Zombie Life Begins in Hongxi Village

"A private estate, where the richest man in the world resides."

Yan Ruyu murmured the last sentence on the paper, her eyes suddenly lighting up as if she had discovered a new continent, and exclaimed:

"I know! This must be a treasure map! That suspicious person was definitely looking for treasure!"

"Let me see, let me see."

Nianying leaned closer and examined the yellow paper several times, turning it over and over.

The other girls also gathered around, their heads huddled together.

"It really looks like it, and the treasure might be on this island!"

"South of the village...it must be the south side of the village! And it must be a place with flowing water on the mountain."

"Yes, it's very likely to be south of our village."

"What does 'The hunchback seeks the pearl, the Eight Immortals offer their support, the two polarities give rise to the four symbols, and the universe shifts' mean?"

"Duh, that must be the way to unlock the treasure!"

The girls, chatting amongst themselves, managed to decipher most of the secret that Banwan Village had kept hidden for over two hundred years in just a few minutes.

Lin Yi stood aside, marveling inwardly.

As expected of the high school student with the richest knowledge and the most imaginative mind, he is much more clever and quick-witted than the other characters in the original series.

If this trend continues, finding the treasure is only a matter of time.

"Since we don't have anything else to do, why don't we go treasure hunting?" Lin Qingqing was the first to suggest.

"I agree!" Nianying immediately raised her hand in response.

"Shopping is too boring, treasure hunting is so exciting, I agree too," Yan Ruyu quickly chimed in.

The other girls chimed in.

Lin Yi could tell that these girls might not really believe they could find any amazing treasure, but the act of treasure hunting itself was exciting enough.

Just like when he was a child, he bought countless useless Easter eggs in order to collect a complete set of cards, but in the end, he collected all the cards but lost interest.

What matters is never the result, but the process.

Even Ren Qingqing was tempted.

She was only sixteen or seventeen years old, the age when she was most playful.

"Brother-in-law, would you like to join our treasure hunting team?" Nianying asked, tilting her head back with anticipation.

"Oh? There's a share for me too?" Lin Yi said jokingly, pointing to herself.

"Of course! You're the only boy among us, so you're responsible for protecting us," Nianying said matter-of-factly.

The other girls also looked at him expectantly.

Lin Yi was also infected by this pure and unadulterated youthful energy. She clapped her hands and said with a smile, "Okay, then I'll join."

Nianying clenched her fist and excitedly announced, "I hereby declare the Six Treasures Warriors officially established!"

Unbeknownst to them, in the shadows behind them, the shop owner, Yang Fang, was staring at them with gloomy eyes.

Yang Fang is the nephew of the village chief of Banwan Village and one of the few villagers who know the secret of the "private property".

He had memorized the treasure-hunting rhyme since he was a child.

That's why his heart almost stopped when he saw several young girls from out of town reciting incantations.

Lin Yi naturally noticed that gaze.

He could feel his rapid breathing and the murderous intent surging within him.

But he didn't say anything.

How can a treasure hunt be called a treasure hunt without some "unexpected" elements?

As soon as Lin Yi and the others left the grocery store, Yang Fang gave his son Yang Shihua a wink.

Yang Shih-hua nodded and followed without saying a word.

Yang Fang then walked quickly toward the village chief's house.

Yangjiazhuang was a large, imposing compound of houses with blue bricks and gray tiles. It was the true center of power in Banwan Village.

Yang Fang hurriedly walked into the courtyard, ignoring even his nephew calling him.

Inside the main room, Yang Youming was reclining on a grand chair, listening to the opera.

A Cantonese opera was playing on the radio, its melody melodious and its volume fluctuating.

Yang Youming had his eyes closed, a pipe resting on the handrail, the embers in the pipe flickering in the dim light.

"Uncle, something's happened." Yang Fang pushed open the door and entered, his face almost overflowing with anxiety.

Yang Youming slowly opened his eyes, saw that it was Yang Fang, and then leisurely picked up his pipe and tapped it on the sole of his shoe, his voice hoarse: "Why are you in such a panic? What happened?"

"The news about the 'private property' has been leaked."

Yang Fang swallowed hard and recounted the conversation he had overheard in detail.

"A few young people from out of town found a piece of yellow paper with the secret formula for hiding treasure, and they have already recited the formula."

The group of girls had huddled together and deciphered quite a few clues, knowing that the treasure was located in the south of the village, and they had even figured out the incantation.

Judging from their expressions, they'll be setting off to look for it soon.

"What!" Yang Youming slammed his hand on the table, making the heavy wooden table bounce.

His face contorted with rage, and his voice, though low, was filled with violence.

"That damned Tian Hua'er! It's one thing for her to cheat on her husband, but she also leaked the village's secret! Drowning her in a pig cage is too lenient on her!"

And that bastard Afa, I sent him to kill that adulterer, and so many days have passed without a word, not only that, the secret is spreading everywhere!

He took a few deep breaths, slowly sat back in the armchair, but his eyes grew increasingly cold.

He looked at Yang Fang, his tone eerily calm: "This private territory cannot be lost."

You immediately send someone to guard that area and forbid anyone from approaching.

As for those outsiders… once they find the private property, then—”

Yang Youming raised his withered hand and made a horizontal stroke across his neck.

In Banwan Village, they are like local tyrants; it would be too easy for them to make a few people disappear.

When Widow Tian leaked the secret, they tortured her by drowning her in a pig cage.

Yang Fang understood and nodded, a similar ruthless glint flashing in his eyes.

Yang Youming added, "Make sure it's done cleanly, especially don't let that police chief surnamed Shi know."

Shi Chun has been secretly investigating us. If he finds out anything, you two will be in trouble together.

"Understood, Uncle," Yang Fang replied, then turned and quickly left.

……

As soon as Lin Yi reached the village entrance, she saw a stage already set up on an open space.

Shi Chun, Chen Longshi, and Li Jingchun were present.

Chen Longshi's head was wrapped in thick white gauze, making him look like an Indian.

Li Jingchun, on the other hand, stared unabashedly at a woman's genitals.

"We're in luck; we're going to have a show to watch today."

Looking at this familiar scene, Lin Yi said to the girls.

Yan Ruyu glanced at the banners on the stage and exclaimed excitedly:

"I know them, they're the Cao family opera troupe! I've been to their shows with my mom, they sing so well."

"I've heard them too. Their rendition of 'The Flood of Jinshan Temple' is the most expressive," Lin Qingqing added.

Girls in this era were different from those in later generations; they had not completely lost interest in traditional opera and even idolized famous opera stars.

As soon as the girls heard there was a show to watch, they slowed down and kept glancing at the stage.

Only Lin Xiaohua seemed a little distracted, secretly glancing at Lin Yi.

Just then, a sharp scream came from backstage.

"Murder! Help!"

Behind the stage, a man wielding a machete was seen frantically chasing and hacking at a young man who looked like a male lead, all the while cursing and swearing.

"You dare seduce my wife? I'll kill you, you bastard!"

The young man scrambled ahead, looking utterly disheveled.

Yan Ruyu exclaimed in surprise, "Wow, caught them in the act!"