C11 I Only Wear It for You to See!

"Alright, since Brother Chen Hao insists, we really must make our way up the mountain. By the way, Brother Chen Hao, you're on your own without a partner. How about joining us? We can watch each other's backs."

"Then... I shall gratefully accept your invitation."

As it turned out, the room Chen Hao had reserved might not even be needed, because by around three in the afternoon, he and Qing Xu were already trekking into the mountains.

Qing Xu and his companions came prepared with compasses, Dragon Seeking Rulers, and all the necessary equipment. They were also versed in Feng Shui, which helped them determine the most likely locations for the Aetherfruit to thrive.

So it was that by evening, with the sun dipping low in the western sky, they reached the midsection of a tall mountain.

"Hey, we can't just keep searching aimlessly. We don't even know what the Aetherfruit looks like," the weary group lamented as they settled down to rest. Qing Xu shook his head in resignation, ready to call off the search.

Chen Hao then inquired, "Sage Qing Xu, where do you think the Aetherfruit is most likely to be found?"

"If I knew that, would I have to go through all this trouble?" Qing Xu replied with a wry smile.

"Just go with your gut feeling."

"My gut feeling... maybe it's over there," Qing Xu said, pointing in a direction. Suddenly, his eyes widened in astonishment.

In the direction he pointed, just a few dozen steps away, stood a fruit tree resembling a date palm.

On this tree, there was a single, solitary fruit.

The setting sun cast its rays on the fruit, which emitted a faint, glowing fluorescence that flickered mysteriously.

"Could this be...?" Qing Xu was stunned. Could his luck really be this good?

Chen Hao was equally taken aback.

Indeed, this must be what they call fate. But today, even if it's written in the stars, I'm ready to defy fate itself!

Before Qing Xu could rise, Chen Hao had already taken a small step forward.

At that moment, the distant brush was parted, and another group emerged.

Their gaze immediately landed on the Aetherfruit.

"It's the Aetherfruit! Hurry, it's the Aetherfruit!"

The newcomers were none other than members of the Crimson Dawn.

They were closing in on the Aetherfruit significantly faster than Qing Xu and his group.

Both parties dashed toward the fruit tree, but it was evident that the Cold Hawks were going to be too late.

At that moment, a figure burst forth from beside Qing Xu, impressively leaping nearly ten meters by stepping on a tree trunk. In the blink of an eye, he snatched the Aetherfruit and, upon landing, swiftly pocketed it.

The Crimson Dawn members, red-faced and furious, bellowed, "Kid, we found the Aetherfruit first. Hand it over now!"

"Oh, really? Yet, I distinctly saw Qing Xu of the Cold Hawks spot the Aetherfruit first. He was about to retrieve it when you all showed up," Chen Hao responded with a serene smile.

"Damn, so seeing it first makes it yours?"

"I never said that whoever sees it first owns it," Chen Hao retorted, patting his pocket with a grin. "But the Aetherfruit is in my possession now, and I was the first to grab it. It's not Crimson Dawn's private property, and it had no prior owner. So, if I say it's mine because I got to it first, that's perfectly fine, right?"

"That's just twisting words to your advantage. Brothers, we'll take it by force if we must!" The speaker was the same burly man who had been bested by Chen Hao earlier that day.

Behind him, Qing Xu exclaimed in fury, "The people of Crimson Dawn are utterly unreasonable. Don't think that having numbers and some fighting skills gives you the right to do as you please!"

"Hmph, we can do exactly as we please. What are you going to do about it? Today, I'm not just going to teach this youngster a lesson; I'm going to cripple all of you sanctimonious Taoists and show you the consequences of provoking us! Brothers, attack together!"

The Crimson Dawn crowd surged forward, prompting Chen Hao to shake his head in dismay.

"So it comes down to a group fight after all... Well, it makes no difference," he mused.

"You barbarians, I'll fight you with everything I've got!" Qing Xu, eyes blazing with anger, was ready to throw himself into the fray, but fortunately, he was restrained by several of his disciples.

Meanwhile, Chen Hao turned back with a chuckle and said, "Sage Qing Xu, they're just a bunch of cowards who pick on the weak. No need for you to sully your hands with them—leave it to me." With those words, Chen Hao sprang forward, boldly plunging into the throng from Crimson Dawn.

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