# 850
Chapter 851: The Peculiar Atmosphere
With no other choice, Merlin could only set three ground rules for the two of them.
In simple terms: fighting was allowed, but no divine power, no God's Ruins, and no disturbance to other caretakers' work and rest. The fighting location was restricted to the courtyard, and the permitted hours were 9:00 to 11:30 AM and 3:00 to 5:30 PM.
Don't ask why fighting wasn't allowed to start until 3 PM—Merlin needed his afternoon nap.
And definitely don't ask why fighting wasn't permitted at night—Merlin went to bed early.
After all, even without divine power, these two made noise when they fought. While Merlin could use soundproofing magic to sleep, he couldn't exactly cast it on every other caretaker in the facility, could he?
After these rules took effect, for some inexplicable reason, the atmosphere became rather strange.
The daily routine played out like this: every morning at nine, Gilgamesh would walk out of his room on time.
And Sun Wukong would already be sitting in the corridor, wine jar in hand, as if waiting for him.
Once Gilgamesh emerged, Sun Wukong would silently set down his wine jar and begin staring at him.
After three seconds of eye contact, hostility would ignite on both their faces. They couldn't stand the sight of each other, then simultaneously leap into the courtyard and start fighting without a word.
The scene was violent, yet somehow oddly harmonious.
Like two good brothers living together, walking out the door, catching each other's eye:
"Morning."
"Yeah, bored?"
"Bored."
"Let's go, throw hands."
"Sure!"
In the courtyard.
Gilgamesh nimbly retreated half a step, barely evading Sun Wukong's punch. A sharp glint flashed in his eyes as he pressed forward, seized the opening in Sun Wukong's attack, and pressed his palm against the Monkey King's chest!
Thud—!!
Sun Wukong was sent flying backward.
Mid-air, he gracefully twisted a half-circle and landed steadily on the ground. He looked up at the aloof Gilgamesh, baring his ferocious fangs.
"The Tyrant takes a small victory, evening the score—now 32 to 31."
Bragi dutifully updated the score for Li Yifei, the strings of his harp shifting to a more frantic tempo.
The two in the courtyard, spurred on by the激昂 battle music, charged toward each other simultaneously and clashed violently once more.
"So strong…" Li Yifei sat on his small stool, watching the two figures in the courtyard, his eyes filled with envy. "I'll probably never reach that level in my lifetime…"
Merlin, lazily sunbathing in his rocking chair, turned to glance at him. "Your Ananda Serpent's talent is decent, but compared to mythological creatures, the ceiling is far too low. It won't exceed 'Boundless' at most."
Hearing this, Li Yifei苦笑 and shrugged.
"I know where my own ceiling is… To be honest, I even envy my subordinates among the caretakers. They may rank lower than me here, but in truth, I'm just a关系户 who climbed up through Seven Nights. Outside these walls, many of them could crush me with a single finger.
Sometimes I really wonder if I'm truly worthy of sitting in such an important position as Chief."
Merlin gazed at him and smiled, shaking his head. "You're wrong."
"Where am I wrong?"
"You didn't just get to this point through connections." Merlin said meaningfully, "There's a fundamental difference between you and the other 'Mysteries' here."
"A fundamental difference?"
"You know this hospital's caretaker containment system only targets 'Mysteries'—humans would never be contained."
"So what?"
"Although your本体 is the Ananda Serpent, your soul, your way of thinking, your code of conduct… are all human." Merlin said meaningfully, "Your consciousness has been split into two parts—one is 'Ananda Serpent,' and the other is 'Li Yifei.'
After the Director sealed your 'Ananda Serpent' personality, you became a human existing in this hospital under a 'Mystery' identity.
'Mysteries' can possess intelligence, self-awareness, and appearances extremely similar to humans… but there's one thing they can never truly obtain.
And that is humanity."
Merlin stretched out his hand, pointing at Li Yifei. "You are the exception among them. While possessing a 'Mystery' identity, you are also a human with complete humanity. In this psychiatric hospital, you stand above all other caretakers—a truly unique existence.
I believe this is the main reason the Director felt comfortable entrusting this hospital to you."
Li Yifei was stunned.
"So that's how it is…" he murmured to himself.
"So don't doubt yourself, and don't feel inferior. You are the most qualified person to sit here in this hospital." Merlin smiled and took a sip of hot tea from his thermos. "Here, strength, talent, and realm all don't matter. You just need to be yourself. Some things will naturally fall into place."
Li Yifei heard these final words and a bewildered expression appeared on his face.
Some things will naturally fall into place? What did that mean?
He was about to ask Merlin when he realized the old man had already closed his eyes, with no intention of continuing the conversation.
Li Yifei wisely closed his mouth.
As the hospital's first caretaker and someone who had followed Lin Qiye the longest, Li Yifei naturally knew who this old man was. When he spoke, it carried deep meaning. The God of Magic, the forefather of divination—these weren't empty titles.
Just then, a figure in a white coat materialized behind him.
"Seven Nights!" When Li Yifei saw the figure behind him, he immediately stood up. After a moment's hesitation, he extended the half-eaten cucumber in his hand and asked tentatively, "Want some cucumber?"
"…You eat it. I just came to have a look."
Lin Qiye's gaze fell on the two intensely battling figures in the courtyard's center.
After his nap, Lin Qiye's spirit had recovered considerably, but it was still early and he wasn't in a rush to get up. So he let his consciousness sink into the Asylum of the Gods to check on the situation.
Suddenly, as if noticing something, his eyes narrowed as he gazed at the top of Sun Wukong's head, letting out a soft exclamation of surprise.
"Li Yifei."
"What's up?"
"Has the Great Sage recently done anything, or shown any unusual behavior?"
Li Yifei was taken aback. After some careful thought, he said, "Doesn't seem like it… Why?"
"…Nothing."
Lin Qiye shook his head, but his gaze remained fixed on the empty space above Sun Wukong's head, his eyes faintly glowing.
"Sun Wukong Treatment Progress: 40%."