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Episode 18
Are you the ghosts that have been killing the noblemen?
- You're women...! - Die!
I won't go easy on you because you're female!
Wait!
That's not him!
It's not?
No!
What's going on?
You're not ghosts...
Who are you?
Goddamn it!
You scared the hell out of me!
Who the heck are you?
Sorry. We mistook you.
What?
Let's go!
What the hell was that? Was I possessed?
So what's this red color? I don't think it's blood.
They're not ghosts, but they were as fast as them.
You said they were all women, right?
So they're disguising as ghosts to murder people?
That's scary.
They mistook me for someone else.
Mistook you for who?
The guy they were going to kill.
So he's Hwal Bin Dang? Does he know who I am?
What was that? What was that in front of me?
Young Master.
We are here for your life!
Another nobleman is dead. Did the ghosts do this too?
The method of murder is the same.
But it's said that he was beaten up by Hwal Bin Dang.
Hwal Bin Dang?
You mean the ghosts are from Hwal Bin Dang?
The men beaten up with him are fine, so I don't think so.
But this could be a great trap to catch Hong Gil Dong!
Tell everyone that Hwal Bin Dang is the culprit behind the murders!
They're saying that Hwal Bin Dang killed the noblemen!
Is that true? Why would they do such a thing?
How dare they murder noblemen!
Hong Gil Dong has finally revealed his true self!
- This was always their plan! - What an evil man!
I doubt the police made all of this up just to catch us.
The murders are real.
In any case, rumors of Hwal Bin Dang murdering noblemen aren't good for either of us.
I can catch those ghosts myself and hand them over to the police.
Are you sure you can catch them?
You didn't do much last time you saw them.
I was surprised by them, that's all.
Do you know how scary they look?
You didn't see them for yourself!
You're said to know taoist magic.
But the ghosts scared you?
That's funny.
Wait till you see them.
They're terrifying!
I'm going to use the Sa Yin Sword to gather the support of the Confucian scholars.
I cannot afford to be involved with any incidents that alienate noblemen.
We don't want to be known as murderers of noblemen either.
Ghosts or women, we'll catch them ourselves.
If you work with him, these incidents will continue to plague you.
If the real murderers are found, this will be easily solved.
Your Highness.
Why don't we leave this for Hong Gil Dong to handle alone?
It will be good for us to observe,
how he deals with cold-blooded murderers of noblemen.
You still think that I should part ways with him.
I may be wrong.
That is why I want to see how he handles this.
Good. You should watch him.
I will do the same.
Looking at their speed, they should be young women.
Perhaps they are from a brothel?
But this is a bit crude for courtesans.
There was a strange smell. Is it powder?
Perfume?
It's not a woman's scent. What could it be?
It could be a fragrance from China.
I should go and see Merchant Wang.
Look at how hard he works.
No wonder Doe Eyes has only respect for him.
Only respect?
You will definitely have just her respect.
Just her respect?
Gil Dong!
Where are you going?
You want to come with me?
I have to work.
Yeon Ssi wanted me to move the firewood.
Don't you think this is faster?
You're right!
I did all this extra work!
I'm really lucky!
I would have been so upset if I had moved this before you got here!
I was preoccupied and didn't think
to move the cart instead.
Stupid girl.
Gil Dong, I think you're really the smartest Chief in the world.
I respect you!
Respect?
That's not that great.
Why? Respect is good!
Do you still respect me?
You still respect me?
I don't.
Good. Don't respect me anymore!
I should have known! That Gil Dong's no Chief!
Gil Dong is just Gil Dong.
At least I stopped the respect.
Stop coming here!
I hate Hwal Bin Dang! You can kill me, but I still hate it!
You're a China citizen, so you're safe.
Unless I tell everyone you're from Jeolla province!
So all I have to do is find out where this came from?
There is a unique smell on it. Do you know what it is?
This is pepper!
Pepper?
Yes, you know the kind you sprinkle on soup?
Really? Then what's this red liquid?
Is it some kind of powder?
You're so dense. It's kimchi juice!
This is kimchi juice?
You're right!
This cloth looks like a dishrag used at taverns.
What?
It can't be...!
Those scary ghosts can't be...
They can't be from this tavern?
Hey...!
It's him!
You're right!
Goddamn it.
You found us?
You mean you all work at this tavern?
How did you find us?
This is our dishrag!
So you found us.
Have you eaten?
Will you have some soup and rice?
Damn it.
Female murderers. That certainly has a feel to it!
They must all be like you.
Five ladies like that... That's great!
They probably find their targets at brothels.
If women like that were after me, I think I would be scared but excited.
Gil Dong must be stimulated.
Explosions of love!
I think it's going to rain.
Looks like it.
Look at how torn this is!
It got torn because of you!
Is that what you wore that night?
That's right.
You all had the same dress on.
Is it some sort of uniform?
That's right.
This is what we wear when we act.
Why do you carry dishrags with you?
We use it to clean the blood off the swords.
You mean...
You ladies really killed those men?
Your soup is going to get cold.
Eat quickly and go!
Are you going to mend the clothes and go murder again?
And what if we are?
I'll stop you.
You've caused me a lot of trouble by making me take the blame for these murders.
Are you Hong Gil Dong of Hwal Bin Dang?
We're sorry.
But we can't go to the police to deny your involvement.
Then stop these murders now.
If you stop us, you will fight you too. Try and stop us!
We will never stop.
Now the Hong Gil Dong is being blamed for these murders, the prince will be worried.
- He may do something about the rumors. - He should.
That's the only way we'll catch him.
Who are those ghosts anyway?
They must be people out for revenge.
There is something in common with the victims.
What is it?
They were all involved in an incident at Goksung five years ago.
It looks like some people are taking revenge for that incident.
They're killing the men of those noble families?
There is only one man still alive.
He will be their next target.
Who is your next target?
Do you think you can stop us?
Let's go quickly before the dinner rush.
Where are you going?
Let's go!
Why did you follow us?
We can't focus on our training.
Where did you learn how to do that?
Don't look down on us.
We've been training for five years.
Where...?
Where did you learn that?
We learned from mercenaries and thugs eating at our tavern.
Even monks with martial arts skills.
For five years?
We trained every day without fail.
We're as fast as ghosts and just as scary, aren't we?
Did you become ghosts because of revenge?
That's enough for today.
Let's go back to the tavern.
Let's go.
Oh, my back!
Revenge five years in the making?
They really are scarier than ghosts!
This is a petition to re-investigate the deaths of the Dowager Queen and the Prince.
I took it out before it went up to the king.
They are risking their lives to raise such a petition.
The person behind this petition is the father of the late Defense Minister, Lord Ryu.
He avoided being tried for treason as Lord Ryu's death was blamed on bandits.
He has been in seclusion since the death of his son.
But he still wields considerable influence amongst the scholars.
He will support us if he finds out that,
the Interior Minister murdered him for the Sa Yin Sword.
He may have already seen the inscription on it.
Go and meet with him, Madam Noh.
Yes, Your Highness.
If the prince is still alive, he will come to see me.
I cannot believe that this inscription existed on the sword given to him by the late king.
If you meet the prince, you will find out who murdered your son and framed the bandits.
Will it be possible to find my granddaughter whose body we never found?
My Yi Nok...!
I love these buns!
You're truly my grandfather!
Maybe it's too much to hope for some noble blood in you.
Oh, noble blood. Miss Eun Hye wanted to see you to buy some medicine.
Medicine?
Our Chunmyungdan must be really famous if the councilor's residence is looking for it!
She said she'll pay you a high price for it.
Be sure to go.
I'll definitely go!
Yi Nok, do you want to dress and live like that Miss Eun Hye?
- A noble lady? - Yes, don't you envy her?
Who's going to make me one?
If someone does, would you want to be one?
Let's see.
But I have to stay at home all the time!
I don't want to!
Then I can't be with Gil Dong!
You like him that much?
Yes I do. I am so happy right now!
I can't even tell you to stop it because you like him so much. Stop eating!
Heo Yi Nok is an orphan?
Yes, she sells medicine with her grandfather, but she hasn't been seen recently.
She must be in hiding with Hwal Bin Dang.
They say that recently she asked the police a strange question.
What question?
She asked if there was any incident in the year the king died.
The year the king died?
She asked if the lady of the house ran away with her daughter.
Is she thinking of that day?
What if the girl's name wasn't Heo Yi Nok...
...but Ryu Yi Nok?
She's the daughter of the friend I murdered, Ryu Yi Nok!
How could she be with Gil Dong?
Does she not know who she is?
What kind of women did he go to see?
Why is the chief going to see women?
Sometimes the chief has to let go of explosions of love too.
Why? You just respect him. So why are you so worried?
Who are those women he went to go see?
Aren't you coming?
You scared me!
For the Chief of Hwal Bin Dang, you sure get scared easily.
Why do you disguise yourselves as ghosts? Cover your faces instead!
You want them to get a heart attack before you kill them?
Are we that scary?
You want to hear a really scary story?
Long time ago, a new magistrate came to power in a remote village.
One night, two virgin ghosts appeared.
"Magistrate, hear our cries."
When the magistrate heard how the two virgins had been wrongly killed by the villagers,
he killed all of the men in the village in revenge for the ghosts.
The men were involved in the destruction of a village while they were in Goksung.
They were killed for raping some young girls.
You mean the ghosts of the girls came back to accuse their killers?
Yes.
What was the real reason for the murders?
The original suspect for the rapes and murders of the girls was the son of a nobleman.
When the new magistrate came to town,
the villagers were executed and the young nobleman freed.
But you know what's strange?
The two ghosts supposedly came to said that the villagers were the culprits.
But no one ever questioned the validity of ghosts giving testimony.
No one did.
I wanted to meet those ghosts so badly.
I wanted to ask if my son really killed them!
I even went to a shaman to do a ritual.
But they never came and spoke to me.
The ghosts took the lives of the villagers!
That's why...
We were so angry and bitter that we decided to become ghosts too.
That's why you want to live as ghosts?
Does it look like we're doing this to live?
You said you're Hwal Bin Dang?
Do you want to save us?
I'm sorry.
But we have nothing to save.
If you've found the murderers, why haven't you done anything?
Didn't you say you were going to turn them over to the government?
They are just women of soup restaurant.
Those women...
People who made those women have trained for 5 years
and murder others are the noblemen who killed their sons.
Didn't you say you couldn't allow Hwal Bin Dang to be used for personal vendettas?
Are you saying that you're going to take revenge for them?
It's not that.
I'm going to stop them.
First you said you'd catch them.
But now you're going to stop them?
You sure you're not going to help them?
I'm saying we'll stop them from murdering the noblemen, not to help them.
If so, we have to find out who they want to kill next.
Find out about the noblemen who were killed.
They will all have something in common.
If we find that out,
we will know who they're going to kill next.
Then we can stop them.
See? He is showing his true colors!
He didn't arrest those women because he sympathizes with them.
He said he would stop them.
He wouldn't help them murder the nobleman.
He has bitterness against noblemen.
He is angry at his illegitimate status.
And he almost died because of his nobleman father and older brother.
He may call himself Hwal Bin Dang, but he is like the women.
He wants revenge against noblemen.
We will have to continue watching him.
Are you going to meet Lord Ryu today?
Yes, he should be waiting for the true prince.
Your Majesty!
This is the Sa Yin sword the late king gave to your son.
The legitimate prince which the inscription mentions is still alive.
Was the one who killed my son and took the Sa Yin sword...
Was it really the Interior Minister, Hong Seo Hyun?
The sword was found in his house.
He was the one.
Did he also kill my daughter-in-law and my granddaughter Yi Nok?
We searched for them everywhere, but we weren't able to find them.
If they were alive,
we would be able to reveal everything.
But I doubt they survived the bloodshed.
I will uphold His Majesty's message on the Sa Yin sword.
I will gather the scholars to protect and reinstate the prince to the throne!
The ghosts' next target is sure to be the man who went to Goksung five years ago.
If we're careful, we'll catch the ghosts and Hwal Bin Dang as well.
You've changed a lot, sir. I have never seen you so determined.
I have staked my life on catching him.
I will have him executed!
And I want someone to see that happen.
You've really given me a high price!
I don't know if I can take this...
For some reason, I want to take care of Yi Nok.
My Yi Nok has good luck with people.
Everywhere she goes, people always treat her really well!
Yi Nok... That's a pretty name.
Long ago, there was a girl who was like a little sister to me.
- Her name was Yi Nok too. - Yi Nok?
I think of her a lot because she died when she was young.
Twenty years have passed, and I still remember that name.
What kind of family was she from?
She was the only daughter of Lord Ryu Geun Chan, the Defense Minister.
Ryu Yi Nok.
Her name was Ryu Yi Nok.
Ryu Yi Nok...
Her parents were both killed.
Only her grandfather is still alive.
Is this the house of Yi Nok's real grandfather?
You're back, My Lord!
When my guests come, bring them in.
That must be Yi Nok's grandfather!
Gil Dong! Where are you going?
Why?
Let's go together.
I want to go with you today.
Why?
I.... I'm not going with you because you're going to meet women!
Now the effects of losing her respect for me is kicking in.
Yes, you'll be good to distract them.
They may tell you all kinds of things and trap themselves.
Trap? Trap what?
Ghosts.
Gh.. ghosts?
We're going hunting for ghosts.
And you're the bait.
Did she just eat two bowls of soup?
No, that was three!
The soup here is delicious!
You want more?
Really? I can have more?
Eat more! We have a whole pot!
You're the first people to encourage me to eat more while I'm still eating!
Is that your bride?
Why?
You're going to suffer trying to feed her.
But...
You made a good choice.
He said that he would gather the scholars in support of you.
I should meet him in person then.
If we had found Lord Ryu's daughter,
the effect of the Sa Yin sword would have been greater.
She must have been killed as there is no sign of her.
Her name was Yi Nok too.
Yi Nok? Was it?
Yes. You saw her when you were young too.
Do you remember?
I saw her?
You went with me to Lord Ryu's residence once.
Yes, I remember that.
That's right. I accidentally caused her to get hurt.
Let's see here.
I accidentally spilled hot tea on her!
It is not too bad.
Here. Have a cookie!
You've caused a girl to be scarred, Your Highness! What will you do now?
Lord Ryu!
I will take full responsibility.
What?
It's my fault. I will be responsible for her.
How will you handle a girl like this?
You shouldn't be making such promises!
You must raise her well for His Highness' sake.
Her name was Yi Nok too?
Yes.
If she was still alive,
she would have been a good match for you.
Yi Nok...
Are our crossing paths destined?
My cobra looked just like this, and danced like this!
A snake can dance?
Shall I catch a snake for you?
Only cobras can dance!
And cobras are from China.
But my cobras weren't so lucky in Joseon.
Oh, these sausages are delicious!
Our sausages in Goksung were more delicious!
This is really good!
You really enjoy your food.
If my son was alive, you could be my daugher-in-law.
I can't do that!
Are you "you-know-what" with him?
I'm not "you-know-what" with him.
I'm "I love you" with him.
Oh my.
Is she finding out any information?
Or is she just eating sausages?
Yi Nok has always lived a carefree life.
Can she survive cloistered up in a house?
My business...! Just go away!
Please go away!
If he stands there, I'll have no business!
The medicine peddler won't be here!
Just go away! You're affecting my business!
It's the order of the Interior Minister's orders!
I have no choice!
I have to stand guard here and,
take the medicine peddler with me when he comes!
First the son, and now the father!
I hate everyone with the surname Hong!
How can a traveling medicine peddler be compared to a noble family?
It's best for Yi Nok if I send her home.
Yes, that's what I should do.
I should go and see them one more time before I make my decision.
You must have something going on tonight.
You're really persistent.
Why don't you change your uniform?
In a little more time, people will think you're beggars rather than ghosts.
You want us to dress up in new clothes when we go to kill people?
You're right.
Ghosts wouldn't be scary if they looked good.
This is what I wore at my son's funeral.
Look at how worn it is.
We don't know what else to do other than this.
Don't live in bitterness like us.
Their white clothes are all mended. I wonder if they doing it soon.
Gil Dong, their sausages were really good!
They said Goksung sausages are even better.
I wonder how much more delicious they are!
You want to go to Goksung to eat?
Shall we go with the women?
Their hometown is Goksung.
Goksung?
He said he was an important person in Goksung.
Goksung...?
We found out who the ghosts will target next.
It is the man who was the magistrate there five years ago.
He is now an Inspector of the Office of the Inspector-General.
A man like that as an inspector?
He is scheduled to leave tomorrow,
as a newly-appointed envoy with the China ambassadors.
I'm sure they will strike him tonight.
You must see how he responds.
- What did you find? - Yeah.
The incident happened in Goksung five years ago.
We have to find out who's still alive from that incident. Hurry!
Tonight, there will be murderers coming to Inspector Park's residence.
Hwal Bin Dang might come too. Be alert and on your guard!
We have to do it tonight.
He'll be back from China after a few years, and we can't do this when we're old.
Whatever happens, we strike tonight.
I found out who it is, but he's leaving for China tomorrow. I think they'll do it tonight.
Damn it. If the police know about this, those women are all dead!
Wait!
I forgot to wrap the sausages before we left.
What if they all freeze?
Do you think we can see that sausage again?
That's him!
The police will protect me!
We have come to take your valued life in exchange for lowly ones!
Now! Attack them now!
Die!
I can't believe they were women.
Lowly peasants with revenge are fearsome.
Hong Gil Dong, he's as low as those women.
Now that the murderers are dead, dismiss the soldiers.
Hwal Bin Dang may come. Guard them well.
What are these bodies?
They pretended to be ghosts!
The ones that murdered the noblemen?
So they were people?
I wore this at my son's funeral.
Look at how worn it is.
You said you're from Hwal Bin Dang?
Do you want to save us?
I'm sorry, but we have nothing to save.
Ghosts?
They were just the mothers of the peasants!
Who are you?
What do you want?
I will not destroy you,
but I will destroy the world you live in!
That is my revenge!
He is a strong fellow.
Luckily, he was not reckless with his sword.
He appears to have tremendous self-control.
I was wrong.
But what if I cannot control him?
He is stronger than I anticipated.
If he had killed the nobleman, I would have seen him as weaker than me.
But having seen him,
he is stronger than I expected.
I'm sorry.
I really don't understand how kind women like them could be killers.
I don't really understand revenge and bitterness.
I hope you never understand those things.
It's good that this world has someone as innocent as you.
I think that's why you give us comfort.
Not only us, but Gil Dong too.
Your father came to your mother's grave here once.
It was shortly after I buried her here.
I don't know how he knew, but he was here.
For a whole day, he stood here and stared at the grave.
The world that allows loved ones to die...
Because that is the world he protects and makes...
That was why he must have just stood there for so long.
Those women are also victims of this world.
Your Majesty...
If Lord Ryu's daughter appears with the Sa Yin sword,
then all the events that happened,
to conceal the late king's secret message will be revealed.
The ministers will once again speculate on your rights to the throne.
We must stop her from reappearing!
So where is she?
She is with Hong Gil Dong at Hwal Bin Dang.
That Hong Gil Dong! We have to get him!
All the demons that want my life have gone over to him!
We will get him, Your Majesty!
There is a way.
Have me executed.
My death is the only way you can catch him.
I will give up my life to protect you.
When you become king,
create a world that doesn't create victims because of their status.
No lowly status means no noble status either.
If you only protect those of noble status,
you will not be able to save any of low status.
I will not show preference for either.
They both belong to this country.
I know.
I know this is reality.
But when you become king,
change it.
It's not good to become a fool that ignores reality.
But don't lose your sympathy for the poor citizens.
I will have faith that you will help them.
And even if I fight the nobles,
you must understand and have faith in me.
Then we can work together until the end.
You said you wanted to be a king the people loved.
Then be a king that the people want.
We go together.
Be the king.
We will make a king that can change the world.
To achieve that, I will become stronger.
I thought that I was using him to become a king that would protect the world.
Because that is what I should do.
But he...
He is using me to try and change the world.
We were different from the start.
He started at the bottom,
and I started at the top.
If our thinking doesn't meet together in the middle,
it will be in conflict.
If that happens,
will I let him go?
I'll work hard.
Your soup really was good.
The prince has arrived.
~Recites the inscription on sword~
"I give the crown to my legitimate son."
"Protect him and guard him against all enemies."
This is the inscription His Majesty engraved on the Sa Yin sword.
The true king of this nation is the legitimate prince.
The scholars here will risk our lives to protect you, Your Highness!
You used to cry for yourself, then you broke and saved yourself.
But now that you've cried for the world, what do you think?
The savior of this world must first save himself.
He must also feel the world's sorrows.
You are like them, and they are like you.
Because of that, you can cry with them and fight for them.
That is Hwal Bin Dang and Hong Gil Dong.
Grandfather...
I wish people didn't have bitterness and revenge in their hearts.
But not everyone is dumb like me, so I suppose that can't happen.
For some reason, that makes me really sad.
Yes, let's not know about that. Let's live as dumb people.
Let's just live our lives laughing.
Let's just forget it.
If Yi Nok learns about bitterness and lives in that house, she will feel frustrated.
I have to forget about everything.
Why is that old man here?
Oh, he's here again!
Has he been here before?
Yes, he came here to ask questions.
What did he ask?
It is time for us to gather support from the government officials.
I have something to tell you.
There was an old man asking questions at Lord Ryu's residence.
And who was that?
It... it was a bit surprising.
What is it? Tell us.
It was Miss Heo's grandfather.
The person who asked questions about Lord Ryu's death was Miss Heo's grandfather.
Given the situation, I think the girl you are looking for is Heo Yi Nok.
Gil Dong, I just...
I don't know what to say to you because I'm not that prolific.
When you were just Gil Dong,
I could tell you to just let it out and cry.
But now that you're the chief,
I can't really tell you to do that.
You can just look at me.
That's what we decided, right?
That's all you have to do.
Alright.
I'll watch you from afar.
Not from afar but close by.
Just keep looking at me by my side.
By your side?
Like this?
That's right.
Just stay like this.
Does it comfort you if I'm here like this?
Stupid girl.
I respect you.
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