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(This drama is set in the times of King Jinheung.)
(But all characters and events are fiction.)
Where is Father?
What happened to him?
Why are you alone?
What about Father?
What are you doing?
(Episode 4)
Your wound is deep.
It is the lightest one among all the injuries...
I've received from Your Highness.
You must be feeling better...
to talk with such spite.
I thought I trapped you in misery.
After Your Highness took away my wife and my son,
I was indeed trapped...
in misery for 12 years.
And?
Are you saying you will threaten me by saving your son?
I plan on teaching him the order of the capital.
He will see how rotten, ridiculous,
and crazy it is.
I plan on showing him.
You're still wicked.
Should I be...
apologizing to you?
My wife's life was taken away, and my son...
My son was kicked out of the capital.
My daughter and I lived in a nightmare.
Was it not enough for you? I cannot...
I cannot let you do this anymore.
I will not allow you to take anything away from me.
I will determine...
if I can take something away or not.
Come hither.
Take this man and lock him up.
I wish I could throw him away.
Why is he so long?
Should I get started?
(Najeong, a sacred well where Park Hyeokgeose was born)
Why did you really come?
It would be crazy to come here at this hour.
You are right.
I should have been the one to suggest it.
I should have made him come first.
I feel like I lost already. How annoying.
Let us go.
What do we do?
You are late.
You were early.
I am surprised you have the nerve to come here.
You took the words out of my mouth.
Make sure you clench your teeth.
You have terrible handwriting,
but you are confident about your fist.
How dare you comment on my handwriting?
Your hand is shaking.
What?
Let us make it short and sweet.
It is tiring to take the hits for him.
You have insulted the sacred Najeong.
Capture the law-breakers!
- Yes, Master! - Yes, Master!
- Let go. - Go.
Let go.
- Come on. - Keep walking.
- Let go. - Let me go.
Let go of me.
- Let go. - Let go.
Tie every single one of them.
Who was arrested where?
What do you mean Najeong?
They had a fight in front of Najeong?
We cannot help it even if the Queen kills him.
Kill him?
How could you say that?
What is Najeong?
It is where Park Hyeokgeose was born.
It is a sacred place.
The reason why I,
Park Young Shil, am trying to become a king is...
because Silla originally belonged to the Park family.
And he had a fight there?
He is my adopted son!
Without Ban Ryu, the Park family can have no king.
Have you forgotten why you came here?
Do you really plan on ending everything here?
Gosh.
This is all your fault.
You get angry at others for your own mistakes.
What did you just say?
This would not have happened...
if you hadn't sent me that ridiculous letter.
What do you mean? You are the one who sent it.
How dare you raise your voice here?
Look.
Please send word to my father.
- My father is... - You.
You are still clueless, are you not?
If you enter here alive, you will leave dead.
Even if you come in here dead, you will be skinned.
Stop being impatient and wait quietly.
The Queen has not yet decided...
on what to do with you yet.
Do they always leave law-breakers...
to die from thirst?
You are such a simpleton.
How can you be sleepy...
and thirsty right now?
Enough bickering. Please.
(Medical)
Excuse me.
Hello?
You have to wake up to tell me about Father.
He will be fine. Your father.
Where is he right now?
Did he get tortured? Where is he now?
How can I trust you?
We have no news about Father.
I heard you interrupted the royal birthday parade.
How can I trust you?
I...
will not allow others to die in my place anymore.
So...
do not cry.
You must be thirsty...
and feel your legs numb.
The bad news is...
we have not started the torture.
As you are here for committing high treason,
the Queen has decided to kill you...
while you are receiving dreadful punishment.
Tie them to the chairs.
- Yes, Master. - Yes, Master.
We have no right to beg for your forgiveness,
but please have mercy...
on our foolish children.
Do not tell me...
your son is among the criminals.
Please forgive me.
I have been an incompetent father.
Please have mercy on us.
Even if the Queen kills our children,
we cannot say anything.
I cannot understand it.
Why did they do such a thing in Najeong?
How did the palace guards know?
They captured the children as if they were waiting.
What is this?
It is a letter Ban Ryu received.
I believe Master Seub's son also received one.
- This means... - Our children...
were caught in a trap.
The Queen is set on making Hwarang.
That is why this happened.
We have lost...
this round.
Let us make Hwarang...
just as the Queen wishes.
Master Young Shil.
After we make it,
we can turn it into ours.
Your powerful fathers have requested and acquired...
a way for you to live from the Queen.
You will avoid torture, but you will have to...
become a loyal Hwarang of Silla by signing this.
All you have to do is sign it and go home.
Is it not simple?
Or...
you may choose to experience...
what the next step is.
Excuse me.
Can we walk out of here just by signing it?
That is correct.
Why did you not tell me earlier?
I was going to do it anyway.
Please untie me.
If you are willing to sign,
tell me right now.
Untie me as well.
Same with me.
- Me too. - Untie me as well.
Please untie me.
You would not sign up out of fear.
Am I right?
What are you doing?
Do you not want to sign up?
I want to do it.
It sounds exciting.
Then you should ask them to untie you.
But I will not do it.
- Why not? - Because...
I am the grandson of Master Suk Hyun Jae.
Please untie him as well.
What are you doing?
Even if I sign the oath,
I cannot become a Hwarang since I am a half-breed.
How can you...
say that you will not do it when you want to?
- Dan Sae. - You are the last True Bone...
of the Suk family.
Grandfather would not want you to die here.
Untie me as well.
(Kim Soo Ho)
- What do you mean you cannot? - Your Highness...
gave me the full authority on Hwarang.
I did. That is why...
things turned out as planned.
The arrogant officials that did not come...
to the royal birthday parade...
had their tails between their legs.
I knew you would be capable.
But...
why are you asking me to accept...
a young man without any conditions?
Which...
young master do you have in mind?
If I tell you,
will you accept him?
How about this? You may bring one yourself.
A Hwarang without any conditions.
I will not ask questions and accept him.
What do you say?
Show respect as the Queen has sent you an order.
"Master Kim Ahn Ji's son, Kim Sun Woo,"
"shall become a Hwarang per the Queen's order."
"Come to Jowonjeon in Wolseong Palace at noon,"
"ten days from now."
"You shall attend the Hwarang appointment ceremony."
Will he...
be released now?
We will be back.
Let us go.
"Hwarang"?
What is this about...
your becoming a Hwarang?
No.
I will not live as a Hwarang...
under the Queen.
If you act like this in front of Master Young Shil,
it will not end so simply.
Do you still think that I am a scared little child?
Go ahead and hit me all you please.
You do not want to become a Hwarang?
You should not have made trouble, then.
My apologies. He is being stubborn.
Do you feel miserable?
That is what power is about.
If you cannot control it, you will be controlled.
What will you do? You have to make a decision.
Will you take control or be controlled?
Do not pity yourself for something like this.
The world is a lot more...
tainted than you imagine.
Become a Hwarang.
Go and get yourself power.
I will make your son a Hwarang.
Master Ahn Ji, I shall raise...
your son to be my son's dog.
I heard Hwarang will be the future of Silla.
Did you really think...
Hwarang would be a place to train...
people who will take charge of Silla?
I shall lock up and train the sons of the wolves...
constantly trying to kill the King.
They must become faithful dogs who give their lives...
for my son or hunting dogs who lose their lives.
What made you this way, Your Highness?
Never forget, not for a moment,
that your son's life...
is in the palm of my hand.
Father!
It is nothing.
Look. Your father is fine.
You were worried.
Where is your brother?
Leave.
The Queen did not spare you.
She plans to kill you by abusing you in Hwarang.
So run away right now.
I cannot leave like this.
No.
Challenging the Queen now is like...
dousing yourself with oil and running into a fire.
I know that.
I will...
protect you.
I will join Hwarang.
You cannot survive in there.
Whatever you imagine,
it will be exponentially worse.
I said I will fight.
I will endure it.
I will see what is at the end of this wretched capital.
I will see for myself.
I will go and destroy it all.
So...
I will go to Hwarang.
The horse is outside.
Is Master We Hwa not in yet?
Go tie down the horse already.
Why did you not...
tie it down yourself on your way in?
Why are you doing this to me?
Should you not do that much for a customer?
Look at the size of this place.
Did anything come for me? For example,
a letter from the Queen?
Lunatic.
Why is he looking for that here? Idiot.
I hear you.
He has annoyingly good hearing.
- Pi Joo Ki. - Hi.
Turn around.
- Why? - Turn around.
I am going crazy.
Come with me.
What? Why?
There are rumors that Hwarang...
is controlled by some crazy old fool...
and that it belongs to that old fool, not the Queen.
I think a crazy old fool is a bit much.
Let go.
- Go. - Do not touch me.
You said you do not want to ruin it, but change it.
- And? - You must tear it down to change it.
Do you have the guts for that?
What do you wish to say?
A nation with happy subjects and a suffering king.
The subjects do not worry about the nation,
but a king worries about the subjects.
Is that...
the nation that you desire?
I want to live in a nation like that.
Who are you?
Someone who wishes Silla would change for real.
That is my half-truth.
Darn it.
Oh my gosh.
You will not like anyone more than me.
Teach him what?
We cannot...
send him to Hwarang like that.
It is better to learn a little,
rather than to go knowing nothing.
That way...
he can endure it somehow.
Why?
Do you find your brother uncomfortable?
No. It is just...
still a little awkward.
Okay. I am relying on you.
How much can you read?
I can read everything on this dice.
That?
What else?
Do I need to know anything else?
How many characters...
do you think there are in the world?
It cannot be more than 200.
You do not mean...
the number 200, do you?
(Sun Woo)
Name.
This is...
your name.
(Sun Woo)
Here. Write it.
Hold this down here.
Press down like this.
Okay.
Even if you memorize 20 characters a day,
it would take 2 months to learn 1,000.
I can do it alone.
You are so clueless.
Do you know where you are entering?
It is full of the best of the best sons of nobility.
They all had private tutors since childhood.
Do you want to look like a fool among them?
- A fool? - So let us continue.
Okay.
Relax. It is merely a brush.
Let go.
I said I can do it alone.
Goodness.
You cannot.
You need to know how to hold the brush...
so that you can practice alone.
Seriously. Again.
Here. Down.
(Sun Woo)
Do you not hear the drums somewhere?
No.
That is strange.
I hear something beating.
Why are you doing this to me?
(Sun Woo)
Well, that is not bad for your first time.
Why do you keep staring at me?
I did not.
Look.
Did I get much uglier from when I was little?
You look different from what I expected.
What is this scene I am witnessing?
Who are you?
Why do these things only happen to you?
I told you my brother showed up.
When? When?
You did not say he had a face and body like that.
Do not everyone else envy your brother?
That tenderness, writing with his sister.
- You lucky wench. - You are envious of that?
How much rice cake must I feed you...
in order to become one family?
The fact that you are my friend...
is embarrassing.
Where did your brother go?
He left.
I have so much to teach him.
Teach him? What?
That is right. You have a horse, right?
(Sun Woo)
This is your name.
May I use it?
Excuse me.
You have never ridden a horse, have you?
It will be amusing to see people who swore...
they would never join Hwarang.
But Ban Ryu would not come though, right?
He came.
I am disappointed.
You said you would not join Hwarang.
I guess you signed the oath, seeing you were released.
I am sure I told you.
I have no intention of being the Queen's dog.
Then did your father sign it?
Which father?
Master Young Shil or Master Ho?
Why you...
We did not get to finish our fight that night.
Let us do it today.
How about football?
Will football suffice?
Oh, that?
Refuse.
We always lose.
Fools.
Let us play.
Get more men.
You have two fewer men than we do.
You are no match for us.
We will get more men.
Stay right here. Move and you are dead.
Darn it.
I said to sit up.
Do not bend forward.
Like this. Sit up. Sit up.
I said to straighten your back.
The horse knows if you are afraid.
It gets nervous.
You must trust him...
for him to trust you.
Why is a man so fearful?
Let us go.
Like this. Slowly.
Go and if you want to stop,
pull down on the reign like this.
When you need to stop a horse...
that is running, lean back like this.
You will not need to stop a running horse for a while.
Let us go.
See? I told you. You can do it.
You are doing it.
What? You know how to smile.
I didn't.
There is no need to scowl.
Shall we take a little stroll?
Let us go.
My gosh!
Oh no!
Move! Out of my way!
What are they doing?
Darn it.
Why are there no useless men today?
I need to wipe that smile off of his face.
Ban Ryu does not have smiling face...
We have never won once.
Must we do this?
Look.
Help me!
They are fast.
Are you all right?
He is super fast.
I thought I was going to die.
I am never riding him again.
You are okay.
Do not hide. Come out, you coward!
Why is he...
Why is he with her?
I am glad you are safe.
It is awkward saying this in this situation,
but would you play a game with us?
We are not strange men. We are...
Hwarang.
Who created the law that it is not a crime...
for a man to kill a man?
Was it you?
Have we...
met before?
You are Hwarang?
If not, whatever.
Let us play.
They will play.
Of course, they shall.
Are you insane?
They are Hwarang. This is a good opportunity.
What about you?
I shall,
if he plays.
Why is that pervert still here?
What is the game?
They are the jerks from that night.
Okay.
Fine. Let us do this.
Good luck.
There could be the best chance to learn things.
It would be good to become friends with them, too.
I have no desire to.
The capital is all about connections.
I know those men. They are all from the best families.
If you become close, they will help your future.
I do not expect you to score a goal.
Just make sure not to get in the way.
- You can do that, right? - What about you?
Are you really okay?
Me?
I am fine.
Okay, then.
Just who is he?
The young masters are playing a match!
It is not just football, but that!
The young masters are playing a match!
- It is not just football, but that! - Let us go!
They are about to start!
Oh my gosh. Really?
Let us go.
- Where are you going? - Come.
Why are they so excited about a football match?
It is not just football.
It is a very hot football.
Beautiful football.
It is football played by beautiful people...
dressed beautifully.
Thus, it is beautiful football.
Look at them!
You were too desperate in filling your team.
They do not seem to know what this is.
Do not worry. They are very physically adept.
There is not much. We score goals and we win.
If you get the ball, pass it to me.
Can you do it?
Run!
- Run! - What is this?
Free!
But people are mistaken about it.
Not only is it played by beautiful people,
there are also no rules.
There are no rules or regulations...
in this beautiful football.
It is a competition to end all competitions.
Ban Ryu!
No!
Block it!
No!
One.
How dare these rats...
Are you okay?
If you just stand there, you cannot help but fall.
Withstanding it is not everything.
You must calculate the opponent's force and step back.
Are there no rules here?
No. Winning is the only law.
Then fine.
I like you for some reason.
Let us go!
Wow! He is so cool!
- He is happy. - You are all dead!
Give us the point!
(Two)
What an idiot.
Not that way. That way! That way!
You scored into our own goal!
We go that way?
Pass!
Block him!
(One)
Yes!
(Two)
Did you see that? What did I say?
No one else compares.
Okay. Okay.
He is a total monster.
Do not let him pass this time.
Let us go.
Hey. Hey.
You startled me.
"Hey"?
Did you get to even touch the ball?
You should have told me if you enjoy this.
I do not.
I had an inkling, but you are worse than I imagined.
I was startled.
Shut your mouth.
Do you have a plan?
Do not smile. It is annoying.
What?
You are on the same team!
What?
You thief.
Ban Ryu.
Yes!
Here!
Good job!
That is right! Yes!
(Two)
(Three)
Okay.
What is his problem?
You fainted so much, so I thought you were a weakling,
but you must be stronger than you seem.
You rode the horse well, too.
Thank you for saving me earlier.
But you aren't close with that young master, are you?
He does not seem like a good person.
Before, at Okta...
I mean... That is not it. We just slept...
Are you insane? Shut your mouth.
Get on my back.
You are hurt.
I am fine.
Then shall I carry you in my arms?
Why must it be him?
Are you always that mean?
You cannot be like that here. I told you.
Everything is about connections and people skills.
I mean it.
(Kim Sun Woo)
Walk faster.
We will be late.
We came an hour early. We will not be late.
Let me see.
Hold on.
Let me see.
My dear. Sorry,
but I like this, too.
Then... You take it.
Are you Master Ahn Ji's daughter?
How did you...
Pull. Pull.
Is he a Hwarang?
Wait.
Is he going to the appointment ceremony...
wearing that bracelet?
How dare a peasant wear silk?
Your life must have picked up here in the capital.
Deal with me.
Let her go.
I never saw Dog-Bird look so scared before.
I have a feeling it is because of her.
I told you to let her go.
Stay still.
He was poking around outside.
That wench's life...
depends on what you do.
If you touch a single hair on her head,
you are dead.
I do not know about that. I think...
you will die before I do.
Now!
Kill me now, then.
But if she gets hurt before then,
I will kill you.
(Hwarang The Poet Warrior Youth)
Are you not afraid...
of putting them in the same place?
What's the matter if they kill each other?
Even if they do not kill now,
they will kill each other later anyway.
How could you do this to me?
I decided that I will choose...
when I come out into the world, Mother.
We should cut off the head...
of the young and weak King.
I am afraid because of you.
I am afraid I cannot protect you.
Rely on me.
What should we do with the other man? And the girl?
And lean on me.
You are not alone anymore.