Invincible Little School Doctor Chapter 2039: Schizophrenic Patient

"Senior, let’s get straight to the point. Regarding Sophia’s situation..." Ye Haochuan tentatively inquired.

"This whole affair was indeed my doing, and by rights, I should be the one to manage the fallout!" Shentu Fu declared with a jovial tone.

However, his demeanor shifted abruptly to one of gravity in the next instant, and he huffed, "But whether I choose to handle it or not is entirely my prerogative. I instructed you to meet my conditions. If you refuse, I will not lift a finger to rescue anyone!"

Honestly, this fellow’s temperament is rather peculiar, isn’t it? Could he possibly suffer from a split personality?

Ye Haochuan felt a pang of frustration, responding with a wry smile, "Senior, isn’t it somewhat unreasonable for us to proceed in such a manner...?"

Shentu Fu retorted with icy finality, "What is reason? Strength reigns as the ultimate justification! If I simply refuse to rescue your precious darling, what can you possibly do about it? Challenge me to a fight? You would need the requisite strength for that!"

My goodness, acting unreasonably seems to be your form of reason, doesn't it?

Ye Haochuan found himself deeply perplexed, utterly speechless.

There was an undeniable truth to one of Shentu Fu’s statements; even if he withheld his assistance, Ye Haochuan would be powerless to compel him.

At this juncture, Shentu Fu’s expression transformed once more, settling into a kindly disposition as he stated, "My demands are not excessive; all you need to do is defeat Ju Yuqu and secure a position as a disciple within Half-Mountain Residence. That shall suffice."

"What?" Ye Haochuan was genuinely taken aback, failing to grasp Shentu Fu’s motivation behind such a peculiar request.

Given that Half-Mountain Residence was actively seeking new disciples, it stood to reason they would be searching for individuals possessing exceptional talent, nothing more.

Ju Yuqu presented himself as an outstanding prospect, undoubtedly a top-tier asset by any measure. The insistence on Ye Haochuan becoming the disciple instead felt decidedly suspicious.

"Could it be that you harbor some past grievance with Ju Yuqu?" Ye Haochuan ventured a guess.

Shentu Fu scoffed, "I only recently awoke; how could I possibly hold any grudges against a mere junior?"

Ye Haochuan conceded that this reasoning held water. This individual had slumbered for unknown centuries, only rousing a couple of months prior. While Ju Yuqu's bearing was indeed impressive, he was hardly in a position to provoke someone of Shentu Fu’s stature.

"Then pray tell, why?" Ye Haochuan queried with a curious smile, "Could it be that you foresee my future accomplishments surpassing his? If that were the case, Senior Brother Guan Shan’s assessment should have already awarded me a higher score than him!"

Throughout several competitions, the initial test invariably focused on an individual's aptitude and potential. A higher score signified a greater future prospect. If Half-Mountain Residence truly believed Ye Haochuan possessed more potential, they should have rightly given him a superior rating.

"Regarding that assessment, you are mistaken. You have not yet undergone Immortal Transformation, making the foundation of your potential Immortal Transformation uncertain. This is why Guan Shan did not assign you a high score. It does not inherently mean your Hidden Divine Physique is inferior to Ju Yuqu’s inherent constitution."

Shentu Fu elaborated, "However, that is not the reason I wish for you to supplant Ju Yuqu. If you are intent on discovering the answer, once you have successfully vanquished him, I shall reveal it in due course."

"But I find the notion of becoming someone’s disciple rather stifling!" Ye Haochuan admitted with a rueful smile.

"And why do you hold such a view?" Shentu Fu inquired, exhibiting a degree of surprise.

Ye Haochuan smirked, "To have a master implies subservience. Furthermore, the constant need to bow and pay respects to one’s master always feels rather uncomfortable."

"Haha, so that is the crux of your hesitation!" Shentu Fu chuckled, "It appears your understanding of Half-Mountain Residence is rather limited!"

"In what way?"

"Firstly, Half-Mountain Residence does not impose significant restrictions upon its disciples; you will not be compelled into a myriad of obligations. Moreover, within Half-Mountain Residence, you shall not have a singular master. Or, to put it more accurately, you will not be confined to just one master!" Shentu Fu elucidated.

"No master? Yet, more than one master?" The more Ye Haochuan listened, the more bewildered he became.

Shentu Fu continued his explanation, "At Half-Mountain Residence, every member essentially becomes your master. However, in a formal sense, they are merely your senior brethren, and the necessity of kneeling during rituals is altogether dispensed with."

"This..."

"It sounds rather unconventional, does it not? Indeed, this represents a rather unique method of disciple recruitment employed by our Half-Mountain Residence. As for the underlying reasons for this peculiar system, I shall refrain from disclosing them at present; once you are officially inducted as a junior brother of the Xiao generation, I shall naturally enlighten you!" Shentu Fu stated enigmatically.

Ye Haochuan’s brow furrowed slightly as he contemplated the revelation.

Just then, Shentu Fu’s form dissolved into the void. Simultaneously, from the very spot where he had vanished, a voice, imbued with a chilling resonance, echoed forth.

"If you wish to save your cherished beloved, you must strive on your own. Should you fail to be accepted as a disciple by Half-Mountain Residence, I shall not lift a finger to help her, even if you end up kneeling until your death before me!"

Good grief, this person certainly exhibits a dual personality, oscillating between sunny and somber moods.

Ye Haochuan grumbled inwardly and, with a thoughtful expression, made his way back to the modest courtyard where he resided.

Initially, his sole intention was to locate Shentu Fu, and he had never contemplated becoming a disciple of Half-Mountain Residence. It was entirely unexpected that Shentu Fu, in a fit of peculiar intensity, insisted he join their ranks before he would consent to rescue Sophia.

Speaking of which, the four preceding contests held little genuine significance for Ye Haochuan; they felt akin to mere child’s play. What’s more, the most critical of these four events had, without his full realization, concluded under Guan Shan's adjudication.

This particular format of competition was something Ye Haochuan had never encountered before.

Now, with only the final round remaining, he remained oblivious to its point value. He was currently trailing Ju Yuqu by a full nine points, and if this last round were to carry a mere ten points in total, then the endeavor to compete would be utterly futile—victory would be an impossibility.

Considering the scoring pattern of Half-Mountain Residence's competitions: the first round totaled one hundred points, the second fifty, the third thirty, and the fourth twenty. Following this established trend, it seemed highly probable that the fifth round would award a mere ten points.

Blast it all, isn't this just making a mockery of me?

Ye Haochuan felt an overwhelming sense of frustration.

Had he possessed prior knowledge that Shentu Fu would impose such a condition, Ye Haochuan would have exerted his utmost effort in the earlier rounds; even if surpassing Ju Yuqu proved unattainable, he certainly would not have allowed such a substantial point deficit to develop.

"There's no point dwelling on what could have been now; whatever unfolds will be determined by tomorrow's events. If destiny dictates that rescuing Sophia should not be a simple feat, then perhaps I should conceive of an alternative approach. I refuse to accept that, within such a vast Immortal Realm, Shentu Fu is the sole individual capable of saving Sophia."

Voicing his discontent, Ye Haochuan returned to his quarters, his mood thoroughly soured. That night, instead of indulging in his usual idleness, he actively engaged in preparation. Regardless of what the following day might bring, his intention was to face it in his optimal condition.

The span of a single night evaporated in the blink of an eye. As the next morning dawned, Ye Haochuan, Ju Yuqu, and Li Qi convened downstairs quite early.

Ge Ping, Liu Yifei, Guan Shan, and Su Longyue were also present, having arrived ahead of time once more.

Observing Ye Haochuan and the other two standing resolutely, Ge Ping cleared his throat softly and declared with formal gravity, "The competitions that preceded this were, in the strictest sense, not true contests but merely straightforward assessments of your fundamental capabilities. The genuine competition commences now..."