Chapter 81 Cao Qin Hands Over the Map
"what?"

Liu Xunyi was shocked when Su He said this. As a member of the Song Dynasty court, he naturally saw things more clearly than Tang Afu and other people in the underworld. The Mongolian court had been winning over underworld forces over the years, and the most notable ones were the 24 cities in Mobei, the Huma Gang, and Chifengling.

Although the Mongolian court had this practice, they had only targeted the forces on the Mobei grasslands in the past, and had not intervened in the Central Plains martial arts world. Now that they suddenly approached the Tianshan Yulong Palace, which claimed to be a Central Plains sect, their intention was really intriguing.

It is obvious that the Mongolian court has set its sights on the Han martial arts world, or rather, it has plans for the remaining half of the Song Dynasty.

Cao Qin's blood immediately ran cold, and he exclaimed, "You want my Jade Dragon Palace to become the next Red Wind Ridge?"

"That's right." Chagan said seriously, "This is actually a great joyous event for you. Our only worry is that the Jade Dragon Palace Master is used to being a local emperor here and is unwilling to submit to the imperial court."

“Bah!” Cao Qin spat angrily and shouted, “If you want the Jade Dragon Palace to submit to the Mongolian Khan, it’s simply a foolish dream unless the sun rises from the west! It’s fine if you try to win over the sects in Mobei, but now you are actually planning to take over my Jade Dragon Palace. Aren’t you stretching your hand too far? Don’t forget that the Tianshan Jade Dragon Palace is a sect from the Central Plains, a sect of the Han people!”

Although Cao Qin was a sinister and cunning person, his words were righteous and powerful. Liu Xunyi had to look at him differently because he could be so resolute in the face of major issues.

"Hmph!" Bater glanced at Cao Qin with disdain and said sarcastically, "What is Mobei? Where is the Central Plains? You have lived longer than me, but your vision is too short-sighted. Is Tianshan still the territory of your Song Dynasty? This place has long become our territory. We can do whatever we want here, what does it have to do with you? What about the Tianshan Jade Dragon Palace? Aren't you still begging for food in our territory? If you anger the Khan, no matter whether you are the 'Jade Dragon Palace' or the 'Jade Insect Palace', a hundred thousand cavalry will sweep through. By then, even if all the trees in this leaf forest are cut down, they will not be enough to make coffins for you. Wherever the army passes, no grass will grow. Wherever the scimitar points, not a single piece of armor will be left!" When Bater said this, his eyes revealed a strong sense of pride.

The muscles on Cao Qin's face were trembling slightly due to anger. He said in a cold voice: "Even if I let you get the Jingfenghuayutu, the Palace Master will never submit to the Mongolian Khan. Don't even think about succeeding!"

"Then we won't bother Hall Master Cao." Chagan said with a sinister smile, "Now you just need to hand over the Shocking Wind and Transforming Rain Diagram to us."

From the beginning to the end, Su He just stood aside silently without making any statement. In fact, he was very disgusted with this kind of behavior of taking advantage of others' misfortune, and thought that this act was against the uprightness and was the inferior behavior of a despicable villain. But Su He was a Mongolian after all. He was not only a relative of Chagan and the other two, but also a loyal supporter of the Mongolian Khan. Therefore, it was impossible for him to stand up and oppose in public, let alone turn against Chagan and the other two.

For a moment, Su He was in a dilemma and could only let Chagan and Cao Qin confront each other.

"In fact, you all know in your hearts that the chance of success is less than 10%." Liu Xunyi, who gradually understood the whole thing, suddenly interrupted and said, "The reason why you are so eager to ask for the Wind and Rain Map is not because you really want to use it to convince the Jade Dragon Palace Master, but to leave a way out for yourself in advance."

Su He frowned, looked at Liu Xunyi in confusion, and asked, "Brother Liu, what do you mean by this..."

"Brother Su!" Liu Xunyi looked embarrassed and said in deep thought, "I respect you as a man who stands tall and proud, and there are some things that should not be said. But in fact, your three friends have already expected that this trip will not be able to persuade the Jade Dragon Palace Master to surrender to the Mongolian Khan. They are eager to get the Jingfenghuayutu, and only 30% of the reason is to threaten the Jade Dragon Palace Master with it. But who is the Jade Dragon Palace Master? He has been in the martial arts world for decades and is in charge of such a huge force as the Tianshan Jade Dragon Palace. How could he surrender obediently after a few threats? So the real plan of your three friends is actually 70% to leave a way out for themselves. After the surrender fails, take the Jingfenghuayutu back to report to the Lord of Chifeng Ridge. In fact... the Lord of Chifeng Ridge may have guessed this result a long time ago, so he will not be surprised if you return in defeat, but if you bring back the priceless Jingfenghuayutu, it will be a real surprise for him. At that time, not only will he not punish you, but he will also reward you heavily."

Su He frowned as he pondered over Liu Xunyi's words, then nodded slowly and said, "Brother Liu, what you said makes sense..."

"Brother Su!" Seeing Su He wavering, Bater was immediately furious and tried to dissuade him, "How can you listen to the nonsense of a Song man? And even if he guessed right, so what? Isn't it good for us to take the Jingfenghuayu Tu back? There are peerless martial arts and Jin treasures hidden in it. As long as we present the map to the Khan, wouldn't it be..."

"Shut up!" Su He shouted angrily, "If you want to get the Wind and Rain Map, you can use some fair means. Why do you have to use such a trick to take advantage of others' misfortune? If you had taken this map from the Lord of Yulong Palace, I would not say much, because that is your ability. But at this moment, what you are doing seems to be taking advantage of others' misfortune."

"Su He!" Cao Qin glared at Su He and shouted coldly, "Stop pretending here. You are the same as them. Why bother pretending? Even if I destroy this painting of the wind and rain, I will never give it to you."

Chagan's eyes turned cold, and he said to Su He without turning his head: "Su He, if you think this matter is inappropriate, then just stand aside and don't interfere. We will discuss the right and wrong after returning to Chifeng Ridge. There are outsiders here today, why should we fight among ourselves and let them laugh at us?"

After that, Chagan pointed the scimitar in his hand at Cao Qin and said in a cold voice, "Master Cao, you must not refuse a toast. There is no village or shop in this place. If you die here today, I am afraid that no one will collect your body."

"Are you kidding me?" Cao Qin subconsciously tightened the black bamboo tube in his hand, then took two steps back and shouted at Liu Xunyi and Tang Afu, "Do you want to just sit there and watch?"

Before Liu Xunyi could speak, Tang Afu sneered expressionlessly, "If you give me the map, I will save your life."

"You want to take advantage of the situation?" Cao Qin glared at Tang Afu with a flickering gaze and shouted, "You and I are both Han Chinese, how can you..."

"Eight out of ten people you've killed were Han Chinese. How do you explain that?" Tang Afu replied calmly, "If you want me to save your life, then give me the map. Otherwise, you can only wish for the best for yourself today."

"Liu Xunyi, if I remember correctly, you should be from the Xianwang Mansion. Luo Tianjin is known as the Northern Xianwang. Do you also want to watch him die without saving him?" Cao Qin knew that he could not defeat the three Chagans alone, so he put his hope on Liu Xunyi. He saw a hint of hesitation in Liu Xunyi's eyes, and he was sure that Liu Xunyi was not as hard-hearted as Tang Afu. The strong reinforcements from Yulong Palace were slow to arrive, and Liu Xunyi had become Cao Qin's last straw.

For Cao Qin, the Wind and Rain Painting is important, but his life is more important. If he cannot save the painting today, he will give it to the person who is most likely to save his life. Now it seems that Liu Xunyi is undoubtedly that person.

"Cao Qin, you talk too much nonsense, bring me the picture!"

Bater could no longer wait. He leaped into the sky, stomped his feet in the air, and flew directly over the heads of Suhe, Zhuoya and Chagan. He swung his scimitar in the air and chopped straight down at Cao Qin's head.

"Wait a moment!"

A cold shout came from Liu Xunyi's mouth, and his figure turned into a black shadow, flashed through the air, and in the blink of an eye he rushed in front of Bater, drew his sword and blocked Bater's blade for Cao Qin.

"Keng!"

The sound of swords clashing stirred up the bloody forest again. Under Liu Xunyi's sword, Bartleton felt powerless and had to fly back, landing far away beside Chagan. He wanted to attack again, but was suddenly stopped by Chagan.

Liu Xunyi turned over and landed beside Cao Qin, staring at Chagan, whose face was like a skull, with sharp eyes.

"Liu Xunyi, it seems that you don't have much friendship with Cao Qin?" Chagan asked.

"I'm not trying to save him, but I can't watch you take away the Shocking Wind and Rain Map."

In response, Su He's eyes were uncertain and his expression was indescribably complicated. On the other hand, Tang Afu stood aside and watched the show with great interest, without any intention of drawing his sword to help.

The enemy just now was now fighting side by side with him, and the friend just now was turning his sword against him. Over time, the situation changed again and again, making Cao Qin exhausted both physically and mentally.

"Cao Qin." Chagan threatened coldly, "If you don't hand over the Jingfenghuayutu, you will die today! You should know that Liu Xunyi can't even protect himself, let alone you." After that, he glanced at Su He meaningfully and asked, "Su He, I don't think you will watch me, Bater, and Zhuoya die here, right?"

"certainly……"

"That's good!" Chagan nodded with satisfaction. "Then you don't need to do anything. Just persuade your brother Liu not to meddle in other people's business. You saved his life, I think he should listen to you."

When Su He cast an awkward look at Liu Xunyi, Liu Xunyi also subconsciously froze for a moment. He had just made the move out of loyalty to Cao Qin, and it was unintentional. But in fact, in his heart, he hated Cao Qin to the extreme. If it weren't for the three people of Chagan, Liu Xunyi might have killed him himself.

Although Su He and Liu Xunyi said nothing, Cao Qin had already felt something was wrong. He looked around again, but still could not find any help. Hope was gone, and his mood sank to the bottom. In order to protect himself, Cao Qin had to reconsider whether to keep the painting of the Wind and Rain.

After hesitating for a long time, Cao Qin finally let out a bitter sigh. He walked slowly to Liu Xunyi, and under the puzzled gaze of everyone, he took the initiative to stuff the black bamboo tube into Liu Xunyi's hand, and said earnestly: "I can't keep this picture today. Instead of handing it to these Mongolians, I might as well give it to you." After that, without waiting for Liu Xunyi to reply, Cao Qin quickly retreated a few steps, as if he had nothing to do with it anymore, and in the blink of an eye he became a bystander who had nothing to do with it.

Although Cao Qin's words sounded nice, he was actually passing the hot potato to Liu Xunyi. He himself got away with it, but Liu Xunyi became the target of public criticism instead of him.

Sure enough, just as Liu Xunyi took the bamboo tube with a blank look on his face and pondered over the options, Chagan, Bater and Zhuoya had already walked slowly forward and surrounded him. Chagan's scimitar flipped, reflecting a dazzling cold light in the sun, and his murderous intent was as cold as ice, chilling people's hearts.

"Liu Xunyi, hand over the map and I won't kill you!"

……

(End of this chapter)