After painstakingly checking each of his broken bones and applying herbal medicine, Chen Stormstout felt much better.
Pandaren are known for their stubbornness; once they've made up their minds about something, it's very difficult for them to change their minds.
Stormstout concluded that tonight's experience was an Inner Demon Trial. He muttered to himself: This inner demon is different from the usual ones; it can affect my physical body and has not appeared in any records.
After returning to Pandaria, be sure to consult the August Celestials.
Stormstout grew increasingly convinced that his friendship with Thrall and Vol'jin would bring about tremendous change in Pandaria, which was why he was facing such an extraordinary Inner Demon Trial. In a daze, Stormstout finally drifted off to sleep.
When he woke up, it was almost noon. The warm sunlight shone into the tent. Stormstout felt terrible pain all over his body. When he opened his eyes, he immediately saw Vol'jin with a kind face Thrall with a concerned look on his face.
"Old Chen, what's wrong? What happened?" Thrall, wearing a patched but clean old robe, looked at Stormstout with concern.
Stormstout felt a warmth in his heart, thinking, "This is the Thrall I know. The cruel monster in yesterday's illusion was just a phantom, not to be believed."
Vol'jin carefully examined Stormstout's injuries and asked curiously:
"Old Chen, the Orcs camp isn't exactly heavily guarded, but it's still difficult for an ordinary person to sneak in. Who injured you like this? Why was there no sound at all?"
"It's a long story," Chen Stormstout sighed, explaining, "When we Pandaren meet a truly worthy friend, we face a terrible Inner Demon Trial. Last night's inner demon was unusual. Although I defeated it, I was injured in the body. I think this is related to Thrall being a great Savior, and his extraordinary identity."
"Heh, I'm just an ordinary Orcs, not some Savior." Thrall remained humble. "Old Chen, just focus on healing your wounds. Other things, like the letter to the twelve masters, can wait."
Only after Thrall's deliberate reminder did Stormstout realize that he hadn't finished writing the twelve letters from last night. He looked at his right hand, where several fingers holding the pen were broken, and said helplessly:
"I have already written five letters. They concern the safety of Azeroth and cannot be delayed for a moment. Send them to them immediately. The twelve Divine Turtles of Pandaria are elusive, but I know how to find them."
Upon hearing that there were only five, Thrall's heart sank, but he remained composed and said politely, "Old Chen, Azeroth will surely thank you for your Consecration today. You are a great hero of Pandaria, a giant among the Pandaren."
Following the direction indicated by the Stormstout, Vol'jin carefully searched the bookshelf, but found nothing except a few old letters in his luggage.
The five written letters had vanished, leaving Stormstout utterly astonished. He suspected that his inner demons were affecting his physical body through his mental power, but how could he explain the disappearance of the five letters?
Dao Heart demons materialize and steal his letters?
"Perhaps it's not an ordinary inner demon at all, but a minion sent by the Old Gods," Stormstout analyzed. He had long heard that the terrifying Old Gods N'Zoth lurked in the depths of the ocean, and was most skilled at bewitching people's hearts.
"I must have lost it by accident, it's alright." Stormstout pondered how to salvage the situation, "Here's what we'll do, you find a few scholars, I'll dictate the letter, and they'll transcribe it onto the letter."
Thrall still looked concerned. "Old Chen, with your injuries like this, don't overexert yourself."
"Yes, Old Chen, although this matter concerns the life and death of countless races in Azeroth," Vol'jin chimed in, "How about this? We Darkspear Trolls have magic to regenerate severed limbs. Although it's difficult to cast on outsiders, for the sake of our friendship, I'm willing to try no matter how difficult it may be."
"Thrall, Vol'jin, you will always be my good friends." Chen Stormstout was so moved that tears welled up in his eyes.
Stormstout lay down to rest, Vol'jin arranged for several Witch Doctors to perform limb regeneration magic, secretly discussing matters with Thrall:
"Great Savior, do you believe in Inner Demon Trial?"
Thrall shook his head, puzzled. "What's this Pandaren up to? I suspect something's fishy."
Vol'jin said warily, "I questioned the Orcs who were on surveillance last night, and they didn't find anything unusual. I also checked the surrounding area, and there were no signs of a struggle. I even used Troll sorcery to question the wandering wraiths around, but they found nothing. We can conclude that no outsiders broke in last night. So there are only two conclusions: first, there really Inner Demon Trial; second, Stormstout has become suspicious of us, and he injured himself."
Thrall scoffed, "Vol'jin, I don't believe this foolish Pandaren is so cunning."
Vol'jin nodded. "I also doubt he possesses such wisdom. The Pandaren's simple lifestyle makes it hard for them to imagine the cunning of the outside world; they are inherently inept at intrigue. I've carefully examined Stormstout's injuries; they were caused by external force, something he could hardly have removed himself."
After careful consideration, Thrall guessed:
"Actually, I have another conclusion. One of our Orcs generals, like the savage Saurfang, disliked him, so he secretly beat him up and cleaned up the traces. Saurfang the Great was once a test subject of the Burning Legion, and the Orcs and wandering ghosts who were monitoring him dared not offend him, so they could only keep quiet and pretend they didn't know."
Vol'jin agreed, stating firmly, "We can't let Saurfang ruin everything. Let's just let this matter rest, but send in spies to keep an eye on Saurfang and prevent him from acting recklessly."
"I will arrange it." Thrall suddenly said bitterly, "I am the great Orcs chieftain, the Savior of Azeroth, Thrall, not an actor on a stage. I've had enough of this pretense; it's not a long-term solution."
Vol'jin said with a sinister look, "No rush. We've already got everything we wanted— Thrall, the Ancient Divine Turtles with the bloodline of the twelve divine beasts. Once the twelve letters are sent out, I can proceed with the next step of my plan: to completely control Chen, Stormstout, and make him willingly serve us and become our Servant."
Thrall showed great interest and asked, "I'd like to hear your plan."
Vol'jin's expression turned cruel. "Tear his morality and hope to shreds, ultimately twisting his heart, making him doubt everything, lose himself, lose his judgment, and become a walking corpse, at our mercy."
He waved the old letters in his hand, including several from Chen Stormstout to his wife and children, expressing his longing for his family and hometown. Vol'jin said proudly:
"This is Stormstout's most precious Wealth. If we just tear it apart, his heart will be empty, and then whatever we fill in, he will believe without a doubt."
Thrall patted Vol'jin on the shoulder. "Haha, Vol'jin, I love your ruthlessness, it suits me just the way it is."
The Darkspear Trolls troll is born with the ability to regenerate severed limbs and can use specific sorcery to perform on outsiders. Although the effect was greatly reduced, it successfully alleviated Stormstout's injuries, and he was now able to sit up in bed.
After the scholar who had been transcribing the letters left, Stormstout looked at the tent above him, lost in thought.
Robbie "inner demon" from last night, suddenly appeared in a corner of the tent.
"Stormstout, you really did something wrong. Don't you think about your family?"