“It’s popular everywhere the trade roads reach—West Luo, Baling, Xianyou, you name it. A single snail shell like this will fetch at least one tael of silver at a market. I’ve even heard that in West Luo it can go for two.”

By the glow of a handful of glowspores, He Lingchuan saw that the snail in Liu Tong’s hand was a vivid, buttery yellow, the color of larderite from Mount Shou. However, there was also a touch of green, as well as purple, here and there, as if some carefree painter had dabbed on color at whim.

It looked carefree, yet brimmed with a quirky grace. Each streak of color felt like a finishing touch, bringing the shell to life.

“Candy snails grow only in the caves of Mount Yan,” Liu Tong said with a grin. “Panlong City posts guards and forbids private picking. What we’re getting now is a special reward for the merit we earned at Guizhen Stone Forest.”

Skinny’s eyes lit up like sparks catching dry tinder. “They’re too beautiful!” One tael of silver was a thousand large coppers. “We each get six?”

“Right, but don’t even think about sneaking more.” Liu Tong’s tone turned firm. “If we’re caught, our whole squad gets fined...