Cultivating Immortality Through a Hundred Lifetimes: I Possess the Heavenly Book of Merit

Seeing that Deli was wavering, Yu Yan simply laid everything bare.

He stood up, walked to the window, turned his back to Deli, and slowly began to speak.

"Derly, do you know what these three things we have here can do?"

Deli paused for a moment, then shook his head.

Yu Yan turned around, looked at him, and his gaze was calm.

"First, Lin Shi's dagger. What can this dagger prove? Can it prove that Lin Shi was the mastermind behind Lin Sheng's murder?"

Deli nodded.

Yu Yan shook his head.

"cannot."

Deli was stunned.

Yu Yan continued:

"This dagger only proves that Lin Shi is the owner of the dagger, not that he used it to kill someone. Lin Shi can easily claim that the dagger was stolen and that someone framed him."

Deli's expression turned somewhat unpleasant.

Yu Yan looked at him and slowly said:

"So, the only purpose of this dagger is to get Lin Jiu out of the dungeon. With it, Lin Jiu can prove that Lin Sheng's death has nothing to do with him, and the elders will have no reason to keep him locked up."

"But that's all."

"After Lin Jiu comes out, he can at most be on equal footing with Lin Shi and have a minor arm-wrestling match. If he wants to completely bring down Lin Shi, this dagger is not enough."

After listening, Deli remained silent.

Yu Yan walked up to him and sat down next to him.

"Secondly, your testimony. You personally accused Lin Shi of instigating you to kill Lin Sheng and frame Lin Jiu. This testimony is more powerful than a dagger. Because you are a living witness, you can identify him face to face."

Deli looked up at him.

Yu Yan continued:

"But your testimony is also problematic. What is your identity? You are Lin Shi's page, someone close to him. How much of what you say will the elders believe? Lin Shi could easily turn the tables and say that you were bribed to frame him."

Deli's expression turned even uglier.

Yu Yan looked at him, his voice calm, each word aimed at making the other person face reality.

"Therefore, the dagger and the testimony combined can only bring Lin Jiu out and put Lin Shi on the defensive. To completely bring down Lin Shi, we need a third thing."

Deli swallowed hard.

"Lin Xiao's evidence."

Yu Yan nodded.

"Yes. Lin Xiao's evidence."

"Who is Lin Xiao? He is the eldest son of the Lin family's Grand Elder. He holds a noble position and an important status. He carries far more weight than you or I."

"If the evidence of Lin Xiao's assassination attempt on Lin Jiu is made public, what would that mean?"

Yu Yan turned around and looked at Deli.

"This means that Lin Shi ordered Lin Xiao to kill someone. It means that Lin Shi not only wanted to kill Lin Jiu, but also the Grand Elder's son."

Do you know what this means?

Deli's pupils contracted slightly.

Yu Yan said, word by word.

"This means Lin Shi is completely finished. The Grand Elder won't let him go, the elders won't let him go, and the entire Lin family won't let him go."

"Not only will he fail to become the young clan leader, but he will also be expelled from the Lin family, and may even be executed."

After hearing this, Deli pursed his lips, his expression changing.

Yu Yan walked up to him and patted him on the shoulder.

"Derrey, do you understand now?"

Deli nodded.

Yu Yan continued, "These three things—the dagger, your testimony, and Lin Xiao's evidence—are all useful, but none of them are enough. Only by combining them can they achieve their maximum effect."

"And who has these three items now?"

Deli looked at him and opened his mouth.

Yu Yan smiled slightly.

"They're all in our hands."

"If Lin Jiu wants these things, he'll have to come to us. If he wants to completely bring down Lin Shi and take the position of young clan leader, he'll need the evidence we have."

"So, do you understand now?"

Deli's eyes changed; he was somewhat tempted by Yu Yan's words.

It must be said that these analyses are very insightful. He initially only intended to use this to threaten Lin Shi and get Lin Shi to help him get rid of his slave status. He really didn't expect it could be done this way.

Yu Yan looked at him and continued.

"Now, the decision-making power is in our own hands."

"We can identify Lin Shi as the murderer, or we can identify Lin Jiu as the murderer."

Deli was slightly taken aback.

"What?"

Yu Yan looked at him calmly.

"Is it hard to understand? I have Lin Xiao's body in my hands. As long as I don't hand over your evidence, the murderer is Lin Jiu."

"With both sides keeping each other in check, they dare not touch us, and this crisis can be temporarily quelled."

Deli was stunned.

Yu Yan looked at him and chuckled a few times.

"Of course, this is only a theoretical possibility. I won't do it. Because I can't trust Lin Shi."

"But I just wanted you to know."

"Now, we hold the cards. We can choose to help Lin Jiu, or we can choose to help Lin Shi. We can negotiate with either of them, make them fulfill their promises, free you from slavery, and let me get my reward."

"This mutual checks and balances at least prevents them from discarding us after they've served their purpose, thus protecting our own safety."

After listening, Deli remained silent for a long time.

He looked up at Yu Yan, his eyes filled with complex emotions.

"Aren't you afraid that I'll take these things and then negotiate with Lin Jiu myself?"

Yu Yan looked at him and smiled.

"Go ahead."

Deli was stunned.

Yu Yan said slowly:

"Go and negotiate with Lin Jiu. Tell him I have evidence that can get him released and bring down Lin Shi. What do you want? To get rid of your slave status? Lin Jiu will definitely agree."

"But have you considered whether you, alone, can safeguard this evidence?"

Deli's expression changed.

Yu Yan continued, "You saw those three men in black just now. They were late-stage Qi Refining cultivators. Lin Shi sent them to kill you and silence you. Do you think you can escape them alone?"

"Even if you manage to evade them now, what about later? Lin Shi will send more people. If once doesn't work, he'll try twice. If twice doesn't work, he'll try three times. How long can you hide?"

Deli's face turned deathly pale.

Yu Yan looked at him and softened his tone.

"Deli, I know you don't trust me. You were deceived by Lin Jiu and used by Lin Shi, so you don't dare to trust anyone. I understand that."

"But have you considered that only I can help you right now?"

"Only through cooperation can we preserve this evidence. Only through cooperation can we negotiate with Lin Jiu. Only through cooperation can you live and escape slavery."

"You can't protect that evidence by yourself."

Deli lowered his head and remained silent for a very long time.

Yu Yan didn't urge him, but just waited quietly.

Silence fell over the room.

Only the occasional chirping of birds outside the window broke the silence of the early morning.

a long time.

Deli raised her head and looked at Yu Yan.

All past grievances and resentments were turned into a high-stakes gamble.

"Okay. I'll cooperate with you."

Yu Yan's lips curled up slightly.

Deli took out a storage bag from his pocket, reached inside, and carefully took out a jade slip.

It was a palm-sized jade slip, crystal clear and faintly glowing. Unlike ordinary jade slips, this one was covered with runes, clearly a specially made piece.

Deli held the jade slip in both hands, about to channel his spiritual power into it.

"etc."

Yu Yan suddenly spoke.