C10 The Sage Was also Fashionable

"Then you can just lie there!" The martial artists were quick to anger, ready to throw punches at the drop of a hat.

The ringleader charged at Chen Hao, clearly under the impression that he was more than a match for him.

As the punch came hurtling towards him, Chen Hao gave a slight nod, an acknowledgment of the man's effort.

The punch's power, speed, and trajectory were such that few below the level of a Spirit Warrior could stand against it.

But when compared to a true Spirit Warrior...

The moment Chen Hao nonchalantly caught the brawny man's fist and flung him several meters away as if discarding garbage, an eerie silence fell over the entire village.

The brawny man stood over 1.9 meters tall, his body a mass of muscle, tipping the scales at nearly 100 kilograms.

Yet Chen Hao, with a single hand and seemingly effortless ease, had sent him flying.

What incredible strength was this?

Chen Hao himself stood at 1.8 meters, his physique sturdy and balanced, but next to the muscular giant, they seemed mismatched.

The strong man, having been tossed aside, wasn't hurt, but still, he didn't get up for quite some time.

He was dumbfounded; this was the first time in his life he'd been thrown like that, and with just one hand.

Meanwhile, the man who had effortlessly sent him flying looked up and offered a wry smile to the others, "How about it, gentlemen? Care to try your luck together?"

The martial artists exchanged glances, then eyed the strong man who had managed to get back on his feet. One stepped forward and respectfully bowed, "We of the Crimson Dawn do not believe in outnumbering our opponents. You've shown great skill, and we accept our defeat this time."

With that, they departed swiftly, not a hint of defeatism about them, their departure marked by a certain grace.

Crimson Dawn?

Chen Hao, hearing this name, could only shake his head in contempt.

Crimson Dawn was a renowned martial arts school in Grewul, with branches nationwide and tens of thousands of disciples practicing a synthesis of various martial arts styles known as the Hundred Fists.

In a few years, Crimson Dawn would rise to prominence, its name known far and wide across Jiang Nan, becoming one of the few elite powers in Grewul.

Regrettably, the Crimson Dawn was notorious, not for its prestige but for its infamy!

A Crimson Dawn that used brute force to intimidate the weak and cower before the strong was hardly deserving of a good reputation.

Once the Crimson Dawn members had departed, several Taoists repeatedly expressed their gratitude to Chen Hao.

Qing Xu, in particular, was so moved that his face flushed with emotion—though it might have also been from the beating he'd received earlier.

"Friend, thank you for your assistance. May I inquire about your esteemed name? Should the opportunity arise, I, Qing Xu, would like to offer my gratitude in kind."

"Brother Qing Xu, you flatter me. Just call me Chen Hao."

"Eh, you know of me?" Qing Xu was taken aback. Was he that well-known?

"Heh, your reputation precedes you," Chen Hao replied, opting not to elaborate.

Qing Xu then introduced Chen Hao to the other Taoists.

All were members of the Cold Hawks, and although Qing Xu was the youngest, his standing within the group was quite high.

Seeing Qing Xu's high regard for Chen Hao, they all welcomed him with warm smiles.

After some friendly back-and-forth, they grew more acquainted, and Qing Xu finally voiced his curiosity, "Brother Chen Hao, your abilities are remarkable. Did you come here in search of the Aetherfruit in these mountains?"

As expected, word of the Aetherfruit had spread far and wide.

Chen Hao nodded, openly admitting, "I learned some skills in my youth, but as I've aged, further improvement has been elusive. When I heard of such a treasure, I naturally wanted to see it for myself."

"I see," Qing Xu responded, not harboring any suspicions but lamenting, "However, it may be quite challenging for Brother Chen Hao to acquire it."

"Oh?"

"Don't get me wrong, Brother Chen Hao. If you find the Aetherfruit, we of the Cold Hawks have no intention of competing with you for it. But I can't say the same for others. The Crimson Dawn we encountered earlier is just one example. In fact, many sects from the south, both large and small, have dispatched people. Some have already scoured the mountain, and a few have even purchased information from that hunter."

"With so many eyes on the Aetherfruit, and only one to be found, our chances seem slim given our limited strength," Qing Xu said with a shake of his head and a wry smile, though he appeared to be somewhat indifferent to the Aetherfruit himself.

Chen Hao inquired, "Has Sage Qing Xu already searched the mountain?"

"No, we've only roamed around the base of the mountain; we haven't had the chance to ascend yet."

"Well, there's no need to jump to conclusions then. How about we wait until we've climbed up? You might just find what you're looking for," Chen Hao said earnestly.

Some things seem to be guided by fate. Qing Xu may have been fortunate enough to discover the Aetherfruit in his past life, but the progression of this world remains largely unchanged.

As such, the likelihood of Qing Xu finding the Aetherfruit in this lifetime remains the greatest among all.

Of course, regardless of who ultimately secures the Aetherfruit, Chen Hao sees no reason to relinquish it, even if it means playing the part of the scoundrel.