The Whole Family Are Villains, I’m the Group Pet 53

Chapter 53

The moment Xing Nuo jumped, a feeling of weightlessness washed over him.

The rushing air ruffled his clothes and hair. He covered his head as he tumbled down the chute.

With a thump, like landing at the bottom of a slide, he fell out of the chute, landing face-first on the ground.

If he were still a human child, he would be crying from the impact, lying there waiting for his dad to come and comfort him.

But as a doll, he felt no pain.

However, his cloth body was now covered in dust and dirt.

The cotton doll wriggled, then slowly got up.

Xing Nuo stood in front of the display case, looking up at the spot where he had just been.

Little Green, who had somehow woken up, was staring at him from inside.

Xing Nuo smiled and waved his small arm, saying goodbye.

“I’m going~”

Little Green watched as the small figure of the clown doll gradually disappeared, his button eyes wide, as if thinking, he actually escaped?!

He looked at the chute exit in the corner of the display case, puzzled.

It was strange; why hadn’t he ever thought of escaping, even though the exit was right there?

He thought back and realized they hadn’t always been so docile and obedient.

When they first became dolls, they had struggled and resisted fiercely, desperately trying to escape and find a way to turn back into humans.

But after the first one failed, the third one failed…

After so many failures, they had all given up, their memories fading, their minds and bodies gradually becoming like those of real dolls.

When one lost the will to resist and fight, one truly became a puppet.

This realization jolted Little Green awake. He looked at the spot where Xing Nuo had vanished into the darkness, wanting to call out to him.

But he had been a doll for too long, his mind almost completely assimilated.

After hesitating for a long time, he closed his mouth and sat back down.

Forget it, the clown doll was gone.

Now that he was the only one left, the next customer would have no choice but to buy him.

Then he would have an owner.

In the dark of night, the small doll, smaller than a human foot, trudged down the street.

Being a doll had its advantages.

Xing Nuo wasn’t tired anymore, no matter how far he walked, and his feet didn’t hurt. He could clearly see in the darkness without needing any light.

Thinking this, he felt a surge of happiness, and, his little cloth feet slightly worn from walking, he continued his journey.

He walked for a very long time, through the darkness, through alleyways, until finally, he reached an open area.

Looking up, he saw the most bustling place in this world –

The central city of the horror world, where players gathered.

This was the busiest part of the city, with towering skyscrapers, their lights blazing throughout the night.

Hovering trains, no longer a fantasy, transported players to various instances.

The cyberpunk-style city was a stunning sight for the little cub who had seen so little of the world.

Xing Nuo looked up, his eyes filled with the dazzling electronic lights.

A giant electronic screen, the largest in the city, displayed information about various players, the leaderboard constantly updating.

Countless players stood there, analyzing the combat power of the top-ranked players.

A mechanical system voice echoed through the area:

[Player “Shuaike” has obtained an S-level prop!]

[Player “Xue Luo Yu” has cleared an A-level instance! Perfect achievement unlocked, double points awarded!]

[Player…]

Each announcement proclaimed a player’s glorious achievement or mourned their demise.

Several players standing in front of the screen sighed and shook their heads.

“What’s going on with these S-level bosses? They haven’t been challenging S-level instances lately.”

“It can’t be helped. I heard there have been SSS+ level monsters appearing in instances recently. The instance levels are increasing too quickly, even the top players can’t handle them.”

“What about the player who came out of the Castle Exploration instance? Any news? He actually survived an SSS+ level monster! He must be quite powerful!”

A player who was in charge of gathering information clicked his tongue and shook his head.

“Same story I’ve heard from everyone else. They said he survived because he befriended the little master of the castle, gaining his favor.”

Another player scoffed, clearly disbelieving.

“What a ridiculous excuse! As if a little monster would help a human! He’d probably stab you in the back the first chance he got!”

“What about the other one, the zombie instance?”

“Don’t even ask. That monster was only there for a few minutes, looking for his brother, apparently.”

“…A monster’s brother? Are they forming teams in instances now?”

Xing Nuo, peeking out from the alley, then hiding behind a trash can, listened to the players’ conversation.

He didn’t glean any useful information, and he didn’t understand what they meant by “zombie” and “castle” instances.

He shook his head and moved to another spot, continuing to eavesdrop.

There hadn’t been many players clearing A-level instances lately, so the players’ discussion shifted to the current top-ranked player, Wen Xingxue.

“Why do you think Wen Xingxue is so fearless, always challenging S+ level instances and above?”

“He’s a lunatic!”

“I think he’s cool. It must feel safe to have him on your team.”

“Safe, my ass! He always has that creepy, cold expression. Who knows if he’ll suddenly decide to kill you?”

Just as someone was speaking ill of Wen Xingxue, the electronic screen flickered.

[Congratulations to player Wen Xingxue for clearing the S+ level instance, Snowstorm Town!]

As the mechanical voice faded, a blue and white circle of light appeared below the screen, and Wen Xingxue materialized.

He still wore his black clothes, a knife at his waist, but this time, he also wore a black mask.

He seemed to have overheard the players’ conversation, his eyes narrowing, a cold aura radiating from him.

He walked towards them, his voice hoarse and raspy, like a reptile’s.

“Move.”

He seemed to be in a foul mood, cold and irritable, barely suppressing his murderous intent.

The players quickly scattered, their heads lowered, clearing a path for him.

Xing Nuo’s legs were too short to escape. He was left exposed, next to the trash can.

But he was just an ugly doll; he could just play dead.

He lay there, his little button eyes staring at the towering skyscrapers, their neon lights dazzling.

Wen Xingxue walked past, glancing down at the ugly little doll by his feet.

He thought, how ugly.

Who would ever want a doll like that?

Just as Xing Nuo was about to get up and continue his search for information about his dad, he suddenly felt himself being lifted.

Wen Xingxue, wearing a black mask, his voice muffled and hoarse, picked up the little clown doll and stared at it.

Xing Nuo, knowing he had to play dead when encountering strangers, remained motionless, not even blinking.

Wen Xingxue stared at the little doll for a long time, then poked its messy hair.

“Looks a bit…familiar…”

Like the little master in the castle, sleepy and dishevelled.

His lips, hidden behind the mask, twitched slightly, but Xing Nuo couldn’t see it, his button eyes still closed.

Wen Xingxue casually placed the doll in his pocket, put on his hood, and quickly walked away.

The players, watching the intimidating figure leave, breathed a sigh of relief.

“Wen Xingxue…likes dolls?”

“It looked like a wish-granting doll. Those are just trinkets, good for blocking a single attack, not as useful as other D-level props.”

“Why would he take it then?”

Players usually only bought wish-granting dolls because they couldn’t afford proper props, a cheap, somewhat useful trinket.

No one actually believed these dolls could grant wishes.

Otherwise, they would be incredibly valuable and highly sought after.

Wen Xingxue, the subject of their discussion, quickly returned to his residence, avoiding the crowds.

Unlike the other top-ranked players, who spent their points on luxurious accommodations, enjoying their elevated status and overlooking the central city,

Wen Xingxue lived simply, his residence a small courtyard on the outskirts of the city.

Secluded and quiet, undisturbed.

He arrived home, removed his hood and mask,

took out the little clown doll, looked at it for a moment, tossed it onto the table, and left, carrying his blade.

Xing Nuo, used to being picked up and tossed around, lay obediently on the table, not moving.

Seeing Wen Xingxue leave, he slowly turned his head, looking around the room.

The room was sparsely furnished, with plain white walls, devoid of any decorations.

He could see the entire room at a glance.