The male supporting character was actually myself.

The underworld official sighed inwardly; in fact, he had noticed the other party the moment he appeared on the street.

As the head of the Dujiang Yin Realm headquarters, he was indeed quite capable. For example, he could tell at a glance whether a ghost was good or evil in its past life. But today, he was a little unsure about the ghost he encountered.

Although all that could be seen were acts of kindness, Murong Jiangchen bore the glaring mark of the highest level of suppression. Anyone who used such a spell to expel or suppress was a heinous and wicked villain.

Contradictory to his own abilities, and not being omniscient, the underworld official was unsure of the situation and decided to investigate further.

He was upright and had no malicious intent, so how could he have been subjected to such a severe punishment?

"I see you're not very old, you're still a new ghost. How long have you been in the ghost market?" The underworld steward simply sat down opposite Jiang Chen with a teapot and teacups and asked seriously.

As the person in charge, he was fully responsible for the Dujiang Yinjie branch, and he didn't want any wrongful convictions or miscarriages of justice to occur within his jurisdiction.

Especially since the suppression of Tingfeng Valley is related to the safety and stability of both the Yin and Yang realms, this matter is of great importance and cannot be underestimated.

The other party was being overly enthusiastic, and a hint of wariness appeared on Jiang Chen's face. "How should I address you, sir?"

"I am Qu Wenqing, a native of Dujiang, and I have been in the Ghost Market for several hundred years." The underworld steward introduced himself with a smile, "Seeing the suppression mark of Tingfeng Valley on your body, young man, I couldn't help but be curious."

Why was this young man suppressed?

This level of suppressive talisman is very rare. It's usually used to suppress the most heinous criminals, sending them directly to hell or even the underworld for eternity!

Holy crap! No wonder he's the best supporting male character suppressed by the protagonist's halo; even his suppression is at such a high level?

Murong Liangchen is such a bastard! He even destroyed the original owner's chance to be reincarnated, ensuring he would never be reborn...

Thinking of this, a ruthless glint flashed in Jiang Chen's eyes. "I have done good deeds and treated people sincerely all my life, but I never expected to be dismembered and murdered by my own brother. He took my identity, seized the family property, and married a rich and beautiful woman."

I was so angry that I stayed in the human world to seek justice for myself. But I never expected to hear him say that he was the one who planned and killed my parents. In a fit of rage, I became a vengeful ghost and was killed by the Taoist priest he had hired at great expense.

If it weren't for my good fortune in encountering a benefactor who helped me find refuge in the Ghost Market, I would probably have been left to wander the wilderness, burdened by the marks of suppression, with no way to seek justice, until my soul was ultimately annihilated.

"Outrageous! How could such a thing happen in the prestigious Dujiang?!" Qu Wenqing slammed his hand on the table in anger, his face darkening. "Killing parents and harming brothers, how could such villains have a Celestial Master willing to aid and abet them? The behavior of those in the mortal realm is becoming more and more despicable!"

Chapter Eleven is indeed a kind person.

Upon hearing this, the Ghost King glared at him. "What? You want to negotiate with me?!"

"How dare I, hehehe..." The ghost messenger chuckled but showed no intention of moving aside, his cunning eyes glancing at the group of people every now and then.

Seeing this, Duan Tang had no choice but to step forward and hand the other party a fourth-grade evil spirit inner core, and then say a few polite words, nothing more than that the Listening Sound Pavilion was registered in the underworld and was a legitimate journey to the underworld, not smuggling or illegal crossing, etc.

The ghost messenger glanced at the inner core in his hand and immediately beamed with joy. He bowed and made way for them. "So you are the Celestial Masters of the Listening Pavilion. You should have said so earlier! Since you have already passed through the underworld, you can leave as long as you don't bring any ghosts with you. Please hurry up, lest some thieves take the opportunity to sneak out."

The group thanked the Ghost King again, then filed out and disappeared outside the gate.

In the underworld, there is no distinction between day and night, but most ghosts who cannot eat at will need rest to nourish their souls and prevent excessive depletion. Therefore, when Jiang Chen returned to the ghost market, the ghostly figures on the bustling streets had gradually decreased, many shops had closed, and the noise had gradually subsided.

"Host!" the fluffy little cat called out as it bounced over, jumped into its host's arms who was sitting in the villa's hall reading a book, rolled around in its arms, and said affectionately, "Quickly praise your cute and soft little kitten, I'm so great!"

Jiang Chen put down his book and stroked the dog with a doting smile, "What good news did you find out?"

"Meow~ I followed the impressive procession of the Underworld Steward all the way to his mansion and watched him deal with a lot of messy things. When the Underworld Steward finally finished his work and I thought he was going to rest, that guy actually disguised himself as an ordinary ghost and went to the street to drink tea!"

The little white cat purred contentedly as he scratched its chin. "Host, I'll lead the way for you, hurry up! I overheard him talking to the old man at the tea stall, and the old man is actually his father!"

The Underworld Steward was a filial son who valued filial piety. In the human world, he was a well-known good person for miles around because of his upright character, filial piety towards his parents, and love for his wife and children. He accumulated virtue and did good deeds, which is why he became the Underworld Steward after his death.

His mother, wife, and children have all been reincarnated due to their own karma, while his father, having committed wrongdoings in his youth, is still in the underworld as punishment. However, the old man has realized his mistakes and is now diligently accumulating good karma so that he can be reincarnated sooner.

The underworld official would always go to his father's tea stall to sit and chat after finishing his official duties.

"Host, didn't you need to befriend the underworld official to remove the suppression marks? Now's the perfect opportunity!"

The original plan was to see if there was any opportunity or channel to contact the underworld official through the Ghost King. Now that there was a better opportunity, Jiang Chen naturally wanted to try his luck. He immediately decided to go to the tea stall to find out what was going on.

Although the ghost market has entered a period of rest each day, there are always some ghosts who, like night owls in the human world, prefer to enjoy the quiet. Therefore, ghostly figures can still be seen on the streets from time to time.

With the fluffy dumpling leading the way, he soon saw a small tea stall located at the corner of an ordinary street.

The white-haired stall owner had a kind face and sat in front of a small stove, slowly fanning the fire to brew tea. At the stall with only three small tables, only one middle-aged man with a pleasant expression was holding a bowl of tea and chatting idly with the stall owner.

"Shopkeeper, a bowl of tea, please." Jiang Chen pretended to be strolling around and listened to the father and son discussing nothing more than the weather and the strength of the tea. He then walked over and chose a table to sit down.

The stall owner smiled and agreed, then placed a pot of brewed tea and teacups on the table before going back to his work.

The little white cat perched on its host's shoulder, flipping through the map. Thinking it should be able to remember the route, it waved its paw goodbye, saying, "Host, please be careful in the Ghost Market! Remember to eat on time and eat well! Once I find the protagonist, I'll definitely complete the task you assigned perfectly. Just watch from the Viewing Platform!"

With a faint smile, Jiang Chen watched it hop away and disappear down the street. She turned around, poured herself a bowl of hot tea, and pondered how to strike up a conversation with the underworld official without drawing attention to herself.

"What's your name, young man?" Before he could even start a conversation with the stall owner, the Underworld Official asked first.

Jiang Chen paused for a moment and then politely replied, "My name is Murong Jiang Chen. You may simply call me Jiang Chen."

The underworld official nodded with a smile, "Judging from your clothes, young man, you don't seem like someone who drinks tea at a small stall. Why don't you go to that teahouse over there?"

Tsk tsk, is this guy meddling or just a chatterbox? Could it be that as the manager of the underworld, he has a special ability to know that I have ulterior motives?

Many possibilities flashed through Jiang Chen's mind in an instant, but he did not hesitate and said with a slight smile, "I saw an old man making a living by brewing tea at his stall. It's not easy for him. A pot of tea doesn't cost much, but it can help him go home and rest earlier. Why not do something so simple?"

He really is a kind person!

The underworld official sighed inwardly; in fact, he had noticed the other party the moment he appeared on the street.

As the head of the Dujiang Yin Realm headquarters, he was indeed quite capable. For example, he could tell at a glance whether a ghost was good or evil in its past life. But today, he was a little unsure about the ghost he encountered.

Although all that could be seen were acts of kindness, Murong Jiangchen bore the glaring mark of the highest level of suppression. Anyone who used such a spell to expel or suppress was a heinous and wicked villain.

Contradictory to his own abilities, and not being omniscient, the underworld official was unsure of the situation and decided to investigate further.

He was upright and had no malicious intent, so how could he have been subjected to such a severe punishment?

"I see you're not very old, you're still a new ghost. How long have you been in the ghost market?" The underworld steward simply sat down opposite Jiang Chen with a teapot and teacups and asked seriously.

As the person in charge, he was fully responsible for the Dujiang Yinjie branch, and he didn't want any wrongful convictions or miscarriages of justice to occur within his jurisdiction.

Especially since the suppression of Tingfeng Valley is related to the safety and stability of both the Yin and Yang realms, this matter is of great importance and cannot be underestimated.

The other party was being overly enthusiastic, and a hint of wariness appeared on Jiang Chen's face. "How should I address you, sir?"

"I am Qu Wenqing, a native of Dujiang, and I have been in the Ghost Market for several hundred years." The underworld steward introduced himself with a smile, "Seeing the suppression mark of Tingfeng Valley on your body, young man, I couldn't help but be curious."

Why was this young man suppressed?

This level of suppressive talisman is very rare. It's usually used to suppress the most heinous criminals, sending them directly to hell or even the underworld for eternity!

Holy crap! No wonder he's the best supporting male character suppressed by the protagonist's halo; even his suppression is at such a high level?

Murong Liangchen is such a bastard! He even destroyed the original owner's chance to be reincarnated, ensuring he would never be reborn...

Thinking of this, a ruthless glint flashed in Jiang Chen's eyes. "I have done good deeds and treated people sincerely all my life, but I never expected to be dismembered and murdered by my own brother. He took my identity, seized the family property, and married a rich and beautiful woman."

I was so angry that I stayed in the human world to seek justice for myself. But I never expected to hear him say that he was the one who planned and killed my parents. In a fit of rage, I became a vengeful ghost and was killed by the Taoist priest he had hired at great expense.

If it weren't for my good fortune in encountering a benefactor who helped me find refuge in the Ghost Market, I would probably have been left to wander the wilderness, burdened by the marks of suppression, with no way to seek justice, until my soul was ultimately annihilated.

"Outrageous! How could such a thing happen in the prestigious Dujiang?!" Qu Wenqing slammed his hand on the table in anger, his face darkening. "Killing parents and harming brothers, how could such villains have a Celestial Master willing to aid and abet them? The behavior of those in the mortal realm is becoming more and more despicable!"

Chapter Twelve: The Bronze Mirror

Jiang Chen sighed heavily, took a sip of tea, and said helplessly, "What's the use of being angry? As far as I know, the underworld is now overrun with ghosts and it's impossible to manage them all. Those celestial masters have connections and influence that are hard to shake."

Even if they die and enter the underworld in the future, their merits and demerits can be offset, turning major issues into minor ones and minor issues into nothing.

The dust of the times settles on us like a heavy mountain.

What can I do even if I have a grievance? It's a fact that I'm stuck in the human world, and it's a fact that I'm angry and fallen into evil. In such a large world as Dujiangyin, I'm already very lucky to have been able to gain a foothold thanks to the kindness of the noble people. How could I possibly find a way to appeal in such a short time?

Even if I meticulously plan and scheme, by the time I can submit the lawsuit to the judge of the underworld, the culprit will have already been reincarnated. In the end, at most, I'll just have to erase the marks of suppression and swallow all my remaining resentment.

"Sigh..." Qu Wenqing opened his mouth but could only let out a heavy sigh.

Despite his young age, the other party had a clear understanding of the affairs of the underworld. What is there in this world that is absolutely fair?

So what if the Celestial Master disregards the facts and harms a little ghost? That little bit of karmic retribution can easily be offset by the act of expelling other evil spirits, so it's nothing to the Celestial Master and will just pass by.

But what about the wronged ghost? Until his soul vanished completely from the world, no one knew about the injustice he suffered.

What are your plans now?

Faced with the questioning from the underworld official, Jiang Chen certainly couldn't tell the truth.

He pondered for a moment and said softly, "Good and evil will eventually be rewarded, and the cycle of heaven is inescapable. Murong Liangchen killed his parents and murdered his brothers. When he comes to the underworld, he will have his time to atone for his sins."

All I want now is to remove the marks of suppression from my body so that I can have a chance to be reincarnated in the future.

Furthermore, my parents, having been murdered, must be in the underworld of Dujiang, but I don't know if they're wandering in the wilderness or living in the ghost market. Finding my parents in such a vast underworld is incredibly difficult. I'm currently in relatively good circumstances and want to find them as soon as possible to bring them to my side so I can make up for the regrets I didn't have time to fulfill in their lifetime.

He's kind-hearted and a filial son!

Qu Wenqing had a very good impression of Murong Jiangchen, so he drank the tea in his bowl in one gulp and sighed, "There are so many wronged ghosts in the underworld. I can only try my best to help them. There is really no other way given the circumstances."

Young man, you're in luck. Come with me to the underworld. If it's true, I'll help you remove the suppression marks.

"Given your filial piety, if what you say is true, I can help you find out where your parents are now!"

After saying that, he slammed the teacup down on the table, his sharp eyes fixed on the other person as he asked, "Do you dare to personally verify what you said?"

“What’s there to be afraid of when the facts are so clear?” Jiang Chen finished his tea in one gulp without hesitation, took out a hundred-yuan Yin Si coin from his pocket, placed it under the bowl, and said loudly to the white-haired stall owner, “Old man, the tea money is here.”

The stall owner fanned the fire in his stove and nodded with a smile.

Qu Wenqing raised an eyebrow upon noticing the amount, thinking to himself, "He's really generous! How can a new ghost who was just suppressed and banished to the underworld have so much money to squander?"

He had his doubts but didn't press the matter. Cats have their ways and dogs have theirs. As long as they don't break the law and can make money, that's their skill. Even though he was in charge of the Jiangyin area, he couldn't manage that much.

The Underworld Office is located at the very center of the entire Dujiang Underworld Ghost Market, and its ancient and magnificent design is comparable to the imperial palace in the human world.

Busy figures flitted about, as numerous pieces of information were gathered here daily that required the manager's attention.

"Actually, if you have a grievance, you can come to the government office to appeal. However, after the reform, all ghosts are classified and managed, and there are very few wronged souls like yours who have been tricked by the Heavenly Master. In order to avoid unreasonable disputes, you have to collect the evidence yourself before submitting your appeal."

The cases are reviewed layer by layer, and those that can be handled at lower levels are dealt with to reduce the workload; only major wrongful convictions that cannot be handled by lower levels will I personally intervene, but this is rare.

As Qu Wenqing led him into the yamen, he explained, "These days, to prevent me from having too much power, my work is also greatly restricted. Sometimes I really have the will but not the ability!"

Jiang Chen watched as the staff members, whose male and female features were barely discernible, came and went, and asked curiously, "Sir, are they all ghosts too? Why do they look so strange?"

"We are all ghosts, just like you and me. It's just that after the reform, in order to prevent internal staff from embezzling and cheating, it is specifically stipulated that we cannot show our true forms during work; after work, we cannot reveal our identities when we return to the Ghost Market, otherwise we will be severely punished!" Qu Wenqing pointed to his face and laughed: "This appearance of mine is a transformation, not my original appearance."

Wow, there are quite a few rules and regulations in the underworld. It seems that fighting corruption is a big problem in both the underworld and the mortal world.

Following him inside, he was eventually directed to stand in front of a huge bronze mirror. Qu Wenqing solemnly declared again, "Let me make this clear: once this mirror reflects your actions in this life and the past, everything you have done will be exposed."