Wielding the Thunders Across Two Worlds-Chapter 31: Celestial Spirit Bracelet

Gu Zhao didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

He never would have imagined that the trees in the forest behind his village were actually Small-leafed Purple Sandalwood. He remembered the villagers would go to that same forest to chop off branches and twigs to take home for cooking and heating.

"No wonder the steamed buns always had that faint, fragrant aroma. We were using Small-leafed Purple Sandalwood as firewood." Gu Zhao rubbed his chin. ’I wonder if even ancient emperors were ever this extravagant?’

At this thought, Gu Zhao’s eyes lit up.

"As I recall, our family business doesn’t use Small-leafed Purple Sandalwood to make furniture, right?" Gu Zhao asked.

Gu Qi retorted irritably, "Small-leafed Purple Sandalwood? Why don’t you just ask for Huanghuali while you’re at it?"

Seeing Gu Zhao take a rare interest in the family business, Gu Qi explained anyway, "Small-leafed Purple Sandalwood and Huanghuali are too expensive and rare. You practically have to fight to get any stock. We do work with them, but we mostly make small decorative pieces to sell alongside other furniture. The occasional piece of furniture we make from them becomes a treasure we display in our store.

These days, the materials we use for our furniture are all imported wood. We mostly use Black Dalbergia, Large Fruit Purple Sandalwood, and woods like Red Suan Wood and Black Suan Wood."

"I remember something about Chicken Wing Wood and Huali Wood, too," Gu Zhao said. "Is there a big difference between Huali Wood and Huanghuali?"

"A goldfish and a shark are both fish. Do you think there’s a big difference?" Gu Qi shook his head. "Chicken Wing Wood and Huali Wood are cheap materials used for budget furniture. Our family doesn’t use them."

"Oh." Gu Zhao nodded, only half-understanding. Then he asked a question that nearly made Gu Qi jump out of his skin. "What if I had a source? What if I could get my hands on a large quantity of Small-leafed Purple Sandalwood?"

Gu Qi stared at Gu Zhao, his gaze intense, and asked, "You haven’t sent them any money yet, have you?"

Gu Zhao was speechless.

"And they haven’t tried to lure you overseas to Siam, the Shan Country, or India, have they?" Gu Qi’s eyes were filled with worry. The Gu Family had only had one son for two generations; this was his only child.

Gu Zhao was at a loss for words. "You’re that certain I’m being scammed?"

"Whether it’s Huanghuali or Small-leafed Purple Sandalwood, demand has always outstripped supply. The suppliers are all long-established, and you rarely even see new buyers," Gu Qi said. "Unless you’re willing to pay a huge premium, newcomers can’t get any stock."

"If someone approaches you claiming they can provide a large quantity of Small-leafed Purple Sandalwood, don’t even hesitate. They’re a scammer, one hundred percent," Gu Qi stated with certainty.

Gu Zhao just chuckled. A thought occurred to him, and he suddenly asked, "Our factory has a machine for making beads, right?"

"Of course. We sell bracelets, so we definitely have the machine," Gu Qi replied. "Why? You want to try your hand at it? I thought you never liked this stuff."

Gu Zhao nodded. "I like it now. Why don’t you take me for a look tomorrow?"

"Sure," Gu Qi readily agreed. It was the family business, after all, and he was quite pleased that Gu Zhao was showing interest. "Come to the office tomorrow. We still have some in stock at the factory. I’ll pick out a piece of Small-leafed Purple Sandalwood for you, and Dad will personally lathe a string of beads for you."

Gu Zhao asked, "Can you carve on the beads?"

"Of course, but it’s better not to. The natural grain of Small-leafed Purple Sandalwood is already gorgeous," Gu Qi said. "Carving anything on it would just be gilding the lily."

"Carve a Celestial Spirit Talisman on the bead," Gu Zhao said, sitting up straight with excitement. "Just a shallow engraving will do. Then I’ll fill it in with Cinnabar!"

Gu Qi gave Gu Zhao a speechless look. "If you want to carve a Magical Artifact, wouldn’t Peach Wood and Jujube Wood be better? Why do you insist on using Small-leafed Purple Sandalwood?"

"Does the factory have any Peach Wood or Jujube Wood?" Gu Zhao asked.

’To be honest, I’m also curious. Why are Taoist Family wooden Magical Artifacts typically made from Peach Wood and Jujube Wood? Is there really something different about those two types of wood compared to others? If possible, I’d like to see for myself what the difference is between making a Magical Artifact from Peach Wood and Jujube Wood versus Small-leafed Purple Sandalwood.’

"Of course not," Gu Qi shook his head. "We’re not in the business of making religious Magical Artifacts. If you want Peach Wood, Old Li next door makes solid wood furniture. His factory has walnut wood, though. Would that be an acceptable substitute?"

Gu Zhao flopped back onto the sofa. "A Siberian tiger and the Land Rover you drive are both ’tigers.’ Why don’t you try making do with a Siberian tiger?"

"Hey!?" Gu Qi raised an eyebrow.

Just then, Li Man and the housekeeper walked out of the kitchen carrying dishes of food. "Dinner’s ready!" 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

...

「The next day, Thursday.」

Li Man went to inspect a few of their stores, while Gu Qi took Gu Zhao to the furniture factory on the outskirts of the city.

Besides the offices and the workshop, the largest area in the factory was the warehouse, which was divided into a raw materials warehouse and a finished products warehouse.

Gu Qi first took Gu Zhao to greet the master craftsmen, then led him on a tour of the warehouse. Finally, in a small, keycard-access storeroom deep inside the raw materials warehouse, he took out a log of Small-leafed Purple Sandalwood.

"Such tight security?" Gu Zhao asked.

"The wood in this one small room is worth more than all the other wood outside combined. You tell me, does it need this level of security?" Gu Qi said, carrying the piece of wood as he led Gu Zhao toward the workshop.

’There wasn’t much inside,’ Gu Zhao thought, recalling the small storeroom, ’and it all looked like ordinary wood. I couldn’t tell at all that this was the "king of woods"—Huanghuali and Small-leafed Purple Sandalwood.’

"If you want to practice, there’s some Dalbergia odorifera and Black Suan Wood over there. Feel free to use any of that."

Arriving at the workshop, Gu Qi pointed to some leftover scraps to the side. These would normally be made into small pendants and other such items, either to be given away or sold. He didn’t forbid the factory’s craftsmen from occasionally taking a few pieces for themselves.

But Gu Zhao wasn’t interested. "I’d rather just watch you make the beads. How many bracelets can you make with this piece?"

"Didn’t you say you wanted two? One for me and one for your mom." Gu Qi snorted. "Making me craft my own gift? You’ve got some nerve."

"But I’m the one Drawing the Talismans and performing the Enlightenment!" Gu Zhao said righteously. "My Cultivation with Grandpa has been successful! An enlightened Magical Artifact can grant you a long life, free from all illness!"

Gu Qi chuckled but didn’t say anything more.

As people from the area around Yangcheng, which was also very close to Port City, they more or less believed in things like feng shui and fate. This was one of the reasons why Gu Qi and his wife had never objected to Gu Zhao studying Taoism with his grandfather since childhood, even when he occasionally acted all mystical.

Now that Gu Zhao was seriously talking about Drawing Talismans and Enlightenment, Gu Qi thought, ’Well, it’s a good thing and a sign of my son’s filial piety,’ so he didn’t argue anymore.

’It’s just one piece of Small-leafed Purple Sandalwood!’

After that, Gu Qi didn’t ask any of the workers for help. Aside from occasionally having Gu Zhao lend a hand, he handled everything himself.

Cutting, drilling, polishing...

After all the beads had been finely polished, Gu Qi picked up three of them. "Just one carved bead for each bracelet, right?"

"Yes." Gu Zhao nodded repeatedly, then took out a Celestial Spirit Talisman and spread it open. "Actually, just two will be enough," he added.

Gu Qi didn’t say anything. He just glanced at the talisman paper, put on his glasses, and sat down to the side with the beads to begin carving.

Gu Zhao went over to watch. He saw Gu Qi use the drilled hole as a horizontal axis, skillfully moving a small knife across the bead’s surface. A series of lines quickly appeared.

A moment later, a Celestial Spirit Talisman took shape, forming a perfect circle that filled the bead’s surface. At a glance, the bead seemed to be covered in Taoist Family Runes, exuding a sense of mysterious, artistic beauty.

"It’s beautiful!" Gu Zhao exclaimed in admiration.

"I studied under a master, you know," Gu Qi said smugly. "Yin Yang line carving, relief carving, flat carving, round carving... this simple intaglio line carving on Purple Sandalwood is child’s play, isn’t it?"

"Dad, you’re awesome! Now it’s my turn!"

As he spoke, Gu Zhao took out the Cinnabar and brush he had prepared, pulling them from his school bag. He dipped the brush lightly and began Drawing the Talisman. At the same time, the Magical Power in his Body circulated, flowing through the brush into the Cinnabar, and then infusing into the Purple Sandalwood bead.

Father and son worked in perfect harmony. Soon, the three beads with the Celestial Spirit Talismans were finished. They were then strung together with the other beads to make three bracelets.

"Three bracelets?" Gu Zhao asked.

"One of them’s for you!" Gu Qi said, annoyed.

Gu Zhao chuckled. "And that’s it?"

Gu Qi nodded. "Just a final buff and they’ll be done."

Feeling the faint Spiritual Power emanating from the three bracelets, Gu Zhao was thrilled. These bracelets used more Cinnabar, making their effect even better than a Celestial Spirit Talisman drawn on Yellow Paper.

’The Celestial Spirit Bracelets are complete!’