After leaving the camp, Ji Feng and his group returned to the stone house. In the camp hall, Lord Falondar and Illidan had not left. The two were still discussing what had just happened.
"Lord Falondar, do you truly believe Ji Shadowwind? Do you truly believe the Four August Celestials stand behind him?" Illidan asked with a frown.
"I do not believe it, yet I have no choice but to. Take a look at what is on the table. That boy Ji Shadowwind is truly impossible to fathom! Two Celestial Mint Coins, and he simply discarded them." Lord Falondar shook his head and sighed.
Behind Illidan, on the table by the main entrance, sat several fruit platters, now in complete disarray.
Banana peels, apple cores, chestnut shells... the platters were covered in scraps and residue. There was nothing unusual about the trash itself, but two Celestial Mint Coins had been placed in one of the platters. That was enough to astonish anyone.
A Pandaren had actually tossed Celestial Mint Coins into a place meant for garbage. If he had not seen it with his own eyes, Falondar would never have believed it.
"What on the table could possibly be so..." Illidan turned around with a faint smile. "This... he actually threw Celestial Mint Coins away as garbage? This..."
Celestial Mint Coins were incredibly valuable. Even Illidan's gem-encrusted staff could not be traded for a single one, yet Ji Feng had casually discarded something of such worth. Illidan was truly left speechless.
"A Pandaren who treats Celestial Mint Coins as garbage—other than Ji Shadowwind, I fear there is no second one. Brother Illidan, I imagine you have nothing more to say now."
"Take these two coins and return to the Elf Empire! Tell His Highness Faraodis that the person he was seeking has been found. If possible, ask him to send a magic army here. I have a feeling Pandaria is about to undergo a great upheaval." Lord Falondar stared solemnly at the map hanging on the wall.
After hearing Falondar, Illidan stored the two Celestial Mint Coins in his arcane ring, then turned his gaze to the map as well.
"Lord Falondar, forgive my presumption, but can Ji Shadowwind—no, can even the Shadowwind Clan alone truly stir up all of Pandaria?" Illidan asked in confusion.
Lord Falondar fell silent.
"Illidan, do you know why I asked you to take out this map? Think carefully. I could not possibly have brought Ji Shadowwind here to 'admire' the vast territory of our Elf Empire, could I?"
All of a sudden, Lord Falondar inexplicably brought up the map.
On the map, the Elf Empire occupied an immense expanse of land. To the north lay Ulduar, while to the south lay Uldum, Zandalar, and Pandaria. Yet between Pandaria and Uldum, there was faintly a fingerprint—a Pandaren fingerprint.
"Uldum, Pandaria... could it be..."
"That is right. The Thunder King is making contact with the Uldum Dynasty. Even the ten high priests of the Uldum Dynasty are preparing to come to Pandaria. There is something I originally could not tell you, but now I do not wish to hide it from you any longer. Our Elf Empire seeks to defeat the Mogu Royal Court, but is the Thunder King not likewise plotting to destroy the Elf Empire..."
Illidan had barely begun to speak when Falondar interrupted him. At present, even Falondar did not dare say whether Sindragosa Village would be caught up in the flames of war.
"This is the fingerprint Ji Shadowwind left just now. I did not tell him anything, yet he seems to have already noticed this matter. Perhaps the Four August Celestials truly stand behind that boy. Otherwise, how could he know such secrets?"
"Ji Shadowwind actually knows about something like this. Truly..."
Illidan was unwilling to say anything resembling admiration. He gritted his teeth and said no more.
"This is the darkest, most terrifying age. If the Thunder King and Zandalar join forces with Uldum, the Elf Empire will suffer an incomparable blow. You must understand, the combined strength of those three dynasties is greater than that of our Elf Empire..."
"Lord Falondar, if the Thunder King truly attacks our Elf Empire, then would not the other races in Pandaria be completely purged by the Mogu...? I never imagined Pandaria's situation had reached such a point."
In truth, Lord Falondar had taken out the map today to remind Ji Feng of certain matters. Yet through a fortunate misunderstanding, Ji Feng had instead caused Falondar to misunderstand him.
Ji Feng still did not know that the Mogu Empire was making major moves.
"Today, I originally intended to warn Ji Shadowwind to be on guard against the Mogu Angu Iron Cavalry. But when I saw him faintly point toward Uldum, I did not mention it. Before confronting an external enemy, one must first settle internal affairs. You and I understand this principle, and naturally, so does the Thunder King..."
"If Uldum agrees to ally with the Mogu Empire, the Thunder King will certainly slaughter the hundred races of Pandaria. If Uldum refuses the alliance, the Thunder King will surely bathe Uldum in blood. But before that, the flames of war will also burn across Pandaria."
Ji Feng knew that, before long, the Uldum Dynasty would go to war with the Thunder King. But he did not know that before the war began, the Thunder King would purge Pandaria.
Because of that single fingerprint, Ji Feng had missed out on extremely important intelligence.
"Illidan, if not for Ji Shadowwind, I would never have told you this. Do not blame me for keeping it from you. With your current standing, you are not qualified to know such things. In fact, if His Highness Faraodis had not given me a few hints, even I would not have known..."
"Lord Falondar, then perhaps the Four August Celestials truly do stand behind Ji Shadowwind."
At this moment, Illidan no longer had any doubts.
"Whether it is the Four August Celestials or not, he is the only awakened Pandaren I know of. To rise from a slave into a true warrior is no easy feat."
"Illidan, go to the commoners' district tonight. Give them some provisions, and prepare some weapons for them as well. A great storm will arrive before long. At a time like this, it is always good to have more friends..."
As soon as he finished speaking, Lord Falondar picked up his staff and patted Illidan on the shoulder.
"Lord Falondar, I will make the necessary preparations properly... Please rest assured! Tomorrow, I will depart for the Azshuna Royal Palace. I will report this matter to His Highness Faraodis as quickly as possible, and I will also ask His Highness to send the royal mage guard..." Illidan said, nodding as he bowed.
In this era, Queen Azshara ruled the Elf Empire. Beneath her was the Elven Council, formed by Highborne such as Sargeras, Dath'Remar, Faraodis, and Elise. Within the Elf Empire, all Highborne could be addressed as "Your Highness."
Every Highborne could receive Queen Azshara's grace, and Faraodis possessed a palace of his own. His palace was in Azshuna, the southernmost part of the Elf Empire and the place closest to Pandaria.
"Then it is settled!" With that, Lord Falondar pushed open the doors and left the hall.
By now, the moon's shadow hung beyond the eastern window...
Before you continue