The atmosphere in the Ximu Town Adventurers’ Guild fell silent for a moment because of the two rescued female Adventurers.
When Shi Hanfeng and Hans supported the two hollow-eyed, tattered girls into the hall, the once lively space felt as if an invisible hand had gripped its throat.
Whispers ceased instantly, wine glasses hung in mid-air, and every gaze focused on the two survivors.
Within those stares were sympathy, pity, lingering fear, and cold indifference.
In this frontier town, everyone already knew the fate that awaited female Adventurers captured in failure.
To be rescued alive was a miracle among misfortunes.
The Receptionist’s reaction was the most intense.
She cried out, rushing from behind the counter, her face full of anxiety and pain.
She quickly called for other staff to help settle them.
Shi Hanfeng watched as the two girls were carefully led into the back room of the guild.
From start to finish, they barely reacted, like startled birds, left only with instinctive fear toward everything outside.
He was silent for a moment, then turned to the Receptionist handling the transfer paperwork.
“Wait a moment.”
He walked to a relatively quiet corner of the hall, and his mind sank into his inventory.
He took out all the white and green-quality equipment he’d collected while clearing Nests over the past days—items he couldn’t use—and stacked them at his feet.
These things were just taking up space for him; their only purpose was to be exchanged for a few Gold Coins.
“Receptionist,”
He pointed at the pile.
“These are similar in nature to the Bracer I sold before. Please have the guild recycle them. Give the Gold Coins to those two ladies just now. Consider it a bit of sponsorship from me for their future lives. I hope they can walk out of their pain.”
The Receptionist was stunned.
Even though she’d bargained hard for the previous Bracer at ten Gold Coins, if it wasn’t worth that much, no amount of haggling would have helped.
Now, even if these were inferior to the Bracer, they’d still fetch at least twenty Gold Coins—an amount a small village might not earn in a year.
She looked at the equipment piled on the ground, then at Shi Hanfeng’s calm, untroubled face.
In her emerald eyes, there was neither pretense nor regret.
“Mr. Rochet… this…”
She was at a loss.
“This isn’t according to guild rules, and these belong to you…”
“Rules are dead things,”
Shi Hanfeng interrupted with a smile.
“They need this more. Just consider it a whim—a little charity for peace of mind.”
For him, Gold Coins were useful, but any extra were just numbers—not something to hoard.
And Gold Coins—he had efficient ways to get them.
If he wanted, he’d never be short.
Using these useless scraps to clear his mind was well worth it.
The Receptionist looked at him, her expression growing complicated—admiration, gratitude, and an indescribable emotion in her eyes.
She took a deep breath and nodded solemnly.
“Understood, Mr. Rochet. On behalf of the guild and those two sisters, thank you!”
“You… you really are different from any Adventurer I’ve met.”
Shi Hanfeng felt a little better at her words.
The emotional value from the Receptionist made the money feel well-spent.
Of course he was different.
Adventurers might appear carefree, but high pay came with high risk, equipment wear and tear, and hidden costs like potions and supplies.
So, Adventurers were both rich and poor—they risked their lives for money, which they spent improving themselves or seeking fleeting pleasure.
Doing good was rare, and the rewards too subtle.
But he was a Player.
Grinding, leveling up, collecting gear, and challenging harder difficulties—Gold Coins were just byproducts, not necessary for buying equipment, only a tool for achieving goals, not the goal itself.
And the goal?
Happiness!
As long as he developed steadily, occasionally “paying” for some happiness was perfectly fine.
“Is the paperwork done?”
He changed the subject.
“Y-yes! Here’s your reward!”
The Receptionist quickly handed over the settled Gold Coins, her eyes shining brighter than the coins themselves.
After leaving the guild and parting ways with Hans and Gelte, Shi Hanfeng returned straight to his single room at the Oak Barrel Inn.
He closed the door, shutting out the noise from outside.
He couldn’t wait to dive into his inventory, eyes blazing as he stared at the [Black Iron Chest] radiating a dark metallic sheen.
“Open.”
At his thought, a heavy black glow flowed across the chest’s surface.
Even the process of the lid opening felt heavier than with wooden chests.
The light faded, and prompts appeared.
[Obtained Gold Coin ×20]
[Obtained equipment: Sanctified Order Sabatons x1]
“It dropped!”
Even with Shi Hanfeng’s composure, he couldn’t help but feel a thrill.
His luck was good.
The Black Iron Chest didn’t let him down; not only did it double the base Gold Coins, but he also drew a set piece in one go.
A pair of boots—ancient in design, with strong lines and silver-gray metal plates—appeared in his inventory.
The boots reached up to the calves, engraved with fine sanctified patterns matching his helmet and ring, radiating a steady power.
[Sanctified Order Sabatons]
Type: Equipment (Feet)
Quality: Blue/Exquisite
Description: The boots worn by Sanctified Knight Safina to uphold her faith—where she steps, order endures.
Reduces fall damage and slightly saves stamina.
One of the Pope of the Pure Court’s Sanctified Knight set.
[Sanctified Knight of the Pure Court (Two-piece set) effect activated: All healing skill effects increased by 10%]
(Collect four pieces to activate the final effect)
Only the cuirass remains!
With hope in sight, Shi Hanfeng’s motivation soared.
In the days that followed, Hans and Gelte clearly noticed their boss’s efficiency becoming terrifying.
He found Nest locations faster, advanced more aggressively, and cleared mobs with greater decisiveness.
Often, just as the two braced their shields for the first wave, before they could even block a few hits, Mr. Rochet would slip past like a phantom.
Sword flashing, Goblins fell like grass cut down.
Once, in a small Nest, they’d barely set up a defense when Shi Hanfeng lifted his palm, green light gathering, targeting the densest cluster of Goblins.
[Wish of Burial]
As Rochet’s ultimate, this move far surpassed its in-game effects.
The power of abundance reversed—changing from granting to seizing.
Emerald light swallowed four or five Goblins, their bodies shriveling and turning to ash before they could even scream.
Hans and Gelte shuddered, exchanging looks.
During a break, Hans couldn’t help but mutter to Gelte.
“Hey, do you think Mr. Rochet is acting strange? After saving those two women, it’s like he’s on fire…”
Gelte nodded gloomily, wiping his sword.
“Maybe. Those green-skinned vermin deserved it.”
They both thought Shi Hanfeng had been shaken by the female Adventurers’ suffering, rousing his sense of justice—or killing intent.
What they didn’t know was that Shi Hanfeng simply wanted to complete his set faster and more efficiently.
Inner discomfort aside, his true motivation was tangible profit and the pursuit of greater power.
Finally, after clearing five more Nests and opening five wooden chests with no luck…
Just as Shi Hanfeng was about to resign himself to the grind, fortune smiled on him once more.
Deep in an underground cavern Nest, as the last Goblin archer fell, the familiar glow of a wooden chest appeared.
[Obtained Gold Coin ×5]
[Obtained equipment: Sanctified Order Cuirass ×1]
Ah!
I did it!
I did it!
A heavy, solemn cuirass—silver-white metal plates engraved with the full emblem of the Pure Court—floated silently in his inventory.
It radiated a gentle, unyielding light, as if waiting for its owner.
[Sanctified Order Cuirass]
Type: Equipment (Chest)
Quality: Blue/Exquisite
Description: The bulwark of faith for Sanctified Knight Safina—unyielding in its defense.
Can link with other components to form full heavy armor.
The core piece of the Pope of the Pure Court’s Sanctified Knight set.
[Sanctified Knight of the Pure Court (Four-piece set) effect activated]:
- All healing skill effects increased by 10%. (Two-piece effect)
- [Life Shield]: Based on the user’s Constitution, grants a transparent energy shield covering the entire body. Shield value is Constitution x1. When broken, it restores stamina equal to Constitution/2 (maximum 5 points). Shield auto-recovers every 24 hours, or can be quickly recharged by expending a large amount of spirit. (Four-piece effect)
Without hesitation, Shi Hanfeng immediately equipped the [Sanctified Order Cuirass].
As the cuirass settled on his chest, [Sanctified Paladin’s Forgiveness Visor], [Holy Knight’s Silent Vow Ring], and [Sanctified Order Sabatons] all resonated.
The four pieces felt linked by an invisible force, emitting a gentle, unified sacred light.
In a flash, the ring became a gauntlet, the boots merged perfectly with the leg armor, and the helmet joined seamlessly with the cuirass.
In the blink of an eye, the once separate parts formed a complete, unified, full-body silver-white heavy armor.
The armor’s lines were graceful yet imposing, golden holy patterns etched into the silver surface, chest emblazoned with the Pure Court’s emblem.
Though the armor appeared massive, it felt weightless, like a natural extension of his body.
His vision was unhindered by the helmet, and his breathing was smooth.
Most miraculous of all, he barely felt the armor’s weight—he moved as freely as ever.
At the same time, a warm power welled from the armor, and an invisible energy field expanded from him, like a transparent shell shielding him completely.
[Life Shield]
His Constitution was 16 points, so the shield’s value was also 16—an extra virtual life.
Even if the shield broke, he’d instantly recover 5 stamina, greatly boosting endurance.
Combined with the armor’s defense, he felt a newfound sense of security.
No wonder equipment was called a Player’s second life.
With the set complete, his survivability had soared.
He clenched his fist, savoring the sense of protection—the last thing he wanted was to ever take it off.
Perfect.
With this set of armor, plus the [Rochet] template’s skills, he now had the power to safely and efficiently clear Goblin Nests alone.
Bringing Hans and Gelte along provided some frontline support and guidance, but ultimately slowed him down.
It was time for a change.
After returning to Ximu Town and completing the final commission…
Shi Hanfeng stopped Hans and Gelte as they prepared to leave.
“Lord Hans, Lord Gelte.”
The two paused, puzzled.
Shi Hanfeng took out a small money pouch from his inventory—prepared earlier—and handed it over.
Inside was an amount far exceeding the promised payment.
“This is our last time working together,”
He said with a calm smile.
“From now on, I’ll be acting alone. This is extra compensation—thank you both for your help.”
Hans and Gelte froze, smiles stiffening.
“Mr. Rochet, was it something we did wrong?”
Hans asked anxiously.
He’d earned more in this period than in half a year, and didn’t want to lose such a lucrative, safe job.
“No, you both did very well.”
Shi Hanfeng shook his head, sincere.
“My plans changed. I need a more efficient approach. Solo is easier for me.”
“Thank you for your help. My armor’s been delivered, and I now have enough power to defend myself.”
Hans and Gelte felt the stronger, heavier aura around him, and were left speechless.
They knew—if it came to a fight, they wouldn’t stand a chance.
He could kill them nine times in a minute.
Now that his defense was complete, the power gap had grown even wider.
He simply didn’t need their shielding anymore.
It was disappointing, but gratitude and understanding prevailed.
Hans accepted the pouch, its heavy weight showing the other’s generosity.
He took a deep breath and nodded hard.
“I understand, Mr. Rochet. Thank you for your care and the generous reward! I wish you all the best!”
Gelte nodded firmly as well.
“Thank you! Take care!”
“Take care.”
Shi Hanfeng inclined his head.
Without further words, Hans and Gelte turned and left, their figures slowly vanishing down Ximu Town’s stone road.
Shi Hanfeng stood in place, feeling the strength of the [Pure Court] set upon him, gazing in the direction of the Adventurers’ Guild.
From here on, it was time for him to hunt alone.