When Choice Came

There were still two marks left on the Black Card—there were usually three, though sometimes there were four.

Each mark represented a discount on the transaction price. For example, with three marks, using the first granted a thirty percent discount, the second granted twenty percent, and the final one granted ten percent.

When Jin Zifu had first brought the Black Card, only the final mark had remained. A Black Card in that state was effectively useless. The one Luo Qiu later gave Cao Ziqian, however, was one on which he had replenished the marks.

As for a Black Card with a fourth mark—just imagine the feeling of a transaction price that had originally been substantial suddenly being reduced by sixty percent!

How interesting... This Black Card seems to be the one I encountered at Gu Yue Zhai today, Luo Qiu thought faintly.

Still, it did not matter whose hands the Black Card was in. The important thing was that its holder had arrived.

By then, Zhong Luochen had already sat down, and Luo Qiu was seated opposite him. You Ye had served carefully prepared flower tea. Unfortunately, whoever entered seemed to have no mood to taste it.

It would eventually grow cold and dry out completely.

"Does Mr. Zhong know the rules here?" Luo Qiu suddenly asked. If he had obtained this Black Card from Gu Yue Zhai, it would be difficult to estimate how much he knew about the club.

There were times when it was necessary to explain the club's transaction rules to a guest.

"Please, Mr. Clown!" Zhong Luochen steadied himself and looked at Luo Qiu frankly. In his view, when facing such mysterious unknowns, it was best to put away the superiority he possessed as an ordinary person and maintain the utmost politeness and humility.

Luo Qiu said, "The cardholder is a member of the club. There are still two marks left on the Black Card in your hand, so you can enjoy the transaction discount twice more."

Zhong Luochen nodded. What he thought was: No wonder Old Madam Zhang had looked hesitant when I took out the Jade Lock. The origin of this Black Card really is extraordinary.

"Then..."

"You can now enjoy a twenty percent discount. After this transaction, it will be ten percent." Luo Qiu said calmly, "It was originally thirty percent... but it has already been used once."

Zhong Luochen nodded again. "Mr. Clown, I understand now... But I want to confirm something. Can you really buy anything here?"

Luo Qiu said, "Of course... not. If what you want to buy is something like the destruction of the world, do you think we have the ability to sell it to you? After all, if the world ceased to exist, our club would go bankrupt."

Zhong Luochen nodded in considerable agreement.

Unexpectedly, Luo Qiu suddenly said in a distant voice, "Besides, you couldn't afford the transaction price for destroying the world... even with a discount."

Zhong Luochen's heart immediately skipped a beat... Was this a joke, or something else?

Luo Qiu continued, "We're getting off topic. Let's talk about what you want, Guest."

Like a charlatan, he said, "Wealth? Fame? Women? Or power? As long as you want it and can afford the price."

"I want to buy a life!" Zhong Luochen took a deep breath and said heavily.

Afterward, he watched Luo Qiu's every movement, tense yet composed. Although the other man wore the Clown Mask, he could still discern something through his body language.

But he could not see anything.

The Clown before him remained completely motionless, merely staring at him in silence. He stared until Zhong Luochen broke out in a cold sweat, and only then did he finally hear the other man say, "Of course. No problem. Whose life does Mr. Zhong want? And what do you intend to use to buy it? Ah, I forgot to tell you—we do not accept money here."

"My grandfather." Zhong Luochen's voice deepened. "He has a brain tumor and is now unconscious. We've consulted the best doctors at home and abroad, but none of them can treat him. I only hope he can get through this crisis."

After hearing this, Luo Qiu said, "Guest, I don't care what illness your grandfather has. What I care about is this: You want to buy your grandfather's lifespan... How long a life do you want to buy? One year? Five years? Or ten?"

Zhong Luochen looked at Luo Qiu. "How long can I buy at most?"

"That is for you to decide. You need to determine how much each minute of your grandfather's life is worth, and how much you can bear to pay."

"Ten years... no..." Zhong Luochen hesitated for a moment before saying, "Five years. Five years is enough! As for the price... I don't know how to measure it. I hope you can tell me. But I know that although this place conducts transactions unknown to the public, it also values free will. So I believe you won't mislead me."

But I will guide you...

Luo Qiu fell silent for a while. His silence made Zhong Luochen even more uneasy. The young man seemed determined to hide his anxiety, so he finally picked up the flower tea You Ye had brewed and took a small sip.

"Use three hours of lifespan to purchase information on Zhong Luochen's grandfather?"

"Use three hours of lifespan to purchase information on Zhong Luochen?"

"...Yes."

But the calmness was only superficial. In secret, Luo Qiu was communicating through his thoughts with the altar on the third underground floor. After successfully completing his first transaction, his abilities had slowly grown stronger, just as You Ye had said.

For example, he could now communicate directly with the altar through his thoughts and exchange his lifespan for information he wanted.

The altar's existence allowed Luo Qiu to continually extend his lifespan, but at the same time, it seemed to be constantly draining it.

Since he still possessed the White Jade Token worth seventy days of lifespan, Luo Qiu decisively chose to purchase the information. He would treat it as an initial investment.

Still, losing six hours of lifespan all at once made his heart ache a little...

Only after Zhong Luochen had drunk half the flower tea did Luo Qiu slowly speak. "Sir, you should know that your grandfather's life is tied to the fate of many people... whether they are relatives like you or others who are your enemies. Every extra day your grandfather remains mentally lucid allows countless people to eat and stay warm, while also causing countless families to be torn apart... And all of this depends on a single decision of his."

Zhong Luochen nodded deeply. "Precisely because of that, we can't let him pass away just like this!"

At that moment, Luo Qiu suddenly swept his hand across the tabletop. Several patterned cards appeared out of thin air on the previously empty table. "Since you have entrusted me with the right to set the price, I shall do so. Take a look."

Luo Qiu opened the first card on the left. The number "30" was written on it. He explained, "You can use thirty years of your life to buy five years of your grandfather's life."

Zhong Luochen froze, then grew angry and embarrassed. "Thirty years for five? What kind of deal is that?"

Luo Qiu said calmly, "Mr. Zhong, as far as I know, there are three people in your generation of the Zhong Family, including you. Your abilities are comparable, and none of you has an advantage. Thus, each of you has a one-in-three chance of inheriting your vast family. Furthermore, your grandfather built the Zhong Family's empire himself. Even if you possess outstanding abilities and inherit your family, you would still need ten years to reach the influence your grandfather currently possesses. You must have considered this yourself, haven't you? Of course, ten years is the most favorable estimate. So... ten years, multiplied by three, is thirty."

Zhong Luochen was silent for a moment. "What is on the second card?"

Luo Qiu flipped over the second card. The word "Wisdom" was written on it.

This was easy to understand. He would exchange all the cleverness of his life for five years of his grandfather's life. His lifespan would not decrease, and he would remain the young master of the Zhong Family, but he would probably become an unremarkable man who achieved nothing.

In other words, he would be exchanging his life. Clearly, this was also something Zhong Luochen could not accept.

"What is the third card?" Zhong Luochen subconsciously swallowed.

Luo Qiu gently turned over the third card. Written on it was "Happiness."

"What does that mean?" Zhong Luochen frowned in confusion.

Luo Qiu said calmly, "It's simple. No matter what you obtain in the future, you will be unable to feel any happiness. You will be unable to sense the preciousness of love, forget the rarity of familial affection, lose the joy of having children, and even lose all sense of satisfaction... No matter what you do or how you do it."

Seeing Zhong Luochen's silent expression, Luo Qiu reached out and prepared to turn over the fourth card.

Unexpectedly, Zhong Luochen suddenly called out, "No need. I'll use my happiness as the transaction price!"

Luo Qiu was slightly surprised. "Mr. Zhong, you should understand that seeing the final card is also one of your rights."

Zhong Luochen sneered. "The later cards will probably only be worse. This really is a place where one trades with the devil. I can't use my own life as payment, and I won't give up my wisdom!"

"So that is why you chose happiness?"

Zhong Luochen raised his head, his voice full of confidence. "Yes! But don't forget, I have a Black Card, so I can still enjoy a discount by exchanging my happiness... In other words, there are at least one or two things that can bring me satisfaction which you won't be able to take away!"

Luo Qiu tapped the table, noncommittal. "Then what do you intend to keep? Although it is only an eighty percent price, you can actually retain only one thing at most. There are many things that can bring happiness, but they can ultimately be categorized as love, family, interests, achievement, and peace of mind."

"Leave me achievement." Zhong Luochen answered directly.

"Are you sure? Perhaps a better choice lies at the end." Luo Qiu said calmly.

Zhong Luochen shook his head. "I trust my instincts. There's no point saying more."

Luo Qiu had no choice but to nod. Then he gestured again, and an old parchment scroll slowly unfurled before Zhong Luochen. "If you have made your decision, press your palm onto it. The contract will then officially take effect."

Zhong Luochen pressed his palm down without hesitation. His heart suddenly contracted, and a suffocating sensation of death swept over him. He gasped for breath, looking on in terror.

Luo Qiu said calmly, "Don't worry. Once the transaction is complete, you will be safe. Besides, we always provide the merchandise first and collect the transaction price afterward... This contract is merely a small safeguard, because we do not wish to see a guest who has obtained the merchandise refuse to pay."

Zhong Luochen took a deep breath. "All right! Then, has my grandfather recovered now?"

Luo Qiu shook his head. "Don't rush. First, bring your grandfather here... Hmm, he doesn't need to come directly to me. Settle him anywhere nearby. Once you've completed the first step, you should know how to find me."

The Black Card appeared in Zhong Luochen's pocket again. He nodded, quickly pushed open the club's main door, and walked out onto the bustling street.

Watching Zhong Luochen leave, Luo Qiu shook his head. He could have gone there himself, but not by using his teleportation ability. He would have needed to take transportation.

His abilities were not yet strong enough to let him cross several provinces—in fact, for now, he could only move around the vicinity of this city.

As for the other reason, there was really nothing to it.

He was simply lazy...

"Congratulations, Master, on negotiating a transaction."

You Ye offered her praise freely beside Luo Qiu.

Luo Qiu removed the Clown Mask and fanned himself. "The transaction isn't complete yet, so there's no need to celebrate. And since I gave him an eighty percent discount, I feel like I lost a great deal."

But it was one of the rules. No matter how much he felt he was losing, Luo Qiu could do nothing about it. Still, although Zhong Luochen had retained the happiness of achievement, the value of everything else if sacrificed far exceeded Luo Qiu's estimate.

Of course, that was only after the transaction was completed.

"Master, what was on the fourth card?" You Ye asked curiously.

Luo Qiu shook his head without answering. He picked up his cane and walked upstairs.

You Ye tilted her head, then reached out and flipped over the fourth card Luo Qiu had left behind.

It read: Twenty Years of Good Deeds.

She knew that the transaction price required by this fourth card was not something immediately available. Instead, Zhong Luochen would need to maintain the standard of doing good deeds for the next twenty years and commit no evil until the period ended. Only then would the transaction be complete.

In the words of the Eastern nation: accumulating virtue through good deeds.

The merit accumulated through twenty years of good deeds would serve as the final transaction price.

"Master, you're rather wicked."

The beautiful Maid doll smiled faintly and put the card away.