Infinite Puzzle City

Chapter 839 The Art of Finishing Touch
"Paper-crafting technique??" Zhou Shang was taken aback. "Didn't we already give you the Turin Scripture? Isn't that enough for you to learn?"

"Haha, Grandpa Zhou, what I mean is that the craft of paper-making is not something from the Book of Spirits."

The paper-making technique that Xiao Ran mentioned was not the secret method from the "Spirit-Crossing Scripture" that Zhou Shang had given her.

It is, in fact, the art of paper-making.

Xiao Ran is like a student who skipped grades in this respect, even though he has mastered the advanced techniques on the [Du Ling Jing].

However, they are still very lacking in the most basic techniques of paper making.

To advance to the C-level "Key to Success" level, this is an area I must improve.

And if we're talking about who has the best paper-making skills in the world, then it would probably be this Mr. Zhou right here in front of us.

Upon hearing that Xiao Ran wanted to learn the paper-making craft from them, Zhou Shang and the others looked even stranger.

Zhao Qingming then said, "Second brother, the child has asked you for help, so don't keep it from him."

"No, that can't be." Zhou Shang turned his head and confirmed again, "Just the skill of making paper offerings? Nothing else?"

“Of course, Grandpa Zhou, if you have other things to teach, you can teach them too. I don’t mind if you have more,” Xiao Ran said with a grin.

"Oh dear, with this personality, you're nothing like the fourth brother."

Everyone looked at Xiao Zhenye and teased him.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Zhenye burst into laughter, his pride in Xiao Ran evident in his eyes.

"Okay, then you can get ready."

“Everything has been prepared long ago, Grandpa Zhou, let’s go teach the class.”

Hearing that Xiao Ran was ready, the four brothers urged Zhou Shang to hurry up and go.

"Teach me well. With your skills, you'll be lucky enough to have my grandson as your successor."

Before leaving, Xiao Zhenye teased Zhou Shang.

Although it was said in jest, it's not entirely untrue.

Zhou Shang also attached great importance to it. After all, it was already a rare thing to find a suitable successor for his skills, which he was about to take to his grave. Moreover, the successor was a top expert like Xiao Ran.

However, when Zhou Shang followed Xiao Ran to the teaching location, he was also taken aback.

There were more than ten managers of the Amazing Pavilion sitting here.

"This……"

Zhou Shang looked at Xiao Ran.

"Um... I forgot to tell Grandpa earlier that my shopkeeper and employees often need to deal with the underworld officials, so they also need to learn the craft of making paper offerings."

Zhou Shang's lips twitched, but after thinking about it, he realized that no one in his family had learned his skills long ago, so what difference would it make if he passed it on to one person or ten?

Moreover, he even handed over the [Tongyou Seal] himself, so this paper craftsman has long since changed his allegiance and is now surnamed Xiao.

Thinking of this, Zhou Shang felt relieved.

She glared at Xiao Ran and said, "Sit down quickly. I finished teaching you all a long time ago, and we're going to have a big meal together."

"Hey, okay."

Xiao Ran found a seat near the front and sat down. Zhou Shang took a piece of candy out of his pocket and put it in his mouth. He walked to the stage, where all kinds of tools were available.

Zhou Shang picked up a thin bamboo strip and began to say to everyone: "Paper craftsmen have four skills: binding, pasting, mounting, and dotting. It is said that it is easy to draw the skin but difficult to draw the bones when painting a person, but the first step for us paper craftsmen is to bind a skeleton."

Zhou Shang taught very seriously, and everyone dared not slack off in the slightest.

After the theoretical knowledge was taught, Zhou Shang began to teach everyone how to make paper, how to apply paste, and how to finally paste the paper.

Zhou Shang taught very meticulously, explaining the intricacies of each step without reservation.

Don't let their advanced age fool you; each of these shopkeepers possesses mental strength comparable to an E-level beginner. Take One-Eyed, for example; he has mastered the Soul Cultivation Technique taught to him by Xiao Ran, allowing him to observe everything with remarkable precision.

So Zhou Shang taught them these things once, and they basically all learned them.

This made Zhou Shang feel ashamed.

Although I taught these things without reservation, if it were an ordinary person, they wouldn't learn anything in just a few months.

These people basically memorized the tricks after I taught them just once; it's truly remarkable.

"Master Zhou, we've learned how to make paper, paste, and mount, but what's the final step?" someone asked tentatively.

Seeing how quickly they were learning, Zhou Shang didn't hold back and explained to them, "Dotting means dotting the eyes."

Upon hearing the words "finishing touch," Xiao Ran immediately perked up.

"Isn't it said that if you dot the eyes of a paper figure, disaster will surely follow?" a shopkeeper couldn't help but ask upon hearing this.

When Xiao Ran taught them the art of paper making, she also instructed them on some rules for paper makers, one of which was not to dot the eyes of the paper figures.

Hearing the shopkeeper's question, Zhou Shang couldn't help but nod: "That's right, there is such a saying, but that's what laymen say."

Zhou Shang glanced at Xiao Ran with a smile, as if his words were a direct address to him.

The finishing touch, the final stroke, is what truly matters.

After Zhou Shang finished speaking, he began to demonstrate to everyone. The unremarkable old brush in his hand caused the room's lamplight to flicker and the oil lamp's light to contract and then suddenly expand the moment the tip touched the hollow eye socket of the paper horse. An invisible vortex rose from the ground and swirled around the table.

The paper horse still has the thin appearance of yellow paper with folded bones and bamboo strips supporting it, but after the two ink dots blurred the eyes, they actually lit up faintly. It was not a reflection, but two warm and moist lusters, as if the living horse was turning its head obediently, hiding an unfathomable spirituality.

"Woo——"

A cold wind swept past the eaves, bringing with it the low murmur of grass rustling in the distant fields, which drifted through the open wooden window and suddenly filled the small room.

The dim yellow lamp flame was pressed down so low it was almost extinguished, leaving only a faint, dying red glow on the wick. The room instantly became as dark as ink.

Only the two horse eyes shone brightly in the suddenly darkened room, shining quietly as if they had come alive.

Everyone was shocked, even Xiao Ran was greatly astonished, that it was definitely not some kind of evil magic like soul binding.

Rather, it truly imbued the horse with spirit and vitality.

The difference is so vast that it's no exaggeration to say it's like night and day.

This is the foundation of the Zhou family's existence; their true abilities cannot be encompassed by a mere "Scripture of Salvation."

This lesson was incredibly beneficial to everyone, and even Xiao Ran was deeply impressed.

Even after the class ended, the huge workshop was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Everyone's faces were filled with reminiscence and bewilderment, clearly still immersed in the feeling of "turning the dead into the living," and had not fully come back to their senses.

"This skill of capturing the essence is not something that can be mastered overnight. It requires a high degree of concentration of mind, intention, and spirit, and a spiritual resonance between the person and the objects they depict. You have learned the basics and memorized the techniques, but you are still far from mastering the essence," Zhou Shang said in a steady and powerful voice.

He paused, his gaze sweeping over everyone before finally settling on Xiao Ran. He emphasized, "Here's a simple and easy method for you: find a blank sheet of paper, concentrate your mind, and try to gather all your energy and spirit into the tip of your pen."

"Note that I am referring to spirit, energy, and vitality, not just mental strength."

Zhou Shang spoke again, glancing specifically at Xiao Ran, as if giving him a private message.

"What kind of expression should the thing you want to highlight have? If it is a fine horse, it should have its fierceness and spirit; if it is a boy, it should have his liveliness and innocence."

Use your heart to depict it, use your mind to feel it, and finally, with the stroke of your pen, gradually 'transfer' it to the blank pupils of the paper.

After Zhou Shang handed the method to Xiao Ran and the others, he returned home with a smile.

After returning to the courtyard, Xiao Zhenye naturally asked with great concern whether he had taught everything he was supposed to.

In response to Xiao Zhenye's question, Zhou Shang grinned and said, "This child is exceptionally talented, but the skill of writing with divine inspiration cannot be learned overnight."

This isn't something from the "Scripture of Salvation," but a skill that the Zhou family developed themselves; it can be considered a family heirloom.

The difficulty involved is self-evident.

It took him more than ten years to gradually figure out the tricks of the trade, and another ten years to truly master the skill.

The mystery behind it is beyond words.

It all comes down to the persistent effort of water dripping through stone.

"Old man, look how capable you are." Xiao Zhenye curled his lip, but he also knew that Zhou Shang's skills were not easy to learn.

If the Zhou family of paper dolls hadn't had this trick back then, how could they have become the leader of the four major underworld organizations in Luo City, and even under the crushing weight of the times, they were still able to preserve their family's fortune and wealth?

Lu Cheng and Jin Chanzi were also there, and being curious, they asked about the matter. Lu Cheng was completely confused, but Jin Chanzi immediately understood.

But he didn't say anything, he just smiled calmly.

“I know Xiao Ran is an extraordinary kid, but this is hard work. I estimate he'll need at least three or five…”

The word "moon" was still unspoken.

Suddenly, a hissing sound came from outside the courtyard.

Everyone was taken aback when they saw Xiao Ran leading a paper horse in from outside. The horse was still made of paper, but its eyes had gained a lively and spirited quality.

"Master Zhou, your technique is truly ingenious; I have already learned it."

Xiao Ran said to Zhou Shang.

Zhou Shang's eyes widened in disbelief at what he saw, and he screamed, "How did you learn that?!"

"It's very simple. I just followed your method and I basically learned it after trying it twice." Xiao Ran looked at Zhou Shang with a blank expression.

Although it looked difficult, Xiao Ran actually tried it and found it to be much easier than she had imagined.

This week, Shang is a little unsettled.

"Easy!! Kid, you call this easy? Are you cheating using some underhanded methods?!"

Zhou Shang was furious. He could admit that there were differences between people, but it was too much to treat his years of hard work as if it were just a waste.

"Hahaha, don't be angry, don't be angry. My kid is smart, he was born to do this." Xiao Zhenye stopped Zhou Shang, his expression incredibly smug.

"Second brother, this is truly a gift from our ancestors. This kid is the contemporary Plum Blossom Taoist, the successor of our ancestors. Let's not bother with him."

Li Qing also pulled Zhou Shang along.

Standing to the side, Lu Cheng noticed Jin Chanzi smiling without saying a word. Seeing that he had taken it all for granted from beginning to end, he couldn't help but ask, "What, you guessed it all along?"

"It's not difficult; it's actually similar to drawing talismans."

Jin Chanzi explained to Lu Cheng, "Xiao Ran's knife skills and sewing techniques have both reached a profound level. His skill is undeniable. He just didn't know the methods before. Now that he has the methods, it's just a matter of time."

(End of this chapter)