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

The next morning, I went to that underground alley again.

This time, Chen Xuan took me even deeper.

After passing through three hidden doors and turning seven or eight corners, we arrived at a huge underground space.

"This is..." I stared wide-eyed.

Before us lies an underground market comparable to a shopping mall.

But these aren't ordinary goods.

It's a couple.

Countless people moved through the market, some haggling over prices at stalls, some whispering in corners, and some staring at data on electronic screens.

A tense yet exciting atmosphere filled the air.

"This is Jiangcheng's largest CP exchange," Chen Xuan said. "It's also called the 'black market.'"

"Isn't it official?"

"The government also has an exchange, but it's not this large," Chen Xuan said. "The information here is more readily available, and the trading is more flexible."

"Of course, the risks are also higher."

I nodded and followed him into the market.

After walking a few steps, a familiar figure came to greet me.

"Little Lin, welcome, welcome!" Chengtuo said with a smile. "Brother Chen, it's been a long time."

"The weight." Chen Xuan nodded in acknowledgment. "Thank you for your help this time."

"No trouble at all," the scale waved its hand. "Xiao Lin is the most promising young man I've ever met. It's my honor to be of help."

He glanced at me and smiled meaningfully.

"I heard you're interested in trading memories?"

"Yes." I nodded. "Is there a problem?"

"No, no, I'm just reminding you," said the weight, "that trading memories is risky."

"I know."

"That's good." He turned around. "Come with me, I'll show you the 'goods'."

The weight led us to a stall deep inside the market.

The stall was small, with only a table and a few chairs.

But what was on the table stunned me.

It was a strange instrument, like a metal helmet, with countless tiny wires attached to it.

"What is this?" I asked.

"A memory extractor," the weight said, "is used to read and extract a person's memories."

"Selling memories is done through this device."

"The process is simple." He sat down, gesturing for me to sit as well. "You put on this helmet, then choose a memory you want to sell."

"The instrument will read the contents of that memory and then 'copy' it."

"The copied memories will be stored in special containers, which buyers can 'purchase' at any time."

"And you... will lose this memory forever."

"It's as if it never happened."

"Lost forever?" I frowned. "Not 'transfer'?"

"No," the weight shook its head. "Memory and lifespan are not the same."

"Lifespan is a part of your body; once you sell it, it's gone."

"But memory is 'information,' and theoretically it can be copied."

"But..." he paused, "no one wants to have their memories copied."

Why?

"Because once a memory is 'read,' it leaves a trace," the weight explained. "The more times it's read, the more obvious the traces become."

"In the end, this memory will become blurry, confused, or even disappear completely."

"What the buyer has acquired is merely a fragmented piece of information that will eventually disappear."

"Therefore, the price of memories has always been very low."

"That's the reason."

I was silent.

It turned out to be the case.

The value of memory lies not in the content itself, but in its "exclusivity".

Once it's been read, it's no longer "exclusive".

Its value naturally declined.

"And what about lifespan?" I asked. "Why is lifespan so valuable?"

"Because lifespan is a 'consumable,'" the weight said. "Every bit of lifespan you sell is a real deduction from your life."

"Unreplicable, unrecoverable."

"Once the buyer uses it, it's used up; it will never depreciate in value."

"That's why the price of lifespan CP is the highest."

"So what exactly is CP?" I continued, "and why can it be used for trading?"

The weight glanced at me, seemingly somewhat surprised.

"You don't know what CP is?"

"I know it's 'cost points,'" I said, "but I don't understand why it can be a medium of exchange."

"I see." The weight nodded. "Then let me explain."

He picked up the teacup on the table, took a sip, and then began to speak.

"The essence of CP is a 'unit of energy'."

"It represents the energy a person uses or exchanges during a 'strange event.'"

"For example, saving someone consumes your lifespan. In this strange world, this lifespan exists in the form of 'CP' (couple pairing)."

"When you use it to save someone, the CP (cost/resource) is transferred to the person you saved."

"Or, you can use CP for the transaction, and the buyer will also pay in CP."

"Essentially, CP is the 'currency' in this bizarre world."

"It can be used to purchase any resources related to the supernatural."

"Including treatment, equipment, intelligence, training..."

Even lifespan itself.

I suddenly realized.

It turns out that CP is not just a unit of energy, but also a medium of exchange.

Just like money in the real world.

"How is the price of CP determined?" I asked.

"Supply and demand," the weight said. "Simply put, if more people want it, the price goes up; if fewer people want it, the price goes down."

Why is the lifespan CP (cost per unit) so expensive? Because everyone wants to live longer.

"Why are memory-based content pairs so cheap? Because most people are unwilling to spend money to buy someone else's memories."

"But that's not always the case," he added. "In special circumstances, the price of Memory CP can also increase."

"For example, some research institutions need a large number of memory samples to analyze emotional patterns..."

"Or perhaps certain mystical phenomena require specific types of memories to trigger special abilities..."

"These are all influencing factors."

"So what is the price of a lifespan CP on the market now?" I asked.

The weight looked at a small device on his wrist.

"1000 CP is roughly... three months of lifespan."

"So, 1 year of lifespan = 4000 CP?"

"Pretty much," he nodded, "but that's the 'retail price.'"

"Prices can vary depending on whether it's 'wholesale' or 'futures'."

"futures?"

"It means selling future CP (Consumer Coins) in advance," the scale explained. "For example, if you're currently short of CP, you can sign an agreement with a buyer to sell all the CP you can earn over the next year."

"This way you can get a lot of CP at once, but the price is that you won't get anything for the next year."

"Every CP I earn has to be used to pay off my debts."

I remembered what the weight said yesterday.

Futures trading.

This plan is too risky and not suitable for me.

"Are there any other ways to trade?" I asked.

"Yes," the weight smiled, "For example... arbitrage."

"arbitrage?"

"Yes." A glint of shrewdness flashed in his eyes. "To make money from market fluctuations."

"For example, you know that the price of lifespan CP is going to increase."

"Then you should buy now at a low price and sell later at a higher price."

"The difference between the prices is the profit."

"But this requires very strong analytical skills and access to intelligence," he emphasized. "I don't recommend ordinary people try it."

I remembered this message.

Perhaps it will be useful in the future.

"Okay, I understand." I took a deep breath. "Then I'll see... what kind of memories I can sell."

"No problem." The weight handed me a tablet.

The screen displays a list of memories.

"These are memories that can be sold," he said. "You select which ones you want to sell, and the system will automatically assess the price."

I started browsing the list.

Memories are categorized by date, ranging from the most recent to the oldest.

Click on any section, and the screen will display a summary and preview of the content you've remembered.

such as:

April 8, 2026 - Dormitory Routine

Abstract: Reading, playing games, and eating in the dormitory.

Estimated price: 80 CP

Risk level: Low

Class Notes, April 1, 2026

Abstract: Content of a math lesson

Estimated price: 50 CP

Risk level: Low

March 15, 2026 - Task Log

Abstract: The process of handling the bizarre E-level mission.

Estimated price: 120 CP

Risk level: Medium

I quickly browsed through the list, mentally deciding which items to sell.

If each memory segment averages 80 CP, then to accumulate 2800 CP...

35 memories need to be sold.

That is, 245 days of memory.

Nearly 8 months.

"It's taking too long..." I frowned.

Just then, the scales of cost jolted in my mind.

I subconsciously glanced at the scales.

Then he froze.

A new module appeared on the balance panel at some point.

Basic Market Interface

After clicking, you'll see an interface similar to a stock trading software.

It has candlestick charts, real-time quotes, buy and sell buttons...

It even has features like "My Account", "Transaction History", and "Market Analysis".

"This is..." I stared wide-eyed.

"What's wrong?" Chen Xuan noticed my unusual behavior.

"The scales... have unlocked a new feature," I said.

"What function does it have?"

"Market interface." I told him what I saw.

Chen Xuan and Chengtuo exchanged a glance, both showing expressions of surprise.

"The cost-balancing scale can be directly integrated into the market?" the weight murmured. "This is the first time I've heard of such a thing..."

He looked carefully at the tablet screen in my hand, seemingly lost in thought.

"Perhaps this is the privilege of the balancers," he said. "Ordinary people can only transact through intermediaries like us."

"But the balancer can operate directly in the market."

"Not only is it more convenient, but the transaction fees may also be lower."

I nodded and turned my attention back to the market interface of the scale.

Current account information:

CP balance: 200

Available credit: 0

Outstanding amount: 0

Current market conditions:

Lifetime CP: 4.2 yuan/CP (up 0.3%)

Memory cost per CP: 0.8 yuan/CP (break-even)

Emotional CP: 1.5 yuan/CP (down 0.1%)

Trading advice:

Current market sentiment is leaning towards optimism.

It is advisable to remain on the sidelines and observe, and avoid chasing high prices.

"Romantic couple?" I clicked on it out of curiosity.

The results show:

Emotional CP: A unit representing the intensity of emotional investment.

Happiness: 1.2 yuan/CP

Sadness: 1.8 yuan/CP

Fear: 2.1 yuan/CP

Anger: 1.6 yuan/CP

Love: 3.5 yuan/CP

"You can sell emotions?" I asked the weight in surprise.

"Of course," he nodded. "Emotions are a very precious commodity."

"Some people lose their emotional capacity for various reasons and need to 'buy' emotions from outside to fill the void."

"For example, sadness can be used to perform certain bizarre 'purification rituals.'"

"Fear can be used to create 'deterrent' equipment."

"Love... is the most precious thing, usually used to enhance high-level, bizarre abilities."

"3.5 yuan per CP, more expensive than lifespan."

I was silent.

I never imagined that emotions could be turned into a commodity.

The rules of this world are truly cruel.

"Okay, I think I understand," I said. "Let me think about it some more, what kind of memories I want to sell."

"No rush," said the weight. "You can take a look around the market first and familiarize yourself with the interface."

"Come find me anytime you've made up your mind."

He stood up and patted me on the shoulder.

"Remember, Kobayashi."

"In this market, everyone makes decisions based on their own judgment."

There is no right or wrong, only profit and loss.

"Just be prepared to bear the consequences."