead gave that seemed unreasonable, Wen Menglong believed her without question.

What a simple, silly child.

Since that's the case, let's save the child and give him a hand!

“Brother Wen is destined to be afflicted by demons, so you’d better not go to the Temple of the Old Man Under the Moon to pray for marriage, lest you be targeted by monsters.” Jiang Chen took out a small amulet from his pocket and handed it over. “This is a talisman I usually carry with me. In critical moments, it can help you conceal your presence and evade the search of demons.”

Wen Menglong was flattered and hurriedly accepted the gift with both hands, saying with a slight hesitation, "I have nothing of value on me when I went out for a trip. Brother Jiang, what am I supposed to do with such a precious gift?"

"You can't say that. I haven't repaid your kindness in helping me find the jade pendant, so this little talisman is nothing. I just heard that Brother Wen dreams of becoming a famous doctor to save lives? I just don't know how to thank you. When I get to Linjiang Prefecture, I will definitely help Brother Wen find a good master!"

"Thank you for your generous help, Brother Jiang. I'll offer you tea instead of wine!"

The two chatted over tea, and after witnessing each other's amazing skills, Wen Menglong admired him even more.

When asked about her background, Jiang Chen slightly modified the female protagonist's words from the original story, saying that she was from out of town and came from a wealthy family, but her parents died and she traveled the world. She had recently settled in Linzhou Prefecture and was taking advantage of the Qingming Festival to enjoy the beautiful scenery of Liuhua Island.

After exchanging birthdays, Jiang Chen deliberately said he was a year older than him, and thus they became sworn brothers by drinking tea instead of wine.

The two spent the afternoon together, enjoying themselves immensely. When it was evening and Jiang Chen was sure that Wen Menglong had fallen asleep, he set up a protective array in his room and then disappeared into the vast sea.

He needs to find the honest clam spirit so that he can go through the proper channels to get justice for himself!

Chapter Seven: The Sea God Takes Charge

The clam spirit was originally one of the hundreds of millions of ordinary sea clams in the ocean.

Without a fortuitous encounter, he would have been like countless other clams, either eaten or dying naturally after a short life. But fate always favors some lucky ones. The clam spirit was accidentally swept into a spiritual pool containing the essence of heaven and earth in the underwater mountains, and he quickly developed intelligence and learned to absorb and exhale spiritual energy to cultivate.

Centuries have passed, and the clam spirit has been able to transform into human form. However, instead of going out to sea to cause trouble, he has become even more diligent in his cultivation. In the sea area he occupies, he often rescues fishermen in distress and helps to control and resist floods, gradually becoming a minor guardian deity.

The gods, grateful for his innate kindness and compassion in saving countless lives, as well as his diligent cultivation in resisting floods and protecting the safety of the human world, bestowed upon him a magic pill that, when swallowed, would grant him five hundred years of magical power.

The clam spirit was flattered and deeply honored by this gift. After receiving it, it was reluctant to swallow it directly. Instead, it first worshipped heaven and earth and thanked the gods. Finally, it wanted to choose an auspicious day to swallow and refine it.

Unexpectedly, just after the sacrifice, before he could even put away the elixir, he was enveloped by the protagonist's halo. He secretly hid to the side, looking for an opportunity, and seized the chance to steal it and swallow it on the spot. Then, with the extra five hundred years of magic power, he easily shook off the angry clam spirit and ran away without a trace.

At this moment, the honest clam spirit was still immersed in the blow and deep sorrow, unable to extricate itself.

He couldn't understand why his reward, which was clearly a reward for hard work, was forcibly stolen.

Moreover, the other party was moving too fast at the time, and I couldn't see clearly what kind of monster it was. I only saw a beautiful face and a graceful figure, which seemed to be a human.

Human cultivators have naturally superior cultivation conditions, far surpassing the starting point of demons like myself who cultivated from animals. Why then do I have to steal elixirs and bully the poor, honest little clam?

"I was so stupid, so incredibly stupid! I only knew that the gods bestowed elixirs as a reward for merit, I had no idea that other cultivators would covet them... I was so stupid..."

The honest clam spirit squatted on a rock on the seabed, carrying a huge clam shell on his back. He stared blankly at the stone platform that used to hold the elixir, but was now empty, and muttered to himself as he turned over in his hands.

Just as he was lamenting his failure to protect his elixir, a sudden undercurrent arose in the seabed, and the swirling sand and stones made him sway and lose his balance.

"Was the elixir bestowed upon you by the Supreme God stolen?" Jiang Chen did not reveal his true form; he was hidden in the undercurrent, only a blurry figure showing. "I am the God of this sea. I sensed that you have a grievance that cannot be redressed, so I have come to lend you a helping hand."

When the sound rang out, the clam spirit already felt a powerful and terrifying pressure.

This is an aura that only a true god with a divine seal can exude. No sea creature or the like can resist the racial pressure emanating from the depths of their soul. Even if the other party does not reveal their identity, he knows that the visitor is definitely a god!

"Greetings, Lord Sea God!" The clam spirit hurriedly knelt down, clasped its hands together, and pleaded sincerely, "Lord Sea God, you are wise enough to grant me a magic pill for my many years of helping fishermen in distress and resisting floods."

The little demon intended to offer sacrifices to Heaven and Earth to thank the gods, and then choose an auspicious day to consume the elixir. Unexpectedly, right after the sacrifices, the elixir was swallowed on the spot and the person escaped! The little demon is truly wronged! Having worked so diligently and conscientiously without seeking any reward, the gods' gift has been stolen! The little demon truly doesn't know what to do, and begs the Sea God to intervene!

Jiang Chen heard him speak with a sob in his voice; it was indeed too tragic.

Does being honest mean you deserve to be bullied by the female lead? They're all demons, so why is Lian Yunshang considered more noble than other demons?

"The one who stole your elixir is Lian Yunshang of the Mermaid Clan. I will guide you to the Mermaid Clan to seek justice from the clan leader and explain the truth. Afterwards, no matter what the other party says, do not linger. I will secretly help you open the barrier and leave the Mermaid World."

After that, I will help you go to the Heavenly Court to seek justice from the gods.

The other party will calculate that you were a fisherman ten lifetimes ago, while Lian Yunshang was a sea fish ten lifetimes ago. When you went out to sea to fish, you caught it in a fishing net and almost killed it, but Lian Yunshang was rescued and released by someone by chance.

The grudge that nearly cost me my life has finally come to fruition; today I will take your elixir to avenge it.

The gods will tell you about this cause and effect. At that time, you should argue with the gods: Fishermen go out to sea to make a living. It is the destiny of fishermen to make a living by fishing. If they do not cast their nets to catch fish, how will they make a living?

Nature is always interconnected, and besides, Lian Yunshang did not die at the hands of the fisherman in her previous life. Instead, the fisherman was persuaded by others and had a kind heart, so he spared her life.

Born as a fish and escaping death, she should be grateful and repay those who saved her. Why then should she harbor resentment towards the fisherman who makes a living by fishing? If all things in the world are subject to this cycle of revenge, how many small fish and shrimp did Yunshang devour in her life as a fish? Her life is her life, but do the lives of other creatures not count?

Ten lifetimes ago, a brief encounter sparked resentment, and it was Lian Yunshang who was at fault first.

The elixir is the reward for your years of painstaking cultivation, saving fishermen, and protecting the peace of this region. We must avenge this defeat!

The clam spirit was overwhelmed with gratitude and knelt to thank the sea god for his help.

Now that the Sea God had taught them how to argue, the honest clam spirit, who was bad at talking, was even more confident. So she got up and followed Jiang Chen's guidance to fly to the deeper parts of the deep sea.

At this moment, Lian Yunshang and Liu Ying were listlessly resting against the gentle waves.

"Ha~" Liu Ying yawned and asked softly, "There shouldn't be any ships passing by this late, right? Ling Po is really something, she can't even calculate the exact time or know which ship it is. But these past two days, does that mean we have to wait again tomorrow?"

Lian Yunshang flicked her fishtail, stretched, and looked at the empty sea. She said helplessly, "There's nothing we can do about it. That's what the Spirit Master said. Since we didn't find it today, let's continue searching tomorrow! There shouldn't be any ships passing by tonight. Let's get some rest so we won't be too tired to do divination tomorrow."

"That's the only way..." Liu Ying submerged into the water, her silvery-white fishtail swaying slowly. She hugged her arms, closed her eyes, and began to sleep.

Lian Yunshang looked up at the soon-to-be-full moon in the sky, clasped her hands together and prayed devoutly that her benefactor could be reincarnated as a handsome young man, and that she would repay his life-saving grace with her body, thus beginning an epic romance between a human and a mermaid...

The deep blue sea is profound and tranquil.

The deeper the clam dives, the more it marvels at the wonder of the ocean.

Even a fairy with centuries of magical power had never been to such a deep sea or seen so many strange creatures. He didn't know how long he flew, but finally he saw a glimmer of "skylight"!

It was a breathtaking scene that is hard to describe in words, as if there was a whole new world deep in the ocean, where there was air, sky, clouds, sun, and birds.

"Once you pass through the barrier, you will arrive in the Mermaid World. Remember to find the chief of the Mermaid Clan and explain this matter to him." Jiang Chen was afraid that he was too honest and would be fooled, so he earnestly instructed him: "The Mermaid Clan may protect their own. Whether they make excuses to avoid investigating this matter or to avoid making things worse and implicating them, they may promise you various treasures to settle the matter. Just remember not to fall for it."

Simply lay out the facts and tell the merfolk chieftain that you've only come to inform him of how to punish those who defy the gods' will. Then, don't be misled by them; leave quickly, and I will secretly help you open the barrier.

The clam spirit took a deep breath, firmly remembering the sea god's instructions, and nodded in reply, "Rest assured, Sea God, I have remembered them all!"

Jiang Chen made a hand seal, opening a small entrance to the barrier between the mermaid world and the human underwater world, and then used his magic to push the clam spirit inside.

Chapter 8 Complaint 1

"Waaaaah..." The clam spirit was pushed into the light by an uncontrollable force, and the honest man who had never seen the world let out a tense and frightened cry.

A moment later, he found himself floating in a strange liquid, and his eyes widened in surprise.

It wasn't air after all!

The "air" in the mermaid world is more like a liquid that is even lighter than water. Looking down from afar, this world also has land, houses, fields, and trees, which is very similar to the human world but completely different.

"What kind of monster dares to trespass on the territory of the Merfolk?!"

As soon as the clam spirit flew in, he heard a stern rebuke. Then he saw a group of male mermaids, armed and dressed in flowing robes, flying over with an air of grandeur and ethereal beauty, surrounding him.

"I am a clam spirit from the sea."

Knowing that the Sea God was secretly helping him, he gained more confidence and steadied himself, saying loudly, "The other day, the High God bestowed upon me a celestial pill, which was stolen and consumed by Lian Yunshang of the Mermaid Clan. I have come to report this matter to the Clan Chief!"

Upon hearing this, the team leader felt that this was not a matter he could decide, and the other party had only described the situation without saying anything excessive. Moreover, the other party was just a minor demon with hundreds of years of cultivation and magical power, so he doubted that the demon would dare to do anything wrong.

So they asked the clam spirit to wait a moment while the leader reported the details to the clan chief.

After many twists and turns, the honest clam spirit finally met the dignified merman chief in the magnificent reception hall of the merman tribe.

He had an amazing golden fishtail, and although he didn't look very old, his well-maintained face was handsome and his eyes were bright and piercing.

After both parties met with the clam spirit and explained their purpose, the merman clan chief Si Zhuo frowned slightly. "How do you know that the thief of the immortal pill is my clansman Lian Yunshang? Have you seen her before? What evidence do you have to prove that what you say is true? This matter is of great importance and cannot be concluded lightly."

"I didn't know Lian Yunshang before, and I didn't even know much about the mermaid race." Fortunately, the Sea God had given her some pointers and instructions, so the clam spirit answered fluently. "But when she snatched my elixir, I saw her appearance and her blue-purple fish tail with its colorful variegated pattern, and that's how I confirmed that she was a mermaid."

After the thief swallowed the elixir, she gained five hundred years of magical power out of thin air. Knowing that I was no match for her, I followed closely behind her. I discovered that she was able to transform her fish tail into legs after swallowing the elixir. She invited a mermaid named Liuying, who had a silver-white fish tail, to go to sea with her.

During this time, I heard Liu Ying call her Lian Yunshang, and I learned from the conversation that the Mermaid World was located.

Originally, I planned to go directly to the gods to seek justice, but after careful consideration, I decided to inform the clan leader first, lest the merfolk be implicated without knowing the details.

Chief Si Zhuo's face was expressionless as he turned and quietly instructed the mermaid beside him to investigate the situation.

A moment later, a subordinate reported that Lian Yunshang and Liu Ying were not in the Mermaid Realm and their whereabouts were currently unknown. However, due to her poor talent and weak cultivation power, she could only cross the barrier but could not transform her fishtail into legs. According to the investigation, at her cultivation speed, she might not be able to completely transform into human form even in another five hundred years.

"Yunshang is not currently in the Mermaid Realm, and it's difficult to know the full picture based solely on your account. Perhaps..."

Having received guidance and treasures from the Sea God, the clam spirit had no intention of lingering any longer. She took out a scroll from her bosom, pressed it to her forehead, and recalled the scene of Lian Yunshang snatching the elixir. Then she handed the scroll over, saying, "This is the memory imprint I left behind, enough to prove everything I said. The clan leader has misunderstood. I came here today only to inform you of this matter, not to demand any attitude from the merfolk."

After all, the elixir was a gift from the gods, and since it was stolen, I naturally must explain the situation to them and seek justice. Farewell, clan leader. Thank you for the fragrant tea and hospitality.”