The Whole Family Are Villains, I’m the Group Pet 196

Chapter 196

Sang Ming, furious, paced back and forth in his room, having dismissed everyone, his eyes bloodshot, wanting to kill someone.

“Why is this rift so hard to find?! I’ve sent so many players, and none have returned!”

The system in his mind said:

“It’s normal. The horror world is made for monsters. Humans don’t belong here. They can’t sense the rifts as easily as we can.”

Sang Ming, his anger simmering, thinking of the dead players, the remaining guild members growing restless and refusing to be sent on suicide missions, said:

“Then what do we do? I can’t return to the real world if I can’t find the rift!”

The system was also getting impatient. It had told him to be patient, to take it slow.

But Sang Ming, the idiot, had sacrificed half the guild in his reckless pursuit of the rift!

But then, it thought, He’s easy to control. Better than those who think for themselves.

“Don’t worry. If you can’t find it, you can’t find it. Just wait. At this rate, the barrier will break eventually.”

“Wait? Wait! You keep telling me to wait! I can’t wait any longer!”

Sang Ming was getting desperate. Many players had left the guild, and the remaining members were constantly demanding results, their patience wearing thin.

“I can’t wait any longer! They’ll all leave!”

The system, annoyed, cursed Sang Ming inwardly for ruining its perfectly good plan.

“I don’t have enough energy yet. I was hoping to absorb that Clown monster, but it hid its energy. I don’t know who took it.”

It suspected 067, but it had arrived too late, not sensing any significant energy fluctuations.

“We’ll find two more high-level dungeons. Once I have enough energy, even if you can’t find the rift, I can create a passage and send you back.”

It actually had enough energy already,

but it didn’t want Sang Ming to know, afraid he would stop cooperating and focus on his plans for the real world.

The humans in the real world were weak and insignificant.

The real threat were those high-level monsters!

And 067 and his host, Xing Nuo!

And it suspected that Xing Nuo was being protected by a powerful monster. How else could he have survived so many dungeons?

But the players it had sent to the real world had all died, providing no useful information. They still couldn’t determine which of Xing Nuo’s family members were monsters.

Could they all be monsters?

It quickly dismissed the thought.

Impossible. Xing Nuo was so unlucky in his past life. He can’t be that lucky now.

But it was still suspicious and asked Sang Ming:

“Did you investigate Xing Nuo’s family, their connection to the high-level monsters?”

Sang Ming had the information already, although, like Qi Yao’s, it was limited.

But he didn’t want to share it with the system, which always made him do its bidding,

its promised rewards never materializing.

“You’re so powerful, you can find out anything yourself. Why do you need my help?”

The system, wanting to curse him, but needing his cooperation, said in a low voice:

“I told you, I lost most of my functions when I came to this world. I need more energy to reactivate them.”

It envied 067.

His chip was intact, and he had a physical body. If it weren’t for its limited energy, it could easily defeat him.

But it had a head start. 067 wouldn’t stand a chance this time.

After promising a long list of rewards, it finally got the information from Sang Ming.

It analyzed the data and declared:

“Xing Nuo’s brother, Shen Yan, is definitely a monster! That company dungeon is his! We’ll set a trap and kill him, absorb his energy!”

Sang Ming, remembering his humiliating defeat at Shen Yan’s hands, the fake map, the lost years, his heavy losses,

hesitated.

“I don’t know. He’s too smart. Better to stay away from him.”

They argued again.

With the players suffering heavy losses, no longer causing as much trouble, the real world enjoyed a brief period of peace.

But the internet was buzzing with conspiracy theories and blurry videos, whispers of players and games.

The authorities quickly deleted the posts, but the rumors persisted, especially in Rongcheng, where so many people had witnessed the anomalies.

[I saw it with my own eyes! Those people in strange clothes, summoning things, knocking people unconscious!]

[And those weird dungeons! I signed a non-disclosure agreement, but I have to tell you the truth! This world is no longer safe!]

[We have to get stronger! Or we’ll all die!]

[What’s going on?! Does anyone know anything?! I’m scared! Is this the apocalypse?!]

The posts were quickly deleted, but new ones kept appearing.

Even the students at Xing Nuo’s school were discussing it.

Spring had arrived, and Xing Nuo, his birthday in early spring, had just turned eighteen.

He had taken the day off and celebrated with his dad and brothers at an ecological park.

Back in class, he heard the girl in front of him talking excitedly.

“I saw it with my own eyes! Those two people in strange clothes, summoning things, knocking people unconscious!”

“I was far away, but then a bunch of people came and made us sign some kind of agreement!”

Xing Nuo sighed softly.

Even his classmates had seen it. How long could the authorities keep this a secret?

A few of his more boisterous classmates, also having witnessed similar incidents, stood up on their chairs, using rolled-up textbooks as makeshift megaphones, and yelled:

“Our time has come! Let’s overthrow the government!”

The other students laughed, throwing crumpled paper balls at him.

“Get down from there!”

Their teacher entered, his face stern, and slammed his textbook on the desk.

“Zhao Ming, get down! ‘Overthrow the government’? You’ll be writing an extra essay tonight! And if you don’t score at least eighty, I’m calling your parents!”

“And the rest of you, today’s quiz, take your papers home and have your parents sign them!”

The students’ rebellious fantasies, crushed by the reality of another quiz, they groaned.

Even the apocalypse couldn’t stop them from having tests.

Xing Nuo chuckled, shaking his head, and took out his pen, ready for the quiz.

After the quiz, it was lunchtime.

He rode his scooter back to his complex and was about to go upstairs when Qi Yao called out to him.

“Xing Nuo, can we talk?”

Xing Nuo, having expected this, nodded, parked his scooter, took off his helmet, and ruffled his messy curls.

“Sure.”

The complex was quiet at noon, and Qi Yao, standing there, his eyes studying Xing Nuo, the young man’s straight back, his bright, cheerful eyes, his whole being radiating youthful energy and optimism,

felt a pang of sadness, remembering his mission. After a long silence, he finally spoke:

“Xing Nuo, do you know…that your dad and brothers are monsters?”

Having dealt with the player situation, the SIA, after reviewing the evidence and witness testimonies, had finally confirmed the Shen family’s true nature.

Qi Yao hadn’t wanted to believe it, but having known them for so long, he had suspected it for a while.

He had just dismissed it, his fondness for Xing Nuo extending to his family, always finding excuses for their unusual behavior.

But now, he could no longer deny the truth.

Xing Nuo, looking at Qi Yao, sighed softly and nodded.

“I know.”

Qi Yao’s heart sank, and after a moment of hesitation, he asked:

“Are you…also a monster?”

Xing Nuo smiled, his eyes sparkling.

“Yes. I’m a little monster…raised by big monsters.”

They were a family of monsters.

Qi Yao, seeing Xing Nuo’s easy admission, was about to speak when a voice sounded behind them:

“Xing Nuo is human.”

Shen Wen, having come downstairs unnoticed, his golden hair shimmering in the sunlight, his face beautiful but aloof, his eyes, however, warm as he looked at Xing Nuo, said:

“Come upstairs. I need to talk to you.”

He glanced at Qi Yao, took Xing Nuo’s backpack, and smiled faintly.

“Your brother made your favorite mushroom soup. And cold bamboo shoots. It’s getting warmer. No sneaking out for ice cream with Shen Baizhou this year.”

Xing Nuo stuck his tongue out and said, “I know.”

Qi Yao, watching them enter the elevator, was momentarily stunned, as if seeing them for the first time, the familiar scene of Xing Nuo and his dad, a recurring image from the past decade.

Perhaps it was because they looked so normal, so happy, that he had refused to believe they were monsters.

He followed them, feeling a strange ache in his chest, seeing the warmth and affection between them.

Xing Nuo, seeing Qi Yao wiping his eyes, puzzled, offered him a tissue.

They entered the apartment.

It was Qi Yao’s first time inside.

He felt a strange sense of honor. Shen Wen had always turned him away before.

Shen Wen, watching Xing Nuo eat his lunch, his expression gentle, then turning to Qi Yao, who was just standing there, his face hardening, gestured for Shen Yan to speak.

Shen Yan, folding his floral apron neatly, adjusting his glasses, a polite smile on his face, said:

“Mr. Qi, since you know the truth, shall we discuss a…collaboration?”