I became a martial arts saint while playing games.

Overwhelmed by the sheer volume of information, Bai Jingye felt momentarily stunned and couldn't quite process it all.

"Wait, you mean the Zhao family... the Zhao family from Xuancang?"

Gu Yan said, "Or which one do you think it should be?"

"They colluded with...colluded with demons?" Bai Jingye stammered. "But...but why? What are they after?"

Bai Jingye was utterly perplexed. In his view, the Zhao family wielded immense power and influence, holding a position of unparalleled privilege in Xuancang City. With such wealth and power, why would they risk joining a demon?

Gu Yan laughed and said, "You only think they are rich and powerful, but they don't think that way. Their desires are endless, and no matter how much they acquire, they are never satisfied."

In the eyes of the Zhao family, even with thousands of acres of fertile land and immense wealth, they were still subject to the laws of the imperial court, constantly constrained and unable to do as they pleased.

It is difficult for ordinary people to understand, but for these powerful families who have become so wealthy and powerful that they can hardly make any further progress, and who are insatiable yet feel that they have reached a bottleneck due to the suppression of the imperial court, their views and thoughts are completely different from those of ordinary people.

This is somewhat similar to some people in Gu Yan's previous life who possessed immense wealth but always complained about the many rules and regulations of their homeland, and thus always thought about transferring their assets to the so-called "free world".

In other words, it is like nourishing the body.

Bai Jingye still found it hard to believe, staring blankly for a long time before asking again, "Then...then the Zhao family colluded...colluded with this demon, sir...do you already have evidence?"

If that's true, then the fact that the Zhao family, with their power, secretly sided with demons shows that Gu Yan's earlier statement about the safety of the entire Xuancang City was not an exaggeration.

"No, but it'll be soon," Gu Yan said. "Otherwise, what would I need you for?"

Bai Jingye: "?"

"It is said that the Thief Saint's agility is unparalleled in the world, and his disguise skills are even more unique in the martial arts world."

Gu Yan smiled and kicked the dead wolf demon's corpse lying on the ground.

"Is the pose you take when you're made up to look like this monstrous creature a small problem for you?"

Bai Jingye was taken aback: "My lord, you...you mean you're going to disguise yourself as this monster...?"

Gu Yan said, "The Zhao family was waiting for the arrival of the special envoy from the Ten Thousand Demons Pavilion today. I intercepted this demon's token, replaced it with its face, and naturally became the special envoy."

"I see... I see," Bai Jingye said. "No wonder you asked me for help..."

Disguise is indeed one of his special skills, and he is even more proud of it than his mental cultivation techniques.

Gu Yan replied, "That's right. But the Thief Saint's disguise and movement techniques are unparalleled in the martial world. I want to borrow not only your disguise skills, but also your fighting skills... Of course, this matter is indeed risky, so it's entirely up to you to decide."

Bai Jingye asked, "How so?"

"As I just said, I have discovered that the Zhao family is colluding with the Wan Yao Fang, but I do not yet have any evidence," Gu Yan said. "However, I know that there is a hidden room in the bedroom of the Zhao family patriarch."

If someone were to use exceptional agility to sneak into that bedroom and find the secret room, they could obtain irrefutable evidence.

Bai Jingye was taken aback: "You want me to sneak into the Zhao family patriarch's bedroom?"

But he quickly shook his head repeatedly: "No, that won't do. Although I'm willing to lend a hand, the Zhao family head, Zhao Jingyuan, is a Qi Condensation Realm expert, and the second master of the Zhao family, Zhao Jingcen—who is also the family head's cousin—is also a Qi Condensation Realm expert."

The Zhao family has two powerful experts at the Condensation Realm, and I never provoke such families when I travel the martial world..."

Gu Yan said, "What if I could at least keep one of the Condensation Realm cultivators at bay and get the family head away?"

Bai Jingye was taken aback upon hearing this, then looked down at the corpse at his feet and realized what was happening.

He thought for a moment. If Gu Yan disguised himself as this demon envoy and kept the Zhao family patriarch in check, then his chances of sneaking into the patriarch's bedroom would undoubtedly be much greater.

Even if he's unlucky, he'll at most run into Zhao Jingcen, the second strongest expert in the Zhao family. Facing only a Qi Condensation Realm expert, he might not be able to defeat him, but he's confident he can escape.

It's definitely worth a try.

Bai Jingye hesitated for a moment, then said, "Alright. But I must say this beforehand, sir, if I encounter any danger..."

Gu Yan said, "You don't need to worry about me. Just run away as fast as you can."

He knew how bold and timid this legendary thief was, and that he was essentially a volunteer, not an official servant. It was only natural for him to run away when things turned bad.

After the two reached an agreement, Bai Jingye immediately got to work. His disguise skills were indeed remarkable. After a few moments, he had transformed Gu Yan into someone who looked exactly like the wolf demon envoy in his human form. Unless standing side by side with the real Gu Yan for comparison, it would be difficult to tell the difference.

With the token he had taken from the wolf demon, Gu Yan was now officially a special envoy of the Ten Thousand Demons Pavilion.

Gu Yan said, "The jade ruyi ornament placed by Zhao Jingyuan's bedside is actually the key to the hidden mechanism. The base of the jade ruyi is interlocked with the wooden base of the bedside. If you press it in half an inch and then slowly rotate it clockwise by three-tenths, you will see the hidden door open."

Bai Jingye couldn't help but admire the investigation skills of the Demon Suppression Division official after hearing his detailed account. He had even discovered the secret mechanisms of the Zhao family.

Of course, Gu Yan never investigated it; it was all just memories from his previous life.

Once the agreement was reached, the two went their separate ways. Gu Yan changed his expression, becoming relaxed and composed, and went directly to the Zhao family's residence in Xuancang City.

He knocked on the door and showed his token to the gatekeeper. The gatekeeper, who had clearly been waiting for the special envoy's arrival, quickly put on a fawning smile and eagerly led him inside.

Gu Yan entered the house and went to the Zhao family's main hall.

Inside the hall were a group of doctors, all with worried and anxious expressions.

Several elderly doctors knelt on the ground, not daring to breathe. In the main seat, Zhao Jingyuan, the head of the Zhao family, had a livid face and his brows were full of hostility as he sternly reprimanded his family.

"These are all supposedly well-known doctors in the area, but they've lived up to their reputations; they're all just good-for-nothings!"

Zhao Jingyuan said angrily.

"I'm making this clear today. If my son's meridians are damaged and you can't provide a cure, I'll cut off one toe from each of you every day, without stopping, until you come up with a solution."

The doctors inwardly groaned upon hearing this, yet were powerless to do anything. The young master of the Zhao family had already suffered damage to his meridians; ordinary medicine could not cure him. Although they knew that such harsh treatment was unreasonable and tyrannical, they were under the powerful influence of the wealthy family and had no room for argument.

Gu Yan strode into the hall, brandishing the Wan Yao Fang token, and laughed, "Patriarch Zhao, why are you arguing with a mortal doctor?"

Zhao Jingyuan, who had been sitting upright in the family head's seat, was full of anger and exuded an overwhelming aura of authority. But upon seeing him enter, his angry expression immediately turned into a smile, and he hurriedly stood up and respectfully bowed.

"Your Excellency, Special Envoy!"

Zhao Jingyuan stepped forward to greet him.

"Your Excellency, I am unable to greet you due to urgent family matters. Please forgive me!"