There were still two marks left on the black card—normally, there would be three, and in some cases, even four. <br><br>Each mark represented a discount on transaction value. For instance, with three marks, using the first one would grant a 30% discount, the second an 80% discount, and the final one a 90% discount. <br><br>When Gold Fortune first brought the black card, the card only had its final mark left. Such a black card was essentially invalid. Later, the card Xavi handed to Ziqian Cao was one where he had reinfused the marks. <br><br>As for a black card with a fourth mark—imagine the sudden thrill of slashing the transaction amount by a 60% discount! How amusing... Xavi thought to himself that this black card seemed to be the very one he had encountered today at Gu Yue Studio. <br><br>However, it didn’t matter whose possession the black card was in; the key was that the holder of the card had arrived. <br><br>At this moment, Ethan Zhong was already seated, and Xavi sat across from him. You Ye had already served a meticulously prepared floral tea. Unfortunately, no matter who entered, none seemed to have the mood to taste it. <br><br>Eventually, it would cool and dry out. <br><br>“Mr. Zhong, are you familiar with the rules here?” Xavi suddenly asked—if Ethan Zhong had indeed acquired this black card from Gu Yue Studio, then his level of understanding of the club was uncertain and warranted explanation. <br><br>“Please go ahead, Mister Joker!” Ethan Zhong composed himself and looked directly at Xavi with a calm demeanor—after all, as he saw it, the best approach when facing such a mysterious unknown was to put away any sense of superiority from being an ordinary person and maintain utmost politeness and humility. <br><br>Xavi said, “Black card holders are considered members of the club. The card in your hand still has two marks remaining, meaning you can enjoy transaction discounts twice more.” <br><br>Ethan Zhong nodded slightly, thinking to himself that this explained why Madam Zhang had hesitated when he had presented the Jade Amulet earlier. Surely it was because this black card had an extraordinary origin. <br><br>“Then...” <br><br>“You currently qualify for an 80% discount. After this transaction, it will be 90%,” Xavi remarked calmly. “Originally, it would have been 70%... but one mark has already been used.” <br><br>Ethan Zhong nodded once more: “Mister Joker, I understand now... However, I want to confirm—can anything really be purchased here?” <br><br>Xavi replied, “Of course... that is impossible. If Mr. Zhong intended to purchase something like the destruction of the world, do you think we would be able to sell it to you? After all, if the world ceases to exist, so does our club.” <br><br>Ethan Zhong agreed with a nod. <br><br>Unexpectedly, Xavi added in a faint tone, “Besides, even with a discount, you wouldn’t be able to afford the transaction price for destroying the world...” <br><br>Ethan Zhong’s heart skipped a beat—was this a joke, or something else? <br><br>Xavi continued, “Let’s not digress. Let’s talk about what it is that you, our guest, desire.” <br><br>He spoke as if holding divine authority, “Wealth? Fame? Women? Or power? Whatever you wish, as long as you can pay the price.” <br><br>“I want to buy life!” Ethan Zhong took a deep breath and spoke heavily. <br><br>After speaking, he watched Xavi’s every move with a mix of nervousness and determination. Even though the other party was wearing a clown mask, he hoped to glean something from his body language. <br><br>But he saw nothing. <br><br>The clown before him remained motionless, merely staring at him in silence. The prolonged gaze made Ethan Zhong break into a cold sweat, until finally, he heard Xavi’s voice: “Of course, no problem. Whose life does Mr. Zhong wish to buy? And what do you plan to use to pay for it? Oh, I almost forgot to mention—we do not accept money here.” <br><br>“My grandfather,” Ethan Zhong said solemnly. “He has a brain tumor and is now comatose. We’ve sought the best doctors at home and abroad, but none can treat him. I just want him to get through this ordeal.” <br><br>Xavi responded, “Mr. Zhong, I’m not interested in what ailment your grandfather has. What matters to me is how long you wish to buy his life for. A year? Five years? Or ten years?” <br><br>Ethan Zhong looked at Xavi and asked, “What’s the maximum I can buy?” <br><br>Xavi replied, “That is for you to decide. You must evaluate how much each minute of your grandfather’s life is worth and determine what you can afford.” <br><br>“Ten years... no,” Ethan Zhong hesitated briefly, then said, “Five years. Just five years will do! As for the price... I don’t know how to measure it. I hope you can tell me. However, I understand that although this place deals in discreet transactions, the principle of voluntary participation is upheld. So I trust you won’t mislead me.” <br><br>But guiding you, indeed... <br><br>Xavi fell silent for a moment. His silence made Ethan Zhong even more uneasy. The young man, seemingly trying to conceal his nervousness, finally picked up the floral tea You Ye had made and sipped it lightly. <br><br>“Use three hours of lifespan to purchase information on Ethan Zhong’s grandfather?” <br><br>“Use three hours of lifespan to purchase information on Ethan Zhong?” <br><br>“...Agreed.” <br><br>While the surface seemed calm, Xavi was silently communicating with the shrine platform on the negative third floor. As You Ye had mentioned after his first successful transaction, his abilities would gradually strengthen. <br><br>For instance, he could now directly communicate with the shrine platform and exchange his own lifespan for desired information. <br><br>The shrine platform allowed Xavi to continually extend his lifespan, though simultaneously, it seemed to consume it just as incessantly. <br><br>Given that he still held a white jade token worth seventy days of life, Xavi decisively chose to purchase information... considering it an early investment. <br><br>Yet losing six hours of life all at once still felt slightly painful... <br><br>... <br><br>By the time Ethan Zhong had consumed half the floral tea, Xavi finally spoke again: “Mr. Zhong, you should know that your grandfather’s life impacts the fates of many—both those who love him and those who oppose him. If your grandfather lives another day, countless individuals may enjoy warmth and sustenance, while many others may lose their homes or be separated from their loved ones, all due to a single decision he makes.” <br><br>Ethan Zhong nodded deeply, “Precisely because of this, we cannot let him pass away so easily!” <br><br>At that moment, Xavi swept his hand across the table, and several intricately patterned cards appeared out of thin air. “Since you’ve entrusted me with the valuation, let me provide it. Take a look.” <br><br>Xavi flipped over the first card on his left, revealing the number ‘30.’ He explained, “You can trade thirty years of your life for five years of your grandfather’s.” <br><br>Ethan Zhong froze and then became somewhat indignant: “Thirty years only for five? What kind of trade is that?” <br><br>Xavi replied calmly, “Mr. Zhong, as I understand it, in your family’s generation, there are three of you, yourself included. The three of you are equally competent, with none holding a clear advantage. Thus, each has an equal one-third chance of inheriting your family’s vast empire. Additionally, while the foundation of the Zhong family was built by your grandfather, it will take you at least ten years to achieve his current level of influence, even with your exceptional abilities—even assuming the most optimistic scenario. So... ten years, multiplied by three, equals thirty years.” <br><br>Ethan Zhong was silent for a moment, then asked, “What about the second card?” <br><br>Xavi flipped over the second card, which bore the words ‘Wisdom.’ <br><br>This was straightforward—it meant sacrificing a lifetime of intelligence for five years of the grandfather’s life. Ethan Zhong’s lifespan would remain intact, and he would still be the young master of the Zhong family, but he would likely become mediocre and unremarkable. <br><br>Essentially, it was about trading away his own future—a prospect Ethan Zhong clearly found unacceptable. <br><br>“What’s on the third card?” Ethan Zhong swallowed instinctively. <br><br>Xavi gently turned over the third card, which read ‘Contentment.’ <br><br>“What does that mean?” Ethan Zhong furrowed his brows in confusion. <br><br>Xavi explained calmly, “It’s very simple. No matter what you achieve in the future, you will lose the ability to feel contentment. Love’s value will elude you, familial bonds will seem meaningless, the joy of parenthood will escape you, and even a sense of satisfaction will vanish—you will find no happiness, no matter what you do or how you do it.” <br><br>Seeing Ethan Zhong remain silent, Xavi reached out to reveal the fourth card. <br><br>But Ethan Zhong suddenly shouted, “Stop! There’s no need; I’ll use my contentment as the transaction price!” <br><br>Xavi raised an eyebrow slightly and said, “Mr. Zhong, you should understand that viewing the final card is your right.” <br><br>Ethan Zhong sneered, “If I keep looking, it’ll only get worse. This place, after all, is where deals akin to those with the devil are made. I won’t trade my life, nor will I forfeit my wisdom!” <br><br>“So your choice is contentment?” <br><br>Ethan Zhong raised his head confidently and replied, “Yes! But don’t forget, I have a black card. Trading my contentment means I still enjoy a discount... which means you can’t take everything away from me! At least one or two sources of fulfillment must remain.” <br><br>Xavi tapped the table nonchalantly, “Then what do you wish to retain? Though it’s an 80% discount, it only allows you to keep one aspect at most. Sources of happiness are numerous, but they can generally be categorized into a few: love, family, hobbies, achievements, and peace of mind.” <br><br>“Let me keep my achievements,” Ethan Zhong said decisively. <br><br>“Are you certain? Perhaps the best choice lies in the final card,” Xavi responded calmly. <br><br>Ethan Zhong shook his head. “I trust my instincts. There’s no need for further discussion.” <br><br>Xavi nodded reluctantly and reached out again, summoning an ancient parchment scroll that slowly unfurled before Ethan Zhong. “If you’ve made your decision, place your palm on this. It will formalize the contract and make the transaction official.” <br><br>Ethan Zhong placed his palm on the scroll without hesitation. At that moment, his heart suddenly contracted, and he experienced a suffocating, death-like sensation. Gasping for air, he looked around in terror. <br><br>Xavi remarked calmly, “Don’t worry. Once the transaction is complete, you’ll be safe. Moreover, we always deliver the goods first before collecting the payment. This contract is merely a small safeguard for us—after all, we would hate to see a guest refuse to pay after receiving their purchase.” <br><br>Ethan Zhong took deep breaths and asked, “Alright! So, is my grandfather healed now?” <br><br>Xavi shook his head, “No need to rush. First, bring your grandfather to this location. Hmm, no need to come directly to me; just find a place to settle him down. Once that’s done, you’ll know how to find me.” <br><br>The black card reappeared in Ethan Zhong’s pocket. Nodding, he quickly pushed open the club’s door and stepped out into the bustling street. <br><br>Watching Ethan Zhong leave, Xavi shook his head. Truthfully, he could have gone to him directly—not by teleportation, but by taking conventional transportation. <br><br>His abilities weren’t strong enough yet to allow him to cross provinces—currently, his range was limited to the local area. <br><br>And the other reason? Nothing much. <br><br>Just laziness... <br><br>... <br><br>“Congratulations, Master, on securing another transaction.” <br><br>You Ye stood beside Xavi, offering her praise generously. <br><br>Xavi removed the clown mask from his face and fanned himself. “The deal isn’t complete yet, so there’s no need to celebrate just yet. Plus, because of the 80% discount, I feel like I’ve lost a lot.” <br><br>However, it was one of the rules, so no matter how much he felt he’d lost, Xavi had no choice. Although Ethan Zhong retained his sense of achievement, the remaining aspects of his contentment, if sacrificed, were still far more valuable than Xavi had initially estimated. <br><br>Of course, that was after the transaction concluded. <br><br>“Master, what was on the fourth card?” You Ye asked curiously. <br><br>Xavi shook his head without answering, grabbed his cane, and started walking upstairs. <br><br>You Ye tilted her head slightly and, with her hand, flipped over the fourth card that Xavi had left behind. <br><br>It read: “Two Decades of Kindness.” <br><br>She understood that the fourth card didn’t require an immediate payment. Instead, Ethan Zhong would need to uphold a standard of kindness for the next twenty years, refraining from any wrongdoing. Only after completing this term would the transaction be considered fulfilled. <br><br>In the language of the East, it would be called “accumulating virtue through good deeds.” <br><br>Using the merits amassed from two decades of kindness as the ultimate payment. <br><br>“Master, you’re a bit wicked.” <br><br>The beautiful maid doll smiled faintly and carefully put the card away.)
