Baekyeon

Baekyeon
Title	White Tiger
Hometown	White Tiger Anima village
Current Residence	Unknown
Gender	Male
Race	Sage (White Tiger Anima)
Family	Hoyoung (distant descendant)
Affiliations	Elders of Grandis Four Symbols
Enemies	Gerand Darmoor Kaling Shensung Maolang
Status	Alive

Baekyeon the White Tiger is one of the Four Symbols, the protectors of Shangri-La.

Story

The Four Symbols

During the Ancient War, the elders of Grandis were tasked by the Overseers to create Adversaries in order to defeat the Ancient Gods, for which the elders created the floating laboratory of Odium. Knowing that those who feared the power of the Adversary, as well as those who coveted it, may attempt to attack Odium, the elders gathered four of the strongest Anima in Grandis.

Baekyeon was a white tiger Anima who was chosen alongside three others - Shuli, Gaon, and Ara. Severing their ties to their old lives, these four Anima were imbued with the divine blessings of the Overseers, giving them a nearly infinite lifespan. With this divine blessing, Baekyeon ascended to sagehood and became known as the White Tiger, one of the Four Symbols who protected the elders.

Protector of Shangri-La

Following the end of the war, the elders decided to clear away their research and sequester themselves away in Shangri-La, a magical realm created to halt the spread of their contamination, which threatened to erase their humanity. Shangri-La was created in the image of a beautiful painting and structured with four inner realms that corresponded to the four seasons.

The outermost barrier was Spring, which led deeper into Summer, Autumn, Winter, and finally to the innermost pavilion where the elders lived. Shangri-La was created to be closed to outsiders, with only a true sage being allowed to enter and leave, either physically through a special hanging scroll, or by astral projection through their dreams.

In order to prevent outsiders from forcing their way into Shangri-La, the Four Symbols who protected the elders were tasked with guarding each of the inner realms and their barriers. Ara the Blue Dragon protected Spring, Shuli the Vermillion Bird protected Summer, Baekyeon the White Tiger protected Autumn, and Gaon the Black Tortoise protected Winter. Each of the Four Symbols had their life forces tied to special scrolls that served as gateways in and out of their respective realms.

Over the ages, Baekyeon - despite leaving his old life behind - continued to watch his old home from afar. Because of the violence that engulfed Grandis, the white tiger Anima village was eventually destroyed in the war, with Baekyeon being unable to do anything to help. Tai Yu, who fought on the battlegrounds of Grandis in order to restore peace to the realm, soon encountered an infant tiger Anima who was the sole survivor of the carnage. Taking pity on the child, Tai Yu chose to adopt him and brought him home to his Hermitage on Shangri-La, where he raised the child, Hoyoung, as his own, for which Baekyeon was eternally grateful.

A New Adversary

Eons after the end of the Ancient War, Tai Yu brought a new Adversary to Shangri-La after the Angler Company's invasion of Odium. Immediately upon arriving, however, Gaon the Black Tortoise appeared and pointed his spear at them. Upon seeing Tai Yu, Gaon explained that he had been wondering how they had managed to elude all Four Symbols.

He told Tai Yu that he had known that Tai Yu had been given permission by the elders to go back and forth from Shangri-La and the world below, though he added that Tai Yu definitely hadn't been given permission to interfere in the affairs of the outside world as he pleased, chiding him for having brought outsiders to Shangri-La.

Tai Yu smiled and told Gaon that he appreciated the concern, though he added that Gaon had given them a bit of a scare. He turned to the Glory Guard and introduced Gaon as the Symbol of Winter. Turning back to Gaon, Tai Yu explained that though he hadn't expected a warm welcome, he added that Gaon ought to hear him out first.

Just then, the other three Symbols appeared – Ara, Baekyeon, and Shuli. Baekyeon joked that Gaon was a bit impatient, to which Ara told Baekyeon that he shouldn't talk about Gaon like that, especially since Baekyeon hadn't stopped them either. Shuli then noticed the Adversary and noted that she could clearly see why such outsiders had been brought into Shangri-La.

She explained that she had heard from Tai Yu about an Adversary who had been created in the outside world. She told the Adversary that the Four Symbols had protected the elders and the researchers when they had been conducting their experiments, and that in all the ages since then, none of them had seen anything quite like the Adversary, who was the only one of their kind to have retained their sense of self. She added that she would be lying if she were to say that their existence wasn't a surprise, not only to them, but to the elders as well.

Just then, Zigang, Maolang, Shensung, and Weio appeared to greet the Adversary, and were shocked to find that not only had they retained their humanity and sense of self, but that they had also escaped their preordained death, despite having fulfilled their purpose by killing a god.

Upon learning that Gerand Darmoor had broken their Seal Stone, thereby saving their life, Zigang and the other elders realized that the Adversary had rejected the will of the world, and that they would one day throw the world into chaos. Zigang ordered the Adversary and the World Heart, which they had brought from Odium, to be locked in Shangri-La. He also ordered Baekyeon to seal Tai Yu in Autumn until the elders decided what to do with him.

Kaling's Invasion

Soon after, however, Kaling - with the help of several elders who had betrayed Shangri-La - was able to break her way into the realm of the sages. In order to bring down the barrier of Autumn, Shensung attacked Baekyeon, the Symbol of Autumn, and Tai Yu, who was being escorted by Baekyeon on Zigang's orders.

Tai Yu and Baekyeon faced Shensung, who unleashed a powerful attack on the pair. Baekyeon quickly grabbed Tai Yu and teleported them to safety in order to avoid it. Tai Yu told Baekyeon that he owed him much for helping him, to which Baekyeon replied that it was nothing, as he also owed Tai Yu for taking care of Hoyoung.

He explained that his white tiger Anima brethren that he had left behind in the outside world had never once left his mind, and that even though none of his descendants would ever know him, they would still remain in his memory forever. He added that if Tai Yu hadn't been there when the white tiger village had burned down, Hoyoung – the sole surviving child – would have perished as well. Tai Yu replied that it was nothing to thank him for, explaining that even beyond being Baekyeon's descendant, Hoyoung was his apprentice, first and foremost.

Just then, Shensung laughed and wondered whether he had bitten off more than he could chew, as it seemed that his strength alone couldn't handle them both. He then summoned a horde of assailants and explained that they could wrap it up now, as he had already done what he had been asked to do. As Tai Yu and Baekyeon fought the assailants, Tai Yu noticed Shensung heading for the scroll of Autumn and immediately realized that they had been tricked.

Before they could do anything, however, Shensung used his power to close the scroll, causing Baekyeon – whose life was tethered to it – to disappear. With Baekyeon sealed inside the scroll, darkness quickly engulfed the realm, allowing for Hundun to break into Shangri-La. Soon after, Shensung and the other traitorous elders escaped from Shangri-La, with Ara and Baekyeon being kidnapped by Maolang and Shensung, respectively.

NPC

Shangri-La

Baekyeon
Location	Sinners' Paradise

Gallery

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  NPC Portrait of Baekyeon
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  NPC Portrait of Baekyeon
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  NPC Portrait of Baekyeon
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  NPC Portrait of Baekyeon
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  NPC Portrait of Baekyeon
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  NPC Portrait of Baekyeon
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  NPC Portrait of Baekyeon

Trivia

• Based on the original Korean dialogue, Baekyeon is the oldest of the Four Symbols, followed by Shuli, Gaon, and Ara.