Thunder Bluff.
The Tauren Chieftain Rom the Wildtotem sipped a plate of fragrant beef, humming a smug tune.
The Mulgore Tauren hate Centaurs the most; the tents where Tauren Chieftains live are almost always made of Centaur hide.
At the Centaur camp, the Centaur chieftain retaliated by building a tent using Tauren skins as well.
Now, the Centaurs have become the subordinates of Warchief Chen Stormstout.
With their greatest enemy gone, the Tauren were able to enjoy a peaceful life.
Rom the Wildtotem, with nothing to do, considers himself the luckiest chieftain.
A figure appeared before Rom, saying mockingly, "Eating the flesh of your own kind, what difference is there between you and those cruel Centaurs?"
Without even looking up, Rom casually replied, "This is a glorious tradition of the Orcs... Who are you? How did you get in?"
Appearing on the other side was a human wearing a cloak, his head and face covered by the hood.
Rom instinctively wanted to call for the guards, but wisely covered his mouth immediately.
The fact that the other party could appear silently inside the heavily guarded chieftain's tent meant they were no ordinary person.
Rom forced a smile and said ingratiatingly:
"Sir, how can I help you?"
"Don't call me sir, my name is Gudan."
Gudan sat steadily on the chieftain's throne:
"I see you're having a pretty comfortable time as chieftain. Back in the day, the chieftain of Thunder Bluff was the infamous Cairne Bloodhoof. After Garrosh devoured Cairne, his son Baine inherited the position. It's strange, how did such an unknown nobody like you become chieftain?"
Rom looked embarrassed and after a long while said:
"Gudan, you are a remarkable figure, controlling all things in heaven and earth. We insignificant beings are not worthy of your attention, as small as ants. But I still insist on arguing that my chieftain is better than Cairne Bloodhoof."
Gudan raised his voice. "Cairne Bloodhoof is the greatest chieftain in Tauren history, recognized by Azeroth. How can you compare to him?"
Rom explained tactfully, "From the Horde's perspective, Cairne was indeed the greatest chieftain. He successfully turned the Tauren into food for the Orcs, making an outstanding contribution to the Horde. But to the Tauren, he was a Demons, a traitor who betrayed Tauren, since nobody wants to be food."
Gudan sneered, "Even if you're right, from the Tauren's perspective, they're still food for the Orcs Tauren; their status hasn't changed!"
Rom cautiously said, "Chen Stormstout is not the same as Thrall's. When Thrall was Warchief, Thunder Bluff had to satisfy Thrall's tastes, and no one else dared to offend him. People like Saurfang the Great, Vol'jin, Eitrigg all had a lot of restaurants that needed to supply Tauren to them every month."
"These days, only Chen Stormstout are occasionally needed, and even Khadgar doesn't eat beef. Although the status of Tauren food hasn't changed, the losses are only a fraction of what they used to be. I never value the status and dignity of the Tauren. As long as fewer people die, I'm a qualified Warchief, much better than Cairne Bloodhoof."
Gudan squinted and chuckled, "This is interesting, but unfortunately, your comfortable life must come to an end. In three days, you will lead the Tauren to protest at the gates of Orgrimmar, demanding that Chen Stormstout release Thrall and relinquish the Warchief position."
Rom stared, speechless, his face pale. "No, no, if Thrall were to return to the position of Warchief, and the Tauren were to suffer another miserable existence, I would rather die than agree to it. I know what that feels like; I was almost sent to Orgrimmar when I was young."
Gudan stood up and walked straight to the door without turning his head:
"I prefer dealing with intelligent people. Once you've thought things through, you'll definitely appear at the gates of Orgrimmar. Otherwise, you're no better chieftain than Cairne, and I'll replace you without hesitation and find someone else."
Rom for a long time, then suddenly realized something. He paced back and forth inside the chieftain's tent, muttering to himself:
"A temporary sacrifice is better than prolonged blood loss. For the future of the Tauren, I must sacrifice some of my people."
Then, Rom looked at the beef on the plate:
"This really is beef!"
When Rom led a group of Tauren to the gates of Orgrimmar City, Chen Stormstout stood motionless like a statue.
Thousands of Tauren shouted slogans that shook the heavens and earth, demanding the release of the great Savior Thrall and the return of the Warchief to him.
Chen Stormstout, consumed by rage, forced a bitter smile, a suppressed anger rising in his chest, seemingly ready to erupt at any moment.
Dozens of large pots were set up at the city gate, the oil boiling hot.
"For the great Savior Thrall!"
For Azeroth.
"For Thunder Bluff!"
The Tauren lined up in neat rows and jumped into the oil cauldrons one after another.
Khadgar, equally bewildered, summoned Rom, Chen Stormstout questioned him:
"I cut the supply from the Thunder Bluff Tauren, and you betrayed me for Thrall."
Rom gritted his teeth and knelt down with a thud:
"Warchief, I beg you, kill those Tauren at the gate!"
"What did you say?" Chen Stormstout was completely bewildered, while Khadgar seemed to understand something in a daze.
"Kill them, turn them into Tough Jerky, and don't let them return to Thunder Bluff," Rom said resolutely.
As soon as he stepped out of the Warchief's tent, a large group of Azeroth media personnel surrounded him. Big Candle Gagg, was the first to ask a question:
"As the chieftain of Thunder Bluff, what is your opinion on the capture of Thrall, the Savior, and how will you respond?"
Rom declared passionately, "As everyone knows, Thrall, the Savior, saved Thunder Bluff and changed the Tauren's backwardness and barbarity that had persisted for thousands of years. Savior 'Thrall contribution is indispensable in enabling the Tauren to become the Orcs' food. To express our gratitude to Thrall, all Tauren must unite and defend Savior with their lives for Thrall Azeroth!"
Inside the magnificent palace in the Vale of Eternal Blossoms, Taran Zhu was filled with unease and hadn't slept well for several days.
Sylvanas is gone.
Illidan gave Taran Zhu a golden collar to enslave Sylvanas, thinking it would be foolproof, but unexpectedly, it backfired.
Sylvanas, the Dark Lady, was formerly the Ranger-General of Silvermoon City. She was extremely proud and ruthless.
Taran Zhu had already foreseen that a terrible retribution was about to come.
That night, Taran Zhu woke up from her sleep and found two long shadows in her bedroom.
Who is it?
Taran Zhu hurriedly assumed a fighting stance, only to suddenly realize that the room was filled with various magical elements, causing her internal Chi to stagnate and circulate poorly.
Clearly, there is a highly skilled Archmage nearby. Who could it be?
Taran Zhu's first thought was of Antonidas, who had once served Sylvanas.
Only after seeing the two slender figures clearly did Taran Zhu realize her mistake.
Sylvanas and Jaina stood side by side, watching Taran Zhu with leisurely expressions.
The room was sealed by magic, and the flow of internal Chi was disrupted. Taran Zhu forced a smile:
"What are your orders, Your Majesties?"
Sylvanas's long eyebrows twitched as she suppressed her anger and said indignantly:
"Someone helped us gain our freedom, Taran Zhu. We're not here for revenge, but to tell you something."