Embracing All

"Couldn't tell, kid—you actually liked jewelry?" Wu Cangshou landed beside the Abalone Pearl. "How about I talk to the Turtle King? If you're willing to pay enough, it wouldn't hurt to sell it to you. This Abalone Pearl has been sitting in Green Water Pool for years—it's not fresh anymore."

Liang Qu shook his head. "No need. I just like handling jewelry to satisfy the itch in my hands. I don't like keeping it."

"You can do that?" Wu Cangshou was baffled. "That's a rare one. This old tortoise has seen people who like collecting jewelry, but never someone who only likes touching it. What's the fun in that?"

"Shou Lord, that's where you're mistaken. Think about it—what do other people collect pearls for?"

Wu Cangshou thought for a moment. "To admire them?"

"Exactly! People love jewelry and collect jewelry just so they can get it in their hands, stuff it into an ivory box, then take it out for a glance or two when they've got nothing to do. Usually, they're terrified of knocking or scratching it, of dust settling over it. I just touch it directly—wouldn't that be more satisfying than merely looking?"

Wu Cangshou was speechless.

It made quite a bit of sense.

"Touch it if you want. Just don't rub the skin off it."

"Shou Lord, how generous!"

Having received permission.

Liang Qu eagerly picked up the Abalone Pearl and played with it.

The entire Abalone Pearl was fist-sized and irregular in shape, like an abalone—narrow at one end and broad at the other. Its rainbow interference colors shimmered and shifted with every change of angle, flowing with brilliant light.

Marsh Essence +127

Marsh Essence +152

There really was some! And quite a lot! Liang Qu could hardly put it down.

The