Chapter Summaries

Varian and L Varian reunited as one, and Varian reclaimed his place as Anduin’s father and king of Stormwind while choosing to pursue Valeera. Dick then warned Fandral Staghelm about a coming Temporal Reversal and prepared him to enter the War of the Ancients in hopes of saving Valstann.

• Varian told L Varian about the pain he had shared, urged him to remember Tiffin, and entrusted Anduin to his care.
• Varian and L Varian joined together, and the returned Varian embraced Anduin and announced himself to his son and marshals.
• Valeera tried to leave Theramore, but Varian found her, drew her into his arms, and asked her to be his queen.
• Dick met Fandral Staghelm in the Stonetalon Mountains and explained that a Temporal Reversal could give him a chance to save Valstann, but might also destroy the world.
• Fandral agreed to risk entering the reversal, and Dick told him to watch Rhonin, avoid changing history, and perform a favor for him.

Back on the Wandering Isle, Li Li yearned to travel again, but Cheng Bo refused to let her go to Karazhan after remembering the dangers and grief surrounding her past journey. Their argument left Li Li fleeing in tears, while Chen Stormstout realized Cheng Bo’s fear was tied partly to old resentment and worry over his own absence.

• Li Li reminisced over her adventures through the magical pendant Lady Jaina had made, then entertained her classmates with stories from the journey.
• Li Li returned home and told Cheng Bo she wanted to visit Med'an at Karazhan, but he refused because she had been away for two years and the Wandering Isle Festival was near.
• Li Li argued that she wanted to explore the world, while Cheng Bo cited the danger of travel and Zhuangbo’s death saving her; Li Li replied that staying on the Isle was not without danger and ran out crying.
• Chen Stormstout told Cheng Bo that his harsh words would hurt Li Li, and Cheng Bo explained that he feared losing her as he had feared losing Chen and had grieved over Xiu Li.
• Chen Stormstout realized Cheng Bo blamed him for being absent during his marriage and Xiu Li’s death, while Xi Zai silently finished his meal with tears in his eyes.

After the Pearl of Pandaria showed Li Li the hidden homeland, she decided to find it and left the Wandering Isle with Master Shang Xi’s help. Elsewhere, Anduin traveled by ship with Swen and the injured Lakes Claw, but a massive storm suddenly threatened them.

• Li Li used the Pearl of Pandaria and saw Pandaria hidden in the Misty Badlands south of the Wandering Isle.
• Li Li committed to finding Pandaria, and Master Shang Xi gave her a whistle and reins before encouraging her journey.
• Li Li left a letter for Xi Zai and rode a pink crane south, while Shen-zin Su called out as if blessing her departure.
• Anduin sailed toward the Eastern Kingdoms while troubled by Varian Wrynn’s return with Valeera, and Lakes Claw rested in the cabin.
• Anduin saw Swen carrying cakes, and a sudden storm struck as the navigator warned the ship’s crew to prepare.

During a storm, Anduin found his injured friend Li Li aboard the Royal Mission and went below to fetch herbs, where he uncovered cultists sabotaging the ship. He defeated them, but their explosive trap ruptured the hull, and Anduin was swept away as the flagship vanished near the Misty Badlands.

• Anduin recognized the lightning-struck bearfolk as Li Li and asked Swen to treat her with herbs.
• Anduin went to the lower hold for medicine and overheard cultists planning to kill the others and breach the ship’s hull.
• Anduin attacked the three cultists with Truth and Holy Light, killing them despite their spells and the storm tossing the ship.
• A black crystal exploded after the last cultist fell, damaging the steel hull and letting water flood the hold.
• Anduin was swept into the flood and knocked unconscious; Swen, transformed into a seal, struggled toward him.
• The Royal Mission disappeared near the Misty Badlands with Anduin aboard, and Varian later began a year-long campaign against Twilight Cultists.

Dick learned that the World Blueprint of Azeroth could guide a party through Pandaria’s disorienting mist, but warned his companions that the sha beneath the continent could corrupt them through their emotions. He led a small rescue party into the mist to search for Anduin, leaving the story with the group correcting course toward Pandaria.

• Dick and Chen Stormstout searched the mist-shrouded sea for Anduin and Li Li, but found no trace of them.
• Chen Stormstout asked Dick to find the turtles that could lead them to Pandaria, and Dick instead decided to enter the mist himself.
• Dick visited the Halls of Origination, where Anhuur told him the World Blueprint of Azeroth could guide him through the mist and warned him about Pandaria’s dangers.
• Dick persuaded Varian to withdraw his soldiers from the coast and assembled a rescue party with Chen Stormstout, Das, Demitier, Moam, Valeera, Bearhide, and Gavincente.
• As the party sailed into the mist, Dick warned them to control their emotions and used the World Blueprint to correct their course toward Pandaria.

Dick and his companions entered the mist, where they found Trolls facing human sailors driven into murderous madness by the Sha of Anger. After learning that Elder Golaya was present, Dick freed General Taylor from the sha and destroyed the creature.

• Chen Stormstout was overcome by a vision of Li Li among the sunken ships, but Dick revived him and warned the group about the sha in the mist.
• Gavincente heard a battle nearby, and Das steered the boat toward an island where human sailors attacked Trolls and one another.
• Valeera knocked down a Troll warrior and accused Elder Golaya of controlling the humans, but Dick stopped her and questioned Golaya about his presence.
• Dick's companions subdued the sailors, and Chen Stormstout pinned General Taylor while Dick identified the soldiers' condition as similar to his own past affliction.
• Dick drew the Sha of Anger out of General Taylor with the Fist of Tyr and destroyed it, leaving Golaya alarmed by his power.

After the Royal Mission was wrecked, Anduin and Swen fled a beach where the stranded soldiers had become violently deranged, carrying the unconscious Li Li and Lakes through the mists. They reached the Jade Forest and were rescued by Pandaren, prompting Taran Zhu to investigate the strangers and the mists’ return.

• Anduin woke beside Swen and the unconscious Lakes and Li Li after the Royal Mission sank, while General Taylor and the surviving soldiers camped nearby.
• Swen broke down in despair, and Anduin’s strange impulses were checked when Oathkeeper chimed; as the soldiers became maddened and fought, he kissed Swen to snap her out of it.
• Swen transformed into a Moon-marked Stag and carried Li Li and Lakes as she and Anduin fled; General Taylor held off the crazed soldiers and urged them to escape.
• After traveling through the mists for a day and night, Swen collapsed in the Jade Forest, and Anduin passed out after seeing Pandaren approach.
• Taran Zhu learned that fishermen had rescued four strangers, crushed a jade paperweight, and decided to go to the Jade Forest and investigate the strange happenings at the Zhu Family Fortress.

Anduin recovered in Podong Village and met Cho, a Lorewalker eager to learn about the world beyond Pandaria. After discovering that Anduin knew of Pandaria, Cho showed him his garden and asked him to tell stories about his world.

• Anduin ate a meal with Cho, who inferred details about the outside world from the boy’s manners and belongings.
• Cho asked Anduin in Thalassian where he came from, and Anduin explained that he was from Stormwind and had been shipwrecked while returning from Theramore.
• Anduin realized he was in Pandaria rather than the Wandering Isle, and Cho was astonished that people outside still knew of Pandaria.
• Cho took Anduin into his garden, where Mishi startled him with a roar before Cho explained that the Cloud Serpent was his companion.
• Anduin fed Cho’s cranes and asked whether life was meaningless, and Cho said people had to make their lives matter by living them wonderfully.
• Cho invited Anduin to tell him about his world.

Dick and Golaya discussed the Zandalari mission in Pandaria, and Golaya revealed Zul’s prophecy of a coming Cataclysm and ancient evil. Dick realized Deathwing’s return might still be unavoidable, then reached Pandaria with the group.

• Dick questioned Golaya about why the Zandalari had entered the mists and warned him against resurrecting Lei Shen.
• Golaya explained that he and Jax were sent by Zul to seek a power that could strengthen Zandalar, not to resurrect Lei Shen.
• Golaya recounted Zul’s prophecy of a chaotic sky, a cracking earth, Deathwing’s wings, and ancient evil awakening.
• Dick recognized that Zul’s prophecy pointed to the Cataclysm and worried that Deathwing’s return could not be prevented.
• The Troll scout spotted Pandaria, and Dick’s group emerged from the mists to see its mountains, buildings, and farmers.

Anduin, Lorewalker Cho, and Taran Zhu traveled to Zhu Family Fortress after learning that strange emotional disturbances had appeared beyond Pandaria’s mists. They found the town’s people overwhelmed by despair, and Oathkeeper began to glow as Anduin recognized what was happening.

• Taran Zhu questioned Anduin about people suddenly going mad or weeping, and Anduin told him about General Taylor and the sailors.
• Taran Zhu insisted on taking Anduin and his companions to the Shado-Pan Monastery, while Lorewalker Cho agreed to accompany them.
• The group flew across Pandaria toward Zhu Family Fortress, and Li Li learned that her ancestors had lived in the Valley of the Four Winds.
• At Zhu Family Fortress, Taran Zhu and Lorewalker Cho found the residents listless and convinced that everything they did was meaningless.
• Anduin recognized the residents’ condition as despair, like the state of the orcs in internment camps, and Li Li noticed that Oathkeeper was glowing.

After learning that Anduin and Li Li had gone to the Krasarang Wilds, Dick split his party so Chen could search for them while the others traveled toward Halfhill. Dick then took Anveena to the Temple of the Jade Serpent, where Yu'lon awaited them.

• At Podong Village, Chen Stormstout learned from the chief that Anduin and Li Li had gone with two others toward the Krasarang Wilds, and Dick persuaded the chief to share the news.
• Dick sent Chen, Valeera, Bearhide, and six Troll warriors toward the Krasarang Wilds, warning them about the Sha and directing them to take the children to the Temple of the Red Crane if they found them.
• Dick arranged for Elder Golaya, Das, Demi, and Gavincente to travel toward the Valley of the Four Winds and wait at Halfhill, while he continued alone with Anveena.
• Dick explained that the Four Celestials were kin to Anveena and that Pandaria might hold a remnant of the Well of Eternity connected to Azeroth's wound.
• At the Temple of the Jade Serpent, a priestess welcomed Dick and Anveena inside, saying that Lady Yu'lon was waiting for them.

Dick met Yu'lon at the Temple of the Jade Serpent and revealed that he had come to remove what was hidden in the Vale of Eternal Blossoms. After verifying his connection to Ra-den, Yu'lon accepted his claim but questioned whether he could protect the dangerous relic.

• Liu Yanxin led Dick and Anveena through the Temple of the Jade Serpent to its Meditation Chamber.
• Yu'lon appeared before Dick and Anveena, and Anveena joyfully recognized her as a possible older sister.
• Dick told Yu'lon that he had come to take away what was hidden in the Vale of Eternal Blossoms, prompting Yu'lon to demand how he knew of it.
• Dick claimed that he and Ra-den were the same kind, and Yu'lon challenged his assertion and accused him of being unable to prove it.
• Dick showed Yu'lon his silver palm, and she sensed his Order Power and accepted his connection to Ra-den.
• Dick explained that Elune had tasked him with closing the wound left by the Titans' failure to deal with the Heart of Y'Shaarj, and Yu'lon questioned whether he could protect it.

Anduin and his companions traveled with Taran Zhu and Lorewalker Cho into the Krasarang Wilds to investigate signs that the Sha of Despair had escaped its seal. After fighting off Lizardmen, they reached the Temple of the Red Crane and found its monks dead, with the massacre apparently dating back three days.

• Lorewalker Cho explained the history of the Sha and warned that despair might have broken its seal in Krasarang.
• Taran Zhu led the group into battle against a large band of Lizardmen, while Anduin, Li Li, Lakes, and Swen fought beside him.
• Lorewalker Cho found a bloodstained piece of a monk's robe, and he and Taran Zhu realized the Lizardmen might have attacked the Temple of the Red Crane.
• The group reached the temple and discovered its monks dead and the grounds filled with an ominous aura of despair.
• Anduin and his companions noticed that the temple massacre had happened three days earlier, matching the timing of other strange events.

Anduin and his companions searched the ruined Temple of the Red Crane for survivors while Chen Stormstout rushed inside, where the Sha of Despair possessed him. The chapter ended with Chen hurling Bearhide aside and collapsing the temple as Li Li cried out.

• Taran Zhu reported that the Sha of Despair had escaped and sent Anduin, Lorewalker Cho, and Li Li to search for surviving monks.
• Chen Stormstout, Valeera, and Bearhide arrived, and Chen ran into the temple despite Valeera and Bearhide's concerns.
• Taran Zhu and Valeera fought briefly until Anduin intervened and explained who she was.
• Anduin, Li Li, and Lakes emerged with a surviving monk as Lorewalker Cho warned that Bearhide and Chen were in danger inside.
• Chen burst from the temple possessed by the Sha, threw Bearhide aside, and smashed a pillar while Li Li pleaded with him.

Chen Stormstout, possessed by the Sha of Despair, overwhelmed the defenders at the ruined Temple of the Red Crane. As Taran Zhu and Lorewalker Cho tried to restrain him, Anduin and Li Li raced into the temple to find the power that could suppress the Sha, and Anduin continued alone toward the basement.

• Chen Stormstout attacked Li Li’s rescuers, shattered Taran Zhu’s War Glaive, and drove Mishi and Valeera from the fight.
• Lorewalker Cho bound Chen Stormstout with a Lorewalkers Scroll while Taran Zhu used Wind, Fire, Thunder, and Lightning and summoned a White Tiger to weaken the black mist.
• Valeera told Lorewalker Cho to seek the temple’s power, and Li Li, Anduin, Swen, and Lakes ran into the ruins despite the danger.
• Bearhide and the injured Troll Warriors held off the little Sha as Anduin and Li Li descended the stairs, while Swen and Lakes blocked the pursuers behind them.
• Li Li struck a large Sha guarding the basement entrance and urged Anduin onward, and Anduin ran deeper into the temple alone.

Anduin used Oathkeeper to break the Sha chains binding Chi-Ji, but the final burst of Sha dragged him into a nightmare and nearly made him submit. Chi-Ji’s song and radiant return drove the darkness from the temple and weakened the Sha possessing Chen, though Anduin’s fate remained unclear.

• Chen broke free of Lorewalker Cho’s restraints and shredded Taran Zhu’s clones with Hundredfold Claw, forcing Taran Zhu and Valeera to keep fighting as the scroll’s binding weakened.
• Anduin found Chi-Ji dying beneath black Sha chains and used Oathkeeper to break them, resisting the corrupting voices that surged into his mind.
• Anduin struck the final mass of Sha energy in Chi-Ji’s wound, and it burst out to envelop him in darkness.
• The Sha showed Anduin visions of his loved ones, including his mother Tiffin, and demanded that he submit.
• Chi-Ji’s song rose through the darkness, drove the behemoth back, and restored the Celestial’s radiant form.
• Chi-Ji’s light filled the sky and weakened the Sha possessing Chen, while the black mist began spilling from Chen’s body.

Anduin recovered from the battle at the Temple of the Red Crane as Taran Zhu revealed that a mysterious human had sabotaged the seal and unleashed the Sha of Despair. While Anduin's group prepared to travel toward Halfhill, Kel'Thuzad secretly learned about the Mantid and set out toward their lands.

• Anduin awoke beside the badly injured Chen Stormstout, and Chen thanked him for saving his life.
• Taran Zhu said an unknown gray-haired man in black robes had damaged the seal before the Sha of Despair attacked the Temple of the Red Crane.
• Taran Zhu planned to mobilize the Shado-Pan to hunt the man, while Anduin's group was permitted to travel toward Halfhill instead.
• Chen Stormstout said he would visit his clan and contact relatives on the Wandering Isle before deciding whether to join the Shado-Pan.
• In Halfhill, Kel'Thuzad questioned a waiter about the Mantid and their Old God, then headed toward the Great Wall with Mr. Bigglesworth.

After meeting Yu'lon, Dick reached Halfhill with Anveena and reunited with Chen Stormstout, Anduin, Taran Zhu, and Lorewalker Cho. He revealed that he intended to enter Lei Shen's Tomb in the Valley of Emperors and claimed that the Celestials had approved, leaving Taran Zhu and Lorewalker Cho stunned and wary.

• Yu'lon agreed to help Dick reach the Valley of the Four Winds after he found Ra-den and gained his approval to open the Vale of Eternal Blossoms.
• Yu'lon carried Dick and Anveena toward Halfhill, then left to visit Kun-Lai Summit; Chi-Ji arrived soon afterward, and Anveena flew to greet him.
• Dick met Chen Stormstout, Anduin, Taran Zhu, and Lorewalker Cho in a private room at a tavern and thanked Cho for helping Anduin and his friend.
• Dick dismissed the others and told Taran Zhu and Lorewalker Cho that he sought Lei Shen's Tomb beneath two false tombs in the Valley of Emperors.
• Taran Zhu objected to Dick's plan, but Dick said Yu'lon had agreed and urged the Pandaren leaders to help Pandaria return to Azeroth's civilized world.

At the Keg-Shaped Market, Golaya reunited with Jalak and introduced him to Gavincente, whose strength sparked a challenge. Gavincente blocked Jalak’s opening strike and hurled him aside, leaving their battle underway with Jalak outmatched.

• Golaya reunited with Jalak at the Keg-Shaped Market and explained that he had survived the storm with the Loa’s protection.
• Golaya introduced Jalak to Gavincente as a powerful warrior, and the two warriors’ competitive spirits stirred.
• Jalak hurled a wine jar at Gavincente, who caught it and challenged him to fight.
• Gavincente transformed into his four-meter-tall giant form and told Jalak to fight without mercy.
• Jalak charged Gavincente with his war glaive, but Gavincente blocked the blow, punched him in the abdomen, and threw him backward.

Gavincente and Jalak fought a brutal duel that ended when Jalak refused to yield and resumed the battle alongside Horridon. A black aura and a maddened voice overwhelmed Gavincente’s rage, and he begged Jalak to knock him out before he lost control and killed everyone.

• Gavincente attacked Jalak, and the two warriors exchanged blows until Gavincente broke Jalak’s glaive and knocked him down.
• Gavincente challenged Jalak to keep fighting, and Jalak rejected defeat when Horridon charged to protect him.
• Jalak mounted Horridon and coordinated its attacks against Gavincente, who began losing control of his power.
• A mad voice drove Gavincente into a killing frenzy, and Horridon’s horns pierced him during their head-on clash.
• Gavincente recognized the danger of his uncontrolled rage and begged Jalak to knock him out.