Lord Falondar

The night gradually faded.

Early in the morning, at the Stormwind Guard garrison.

In the garrison hall, Ji Feng and his disciples sat cross-legged on the floor, surrounded by several elven guards. Aside from the faint crackling of candle flames, there was no other sound. The atmosphere was rather oppressive...

"Master Ji, the elves neither discussed compensation with us nor allowed us to leave. What exactly are they planning?"

The Panderans sat in two rows in the hall. One of Ji Feng's disciples leaned forward slightly behind him and spoke in a low voice.

On their way from the elven village docks, Ji Feng and his disciples had encountered Illidan and the Stormwind Guard. After an explanation, Illidan had ordered Ji Feng's group detained in the garrison hall. As for what the elves intended, none of the Panderans knew.

"As the saying goes, soldiers come, generals block them; water comes, earth dams it. Just wait patiently! If I'm not mistaken, the elves will send someone soon..." Ji Feng replied, glancing at the guards around them.

If the elves had intended to fight them, they would not have placed them in the garrison hall. From that alone, Ji Feng could see the elves' attitude.

"All right! We'll listen to you..."

After Ji Feng's words were relayed to everyone, the hall fell quiet again. However, the atmosphere was no longer as oppressive as before. Clearly, Ji Feng's words had worked.

Soldiers come, generals block them; water comes, earth dams it. The way to inspire hearts was also the wisdom of a martial artist.

Meanwhile.

In Sindragosa Village's noble district, within a lavish courtyard, Illidan was discussing Ji Feng with an elf holding a jeweled staff.

"My lord, that is what happened... This young Pandaren named Ji Shadowwind intends to raise an army and overthrow the Sage faction in Shadowwind Village. The fighting at the docks last night was the result of conflict between different Pandaren factions." Illidan gave a detailed report.

After hearing this, the elf holding the staff did not respond. He merely fell into thought.

The lavish courtyard, the glittering jeweled staff, and the mage's robes all proclaimed this elf's noble status. He was one of Sindragosa's lords, a descendant of the Twin Tigers of the Empire—Falondar Sindragosa, Meridale's father.

"Interesting, interesting. Pandaria's slaves have finally begun to awaken... Illidan, the Imperial Council of Elders sent him a decree some years ago. Do you still remember it?"

After pondering for a moment, Lord Falondar laughed aloud and suddenly brought up the matter of the "decree."

"Hmph! You mean the decree Malfurion Stormrage delivered, Lord Falondar? Do you really think what the Council of Elders wants is anything but a fantasy? Do you think the Empire can truly rule all of Azeroth one day?" At the mention of Malfurion, Illidan was clearly displeased.

Malfurion Stormrage, Illidan's elder brother, Cenarius's most beloved disciple, and history's first elven druid—any decree he personally delivered was naturally no ordinary matter. What Falondar was about to mention concerned all of Azeroth.

"Years ago, when I was still in the Elven Council of Elders, Prince Faraodis spoke to me about it. The council elders and Queen Azshara wanted to rule all of Azeroth... Pandaria is land prized by the Ten Elders. Otherwise, do you think we could have taken root here? Most exiled nobles were driven to the far northern lands."

"Illidan, the Queen and the elders wish to rule Pandaria. They have long wanted to overthrow the Mogu Royal Court. The Pandarens' self-awakening is a tremendous boon to Queen Azshara and our Elf Empire... If war breaks out between the Mogu and the Pandarens, then our Elf Empire can reap the rewards from the sidelines."

Lord Falondar looked at Illidan and spoke word by word. His tone rose higher and higher, until at the end, he was nearly shouting.

After all, he was an exiled noble elf. After all, he had always yearned to return to the elven royal court. Clearly, Ji Feng and the others' awakening had given him a glimmer of hope—a hope of returning to the royal court.

If the Pandarens went to war with the Mogu under his aid, then his chance for merit would come. If the Elf Empire seized Pandarian land amid the chaos, his achievement would be no less than expanding the Empire's territory. In this age, establishing new domains for the Elf Empire was an unparalleled accomplishment.

"My lord, you mean... you want to use the Pandarens to overthrow the Mogu? With them? The Pandarens have been enslaved for over two thousand years. They are slaves."

Illidan frowned, a trace of surprise appearing in his golden eyes.

"Haha, Brother Illidan, this is the difference between you and Malfurion. You value strength, while he and I value the hearts of the people. What Pandaria's Pandarens lack is not strength, but the awareness to awaken themselves. No uprising can be led by strength alone; it must be led by the people's will."

"If they lack weapons, our elves can provide them. With the vast Elf Empire supporting them, the Pandarens need not worry about strength at all... Come, take me to the guard garrison. If that boy is useful, I do not mind using my trump card. This concerns the fate of the Sindragosa family. I believe those old fellows will be interested..."

By this point, Lord Falondar was clearly growing excited. He gripped his staff tightly and pointed it toward the Stormwind Guard garrison.

As the sun gradually rose, thin sunlight shone through the domed stained glass and illuminated the guard hall. Near noon, the hall's main doors slowly opened.

Two figures suddenly appeared outside.

As the doors opened, Ji Feng looked toward the newcomers. They were dressed in splendid robes, with bluish-purple patterns across their brows and eyes. They were Illidan and Lord Falondar.

"My lord, this is Ji Shadowwind. The other Pandarens are all his disciples. He is the one I just mentioned." Upon entering the hall, Illidan held his staff and pointed at Ji Feng. There was three parts anger and half a part hostility in his gaze.

Yesterday, Ji Feng had acted frail and delicate before Illidan. Yet afterward, he had fought ten men alone, won over the Shadowwind Clan, and become its leader. Illidan was deeply displeased; he did not like being deceived.

"Shadowwind Clan, Ji Shadowwind. Greetings..."

"Greetings to you as well."

Though he did not know who the newcomer was, Ji Feng upheld the principles of "socialist core values"—civility and friendliness. He clasped his hands in salute and offered a polite greeting.

"Ji Shadowwind, you are Ji Shadowwind? Boy, you managed to escape from The Wandering Isle. You do have some skill, haha..." Seeing Ji Feng's courtesy, Falondar could not help but nod. "Children of Sindragosa, the Shadowwind Clan have come from afar as guests. Prepare some fruit for them! Ji Shadowwind, you and your clansmen, please sit!"

With a wave of his hand, Falondar cast a spell. Vines suddenly sprang up throughout the hall, intertwining with one another to form round stools.

This was a spell of the druid lineage.

In truth, Falondar was very close to Malfurion Stormrage and was also a follower of druidism. Once everyone had taken their seats, Falondar revealed his identity as well.

Before long, large platters of fruit were brought in, and the two sides began discussing business.