The old Daoist stepped forward, patted him on the shoulder, and shook his head with a smile, saying, "This isn't favoritism; Lin Beichen just wants to spend more time with his little disciple."
"That's true, the old Daoist is right."
Thunder immediately chimed in, and the group watched the two figures walking away with gossipy expressions.
Soon after, Lin Beichen and Xia Luyao returned with their purchased items.
They had only bought lightweight items like paper, pens, scissors, and glue, so they returned leisurely as if taking a stroll.
The members of the Venomous Snake Special Team were already used to their relaxed attitude.
However, Barney, Christmas, and Sandra were taken aback by how free and easygoing they were, wondering why the duo seemed to be going shopping. The scene felt too bizarre!
Lin Beichen placed the items on the bar table, and the members of the Venomous Snake Special Team sat around it, ready to start making what Lin Beichen needed.
"What are you standing there for? Come and do some crafts!"
After setting up the items, Lin Beichen urged the three still standing there in a daze.
Barney, Christmas, and Sandra exchanged looks and walked over, bewildered.
Looking at the craft materials on the table, they had an indescribable feeling.
"Lin Beichen, what are you making with these?" Barney asked curiously, staring at the materials on the table.
"Just making some papermen," Lin Beichen replied casually while sorting through the materials.
"What are papermen?" the trio asked in unison.
As foreigners, they had never heard of such a peculiar thing.
Lin Beichen looked at the three bewildered foreigners, sighed lightly, and signaled the old Daoist to explain: "Old Daoist, why don't you tell them?"
The old Daoist nodded in agreement and turned to Barney and the other two to explain: "Papermen, as the name suggests, are small figures made out of paper. In our Huaxia, it's a traditional craft."
"Of course, papermen also have a mysterious Eastern flavor. According to legend, they can be used to curse others or even kill."
After explaining, the old Daoist asked Lin Beichen, "Did I get it right?"
"Pretty much," Lin Beichen nodded in affirmation.
After hearing the old Daoist's explanation, Barney and the others were even more confused.
Are they really going to make papermen now?
But what does this have to do with their plan to rescue someone from the dungeon tonight?
Barney looked at the materials in Lin Beichen's hands, and a bold and absurd idea popped into his mind.
He hesitated for a moment and tentatively asked, "Lin Beichen, are you planning to use these papermen to deal with the guards in the dungeon?"
As soon as he finished speaking, even Barney thought the idea was too ridiculous.
Yet Lin Beichen confidently answered, "Yes, you've guessed it right!"
Barney was instantly petrified, and the nearby Christmas and Sandra were also shocked.
They never expected that the items Lin Beichen purchased were intended to deal with the guards.
Using papermen against armed guards?
This sounds just like a fairy tale!
"Are you sure you're not joking?"
Barney asked incredulously, staring at Lin Beichen.
Lin Beichen glanced at him and replied calmly, "Do I look like I'm joking?"
With that, he began teaching Xia Luyao how to make papermen.
Barney looked at Lin Beichen's serious manner, feeling a complex mix of emotions.
He truly felt like Lin Beichen was playing a serious joke on him.
In the long-closed bar, Lin Beichen, Xia Luyao, and five others sat around a table, earnestly making papermen.
Barney and the other two stood nearby, at a loss.
"What are you three standing there for? Come and help!" Flame urged.
Lin Beichen had mentioned that the more papermen made, the better, and if the three of them could help, it would certainly increase the number.
Barney and the other two exchanged glances, feeling as if they had been drawn into a pyramid scheme.
However, after a moment of hesitation, they decided to join the papermen-making effort.
Thus, in that afternoon, a group of special forces soldiers from Huaxia, two internationally renowned mercenaries, and the daughter of a warlord general sat together making papermen.
The scene was indeed rare!
After an afternoon of handiwork, they had created dozens of papermen until they ran out of materials.
"Finally done!" Wild Ox breathed a long sigh of relief and remarked.
He hadn't done a craft project since graduating middle school, and it gave him a headache.
Now, having gone through the torture of a craft lesson again, he was thankful it was over, and Lin Beichen looked at his relieved expression with a smile, adding: "Didn't this let you relive your middle school days? How about paying the tuition then!"
"Huh? There's a tuition fee?" Wild Ox stood up in surprise and asked.
Everyone burst into laughter upon hearing this, and Wild Ox realized he had been made fun of, scratching his head awkwardly.
Clearly, Lin Beichen was joking, but Wild Ox instinctively looked to the side and said with a laugh, "I don't have any tuition money, how about I offer someone as payment?"
"Offering someone in payment? Gross, does Lin Beichen look like he needs you? He'd think you were too dumb as a sidekick anyway!" the old Daoist quickly retorted.
Wild Ox argued, "Who's dumb? Besides, when I talk about offering someone as payment, I don't mean me."
The old Daoist curiously asked, "Then who do you mean?"
Wild Ox chuckled and looked at Lin Beichen, saying, "Lin Beichen, how about I offer our captain to you, does that work for you?"
As soon as he finished speaking, Xia Luyao immediately slapped him, saying angrily, "Why use me to settle your tuition fees!"
Wild Ox presented his point seriously, sounding quite logical.
"I'm the one at a loss here; she hasn't missed out on anything."
Lin Beichen slowly continued the conversation, with a hint of teasing.
Xia Luyao immediately became anxious, "Lin Beichen, what do you mean by that? How am I a loss for you?"
She widened her eyes, full of confusion and indignation in her tone.