Master Tai Yu

Master Tai Yu
Title	Master Sage of Grandis
Current Residence	Shangri-La (Hermitage at Mount Songyu)
Gender	Male
Race	Sage (Human)
Family	Hoyoung (adopted child)
Affiliations	Elders of Grandis Hoyoung Lara The Adversary
Enemies	Kaling Gerand Darmoor
Status	Alive
Name (Other Servers)
KoreaMS	사부님 (Master) 태을선인 (Sage Taeul)
JapanMS	師匠 (Master) 太乙仙人 (Sage Tai Yi)
ChinaMS	太乙真人 (Sage Tai Yi)
MapleSEA	Master Sage Taeul
Voice Actors
GlobalMS	Benjamin Diskin (Hoyoung's storyline) Alex Bankier (Odium and Shangri-La)
KoreaMS	Youngsun Kim

Master Tai Yu is a legendary sage from Shangri-La, and Hoyoung's master.

Story

The Ancient War

Master Tai Yu was a Vessel created in Odium by the elders during the war against the Ancient Gods. Despite undergoing the painful experiments, Tai Yu was ultimately deemed a defective Vessel. As one of the last Vessels remaining in Odium at the end of the war, Tai Yu was tasked with sealing away Kaling, a researcher and a defective Vessel who had lost her humanity from the experiments, as well as three of her Four Perils - machines that were spreading chaos across Grandis.

The Legend of Tai Yu

After the defeat of the Ancient Gods, the elders found that the contamination of their Adversaries, which stripped away their humanity and sense of self, had begun to spread to them. Believing it to be a punishment for the sins that they had committed, the elders and the researchers sequestered themselves in Shangri-La, the realm of the sages. Shangri-La had been created as a convergence of the four seasons, with the energies of its natural harmony counteracting the contamination and stopping it from spreading any further. Haunted by the guilt of their sins, the elders branded themselves as the Sinners and spent the ages lamenting their eroded humanity. Despite their guilt, the elders nevertheless retained their strong sense of duty and responsibility for maintaining order in the world. Because of this, Tai Yu was given the role of Master and was entrusted with making right what had gone awry in the outside world. He soon gained a legendary reputation and many stories were made about him. Tai Yu's origins were considered mysterious, with some saying that he was descended from the heavens, while others claimed that he was a monster himself due to his inhuman strength. It was said that he could blow away a whole legion of monsters with just one swing of his fan, and that he possessed many other powers, such as shapeshifting and creating clones of himself. Even in spite of his strength, however, Tai Yu was extremely humble and would only refer to himself as "a simple wanderer".

The Sage's Apprentice

Many years ago, Tai Yu, while spending his days upon the fields of battle, discovered the ruins of the last white tiger Anima village, with only a crying infant being the sole survivor. Taking pity on the child, he raised the boy as his own and gave him the name Hoyoung. Hoyoung was raised in the Hermitage at the foot of Mount Songyu in Shangri-La, where Tai Yu resided. As Hoyoung grew up, he asked Tai Yu to teach him magic, but when Tai Yu sensed the limitless energy within the boy, he sealed away Hoyoung's power in order to keep the boy from harming himself, as he knew that Hoyoung was both wild and unpredictable. Eventually, Kaling - who had broken free of her seal - discovered where Taowu and Qiongqi had been sealed. After she broke their seals and recovered them, Tai Yu was tasked by the elders with discovering the reason for why the seals had been broken, as well as the locations of the two missing Perils. Forced to leave on such urgent business, Tai Yu left Hoyoung alone at the Hermitage. While he was away, Hoyoung accidentally unsealed Taotie, one of the Four Perils, as well as the hundreds of fiends that he had consumed. Hoyoung and Taotie then went on a mission to recapture all the fiends. During their mission, Hoyoung temporarily returned to Shangri-La through his dreams in order to access more of his master's spellbooks. There, he encountered Tai Yu and told him everything that had happened. To his surprise, Tai Yu wasn't angry, as he explained that Hoyoung was already paying for the trouble that he had created.

Hoyoung asked Tai Yu why he had blocked him from entering the Hermitage, but Tai Yu explained that the Hermitage dwelled within the realm of the sages, where only those who were granted permission could gain entry. He also told Hoyoung about the role that he had been given by the elders, as well as how he had adopted and sealed the magic within Hoyoung, after which he shared the last of his knowledge with his apprentice. Later on, Hoyoung and Taotie encountered Kaling in the Temple of Time. Kaling revealed that she possessed two of the Four Perils, and that she wanted to take Taotie for herself. As Kaling launched an attack, Tai Yu's astral projection appeared and blocked it. Kaling was shocked and furious to see Tai Yu and attempted to fight, though Tai Yu teleported Hoyoung away. Tai Yu revealed that he had placed a copy of his soul inside Hoyoung in case he ran into real trouble. He then asked Hoyoung if he would return back to the safety of the Hermitage, but when Hoyoung told him that he wanted to stand against the darkness, a pleased Tai Yu gave him a special spellbook before his projection faded.

The Sinners

After Lara inadvertently stumbled into the memory of Wushuai, one of the elders of Grandis, she was consumed by the darkness of Wushuai's thoughts when Tai Yu broke through and rescued her. Tai Yu admonished her, claiming that the power of the bell could have gone sideways and consumed her. Lara apologized and asked who he was, to which he called himself a simple wanderer and explained that he came from the realm of the sages. He then asked her why she had done something so reckless, to which Lara explained that the bell had spoken to her, and that it had felt incredibly sad. She added that in the depths of all that despair, she had sensed definite sadness, and that she hadn't wanted to turn her back on the shades. Upon Hearing her explanation Tai Yu realized that her innocence was likely why the bell had responded to her in the first place. Realizing that Tai Yu knew about the bell, she asked him to tell her who had created it. Tai Yu explained that according to legend, the bell had been created by the Sinners. Tai Yu then explained that the Sinners had committed an irredeemable sin, for which they had been imprisoned in the realm of the sages. Lara asked what sin they had committed, and who had imprisoned them. Tai Yu replied that the Sinners had committed the crime of forsaking their humanity, and that they themselves had chosen to imprison themselves in the realm of the sages as atonement. He added that the bell was their only chance to cleanse their sins, though many had given up hope that it would ever ring. Lara vowed that she would make the bell ring and become a ray of hope for the Sinners, causing the bell to glow warmly in her hands. Upon seeing that the bell resonated with Lara, Tai Yu allowed her to keep the bell before leaving. After leaving, Tai Yu noted to himself that his interference was sure to cause an uproar in the realm of the sages, though he admitted that there was plenty of blame to go around and shook his head at the ‘old codgers' there.

Mission to Odium

Entering the Laboratory

Shortly after the events of Karote, Tai Yu was asked to aid the Adversary in Odium by Cosim. Tai Yu arrived to find the Adversary being confronted by the Constables near the laboratory, who believed that the Adversary was allied with the invading Angler Company. Tai Yu appeared and told the Constable Na-Sol that though he understood how the Constables felt, he cautioned him against jumping to conclusions. He then added that he could personally vouch for the Adversary. Noting that it was their first time meeting, Tai Yu warmly greeted them. Tai Yu explained that he was nobody special, and that he had just happened to be passing by when someone had asked him to lend them a hand. An unconvinced Brighton sardonically asked whether he just happened to be in the area, though the Adversary pointed out that Cosim had mentioned that he would send someone else to help them. Tai Yu explained that he sometimes bumped into Cosim during their work for the elders. He added that though the ‘old geezers' wouldn't like him helping the Adversary, there was nothing that he could do about it, as he could afford to deal with the consequences later if the Adversary was the one in trouble. After the Adversary revealed that Kaling was coming to aid the Angler Company, the Constables sent the Adversary to gather records about Kaling's experiment inside the laboratory.

After reading all the records, the Adversary returned to Tai Yu, who noted that judging by the look on their face, they had finished reading about Kaling. The Adversary asked him whether he already knew what had happened in Odium, which Tai Yu confirmed, adding that he had been there before. Upon recalling that he had arrived in Odium before they had, the Adversary realized that Tai Yu was a Vessel. Tai Yu confirmed their suspicions, though he added that he was a defective Vessel. The Adversary noted that the research journal had mentioned that a Vessel had stopped the Four Perils and asked if he was the one who had done it. Tai Yu was amused that the records had noted all that down, though he claimed that it was ancient history now that Kaling and the Four Perils had awakened once again. He revealed that Kaling had already acquired two of the Four Perils, though he added that the good news was that she would never have all four of them at once, as the elders had taken care of one, while the other had been sealed inside his apprentice, joking that his pupil was friendly enough to have won him over.

After Kaling appeared and released the test subjects sealed within the laboratory, the Adversary defeated the monsters and Na-Sol asked if they were alright before explaining that someone had activated the stairs from the residential district as soon as the Constables had finished restoring power to them. He added that he had no idea how Kaling had done it, as the only stair controls were up where they were currently at. He noted that the stairs had been made to protect the laboratory, and that putting controls down below wouldn't make any sense. Tai Yu explained that though Kaling was a Vessel, she was also contaminated, meaning that the elders' security systems would have picked that up immediately. However, he realized that the elders' security measures only applied to doors, which would remain closed to her, but as stairs couldn't be closed, they would have connected after recognizing her as a Vessel. Oz wondered why Kaling had waited for so long to connect the stairs, to which Brighton pointed out that it took an immense amount of energy to make anything move at such a scale. He noted that when the stairs had been down, the lights had gone out and the Constables had stopped moving, causing him to realize that the stairs were also a power conduit.

The Adversary pointed out that the Angler Company was likely looking for the source of that power, though they wondered what it was that Kaling wanted. Oz recalled how Kaling had mentioned that she wanted to get back the power that had been stolen from her. The Adversary, realizing that they had been used, apologized to the Constables for opening the door to the intruders and putting them all in danger. However, Na-Sol told the Adversary not to blame themselves, as he and the others had also been responsible by mistakenly hoping that the other Constables might be down below. He explained that they had abandoned all the Constables below after sealing the laboratory, and that none of them, except Winnie, had been ready to admit it. Tai Yu then asked what their next move was, to which the Adversary decided that they would go after Kaling. Tai Yu agreed to come with the Glory Guard, adding that he might be able to lend a hand. The group then fought through the Company robots and test subject rejects before arriving at the heart of Odium, where they were surprised to find Kaling and Laha Angler fighting.

Escape to Shangri-La

The Adversary realized that the laboratory would collapse from the damage if Kaling and Laha weren't stopped. Just then, Oz noticed Hundun inside the large container, causing them all to realize that he was Odium's power source. A surprised Tai Yu explained that the monster was Hundun, the last of the Four Perils, to which Oz noted that he had mentioned that the researchers had taken care of him. Brighton also noted that Tai Yu had been surprised to see Hundun, meaning that he hadn't known about him. Tai Yu explained that though the elders had their weak points, they also had their own sense of duty and morality. As they knew that their experiments had done harm to people, they had wanted to make things right and atone for their sins after the Ancient Gods had fallen dormant. However, he noted that the elders had perhaps decided that they hadn't been at fault for the Four Perils. However, the aghast Adversary pointed out that even if the elders hadn't been responsible for Hundun, they had still used a sentient being to power their laboratory. Just then, Hundun spoke from his prison and echoed the Adversary's words about him being sentient, asking if that was really the first descriptor that came to mind. As Laha and Kaling continued battling, Hundun projected a hologram of himself and created a bubble around the Glory Guard so that they could speak privately. He laughed and told the Adversary not to mind Kaling and Laha, whom he called fools, explaining that it was them whom he wanted to speak with, as he had been waiting quite some time for them to arrive.

Hundun explained that with the stairs down, his power hadn't been able to reach the residential district, but once they had set foot inside the laboratory, they had been in his domain. He recognized the Adversary as not only a Vessel, but one that had been completed once before. He explained that even in his current state, he had been able to see many of the things that had been happening in the world below. Hundun then asked the Adversary how they were still intact, pointing out that completed Vessels traditionally had a much different destiny. The surprised Adversary asked what destiny he was referring to, to which Hundun began scanning them in order to find the answer himself. Upon finishing, Hundun was shocked to find that they were an Adversary who had gotten off the path while maintaining their ego, causing him to wonder whether that was even possible. Oz noted that Hundun seemed to know quite a lot, to which Brighton asked Tai Yu whether he had anything to say about it. Tai Yu explained that as Hundun had been conscious and powering Odium since the end of the Ancient Gods' time, he had likely assimilated all the knowledge left in Odium, adding that he might even know secrets that only the elders knew.

Hundun noted that such knowledge was poor compensation for his lifetime of so-called service to them, adding that though he had cursed his lot for many years, if meeting the Adversary had been part of that lot, then it might have been worth it. He then told the Adversary to come closer before telling them that he would give them what Kaling and Laha had come for. He then presented a circular blue gem, which he explained was the last Godsphere in Odium. He noted that it was also what the Adversary had been after - the power to go against the gods - adding that there was no other reason for a Vessel to come to the laboratory. He explained that though its power had degraded over time, it still had the same spark, and that the elders had treasured it greatly. He then revealed that the Godsphere was what had kept his power cycling through Odium and that it was what was keeping him alive, which meant that he would die after the Adversary accepted it. As Hundun passed away, the power being supplied to Odium was cut off, causing Kaling to stop her fight with Laha, who angrily asked when the Glory Guard had arrived. Upon noticing the Adversary, she was even more furious to find that they were in possession of the Godsphere. Meanwhile, Tai Yu told the Adversary that there were people who could help restore the Godsphere in the realm of the sages. He then opened up a scroll, which created a large golden hanging scroll of a mountainside before them. Upon seeing the Adversary's amazement, Tai Yu explained that the realm of the sages, Shangri-La, wasn't normally accessible to most, as there was a spell in place that kept it from outsiders. Soon after, the Adversary awoke to the sight of Oz, Brighton, and a smiling Tai Yu. The Adversary asked if they were really inside a painting, which Tai Yu confirmed before welcoming them to Shangri-La, where the elders had imprisoned themselves.

Invasion of Shangri-La

The Story of Shangri-La

Tn Shangri-La, Tai Yu amusedly noted that the Adversary still seemed to be in shock after being dragged into the realm of the sages so suddenly. However, he reminded them that they didn't have time for the Adversary to recover, as they still had quite a way to go. Oz looked around and marveled at how it seemed like they were inside a painting, with the flowers, the trees, and even the clouds looking as though they had been painted with a brush. Brighton agreed that it was beautiful, though he noted that it didn't seem natural, as everything – even down to the last flower petal – had been created by being infused with mana. He then noted that Tai Yu had mentioned earlier that the realm of the sages had been created to contain the elders. He asked who the elders were and whether they were the researchers from Odium. Oz told him that she didn't believe that the elders were researchers, as both Cosim and Hundun seemed to have been talking about them as though they were a form of higher beings. Tai Yu confirmed that Oz was right and explained that the elders weren't simply researchers, but the researchers' teachers. He then added that it was perhaps time for the world below to know the story behind Shangri-La, the elders, and the Four Symbols.

Tai Yu explained that in the beginning, the elders had once been ordinary people. However, what had set them apart was their strong sense of duty to help the world with their knowledge. Their sense of duty had soon shone brightly, and the will of the world had recognized them and had bestowed them with a mission to create Adversaries through experimentation. Twelve of the most exceptional Anima had been chosen for this research, and these Anima had later become known as the elders. Tai Yu explained that the elders had been given much by the will of the world, including long lives and an army of researchers to act as their helpers. Over a long period of time, the elders – with the help of the researchers – had committed many unethical experiments. The Glory Guard immediately recalled that they had seen traces of those experiments in the form of the monstrous research subjects hidden inside the laboratory. Tai Yu then continued and explained that Odium had been under threat by those who had either felt threatened by the power of the Adversaries, or by those who had coveted it. As the elders had needed protection, they had called in the four strongest Anima in the world – the Azure Dragon, the Vermillion Bird, the White Tiger, and the Black Tortoise – who became known as the Four Symbols that protected the elders with their strength for eons.

Tai Yu explained that the Ancient War had been won because of the Adversaries, and with their purpose fulfilled, the Adversaries had disappeared, and the laboratory of Odium had closed its eyes forever. He added that after the war, the elders could no longer turn a blind eye to the sins that they had committed, either, to which the Adversary asked him what sins he was talking about. Tai Yu explained that, unlike the Adversary, the Adversaries of Odium had lost their humanity and their sense of self in exchange for power, after which they had been reduced to nothing more than simple weapons. However, he added that it hadn't simply been the Adversaries who had suffered that fate, as the researchers – and even the elders – had slowly lost their humanity as a side effect of their research, which the elders had called contamination. Tai Yu explained that in order to stop the contamination, Shangri-La had been created. He pointed out that the part of Shangri-La that they were in looked like spring, adding that three other seasons flowed in the realm as well. In order to suppress the contamination, the elders had chosen to reside inside the natural harmony created from the four seasons. He added that in addition to stopping their contamination from worsening, the elders had also hoped to prevent the secrets that they had learned from the will of the world from leaking out. He explained that though he would have liked to show them the other seasons, they would invariably run into the Four Symbols, who each guarded one of the four seasons and served as the seasons' barriers.

Meeting the Elders

Having explained the origin of Shangri-La, Tai Yu told the Glory Guard that it was now time to meet the elders in person. Brighton then noticed a large scroll and asked Tai Yu what it was, noting that the power radiating from it felt incredible. Tai Yu explained that the Four Symbols served as the barriers of Shangri-La, with the scroll being the barrier of the Symbol of Spring, the Azure Dragon. Brighton noted that the other barriers must be scrolls as well, to which Tai Yu explained that the elders were behind Winter, the innermost barrier. He told them that he would be able to take them straight to the pavilion and asked them to come closer. Using his power, Tai Yu transported the Glory Guard straight through the barriers of Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter, which took them to the pavilion, a convergence of the four seasons, where the elders resided. 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 the Azure Dragon, Baekyeon the White Tiger, and Shuli the Vermillion Bird. 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 though she had known only that Tai Yu had brought in an outsider, it was clear from a single glance who they were. She explained that she had heard from Tai Yu about a new Adversary who had appeared in the outside world. She told the Adversary that the Four Symbols had been watchkeepers over the elders, the researchers, and their experiments, and that in all the ages that they had kept that watch, none of them had seen anything quite like the Adversary, who was the only one of their kind to have their ego untarnished. She added that she would be lying if she were to say that their existence wasn't astonishing, not only to them, but to the elders as well. Just then, four of the elders – Zigang the rat elder, Maolang the rabbit elder, Shensung the monkey elder, and Weio the sheep elder – appeared. Zigang noted that Shuli was right, and that his surprise ran deeper than simply his expectations being surpassed, as he found the whole situation inconceivable. He noted that Tai Yu had certainly brought in something interesting, adding that Tai Yu always seemed to find ways to defy their expectations.

He then addressed the Adversary by name, noting that they were the new Adversary that Tai Yu had spoken of. However, he explained that he had been told that they were a completed Vessel and asked why it seemed that they were now empty. Upon learning that the Adversary had avoided their destiny of death, however, Zigang noted that there was nothing further to hear after learning that the Adversary's existence went against the will of the world, adding that there was no way that they could allow the Adversary to leave Shangri-La alive. Though Tai Yu cut in and told Zigang not to be hasty, Zigang angrily scolded Tai Yu, explaining that when he had sent Tai Yu down to the outside world, he had expected Tai Yu to take responsibility for his own actions, as Taowu and Qiongqi – the Perils that Tai Yu had sealed – had broken free. He reminded Tai Yu that his task had been to learn how the Perils had escaped, as well as to recapture them, and so he asked Tai Yu what the meaning of bringing outsiders to Shangri-La was. Tai Yu calmly replied that he had figured out the cause of the broken seals, as well as where the Perils were. He revealed that Kaling had released them, adding that Zigang should surely remember Kaling, as she had been his favorite researcher. A surprised Zigang immediately realized that Kaling had set out to complete her experiment. Nevertheless, he told Tai Yu that there was nothing to worry about, as her experiment would never be completed. Tai Yu knowingly asked him whether it was because Hundun was sealed in the heart of Odium, to which a shocked Zigang asked him how he could possibly know that.

Tai Yu revealed that Guardian Kalos had fallen, which meant that the path to Odium had opened up. An aghast Gaon noted that if Kalos had truly been defeated, then it meant that the laboratory was once again exposed to the outside world. He immediately confronted Tai Yu and demanded to know if he was telling the truth. Tai Yu reaffirmed his words and explained that he – along with the Adversary, Brighton, and Oz – had all been witnesses. He explained that Odium had awakened, and that Kaling had entered its heart, where she had found not only Hundun, but the Godsphere that he had been fused with. Shensung asked Tai Yu what had happened to Hundun and the Godsphere, to which the Adversary presented the Godsphere and explained that Hundun had died after bestowing it upon them. They told the elders that the Godsphere was a shell of what it used to be, and that they had come to Shangri-La in order to seek their help on how to restore its power, as they had been told that the elders would know a way to do so. Shensung examined the Godsphere and told Zigang that the Adversary was telling the truth, adding that it really was the World Heart. He then cursed Hundun, claiming that he had been quite clever to make such a mess of things at the end of his life. Tai Yu then addressed Zigang and the other elders. He explained that he understood plainly that if the will of the world didn't allow it, none of them would interfere in the affairs of the world, even if the sky itself were to come crashing down. He then pointed out the consequences of their inactivity, with both Kalos and Odium having fallen. He explained that the worst had been avoided only thanks to the Adversary, and that they couldn't hope to be so lucky forever. However, Zigang merely noted that Tai Yu had done quite a bit while they hadn't been watching and asked how he still couldn't understand that the outside world was none of their concern, and that it never would be again.

Shensung then turned to the Adversary and asked what kind of nonsense they were uttering with their talk of having come to Shangri-La to "seek their help". He told them that Hundun had simply wanted to wave them - the Adversary who had cheated destiny - in the elders' faces, to show them with their own eyes that they had miscalculated, which was all part of some sick joke, just so that Hundun could have the last laugh. Maolang then spoke up and asked Zigang how long he was planning to give the outsiders the courtesy of listening to their nonsense. Zigang agreed with her and ordered Gaon to seize the Adversary. He claimed that the Adversary had defied the will of the world, and that they would one day throw the world into chaos if left unchecked. In order to prevent that future from happening, he ordered Gaon to seal the Adversary, along with the World Heart, in Shangri-La's Winter, which would ensure that they would never set foot in the outside world again. Shensung then ordered Baekyeon the White Tiger to seal Tai Yu in Autumn while they figured out what to do with him. He began wondering what they should do about Oz and Brighton, to which Maolang pointed out that they were outsiders with no reason to be in Shangri-La, and so she ordered Ara the Azure Dragon, the gatekeeper between Shangri-La and the outside world, to expel them from the realm of the sages. With that, the elders disappeared, and the Symbols left to carry out their instructions.

Kaling's Invasion

Just then, however, Kaling and her three Perils attacked Shangri-La as several corrupt elders allowed them entry, including Shensung and Maolang. In Autumn, 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 engulfed the realm as the Glory Guard and Gaon arrived in a ruined Autumn. The Adversary began asking Tai Yu whether he was alright, just as they looked around at the battlefield and marveled at how many enemies Tai Yu had been able to face. Gaon then asked Tai Yu where Baekyeon was. Tai Yu answered that Baekyeon had been taken by Shensung and noted that they had arrived just in time, as he had barely been able to hold off the assailants without Baekyeon's help. Gaon was shocked to know that even Shensung had sided with Darmoor. Shensung laughed upon thinking that he had lived long enough to see the Black Tortoise, whom he called a kid, provoke him. He then teleported right in front of the surprised Adversary and told them that it was nice to see them in one piece, explaining that their talents had caught Darmoor's attention. He added that though he wished that he could talk more, he had to get going, as he had something to take care of. He then laughed that they would see each other next time, adding that he hoped that they wouldn't be defeated in their current battle until then, after which he disappeared.

After Shensung left, Brighton felt the ground tremble and noted that something was coming. Suddenly, a revived Hundun appeared, whom the Adversary immediately recognized. A shocked Oz wondered how Hundun could be alive, as he was no longer fused with the Godsphere. Brighton replied that Hundun wasn't really alive, pointing out that the Hundun standing before them wasn't the same one that they had met in Odium. The Adversary realized that the fact that Hundun was still moving had to be because of Kaling, or even Darmoor. However, they noted that it wasn't important, as they needed to stop him no matter what. The Adversary then faced Hundun, and after a fierce battle, they managed to defeat him. Tai Yu noted in satisfaction that the Adversary had taken care of Hundun successfully. However, he pointed out that Shensung had escaped, lamenting that he should have seen it coming, especially since he had now taken away Baekyeon. Gaon reassured Tai Yu that Baekyeon would likely be fine, as Shensung wouldn't have taken the scroll if he had wanted to kill Baekyeon. Tai Yu jokingly noted that Gaon seemed quite relaxed after having encountered the Perils, though the Adversary cut in and reminded them that the fight wasn't yet over. Tai Yu agreed and reminded Gaon that it was too early to relax, as Kaling hadn't even shown herself yet. He noted that the Perils were fearsome enough on their own, but the power that they had demonstrated wasn't their full extent. He then realized that only Winter was still standing, to which Gaon pointed out that they still had Ara. However, Tai Yu reminded Gaon that Shangri-La was a well-protected land, which Kaling – even with Darmoor backing her – couldn't release the Perils into so easily. He explained that if the barriers had all been intact, then they wouldn't have run into the Perils in the first place, meaning that Ara must have fallen. The Adversary then realized that if the barrier of Winter was the only one standing, then they needed to protect it. Tai Yu agreed, adding that if Winter were to fall, then so would Shangri-La. Gaon told them that, for what it was worth, he was the Symbol who knew Winter best, and so he suggested that they hurry as soon as possible.

Fixing the Barrier

After the Adversary defeated Kaling and absorbed her into the World Heart, they returned to the pavilion, where Gaon told Zigang that he wished to leave Shangri-La and help the outsider world. As Zigang angrily protested, Tai Yu interrupted and told them to settle down, as fighting wouldn't help anyone. He explained that Shangri-La, in its current state, wasn't suited to hide something as important as the World Heart. He also noted to Zigang that they both knew that once Gaon's mind was made up, it would be difficult for anyone to change it. He admitted that the elders could try to force their hand, though he added that it would be a waste for them to use their remaining power in such a way. He then presented an alternate arrangement and offered to stay in Shangri-La himself, explaining that with the strength that he had gained from his travels, combined with the strength of the remaining elders, they would be able to create new barriers for Shangri-La. Regarding the World Heart, Tai Yu pointed out that there wasn't much choice but to leave it with the Adversary, as it seemed much safer than leaving it with the elders, given everything that had happened.

Brighton asked Tai Yu whether he was up to it, as Shangri-La had, from its creation, been guarded by four protectors, not one. Tai Yu laughed and explained that while his strength couldn't match that of the Black Tortoise, he could more than make up for it with a few tricks, adding that it would be quite simple with the elders' cooperation. Weio, the sheep elder, noted that Tai Yu's words were sound, and so she asked him to come close. Zigang begrudgingly concurred and told Tai Yu to prove himself if he was so confident. The elders then bestowed their power onto Tai Yu, who combined it with his own magic to strengthen the core of Shangri-La and restore the other seasons. Zigang noted that he could feel a portion of the other seasons returning, and though it wasn't perfect, he admitted that it was good enough for the time being. He then told Tai Yu that he was right, and that they couldn't protect the World Heart, nor could they stop Gaon from leaving. He also admitted that Tai Yu's suggestion for the elders to lend their strength hadn't been without merit, and so he curtly told them to leave it at that and ordered Gaon and the Glory Guard to leave immediately.

After Zigang disappeared, Gaon thanked Tai Yu for standing up for him. Tai Yu smiled and told Gaon that he should have listened to him earlier about hearing him out when he had first brought the Glory Guard to Shangri-La. He asked Gaon whether he was right that both the Adversary and the outside world were quite different from what Gaon had first thought. Gaon admitted that Tai Yu was right and added that Ara had also told him to protect the world, and that Shuli had believed that it hadn't been too late either. He noted that even Baekyeon, who never turned a blind eye to anything, would support his decision to leave Shangri-La. He then vowed that he would protect the world and bring back the captured Symbols. Weio warmly noted that Gaon had a good heart before telling the Adversary that she still had one more thing to say. After introducing herself, she turned to Tai Yu and apologized for being unable to cover for him earlier, even though she owed him a great debt. She noted that Lara, who had been destined to make their bell ring, had appeared, and that Tai Yu had saved her when she had been in trouble. Weio then invited the Adversary to return to Shangri-La any time if they needed help, promising that she would personally see to it that they would be allowed to return. She then jokingly told Gaon that she hoped that he would serve as an excellent tour guide for her upon his return. Gaon told Weio to stay in good health until he came back, adding that he wished the same for Shuli. Weio then told Gao to accomplish all that the elders couldn't do from Shangri-La, and to return soon, so that she would have good news to tell Shuli when she awakened. Tai Yu then told the Adversary that it seemed that all their matters had been settled. The Adversary thanked Tai Yu for everything that he had done for them since Odium. Tai Yu smiled and explained that he hadn't done it for gratitude, though he added that if they really wanted to thank him, then they could find his apprentice down in the world below and ask him to visit sometime, adding that they could come with him too. The Adversary promised that they would, after which the Glory Guard and Gaon headed out.

The Other Side of Shangri-La

Investigating the Contamination

Before the Adversary headed out on their journey, Tai Yu asked them to come see him with Gaon, as he had a request for them. The Adversary and Gaon found Tai Yu in the pavilion, speaking with several of the researchers. They overheard Hanasol asking Tai Yu whether he was sure that he was okay, as he had no idea how many people were sick until today. Aroa noted that there were researchers roaming throughout the seasons of Shangri-La and added that though no one wanted to say it, the researchers were exhibiting the same symptoms as Kaling in the past. Somiya pointed out that if things went on as they were going, even their guests from the outside world might get affected by it. He added that if the contamination were to spread outside Shangri-La, the damage would spiral out of control. The Adversary then interrupted, causing Tai Yu to notice that they had just arrived. Gaon noted that Tai Yu had requested their presence and asked whether something was wrong. Tai Yu explained that something strange was happening to the researchers of Shangri-La lately, though he noted that everyone had expected things to be confusing for a while, as the four seasons' ability to control the contamination wouldn't be the same as before.

He explained that the contamination was spreading more severely than both he and the elders had thought, and that something was very wrong in Shangri-La. He added that though it would be nice if the elders could handle it on their own, they wouldn't be able to do so with everything that they were dealing with. Gaon asked whether it was because of their guests from the outside world, noting that it had been a while since someone had come from the world below. Tai Yu agreed and added that he had also thought that things had been strange, as news from the outside world had gone completely dark, which made him believe that someone had been deliberately blocking news from entering Shangri-La. The Adversary wondered to themselves whether it had been the work of the elders who had left Shangri-La. Tai Yu explained that as a result of the elders being overwhelmed with the backlog of everything that they had missed, they didn't have the time to focus on anything else. As the path to Shangri-La had been opened, Tai Yu feared that something evil could come inside, and since he had other responsibilities to focus on, he asked the Adversary and Gaon to patrol Shangri-La for him, to which they agreed.

As the Adversary and Gaon investigated the contamination, they discovered contaminated buttons left behind by Kaling containing her memories, which the Adversary was consumed in. Soon after, the Adversary awoke to the sound of Tai Yu's voice. They got up and found Gaon and Tai Yu checking on their condition, as well as the inkwell purified of its contamination. Tai Yu asked the Adversary if they were alright, to which they replied that they weren't seriously hurt. They then returned to the pavilion, where the Adversary told them about the four treasures of the study being contaminated as a result of Kaling's button, which contained her memories. Tai Yu noted that something bigger than expected was happening, though he added that telling the elders what they had just learned was enough for now, and so he told the Adversary that they didn't need to look into it any further. The Adversary protested, claiming that the elders didn't have the time to deal with what was happening and that the contamination in Shangri-La needed to be dealt with immediately before it got any worse. However, Tai Yu reminded them that they had already once saved Shangri-La when the elders had been scrambling around, and that it would be okay if the elders were to clean up the rest of their own mess by themselves. He explained that even though it had been inevitable during the fight with Kaling, he couldn't allow the Adversary to be put in danger again. He then asked Gaon to help escort the Adversary out of Shangri-La safely.

The Contaminated Godspheres

On their way, however, the Adversary instead asked Gaon to come with them to find Autumn's treasure of the study, reminding him that it was an opportunity to help Shangri-La and learn more about Kaling, and that there was a chance that they could even learn more about Darmoor and the traitorous elders. Gaon agreed, explaining that he, too, had been reluctant to follow Tai Yu's orders. The two then secretly made their way to Autumn, where they found more contaminated researchers and Inkblot Sable monsters created from ink. Realizing that Tai Yu might hear them if they caused a commotion, Gaon suggested that they clear up the researchers and monsters first. After clearing the area, they found an inkstick with Kaling's button embedded into it. Just like before, a claw-like arm attacked the Adversary when they destroyed the button, infecting them with Kaling's energy. Soon after, they discovered the contaminated paintbrush, but to their surprise, they found that there was no button nearby. As the Adversary wondered whether someone had removed it, Zigang appeared and explained that it was still in Shangri-La. He revealed that since the buttons could contaminate from afar, there was no need for the other buttons to be there in the first place. The Adversary and Gaon turned to find Zigang arriving with Tai Yu. Zigang explained that Tai Yu had informed him that the four treasures of the study had been contaminated. Gaon was surprised to see Zigang, believing that he had been too busy to investigate, though Zigang replied that no matter how busy he was, he still had a duty to take a look around at the place where he lived. He then turned to the Adversary and explained that he had never thought that he would see them again after they had decided to leave, though he was once again indebted to them, thanks to their timely warning.

Tai Yu then lightly scolded the Adversary for going against his instructions to stop their investigation after trusting them to listen, as well as Gaon for going along with their idea. He added that it was good that they were becoming friends, though he didn't know how to feel about the fact that it was because of them both disobeying his instructions together, noting that they should've at least considered how much he had worried about them. However, Zigang told Tai Yu to leave it be, explaining that even if one had a child that they cared about, they couldn't keep that child with them for the rest of their life, adding that he would know. Upon hearing Zigang's words, the Adversary asked him whether he was talking about Kaling. Zigang merely gave the Adversary a pensive look before noting that the residual energy inside the four treasures of the study belonged to ‘that child'. He asked the Adversary whether they had any idea what the button was, to which they explained that it was a contaminated Godsphere created by Kaling, which they had learned through the memories contained within the buttons. Zigang realized that the last button must have important information contained within her memories, such as information about the fallen Transcendent or the elders who had escaped. He explained that it was his belief that amongst the remaining elders, there were some who were in touch with those who had left, and that he suspected that one of them had the button, as there was no other reason why they would hold onto an object that would worsen their contamination. Based on Zigang's words, Gaon immediately realized that Zigang suspected Haia to be the contaminated elder.

Zigang confirmed his suspicions, adding that they must have met her earlier as well. Though Gaon protested, Zigang reminded him that he had been Kaling's master and that he had known her quite closely before she had been contaminated. He noted that Kaling had changed considerably, and that it would be no different for everyone else. Turning to the Adversary, he told them that if they had seen that transformation happen in person, they also would have understood. Though the Adversary had their doubts, they realized that objecting wouldn't change Zigang's mind. Because of that, they admitted to Zigang that they had seen Haia head towards Spring, and that since she had known that they had been investigating the contaminated seasons, she might have taken the button in advance and run. Since they couldn't know for certain, the Adversary decided that they would also check with the other elders. Zigang agreed and decided to head out first. After he left, Gaon expressed his shock that Zigang would suspect Haia. Tai Yu noted that it had only been recently that Zigang had been able to see Kaling's changed nature personally, and that it must be complicated for him. He then told the Adversary that they had done a good job of meeting Zigang in the middle. As they prepared to head back towards the pavilion, Haia watched them sadly from behind a tree, holding the button close in her hands. After confronting Haia and resolving the crisis in Shangri-La, Tai Yu then told them that they had a hard time running back and forth, and that there was a real breeze in the air now, even if it was a bit precarious. Gaon noted that everyone had moved forward, one step at a time, to which Tai Yu agreed, adding that so had Gaon. Gaon then told the Adversary that they were slowly awakening, too, as the journey wasn't over yet.

Farewell to the Adversary

Tai Yu called the Adversary to the pavilion, noting that they likely must be making preparations to leave, now that their business in Shangri-La had been wrapped up. At the pavilion, Tai Yu bade farewell to the Glory Guard, warmly adding that the Adversary didn't need any advice from him, and that he didn't need to worry about Gaon, as he had faith that Gaon would return safely. He told Gaon that he ought to take the opportunity to meet people in the outside world, reminding him that all the sages had left some trace behind in the world below. Gaon admitted that he was right and told Tai Yu that he would keep it in mind. After Oz and Brighton thanked Tai Yu for all his help, Tai Yu used his powers to send them back to Maple World.

NPC

Foot of Mt. Songyu

Hermitage

Master
Quests involved	[Hoyoung] Sealing the Fiends: The Final Act 2
Location	Hermitage

Odium

Awakened Laboratory

Master Tai Yu
Location	Awakened Laboratory

The Wellspring

Master Tai Yu
Quests involved	[Odium] Hundun Laid to Rest
Location	The Wellspring

Shangri-La

Plum Blossom-Scented Spring

Master Tai Yu
Quests involved	[Shangri-La] A Paradise Blooming with Peach Blossoms
Location	Plum Blossom-Scented Spring

Orchid Leaf-Green Summer

Master Tai Yu
Location	Orchid Leaf-Green Summer

Chrysanthemum-Blooming Autumn

Master Tai Yu
Location	Chrysanthemum-Blooming Autumn

Sinners' Paradise

Master Tai Yu
Quests involved	[Shangri-La] One Who Arrived in Paradise [Daily Quest] Shangri-La Contamination Purification [Shangri-La] Seasons Anew [Arteria] To Maple World
Location	Sinners' Paradise

Four Seasons Pavilion

Master Tai Yu
Location	Four Seasons Pavilion

Bamboo-Resting Winter

Master Tai Yu
Location	Bamboo-Resting Winter

Gallery

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  NPC Portrait of Master Tai Yu
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  NPC Portrait of Master Tai Yu in his spirit form
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  NPC Portrait of Master Tai Yu in his spirit form
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  NPC Portrait of Master Tai Yu
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  NPC Portrait of Master Tai Yu
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  NPC Portrait of Master Tai Yu
• 
  NPC Portrait of Master Tai Yu
• 
  Prototype Art of Master Tai Yu

Videos

메이플스토리 GLORY 티저영상 (2019)

[メイプルストーリー]GLORYアップデートPV

Trivia

• Tai Yu's name is based on Taiyi Zhenren (太乙真人, 태을진인, Korean pronunciation: Taeeuljinin or Tae-eul-jin-in or Taeeul Jinin), who is a deity in Chinese religion and Taoism + 仙人 (선인, Seonin).
  • 태을선인 (太乙仙人, Taeeulseonin) comes from Primordial Enlightened of Dungeon Fighter Online, which is a game developed and published by Neople, a South Korean subsidiary of Nexon.
• Although Tai Yu is a defective Vessel, he does not appear to show any symptoms of contamination. This could be because he was one of the last Vessels made in Odium, meaning that he would only have been exposed to the contamination for a short amount of time before resettling in Shangri-La, whose natural harmony would prevent the contamination of the elders from spreading to him.