The Eve of the Martial Arts Tournament

Listening to Ner'zhul's deeply persuasive speech, Leiluo began to feel unsettled. If Gul'dan's Demon Blood flowed in large quantities into the orc clans through this martial tournament, then the orcs, blinded by power, would surely obey the Shadowmoon Clan without question. And that fool Ner'zhul, thoroughly deceived by his own disciple, still believed it was a good thing for strengthening the orcs.

"Brother Leiluo, let's join forces. Win the martial tournament and obtain that Fervent Blood. Then we won't need to fear the Ogres or Gorons of Blade's Edge Mountain anymore!" Like any ordinary orc, Leolox loved his clan and longed for the strength to protect it. But his strength alone was far from enough, and Ner'zhul's reward this time was simply too tempting.

"Brother, making the clan stronger is certainly good, but if we rely on power given by someone else, then one day, that person can take it back!" Leiluo looked at Leolox with a solemn expression.

Ever since learning that Demon Blood had appeared, Leiluo had been thinking about what could replace it—something that could satisfy the orcs' desire for power while sparing them from being deceived by Gul'dan. In the end, Leiluo thought of a kind of power, one the orcs had never imagined before—the Holy Light!

The battle of Bandar City had allowed Leiluo to grasp the power of the Holy Light, and it had also made him understand that the Holy Light had neither good nor evil. It was merely an element, one naturally aligned with justice. As long as you knew of its existence, and were not some utterly wicked villain, you could use it. Of course, firm conviction was its nourishment—the stronger one's faith, the stronger the Holy Light became.

Therefore, Leiluo wanted to bring the Holy Light to the orcs and prevent the corruption of Demon Blood.

"I have a kind of power that can make you stronger. Are you willing to try it?" Leiluo had not yet fully mastered the Holy Light, so he wanted to start with Leolox. It would not only keep someone close to him from falling into the trap of Demon Blood, but also serve as an unprecedented experiment.

Leolox froze when he heard Leiluo's words. "Brother Leiluo, isn't it all the same? One is given by Ner'zhul, and the other is given by you."

"How can they be the same? With my power, I'm only showing you a path, and then you walk it yourself. But the power Ner'zhul gives you is... is... Anyway, Leolox, are you willing to trust me?" Leiluo could not explain it to Leolox. Even if he told him the truth, who could prove it? And who would be willing to believe him?

"Is there something wrong with Ner'zhul's potion?" Seeing Leiluo hesitate, Leolox was no fool and could tell that Leiluo had reservations. "Even if there is, it can quickly make the clan stronger and let our people live more stable lives. Brother Leiluo, maybe your method can work too, but starting down a new path is just too slow!"

With that, Leolox patted Leiluo on the shoulder and returned to his tent.

Watching Leolox's departing back, Leiluo still could not bring himself to say what he wanted to say. Even a legendary hero like Grommash Hellscream had suffered the demon's curse after drinking Demon Blood. Once he lost his connection to Fel Energy, he became sluggish and haggard. This thing was like a drug—it made you feel euphoric at first, then ruined your life, destroyed your family, and could even destroy a nation or an entire people. Leiluo became even more determined to replace it with the Holy Light.

The problem before Leiluo now was that the orcs did not know what the Holy Light was. They neither understood its power nor knew that it could heal wounds.

If Leiluo wanted the Holy Light to replace Demon Blood, the first thing he needed to do was let the orcs—and even the chieftains of several powerful clans—learn of the Holy Light and understand its power.

The second problem was how to persuade the various chieftains. Leolox was right. Though Demon Blood had far too many drawbacks, its advantage was glaringly obvious: it could grant power quickly. Not only would the small clans use it—even Leiluo himself would have used it if he had not known its dangers. By comparison, the path of the Holy Light was far too slow. Moreover, Leiluo was the only orc who had mastered it; there was no established system for it among the orcs at all. The major clans might be able to accept the time needed to feel their way forward, but the small clans could not afford to wait.

Lost in thought over this difficult problem, Leiluo unknowingly arrived beside a tent. Then he heard someone say, "Brother orc, are you here to buy slaves?"

Leiluo looked up, and rage immediately surged within him. He lunged forward and pinned down the orc who had called out to him.

"Bastard! Why won't you even spare your own people?!"

Seeing Leiluo attack someone, more than twenty warriors from the clan surrounded him. The people in the other tents, seeing that a fight was about to break out, also set aside their work and came over to watch.

Though more than twenty people rushed toward him and anger burned in his heart, Leiluo did not strike immediately. Instead, he demanded that the person in charge come out and speak.

"Friend, I am Sill, chieftain of the Rockbreaker Clan. If there's a problem, you can speak to me." An orc wearing beast fangs around his neck and leather armor stepped forward.

Leiluo pointed at a cage in front of their tent and shouted, "Why are you selling your own people?!"

Inside the cage was a small, thin figure. Her hair hung loose and obscured her features, but judging from her appearance, she was a female orc.

Understanding why Leiluo had erupted, Sill smiled helplessly. "Friend, she's only a half-breed. She doesn't count as one of our people, so there's no need to be so angry."

Hearing Sill's words, Leiluo silently clenched his fists. He had to change this kind of thinking among the orcs.

"Then how much for this half-breed? I'll buy her." Unable to change anything for now, Leiluo could only adapt.

Hearing Leiluo's words, Sill tested him. "Ten bundles of furs?"

How could Leiluo not know that he had deliberately raised the price? Yet without another word, he gave Sill ten bundles of furs. Then he removed the shackles from the half-blood female orc's feet and led her away from the Rockbreaker Clan's tent.

After they had walked for a while, the female orc, who had silently followed Leiluo, spoke. Her voice was very pleasant. "My lord, I was only an extra thrown in with other goods. I wasn't worth ten bundles of furs."

"I know."

"Then why?"

"I only wanted to leave you with a little dignity. Even a little is enough." Leiluo turned around and looked into her eyes as he spoke.

"Also, from today onward, you are a member of my Pebble Clan. You don't need to call me my lord. You can call me Chieftain or Leiluo."

"No, I am willing to call you my lord." Seeing the stubborn look in the female orc's eyes, Leiluo did not argue further over a form of address.

"By the way, what is your other bloodline?"

"Draenei, my lord," the female orc answered.

"Draenei? You're also a half-blood of an orc and a Draenei?" Leiluo was somewhat surprised. He had not expected the female orc he rescued to have Draenei blood as well.

"Perhaps it's fate. Let me tell you, I'm also a half-blood of an orc and a Draenei!"