JCG Translations: The Boss I Picked Up All Fell In Love With Me

Chapter 77

Su Zui stared at the bird, which seemed to be breakdancing. Well, he wasn’t sure what it was doing, but its movements resembled a bouncing dumpling on a chopping board—oddly adorable.

Su Zui watched with delight, even considering capturing the moment on his phone.

Phoenix hopped in place a couple of times, gradually realizing something was amiss.

It lowered its head, examining its plump body. “…………”

Then it rolled into a corner.

Self-isolation mode activated.

Su Zui, halfway through pulling out his phone, couldn’t help feeling regretful. “What’s wrong?”

He hadn’t managed to record it!

However, the now self-isolated Phoenix completely ignored him. It sat motionless, facing the corner like a stiff, fake bird.

Its fluffy feathers puffed out, transforming from a chubby chirp into a miniature moon-shaped dumpling.

“Hmm?”

Su Zui gently patted its head, eventually realizing that it might be feeling shy. He didn’t say anything, just smiled faintly, and went to take a shower.

________________________

When he emerged from the bathroom, the momentarily foolish bird had adjusted its mood. It perched back on his shoulder like nothing had happened.

Although Su Zui still thought about the adorable breakdancing, the bird was too bashful. He refrained from mentioning it again, carrying the fuzzy accessory with him as he met the members of the Tao community.

Almost all the prominent families within the Tao community had sent representatives — either influential clan heads or elders.

Their reactions were as expected.

Their central theme was expressing gratitude to him. Although Su Zui found their repetitive words tiresome, he understood it was a necessary procedure. He mustered his spirits, putting on a standard professional smile.

Su Zui had genuinely saved numerous young Tao disciples over the years. These individuals were highly anticipated successors within their families. If anything happened to them, the entire family’s future would be at risk.

To show their appreciation, most families generously offered substantial tokens of gratitude.

Su Zoo graciously accepted, but he wasn’t a true philanthropist seeking rewards for good deeds.

The once-dwindling small treasury, due to the mishap with the illusion array, was now gradually replenishing.

The atmosphere during the gift-giving was harmonious. However, a few faces stood out as incongruous.

The expressions of the elders from the Meng and Xie families were somewhat restrained.

The Meng family faced trouble due to Meng Qingzhi’s actions, making him unpopular within the Tao community. As for the Xie family, they had previously tried to extort resources from Su Zui, resulting in a complete falling out.

The Meng family elders felt awkward due to their unruly descendant’s troubles. However, when they glanced at the visibly anxious Xie family elders nearby, their mindset oddly eased.

Why worry? There was someone even worse off than them!

At least they could blame everything on Meng Qingzhi alone and still had a chance to redeem themselves. But the Xie family’s attempt at blackmailing Su Zui was a collective effort, led by their family head. It was an indelible stain.

Now that Su Zui’s reputation was soaring within the Tao community, almost serving as a political correctness compass, it was evident that the Xie family would face subtle exclusion.

The Xie family, already diminished due to the damaged protective array and injured elders, desperately needed external support. This situation was akin to removing the last straw, leaving them to watch their family decline.

Perhaps in a hundred years, mentioning the Xie family in the capital would draw blank stares — few would remember them.

The people of the Xie family were becoming increasingly anxious, desperate to make amends. The elders who had come this time were tasked with the mission of reconciling with Su Zui.

However, despite their fervor, the object of their attention paid them no heed whatsoever.

Su Zui was never one to be magnanimous. While he wouldn’t take advantage of his position to harm the Xie family further, he also had no interest in engaging in mutual flattery with them.

The Xie family elder grew more and more anxious, his gaze shifting to Xie Yu, who stood beside Su Zui, hope in his eyes.

After all, Xie Yu was their own flesh and blood. Could he truly disregard family ties like this?

Yet, to his disappointment, Xie Yu glanced at him for a few seconds and then calmly averted his gaze, as if he hadn’t even noticed the elder’s meaningful look!

Xie family elder: “…”

Frustrated, but unable to speak out!

This brief confrontation unfolded in mere seconds, barely noticed by anyone.

Su Zui, on the other hand, did notice, but he didn’t let it bother him.

The current state of the Xie family was no longer worth his attention.

Although everyone was warm and grateful toward Su Zui, they were all capable individuals from various influential families. Most were from his father’s generation, and they carried themselves with dignity and restraint. After exchanging pleasantries and gifts, they considered their social duties fulfilled.

However, there was a small minority who lacked restraint. Even after the gift exchange, they weren’t satisfied and insisted on seizing the opportunity to—

Someone noticed the small bird perched on Su Zui’s shoulder and curiously asked, “Mr. Su, is this your contracted spirit beast?”

Since Su Zui’s fame had spread, the exposure of the Su family’s background as a beast-taming lineage was no secret.

Su Zui smiled, tacitly acknowledging it but not elaborating further.

Thinking he had received confirmation, the person proceeded to lavish praise on the phoenix.

—Even though they had no idea what was so praiseworthy about this seemingly ordinary bird with minimal spiritual energy!

But, as they say, where there’s a will, there’s a way. From its feathers to its temperament, this person managed to extol the virtues of the “unremarkable” bird.

Su Zui suppressed a laugh. “…You’re too kind.”

Phoenix, hearing this, bobbed its head in satisfaction, puffing out its tiny chest.

The person hadn’t gotten a single detail right, but their keen eye had correctly identified it as Su Zui’s. Their judgment was still accurate.

Anonymous bystander: “I don’t know why, but I suddenly feel like I’m reporting to my superior and receiving praise!”

As for the matter of the Su family regaining its status and Tao lineage, it had already been taken care of long before Su Zui’s arrival. As soon as he appeared, someone handed him the necessary documentation.

With this series of actions, the progress bar for the mainline task of restoring the family’s honor had reached seventy percent.

While progress would slow down later, it was only a matter of time to complete the task as long as Su Zui didn’t intentionally sabotage it.

With his own affairs settled, there were still many other matters to attend to.

The elders wasted no time and held a small meeting right there, with Su Zui representing the newly reinstated Su family.

He remained quiet throughout, rarely offering opinions. Only when the discussion turned to the whereabouts of Meng Qingzhi did he smile slightly and voluntarily provide a clue: “I have some information on Meng Qingzhi…”

He revealed the details of Meng Qingzhi’s dealings with the Rakshasa.

Upon hearing that Meng Qingzhi possessed evil energy, the expressions of those present changed.

This Meng Qingzhi was truly up to no good!

“This evil energy can spawn a great demon with just a trace, wreaking havoc in the world!”

“We must find Meng Qingzhi and suppress the evil energy in his possession.”

“But how much evil energy does he have? If it’s too much, we might not be able to handle it. Perhaps we should report this to the Judgment Office…”

The head of the Tao Association furrowed his brow, pondering for a moment, before finally looking at Su Zui. “Meng Qingzhi’s whereabouts are elusive. Do you have any more specific clues, young friend?”

Su Zui handed over a talisman with a knowing look. “I placed a tracking spell on the Rakshasa. She’ll definitely go find Meng Qingzhi, and following her will make things easier. However, be cautious — she’s incredibly powerful.”

“Thank you, young friend,” the Association head inquired. “How many personnel can each faction allocate now?”

Previously, they had assigned people to search for Meng Qingzhi, but the effort was minimal. Now, they couldn’t afford to underestimate the situation.

Under the Association head’s guidance, tasks were systematically delegated.

Watching everyone fervently discuss how to capture Meng Qingzhi, Su Zui couldn’t help but find it amusing. He recalled how, in the original book, Meng Qingzhi’s call would rally the entire younger generation of disciples in the Tao community. It was a situation that made him chuckle.

In the original story, although Meng Qingzhi didn’t break the illusion array in a desperate move, almost all of Tao’s young disciples fell within the illusion, while only Meng Qingzhi emerged unscathed.

The losses were undoubtedly greater back then.

However, at that time, Meng Qingzhi had already obtained the original body’s spiritual bone, and his strength and reputation far exceeded the present. His subtle manipulation within the illusion array, pulling people to shield him, went largely unnoticed. Even those who sensed something amiss couldn’t pinpoint it, and the matter was eventually brushed aside without blaming Meng Qingzhi.

This time, due to Su Zui’s lack of a spiritual bone, everything had changed.

He absentmindedly touched the plump little bird on his shoulder, a sardonic smile playing on his lips.

Meng Qingzhi was cunning and always seemed to escape danger by a hair’s breadth.

The Tao Association tirelessly pursued him for three whole months. They even spotted him twice, yet he managed to slip away each time — an eerie phenomenon.

The Association head sighed, “He certainly has luck on his side. It’s a shame. If he had chosen the right path, he could have achieved great things.”

However, this was just a superficial lament. Meng Qingzhi’s actions had caused immense trouble, stirring up anger. With the power of heaven and earth’s evil energy in his hands, he was undoubtedly a walking disaster.

Even if he wanted to turn over a new leaf, the Tao community would never accept him again.

________________________

Meng Qingzhi leaned against a mountain wall, wiping away the blood from his lips.

His clothes were covered in dust, and exhaustion etched his face.

These past three months had been beyond chaotic. First, the Rakshasa turned on him unexpectedly. Then, the Tao Association sent multiple teams to capture him, making every step treacherous.

He had evaded capture by hiding and running for three months, nearly reaching his breaking point.

His injuries accumulated, and he couldn’t hold out much longer.

For the first time in his life, Meng Qingzhi felt the desperation of being cornered.

He slowly uttered a name, infusing it with bone-chilling coldness: “Su… Zui.”

Like most people assumed, Meng Qingzhi believed Su Zui had disappeared due to injuries sustained during the illusion array’s collapse, assuming he was weak.

That’s why he confidently enlisted the Rakshasa, believing she would easily deal with Su Zui and provide him with the coveted spiritual bone.

But little did he know that Su Zui hadn’t been injured at all. In fact, he had even manipulated the Rakshasa to oppose him, instigating the Tao community to eliminate him completely.

As Meng Qingzhi fled in disarray, Su Zui was likely sitting comfortably behind the scenes, receiving reports on his current state. Did Su Zui find amusement in his plight?

Unlike the infamous Meng Qingzhi, Su Zui had become a hero in the Tao community due to saving people within the illusion array.

Meng Qingzhi thought bitterly, “Su Zui isn’t exactly benevolent. Is he some kind of saint?!”

There were countless ways to save people, yet Su Zui chose the most emotionally stirring method. His ambition was becoming increasingly evident.

But unfortunately, the Tao community’s eyes were blinded, and they continued to idolize Su Zui.

Meng Qingzhi felt as if he were ensnared by a curse. If only Meng Heyang had been more resourceful and obtained Su Zui’s spiritual bone earlier, he would have started from a higher position, and things would be different now!

The one they should be praising wasn’t Su Zui — it was him.

If only he had the spiritual bone…

Meng Qingzhi’s frustration grew, and he spat out a mouthful of blood.

The more he was denied, the more unwilling he became.

Cultivation and self-cultivation should ideally steer clear of getting entangled in trivial matters. However, after days of relentless pressure, this thought had taken root in Meng Qingzhi’s mind like an unyielding weed.

His brow furrowed with resentment—an ominous sign of inner turmoil. Unbeknownst to him, the malevolent energy he had previously bound with a magical artifact had quietly escaped, leaving a faint dark aura between his eyebrows.

Three days later, he appeared at a remote town’s train station, purchasing a ticket with a false identity. If Su Zui were here, he would undoubtedly recognize it as a ticket to the city where Father Su resided.

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