This time, Chen Ming dared not sleep leaning against a tree, afraid it might be another man-eating tree. So he decided to find an open space instead.

  He took out his flashlight for illumination. The beam swayed in the darkness, disturbing countless monsters.

  Suddenly, Chen Ming spotted a group of duck-sized monsters not far away, gathered in a circle. Golden light flickered in the center, dazzling to the eyes. Overcome by curiosity, he drew his pistol and rushed over. When the duck-like monsters saw Chen Ming approaching, they quacked loudly at him, warning him not to come closer. Chen Ming remained unmoved, but the duck monsters lost their nerve, flapping and scattering in all directions.

  When Chen Ming went over and took a look, he immediately felt disgusted. It was five or six corpses, piled杂乱 together. Most were just bones, with remaining flesh shriveled and blackened like dried jerky.

  Since Chen Ming wasn't afraid of monsters, dead people were even less of a concern. He was very curious, how did these unfortunate souls end up in the forest to die? Looking closely, he saw the corpses were all bound with hemp rope, each with a round hole in the forehead. Clearly, they had been brought here and shot to death, nothing to do with monsters at all.

  He smiled bitterly, recalling his own experiences upon first arriving here, and a thousand thoughts surge through one’s mind.. Sometimes humans were more terrifying than monsters.

  As for the golden light, Chen Ming swung his flashlight and saw a gold bracelet on one corpse's wrist, glittering under the flashlight's orange beam.

  In that instant, Chen Ming felt as if mesmerized, unable to look away for a long time.

  Chen Ming needed money, lots and lots of money, to make something of himself in this other world. Although being a Night rover brought quick money in large amounts, opportunities were rare; business wasn't available every day.

  He felt as if bewitched by the demon called money. As if guided by spirits, he approached. When he came to his senses, he found he had already used his dagger to cut through the corpse's wrist, removed the gold bracelet, and was holding it in his hand, rubbing it.

  Chen Ming's expression shifted uncertainly, his mind was a battlefield. Should he take it? This was profiting from the dead—how was it different from grave robbing? Not take it? Impossible, he needed money! Besides, these people were already dead, all ownerless property. What did it matter if he took it? As the saying goes: "Heaven gives—refuse at your own peril!"

  Thinking of "Heaven," Chen Ming's mind turned. What if this was another arrangement by The Great One? Guiding him invisibly deeper into the forest, stopping before this pile of corpses—wasn't this letting him collect this windfall?

  Greed ultimately overpowered conscience. Anyway, The Great One could take the blame. Making up his mind, he quickly wiped the gold bracelet with the corner of his shirt and stuffed it into his shoulder bag.

  Having started, he might as well go all the way. Chen Ming searched through all the corpses—wallets, necklaces, rings, earrings, hairpins—not even sparing the gold teeth in their mouths. He looted everything.

  Scanning his spoils, he roughly guessed they were worth at least a thousand yuan.

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  He had some understanding of local currency: small amounts used "wen," from one wen to a hundred wen, all copper coins; large amounts used "yuan," originally silver dollars minted by the Protector Duke, later replaced by paper currency convertible to silver dollars. The paper money was very convenient and quickly became widespread, while silver dollars gradually withdrew from circulation. As a folk custom, the character "圆" (yuan, meaning "circle" or the currency unit) is often abbreviated as "元". Which became the paper currency unit. Because large denominations were容易 forged, the largest bill was only ten yuan.

  A thousand yuan was a considerable fortune. A courtyard house in Renhe cost about fifteen hundred yuan. With this money, he could support himself for a long time.

  Chen Ming's heart raced with excitement. Suddenly he realized he'd found a path to rapid wealth.

  If there were corpses to loot in the forest outside Hangzhou, Renhe probably had its share too. After looting Hangzhou, loot Renhe; after Renhe, loot Qiantang; then nearby Xiaoshan, Haining, Wukang.

  This search, he could easily collect ten thousand yuan! By then, financial freedom would be his—he could live well without lifting a finger!

  Chen Ming was so excited he had no desire to sleep. He decided to rush back to Renhe overnight. Coming here had already exhausted his strength; returning, he could only pedal slowly.

  The journey was uneventful. No monster was foolish enough to bother him, and he was unlucky enough to encounter any Ruins Zone—Chen Ming still didn't know what that meant. The moonlight shone gently, seeing him back. Before dawn, Chen Ming finally reached Renhe, just as the city gates were opening.

  The guards were as lackadaisical as ever. Gatekeeper Zhang Xiyan, seeing Chen Ming, exclaimed in surprise, "Mr. Chen, you're back safely!"

  Chen Ming laughed heartily. "Of course!"

  Zhang Xiyan naturally wouldn't bother checking Chen Ming. Night rovers were all desperados—only a fool would argue with them. He simply let him through.

  Chen Ming cycled to the County Government Office to return the bicycle. Chief Constable Zong was quite surprised to see him back so early. "I've already learned through telegraph—you did well, arriving in the middle of the night and saving that wealthy householder's life in time. They've transferred the reward to the government office's bank account as agreed. I'll have the clerk get the cash for you immediately."

  Chen Ming said, "Thank you, Chief Constable."

  Chief Constable Zong gave the orders. By the time Chen Ming returned the bicycle, the clerk had already fetched the cash and prepared the documents for signing. Chief Constable Zong handed Chen Ming a stack of banknotes, all ten-yuan denominations, and said, "Five hundred yuan reward, minus ten percent fee, leaves four hundred fifty yuan. Please count them."

  Chen Ming counted—indeed, forty-five notes. Based on Renhe prices, a bowl of plain noodles cost two wen, mixed noodles with pork fat three wen. One yuan exchanged for a thousand wen; four hundred fifty yuan could support his food and drink for over a hundred years. Of course, living wasn't just about eating and drinking—there was rent, clothing, miscellaneous expenses—but this money was enough to temporarily escape his predicament.

  Chen Ming happily signed and accepted the reward.

  Chief Constable Zong asked further, "Mr. Chen, what are your plans now? Since the Chen & Zhu Firm has burned down, you have no ties in Renhe. Will you return to your hometown Mingzhou?"

  Chen Ming thought for a moment. In Mingzhou, he knew no one and nothing. Here in Renhe, at least he knew the County Sheriff, Chief Constable Zong, Gatekeeper Zhang Xiyan, and others. Besides, his grand plan to profit from the dead hadn't yet unfolded. Better to stay here. He said, "I have no ties in Mingzhou either. I plan to settle in Renhe long-term."

  Chief Constable Zong said, "In that case, just go through the registration procedures when you have time. To live long-term in Renhe, you'll need a place to stay. I know a spot—cheap and good, not far from my home. If you're not too tired, Mr. Chen, I can take you to see it now."

  Chen Ming nodded. "I can manage. Better to settle the housing early."

  Chief Constable Zong arranged his duties and took Chen Ming to find an agent to view the property. Along the way, he smiled and said, "I feel we've hit it off since we met, Mr. Chen. I'd like to become friends. What do you think?"

  Chen Ming was overjoyed. "I also feel you're someone worth befriending deeply, Chief Constable. It's my great fortune to know you."

  Chief Constable Zong clasped his hands. "Brother Chen!"