C9 Isn't This the Same as Going up Together?

At the entrance of Thalshara, over a dozen vehicles were parked, further congesting the already narrow road. Among them were small cars, vans, and even buses. This didn't seem like a tourist excursion, especially since Thalshara lacked notable attractions.

Chen Hao checked the time and hastened his steps into the village. "Hey there, handsome, looking for a place to stay? Our last room's available. Miss out tonight, and you'll be sleeping under the stars," an elderly woman in simple attire called out to him as he arrived.

Scanning the village, Chen Hao saw no signs for any hotels. The building behind the woman was nothing more than a typical farmhouse. "Sister, what's the deal here? Why are there no places to sleep?" he inquired, feigning ignorance.

The woman chuckled and waved her hand dismissively. "Oh, come off it. You're here for that thing in the mountains, aren't you?"

"The thing in the mountains?"

"Yes, indeed. A while back, a bird hunter visited us and soon after, people started flooding in, claiming he'd found a treasure up there. Now, everyone's here hunting for that very treasure."

Following her gaze, Chen Hao noticed a procession of people approaching from the far end of the village. They were clad in Taoist robes, their hair in topknots, with pronounced brows and traditional shoes.

"It's surprising, isn't it? These days, even Taoists are on the treasure hunt. And look at those tall, muscular guys over there—they're a sturdy bunch," the woman remarked with a tsk-tsk of wonder, while Chen Hao's expression turned grim.

He was late; the news about the Aetherfruit had already spread. Moreover, he wasn't the only one aware of the resurgence of spiritual energy in this world.

But haste makes waste. Chen Hao wasn't rushing to the mountain just yet. "Auntie, please reserve that room for me," he requested.

Handing over five hundred yuan for just one night without even getting change back, it was clear that the visitors had means.

The slopes behind Thalshara Mountain were connected, yet there was only one Aetherfruit to be found. Venturing in search of it without a plan was akin to searching for a needle in a vast ocean.

By chance, several groups had already arrived, likely having scoured the mountain themselves. Perhaps it was wise to let them lead the search while he followed, ready to seize the opportunity.

While Chen Hao pondered this strategy, a few Taoists found themselves in a heated dispute with another group.

"Listen, Taoist, don't push your luck. Take the money and scram before I have to get rough!"

The Taoists were facing a group of burly men, their knuckles calloused from countless brawls – clearly, these were no ordinary men.

A younger Taoist stepped forward to reason with them, "We've paid for these rooms already. Why should we hand them over to you?"

"Because my fists say so!" The brawny man retorted, clearly holding the upper hand.

"You're being utterly unreasonable!" The young Taoist's face flushed with anger, yet he struggled to find harsher words.

"I'm unreasonable, and what are you going to do about it?"

"Think we're pushovers?" Among the Taoists were several fiery young men, not one to take such insults lying down.

The argument quickly escalated into shoving and, before long, erupted into a full-blown brawl. Only a handful of villagers watched from a distance, while the majority seemed indifferent to the skirmish.

It appeared that such conflicts were not uncommon in this place.

Ultimately, the Taoists ended up worse for wear, sporting black eyes and swollen faces, barely able to fight back.

However, Chen Hao's attention remained fixed on one individual, his expression marked by uncertainty and suspicion.

It wasn't until an elder Taoist held back the young man, eager to continue the dispute, and said, "Qing Xu, let it be. It's not worth it. Once we find that item, they'll see our true strength."

Qing Xu?

Indeed, it was him!

After all, wasn't it Qing Xu who had acquired the Aetherfruit in his previous life?

It was clear that he was just as the rumors suggested: a man whose sense of justice was so intense it bordered on being old-fashioned. Yet, in his past life, he had performed many commendable deeds, some of which even Chen Hao couldn't help but respect. So, he stepped forward.

"Let's remember to respect the order of things here. The payment was already made, and not only did you take over by force, but you also resorted to violence. That hardly seems fair, does it?"

The burly men, who were on their way back inside, turned to see a young man in casual attire. They scoffed with contempt and said, "Kid, go back to wherever you came from and stop sticking your nose where it doesn't belong!"

"What if I insist on getting involved?" Chen Hao said with a smile.