Who they are
Master Yi is a disciplined swordsman who holds that violence should be a last resort. He draws on his link to the Spirit Realm to strengthen the Wuju style.
He survived the chemical destruction of his home village by Noxus and has since worked to train worthy disciples and keep the tradition alive.
Their story belongs to Ionia. Natural magic, spirits, and a peace that war broke.
Their story, step by step
- Step 1
A swordsmith's son
Yi was born in the village of Wuju in Ionia's Bahrl province to parents who made swords. He split his days between sparring with his mother and studying poetry with his father. He then joined the Wuju masters as a student and earned the name Young Master.
- Step 2
The invasion
When Noxus invaded Ionia, Yi set aside tradition to defend his homeland and fought like a one-man army. He went to Navori as a key military location. Noxus saw the Wuju as a serious threat and destroyed the village with chemical weapons.
- Step 3
The last of Wuju
Yi came home to find the village gone and was the only survivor of his order. He was devastated spiritually. He then studied under the elder master Doran, who guided his martial and spiritual growth.
- Step 4
Teaching Wukong
As the last Wuju practitioner, Yi took Wukong as his student to keep the order alive. Wukong adapted the style to the staff in place of the sword.
Turning points
- Left tradition behind to defend Ionia
- Survived the destruction of Wuju
- Took Wukong as a student
Where their story stands now
Yi is still a Wuju practitioner and teacher who judges prospective students using Doran's Seven Lenses of Insight. Riot's lore marks his recent history as incomplete, so little is known about how he has recovered or whether new disciples have succeeded. One Legends of Runeterra storyline says Kayn attacked his reformed order's temple and the order was slaughtered except for his student Jun.
Who they are tied to
Where this fits in the story
- Ionia · step 1
The Vastaya
Ionian history says mortals merged with spirit-realm power to defeat invading Titans, and that this gave rise to the Vastayashai'rei, the Vastaya.
- Ionia · step 2
The Darkin war
Ancient god-warriors invaded Ionia in the Darkin war. The Kinkou Order sealed them inside weapons.
- Ionia · step 3
The Noxian invasion
Noxus occupied territory for about five years and took magical artifacts, then withdrew. Irelia led the resistance.
- Ionia · step 4
A divided peace
The war left Ionia split between those who want to stay peaceful and those who want to be ready to fight. Zed founded the Order of Shadow, a rival to the Kinkou that uses forbidden dark magic.