This is not a bug, just a curiosity that I may have just not picked up on. I have done this quest a few times on Horde and Alliance characters and it seems random as to whether or not the Jade Temple courtyard is peaceful or is being attacked by the shadow fiends. Is there a rhyme to the reason that I have missed?
If I’m remembering correctly, there are daily quests in the area that can affect the status of the courtyard. So, the presence of the mobs may be tied to whether or not certain daily quests are available on a given day.
thank you, I thought it may be something like that, but was unsure