Chen Ming continued to lure , "This business is immensely profitable with little capital. Look at me—within a month I could afford a two-courtyard house. You can see the profits are enormous."

  "Really?"

  Seeing Chief Constable Zong tempted, Chen Ming said, "Here's how we can do it: I'll collect the gold and silver jewelry in the forest, and you help me sell it. We'll split it thirty-seventy in your favor!"

  Chief Constable Zong still hesitated. Chen Ming added, "Or, you could come into the forest with me. What you collect yourself, you keep. What I collect, you help me sell—thirty-seventy split. How about that?"

  Chief Constable Zong wavered uncertainly. Chen Ming sneered, "What's wrong? Lost your nerve? I go in empty-handed without fear, and I've gotten rich. Now I'm showing you the way, and you're the one refusing it. Then stay a poor constable for the rest of your life!"

  This provoked Chief Constable Zong. He slammed the table and shouted, "I'm in! The bold get fat, the timid go hungry!"

  Chen Ming was overjoyed. "Excellent! Now that's the spirit!"

  Chief Constable Zong thought for a moment and asked, "When do we move?"

  Chen Ming said, "No preparations today. We'll move tomorrow. Remember to disguise yourself so no one knows. Then we'll leave the city separately and meet around eight at the forest edge by the crossroads. And remember, bring weapons, just in case of意外."

  Chief Constable Zong's heart raced with excitement. He nodded and said, "Alright. I need to make some arrangements too, otherwise missing my shift without reason will get me scolded by the County Sheriff. I'll take my leave now. See you tomorrow."

  Watching Chief Constable Zong leave happily, Chen Ming sat down in his chair. After a long moment, he laughed coldly and muttered to himself, "Birds die in pursuit of food, men die in pursuit of wealth."

  He had deliberately gone out early that morning, retrieved some gold and silver jewelry from his "safe" in the forest, and used it to lure Chief Constable Zong. As expected, this tactic worked perfectly. Chief Constable Zong was so greedy that he let Chen Ming lead him by the nose, stumbling confusedly into the trap.

  Chen Ming had also intentionally told him to bring weapons, which made Chief Constable Zong feel more secure and let his guard down a bit.

  Moreover, Chen Ming had arranged for them to set out separately the next day to avoid being implicated when Chief Constable Zong disappeared. After all, Chief Constable Zong was also a prominent figure at the County Government Office; his disappearance would certainly引起 attention.

  With the County Sheriff's supernatural abilities, if Chen Ming had been in contact with Chief Constable Zong, he would be detected. But tomorrow, Chief Constable Zong would be going into the forest to die on his own—what did that have to do with Chen Ming?

  Early the next morning, Chen Ming disguised himself as a farmer selling vegetables and left the city. Sure enough, at the intersection of the cinder road and the forest, he met Chief Constable Zong, disguised as a laborer. The two knew each other well, so they immediately saw through each other's disguises. They exchanged glances and unexpectedly burst out laughing together.

  Chen Ming asked, "Brother Zong, you're a big shot in the county. Suddenly going into the forest is too conspicuous. If someone else sees our path to wealth, that would be terrible."

  Chief Constable Zong agreed, "Exactly. If everyone knew the forest wasn't so scary and came running to collect treasure, we'd be out of luck. Don't worry, I've prepared thoroughly. No one knows I'm here."

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  Chen Ming was relieved. "Let's be careful! Did you bring weapons?"

  Chen Ming still only carried a shoulder bag. Chief Constable Zong patted himself, he was fully armed, stuffed with quite a few weapons. Chen Ming found it secretly amusing. No matter how many weapons you bring, you'll still die if you encounter a monster.

  Soon after they left the main road, seizing the right moment, they stealthily slipped into the forest.

  To gain Chief Constable Zong's trust, Chen Ming volunteered to led the way, entering the forest first. Chief Constable Zong initially pretended to be fearless, but the moment he stepped inside, he immediately showed his fear.

  He clearly felt as if this were two different worlds. Outside was sunny, inside was gloomy and terrifying.

  Chief Constable Zong followed behind Chen Ming, trembling nervously, looking around. Although he couldn't see the hidden monsters, relying on animal instinct, he could still sense the covetous gazes of countless fierce predators. His face turned pale, and his teeth chattered as he asked Chen Ming, "Brother Chen, will the monsters come for us?"

  "You're overthinking it!" Chen Ming said without turning back. "People fear monsters, but monsters fear people even more. Besides, it's daytime now—the monsters don't dare come out. Don't worry, as long as you follow me, I guarantee your safety. A few more steps, and we'll reach those corpses. We'll take the goods and leave immediately. By this time tomorrow, you'll be drinking and enjoying yourself by West Lake in the provincial capital!"

  Meanwhile, he silently thought to himself: Monsters are frightening, but the human heart is far more horrifying.

  Chief Constable Zong, who had been wavering internally, was spurred on by Chen Ming's words. He summoned his courage again and followed closely behind.

  To prevent Chief Constable Zong from getting scared and running away, Chen Ming deliberately avoided gruesome scenes of corpses along the way and led him straight into the depths of the forest.

  As they ventured deeper, the forest grew denser. The sunlight that had previously filtered through seemed to be swallowed by some monster, disappearing completely. All around was dim and dark, Only swaying tree shadows, moving like specters.

  Chief Constable Zong trembled all over as he looked around. He was no longer just sensing monsters—he could actually see their figures. Increasingly panicked, he anxiously pressed Chen Ming, "Brother Chen, how much further?"

  "Almost there!" Chen Ming said calmly.

  Yes! Your life is almost there!

  They walked about another half li when Chen Ming suddenly felt a familiar spine-chilling sensation and stopped.

  Chief Constable Zong hurried forward, puzzled. "Brother Chen, what's wrong?"

  Chen Ming pretended to have noticed something unusual, looking around carefully, and whispered, "Quiet!"

  Chief Constable Zong's heart sank. Shocked and frightened, he couldn't help but look around nervously.

  Chen Ming fixed his gaze on Chief Constable Zong, his face as terrifying as a demon's, revealing a cruel smile. He said to Chief Constable Zong, "Brother Zong, as they say, what goes around comes around. You've made my life so miserable—I'll have to take yours in return."

  Chief Constable Zong was furious. He drew his pistol and shouted, "What did you say!"

  Before the words faded, a giant mouth descended from the sky, clamping down on Chief Constable Zong's entire body.

  Chief Constable Zong let out a blood-curdling scream, but outside the bird's beak, only muffled sounds could be heard.

  With a crunch, the giant bird bit down hard. Chief Constable Zong struggled for a moment, then went still. His pistol clattered to the ground.

  The giant bird then tilted its head back and swallowed Chief Constable Zong whole.

  Just like that, the great threat was eliminated in an instant.

  Chen Ming couldn't help but laugh heartily, his laughter echoing through the entire forest, startling quite a few monsters.

  He felt exceptionally exhilarated. All the pressure and fear that had accumulated since his transmigration seemed to drift away with the wind.

  After a long moment, he stopped laughing, looked up at the giant bird, and nodded slightly. "Thank you again."

  The giant bird cawed happily in satisfaction, thanking Chen Ming for delivering takeout and indicating a five-star review.

  Chen Ming picked up the pistol Chief Constable Zong had dropped, glanced at it, same model as Manager Jin's. He tucked it away safely and placed it in the "safe" guarded by the monster. Then he cheerfully scoured the forest for a while, making a bit of money, and returned to the county before dark.

  Arriving at his doorstep, he removed his disguise, changed back into his regular clothes, and prepared to enter casually.

  As he approached the door, Chen Ming's expression darkened, there was a light on inside! He immediately drew his pistol and crept closer, not entering through the main door but quietly circling to the side. Using a large tree by the courtyard wall, he climbed over with hands and feet and slipped inside.