Biodata
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Name | Xu Gou (徐狗) |
| Alias(es) | Xu Tianlang's substitute; body double 59 60 |
| Species/Race | Human; Rogue Player 95 |
| Gender | Male |
| Affiliation | Gao Linzhi / Can Xue; Four Village Trading Company; East Wolf Village 63 64 117 |
| Occupation/Role | Gao Linzhi's subordinate, administrator, intelligence operative, and puppet-enforcement agent 63 82 113 |
| Status | Active 233 |
| First Appearance | Chapter 59 59 |
Power Progression
| Stage / Realm / Level | Chapter | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Xu Tianlang's substitute | 59 | Presented to Gao Linzhi by the Xu Clan as a slave and renamed Xu Gou. |
| Administrative subordinate | 63 64 | Oversees BOSS-hunting reports and village operations; receives a Basic Defense Skill Book as a reward for his work. |
| Developing combatant | 84 | Learns basic skills and improves his Constitution and combat power after entering Gao Linzhi's service. |
| Liang Clan raider | 94 95 | Entrusted with Puppet Talismans, a Resurrection Stone, the Corpse Vine, and the Wind Wolf King; infiltrates Liang City and dismantles the Liang Clan's gathering. |
| Powerful Rogue Player | 95 | Operates against the Liang Clan alone, killing targets or selecting useful survivors for puppetry. |
| Advanced combatant | 224 | Uses Advanced Combat against Qingcheng*Bored; his pure combat ability is stated to be no weaker than Bored's. |
Background & Story Role
Xu Gou once had a family, children, and ambitions of his own. Because his appearance slightly resembled Xu Tianlang's, the Xu Clan forcibly disfigured him into a body double and used his family to control him. His resentment culminated in him further smashing his own face, declaring his intent to repay the Xu Clan a hundredfold. 60
The Xu Clan later offered him to Gao Linzhi as a substitute for Xu Tianlang during their attempt to appease Can Xue. Gao accepted him as a slave, removing him from the disposable role imposed by the Xu Clan. 59 Xu Gou consequently devoted himself to Gao's rise, treating his master's interests as his own and submitting detailed work plans, profit reports, and operational requests. 63
During his presentation, Xu Gou knelt bare-backed with thorns and wounds on his back, beside two bags of gold. Although his appearance and displayed ID matched Xu Tianlang's, he deliberately used unusually submissive language to alert Gao Linzhi to the deception. Gao identified him through his appraisal skill, stipulated three years of slavery, and personally gave him the name Xu Gou. Xu Gou was grateful because returning to the Xu Clan would likely have meant being forced to commit suicide as a further gesture of apology. 59
He became a practical administrator for East Wolf Village and Gao Linzhi's wider organization. His duties included reporting results from BOSS-hunting operations, distributing trade notices, negotiating major transactions, and managing the auction house. 64 82
Gao entrusted Xu Gou with retaliation against the Liang Corporation, supplying him with over a hundred Puppet Talismans, a Resurrection Stone, the Corpse Vine, and the Wind Wolf King. Xu Gou infiltrated Liang City, investigated the Liang Clan's treatment of vulnerable people, then attacked their manor banquet. He killed or puppeted attendees according to their usefulness. 94 95
During the banquet raid, Xu Gou also used paired bloodline-identification talismans to distinguish relatives of his targets. He issued orders to kill or release individuals after checking them, while the Wind Wolf King's deterrence skills prevented the crowd from descending into uncontrolled panic. 95
Xu Gou later developed the Sirius Island Anomaly-trial operation into a source of Skill Stones and Talent Stones. He verified information on the trial, coordinated with Steward Zhang and Puppet Best, and collected resources through their memory-modification and elite-template work. 113 116 117 He also assembled one hundred willing candidates with Gold Quality Talent potential for the Giant Dune trials. 130 131
After observing a trial in which all ten participants died, Xu Gou learned about its Courage, Wisdom, and Benevolence tests and sought memory manipulation as a way to improve success rates. When questioned about his handling of participants, he stated that they had signed their contracts voluntarily; Gao Linzhi's appraisal confirmed that he was not lying. 115 Xu Gou subsequently accompanied Gao Linzhi and Puppet Best to observe the dispute over Giant Dune, recognizing that their technical expertise would remain valuable whichever local faction prevailed. 118
His resource-gathering work expanded to divination-related skills and talents. After a week of intensive work left him visibly haggard, Gao Linzhi rewarded him with a Revival Stone and instructed him to balance work and rest. 120 In searching for Gold Quality Talent candidates, Xu Gou investigated ordinary people in Xu City rather than relying exclusively on established elites, intending to use the local Xu and Liang organizations to assist him. 123
As Gao Linzhi's influence expanded, Xu Gou served as an enforcer and messenger in Xu City and Liang City, delivering orders that prohibited rogue players from killing or robbing others. 126 He later investigated the typhoon Anomaly connected to Qin Qin's arrival, attempting to trace its source despite other high-level players' unwillingness to take the risk. 166
Xu Gou also accompanied Gao Linzhi in bringing the genius Hai Zida to Xu City by plane. 152 When Imperial Court representatives approached their organization, he asked whether they should be killed or expelled, but accepted Gao Linzhi's decision to let them continue so that their methods could be understood. 158 He later questioned Qin Qin and assigned a special puppet to watch her before concentrating on how an Anomaly had brought her into the game world. 165 166
During the Dynasty Hegemony debate, Xu Gou argued for supporting the rebel Great Ying Dynasty rather than the Imperial Court, believing rebellion offered greater rewards and room for maneuver. 224
Gao Linzhi resolved the disagreement by directing his subordinates to form two teams, one aligned with the Imperial Court and the other with the rebels. Xu Gou remained dissatisfied but did not continue objecting. Gao suspected that his unusually firm opposition to the court might involve a personal quest or faction restriction, but this was not confirmed. Xu Gou later told Bored that he believed the boss himself intended to support the rebels. 224
Their subsequent fight revealed that both men carried a Killing Intent negative buff. When Gao questioned them about unusual encounters, Xu Gou recalled investigating a Shrine and hearing an old man describe the previous Great Ying Dynasty as renowned for killing. 224
While leaving the bottom of a well with Gao Linzhi's group, Xu Gou was affected by a flash of light and sensed a gap in his memories. He could tell that the others appeared to have completed their task despite his impression that they had only just entered. Gao judged that Xu Gou possessed some resistance to the interference, but not much. 233
Appearance
Xu Gou is a thin man slightly over 1.7 meters tall. His face was altered to resemble Xu Tianlang's, making him recognizable as the Xu Clan leader's substitute. 60 113 126
- Thin build, contrasted with the more than two-meter-tall Big Black Fatty during their meeting. 113
- Facial features were forcibly altered for his role as Xu Tianlang's body double. 60
- Later further damaged his own face, caving in his nose with a stone. 60
- Wears a black trench coat during the Liang Clan banquet raid and appears riding the Wind Wolf King, with a cold gaze and commanding bearing. 95
- Develops prominent dark circles and a haggard appearance after intensive resource-gathering work, despite his extraordinary Constitution. 120
Personality
Xu Gou is intensely loyal to Gao Linzhi, initially because Gao rescued him from being disposable cannon fodder and later from genuine conviction. He sees serving a powerful and comparatively fair master as the correct choice after his treatment by the Xu Clan. 60 83
He is diligent, highly initiative-driven, and eager to prove his usefulness. He independently raided the Tianxia Guild, actively searched for Gao's requested skills and talents, and devoted significant effort to the Gold Quality Talent project. 92 113 120
His hatred of corporations and aristocratic families makes him ruthless toward those he considers exploiters. This is evident in his Liang Clan operation and his willingness to execute trial participants who violated their contracts. 95 115 He can also favor extreme preemptive control, proposing tracking devices, micro-mushrooms, and curse items for rogue players entering Xu City and Liang City. 125
Xu Gou has received a formal education and shows practical insight into both technology and power structures. He reasons that puppet memories are effectively data and learns from Steward Zhang's explanations about profit, deterrence, and balancing factions. 60 115 116
Gao Linzhi's rejection of intrusive control over rogue players deepens Xu Gou's devotion. He interprets Gao's restraint as a willingness to tolerate smaller risks for the greater goal of longevity, and feels reassured that becoming stronger will not itself make him a target for elimination. 125 By the meeting with the hundred elite candidates, he has begun addressing Gao as “Boss” rather than “Master,” a change Gao does not object to. 131
Although usually compliant, Xu Gou can express firm independent opinions. His distrust of the Imperial Court centers on its alleged habit of breaking promises and discarding useful servants, and his opposition to joining it is unusually resolute. 224 He also values combat practice over reliance on Skill Stones and is reluctant to spend heavily on equipment, unlike Bored. 224
Abilities & Skills
Administration and Trade Operations
Xu Gou handles operational work that Gao Linzhi does not personally oversee.
- Prepares work processes, profit reports, and requests for East Wolf Village's BOSS-hunting operations. 63
- Reports monthly gains and manages the movement of ordinary materials into the village warehouse. 64
- Spreads trade notices for Resurrection Stones, skills, pets, and Anomaly-resistance items. 82
- Negotiates on Gao Linzhi's behalf at the East Wolf Village auction house. 82
- Proactively monitors items capable of quickly improving Gao Linzhi's strength and reports opportunities without needing repeated instructions. 64
- Can collect company gold for Gao Linzhi through formal warehouse-withdrawal procedures, including a receipt for 500 kilograms. 125
Combat and Infiltration
Xu Gou developed from a powerless substitute into a capable Rogue Player.
- Learns basic skills and receives a Basic Defense Skill Book from Gao Linzhi. 64 84
- Uses Advanced Combat in direct combat. 224
- Conceals his presence while infiltrating Liang City. 95
- Has combat ability comparable to Qingcheng*Bored in pure physical fighting, though he was ultimately suppressed by Bored's superior equipment investment. 224
- Takes the initiative against Bored through successive attacks, feints, and strikes aimed at weak points; before equipment and mystical powers become decisive, Bored is at a disadvantage. 224
- Shows limited resistance to mental interference, noticing discomfort and a discontinuity in his memories after a flash of light affects the group. No specific resistance skill or talent is identified. 233
Puppet Enforcement
Xu Gou is one of Gao Linzhi's principal agents for converting enemies into puppets.
- Uses Puppet Talismans against Liang Clan targets. 94 95
- Selects Liang Clan survivors for conversion based on their skills and value. 95
- Raids the Tianxia Guild and arrests members for divination-based judgments of guilt or innocence without waiting for orders. 92
- Commands or works alongside the Corpse Vine, Wind Wolf King, and borrowed puppets during dangerous operations. 94 126 166
- Uses bloodline-identification talismans to check relationships among banquet attendees and directs the Wind Wolf King to kill or release them. 95
- Assigns a special puppet to monitor Qin Qin during the investigation of her arrival. 166
Intelligence and Talent-Stone Operations
Xu Gou is trusted with gathering specialized information and rare resources.
- Investigates stealth skills and concealment talents for Gao Linzhi. 113
- Locates healing talents and skills capable of clearing negative buffs. 115
- Confirms the risks and conditions of Sirius Island's monthly Anomaly trial. 113 115
- Coordinates with Puppet Best to use memory manipulation in support of Skill Stone and Talent Stone production. 116
- Finds one hundred potential candidates for Gold Quality Talents. 130
- Acquires divination, curse, inspiration, and resistance Skill Stones, along with the Blue Tier Mysterious Enhancement Talent Stone, for Gao Linzhi. 120
- Provides a strategy for obtaining a Gold Quality Talent Stone. 120
- Investigates the mechanism by which Qin Qin was transported into the game world, rather than focusing solely on her possible role as bait. 165 166
Equipment / Weapons / Items
- Basic Defense Skill Book — Rewarded by Gao Linzhi after Xu Gou's administrative work. 64
- Puppet Talismans — Received a stock of more than one hundred, from White to Blue Tier, for the Liang Corporation operation. 94
- Resurrection Stones — Temporarily assigned one during the Liang operation; later carries several while executing Gao's orders. 94 126 Also receives a Revival Stone as a personal reward for his resource-gathering efforts. 120
- Corpse Vine — Used for reconnaissance and operations against the Liang Clan. 94 95
- Wind Wolf King — Assigned to support Xu Gou; protects him during the Liang Clan raid. 94 95
- Borrowed puppets — Obtained from Puppet Best for the typhoon-Anomaly investigation. 166
- Bloodline-identification talismans — Paired mother-and-child talismans used during the Liang Clan raid. The child talisman checks a target's blood connection to the person designated by the mother talisman, whose glow strengthens with closer kinship. 95
Relationships
- Gao Linzhi / Can Xue — Master and benefactor. Gao accepts Xu Gou after the Xu Clan offers him as a substitute; Xu Gou becomes one of his most trusted and industrious subordinates. 59 63 113 Gao explicitly trusts him more than Bored when assigning the search for concealment abilities. 113 Xu Gou's loyalty deepens after Gao rejects excessive restrictions on rogue players, and he later begins calling him “Boss.” 125 131
- Xu Tianlang — The man Xu Gou was forced to impersonate because of their resemblance. Xu Gou's treatment as Tianlang's body double is the source of his enduring resentment toward the Xu Clan. 60 126
- Puppet Best — Operational partner in Sirius Island's Talent Stone and Skill Stone production. Xu Gou specifically seeks her out for memory-manipulation expertise. 116 117
- Qingcheng*Bored — Fellow senior subordinate and rival. Their opposing views on the Dynasty Hegemony lead to a fight influenced by anomalous killing intent. 224 Xu Gou previously arranged Bored's accommodation and introduction to the surroundings after he joined Gao's regular team. 85
- Big Black Fatty / Steward Zhang — Sirius Island contact and collaborator who seeks Gao Linzhi's protection over Giant Dune. 116 117
- Xu Zongyin — Receives Gao Linzhi's orders from Xu Gou concerning Rogue Player conduct in Xu City and Liang City. 126
- Liang Clan — Target of Xu Gou's revenge operation after their exploitation of vulnerable people and earlier persecution of Rogue Players. 94 95
- Jiangnan1912 — Fellow subordinate whom Xu Gou recognizes and would not target during the destruction of the Liang Clan, despite Jiangnan's connection to the family as a live-in son-in-law. 96
- Gold Quality Talent candidates — A hundred recruits selected by Xu Gou for the Giant Dune project. Many regard him as the person who gave them a second chance at life, alongside a dangerous challenge and prospects for advancement. 130 131
- Qin Qin — Subject of his investigation after her arrival during the typhoon Anomaly. He briefly questions her, places her under puppet surveillance, and focuses on discovering how she entered the world. 165 166