My bizarre resurgence: My price is the ability to trade everything.

I had just finished showering and was about to rest when my communicator rang.

The shrill ringtone sounded particularly jarring in the quiet dormitory. I glanced at the caller ID—Su Mingyue.

It was her emergency call.

"Xiao Fan, come to Jiangcheng Central Hospital quickly!" Her voice was urgent, with a hint of panic I had never heard before.

"What's wrong?"

"Tiezhu...something happened to him!"

My heart sank. Without thinking, I grabbed my coat and rushed outside.

One of my slippers flew off my feet, and without bothering to put it back on, I pushed open the door and ran downstairs.

The image of Zhao Tiezhu kept flashing through my mind—that always smiling middle-aged man, who spoke in a rough voice but was incredibly meticulous. Every time we went on a mission, he would rush to the front, using his strong muscles to shield us from danger.

He can't afford to get into trouble.

Absolutely not.

The hospital corridor was filled with the smell of disinfectant.

This smell reminds me of my childhood experiences being hospitalized, the white walls, the cold medical equipment, and the suffocating silence. At this moment, only a few nurses hurried past in the corridor, their footsteps echoing in the empty space.

Su Mingyue stood at the door of the emergency room, her face so pale it was almost transparent.

Her eyes were red-rimmed, clearly from crying. The usual calm and insightful analyst was gone, replaced by a helpless girl.

"What's going on?" I rushed over and asked, my voice hoarser than I expected.

"A trap set by Guixu." Her voice trembled. "They knew we were going to investigate the abandoned factory in the eastern suburbs and laid an ambush there beforehand."

"Tiezhu was hit by... by a B+ level monster while protecting me."

"B+ grade?!" I exclaimed, my eyes widening.

What does that mean?

I'm going to go all out for this D-level mystery.

B+ level...that's practically the level of a senior officer in the General Administration!

A single ordinary B-rank anomaly could easily destroy a ten-person squad. Although Zhao Tiezhu was experienced, he was only at the B-rank officer level. How could he possibly withstand a B+ rank anomaly?

"How is it now?"

"He's still being treated." Su Mingyue's eyes reddened even more. "The doctor said his injuries are very serious."

"His internal organs were ruptured, several bones were broken, and a strange, distorted force was eroding his body."

"If we don't deal with it quickly..."

She couldn't continue.

I clenched my fist so tightly that my nails almost dug into my flesh.

pain.

But this kind of pain is nothing compared to the pain in my heart.

"How much CP do you need?" I asked.

"What?"

How many CP are needed for treatment?

Su Mingyue was stunned for a moment, then gave a wry smile.

"The doctor estimated...at least 3000 CP."

"3000 CP?" I was stunned.

3000CP.

This number keeps echoing in my mind.

3000CP, which translates to a lifespan of 3 years.

I have 26 years.

If I give it all to him, I'll only have 23 years left.

But if we don't give it...

He will die.

The emergency room door opened.

A doctor in a white coat came out, removed his mask, and looked serious. He had deep dark circles under his eyes, clearly indicating that he had been working continuously for a long time.

"A patient's family member?"

"We're his colleagues," Chen Xuan said, walking over. "How's the situation?"

"They're stable for now," the doctor sighed, "but only temporarily."

"The strange power within him is still eroding him; we can only suppress it for now."

"If it's not completely eradicated, his body will be completely destroyed within three days at most."

"Three days..." I repeated softly.

This number hit me like a hammer blow.

Three days.

Only three days.

"A complete cure requires special resources and rituals," the doctor said. "These things combined will cost approximately 3000 CP."

"You guys are from the Bureau of Mysterious Responses, you should know how to get so many CPs, right?"

Chen Xuan remained silent for a while.

"We know."

The doctor nodded, turned around, and walked back to the emergency room.

The moment the door closed, I felt as if something had clenched my heart.

That feeling is hard to describe.

It felt like an invisible hand was slowly taking something away from me.

We stood in the corridor, the atmosphere so heavy it was suffocating.

A sliver of moonlight shone through the window at the end of the corridor, casting a pale, white patch on the floor. The light seemed so cold, so distant, as if reminding me of the cruel nature of this world.

"3000 CP..." Su Mingyue murmured, "That's no small sum."

"The average new recruit has only a few hundred potential partners at most."

"Even if you combine Xiaofan's and Uncle Chen's reserves, it still won't be enough."

"Should we apply to the bureau?" I asked.

"The application process is too long," Chen Xuan shook his head. "It takes at least two weeks."

"Tiezhu didn't last two weeks."

"What should we do then?"

No one answered.

Because no one has any other options.

3000CP.

This is not a small amount.

For an ordinary person, they might not earn that much in a lifetime.

"Let me think," I said. "There must be a way."

But I know in my heart that this is just something I'm saying to comfort myself.

At 10 p.m., I sat alone on the rooftop of the hospital.

A night breeze blew by, bringing a touch of coolness.

I looked at the stars in the sky, my mind a complete mess.

3000CP.

How do I get 3000 CP?

Sell ​​your lifespan? Trade 3 years of lifespan for 3000 CP.

I've done this transaction before, so I know the process.

But 3 years...

I have 26 years left to live.

If Tiezhu is given 3 years, I will only have 23 years left.

Moreover, the cost record shows that my consumption efficiency is only 32%.

In other words, if I directly exchange my lifespan for CP, I will only actually receive 32%.

I only actually got my hands on the 960CP.

Far from enough.

"Do I have to sell them all?" I clenched my fists.

Sweat trickled through his fingers and evaporated quickly in the night breeze.

Or is it...?

I thought of another possibility.

CP Black Market.

I heard that more complex transactions can be conducted there.

It's not just about selling lifespan; it can also sell memories, emotions, and everything related to "consciousness."

"The weight..." I murmured.

That was the CP black market middleman that Uncle Chen took me to.

Perhaps he knows a way.

I took out my communicator, hesitated for a moment, and then dialed Chen Xuan's number.

"Uncle Chen, I want to go to the black market."

There was a few seconds of silence on the other end of the communication.

I could hear his heavy breathing, and the faint sound of traffic in the distance.

Are you sure?

"Tiezhu was injured protecting me," I said. "I can't watch him die."

silence.

A long silence.

I almost thought he wouldn't answer.

"...Okay." Chen Xuan sighed. "I'll take you there."

Half an hour later, I stood at the entrance of that familiar underground alley.

The entrance to the alley was inconspicuous, hidden in a corner of an old residential area. The walls were covered with messy graffiti, and there was some garbage on the ground, making it look like a forgotten corner of the city.

But I know that this is just an appearance.

Walking into the dark alley and passing through several portals disguised as walls, you'll find the CP Black Market hidden beneath Jiangcheng.

The "weight" is already there waiting.

He was a middle-aged man in his fifties, short and stout, with a perpetually smiling expression. His round belly was slightly protruding, making him look like an ordinary, kind elder.

But I know this person is not simple at all.

Having spent decades in the CP black market, he's seen it all. His eyes hold countless secrets, and his pockets are brimming with countless transactions.

"Kobayashi, we meet again," he said with a smile. "What brings you here this time?"

"I need 3000 CP," I said directly.

"3000?" He raised an eyebrow. "That's no small sum."

His tone was relaxed, but his eyes sharpened.

"What do you need so many couples for?"

"Save him." I briefly explained Zhao Tiezhu's situation.

After hearing this, "Bullet" stopped smiling and his expression became serious.

This change made me realize that he was serious.

"3000 CP...that's really a tough problem," he murmured, tapping his fingers lightly on the table, making a rhythmic sound.

How much stock do you have right now?

"Around 200."

"That's still 2800 short," he counted on his fingers. "At black market prices, you'd need to sell at least 2.8 years of your life."

"But your conversion rate is only 32%, so you'll actually receive much less."

"I've done the math. To accumulate 3000 CP, you'll need to sell at least four years of your lifespan."

4 years.

I only have 26 years left.

If it's sold after 4 years, there will only be 22 years left.

22 years.

That sounds like quite a lot.

But if these 22 years are spent maintaining the Seven Star Array...

"Is there any other way?" I asked.

"Weight" thought for a moment, then tapped his fingers rhythmically on the table.

"There are two ways."

"First, take on high-risk missions. The CP black market sometimes issues special missions that reward you with a large amount of CP upon completion."

"But these missions are usually very dangerous, and can be life-threatening."

"Second..." He glanced at me, "...to conduct 'futures' trading."

"Futures trading?"

"It's about selling off future CP (Content Provider) assets in advance," he said. "For example, selling off all the CP assets you can earn in the next year."

"That way, we can get a lot at once."

"But the price is that you'll get nothing for the next year."

"All CP earned will be automatically used to pay off debts."

I was silent.

Neither method is simple.

High-risk missions mean the possibility of death.

Trading futures means I'll be in trouble for the next year.

At that point, let alone saving Tiezhu, I myself might be in dire straits.

"Is there... a way somewhere in between?" I asked.

"Weight Weight" thought for a moment and then stopped tapping.

"There is one."

"What?"

"Memory trading."

"Memory trade?" I frowned.

I've seen this concept in the literature, but I've never really understood it.

"Yes." He nodded. "Memory is a very special commodity."

"It doesn't have a definite 'quantity' like lifespan; it's more ambiguous."

"You can sell a piece of memory in exchange for a certain amount of CP."

"But this deal carries some risks."

"What risks?"

"Once the memory is sold, you'll completely forget it," he said, "as if it never happened."

"Furthermore, if the memories being sold involve important information... you might lose something crucial as a result."

I was silent.

Selling out memories...

This idea makes me a little uneasy.

If I sell a piece of memory, the people in that memory, the experiences, the emotions...

They will all disappear.

Complete and utter disappearance.

I am no longer "the person who went through that experience".

I will become someone who has never experienced that thing.

"How many CP (Content Items) can a 7-day memory sell for?"

"Around 100 CP," he said, "depending on what kind of memories you choose to sell."

"Ordinary everyday memories are less expensive."

"Memories with emotional resonance tend to command higher prices."

"But the maximum won't exceed 200 CP."

100CP per segment.

To accumulate 2800 CP, you need to sell 28 7-day memories.

That is, nearly half a year's worth of memories!

"Isn't there any other way?" I asked.

My voice sounded a little tired.

"The weight" shook his head.

"In this market, prices are determined by supply and demand."

"You need 3000 CP, but you don't have the corresponding products."

"Either sell your lifespan, or sell your memories."

"Or... sell a little of both."

I took a deep breath.

Sell ​​four years of your lifespan, or sell six months of your memories.

Both choices are cruel.

But Tie Zhu's life wouldn't last much longer.

"I'll think about it," I said.

"The weight" nodded without urging him.

He poured me a cup of tea, then sat quietly to the side, waiting for my decision.

After leaving the black market, I stood in a dark alley, lost in thought.

Chen Xuan waited quietly to the side without saying a word.

A night breeze blew by, bringing a touch of coolness. I wrapped my coat tighter, but felt no warmth at all.

"Uncle Chen," I began, "what do you think I should do?"

Chen Xuan remained silent for a while.

His figure appeared particularly weathered in the dim light. Moonlight shone on his face, and I saw the marks left by time.

"This is your choice," he said. "I can't decide for you."

"But I can tell you one thing."

"What?"

"Tiezhu isn't the kind of person who would accept something just because you're selling your lifespan," Chen Xuan said. "He's a very proud man."

"If you were to sell your lifespan to save him..."

"He might feel guilty for the rest of his life."

"But if I don't sell, he'll die," I said.

When I said those words, I felt a sharp pain in my heart.

"I know," Chen Xuan nodded. "That's why I said it's your choice."

"No matter what you choose, there is no right or wrong."

"It's just a matter of whether you can accept the consequences."

That night, I stood on the hospital rooftop and thought for a long time.

The night sky was dotted with stars, like countless eyes watching me.

Selling lifespan? Selling memories?

Both choices are difficult.

But Tiezhu was injured while saving me.

If I do nothing...

I can not do it.

That guilt will coil around me like a venomous snake until I completely break down.

"Forget it." I took a deep breath. "Let's get all the couples together first."

"As for the consequences... we'll consider them later."